CHURCH GATHERING HILL
BY RICKEY ROBERTSON
Located in Sabine, Natchitoches, and Vernon Parishes is the large military training area known as Peason Ridge. This land has great historical value and has many stories of the people who settled and homesteaded there. Beginning in 1818 the settlers including some of my ancestors and other hardy folks began settling this area. Some of these settlers had French or even Spanish land grants, but many had begun their westward migration only to find this wonderful area to farm and to raise livestock and o they stayed. Out of this wilderness they hacked out large farms in this untamed area. When the first settlers arrived there were deer, bear, buffalo, and other food sources available, along with many wonderful springs for water and creeks filled with fish. And when these settlers began farming and raising livestock, there were Indians from the Caddo, Adais, Hasinail, Ais, Natchitoches, and Petticaddo tribes living throughout the area. Eagle Hill, located here, is known as one of the largest Native American sites in western Louisiana and was at one time known as the second highest point in the state of Louisiana.
Throughout the years these settlers carved out farms, yet they had to fight for them. These folks fought the outlaws of the Sabine Free State Area, and during the Civil War they fought off robbers comprised of carpetbaggers, jayhawkers, and renegade Yankees. Many of our old stories tell of our ancestors fighting back to keep their farms, burying their dead, and continuing with their way of life. And yes, they killed off these intruders. Makes you wonder how many unmarked graves are in these sand hills!
These settlers comprised many homesteader families and a large number of known sharecropper families. They were self-supporting, with large areas of crops, and vast herds of cattle and other livestock. There were sixteen sections of land set aside just for grazing purposes. If a "squatter" tried to settle in this area, the men would ride over and advise them there was no settling there, and if they did not take a hint, they looked at the barrel of a Winchester. They were very protective of their lands and their special way of life. But they also were very appreciative and thankful most of all to God for all their provisions and for the blessings he bestowed upon them. But there were no churches or church buildings in which to gather for worship services. It would be many, many years before the Kisatchie Baptist Church was organized in 1868, Prewitt's Chapel Baptist Church in 1869, Cold Springs Baptist Church and School in 1889, Pine Grove Baptist in the Peason Community in 1894, and Oak Grove Baptist Church formed many years later. But these people were God fearing and yes, there was a way to gather and worship and these settlers found the ideal place to worship from time to time. To those of us who are members of the Heritage Families of Peason Ridge we often were told of "Church Gathering Hill."
Located near Odum Creek near the present day boundary between Natchitoches and Vernon Parishes was a high hill large enough for these families to gather for worship services. Circuit riding preachers came through the area from time to time and these families hitched up their wagons, saddled their horses, and made the trip to Church Gathering Hill. I recently was able to locate this site by finding and following the old wagon road to this site. It was special because from this high vantage point they could look over the many sections of cleared highland pastures where the livestock was grazing. They were close to God by being out in the midst of His Mighty Creation!
The old circuit riding preachers were unique men who brought God's Message to those they came in contact with. The carried their Bibles in their saddlebags or in their pockets but they also had to have a gun handy at all times. I looked back at many of the old preachers who were known to bring God's Message to these folks. And looking back, with Church Gathering Hill being located about six miles from the caves and hideout of John A. Murrell in the Kisatchie Forest, possibly Murrell himself may have brought sermons at Church Gathering Hill. He was known as a robber, a murderer, but was also very talented and well versed in speaking and preaching from the Bible. We do know that Holy Hill located in Sabine Parish was a regular site where John Murrell spoke to homesteaders so there is a possibility he may have spoken here also. Others who passed through were Reverend Young Prewitt, who himself along with his family were settlers on Peason Ridge. Researching records of the Battle of Sabine Crossroads and Pleasant Hill during the Civil War it was noted in records that Reverend Prewitt and the pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Ward 2 at Rattan rode from this area to hold religious services for the Confederate troops at the request of General Richard Taylor. A great revival spread through the troops with over 1,800 being saved. After these battles Brother Prewitt and other ministers worked in the field hospitals and assisted both Yankee and Confederate wounded. Other preachers were Rev. G. Stringer, Rev. B. Owens, Rev. N. H. Bray, and Rev. Z. Corley, and in my family tree, Rev. Miles Washington Lilley. The men stood in the back of wagons and preached to all those who gathered for worship. The young'uns sat and listened as did the adults. And after these open air worship services were completed there was dinner on the grounds since everyone brought food. The kids would run and play, the men and women would get together and talk, and if a person had been saved, a Baptism Service would be held near Odum Falls on the creek and the new convert would be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. What a happy day that was for all in attendance!
These settlers and settlers all over this great country placed their faith and wellbeing in the Lord. And these brave families believed that this was a Nation Under God, and a Nation Blessed by God. Let us follow the example of these brave settlers and homesteaders who faced trials, tribulation, hardships and heart break on every turn yet never faltered in their trust in the Lord and who stood up for the Lord in all things they accomplished.
The location where the settlers of Peason Ridge gathered on Church Gathering Hill. At this spot the circuit riding preacher would speak while standing in the back of a wagon. (Robertson Collection)
Looking across one of the highland meadows where the settlers livestock grazed near Church Gathering Hill. They could watch their livestock from this location and also hold worship services. (Robertson Collection)
