This week, we will look at the religious colonists that settled in Patrick County for a brief time in the 1920s. The colony was founded by Reverend Marcus Allen Stickley, who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1872. Rev. Stickley married Miss Nettie Cootes of Dayton, Virginia in November 1900. Rev. Stickley pastored several Disciples of Christ churches from Pine Flats, Pennsylvania to Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties in Virginia.
The Shenandoah Herald reported the following on June 30, 1922… “Convinced that modern life is corrupting and spiritually demoralizing and that church members themselves are not living up to the right standards, the Rev. M. Allen Stickley, until recently pastor of a group of churches of the Disciples of Christ announced today plans to set up a ‘real Christian community’ in Patrick County. Those who join in the movement, he said, intend to dwell together according to their conception of the manner ‘in which the scriptures require Christians to live.’ The leader of the movement has acquired a tract of land in Patrick County it was said, and the colony will start with about 50 members from Georgia, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.”
On July 9th, 1922, the Lynchburg News and Advance went into greater detail about Rev. Stickley’s mission, “Disciples of Christ led by Rev. M. A. Stickley who have conceived the idea of a Christian colony in the hills of Patrick County are beginning to take up residence in the Smith River Valley near Buffalo Ridge, the promised land of his followers. Nearly 200 acres of orchard land have been purchased by the followers of the minister, some of whom are reported to be wealthy and who contemplate building modern homes equipped with water, electric lights, and sewage. It is expected that before the end of the present year, fifty families will be living in the valley where they hope to live a life more nearly in keeping with scriptural edicts. They will build their own temple and schoolhouse and it will be a model Christian community. The disciples are drawn by a common purpose to get away from centers of population where they consider modern tendencies to be demoralizing.”
Nine days later, on July 18th, 1922, the Danville Bee reported, “Rev. M.A. Stickley is on the ground and making plans for the arrival of additional families into the Smith River Valley. Stickley is a frequent visitor to Stuart on business missions and shows an earnest purpose in endeavoring to carry out the old ideal of Christian communism. It is reported that the colonists are negotiating for the purpose of additional lands surrounding the property already acquired, which lies midway between Woolwine, Buffalo Ridge, and Elamsville. Stickley is described as a man with traits of leadership and a good deal of energy. The experiment is one which he conceived himself and his views have been accepted by a number of wealthy people, who are prepared to enter the colony. It is learned that each Church of Christ Disciples congregation is autonomous, and it is not necessary to secure the consent or endorsement of any parent body before the undertaking can be carried out. At Stuart, it is learned that the building plans will be delayed until next spring and that the colony will live for the time being in buildings already standing on the property secured.”
The Shenandoah Herald reported on September 8th, 1922, that “W. H. Miller and Ben Dadisman from Stanley, Virginia are with Rev. Stickley in Patrick County doing carpenter work for the religious colony.”
On March 6th, 1923, the Lynchburg News and Advance reported that Rev. Stickley had resigned from the Church of Christ at Shenandoah and relocated to Southwest Virginia.
One month later, the Roanoke Times on April 8th, 1923, reported that “Patrick County apple growers and tobacco raisers who have from time to time come in contact with the colonists say they have a tendency to dairying and they have already acquired some pure-bred sires. In addition, they are cultivating apple trees and establishing apiaries. The colonists are further described as being the best class of people, the men hard workers and the women are splendid housekeepers. The impression secured by those who have had fleeting visits with them is that they are thoroughly earnest people, deeply religious, practicing Biblical techniques in a literal way and giving every indication of being happy and contented.”
This 1923 Roanoke Times article was the last time Rev. Stickley’s colony was mentioned in Virginia newspapers. In the 1920-1950 census records, Rev. Stickley, his wife, two sons and their wives were living in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
On October 20th, 1950, tragedy struck, Rev. and Mrs. M. A. Stickley were headed to Charlotte, North Carolina to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with family members. A car attempted to pass a truck and clipped the left front corner of a Greyhound bus. The accident occurred just south of Roanoke on US 220, thirteen people were injured and Rev. M. A. Stickley and his wife, Nettie were killed. Rev. Stickley was 78 years old, and Nettie was 79.
Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
