My Friend and Guide

Author: R. H. McNew

R. H. McNew was born May 30, 1894, in the Centerville Community near Greenbrier, Arkansas. He was the son of William H. and Arah Johnson McNew, and he began his music career at an early age. He was teaching music at Midway Methodist Church (Hempstead County) in 1913 when he traveled a short distance to attend the original session of the Arkansas State Singing Convention in nearby Hope, Arkansas, on August 16, 1913. During his term at Midway Methodist, he met Stella Rosa Avery, and they were married December 21, 1913. She was the granddaughter of Alexander Avery who, as an early (1837) circuit rider from Tennessee, founded Midway Methodist and a number of other churches in Arkansas and Indian Territory. R. H. and Stella established reside… Go to person page >