Communities: Mars Hill, Mars Hill Church, 1969, Winn Parish, LA. From: July 10, 1969 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American History of Mars Hill Church and the Community Is Synonymous by Wanda Cornelius ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Sunday, July 20, 1969, will be a special day for members and former members of the 115 year old Mars Hill Church, in the southwest corner of Winn Parish. As tradition would have it, the third Sunday in July will be homecoming day at the tiny church, but the building will be filled to capacity that day. Much of the early history of Mars Hill is seemingly unattainable, because those first members have departed, many of their names are recalled when one looks at the monuments at the old cemetery nearby. Unfortunately, no one kept the detailed early history on record and when historians did get ready to write it, the sources for material were no longer living. With the assistance of former Mars Hill community residents, and historians W. L. Sowers and H. B. Bozeman, at least part of the story of this old church is revealed. Richard Briley's Memorial History and Cemetery Directory was the source of much information about families who lived in the community, later dying and buried at the church cemetery. ORGANIZED IN 1853 The Mars Hill Church was organized in 1853, one year after Winn Parish was formed by Legislative Act. No 85 introduced by Rep. Walter Winn of Rapides Parish afer Dennis Mackie had made a survey. The parish was divided into eight wards. One year after the Mars Hill Church was organized, and after a tug of war over where the county seat would be erected, a courthouse was finally built in Winnfield. The Central Baptist Association was organized at the first session which was held October 29, 1859 at the Mars Hill Church. I was unable to learn a great deal about the early church, except that the physical structure did not change much until around 15 years ago. In the big room which services have been held for over 100 years, women sat on one side and the men on the other. There was a balcony in the room where the slaves attended services along with their masters. Mars Hill Church is located in Sec. 32-9-4W. This land, along with the surrounding area, was surveyed in 1832-33 by Thomas P. Collins, Deputy U. S. Surveyor. Looking at the list of names of those who received U. S. Land Patents in this township prior to the Civil War, one finds many names which are still familiar in the area. Two persons were granted land patents on Section 32. They were Green H. Leopard, who received is grant in 1859, and William R. Bingham, who received his land in 1857 and 1858. MARS HILL CEMETERY In Briley's Cemetery guide there are the names of seven persons named Brady, who were buried at Mars Hill. They are Alice Brady, Ellen Killensworth Brady, wife of John H; Ellie Adams Brady, wife of J. W. Brady; Gladys E. Brady; G. S. Brady; and Hurley Brady, wife of Roy L.; and John H. Brady. These people were no doubt related to Miller Brady, who received land grants in Township 9, North Range, West in 1850-52, and John R. Brady, who received land in 1850. The name Bryant appears six times on stones at the Mars Hill Cemetery. They are Adron L. Bryant, Eunie Lee Jackson Bryant, wife of DeLeon; G. H. Bryant, J. A. M. Bryant, Mary Bryant, Nelwyn E. Bryant, and Sara Ann Elizabeth Bedgood Bryant, wife of James. Seven members of the Byrd family were laid to rest there: Alice Byrd, Emma Byrd, Deby M. Byrd, Powell H. Byrd, Fannie Jane Byrd, wife of W. L., Irine Byrd, and W. L. Byrd. Sixteen times the name Calhoun appears in the cemetery guide, with the number "3" cemetery listing which is Mars Hill. The oldest member of the Calhoun family is John C. Calhoun, who was born September 30, 1832. He died September 4, 1911. The other Calhouns buried there were Emily Fletcher Calhoun, Evander E. Calhoun, Charles J., Clarence E., Dawn Calhoun, G. Calhoun, Georgia Ann Calhoun, Howard Calhoun, Louisa C. Calhoun, John "Jackie" Howard Calhoun, John L. Calhoun, May Calhoun, Millie O., Pvt. Ray D. Calhoun, Susie Wallace Calhoun, and William Calhoun. Once again looking at the land grants in 1859, one filnds the name of another Calhoun, that of Daniel Calhoun. Rev. A. A. Calhoun, who now lives at Riverton, a former member of Mars Hill Church, is one of the persons who returns to Mars Hill in July. Several members of the Deen family are listed as being buried at the church cemetery. They are A. Earl, Addie Durham, Christine, Emma A., Jessie E., Jonnie Lee, and Lena Edna Deen. Emma Jane Calhoun Dixon and six other members of the Dixon family are listed in the directory. Other Dixons listed as buried in Mars Hill are Henry Gus Dixon, Lillie C., Loney