The history of the New Enon Primitive Baptist Church in North Franklin Co., Arkansas, and its organization includes a history of the people who settled and developed the Mulberry Valley from about where the present bridge across Mulberry is located on Highway 23, North through Franklin Co., up stream to Beach Grove near the low Water Bridge.

The fertile soil, the abundance of fish in the streams and game and fur bearing animals in the forest, along with the fine timber, climate and other natural resources which provided the early settlers with about everything they used or needed for maintenance, were evidently the reasons some of the first settlements in Franklin Co. were made here.

When the population in the community grew sufficiently, they built a house for school and church purposes. These at first were log houses.

Church services were held at various times and places in this valley. Several denominations established and maintained churches in this locality that I know about that has a complete written record of its proceedings from the time it was organized to the present day.

John W. Anderson, over 80, lived at 305 Gibson St., Ozark, AR, until his death in 1964. W. P. Anderson, his father, wrote the minutes of the church meetings for a number of years. Elder J. L. (Jimmy) McClellan, now in this 84th year, lives on Highway 64, in the western limits of Ozark. He also has written records of the church from the time it was organized to the present time.

Many of the early records were evidently written with goose quill pens and by an accomplished penman. Several pages are yellowed and dimmed by age, but they furnish a consecutive record of this church and its activities for one hundred and fifteen years.

I spent a few hours with Mr. Anderson and Mr. McClellan looking over these records while they commented on them. My object was to select material for an article I wanted to write about this church for publication. I found these church minutes would furnish enough information to write a book. Every few pages, a new story or item would appear. Mr. Anderson't grandfather, D. Kaner Anderson, and Elias Turner settled near the present Post Office at Cass about the beginning of the Civil War. Elias Turner owned several hundred acres of land and operated a tread wheel gin, which Mr. Anderson remembers seeing when a small boy.

Tradition here says that Joe Turner, brother of Elias Turner, built the first store at Cass, a log building, and that the Post Office was named after an old settler, John Cass.

The minutes show that the New Enon Primitive Baptist Church was organized the first Sunday in May, 1841, at a neighbor's house near Cass and that the members who formed the congregation were withdrawing from a church already in existence in this valley, known as the Mulberry Baptist Church. They also show that Elders Jobe, Hobbs, Eli Paly, and G. Horner formed themselves into a presbytery and, after some questions were asked, they were found to be sound in doctrine and practice. Elder G. Horner was the first pastor, and the following were listed as charter members: George Horner, W. R. James, J. R. Horner, W. A. Hill, Lewis Durning, Elizabeth Horner, Winey Hill, Polly Turner, Leletha James, Sarah Turner, Mary Hamm, Nancy Durning, G. W. Durning, William McLaughlin, G. W. Barham, Cliga Horner, Mary McLaughlin, and Elizabeth Jane Turner.

The New Enon Church has changed its location or meeting place three times since it was organized at Cass. It held its meetings here for more than 40 years, moving to Grassy Flat in about 1885. It next moved to Sulphur Springs in about 1905 and then to its pressent location on Highway 23, 7 miles north of Ozark, in 1935, where it constructed a frame building which was completed in 1951 by rocking the outside. It is now known as the Little Stone Church on Highway 23.

One of the members of this church told me that New Enon Church had never owned its own home until they built the little church house now in use, although it was then nearly 100 years old.

The old school, or Primitive Baptist, do not use the title "Reverend", before their pastor's name. They are referred to as Elders. The service record of two of Enon's Elders is interesting. Elder W. A. Barham had a service record of 60 years. He died in 1935. He lived on Mulberry River for several years. Later he moved to his little farm near Sulphur Springs on Highway 23, now owned by Dan Woolsey, who married one of his granddaughters. Here Elder Barham reared a large family. He worked on his farm for a livelihood while he served his home church as Elder and met his appointments in other parts of the county and sometimes in neighboring states. It has been said of him that he married more couples and preached more funerals than any other minister in the county during his service.

His means of transportation for local service was a little pony named Jake. I do not know if horses receive a future reward for their services here on earth, but, if they do, Jake certainly deserves his.

Elder Barham was loved and trusted by all. He was noted for his gentleness, humility and devotion to God. He has gone down in local history as one of Franklin County's most loved pastors.

Elder J. L. (Jimmy) McClellan came to Franklin County from Kentucky in his early boyhood days. His father, Hugh McClellan, found employment on the Dave Harris farm and moved his family here.

He cleared land and built the Old Spring House on this farm. For his labor, he received mostly provisions, such as meat and meal. Later he acquired a farm of his own and reared his family. He served a number of years as jailor and deputy sheriff in Franklin County.

Jimmy took advantage of all the school opportunities he had. These were very limited when he was growing up, but he made the best of what he had. He became interested in religion and the Bible at an early age. He became a member of New Enon Church on August 21, 1921. When Elder Barham became superannuated, Jimmy became presiding Elder in 1927. He is now in his 37th year of service as pastor. He has proven a worthy successory to Elder Barham in every way. He is not only loved by his congregation, but is held in high esteem by all who know him.

His devotion to his family, his church and his God is an example of a serene noble life which is one of the more powerful influences in the world.

Elder Barham's 60 years of service, in one church with one congregation, and Elder McClellan's 37 years service, in one church, the same church, is certainly something very unusual in any organization anywhere.

Regular communion services are held at this church, annually, the third Sunday in May and October. Foot washing is part of such services. This feature of communion service, once widely practiced, is now scarecely a memory in the minds of many church members today. Churches of this denomination appear to be the only ones to continue this practice. If this seems to you to be a little singular, let me tell you that this church has never assessed its members or solicited anyone for funds of any kind for the pastor or the church. The pastors have supported themselves and their families in other fields of work while serving their church.

Anyone who reads these old church records will find plenty to think, talk or write about. For illustration, you will find the regular monthly date for meeting is the third Sunday in each month and has been for more than 100 years. This regular monthly service has been conducted except for a few years during the Civil War or occationally a meeting would be omitted because of illness, bad weather, or similar reasons.

The present membership is about as large, or larger, than it has ever been. They have a beautiful little church house, one of the few now left in the rural sections of Franklin County.

The present pastor is Elder J. L. (Jimmy) McClellan. The church clerk is Mrs. Freddy Kenner. The deacons are John W. Anderson, Leon Maxwell, John L. Young and Curtis Barham.

The fact that this little church has survived through the years is evidence of what a few devoted people can do. This little church will never die. The influence on lives of members and of people who lived in this community and visited the church will live on endlessly.

The New Enon Baptist is a cherished land mark. This bit of history should never go unprinted. Through the years, people should be able to read of the little stone Primitive Baptist Church at Enon.

THIS INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A BOOK CALLED "SHORT STORIES BY A PIONEER TEACHER" WRITTEN BY WALTER C. HARRIS AND PUBLISHED BY THE BELLA VISTA PRESS IN 1964.

Photographs and History greatfully provided by Judy Good

Page edit and design by don kelly