"Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have."
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

The following was taken from a church history which appeared in the Elberton Star newspaper in 1973. Compiled by Church Historian Grace P. Thornton:

"Middleton United Methodist Church was established in 1873, one hundred years ago, on land given by the Rev. J. H. Grogan. The name given to the church was Eureka, and was called by that name for many years. At that time there were many prominent citizens in the community, and they gave the land for the parsonage located in Middleton. That parsonage no longer stands. Some of the timber in the church was given by Briggs M. Bowman. There are few records of the early history of the church, but we can be sure that many of the people in the community helped.

"Among some of the first members were Rev. J. H. Grogan, Fannie E. Grogan, Briggs M. Bowman, Jane Prather Bowman, W. G. G. Jones, Lizzie Jones, Samuel J. Lovinggood, Mollie Mills, Tinsley White, John McCalla, Mittie McCalla, Annie Allen, Rev. J. N. Wall, Ella Wall, John W. Carr, Mary H. Carr, L.H.O.Martin, Rossie Martin, Sally Martin, J. H. Rucker, Lizzie Wall Rucker, J. S. Thornton, Alice Bowman Thornton, D. B. A. Henry, Lucy Henry, James H. Henry, Eugene B. Heard, Sally Heard, Sue Heard Swift. The church was also used as a school for some time.The teacher was Manley Grogan, son of the Rev. J. H. Grogan. Among some of the pupils were Sue Heard Swift, Alice Bowman Thornton and Cora White who later married Rev. Landy White, and who later became a famous novelist. Her best known book was 'A Circuit Rider's Wife.' This book was later made into a film called 'I'd Climb the Highest Mountain.'

"There were many good and able men who served our church from 1873 to the present time - too many to mention by name, but we will make one exception and mention the name of W. T. Watkins, who later became Bishop Watkins. It is believed that he came to Middleton around 1915, and served the Middleton Circuit for four years. This was his first charge......The church cemetery was started in 1958, Jamie B. Thornton being the first member to be buried on the grounds."

The Cemetery is next to the church at the top of the highest hill in the Middleton area. The hill was formally called "Grogan Hill" by the local old residents and it was a dread to drive up and down on rainy days before it was paved. Although the map does not indicate it, the cemetery is located only a couple of hundred yards from the shoreline of Lake Russell.