In tracing the records I have found that the organization was brought about by Rev. James Alexander on Saturday, Nov. 27, 1842.

The first ruling elders were:

William Barnwell, (writer's grandfather)
William & Willis Simpson, brothers

The ten charter members were:

James Hays
Joseph L. Thomas
John Simmons
Elizabeth & Eliza Hays
Nancy Barnwell
Elizabeth Stallcup
Dillian Nichols
Cely & Caroline Matthews

Tradition has it that the organization took place at the William Barnwell Home, where Willie and J. M. Barnwell now live, just south and west of where the present church stands.

After the organization members held services in the homes of the neighbors for some seven or eight years.

After the school-house was moved from the old log building that stood near the south-west corner of the Dr. T. B. Kerley farm as it is known to-day, in Section 16, the members obtained a permit to hold services in the school house about 1850 or 1851.

Sometime about 1830 they began a cemetery south of the old school house, on what is known as the Roy Gray farm in Section 16; and on account of such wet ground here, William Barnwell suggested in 1852 that the cemetery be moved to where Gilead now is. William Barnwell saw there was a Three-Way drainage from this new location and he suggested it as a burial place for himself. They had been burying here for almost two years before any deeds were made or before a church house was erected.

The first church house erected at the site was built in the early part of the year 1856. This was a log structure. Logs were hewn from the nearby forest by the pioneers; swung into line and soon there was the first substantial church edifice at Gilead.

This building was then regarded as one of the neatest churches in all the country-side. Their lights were tallow candles and dips. Lights were usually so dim that it was necessary for the minister, or someone of the members, to hold one or more of the brightest of lights very close to the printed page in order that the Scripture Lesson could be read in night services. Many were the faithful preachers that mounted the rather crude platform to expound the words Divine, or to plead for the lost sinners to yield to the Gospel Demands, while the wolves howled in the woods nearby.

This old log house had served out its purpose of temporary usefulness in the early years of 1870. It was replaced by a more modern frame structure. Most of the material was again furnished by interested parties. The building was erected by George Hutchinson, as leading carpenter. This second house of worship stood for some forty odd years as a silent witness to the bountiful flow of spiritual blessings and it passed out in 1912, when the present building was begun. It was finished in 1913, with Ed Hurley as leading carpenter. This is one of the neatest and well proportioned churches in the rural section of the entire region.

We of the present day, who chanced to grow up in the shadows of this Old Religious Light-house, may recall many of the most pleasant experiences of our lives as led by the hands of our Christian parents. We have wended our ways up to this old church to listen to preached words as they fell from the lips of men that had the Gospel Message to declare. We recall their earnest preaching and pleadings, and saw results effected in the saving of many precious souls and the cheering of many troubled spirits.

A long list of personages makes up the pastorate of this old church, around which lingers many memories. The names of all available pastors will be given in table form.

Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cemetery stands on a commanding site beside the Simpson-Tunnel Hill State Road, two miles from Simpson and six miles from hard road at Tunnel Hill.

The present plot of ground, consisting of three acres, was deeded to the church the 23rd day of June 1856 by David H. H. Birch.

All in all, it has been a long list of professed Christians making up the church membership. The old church has stood as the Lord's candle stick through the years, always pointing the way to the great light that leads to the land of the Unsetting Sun. The family names that have helped to make up the large membership are: Barnwell, Simpson, Trigg, Scott, Russell, Thomas, Gray, Morphis, Martin, Young, Veach, Whiteside, Keltner, Murrie, Taylor and many others.

While those of earlier years are no more to be seen in public worship or in everyday, life, a stroll about the cemetery that covers a large plot of ground just north of the church, reveals their names inscribed on marble and granite, marking the place of their last repose. What a transformation in personnel?

On memory's wall is indelibly written an almost endless list of the most pleasant and sacred associations and experiences recorded from scenes about the church which our parents cherished and which we trust to hold as dearly until we, too, go to the "Better Land," where a happy coming reunion will take place with those we learned to love and serve in the years of long ago.

Gilead is the oldest Presbyterian Church in Johnson County.

Nancy Waters was the first one buried at Gilead. She was born in 1836 and died Aug. 15, 1854, at the age of 18.

