Union City Times-Gazette, Monday, April 15, 1940

Mount Zion-Little Church of Early Randolph County History. - by Philip Kabel

Preaching began in the vicinity of Mt. Zion at a very early date, when only paths and trails wended their way among the forest trees. Mr. William Kennedy was an ardent Methodist, and the itinerant preachers soon learned of his hospitality, and his cabin was the circuit-rider's home for many years, and many services were held in his home before there was a church in the neighborhood.

About the year 1836 a log church was built, which served the community until 1868, at which time a frame building was erected, this being remodeled into the present church in 1912.

After the building of the new church in 1868 the old log church was removed to the southeast corner of Mr. Kennedy's farm, where for some years it was occupied as a dwelling, and then served as one of the farm buildings until it was recently torn down.

The second church was erected in 1867 and 1868 during the pastorate of Rev. George Jenkins, who was not only a minister but also an architect and carpenter. He, with members of his congregation, who donated their services, erected the building, the heavy frame timber being cut from trees on the ground where the cemetery was laid out. Rev. Jenkins also made the first seats used in the church. Mrs. William Kennedy and Mrs. Nathan Butts boarded the hands who built the church, each taking her turn in cooking and furnishing the provisions, all without charge.

Nathan Butts and his good wife, Louisa Macy Butts, had moved to this neighborhood soon after the Civil war in 1865, and he and William Kennedy paid the indebtedness on the church before Mr. Kennedy's death in 1871. The parsonage at that time was located at Bartonia.

The first frame building, erected in 1868, was the central part of the present church, the addition to the north and the entrance to the south being added when it was remodeled in 1912.

Instead of the one chimney now located at the west end of the building there were two near the east end, one on either side, and instead of the two windows at the east end there were two doors, the men usually entering at the north one and the women at the south. Two old box-stoves located near the east end of the room furnished the heat.

The pulpit was located at the west end in the center of the room on either side of it being the amen corners where the older members usually sat. In the center of the room were long benches, and in the corners at the east end were short benches where the young folk usually sat, sometimes the boys and girls sitting together so that they might hold hands, or the boys would enter at the north door and their sweethearts at the south, but always close enough that they might smile at each other or make eyes.

What a wonderful inspiration this must have been, a real incentive to attend church.

It is not strange that the old settlers of this neighborhood in selecting a church site and a resting place for their departed ones should choose this beautiful hilltop beneath the giant forest trees near the rippling waters of White River, where the songs of the wild birds and the many-colored flowers of the forest and valley broke the solitude.

[abridged - snipped here - end of history description]

Note - The above newspaper account provided a list of the early burials in Mount Zion Cemetery a list copied from Tucker's History. All agree with what is on the web page with the following stated exception -- The first burial there was Ursula Wheeler, who died May 4, 1841, aged 35 Yrs. 7 M & 16 d.

[See page 154, Tucker's History and Biography of Randolph County.] [Mr. Kabel visited the cemetery and copied many of the inscriptions from the oldest stones which are given in this lengthy article.]

Newspaper Article Contributed By: Billy J. Baker