The Steele Creek Historical and Genealogical Society
Of the Old Steele Creek Township
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Churches of Steele Creek:
O'Zion AME Zion Church

CONTENTS

|  Church History  |  Mr. Raymond Mason's Recollections  |  The John Dose and Ella Hart Adams Family  |
|  A Tribute to Father, by Raymond Mason  |  Remembering Bessie Mason Smith and Doc Smith's Family  |
|  In Memory of the Late Rosa Adams and James Smith  |

O' ZION AME ZION CHURCH
Located at the corner of Hamilton Road
and Youngblood Road in lower Steele Creek.

(History written in 1995 by members of the church and
given to Steele Creek Hist. & Gen. Society, 30 July 2001)

The history of O'Zion A.M.E. Zion Church dates back as far as 1885 when the vision of having a place to worship was shown. In 1890, this vision became a reality for a small group of people in a brush arbor. This brush arbor sat about one mile south from the church's present location on the Sam Smith Plantation, now known as Youngblood Road. On this land, a small frame church was built and became known throughout the surrounding community as the "Rocky Nap". A title for this land has not been found, so it is assumed that a mutual agreement was made between Mr. Sam smith and the Turstees of the church allowing them to hold service on this plot of land. They remained at this first church until the year 1904, when the members decided it was time to move forward. According to a title the church now holds, the members bought one acre of land on May 30, 1904 from Mr. Sam Campbell, now known as Capps Road - about one mile northwest of the first church. There they built the second church, a frame building about 60 x 40 ft. The church membership grew quickly and a cornerstone was laid August 5, 1907. This church became known by the nickname of "Zoar" and remained at this location until July 25, 1925.
The Trustees and members of O'Zion A.M.E. Zion Church bought the present church from a white congregation, then known as the Oak Grove Baptist Church and the church continued to prosper. The sanctuary of this building was remodeled under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Boyd.
The membership was richly blessed as Rev. & Mrs. J. F. Baxter were sent to lead the congregation. Under this administration, Rev. Baxter and the members decided that the church needed an educational building and it was constructed.
Rev. Robert Moore was directed to the O'Zion congregation with another vision. That being to build a new sanctuary. The members were eager to start on this project and in 1983, the ground was broken and a new structure began to take shape. While this sanctuary was under construction, the O'Zion Family was fortunate to be able to worship at the River Hills Community Church at Lake Wylie, S.C. This church opened its doors every Sunday morning for O'Zion to hold its worship services. The two congregations still fellowship in special services. In August of 1983, the new sanctuary was complete. The O'Zion Congregation was now able to share with others the blessings they had received. The initial act came in the way of a congregation known as the Lake Wylie Baptist Church. This group was in the process of building a sanctuary and needed a place to worship. O'Zion opened its doors to the Lake Wylie Congregation just as the doors of the River Hills Community Church had been opened to them and through this sharing, many lasting friendships were formed. (Lake Wylie Baptist Church is located on York Rd. (Hwy 49) just before reaching the Buster Boyd Bridge over Lake Wylie)
In 1984, Rev. Leroy Ellison became the minister and more improvements were made to the church facility. In 1990, Rev. Sherman B. McBeth was appointed as pastor of the O'Zion congregation. More growth including several church vans, began several ministries including a first time in the church's history women onthe Steward's Baord.
In 1995, Reverend Frankie L. Smith became the pastor of O'Zion. At that time, the church started planning for a new educational building.

Some of the old names of this church are Mason, Adams, Smith, Redic, Harris, Barnette, and Caldwell and others from the area.

Several Church members have written about the area and some of the old families as follows:

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"Old Happenings" by Mr. Raymond Mason

The following is a brief summary of the "Old Happenings", of the Afro-Americans in the Dixie, Steele Creek, Black-Jack, Sand Hill and Fort Mill areas:

The oldest church in Fort Mill was called Macedonia. The oldest church in this area (lower Steele Creek) is McClintock Presbyterian, it was built during slavery and "Horse and Buggy Days", even before telephone, radio and automobiles were available to our relatives.

The people in this area communicated when anyone died by ringing the church bell for a long period of time. Farmers in these areas worked from sunrise to sunset for 50 cents per day and with only a few automobiles, most farmers transportation was by wagon, mule, horseback and walking.

Springs were the first drinking water at O'Zion AME Zion Church. Before the York Rd-Catawba River Bridge was built, a ferry was used to cross the river about one mile south of the present bridge.