Tradition has it that rail pens were built around each grave until there were three or four graves.

In the year of 1864 or 1865 the neighbors of the community set a day to make rails to fence this small cemetery. The south side was near where the John H. Bradley monument stands, the west side was near the drive-way through the cemetery. At this date this drive was the main public road, where Walter S. Johnson monument stands. The north side was near the William Barnwell and wife, Nancy's monument and the east side was near where Isabell Trigg's monument stands.

The drive-way was moved west about 1888 or 1889. I, Chas. Trigg, remember it well as the public road. Then the cemetery was made larger every way. The west side of the cemetery was then west of where the Mary Shoemaker monument now stands. Wire was bought to fence the cemetery at this time. Again about 1907 the west side was moved farther west, taking in what is now Rows One and Two. In March 1934 three or four more lots were added on the east side.

There were six or seven graves in the cemetery before any church house was built.

Robert Henry Barnwell, born in 1792 in North Carolina & died Dec. 29, 1870; buried in Row 11. He was in the War of 1812 and he is the oldest one buried at Gilead.

The oldest one in age at death was Mary (Simpson) Thomas Barnwell. She was 94 years, 7 months, and 26 days. She was born May 9, 1827 and died Jan. 5, 1922. Buried Jan. 6, 1922 beside her first husband, Washington Thomas.

The correct number buried at Gilead August 1, 1936 is 407.

I feel sure in years to come, people will wonder why the cemetery was marked off as it is. It had to be done in this way, due to the arrangement in the beginning. It was almost impossible to lay the cemetery off in rows and lots, so as to number them correctly. Burying began at the cemetery on Aug. 16, 1854, making it over 79 years old and containing 388 graves badly arranged at the time the appointed Trustees layed the cemetery off in its present system of rows and lots in 1934.

The cemetery was laid off in Rows and Lots on Jan. 18, 1934 by Z. Kerley, Vice President and Charles Trigg, Sec. of Gilead Church and Cemetery Association Incorporated.

The Cemetery is marked off in 19 rows and 220 lots at this date.

Lots are now being sold the the trustees and legal deeds made for each lot sold. All funds received are correctly recorded by the Treasurer of the Association, and they are used to keep the cemetery properly cared for. The cemetery was first mowed entirely with a lawn mover in 1935.

The officers of the Organization elected in 1933 are:

W. F. Veach, President
Z. Kerley, Vice President
G. W. Kerley, Treasurer
Charley Trigg, Secretary
Hartsel Murrie
Ned Murrie
N. H. Hurley

These men were elected at a Community Meeting held at Gilead Church on July 19, 1933, at which time it was voted to Incorporate the Cemetery. These men are always ready to give further information about the Cemetery.

The author and his father have kept the records of Gilead Cemetery for 82 years, since 1851.
[Source: History of Gilead Church & Cemetery. By Charley Trigg. Simpson, Illinois, 1936]

