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From: Minutes of Church Session and Register of the Des Arc Presbyterian Church
We regret that we have been unable to secure all the facts of the history of our church, but as far as we can learn, it was organized prior to the year 1848. This we know from a public record in our Court House in which the fact is mentioned that a deed had been given prior to the year 1848 by Mr. Geo. Watkins, of our present church property to Daniel Lewis Gray, Pastor and Samuel Cair, Elder and their successors in trust for the Presbyterian Church. In the book entitled "Presbyterians in Ark" we find that the Sylvania Church was organized in the year 1842 by the Rev. James W. Moore and that the Des Arc Church was orgnized after that date. So our organization occurred 1842 and 1848, through the instrumentality of Rev. James W. Moore, Rev. Jno. Green and possibly Rev. Daniel Lewis Gray. The Presbytery of Ark. met in Des Arc in the year 1861. The first definite record we have of this church is 1874. The following officers have served. Viz:
MINISTERS: |
DATE: | _ | MINISTERS: | DATE: | |
| Rev. Mr. Wilson | _ | Rev. T.C. Johnston | Oct. 19th, 1902 | ||
| Rev. Mr. Sample | _ | Rev. J.A. Craighton | Apr. 190__ | ||
| Rev. Mr. Kennedy | _ | Rev. H.H. Patrick | Sept. 8th, 1904 | ||
| Rev. Mr. Shives | _ | Rev. J.F. Forsyth | Feb.15th, 1907 | ||
| Robert H. Crozier | May 24, 1874 | Rev. E.C. Bingham D.D. | Sept. 1912 | ||
| J.S. Wilbanks | May 5, 1878 | Rev. J.S. Murphy | 1914 | ||
| John F. Baker | Aug. 16, 1879 | Rev. J.T. Trimble | 1915 | ||
| A.L. Miller | 1885 | Rev. Fred W. Matthews | 1918 | ||
| S.J. Reid | Jan. 20, 1889 | Rev. Bluford Hestir | 1917 | ||
| Wm. H. Reid | Sept. 16, 1894 | Rev. Geo. Steen | 1913 | ||
| Rev. T.J. Horne | Dec. 14th, 1895 | Rev. J.J. McInnis | 1920 | ||
| Rev. Malcum Black | March 7th, 1897 | Rev. J.J. Ramsey | 1924 | ||
| Rev. G.T. Story | Oct. 1, 1899 | Rev. P.S. Herron | 1925-1930 | ||
| R.M. Hammock | Jan 7th, 1900 | C.T. McCully | 1932 |
During its history the church has had two houses, Viz. the one lately burned July 17th, 1908 constructed of brick, and a small frame structure used prior to the erection of the brick church in the year 1883. Under the direction of Rev. E.C. Bingham, A.S. Reinhardt, F.G. Greer and W.W. Bethell a new brick veneer church building was erected in the year 1912 at a cost of about $5,000.00. The church was completed and dedicated Dec. 24th, 1922. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. J.J. McInnis.