Dixon, Milton L., Rosa and Willie H. Dixon. William H. Drewett received a land grant in Sec. 29-10-4W in 1858. Although William H. Drewett's name does not appear in the cemetery directory, there are several other members of the Drewett family listed. They are Margaret Sunshine Drewett, Mary L. Drewett, wife of W. J., Uriah E. Drewett, Vida May Drewett, W. J. Drewett. THE FLETCHER FAMILY The Fletcher name has been prominent on the Mars Hill church rolls since early years and Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Fletcher and Mrs. and Mrs. Aaron Fletcher still attend there. G. W. Fletcher was buried in the church cemetery on November 2, 1878. Twenty-some persons with the last name of Fletcher are listed as being buried at the Mars Hill Cemetery. They are Adaline, Achielles, Allie Mae, Amanuel E. Antoinette Killingsworth Fletcher, Betty J. Callie K. C. P., Dure, daughter of W. G. and Laura, Emmit H., Frances Falsam Burnett, wife of W. L., Francis M., daughter of G. W. and A. A., George N., G. W., J. N., Jos., son of G. W. and A. A., Kate May Fletcher, Leona May, Madge, Margaret, Rebue W., Sallie Shaw Fletcher, Sibbi McCarty Fletcher, wife of George W., Thomas H., and William C. The Garrett name appears several times in the Mars Hill Cemetery. These names include Bobbie Drewett Garrett, wife of T. W., George L. Garrett, Laura Swain Garrett, Lillie Louvenia McManus Garrett, wife of G. L., Lucy C., Oakley N., Robert B., R. S. Rufus P., Silas L., Thomas W., Virginia T., Willie Shumate, William B., and Y. L. Garrett. Thomas W. Garrett was born May 19, 1833 and died in 1909. A family named Hale lived and deceased members of the family were buried at Mars Hill. They are Billie G., Cally D., daughter of J. G. and M. A., E. G., Helene Lorene, Henry J., James G., Malissa and Ozro Hale. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hale, who now live in New Orleans, are frequent visitors at the annual church homecoming. Three members of a family named Holloway were buried at the cemetery between the years of 1884 and 1888. They were Mrs. Eliza Holloway, John A. Holloway, and Samuel Holloway. James A. Killingsworth, was given his land grant in Sec. 25, Township 10N, Range 4 West in 1858. He was born April 3, 1834 and was buried in the Mars Hill Cemetery on November 12, 1912. Several other members of the Killingsworth family were laid to rest there too. They were Amanda E., Lillie A., daughter of R. A. and A. A., Lydia A., Mary Drewett Killingsworth, and Richard A. Killingsworth. John Lang received a land grant in township 9 not far from Mars hill Church in 1859. Records show he was born August 28, 1823 and died on August 8, 1892. Several members of the Lang family still attend church services at Mars Hill or go to the reunion. They are Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Lang, Mr. and Mrs. Otho Lang, of Montgomery, and Mrs. Eula Lang. Other Langs who lived and died in the community are in the cemetery there are: Dudley D. Lang, Henry Owen Lang, James Monroe Lang, Margaret Bell Lang, Martha A. Lang, Otis Lang, and Robert Marion Lang. THE MCMANUS FAMILY The McManus name has been associated with the community and Mars Hill Church for many years. In 1860, Samuel McManus received a land grant in Township 10, North Range 4 West in Section 28. Now the Mars Hill Cemetery stones bear 24 names of McManus. They are Angie McManus, Ardilla McManus, Evie McManus, Howell McManus, H. A. McManus, buried in 1919, Mrs. H. A. McManus, J. F. McManus, Garland Grannon, Joy Fletcher McManus, Leola Spencer McManus, John T., L. L., N. C., Nora E., wife of J. T. McManus. Also, Orion Lee McManus, Rev. P. McManus, Ray V. McManus, Richard Sam McManus, Roana Paton McManus, Ruth Rrexana McManus, Warren A., William R., and William L. McManus. The name Poole, also spelled Pool, in the cemetery directory, appears several times. Alonzo Pool, born in 1881, and Julia A. Pool, born in 1875, died 1899, W. J. Pool, born in 1830, appear under one spelling of the name. Emma Dixon Poole, Eva Poole, and Frank Poole, are also listed in the directory as being buried in the old cemetery. Other names with appear more than once in the directory are Reeves, Robbins, Shelton, Spikes, Stanley, and Stroud. A Levi Spikes and William A. Spikes both received land grants in 1869. A man, perhaps named after Levi, born 1867, appears in the cemetery directory. Also buried in the cemetery are persons with the last name Teagle, Teddlie, Thompson, Wallace, and Woods. There are many other names which appear once or twice in the directory, but space does not allow the printing of them all. MORE HISTORY When the Mars Hill Church was first organized, it was affiliated with the Red River Baptist Association. Then in 1859, a