The subject of this sketch relates to organization of Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian church. In the early years a small band, devout believers in Christ, who, seeking a new home in the wild forests, brought with them the Bible, and a pious devotion that has, through all the trials, dangers and hardships in a thinly settled country, resulted in the salvation of hundreds of precious souls, helped build up good society, and fellowship among men. Let us look back 68 years, at the little group of pioneers, clad in homespun with their flint-lock rifles and hunting knives, who met on the site of this church house, coming from their log huts for miles around over the country where they had their little clearings, always carrying their rifles for protection from the wild beasts of the forest. It was not long after "Poor Lo" the red men had left the country to the encroaching white man, that on Saturday, the 27th day of November, 1842, Rev. James Alexander called together a small band of God's chosen people and organized this church. Perhaps they met in the shade of the lords of the forest, seated on longs or the leafy mound. The organization was composed of three elders, to-wit: William Simpson, William Barnwell and Willis Simpson, and a membership of 13 laymen. For many years they persevered with perhaps no roof save the canopy of Heaven under which to worship, for in the year 1856, on the 23rd day of June, one David H. H. Birch, who lived at the foot of the hill on the S. W. 4th of the S. W. quarter of Sec. No. 9, deeded to elders William Barnwell, Lewis J. Simpson and Willis Simpson, and their ultimate successors in office three acres of land now used as a church yard and cemetery. Then were the straightest trees of the forest felled, and the broad axe swung to the line, and a large substantial hewed log house was built for a church, I can yet, as a small boy, remember its high pulpit and split log benches, as it stood on the spot of the present building. In the log house the society thrived, and many were the eloquent exhorters who mounted its rostrum, where they held their devotions by candle light while the wolves howled in the forest. In those days there were no oil lamps, so candles and tallow sips were used, there were none of our present conveniences, the people had little but home-made furniture and did their cooking at the open fire place. The present railways were unheard of and anyone would have been hooted who said such things as talking over wires was possible. The people had to drive through to Golconda and Metropolis to market, building corduroy to cross the swamps. The writer distinctly remembers loads of hoop poles being hauled 30 miles to Metropolis and sold, and many times has he, as a boy, accompanied a caravan of wagons on such trips, camping by the way at night. Such was life in the early days of our fathers and grandfathers. What they went through in subduing the giant forests opening up the land for farming is called pioneering, that is, opening the way for others to come, so was it with the organizers of the churches in the wilderness. Our pioneers are nearly all gone to their long home, but their works remain as a grand monument to their sterling integrity, daring bravery and industry, that he who cometh later, shall find a home. So it is with the early churches, they blazed the way that leads to the narrow path of life, from whence he, who departs is lost. The gospel preached on this spot 65 years ago, is the gospel of today and will be kept ringing down the ages until the end of time. The present church house was built by Geo. Hutson, and is a silent witness to the love of God poured out in a bountiful way upon many a soul almost lost. Who, among you fifty years old cannot look back and remember the pleading with God, that has resulted in the uplifting and mollifying of many a troubled spirit? The writer will remember the tremendous influence for good of lay workers like Baily A. Farmer, D. M. Howell and John F. Thomas. Alas, they are gone from us now to other fields of glory. to the best of my information seven ministers of the gospel have merged from our midst, and gone forth to battle for the cause of Christ. The public school is great to enlighten the race. The Sunday school is great to enhance the understanding of the scriptures, but the church is the greatest of all. It creates a sense of duty to God and of love for our fellow men, without it, I shudder to think what would become of the human race.

NOTE--The above article was written by J. L. Thomas and read by L. G. Simpson before an overflowing meeting at Gilead Home Coming and Reunion some 16 years ago. It was aimed to be printed in The Times at the time but the copy was lost, but has since come to light.

[Pamphlet in Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, undated]

(The church is located in Johnson County north of State route 147 about a mile west of Simpson.)

The 120th anniversary of Gilead Church was observed on Sunday, May 6, 1962 with a program depicting its history down through the years. The following history was written by Owen Kerley.

