Towns & Cities: Mt. Zion Communuity, 1938, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483


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From: April 8, 1938 Winnfield News-American

Mt. Zion Community Built Around the Church Activities Beginning About 1858

by Mrs. Ella Harlan

Mt. Zion Methodist Church was organized in 1858 with Rev. James Hicks as
pastor.  On the site where the church now stands three buildings have been
erected.  The first, a log house, was built by Mr. John Shaw; the second, of
lumber by Mr. S. C. Curry; the present one was built in 1896 by members from
the Church and friends who were willing to assist.  The Cemetery was started
in 1858.  Mr. LaFleur, uncle of Mr. Quinalty, who lived where Mr. Quinalty now
lives, donated one acre of ground toward starting it.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1876 with Rev. Miller, father of Mrs.
Quinalty, as pastor.  The last charter member, Mr. T. T. .Shumate, passed to
his reward only a few days ago at the age of 90.  To him, I am indebted for
data for this article.  When the church was organized the house was built just
across the line in Grant Parish.  In 1893 it was moved to its present site and
erected by members and friends on ground donated by T. T. Shumate.

In 1889 Mt. Zion College was founded with Rev. J. M. P. Hickerson as president
and teacher of Psychology and Moral Science, F. J. Jeffries as teacher of
Latin, English Literature, and Mathematics, W. L. Ford teacher in Normal
Department, and Miss Bessie Curry teacher of vocal and instrumental music.

In 1891 Professor C. C. Harris was elected principal, Prof. Lyman Griswold and
Mrs. C. C. Harris, assistants, and Miss Mattie Morton as music teacher. 
During the winter of 1891 or 92 a two story school building was added.  The
fall of '92 Prof. Griswold was elected principal of a school in Plaquemine and
was succeeded here by Mr. T. H. Harris, our present State Superintendent. 
Prof. C. C. Harris was instrumental in getting a post office for Mt. Zion,
with Mrs. C. C. Harris as postmistress and Mrs. T. T. Shumate, assistant.  It
was kept in a room of Mr. Shumate's house.  Later it was transferred to Prof.
Harris' house.  In 1893 the two story building was destroyed by fire during
Christmas Holidays.  The term was finished in the remaining two-room building. 
For the next term Prof. Harris was principal of Montgomery School and the post
office was taken over by Mr. D. H. Shumate who served as post master for nine
years when an office was established at Wheeling and Mt. Zion was
discontinued.

After the school building burned the school began to go down and finally died,
but not our churches.  They stand as mute evidence of our pride in our
community.

For our present trend in agriculture and home making much credit is due our
county and home demonstration agents.