group of churches, formerly affiliated with the Red River and Ouachita Baptist Association, met at the Mars Hill Church and organized the Central Baptist Association (name changed to Winn Parish Baptist Association in 1926 and to the Winn Baptist Association in 1955.) At first, Central Baptist Association extended to the north into Bienville Parish to the west as far as Natchitoches, to the south to include Montgomery and the east into Caldwell Parish. Now there are two associations in the general area of Winn Parish. The Central Baptist Association, Winn Association had their last annual meeting or one session of a multi-session annual meeting with the Mars Hill Church eight times, the last one being the occasion of the Centennial meeting of the Association. W. L. Sowers compiled the following information about the Mars Hill Church, directly from the minutes of the Central/Winn Association, from 1892 through 1925. 1892, pastor I. M. Brian, clerk H. C. Mixon, members 101. 1895, pastor A. P. Durham, clerk H. C. Mixon, members 109, messengers E. E. Mixon, A. G. O'neal, R. L. Oaks, C. H. Davidson, H. C. Mixon. 1896, pastor A. P. Durham, clerk H. C. Mixon, members 120, messengers P. McManus, H. C. Mixon, W. R. McManus. 1898, pastor L. M. Phillips, clerk H. C. Mixon, members 141, messengers J. L. Fletcher, J. J. Mixon. 1899, pastor J. P. Durham, clerk T. G. Harlan, members 141, messengers, Elder P. McManus, R. L. Oakes, A. M. Adams, W. M. McIlwain. 1900, pastor J. P. Durham, clerk, H. C. Mixon, members 141, messengers A. M. Adams, E. T. Mixon, J. W. McIlwain. 1901, pastor J. H. Crosby, clerk H. C. Mixon, members not given, messengers A. M. Adams, Fate McIlwain, and Calvin Davison. 1902, pastor, H. M. Michael, clerk C. R. Davison, members 137, messengers H. M. Michael, W. M. McIlwain, and A. M. Adams. 1903, pastor H. M. Michael, clerk F. C. Adams, members 165, messengers H. M. Michael, J. L. Durham, A. M. Adams, J. H. Canterberry, C. R. Davison. 1904, pastor, H. M. Michael, clerk F. C. Adams, members 165, messengers H. M. Michael, C. R. Davidson, A. M. Adams. 1905, pastor G. A. Kelly, clerk J. M. Lang, members 102, messengers represented by letter only. 1908, pastor H. A. D. Williamson, clerk C. R. Davidson, members 80, messengers Lloyd Taylor. 1909, no report given. 1910, pastor L. M. Nichols, clerk G. L. Garrett, members 68, messengers W. H. Bazar, P. McManus. 1911, pastor L. M. Nichols, clerk G. L. Garrett, members 60, messengers J. H. Brady. 1912, pastor not listed, clerk G. L. Garrett, members 68, messengers, R. M. Lang, J. H. Brady, G. L. Garrett. 1913, pastor, I. M. Brian, clerk G. L. Garrett, members not shown, messengers J. W. Chester, W. J. Bazar. 1914, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk W. P. Teddlie, members 48, messengers Lance McManus. 1915, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk P. McManus, 50 members, messengers, P. McManus. 1916, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk P. McManus, members 46, messengers P. McManus. 1917, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk P. McManus, members 49, messengers none listed. 1918, no report. 1919, no report. 1920, pastor S. H. Strain, clerk J. M. Lang, messenger W. P. Teddlie. 1921, pastor H. S. Strain, clerk J. M. Lang, 43 members, messenger W. P. Teddlie, R. M. Lang, G. L. Garrett. 1922, pastor W. E. Robertson, clerk J. M. Long, members 65, messengers Graton McManus, Crockett Teddlie. 1923, pastor not shown, clerk G. P. McManus, members 62, messengers represented by letter only. 1924, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk G. P. McManus, members 54, messengers P. McManus, Miss Avis Lang (first woman messenger). 1925, pastor G. B. Foster, clerk not given, members 72, messengers R. M. Lang, Miss Avis Lang, W. J. Bazar, Rev. P. McManus. Mars Hill Was Named After Greek Hill Ares by W. L. Sowers Mars Hill Baptist Church. How did the church get its name? Since many churches adopted names that were found in the Bible, we can safely assume that the name was adopted from the Greek hill of Ares called the hill of Mars. The Apostle Paul "stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said "Ye men of Athens, I perceived that all things here are too superstitious (very religious) , for I passed by, and beheld your devotions (observed the objects of your worship), I found an altar with this inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD", whom therefore ye ignorantly worship..." Paul spoke to the group of learned intellectuals in the courts of the Hill of Mars. "Howbeit certain me clave unto him, and believed; among the which was Dionysius and Areopagite (a member of the court of Areopatite), and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."