Doris Cato Nicholson diligently researched the history of Desoto County churches during the years she also taught elementary school classes. She compiled records which named Desoto's churches and the early days and founding dates for churches, and lots of other historical data.

Massive binders full of charts, names, dates, ect., attested her interest and persistence in historical research.

She called me shortly before her death to arrange a visit and share her findings. Alas, she died before that could happen. As a tribute to her life and work, I am sharing some of the material in her own words.

"When the first settlers began coming to this section of Florida, one of the things they missed the most was their churches.

"The first record we have of church services was at Camp Ground at Pine Level. The settlers would come from great distances by horseback and wagon to camp there on a clear water branch called Pine Level Branch. The camp ground was near present Camp Ground Cemetery.

"They cooked their meals over campfires and slept in and under the wagons. Sometimes a settler who lived nearby would butcher a beef and give it to the people camping there. Several ministers of different faiths would preach mornings, afternoons, and nights. The services were held under a brush or grape arbor.

"Circuit riding preachers began coming to this are from Polk and Hillsborough counties by horseback carrying their Bibles in their saddle bags. They preached under the trees and brush arbors, and stayed in the homes of the settlers. They would be away from their homes as long as a month at a time.

"Some of those early circuit riders were Rev. Henry Messer, George Gateway, Rev. William Penn McEwen, Rev. W.E. Jordon, Rev. Levi Pearce and Rev. S. Hancock; there were also others who worked, preached and organized churches throughout this section of Florida.

"When the first churches were built they were used for church services on Sunday and for school on the week days, as it was hard to obtain building materials. Services were usually held only once a month, and the churches were used by both the Baptist and Methodist denominations.

"The first church that was built, in what is now the present DeSoto County, was the Methodist Church of Pine Level. It was organized in 1868. The Baptist Church there was organized in 1868 also.

"The next church was built in Davidson, now called Joshua Creek. At first it was a Union church and was later divided into a Methodist and a Baptist Church. A two story building was built at the south east corner of the old section of the Joshua Creek Cemetery. The lower floor was the school and the upper floor was used by both churches. The church was built about 1870.

"The founding dates for churches in DeSoto County before 1900 were: Pine Level Methodist Church, 1868; Pine Level Baptist Church, 1868; *Union Church Davidson Joshua Creek, 1870 and *Mount Moriah Baptist Church-Davidson, 1874.

"Also, Fort Ogden Baptist Church, 1878; Fort Ogden Methodist Church, 1879; Fort Winder Methodist Church, 1880; Oak Hill Baptist Church-Bunker, 1882; Mount Ephraim Baptist Church-Owens, 1884 and Trinity Methodist Church-Arcadia, 1887.

"Also, Nocatee Baptist Church-Nocatee, 1890; First Baptist Church-Arcadia, 1890; Mount Zion AME Church, 1891; *Brownville Methodist Church-Brownville, 1892; Elizabeth Baptist Church-Arcadia, 1893; Episcopal Church-Arcadia, 1894; *Seventh Day Adventist Church-Fort Ogden, 1897 and First Presbyterian Church-Arcadia, 1898"

Of the 19 churches founded before 1900, only five no longer exist. They are marked with asterisks in the paragraphs above.

Doris Cato Nicholson has become a part of DeSoto's history because she took the time and interest to share it with others.