Mt. Zion Methodist Church and Cemetery

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's what I know about Mt. Zion Methodist Church and Cemetery out in Freestone County. Back in 1854, early settlers put up a log building, nothing fancy, sitting one eighth of a mile east of a place called Doddy Hollow.

Two men, Reverend G. W. Walker and Reverend Timothy Green, were the founders.

That was the beginning. Now, a church that starts in a log cabin near a hollow called Doddy Hollow has already got character before it preaches a single sermon. But Mt.

Zion was just getting warmed up. By 1860, the congregation had relocated, moving a quarter mile southwest of that first spot, onto land given by a woman named Mary Holder. That's two homes in the first six years.

Then in 1880, a man named J. L. Moody gave a tract situated one and three quarter miles west, and on that piece of ground they built something ambitious: a single structure meant to house the church, the school, and the Grange Hall all under one roof.

Three purposes, one building. That site today is a Prayer Park, sitting right on Highway 84. And then there's the cemetery.

The land for it was given by J. C. James and A.

P. Vaughn, and it holds the graves of many Confederate veterans. So what started as a log cabin near a hollow is now three different sites, a prayer park on a state highway, and a cemetery that keeps the memory of men who came home, or didn't, from a very long way away.

What the marker says

First church-- a log building located 1/8 mile east of Doddy Hollow-- was built 1854 by early settlers. The Revs. G. W. Walker, Timothy Green were founders. In 1860 church relocated 1/4 mile southwest of here on land given by Mary Holder. In 1880 J. L. Moody gave a tract situated 1-3/4 miles west. At that site a structure was built to house church, school, and Grange Hall. Site is now a "Prayer Park" (on Hwy. 84). Land for this cemetery, where many Confederate veterans are buried, was given by J. c. James and A. P. Vaughn.