The following letter was written by the late George M. Mason, who at one time resided in the Forrest Chapel area near Violet Hill in Izard County. Mr. Mason moved to Beebe, Arkansas in the 1920’s and then to Texas where he was living at the time of his death.

The letter was written about 1953 or 1953 and reveals much about the history of the founding of Forrest Chapel Methodist Church. The reference to Rinda in the first paragraph is to *Mrs. Harrison ( Rinda Forrest) Hames; “Carl’s” refers to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hames. “Ludie” is a reference to Ludie Forrest. All four are now deceased.

The Forrest and Mason families settled in the Violet Hill area shortly after the Civil War. They were dedicated church workers and leaders in the community. These two families, like many others who settled in Izard County, came here from Tennessee, Aabama and other nearby southern states.

Forrest Chapel Methodist church remains an active church until this day. The present church building is a new modern structure located on the south side of Highway No. 56 about midway between Brockwell and Violet Hill, Forrest Chapel Cemetery is a few feet south and west of the church.

Terrell, Texas

Hello Folks:

How are you both, yes and Carl’s too? We are still on the map. Say Rinda, I am writing you a long letter, it is for you and Ludie both, for I know your old grandfather was a leader in starting any religious services in that settlement.

FORREST GENEALOGY Washington T. Forrest b. July 14, 1815 , d. July 31, 1897 and wife Nancy Jane Cook b. Sept. 15, 1828, d. May 23, 1901

FORREST CHAPEL CHURCH

The pictures on the facing page have hung in Forrest Chapel Church for a number of years. They were put there by a relative W.W. Cook of Culp, Stone County, Arkansas.

W.T. “Uncle Thompsie” Forrest was a first cousin of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

W.T. and his wife Nancy Jane were leaders in the founding of Forrest Chapel Church.
Photo courtesy of Charles Cheatham, a great grandson.

In the spring of 1876 a Sunday School was started on Uncle Thompsie Forrest front porch. That summer a log cabin that stood something like a 1/4 mile north of where Chester Melton lives, was move and put up about 60 or 70 yards S.W. of where the church was later built. That was where the split log seats were used. When it came to naming the church, some suggested one thing, some another. Old Uncle Billie Brice said, “Call it Forrest Chapel” and that name was agreed on.

A paper that I have here and am looking at now says, “ The Forrest Chapel Church was organized Sept. 1, 1876. *Rev. Henry Hays P.C. Charter members: Washington Forrest, Class Leader Nancy J. Forrest; Nancy Cook; James W. Mason, Class Steward: Sarah A. Mason; Mary E. Mason; W.H. McCollum; Sarah B. McCollum; Susannah A. McCollum; Charity E. McCollum; Lousia J. McCollum. Signed: John S. Watson.”

In 1877 a meeting was held about 150 yards south of where the church was later built. B.F. Hall and Henry Hays did the preaching. There were several conversions and additions to the church- Uncle Lewis Wash, Dave McCollum, Brock Mason, and some of the Brices that I can remember, yes and some of the Shines and Homes’s.

The foundation was hewed from logs by the citizens. Mr. Dowdle hired Sam Mason, colored, to help on the foundation, framing and roofing. The neighbors hauled the lumber and kiln dried it, all was hand dressed. The last work was making the seats and pulpit. *George T. Forrest had subscribed $ 10.00 which he worked out by dressing lumber. His wage was one dollar per day and his work was on the seats. Brock Mason, age 14, and George Mason, age 12, dressed lumber several days and the two together could make a dollar a day. This went on J.W. Mason’s subscription. J.W. Dowdle donated the building of the pulpit, as that had not been mentioned in the contract. The members of the committee each paid $108.00, several five and ten dollar donations were paid.

The church was all completed a few days before Christmas. All debts were paid and the church was dedicated in February, 1880 by S.L. Cochran. He used Ps. 87:5 for his text. Others moved in or were transferred in: *Jim L. Forrest came in from Kansas in 1878. They were useful, he was a great leader. *Uncle Jim Forrest, as he was called, and *Aunt Bet transferred from *Philadelphia, he from the Methodist Church, she from the Baptist. J.W. Mason gave two acres of land for a building site. The county surveyor Eugene Billingslea measured it off and established the corners.

Milinda Dorinda Mason, Sister Linda, was the first one to be buried there. She showed her mother, Sarah Ann Mason, just where she wanted to be buried. She said “ Then you can look out the window and see my grave.’’ She was in bad health ,dropsy , and could not last long. The first one to be licensed to preach there was W. Edd Bishop, then followed Marion McUlmerry, Brock Mason, Ewing Williams, H. Hubert Hunt and *Edd Forrest. That is all I can call to mind as licensed to preach at Forrest Chapel.

J.W. Mason bought the little log church and moved it down to his place and added to it for a barn. It stood there until Uncle Jim Brown tore it down.

Oh, if I were there could tell on and on, had better hush.

Do we love Forrest Chapel?