Early History

Of The Center

Point Church

  The history of the Center Point Baptist Church written by the late Naomi Hendricks McCuin, granddaughter of Sylvanus Minton, a charter member and organizer of the first Center Point Church.

  The following article was brought to the Herald office for publication by Mrs. Essie White.  She had obtained this history from her late husband’s, Bum White, mother, Mrs. Sally White.  It is printed in its entirety.

TO CENTER POINT CHURCH

  I surely could not pass from this world satisfied without letting Center Point Church know who was the first church I ever belonged to and still love, and give a brief history of Sylvanus Minton in his declining days.

  In November, 1870, Sylvanus and Virginia Minton, his wife, and E.P. Minton, his youngest son and family, emigrated from Cherokee County, Alabama to Prairie County, Arkansas.  Both were Baptist ministers.  They visited with William and Rebecca Hendricks.  Sylvanus Minton’s oldest daughter, for a fortnight, then moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he had other sons located.  He spent 2 years there, then returned to Prairie County, Arkansas, and took up abode with William and Rebecca Hendricks, to spend his declining days with his oldest daughter and son-in-law.

  He was then an octogenarian, he was a man of strong will and a sound mind and being firm in the faith, 

was interested in the Lord’s work.  When he found there was no organized Baptist Church, he was very much concerned and began to make arrangements with Rev. William Paterson, a Baptist minister who had recently moved into that community.  There being no church house nearly, they agreed to meet in an old log cabin in 1874, procure the services of another minister (Dr. Gilbert, a Baptist minister was a practicing physician) and organized a church.  They interviewed him and he was eager to assist.

  They met with 5 Baptist as charter members, Mrs. Nancy Sewell (daughter of Sylvanus Minton) Mrs. Charlotte Dicus from Scottsboro, Alabama, Mrs. Isbell from Tennessee, Sylvanus and wife, Virginia Minton, went in as charter members, being five.

  The first service they held to receive members, Mrs. Martha Camp united with the little band of worshippers, also, George T. Petty and perhaps others.  Sylvanus Minton suggested they call their little organized band, Center Point, after his old home church in Alabama, where he had served as pastor years previous to moving to Arkansas.  Sylvanus Minton was the founder of Center Point Church.  Before they built a church, they held services in a log cabin that was built for a school house for that community.  They held a revival and had a number come in on profession of faith and were baptized by the pastor, Rev. Gilbert.  Many come in from other states by letter.  Sylvanus Minton was elated over the progress of the little church and lived to see them have a comfortable building to worship in and call

their own.  They built in 1878.  John Morris, a grandson of Sylvanus Minton was among others that united with Center Point Church and made his desire known that he wanted to be a minister and was licensed to preach.  He was a mere boy of 19.  He was a devout Christian, was ordained to preach and did until the Lord called him home at the early age of 26.  His passing was deeply mourned by his friends and loved ones.

  Sylvanus Minton parted this life, November 9, 1880, at the age of 89.  Rev. Gilbert preached his funeral at the home of W. Hendricks, November 10.  The scripture he used was I have fought a good fight; I have kept the faith.  Sylvanus had requested that scripture to be preached from.  He was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, usually known as the Hardshell cemetery.

  Sylvanus Minton was a man of good courage through a large generation, father of 19 children.  Two sons and three grandsons were Baptist preachers.  At the age of 85, his oldest daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Minton Hendricks, counted up to the best of their ability and Naomi Hendricks kept count and added them as they called them off and there were 85 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

  This is a previous history of Sylvanus Minton in his declining years, written by his granddaughter, Naomi Hendricks McCuin.  This should be the first chapter of Center Point History.