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Treaties made with the Cherokees and the Creeks lay the groundwork for westward expansion.
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~250 acre lots awarded to eligible citizens -
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Completed in 1824, bricks were supplied by Fairview charter member and elder Geo. Gresham, who received $100 for the order.
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Clement Clark Moore's beloved Christmas story first appears in print in a New York newspaper.
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The Cherokee Nation was to the north. The Creek nation was to the south. -
The church served as a moral watchdog. Members were brought before session and “tried” for infractions such as adultery, profanity, public intoxication, fighting, slander against other church members or prominent citizens.
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Fairview is organized on the 2nd Sunday in August by Rev. Remembrance Chamberlain and 13 charter members. -
Rev. Wilson would remain at Fairview for 13 years, leaving in 1838 to found Decatur Presbyterian Church. -
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Rev. John S. Wilson served as superintendent of this first school in the area.
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The Treaty of Washington stipulated that the Creeks cede their Georgia landholdings in exchange for a one-time payment of $217,600 plus $20,000 each year in perpetuity
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In Fairview's first decade, membership grew from 13 to 158. Gwinnett's population was nearly 15,000 by 1833. There was a jail, a courthouse, and a school (Lawrenceville Academy, private tuition based). Roads were dirt tracks, often following old Indian trails. Travel was by foot, wagon, or horseback. -
This landmark Supreme Court case, which still serves today as the basis for much U.S. policy toward Native Americans, tested the validity of the Cherokee Nation constitution and whether the State of Georgia had jurisdiction to enforce Georgia laws therein. The Court ruled that Georgia had no authority over tribal Indians and their lands in any state. A Fairview member, attorney Elisha Chester, was involved in the case. President Jackson declined to enforce the ruling. -
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Eight Gwinnett volunteers killed in battle with Creek Indians near Florence, GA, 40 miles south of Columbus. -
The bodies of the eight Gwinnett volunteers killed at Shepherd’s Plantation are buried in a common grave on the grounds of the Gwinnett County courthouse. The site is commemorated today with a historical marker.
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The western terminus of the Western and Atlantic RR is established at Terminus, which later becomes Atlanta.
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The last of the Cherokees are removed from the area, following the path later to become known as “The Trail of Tears.” -
Crawford W. Long performs first recorded operation under general anesthesia. He used ether. Ether parties were in style at the time, and he had noticed that people who fell and bruised themselves under the influence of ether did not experience pain. -
Presbyterian general assembly created the Synod of Georgia. Before it had been part of the Synod of SC and Georgia, with meetings held in SC or Augusta, making it hard for people from this area to get to meetings.
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Atlanta received its name. It had been known first as Terminus, then as Marthasville. -
In 1861, Smith, from the North, returned home. (From Franklin Talmage’s “History of the Atlanta Presbytery: “Rev. W. C. Smith who taught in Lawrenceville and was pastor left the south, being a northern sympathizer. The Presbytery of the Flint River reported to the Synod that they had stricken from the roll the name of W. C. Smith, he ‘having been known to entertain sentiments hostile to the Southern Confederacy and having gone over to the enemy.'"
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According the census there are 591,550 Caucasians in the state of Georgia. There are 2,123 teachers.
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1861 to 1862—No regular services at Fairview as a result of the Civil War. One woman (Mrs. Byrd) did come to read scripture, say a prayer, sing a hymn in order to maintain continuity of worship through the war
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Sept. 1864 Atlanta falls to Union forces -
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse -
April 14: President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington. -
Rev James Wilson becomes supply minster through 1867 -
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A new Georgia Constitution is approved. The population of Atlanta reaches 35,000.
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The Lawrenceville courthouse is destroyed by fire, a result of arson.
Southern Railroad passes through Gwinnett. -
Rev. J. S. Wilson died. Rev. Wilson served as Pastor of Fairview, Decatur Presbyterian, and was the founding pastor of First Presbyterian of Atlanta, as well as holding several other influential posts.
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Rev. J. F. McClelland becomes pastor at Fairview, remaining until his death in 1885. Members added during his tenure include George Craig, Jno. Craig, Nancy Craig, Mrs. R. H. Williams, Kate and Lizzie Williams, Donald G. Williams, Sally Williams, William Craig, and John Williams.
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A new courthouse opens for business. The building is quickly determined unsafe and unsatisfactory. It will be torn down, and a new one constructed, completed in 1885.
