This project was undertaken by Reta DeShields Parton and Tonya Parton
Williams in 2002. We proceeded from copies of microfilm which is located at the
Arkansas Archives. From there, we realized there was some pages we could not
read or were missing. We therefore searched for and located the original Minute
Books. At this time, we made color copies of pages we were unable to read due to
bleed through of ink and made copies of the missing pages. The family who holds
the books now are considering placing them in the hands of an archive which will
allow them to be obtained through copies. At this time, contact me, Reta
Parton , if you question an entry or would like more information.
I have transcribed other minute books from churches and I would like to say
the Baptist Church on Crooked Creek minutes are very clean. No dirty laundry is
washed in these minutes. I do feel the original few years minutes were rewritten
when they obtained a minute book. The worst you will find in these minutes is
dismissing or excluding a member because of Missionary Principles.
The church was originally started as a Baptist Church with Missionary
principles. Or as we know today, Missionary Baptist. They were very active in
holding revivals at peoples homes. The church even decided to send committees to
these meetings to "open the door to receive members" who would be
members of the Crooked Creek Baptist Church. I was very surprised to see the
very same members who were the committee to open the door at missionary
meetings, were also the ones who promoted the hardshell or non-missionary
beliefs. The church did survive this and continued on.
An interesting fact is that Linden Baines Johnson’s grandfather was the
pastor of the Crooked Creek Baptist Church. During his pastorialship, he also
served as a state representative. The Crooked Creek Baptist Church was in existence
before Arkansas was a state. They started in 1834 and Arkansas became a state in
1836. It was originally in Carroll County. However, the area became part of
Boone County in 1869. The current guardian of the book states the church was
between Harrison and Lead Hill on what is now Highway 7 and is currently called
Union Baptist Church. Lindon Baines Johnson’s grandmother arranged a grant
which paid for the steeple for the church.
I became interested in this church through reading Roger Logan’s book
"History of the North Arkansas Baptist Association" In this book he
states, "The Crooked Creek Baptist Church was formed on July 3, 1834. It is
the oldest known church of any kind located within the present boundaries of the
North Arkansas Baptist Association. (omitted text) The church was organized as a
Missionary Baptist Church and sponsored several mission efforts and a number of
revivals in its first years. However, it was taken over by the "hardshell"
group in 1844 and a number of the members and the pastor were expelled for
holding missionary principles." (page 161-162)
He also states: In the Crooked Creek Church, the hardshell element gained
strength and, so, it was, that in December 1843, Sister Matilda Freeman, Brother
Matthew Shipman, Sister Shipman, and Brothers Hand and Desheals applied for
letters of dismission. They were granted and then a motion was made and seconded
that the church break fellowship with "The Home and Foreign Missionary
Principles" and "all of its various branches and all other
unscriptural institutions.""
This is why I became interested. I was curious if Hand and DeShields was one
or two people as my great great grandfather was Handy DeShields. Through the
kind help of the Arkansas State Archives and the personal help of Jane
Wilkerson, I was able to copy the first years of the minutes book and begin to
get the real feel for this church and found out, yes, Handy DeShields was one
person and He joined in May 1842 and requested a letter of dismission in
December 1843. Handy’s obituary appeared in the Buffalo Baptist
Association’s Minutes who stated he was always in his seat so he stayed true
to his belief’s throughout life.
Hope you enjoy these minutes. If I can assist or explain anything, please let
me know.
Reta DeShields Parton
