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This is the site of one of Florida’s oldest organized Presbyterian Church which was the largest Presbyterian Church in Florida until 1885. On May 27, 1827, the Reverend Murdoch Murphy of the Alabama Synod presided with one Elder, Donald McLean, Sr., and 15 families. This log church served the community for 20 years until a new 50 by 100 ft. church with large inside galleries was built adjacent to the log church on November 26, 1848. Reverend Robert Quarterman Baker, civil war veteran from Georgia, served the church until his death in October 1923. The third and present church was erected, using foundation supports from the original log church. The cemetery contains the remains of many original settlers, including two signers of Florida’s first Constitution, veterans of all wars dating from the Revolutionary War, civic leaders, elected officials and ministers. There are more than 3,000 graves in the old cemetery, many unmarked, and many brought home from Alabama and Northwest Florida.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2008 by Walton County Board of Commissioners and the Florida Department
(Marker Number F-622.)
Somewhere around the year 1820, while visiting the Pensacola, Florida area, a few Scotch travelers from North Carolina fell
in with Sam Story, the Chief of the Euchee Indians who lived in a lovely valley in the panhandle area of Florida. These
travelers were invited to the Indian settlement known as the Euchee Valley.
Within a few years a number of settlers had relocated their families, built their homes, and a "meetinghouse" on the site
where the present Church is located. By the year 1827 a sufficient number (fifteen charter members) were worshiping together
to petition the South Alabama Presbytery to be incorporated into a Presbyterian Church. (I am in possession of a copy of the
minutes of the presbytery meeting where that action was approved.) There has been a continuous worshiping congregation since.
The church building was first a "round log-cabin" structure. Soon it was overcrowded, and a new building was erected about
the year 1848. In the 1920's the facility was remodeled and Sunday School rooms were added. The building in use today is
the result of those efforts. In 2003, a modern Fellowship Hall was added.
A cemetery has been part of the church since its beginning. Many of the early settlers are buried there, along with members of
the community.
The listing of names, together with a plat of the cemetery was completed in 1994 by Winifred M. "Winnie" and William A. "Bill" Steadley-Campbell.
This listing was compiled in 2004 by Durl E. Odom. Questions, or requests for pictures of the cemetery or grave markers, may be
addressed to Durl Odom at ArgyleAcres@panhandle.rr.com. The information listed below is for research only and may not be published in by
any means (print or internet) without my consent.
Directions to the church/cemetery are: (1) From either east or west on U.S. Highway 90, take County Road 183S approximately 5
miles from their intersection at Argyle, Florida. (2) From the South, travel State Road 20 to the intersection of State Road 81 in
Bruce, Florida. Travel approximately 15 miles north, to the intersection of State Road 81 and County Road 183N.
Travel County Road 183N approximately 5 miles to the church/cemetery. The church/cemetery is located in the corner of C183N and C280E
This cemetery is located on County Highway 280 and County Highway 183 S, Eucheeanna, near DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida.