Pleasant Hill Presbyterian

In November, 1825, this church, now located six miles east of Paris, on the Louisiana road, was organized by Rev. Thomas Durfee, a missionary, with James McGee, John McKarney, Margaret McKarney, Elizabeth McKarney, Mary B. McKarney, Rosy Ann McKarney (all these of one family), Mary Anil McGee and Marietta, a colored woman, as the constituent members. Mrs. Rosy Ann (McKarney( Smith is the only one of the above now living. John McKarney and James McGee were the ruling elders. The membership now numbers 54. The present church edifice was constructed in 1857; it is a frame and cost $1,200.00. The first pastor, Rev. Alfred Wright, was succeeded by George C. Wood, Thomas Eustace, A. C. McConnell, J. B. Poage, J. P. Finley, H. P. S. Willis, William Wiley, W. H. Hicks, J. V. Barks, T. B. Lunsford, N. Armstrong (from Canada), L. P. Bowers and C. W. Humphreys, the present supply. Connected with the church is a flourishing Sabbath-school, containing 30 pupils, the superintendent being C. F. Richmond. 

On a Sunday in November 1829 James and Mary Ann McGee John Margaret Elizabeth, Mary B. and Rosy Ann McKamey and Marietta ~a colored woman) met in a log cabin across the river to the east and organized Pleasant Hill. Rev. Thomas Durfee, a pioneer missionary was their leader and ordained James McGee and John McKamey as ruling elders. These two families were from the Providence Church in Mercer County, Kentucky.

The first church was a frame structure filled in with mud and little sticks from bottom to top and boarded on the outside with lumber hewn and split by hand. The inside was roughly plastered. The roof was covered with clap board. The windows were three on each side and were of small glass. The seats were long benches of hewn pieces of timber with peg legs. There was one door. The pulpit was a common small table. It was heated by a fireplace. The church stood just east of the present building, facing west. It was located about six miles east of Paris, Mo. This old church was also used as a school building, with school held during the summer months.

The present building was built in l857. It is frame and cost $l,000. Pleasant Hill is the "mother” of Paris, Mexico and New Hope Presbyterian churches. Old church records state that the present building was built by William Smithey, Sr. and his nephew, William Franklin Smithey, both born in Mercer County, Kentucky and members of the Old providence Presbyterian Church. J. W. Porhain and David Steele sawed the lumber for the church. Their mill was just across the old Louisiana bridge. There were two carpenters in the vicinity, William Smithey and a Mr. Kilpatrick. They were also cabinet makers, making all kinds of furniture and coffins.