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McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church circa 1810
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All white settlers (in the Cumberland) were soldiers. Men carried guns with them to church. When two men met and stopped to talk, they stood back to back, to watch both directions for the lurking Indian. There were men and women, too, in all the settlements, who had been scalped by the Indians and left for dead but had afterward got well, and lived to pay back the debt of blood.  All
the first generation of our preachers had been in the Indian wars. People
who had been prisoners among the Indians, and afterward either escaped
or were ransomed, entered into the general mass of material out of which
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church grew. Colonel Joe Brown, who was a Cumberland
Presbyterian preacher, had for a whole year been a prisoner in the hands
of the Indians.
Nor was the schooling of these pioneers confined to fighting Indians. Privations and hardships helped to sharpen their wits. The first generation of children were brought up without ‘store goods.’ There were no shoes. All the people, men and women, wore moccasins made of untanned hides. Dresses were made of thread spun from buffalo wool for the filling, and the lint of the wild nettle for the chain. There were no steamboats, or railroads, or steam factories, then, in the world. As to these settlements on the border, there were no stores, no mails, no good wagon roads, only blazed pathways. All the books or other luxuries they owned had been carried on pack-horses over the mountains, through the wilderness. Salt was worth sixteen dollars per bushel. Iron was equally dear. The country was nearly without trade or money. There were no white settlements in what is now West Tennessee. The buffalo grazed quietly where Memphis now stands. There have been highly educated men who could not read. In times and countries where education in the schools was impossible, strong native intellects learned from men, from events, from nature. This education without books, so common among a people who had no possible chance of schooling in the regular way, is never found at all in a country where schools are accessible to everybody. All the first settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee were for a while without schools. Circumstances made schools impossible. There were very few books. Among the treasures packed on horseback through the wilderness was the family Bible. It made the reading book. The first school in Cumberland was opened in Craighead's church, six miles from Nashville. It was called Spring Hill Academy, and was taught by a Presbyterian minister. Among its early pupils were Finis Ewing, Samuel King, Samuel McSpeddin, and Robert Bell, all of them Cumberland Presbyterian ministers at a later day.” B. C. McDonnold. “Our origin was in the revival (of 1800) in the Presbyterian Church. The year preceding its beginning was marked beyond all others for official calls to fasting and prayer ... It was not to sensational evangelists, but to God's Holy Spirit that our spiritual ancestors in the Presbyterian Church looked for deliverance from the triumphant infidelity of the times.” T. H. Campbell. “The first camp-meetings were without tents or other shelter except the wagons. Later, people built double log-cabins, which were still called tents, for their families and visitors. So far as possible people cooked the provisions before they left home, and they moved to camps expecting to remain during the meeting. All who attended the camp-meeting were fed freely. Campers would go out into the crowd and make a public invitation for all to come and eat. The camps were supplied with straw, both on the ground and on the bed scaffolds. One tent was used by the ladies, and another by the gentlemen. A field of grain with a stream of water in it was secured, and the horses of the visitors were turned into it. A vast shelter covered with boards was built and seated for a preaching place. This, too, had an ample supply of clean straw for a floor. In the intervals between public services it was their universal custom to go alone, or in small groups, to secret prayer in the adjacent forest. The north and south line divided the grounds for retirement and prayer, and gentlemen were not allowed to go upon the ladies' grounds. In all the early days these meetings were not only as orderly as any other kind of meetings, but they were generally seasons of unparalleled solemnity and unequaled moral grandeur. ...the gift of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost was the beginning of what was henceforth to be the distinctive privilege of the new dispensation. The Holy Spirit had always been in the world, and every genuine conversion had been his work; but the Paraclete was that Spirit in a new office, and with new and abiding power on the believer. The Old Testament saints had the Spirit in occasional manifestations. Some who live earnestly, and are true Christians, have only these occasional or Old Testament gifts; but the Paraclete is an abiding power. ‘He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.’ It is a precious gift to be specially sought, as it was by the apostles after the ascension of Christ. Those who attended the camp-meetings returned to spread the religious interest in their neighborhoods. A sufficient supply of preachers could not be secured. The case was one of extreme urgency. The Rev. David Rice visited McGready's field, ‘and being informed of the destitute state of most of the churches, and the pressing demands for the means of grace, earnestly recommended that they should choose from among the laity some men who appeared to possess talents and a disposition to exercise their gifts publicly to preach the gospel, although they might not have acquired that degree of education. This proposition was cordially approved by both preachers and people.’ ...” B. C. McDonnold. “When the church was organized in 1810, it adopted no denominational name. There was no intention then of starting a new church. It was an independent presbytery of Presbyterians, which still hoped for restoration to its old status in the mother church. The people called its adherents Cumberland Presbyterians. It was not till 1813 that the new church indirectly adopted the name which the people had already given. It has been often mocked at, but, by God's grace, the church will make it as dear one day to all who love true work for Jesus, as it is now to those whose ears still ring, when it is mentioned, with the holy songs of the great revival and the fearless sermons of those who first proclaimed a general atonement in Presbyterian pulpits.” T. H. Campbell