The most popular sports in these areas were: hunting, fishing, baseball, horseshoes, wrestling, jumping rope and pulling square toe..

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MR. JOHN DOSE ADAMS AND MRS. ELLA HART ADAMS
"They attended the Brush Arbor, Rocky Nap and Zoar"

Children of the late John Dose Adams and Ella Hart AdamsL
Carrie Adams Westbrooks, John Moody Adams, Martha Adams Blanks, Dean Adams, Clarence Hill Adams, Ezellus (Weaver) Adams, Hampton (Hamp) Adams, Magnolia Adams, Bowell Adams, Elliott Adams, Teby Adams, Roosevelt Adams, Sylvester Adams, James P. Adams and Mack Adams.

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A TRIBUTE TO FATHER
By Raymond Mason

Through the unity of Jones and Carrie W. Mason, two sons were born: Casey Jones Mason and Raymond Mason.

Jones Mason was one of the past farmers of Mr. Jimmy Boyd's farm of the Sand Hill Area (lower Steele Creek). He retired from Belk's (department store) after approximately 30 years of service. Mr. John Belk, former mayor of Charlotte, NC appointed Mr. Mason to the former Board of motion. He was also a past member of the Barringer School Precinct Committee, past member of the Brotherhood Club of the community, past member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee and a member of the Residents Organization.

Jones Mason's desire was to be an active, working church member when the good Lord came for him. He was a life member of O'Zion A.M.E. Zion Church and served in the following capacities: dedicated member of the Trustee Board for 60 years or more, Leader of Leaders, president and member of the Usher Board for 41 years, member and past president of the Gospel Chorus, member of the Young Men's Fellowship Club, member of the Building Fund Committee, Chairman of the Burying Committee, member of the Layman's Council and an Adult Sunday School Teacher.

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REMEMBERING BESSIE MASON SMITH AND DOC SMITH'S FAMILY
By: Lizzie Ruth Catoe Richardson

It is assumed that Bessie Mason wed Doc Smith in the late 1800's or early 1900s. The couple lined O'Zion A.M.E. Zion Church during some point in their lives. Their lives were enriched with nine sons and three daughters. These children were disciplined according to the doctrine of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
The sons according to chronological age - oldest to youngest were: Alexander, Plato, mack, Mott, Randolph, Milton, Brevard, Clyde and Lonnie. All sons are now deceased.
Daughter - oldest to youngest were named: Lottie, Lovie and Laura. Lottie and Lovie are deceased. Laura wed Archie Catoe and the clouple lived in Clover, SC. Laura's twin brother was Lonnie.
Alexander (Tobe), the oldest child moved from Mecklenburg County and made his home in Harrisburg, PA. He was a Seventh Day Adventist Minister. Milton and Randolph respectively moved from Mecklenburg County to Harrisburg, Pa and Roanoke Rapids, NC. The remaining nine children remained in the Pineville, Charlotte and Clover areas - within a twenty mile radius of their birth places.
Mott (Fed) was a great songster and was known throughout the area for his melodious and anointed gift from God to sing. Mott was a choir leader for O'Zion.
Mack remained a faithful member of O'Zion until his death. He was O'Zion's "Preacher Steward" during John F. Baxter's Ministry.
Lottie was born September 18, 1910 and was naturally mischievous. She married Charlie Morrow, was a faithful member of China Grove A.M.E. Zion Church and departed this earthly life on Monday, September 28, 1987.
Lovie's nickname during her childhood years was "Stringbean" because of her size. She was a comely black woman. As a teenager, she won for five years straight a singing competition that was held at Ben Salem Church.
Lonnie's nickname was "Blackstrap" - given lovingly to him by his brothers and sisters because of his color.
Laura was nicknamed, "Butterbean", she was by no means thin and sometimes was called "Railway" by Lonnie. Lonnie said she had a long head. Laura is the only living child (1995) born to Doc and Bessie Smith.

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IN MEMORY OF THE LATE ROSA ADAMS SMITH AND JAMES SMITH

From this union came fifteen children…
Ross Jr. Smith William I. Smith
James Otis Smith Charlie R. Smith
Walter Lee Smith Richard Smith
Sammie Lee Smith Annie L. Smith Miller
Woodrow Smith Rosie M. White Smith
John Thomas Smith Clyde Smith
Herbert R. Smith Patricia J. Smith Ekechukwu
Rev. Michael Smith

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