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The second courthouse, the one replacing the first one which burned, was substandard and torn down. This, the third courthouse, is the one that now stands in the Lawrenceville town square. -
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Coca Cola goes on sale at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta -
Three ministers serve Fairview during this time: Rev. W. H. A. Johnson, Rev. John DuBose, and Rev. R. N. Abraham.
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26 of 75 members of Fairview leave to form Lawrenceville Presbyterian, which had been a branch of Fairview. 4 of the 6 elders, all 3 deacons among them. Two elders remained, one of whom had moved to Texas.
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J. L. King returned as pastor, remaining until 1901. Rev. King served Fairview for a total of 21 years.
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The Lawrenceville Public School system was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly.
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The first graduating class of Lawrenceville High School has four members.
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Church remains vacant until August, 1902.
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First electric light plant installed on Jackson Street.
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The County Clerk pays for installation and operation of a telephone with his own funds. He felt it would be an important tool for the conduct of public business. -
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Oct: Rev. Fritz Rauschenberg begins preaching at Fairview. He preaches one time per month, coming from seminary in Columbia, SC. Rev. Rauschenberg will serve through 1911.
He is officially installed in May, 1908. -
People were having trouble making it to court sessions on time.
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A major renovation of the church is undertaken at the initiative of Rev. Rauschenberg.
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Present sanctuary was dedicated. Sermon was preached by Rev. Len Walker of Atlanta. Rev. Fritz Rauschenberg gave a history of the church. -
The city limits of Lawrenceville were extended from ¼ mile from the courthouse in all directions to ½ mile from the courthouse in all directions.
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Rev. Rauschenberg resigned to go to College Park as pastor.
Rev. J. M. Harris comes to Fairview from North Carolina, and will serve until 1918. -
Frank Y. Williams, Mary Ellen’s and D.Y.’s father, joined by letter of transfer from Shelby, NC
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An armistice is signed ending hostilities in WW I.
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A newspaper entry notes that a pair of mules bolted near the public square in Lawrenceville, resulting in the destruction of a new wagon
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The boll weevil has been working its way up from the Mexican border since 1899. In 1921 infestation of the Georgia cotton crop cuts production in half
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Ground is broken for the construction of a new Presbyterian church near the corner of North Clayton and West Pike Streets in Lawrenceville.
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Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris, completing his non-stop flight from New York. -
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Lawrenceville installs two traffic signals on Crogan Street, at the intersections of Perry and Clayton
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Stock market crashes to begin the Great Depression -
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The newspaper advertises a new car for sale, $585 -
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Rev. B.R. Anderson retired and went to live with his daughter. Three pastors, E. P. Carson, P. H. Carmichael, and William Huck, serve Fairview through 1934
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A ten room annex is added to the school building at the corner of Oak and North Perry, to house grades 1 through 7. The annex cost $26,000.
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A note in the Gwinnett Journal newspaper notes that “Members of the Lawrenceville Jug Band are Richard Anderson, Buck Paden, Glenn Paden, Arnold Huff, and Virgil Hayes.” The Padens and Mr. Huff were members of Fairvew.
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Funeral at Fairview
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March 30 News Herald item: “41 Gwinnett County schools closed. The state did not send money and county notified teachers that they would not pay them for the 7 months term of 1938/39.”
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1941-1943—Nunnally, Peggy, and Donald Phillips become members.
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Each sanctuary light fixture is dedicated as below:
1: Donald S. and Sallie Williams
2: Kate and Lizzie Williams
3: Becky Byrd Williams (donor)
4: J. Craig Williams (donor, daughter)
5: William Huston and Sally Quinn Huston
6: George Craig, donated by family
7: Nellie Pratt Williams, donated by husband
8: Claude Craig (daughter donated)
9: All the boys in service in WW II, especially those from Fairview, (donated by Frank Y. Williams and family) -
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A neighbor of the church deeds additional grounds to the church, providing a right of way allowing water to be pumped to the church.
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Steeple tower added,church is painted, windows repaired, church underpinnings strengthened.
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Congregational meeting w/Lawrencville Pres to build Fellowship Bldg at FV. D.Y. Williams elected sec. October-ground graded, lumber placed. Jan. 1951, L'ville pulls out to focus on their own bldg improvements. Plan abandoned.
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3 classrooms, restrooms, and a kitchen.
