Family History: Shaw Family, 1974, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: June 26, 1974 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American A Historical Night For Mt. Zion Church Mt. Zion Church will host the entire late "Billy Shaw" family at its fourth Saturday, June 22, 1974 at Mt. Zion Methodist Church. For all of us, who grew up around here in the Mt. Zion area, this will be a treat. Some of those who are known to us are Mrs. Omera Wolff, Michigan; Floyd Shaw of Texas; Rev. Jack Shaw of Ruston; Vessca Shaw, Alexandria; Mrs. Ruby Barton, Mrs. Lena Lovell, and Grafton Shaw all of Winnfield; and Wilburn Shaw of Montgomery. This is a little history of Grandfather John Fenley Shaw. He was a native of Alabama. He was born near Birmingham. When he was about 18 years old he went to Arkansas and stayed about six months and was told how easy one could homestead land in Louisiana. He applied for, what is believed to be, 320 acres, then went back home and he and grandma were married. Her maiden name was Martha Sims, native state was Georgia, but moved to Arkansas. Louisiana was where they made their home. They were charter members of Mt. Zion Methodist Protestant Church, and were members until death. They were both devout and true Christians. He died in 1921. They were the parents of 14 children, five boys, nine girls, three of whom died in infancy. They reared 11 of their 14 children to be grown. The old homestead was held together until grandma and grandpa passed on. Grandma died in October, 1923, and grandpa in March, 1921. I would like to add a little history of the Mt. Zion Church. The first settlers came to Mt. Zion in 1840. Celestive LeFleur, uncle of Thomas Quinalty, settled where the Quinalty place now stands and Colonel John Sapp settled where Irven Shaw lives. Thomas McCracken lived where Edd McGinty lives and the famous plantation home of General Thomas A. Woodward was two miles from Mt. Zion where M. C. Davison lives now. In 1845 a band of immigrants from Alabama on their way to the Republic of Texas were so favorably impressed by the community and its people that they decided to settle here. Among these were the McCains, Hicks, and Currys. Many of them became most valuable citizens. Leader of this gallant band was the Rev. James Isaac Hicks, circuit rider and evangelist. He organized Mt. Zion Methodist Church in 1856. Mr. LeFleur donated one acre of land for the first church building. Mr. Watson gave four acres, making a total of five acres for the church and cemetery. And since that time, T. T. Shumate and Thomas Quinalty gave additional land to the church and cemetery. Anthony Shaw and his son, John Shaw, cleared the land for the first church site, cut and hewed the logs of the first church building. They were the great grandfather and grandfather of the Sunday School Superintendent Wilburn Shaw. Mr. LeFleur donated the logs and flooring. George Horn donated the boards for the roofing. There were 16 members of the church. They were Rev. J. I. Hicks, Mrs. Mary Hicks, John Shaw, Mrs. Mary Starks, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Mrs. Martha Shaw, Mrs. Caroline McGee, Dave Shaw, Mrs. Mary Halloway, W. Y. Wilson, L. L. Shaw, Clem Wilson, Mrs. Jannie Shaw, D. L. Shaw, Miss Laura Shaw, and A. Shaw. In the early days of the church the members gathered often and prayed together for divine guidance, health of their neighbors, rain, and many blessings that only God could and did give them. They had faith and the church grew. During the dark days of the Civil War, they came there and prayed for the safety and salvation of the boys in grey and many of a parent and sweetheart knelt secretly and alone at the sacred old altar, hewn from an old log, asking the safe return of their loved ones. Members of Mt. Zion Church have served the country in four (actually more) wars, and in our church yard sleep veterans of the war in Mexico, Civil War, World War I and II, and the Spanish American War. During the Civil War Mt. Zion Church served as registration and induction center for the men from this section. Among those who enlisted here and served with distinction on the field of battle were Major H. V. McCain, Captain John Sapp, Lt. J. Prather, Felix Adams, and J. Matt McCain. Others were Nathan Gilcrease, Richard McLamore, D. J. Shumate, George Davison, John G. Mitchell, John and Charles Quinalty, John Shaw, Lawson and William Kimbrell (not sure William D. "Billy" Kimbrell served in the War For Southern Independence). Many of these made the supreme sacrifice on the field of battle. Others returned home and are buried here. Dr. Bice and family, Rev. and Mrs. Hicks, Rev. and Mrs. I. R. Strickland, Mr. and Mrs. Henry McCain, and others of the founders sleep in the shadow of the church they built and left to posterity. Henry McCain and George Horn, grandfather of Paul Horn, planted the sycamore tree that now stands in front of the church. This was done a few years before their death and now grows as a living monument. Sponsored by the Mt. Zion Church, the Mt. Zion College build in 1891 was one of the leading institutions of higher learning of that day, offering a four year course in the arts, sciences, and music. Dr. I. M. P. Hickerson was the first president with Dr. John Paul, a graduate of Oxford University, England, on the faculty. T. H. Harris, former State Superintendent of Education of Louisiana, also attended and taught school here. Since the organization of the Mt. Zion Church, there have been many wonderful and faithful workers here. From this church there have been many, eleven or more, who have gone in the ministry.