Union Grove
and
Golden Springs
Congregational Methodist Churches

The State of Alabama, Calhoun County

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Whereas, heretofore, to-wit, On August 19^th, 1890, Joel E. Massey and his wife deeded and conveyed to J. H. Golden, Thomas Haywood and W. O. Butler as Trustees for the Union Grove Congregational Church and their successors in office, One and one half (1 ½) acres off of the South East Fourth of the South East fourth of Section fifteen (15) of Township Sixteen (16) in Range Eight (8) in the Coosa Land District in Calhoun County, Alabama, which deed is recorded in Book 54 Page 123 in the Probate office of Calhoun County, and Whereas, The last Trustees of the Said Union Grove Congregational Church elected, as shown by the Church records and who are therefore the successors of J. H. Golden, Thomas Haywood and M. (sic) O. Butler in office are Thomas Haywood, J. M. Garrett and J. E. Massey, deacons and therefore ex-officio Trustees of the said Church and Whereas two of said deacons and ex-officio Trustees aforesaid to-wit, Thomas Haywood and J. M Garrett are no longer members of said Church and who reside in different counties, and are not easily accessible, and it is necessary to have a special trustee to act for said Union Grove Congregational Church in making this contract, therefore the said Union Grove Congregational Church does hereby constitute and appoint for said purpose G. W. Vaughan special trustee to sign the name of said Union Grove Congregational Church to a contract as hereinafter specified, and, Whereas, The church building which was erected on such lot as above described, was used with the consent of said trustees first above named and the congregation for the maintenance of a day school for the use and benefit of said community, and as is desired to continue such was as hereinafter set out, and Whereas, The building which was upon said lot has been destroyed by fire, and there is now no building upon said lot, and, Whereas, The community is about to erect (?)  [illegible 2-3 words] upon said lot, but before doing so desire a clear and distinct understanding that the building when so erected may be used for the carrying on of a public school as it has been done in the past and which assurance the said Union Grove Congregational Church is willing to give,

                                    Now, therefore this Instrument made and entered into this the  3  day of March A. D. 1903 by and between the said G. W. Vaughan special tristee (sic) for the Union Grove Congregational Church of the first part, and E. F. Pressley, ?. ?. Matthews and W. E. Higgins, as school trustees and their successors in office of the second part, That for and in consideration of the erection of the [the document ends here]

Origin of this document is unknown; found in Alabama Room, Anniston-Calhoun County Public Library, Anniston, AL.  It was attached to a copy of deed dated 19 August 1890 in which J. E. Massey and his wife, Sarah Massey, grant property to J. H. Golden, Thomas Haywood, and W. O. Butler on which to construct Union Grove Congregational Church.  J. H. Golden is James Harleston Golden (1843-1918), son of Allard Golden (1822-1887), father of John Wesley Golden (1874-1934).