One hundred and twenty years ago, on Saturday, November 27, 1842, Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized by the Rev. James Alexander. The meeting was held in the log cabin home of William Barnwell, (on what is now the Gilbert Alsip farm) with thirteen members present; namely, William Barnwell, William and Willie Simpson as elders and Nancy Barnwell, James Hays, Eliza Hays, Elizabeth Hays, Joseph Thomas, John Simmons, Elizabeth Stallcup, Dillian Nichols, Cely Matthews and Caroline Matthews. Services continued at this place, just south and west of the present site and in different member's homes for about seven years. Then, by permission, after Cross Roads School was moved from the old log on the southwest part of the Reuben McKee farm, later known as the Dr. T. B. Kerley farm and now owned by Nathan Veach. Services were held in this old log cabin which had limited educational opportunities for the members of this early Gilead Church. Lawrence W. Fern was then the teacher. A cemetery was started south of this old log school building on what is now the Roy Gray farm. Due to the wet grounds here, William Barnwell suggested in 1852 that the cemetery be moved to where it is today. With humble perseverance and determination to improve conditions, the pioneers selected this spot because of its three-way drainage. Burials were made here some two years before a deed was made or a church erected. The first grave in the cemetery was that of Miss Nancy Waters, age 18, buried August 16, 1854. The first church house erected at this site was built in the early part of the year 1856. This was a log structure. Logs were hewn from the nearby forests by the pioneers and swung into line. Soon there was the first substantial church building at Gilead. The lights were tallow candles and dips, usually so dim that it was necessary for the minister or one of the members to hold one or more of the lights very closely to the printed page in order to read the Scripture lesson, while the wolves howled in the nearby woods. On June 23, 1856, David H.H. Birch deeded to the elders of the church three acres of land for church and cemetery purposes.
The old log house served well its purpose of temporary usefulness for fourteen years. Then, by the help of the people of the community, the first frame building was constructed in 1870. In this building were used the first oil burning lamps. This second house of worship stood for some forty years. In October 1884, Milton A. Trigg and J.G. Barnwell drove to Metropolis and bought the bell for the church at a cost of $6.00. It was a two day journey as there were no means of modern transportation at that time. This building was razed in 1912 to be replaced by the third building, the present one, in 1913, with Ed Hurley as the head carpenter. This was a white frame building with two doors opening in the entrance with a belfry in the center. Heat was furnished by a pot-bellied stove sitting The cemetery was organized and incorporated on September 5, 1933, with the following appointed trustees: W. F. Veach, Z. Kerley, G. W. Kerley, N. H. Hurley, Ned and Hartsell Murrie. The first piano for the church was donated by Dr. Joe Trigg on January 11, 1934. In 1937 an addition was made on the south side, almost doubling the size of the building, with a new basement under the new portion and a coal furnace installed. Electricity was installed in 1940. In 1945, the front of the church was remodeled and new white siding put on. Later, in 1955 the basement was enlarged to full size and an oil-burning furnace installed, new pews were added and carpeting was laid down. To add beauty and purpose of the building, new windows were installed in 1961. Dr. Frank Trigg remembered the church and cemetery in his last will; Austin Kerley and wife bought five acres of land just north of the present cemetery and donated it to the Trustees of Gilead Cemetery on July 24, 1944; the Ladies Aid bought the present piano for the church and have helped in different ways. The old church has stood as God's Candlestick through the years. In 1842 there were 13 members; in 1856 there were 60 members; in 1870 there were 175; in 1919 there were 95; in 1937 there were 107 members and 539 graves in the cemetery. The family names that have helped to make up the membership are: Barnwell, Simpson, Trigg. Scott, Russell, Thomas, Gray, Morphis, Martin, Young, Veach, Hurley, Whiteside, Keltner, Murrie, Taylor and many others. The pastorate list of the Gilead Church is long and around it is many memories. The following is a partial list: Lewis Green Simpson, J. H. Morphis, M. L. Bell, David Gray, Bob Pryor, J. T. Davidson, T. B. Hilloway, D. D. Norris, Lowell Earnhardt, Roy Shelton, J. G. Whiteside, Lloyd Noble, Chzrles Evitts, Earl Roberts, Lester Kessler, J.T. Russell, Robert Hull, Frank Blaine, Lonnie Stoner and Ronald Bynum.
( End of Mr. Owen Kerley's written history)

In 1964 more improvements were made at the church. New paneling was placed on the lower walls of the church, new classrooms were built in the basement and air conditioning installed.
In 1994-1995 a beautiful new auditorium was added on the east side of the church and class rooms were added in the new basement below it. My sons, Larry and David Bowman, contractors helped in this building project. Much has happened in years since the last entry in the Parker's History book. The church is growing and many descendants of the founding families are worshiping there today. The present pastor is Rev. Bud McDannell. The youth pastor is Randy Huckelberry.
[Source: Reprinted from Parker's History.]

Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1842- , 9 mi. N. of Vienna, RFD. 7, Simpson, Johnson County.

Organized November 27, 1842 with 13 members in a log cabin of William Barnwell, 2 miles west of present church site. Meetings held in home of members and in brush arbors until erection of log church structure in 1856. Simple frame building erected in 1876 and dedicated same year. Remodeled in 1915 and 1936. First settled pastor, Rev. James Alexander, tenure unknown.

Present pastor, Rev. Roy Shelton, 1936- , RFD. 4.

Session Minutes: 1842- , 3 v. hdw.
Register: (baptisms, members), 1842- included in Session Minutes.
Financial Records: incorporated in Session Minutes.

[Source: Inventory of the Church Archives of Illinois: Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Chicago, Illinois: Illinois Historical Records Survey, Illinois Public Records Project, February 1942, page 84]