This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zMB.2ACI/900.1 Message Board Post: Gloria, I don't know about a Baptist church but I do know there was a Presbyterian Church in that time frame. Below is a link that offers more information on the Presbyterian church. http://web.umr.edu/~whmcinfo/shelf12/r295/info.html The First Presbyterian Church of Ironton was organized in September 1855. First called the Arcadia Church, the name was changed in May 1860. The church grew out of earlier assemblies in the Arcadia Valley by settlers drawn by the Iron Mountain speculation of 1837-1838. The first congregation consisted of Col. Cyrus Russell, Augustus Pease, Nathan Trumbull, and their families, all of whom were former residents of Connecticut. They began meeting in 1841 or 1842, adopting the articles of faith and code of the Congregational Church of Somers, Connecticut. The members had benefit of a pastor only occasionally. In 1853 the church obtained the services of the Rev. David Paxton from Farmington. Under his guidance the church was reorganized and application was made for membership in the Potosi Presbytery in 1855. Henry P. Russell and John P. Hayden were elected elders. In looking at Rolla's other holdings, I do see a mention of the First Baptist Church in Ironton, MO but it doesn't offer much. http://web.umr.edu/~whmcinfo/shelf20/r497/shelf.html I too would be interested in their church registers - they would offer quite a bit of genealogy data as would the Presbyterian Church's records.