The Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church has by far, the longest continuing history of any of the institutions located around teh center. Soon after the first settlers arrived in Carroll County, several of whom settled in the vicinity, Shiloh became a center of worship for a large portion of the Western District.

In any attempt to discuss the history of this church several difficulties have to be recognized. 1. Many of the earliest official records of the Session are not available today. 2. A historical sketch written by the Rev. George L. Johnson some forty years ago, and widely quoted in later writings, varies somewhat from other printed sources going back more than half a century previous to the time of his work. Some sources were perhaps not available to him. The principal conflict here has to do with the date of organization as an official church, which Dr. Johnson, quoting , evidently from some article, or record, from an earlier date, places the organizatin of July 23, 1830.

In this article we follow a long list of materials written by men who were presonally involved in the work of Shiloh Church for several years prior to 1830, including the original Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, which held its organizationally meeting at Bethel present site of McLemoresville on the 3rd Tuesday in April 1825, at which the rev. John H. Smith Pastor, and Elder Thomas Hamilton, both of Shiloh, were enrolled. Rev. Smith was elected Stated Clerk of the presbytery at this meeting. Minutes of the second meeting of the presbytery show that Presbytery met perusant to adjournment at the home of Thomas Hamilton, in Carroll county, Tuesday October 19, 1825, and recessed in the evening to meet the following day "in the Shiloh Meeting House at half-past 9 o'clock."

Our considered opinion is that some form of organization took place sometime during 1824, and the first building wsa erected during the summer of 1825.

The Rev. John H. Smith seems to have served the church as pastor from 1825, to the time of his death on March 16, 1830. Rev. Smith was buried in the Shiloh Cemeter, and his monument bears this date.

The Rev. Robert Baker became pastor of the church following the death ofMr. Smith and remained in the position until his death on March 6, 1845. His wife, the former Sarch C. Hamilton (a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Hamilton), who was perhaps ill at the time of his death, fainted during the funeral services, but was revived and accompanied the body to the cemetery. Mrs. baker died shortly after returning home from the funeral of her husband. Her monument indicates that she died two days after the death of her husband.

The fifteen years covered by the pastorate of Mr. Baker was perhaps one of the most successful eras of the history of the church. Records show that during 1841 at a Camp Meeting there were 180 conversions and at the meeting in 1842 there were 140. The Session records following the 1842 Revival show that 70 persons united with the church by baptism and certain other were received by letter from other churches.

The funeral sermon for the Rev. Baker was delivered by Mr. Abner Cooper, a Ruling Elder, who was rereceived uner the care of Hopewell Presbytery in Sept. 1845. He had already been called by his fellow elders to serve as pastor of the Shiloh Congregation, a position which he held until his death in 1891, a period fo 46 years. Rev. Cooper is buried in the Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery at McLemoresville.

Rev. Cooper was succeeded as pastor by the Rev. T.F. Crawford who was forced to retire late in 1899 because of what was to become a terminal illness. The Rev. Allen Foust, of McKenzie became the pastor in Nov. 1899 and served until Nov. 1909, resigning because of illness. The Rev. Mr. Foust died in March following. Thus the first five pastorates of the church, covering a period of some 85 years were terminated by death of the respective ministers.

The oldest living former minister of this church is the Rev. L.E. McCoy, who served as pastor from 1910 to 1920. Mr. McCoy now lives in McKenzie and attends services at Shiloh when health permits. He is now in his 91st year.

Another minister, the Rev. W.T. Ingram Jr. served as pastor for more than 16 years. He is now president of Memphis Theological Seminary and lives in Memphis. He is also a frequent visitor in the services. His wife, Virginia Lankford Ingram is a descendant of several generations of Lankfords who have been active in the Church.

No history of Shiloh would not be complete without fuller reference to the life and the contributions of Rulling Elder, Thomas Hamilton, one of the more prominent leadersin the county for years. Mr. Hamilton was born April 10, 1789 in Sumner Co. TN. In a brief autobiography of his life written about the time of his 80th birthday, Mr. Hamilton tells us that he was present along with his fathers family, at the Camp Meeting held in September 1800, at the Little Muddy River congregation, in Fulton County KY. (Note: This marked the beginning of the so called Great Revival of 1800, out of which the Cumberland Presbyterian Church along with two or three others had their beginning. Some historians say this took place in 1798). Mr. Hamilton s was converted during the meeting and soon thereafter united with the Ridge Church near his fathers home. He was ordained as Ruling Elder in 1809 but along with the entire congregation became a part of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church immediately upon the founding on Feb. 4, 1810. A veteran of the war o f1812, he served under Gen. Carroll and fought in the Battle of New Orleans. A friendship developed between Mr. hamilton and Gen. Carroll, which may well have been a determining factor in the meaning of Carroll County when it was organized. Mr. hamilton tells us that he moved from Humphreys Count to Henderson County near Pleasant Exchange, where he lived until January 1822, at which time he moved to his homestead in what was soon to become known as the Shiloh Community, where he continued to live until his death during his 91st year on June 18, 1879.

Thomas Hamilton was married to Elizabeth Forrest on Jan. 2, 1812. Mrs. Hamilton died on April 16, 1858. Quoting from Mr. Hamilton in his 89th year: " I have seven children, thirty-one grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren all living.. Nearly all my family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that are of proper age are consistent member sof the church." There must have been other children, as monuments in the cemetery indicate that some had died during Mr. Hamiltons lifetime.

The Shiloh Cemetery, adjacent to the church, is a large, beautifully kept resting place for many generations of people who lived and died in the community, being used by the entire community.

There is an interesting story that has come down. As the story goes, a wagon train, hauling pig-iron from a furnace east of the Tennessee River stopped at the springs for the night. During the night one of the drivers became ill and died. His companiiions took his body to a spot about 150 feet from the church building and buried him there, placing one of the pig-irons at the head of the grave. This historical fact story can not be authenticated in early writings; however the Pig-Iron marker stood in silent testimony until about 1969 when it mysteriously disappeared. A granite monument was then errected at the gravesite with the inscription: "Unknown But To God" and then, "First man buried in this cemtery 1828.

The cemetery is now maintained on a perpetualcare basis from proceeds of an endowment set up for that purpose, and administered by the Shiloh Cemetery Commission Chartered and Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Tennessee. Across the drive is the cemetery for the Black Church. It is also beautiful and well-kept at all times.