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Services changed from bi-weekly to weekly, with the pastor preaching at Fairview at 10 and Lawrenceville Presbyterian at 11.
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“The three thousandth telephone for Lawrenceville was installed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Wages on South Clayton Street” (About Lawrenceville, by Mary Frazier Long)
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Doctor Fred Moss of Washington DC visits to help members set out 108 rosebushes in memory of Moss’s great-grandparents, who are buried in the Fairview cemetery. Moss’s great-grandfather was James S. Russell, who built Fairview Presbyterian as well as Goshen Presbyterian and the original Lawrenceville Presbyterian, which was a branch of Fairview until 1891. -
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“Much upheaval.” Joint meetings of FV and L'ville Presbyterian officers study whether to merge. Rev. McNair leaves May 4. On May 24, a congregational meeting is held to vote for/against merger: six votes are cast for the merger, 2 for continued separation with one pastor, and 29 votes to remain separate with a full time pastor at Fairview. Fairview later sold its interest in the manse to Lawrenceville Presbyterian. Plans are to build one of their own.
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Aug. 6: Button Gwinnett Hospital is dedicated in an address by Governor Ernest Vandiver. The hospital will open Sept. 3 with 35 beds and 4 nurses.
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In June, Reverend Morris and family move into the new manse.
In August, Kathy Morris, the 8 year old daughter of Jack Morris, is killed in an automobile accident. Mrs. Morris and the other two Morris daughters are hospitalized for several weeks. The accident happened August 15th, the day after the annual 2nd Sunday homecoming celebration. Memorial funds given by friends and family were used in the building of the education building, and a plaque in her memory was placed. -
Prior VBSs had been held in conjunction with Lawrenceville Presbyterian, on their campus.
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The University of Georgia, under court order, admits its first two Black students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes. -
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Three acres of land are purchased from a neighbor of the church, providing access to the spring as a water supply.
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Officers of church serve a loyalty dinner to help inspire everyone toward greater effort in the education building project.
Construction of education building is approved by congregation and estimated to cost $35,000. -
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Jackson family donated funds to pave the church yard and parking area as a memorial to their parents, Charles and Mary. A marker with the children’s names was placed in the church yard.
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At 35, King was the youngest man to have received the Prize. -
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Dr. Moss, the founder of the rose garden, dies. He is buried in the center of the rose garden he created.
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Based on a demographic analysis the report says for the next 10 years (until the mid-1970s) Lawrenceville Presbyterian will have a stronger outreach than Fairview, and that Fairview will have a period of “very slow” growth and development. The author of the report argues that the two congregations should combine to form a single new vibrant congregation. The “new home” would be at Lawrenceville Presbyterian. -
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1967 The steeple is removed when church roof is replaced. 1968 A steeple is added to the center of the church building.
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June 10: A congregational meeting is held to vote on whether to remain in the Presbyterian Church USA or join the National Presbyterian Church. Vote was 24 to 3 to remain PC USA. -
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Mary Ellen Williams becomes first woman to be installed as an officer at Fairview; she became a deacon
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Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt is shot on the Lawrenceville courthouse steps as he headed for lunch while on trial for publishing obscene materials. The man who shot him was a white supremacist upset by an interracial photo shoot in Flynt’s magazine. Fairview member Hughel Harrison is the judge in the case. -
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She had been a member since 1912. She was D.Y. and Mary Ellen Williams’ mother. She drew the pattern for the book racks attached to the backs of the church seats and had them made as well as the seat pads.
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Mrs. Weldon (Rosebud) Williams presented a new organ to the church in memorial to her husband and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rolla Williams. It was dedicated August 8, 1982.
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She left funds to Fairview establishing the Anna Craig fund for the upkeep of the cemetery, later extended to church grounds.
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Don Phillips's father.
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Clyde's wife, Don's mother. Member since 1915.
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The sanctuary seats were reupholstered, and the interior of the church was painted. Outside, the parking lot was resurfaces. Cemetery improvements included surveying of new lots, paving of driveway, turnaround added at north end
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Glen Busby, Jr., 14 was killed in a bike accident on the way back from a youth car wash at Hayes automobile dealership on Highway 120.
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August: From Building Committee minutes. Renovation of the Education Building was approved, at a cost of $26,960. $13,000 was on hand. Necessary renovations include replacing subfloor, restoring weak floor joists, replacing much of the floor girder, installing foundation vents, install roof vents. Lack of ventilation had contributed to mold, mildew, and rot beneath the building. Heating and cooling units were added for the education building.