Mother of Churches In years past, the McCain's community consisted of a limited number of stores, a restaurant, a school and the McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church. “High quality education was once the standard at McCain's beginning with the establishment of McCain Academy in 1855. The school was officially chartered in 1858 and at its peak had from 100 to 112 boys enrolled.” (When the brick church was built the old one was taken for a schoolhouse and the “Burney” brothers taught there the first four terms. They then enlisted in the War Between The States. When the “Yankees” passed through in 1864, they attempted, with limited success, to burn the schoolhouse down.) “McCain Academy was reestablished in 1894 on a site within two hundred yards of the original school and opened with 53 pupils. This school was absorbed by the county system and later abandoned when Mynders School was built.” When the remaining school building was torn down, part of the logs were put into the barn at the manse which was in place in 1927. Located six miles south of Columbia on U. S. Highway 31 (Beeline Highway), McCain's was a welcomed stop for weary travelers and local residences. “Camp meetings were held on the upper waters of the Little Bigby Creek, as early as 1809, where the McCain's Church is now located. This location came to be known as a noted campground for religious gatherings. Many of the ministers who participated were a part of a group that was in disagreement with the Presbyterian Church over certain doctrinal issues. (See B. C. McDonnold’s History of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1899.) On February 4, 1810, after attempting to reconcile differences with the mother church, certain dissenting ministers founded the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dickson County, Tennessee (see illustration page 2). Historians state that the McCain's Church may have been established as early as late 1810, but that the first structure was not built until 1812 and was constructed of logs where the present church building now stands. From the beginning, the new congregation was associated with the newly founded denomination. The McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church grew out of the Lytle’s Creek Presbyterian Church which was organized in 1809. The Lytle’s Creek Church consisted of such families as that of Colonel Joseph Brown, Rees Porter, Robert Caruthers, Joseph Brown Porter, Benjamin Thomas, Adam Dixon, Thomas Dixon, Jonas Erwin and William Anderson. They are seen as being Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who adhered to the ‘Old School’ faith. The First Presbyterian Church in Columbia grew out of this group at Lytle’s Creek but certain ones from Lytle’s Creek, who were receptive to the ‘Cumberland’ group, joined with others to form the McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church. McCain's became the first ‘Cumberland’ Presbyterian Church in Maury County, and it was often referred to as the ‘mother of churches’. Oral tradition holds that there were two buildings prior to the present and that both of the earlier buildings burned. A deed granted the property that the building itself is on to the trustees and was donated by Eli McCain on December 20, 1817. The present building was begun in 1840 by Maury County Sheriff and builder, Nimrod Porter. Mr. John Wesley Neelley was an elder of the McCain's Church and furnished the slave labor needed to build the present building. The bricks for the church were made on site by clay mined on the property. Until only the last few years, one could still see the pit where the clay was dug. The church building as it stands today (completed 1854) is a large 
one-story brick building with walls approximately 20” thick. There are
two doors on the front (originally the entrance faced west, not east) of
the building and the women used the left door and the men the right. The
ceiling is of great interest due to the workmanship that must have been
involved in creating the hardwood ceiling with large wooden acorns hanging
down in the center. The pews, chancel, rail and pulpit are all original.
A Duncan Phyfe sofa which is still used was also part of the original  furnishings.
Ministers who have served the church are many (see below), but probably the most famous of which is Colonel Joseph Brown. Colonel Brown was an early pioneer, Indian fighter and minister. When a young man, he was captured by Indians near what is now Chattanooga and held captive for over a year before escaping. Later, he and a group of men from Fort Nashborough went back and killed many of the Indians because they had killed his father and brother before his eyes. Colonel Brown was ordained as a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1832, at the age of 60, but the actual time he served as minister at McCain's Church is not known. He did live in Maury County, Tennessee until 1857. The church records from the origin of the church until 1848 were destroyed when the J. W. B. Thomas, Sr. home burned; however, the Sessions’ minutes from October 1848 have been rebound and are readable. Copies of these records are on file in Nashville at the State Archives. Historian Jill Garrett reports that Federal General George Thomas had his headquarters in the McCain's Church on December 25, 1864. He was chasing Confederate General Hood, after the battles of Franklin and Nashville, when General Hood was retreating South. Until the floor (in the worship center) was replaced (and/or covered) in the 1960’s, one could see the hoof prints of horses that had been ridden into the church building while Thomas and his men were there.” (The Yankees would do anything to desecrate and destroy the things that were so cherished to the people of the South). B. K. Johnson and Maury County Tennessee, History & Families  In 1966,
a new manse was constructed on the original site of the previous facility.
