NOTES OF INTEREST ON THE HARMONY COMMUNITY
(White County Cemeteries Vol. I)

The Harmony Methodist Church was established in 1868 or 1860 during the reconstruction period. The late William T Dowdy was the leader of the project and deeded the property to the White River Conference. Howard Mitchell has the deed. The church was located on the east end of the five acre plot that extends just west of the cemetery. This building was used until 1936-1937 when it was torn down and rebuilt at the present site. Mrs. Howard Mitchell was the determined leader in the rebuilding program. Many of the members were in favor of keeping the old church at the original site and as it was first built.

Mrs. L. G. Canfield's step-mother, Hrs. Samuel Clements, who died in 1873, was the first person buried in the Harmony Cemetery. Four Confederate Veterans are buried in this cemetery: J.L. Dewberry, John Simpson (Nannie George and Herbert Barger's grandfather), W.T. Dowdy, and L.G. Canfield. One if not more, World War I Veteran (Robert Polk). one World War II Veteran (Archie Barger), A National Guardsman (Harlon Heggie), also a Razorback (Claude Smithey) are buried here, as well as an old Center Hill physician, Dr. Ira Majors.

John R. Dewberry, father of Carthel, said the first school he attended in the community was a subscription school taught in a small two room house on the Dewberry farm.. A pile of rocks are still at the location of the old chimney place. It was in what. is now the pasture and north of the location of the old house that burned years ago. The old house was by the large oak tree where the sorghum mill stood.

Des Arc Creek now flows between two bluffs some distance west of Dug-Out Mountain, and a dam is to be constructed between the two bluffs.

Just below these bluffs is an old mill race and pond where a water mill once stood. John Patton was the owner and operator of the mill. Today an old iron bolt and bits of concrete can be seen. This spot is still a favorite fishing spot called "Patton's Mill". About one half mile downstream is an old swimming hole know as "Benton Hole". In the long ago, this place was ruled by the Benton and Strayhorn boys , noted fighters, and all other boys ran for their lives when they heard them coming.

On the west side of the Military Road , where Sutton Creek enters Des Arc Creek, a pile of rocks mark the remains of an old inn and postoffice. It was said the James and Younger brothers once stayed there. The Old Military Road crossed the Dewberry land line near a 1ittle branch above the slough and the road bed can be seen along the west side of the line to the creek. It runs through the Tripp Varner Place, the Gidinghagen Place (near Center Hill), crosses Highway 36 by the place formerly owned by George Baker.