History of Zion Hill Baptist Church ( no longer existing) east of Ozark, Pope County, IL.

Written by Georgia Maxwell Cox. ( newspaper clipping in Wandie Morris' scrapbook).

Saturday, November 20, 1976, I witnessed the sale of a beloved church building. Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Chuch was organized July 7, 1860, east of Ozark in what was John Stone's home at that time ( later known as Doc McCuan and still later Eutha McCuan farm ). It joined the John A. Maxwell and Otto Parmely farms.
They built an octagonal ( 8 sided) log church building on this farm. The council present to organize were Elder Wm. Frizzell of Davis Prarie Church; Wm. Reames of Mt. Zion Church was appointed moderator; Rev. Eph. Parmely of Mt. Zion ( Rock community, Pope County, IL) was appointed to preach the sermon; Robert Lewis of Little Saline was appointed clerk.
After the sermon, the articles of faith were read. They acknowledged the following brethren and sisters as a regular organized Baptist Church of Jesus Christ: John Stone, Almeda Stone, Anna Stone, Wm. G. Wooten, Mary S. Wooten, Wm. Wiatt, Nancy Wiatt, Joshua Bratton, Nancy A. Morray, Zerilda Morray, Matilda Aliston, Martha Cole, Elizabeth Mounce and Vinetta Wallace.
The church voted to have services every fourth Saturday, ( Saturday night and Sunday and Sunday night.) Rev. Eph ( Ephraim) Parmely of Mt. Zion was elected unanimously as pastor.
The church grew and a new frame building was built three miles further north in 1886.
My grand father, George Chrisman of Mt. Zion joined Zion Hill the fourth Sunday in October, 1887and walked 20 miles each way every month to church. After marriage, he moved to New Burnside and he and his wife, Easter Morticia Bowman Chrisman were members until their death.
His daughter, Mary Ann, was a member there before uniting with her husband ( John A. Maxwell) with Zion Hill in 1906, where my father remained a deacon 50 years, until his death, November 21, 1956.
Their six daughters, georgia Cox, Minnie Womack, Ruth Davis, Edith Robertson, Ethel Gilbert and Alma Piquard, all belonged here. Mary Louise Cox (daughter of Georgia) joined here at age 13 in 1935. So, twelve members of our family worshipped here. You can see why it has always been a precious spot.
The church was located on a quiet road, but people came on foot, horseback, buggy, hack, surrey wagon, sometimes by sled. Jim Barker, Ozark merchant and retired teacher and Dr. James Ezra Blanchard owned the first cars. Few came to Zion Hill in cars before 1930. A friend who saw one of these cars said, "Come and see this self mover."
In 1920 Rev. Chas. Allen, a powerful evangelist from Marion, held a great revival here and 18 professions were made. Orlan Cox and Winnie Cavitt Solomon, two of the present members, were two of those joining. In 1921 he held another revival and had 22 professions.
When Wooten School consolidated with Golconda School in 1959, Zion Hill decided to buy the school site for a church, to be on a gravel road. They sold the church April 4, 1960 for a home, at $300 and had already bought Wooten School November 18, 1959 for $226.
Georgia, Ruth and Minnie were four of the Maxwell sisters who taught there. Minnie taught its last term
( 1958).
Wooten's first school ( about 1860) was in a log building in Zion Cemetery and taught by Wm. Wooten. May 6, 1867 Willis W. Warren and wife, Catherine, deeded .51 acre to trustees, H. Jackson, Geo. Keith and Wm. Griffith for Wooten School's second site for $4.00.
People had to move here and there away from this community for work and left only seven members. Only two, Glen and June Street, lived near the church. Others are: Orlan Cox, Winnie Solomon, Roberta Stone Baker, Laurel Stone and Helen Stone Carter. The Stones are all great-grandchildren of the John Stone, in whose home Zion Hill was organized.
For the last few years, there were no regular services after the death of the last pastor, Rev. Ulys Blancard. Homecoming was held the last Sunday in September each year.
I had watched the sale of several schools where I had taught ( most for homes) : Ozark, Wallace, Walnut Grove, Reagan, Marshall and others. This was the first church and school building to watch sell. It was a heart-tugging event.
Junior Martin, whose farm adjoins this land, bought the land, building and contents. Orlan Cox donated much work and time and Jon Simmons, auctioneer, donated his services. The proceeds of the sale go to Zion Cemetery Trust Fund Association.
It isn't easy to tell a little school and church good-bye.