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The historic courthouse on the Lawrenceville square reopens after being renovated.
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Mary Ellen Williams was honored at the Senior Adult Ministry “Celebration ‘99” event at Peachtree Presbyterian as Fairview’s “Outstanding Senior Presbyterian
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Plans were announced to convert the audio room in the Narthex to an audio/video room, with a raised floor for a camera. The idea is to distribute tapes to shut-ins, to close circuit services, to tape weddings and plays. Also, there are plans to make the adjacent Narthex room into a family room.
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Eston Jennings Allen joined Fairview’s staff as pastoral intern and youth director. She just completed her 2nd year at the Columbian Theological Seminary.
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The 2nd Annual Youth Mission Trip began July 15, to St. Petersburg, FL. 9 youth and 3 adults went and worked on renovating a church there, and running a VBS for area kids. They painted, landscaped, and planted a rose garden.
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The 180th Anniversary Homecoming was a great event. Fairview members returning from out of state included: Cecile Williams and family, Lois and Ralph Bazhaw, Kim and Dan Semeniuk. Also, Dottie Ward, wife of former pastor Hugh Ward, and family. Mary Ellen Williams was honored for being a member for more than 80 years.
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The Sons of the American Revolution held a special service to honor the two Revolutionary War veterans buried in the cemetery.
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As one way to accomplish the purpose of the church as defined (Heartfelt Worship) the Worship Ministry Team has recommended the purchase of new hymnals, The Celebration Hymnal. The hymnal is recommended by Lisa Grimsley and Dr. Janzen. Hymnals have more hymns than the current one, with a mix of familiar, gospel, and contemporary music.
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5 people went on the Youth Mission Trip to Tampa Bay. They worked at the Good Samaritan Mission. They also helped migrant farm workers from Mexico and Puerto Rico, cleaned the preschool, daycare, and mission facilities as well as made building improvements. They also built an awning to protect visitors from rain when coming to the mission.
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Homecoming Aug 10. Fairview honors Mary Ellen Williams, our oldest living member. Her father, grandfather, and great grandfather were life-long members of Fairview and are buried in the cemetery. This was the 75th anniversary of her confirmation as a member of Fairview (b. 1915)
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The sanctuary is renovated. The carpet is removed, the floors are repaired and refinished, the Narthex ceiling is replaced. New electrical circuits are installed. The sanctuary seats are replaced with pews. The interior is painted. New carpet and upholstery are installed in the choir loft.
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Trip in connection with Hurricane Katrina aftermath
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Run 4 Shelter held at Tribble Mill Park, raising money to benefit the homeless in Gwinnett County, and raising awareness of the homeless situation in the county.
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May-Grad Sunday with 14 grads-College-Christie Bettinger, Shannon Curry, Chelsea Feustel, David Hudson, Jon Russell & Jon Yoder, High School-Sara Curry, Lauren Fountain, Josh Grimsley, Bruce Janzen, Ben Leggiero, Nick Moon, Kasey Edwin & Michael Russell.
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Janet Russell received the Presbyterian Citizen of the Year award from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta for her role in organizing the Run 4 Shelter 5K run and Walk, held last November to raise funds for the benefit of homeless in Gwinnett County. The award was made 2/12.
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2503 total for the year
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6 Elders, 8 Deacons, 2 year terms
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Lisa Grimsley presented a narrative about a Christmas carol each week.
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Drew Fitton-High School, Katie Fitton-Pharmacy School, Zach Greenwood-College & Sarah Grimsley-Law School
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First in-person service since March, practicing social distancing.
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Fellowship Hall provides more ventilation and opportunity for social distancing, a requirement due to Covid-19.
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This year's Cantata consisted of videos from past years edited together, with new recorded introductions and commentary by Lisa Grimsley and Sally Campbell.
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Service was conducted in the lower parking lot
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Responding to the challenge presented by Covid-19, Fairview began recording and distributing worship services on YouTube and Facebook in April, 2020. In order to maintain an online presence after Covid-19 restrictions eased, the Congregation donated funds to equip a multi-camera streaming system used for Sunday worship and other services and events in the Sanctuary.
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Dan retired from Delta. He and Marian moved to their retirement home in Fairplay, Colorado.
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These fiberglass crosses were donated by Roger Rushton.
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This new resource center for Fairview history is located in what was formerly known as the Library.
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