The story of Mt. Olivet Methodist Church is really the story of Reverend Francis Marion Ragsdale—and the mill he operated on the property. Marion was the fourth son of Michael Ragsdale, one of the earliest settlers in what is now Banks County, Georgia. The Ragsdale family had migrated into Georgia from Virginia, and Marion, born in 1822, was named after one of his father’s heroes: Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox” of Revolutionary War fame.

Marion Ragsdale was a true entrepreneur. In the 1850 census, he was listed as a mechanic—a notable designation for the time. This suggests he may have worked as an assistant to the operator of the nearby mill located just below the large rock outcropping that created a 30-foot drop, supplying water power for grain milling along Nail’s Creek. While it’s unclear exactly when the first mill was established on this site, it certainly predates 1837. In 1853, Marion acquired the mill site and 257 acres of land from his father and founded what became known as Ragsdale Mill.

During the Civil War era, the Methodist Church experienced a significant internal rift over the issue of slavery. Most Southern Methodists supported the institution, while Northern Methodists did not. The Ragsdales opposed slavery and, as a result, separated from Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church, going on to found Mt. Olivet Methodist.

In 1868, Marion’s neighbor William Hix deeded 5½ acres to the Trustees of Mt. Olivet. Marion himself witnessed the deed as a Notary Public and was the driving force behind the church’s establishment. Reverend Ragsdale built the church and went on to perform many marriages and baptisms throughout the 1870s and 1880s. Clearly a man of many talents, he signed his documents with the initials M.G., short for “Minister of God.”

Rev. Ragsdale was also a visionary. He dreamed of founding a town called Nail’s Creek, and in 1883, a Grange Hall was constructed on the property as a first step. The Grange was a national organization of farmers aimed at promoting agricultural education and community development. In addition to its civic functions, the hall also served as a schoolhouse.

With the mill, the church, the Grange Hall, and the schoolhouse, Rev. Ragsdale hoped to create a vibrant township centered on community, faith, and learning. Unfortunately, that vision was never fully realized, and time quietly moved on. The last official church service at Mt. Olivet was held in 1961. In the 1960s, both the church and the mill were purchased by private owners who undertook significant repairs and restoration of the buildings. Today, the property is still used periodically for weddings and religious events, and it has been carefully preserved by its current stewards.

Each year, on the last Sunday in May, the community gathers for Old-Fashioned Day at Mt. Olivet. Visitors are encouraged to dress in period clothing and bring dishes to share for dinner on the ground, reviving the spirit of fellowship and tradition that Rev. Ragsdale envisioned so long ago.

Thank you to the stewards of Marion Ragsdale’s vision. Your dedication ensures that this sacred place and its history continue to inspire future generations.