We do not know the date of the organization of the Methodist Church but in early 1867 the church paid the Baptist Church $250 for the priviledge of exclusive use of their building for one week each month until they could erect a building of their own. In early 1875 the church voted to build at the present site on one half block of land donated by W.C. Sloan.

The church waa dedicated October 10, 1875. Dr. Ben H. Dye of Searcy preached the dedicatory aermon and the first service was that night when he performed the marriage ceremony for Miss Mary Ellen Barnett and Dr. S.L. Fisher, both members of pioneer families. (Lawrence County decendents are granddaughters, Mrs. Hazel (Steele) Baker and Helen Rudy and great grand daughter, Bonnie Barker Perkins, Smithville).

A deed waa not given for the land on which the church building was erected until April 12,1885. It was signed by W.C. Sloan, Clay Sloan, Frank Sloan, and Maggie Baber. Notary public was H. B. White and George Thornburgh. Trustees were Dr. J. M. Self, John W. Patton and W.M. Fortenberry.

In 1883 a bell was placed in the steeple of the white frame church and was a gift from Jasper N. Hillhouse, grandfather of Geneva Hillhouse Mullen. It was purchased in St. Louis and arrived at Powhatan riverport by way of the Mississippi, White and Black Rivers. Its tones are heard over the countryside on Sunday mornings when Grover Davis arrives. Mr. Hillhouse was one of the group of Presbyterians who worshipped with the Methodists until they could erect their house of worship.

It was in the 1890's that Miss Mary Steadman purchased factory built pews and with the church organ, deacons bench, carpeted chancel and aisles, and later a new pulpit built by Rector Richardson, the church was well furnished.

The Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, published ln 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Co., states the followlng about churches in Lawrence County.

"The Methodists and Baptists organized the pioneer Christian Societies in the county, followed at a later date by other denominations. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is now the strongest here and its various organizations belong to the Newport district of White River conference, of which F. E. Taylor is presiding elder. Smithville circuit has six appointments, and a membership of 496, with W.T. Reedy as pastor." There are 535 members in the other three circuits in the county.

In 1901 an evangeliet know as "Wild Bill Evans" held a seventeen night revival under a brush arbor and had many converts and Dick Anthony, a black, was one of them. At the close of the revival twenty, Including Dick, had joined the church.

The parsonage was built in the early l900's and the Smithville minister preached at Rock Cove in the Annieville area, Flat Creek, located about half way between Denton and Black Rock, and Jesup. Later the North Arkansas conference moved Flat Creek to Shiloh and Rock Cove to Denton. The Smithville pastor was their pastor also. Raneys Chapel was on Smithville circuit a short time but was moved to Lynn in l923 and Lynn was soon placed on Smithville circuit.

Under the leadershlp of the pastor, Bro. J.C. Richey, the church voted in 1938 to erect a cobblestone building to replace the 63 year old frame structure. Dr. T.C. Guthrie, Luke Johnston, C.W. Turnbow and Ed Bilbrey were on the building committee and Sherman Helm contracted to build for S1,600. The walls are solid concrete between the interior walls and outside rock.

On the night of November 5, 1938 Bishop Selectmen preached the dedicatory sermon. The first service in the church was the funeral of Mrs. Eunissa Peebles Alexander, a member of an early pioneer family and a Baptist. (Grandmother of Dula M. Baker). The Baptist congregation was meeting in the school building at this time due to the construction of a new sanctuary. About 1950, the church followed the suggestion of their pastor, Jim Beal, and purchased one fourth block of land east of the church. On it was an old building that housed the village blacksmith as long as anyone could remember. It was torn down immediately and a new Educational Building was under construction. This project was a fellowship hall, three class rooms, one which would also be used as a kitchen.

This addition was dedicated on Sunday September 23, l956. District Superintendent, J. Albert Gatlin, preached the dedicatory sermon. This buildlng is still in use (1985) and is well furnished for a small church and town. Much of the furnishings have been given as memorials.

Pastors during the first 10 years were Rev. Morris, Phipps, Morris, Thacker, Brooks and Self. Later were W.R. Wooley, J.S. Brooks, C.R. Mosley, W.F. Walker, J.B. Wilkerson, W.J. Reedy, S.W. Register, S.W. Register, J.K. Kemper, L.F. Fain, F.M. Copeland, J.D. Kelly, F.M. Champion, W.M. Jones, F.M. Glissen, E.T. Miller, M.L. Mack, W.J. Martin, M.L. Mack, Earl Benbrook, Burl Long, and L.L. Langston. Also Fred Glover, W.E. Tussey, W.W. Gibson, A.W. Harris, W. J. Williams, Bro. Stewart, Laymonds, Billy Odom, L.R. Huggins, Albert Gibbs, W.B. Yount, L.W. Fair, W.T. Watson, Robert Simpson, Jim Beal, Charles Orr, Otha Strayhorn, Cleve Yarbrough, James Weatherford, Max Whitfield, Freddie Roberts, Wayne Clark, Elbert Bruner, Orval Stahl, Charles Willmuth, Cyril Wilson, Bill Kirkland, Harlan Shelton, Sam Long, and Jimmy Dale Thresher.

This article was taken from the Lawrence County Historical Society Quarterly, Fall 1988, Volume 11, Number 4. The information on this page may be used for historical and genealogical purposes and not for financial gain. Any use must be accompanied by written permission of the page owner and this copyright must appear with the article. Jeri Helm Fultz