DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; History of the Churches --------------------------------- Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson Typed by Trudy Marlow ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890; Pg. 246 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Methodist Episcopal Church South was founded here in 1844. Ten years after, when Mrs. Moss came, Mr. Pipes had charge of the church here and at Pleasant Hill, where the Green- ing class existed. At Mansfield the Campbells, Louis, Edwin and Hilliard Phillips, and their wives; the Bells, Mrs. Rawles (later Mrs. Crosby), Mrs. Lewis, Edward Davis, Mrs. Helper, Mrs. John Pegues, were members. John L. Scales came shortly after John Meek. Of the old members, Mrs. Moss, J. W. McElroy and wife, R. W. Jack- son, Mrs. Greening and Mrs. Bell are living. In 1853 conference was held here, and in 1858 the second meeting was held here. The present preach- er, Mr. White, was then in charge. Dr. Thweatt was president of the college then, and the church building (frame) stood on the site of the present house, which was built after the war. The colored Methodists erected a house of wor- ship on the Pleasant Hill road, and after 1866 made this place a religious and political rendezvous. In August, 1890, a great conclave of Africans was held here. It is related that hundreds of preachers were engaged in evangelical work, day and night, during this revival term. Mansfield Baptist Church was constituted by Z. Worley and A. W. Jackson, June 28, 1851, and joined the association in 1851, reporting eleven members. W B. Benson was chosen clerk. J. P. Buckner was pastor in 1853, succeeding James Backus; A. W. Jackson, in 1855; D. R. W. Mc- Iver, 1856-62; followed with W. F. Herrin, clerk. Brother Scott was pastor in May, 1863, followed that year by J. H. Tucker, who was here during the war; in 1866 Elder Hartsfield, who served until 1876, when T. W. Ebeltoft took charge. In 1880 C. W. Tompkies was called as pastor, but the fol- lowing year G. W. Hartsfleld returned to this charge. T. E. Alford is the present pastor. In May, 1852, the contract for building a church- house was sold to E. Davis, for $1,850, and the house was completed in August. This old build- mg was converted into a hospital on April 8,1864, and burned shortly after. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1872-73. Mr. Harrington is preacher. Christ Memorial Church (English Protestant Episcopal) was organized by Rev. John Sandals, who, prior to the war, was vestry missionary, and pastor until his death, in 1867. Among the first members were Dr. R. T. Gibbs, D. M. Heriot, Mrs. J. B. Elam, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Heriot, Laura Crosby, Mrs. Pegues, Mrs. A. J. Collis, Susan Crosby, Dr. Donaldson, Mrs. Donaldson and a few others. Rev. Messrs. Cameron, Hall, Prosser, Turner and W. K. Douglass were rectors here successively, the latter until July, 1890. In 1880- 81 the present church building was erected by Contractor F. W. Steinman, at a cost, complete, of about $3,000. Mr. Hall the rector, was building superintendent, and expended much labor on this work. The old Catholic Church building was taken down a few years ago, when the Carmelite Church was established at Carmel, about eight miles east of the town. Keatchie Church, formerly known as Good Hope, was organized in 1852, with eighteen members, and A. J. Rutherford, pastor. In 1864 Rev. J. H. Tucker was pastor; in 1867, Peter Crawford, followed in 1868 by Mr. Tucker. The church is practically connected with the college. Keatchie Chapel Church was organized with T. N. Coleman, J. F. Greer, Rev. J. H. Buchner, A. S. Hamilton 0. A. Coleman, Mrs. Julia L. Coleman and Miss Pennie Cummins of the college faculty, members and held services in Welcome Hall. The old Keatchie Baptist Church protested, and charged the new society with obtaining letters fraudulently and a denominational war was waged for some time. The trouble extended to the college or originated there, but matters were amicably settled, by the removal of Rev. Mr. Coleman. The Methodist Episcopal building at Keatchie was dedicated in September, 1879, by Rev. G. M. Liverman, the pastor. Bethany Church at "Lick the Skillet," on the Texas line in De Soto, was organized in March, 1852; by A. J. Rutherford. Near by was the gam- ing hall in Louisiana, and the drinking hall in Texas. In December, 1851, Revs. E. B. Reynolds, Jesse Lee and A. J. Rutherford made a raid on Lick the Skillet," captured the hearts of the de- bauchees and made them Baptists. In 1857 G. W. Rogers was pastor, but before the war the membership merged into the societies at Provi- dence and Boggy Bayou. The Baptists organized Emmaus Church here in 1854, but allowed it to collapse in a few years. The Methodists had a church house here before the war. Beyond facts of it being a depot on the old Grand Ecore and Shreveport stage route in 1854, a post-office for a large section that year, and ten years later a battle-ground, there is little to place on record. The new town of Pleasant Hill has appropriated the name. The German colony settled seven miles east of Mansfield in April, 1888, on what is known as Bond's plantation. Father P. Anastase Peters purchased 1,040 acres here from Ricks & Williams on Bayou Pierre, for this colony in April, and P Berthold Ohlenforst, agent, took legal possession. In August the building of the Carmelite monastery here was begun. A two-story building, 40x90 feet, was erected that year, and in 1890 the convent schools were built. The post-office is named Car- mel and Rev. Father Peters is postmaster. Smyrna Church was organized in March, 1878, with fourteen members, and in July, 1880, a house of worship was dedicated by Rev. W. C. Dunlap. Pipes Chapel, near Peter Ricks' house, was dedicated for Methodist worship in January, 1882. In 1850-52 Elder A. W. Jackson organized a number of Baptist Churches, among them being the old Patience Church, Friendship, Evergreen, Hazelwood, New Hope and Longstreet, nearly all of which have disappeared. Salem, organized in 1870, at a point between Kingston and Summer Grove, is in existence, with Bethsaida, Gum Springs, Logansport and Spring Ridge Churches. Ever- green Church, near Kingston, dates back to April 20, 1852, when twelve members signed the arti- cles. In 1856 D. R. W. McIver was pastor. On his death, in 1863, Moses C. Williams was called, and in 1864 R. H. Scott. In 1876 he was charged with sin and deposed. Messrs. Hartsfield, Ebeltoft and Tompkies presided here successively.