The attending clergy utilized this home for over 13 years. After some renovation,
the house was put in use as Sunday School rooms in 2000.
In recent years, two additions were made to the church building in the form of a fellowship hall and Sunday School facilities. These addenums were accomplished through God’s rewarding the dedicated efforts of so many individuals in the congregation. Both of these works have proven to be very beneficial to the ongoing mission of the church. “As one turns off of U. S. Highway 31 onto McCain's lane and travels the one-tenth of a mile to the handsome brick church, you can almost sense the rich history that abounds as you travel where other pilgrims traveled on their  way
to worship. We who worship in this place now are grateful for the ministry
the McCain's Church has performed in the community and pray God’s guidance
and assistance as we endeavor to continue this work that began many years
ago.” B. K. Johnson and Maury
County Tennessee, History & Families
“We came to pray ...” The time was the mid - 1800’s. The community had already experienced an extremely dry two years and was again in the mist of another devastating dry summer season. Certain members of the church had resolved that the only solution to this drought lay at the feet of Almighty God. Therefore, it was brought before the church and agreed upon that a special fasting and prayer meeting was to be held - to pray for rain. When the date arrived, numerous families came to the church by foot, wagon, buggy and horse back. The dedication to this effort was very apparent. All knew that the answer to this crippling problem was in God’s hands. One elderly man rode up on horseback and tethered his horse to one of the hitching rails that was located between the massive oak trees near the church building. The earlier arrivers quickly greeted him with such comments as: "It sure is hot." "No sight of rain?" Not a cloud in the sky!" "Have you ever seen it so dry?", etc. After shaking hands with the lot, the gentleman began un-cinching his saddle. This came as no surprise to the group since they knew that they would be there for sometime and this would give the weary steed some relief. What did come, as a surprise to all was that the senior horseman did not stop at loosening the cinch but went on to remove the tack and toss it under the church building.(A customary procedure when one was trying to protect the equipment from inclement weather but very unusual actions since they had just discussed how terribly dry it was at the time.) When questioned about this seemingly ridiculous action, the prayer warrior, as he entered the church door, replied: "We came to pray for rain, didn’t we?"
This exceptional quilt was returned from where it originated in January, 2001.
The Cemetery The current records indicate that Eleanor M. Maxwell has the distinction of having the earliest birth date of those buried in the cemetery. She was born January 30, 1791 and died February 13, 1860. David D. Dugger appears to be the “oldest” individual at the time of death that is buried here. He was 101 years of age at his death (born January 23, 1851, died May 10, 1952). There are numerous infants buried on these grounds, including 18 infants that lived less than one year. While this place is one to pay tribute to all that have gone before us, the grounds are held in high esteem for the more than 60 war veterans that served their country during various wars. Four of these individual graves are unidentifiable and/or unmarked. Of these 60 individuals, 42 men served in the War Between the States (WBTS) for the Confederacy, 5 during World War I (including 1 nurse), 13 during World War II and 1 during the Korean War. It is well known that J. E. Goodrum served at 14 when the first shots were fired in the “northern invasion”on his home land. William Henry Trousdale is also buried here. He was one of the last soldiers from Maury County to be killed in action during the War Between the States. Local tradition provides that there may have been one “Yankee” soldier killed near this community and buried outside the south fence. There currently are over 550 individuals representing more than 124 families buried in the cemetery. Regretfully, there may be as many as 50 graves that have become unidentifiable and/or unmarked. It is hoped that the current and future efforts to maintain these grounds will eliminate such losses in the future.. Prior to each Memorial Day, you will find the Confederate Veterans’ graves decorated with their beloved Confederate Flag, and the World War I, World War II Korean War Veterans’ graves displaying the American Flag. In 2001, an extensive plotting of the grave sites was completed. The culmination of this effort resulted in a complete listing of the grave markers and an accompanying graphic that assists in locating the individual grave sites.
REFERENCES Campbell, T. H. Good News on the Frontier - A history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1965. Erwin, R. E. booklet entitled McCains Cemetery Listing compiled May 2001. Garrett, J. K. A Visit to McCain, Daily Herald, ca 1969. Johnson, B. K. paper entitled A History of McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church compiled 1991 and revised in June, 1992. Maury County Tennessee, History & Families, Maury County Historical Society, Turner Publishing Company, 1998. McDonnold, B. C. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Fourth Edition, Nashville, Tennessee, Board of Publications of Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, 1899.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye
do, do all to the glory of God.
(PIC) McCain's Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Copyright (c)2003
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