Mt. Gilead, one of the first churches in Fulton County, was founded on April 23, 1824, by Rev. John M. Smith (1789-1863), who is buried there, and it was organized by Rev. William J. Parks. Many early settlers worshiped there, and their descendants still live nearby. During the War Between the States, the church was used by Confederates and Federals as a hospital. Confederate cavalry under Ross were there on August 15-16, 1864, and McDowell’s Confederate Scouts were there on August 22, 1864. On Sunday, August 28, 1864, a skirmish took place there as fragments of the Federal 2nd Div., Army of the Cumberland, moved toward Jonesboro. The church has been rebuilt several times.