Early, Texas - History (part 7 of 11)

I will commence with our meeting which commenced the fourth friday and lasted till sunday night we had five preachers at the beginning Sullivan bragg belvin Rottenstine I believe that is the way it is spelled and stansberry the meeting was commenced by brother stansbery who preached from Seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you which was followed by bro Belvin from believe on the lord Jesus christ and thou shalt be saved Saturday morning bro Rottenstine the dutch preacher preached an excellent sermon from some have not the knowledge of god I speak this to your shame Saturday night bro belvin preached from for we must all appear before the judgment seat of christ and be punished or rewarded according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil Eottenstine Preached again Sunday morning from let there be light a great sermon Sunday at dinner time a Preacher came here on his way from Austin belonging to the eastern conference by the name of friend he preached for us at 3 oclock I forget his text bro Belvin Preached again at night from He that hardeneth his heart and stiffeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that with remedy there was a very good feeling throughout the meeting but no conversions and thus ends our meeting . . . our society is getting along pretty well I believe they all or the most of them are striving for the blessing of perfect love

The last of these family missives is from the young man who had spent the winter in Galveston, but who has since been licensed to preach and is now (June, 1846) in eastern Texas studying and " practicing" with a friend, Eobert Crawford, preparatory to entering conference :

Yesterday morning at 11 Oclock I attended meeting in the town of Marshall and was much gratified at the appearance of the congregation. This county you must know for the last 3 years has been in a state of anarchy the law set at defiance, every man thinking he had a right to avenge his wrongs proceeded to dispence Justice, and gratify revenge. The result mary way and conduct affairs to their own liking. The better class opposed this and hence the "Moderators." Various acts of attrocity were committed by both parties, and Dr. Kelsey (the gent at whose house I am staying) informed me to night that since he had been living in the county, 60 murders have been committed, and a greater part under his immediate observation. Such acts of lawlessness have gained for the community arrival here two men were shot in the streets in broad daylight, and an affray occured in port Caddo yesterday in which a man was wounded, supposed mortal. On the whole society is rapidly improving there are but a few of the lawless ones left, and they will have to yield to the moral improvement daily increasing.

The congregation was highly respectable, both in size and character and gave me a very favorable idea of the society of the place. Both the circuit preachers were present bro Stovall gave us a discourse from "The righteous is more excelent than his neighbor" my lot was to conclude which I did, much against my inclination. After service we were invited by a gentleman home to dine, during which the wine bottle was passed around, though out of three preachers but one partook. In the afternoon attended Class meeting and at night tried to preach to a large

I had made a complete failure The gentleman with whom I spent the night seeing my discomfiture, tried to encourage me by telling me I done quite well and advised me to go ahead and thunder away this from a man who made no pretentions to religion was a little comforting, but still I could not get over my bad feelings.

One characteristics of this early period, and which survived in the Church until far later times, was the practice of a strict administration of discipline against those who walked disorderly. Numerous examples and records might be cited of thorough and solemn procedure in such cases, the majority of them being lay members; but a few local preachers also appear for trial. Be it said to the credit of the traveling preachers that, though often

The fowling charges ar Prefurd against James Davis a member of the M. E. Church at New hope (V. Z.) the first charge is for having shot a yearling Bull a stray and skinning it and Leaving the carcus in the woods.

the Day Being set for tryal after Due notice having ben Given to the accused all Parties being Present the Rev. . J. G. Johnson took the Chear, and E. D. Johnson D. G. White and James Bell ware appointed committy Prear by the Eev. . J. G. Johnson after which E. D. Johnson was appointed Sec. .

Mr. . Davis Pleads not Guilty to the first charge Mr. . Smith a witness states that he was in the woods and meets Mr. . Davis.s Son with the hide and asked him if he had been Boochering and he Replide that it was a hide they had just taken of from a Little Bull they had found Dead he then ast him where it was and he told him it was Just over the turn of the hill he Left the Boy and went to the carcus and found that it had been shot threw the heart and the Blud was Running warm Round the heart he then Left it and went and Got W. B. Whitfield and Mr. . Arnold to Go with him to Examine the carcus and they found some strips of hide having in them the appearance of a Bulit hole that had been cut out with a knife

W. B. Whitfield a witness States the Same of Mr. Smith in Relation to the carcus and strips of hide Mr. . Arnold.s testimony coresponds with Mr. . Smiths and Mr. . Whitfield.s

The Year 1846 275

Mr. Davis States that he Did Shute the steer with an Entente to kill the Same Beleaving it to Be his it Being in the Same Mark and Brand Excepting J it Being very "Wilde

We the Committy Do unanumously agree that James Davis is Guilty of the Charges aleged against him which Charges we Beleave to be Suficient to Exclude a Person from the Kingdom of Grace and Glory March 25 th A. D. 1845

D. G. White

This case was appealed to the quarterly conference of Montgomery circuit, and the minutes of the conference show that the action of the committee in expelling the accused was affirmed.

Conference, 1850

THE third session of the East Texas Conference was held at Clarksville, opening on March 31, 1847, and closing on April 7, with Bishop Paine in charge. Oscar M. Addison and Eichard Eansom were received on trial; Jacob Crawford, Milton H. Jones and Nathan Shook located; Job M. Baker took the supernumerary relation, and Robert Crawford and Henderson D. Palmer were placed on the superannuated list. Joab H. Biggs, from the Arkansas Conference, R. W. Kennon, from the Louisiana Conference, and A. Gumming, from the Indian Mission Conference, were received by transfer, and Lewis S. Marshall and Oscar M. Addison were transferred to the Texas Conference.

Recapitulation

These figures disclose the fact that Paris leads the conference in total membership, followed by Jasper and Nacogdoches in order, although San Augustine circuit, the oldest Methodist territory in the conference, shows .the largest number of white members.

In the appointments the districts stand as last year, .and these, with their presiding elders for 1847, are as follows : San Augustine district, John W. Fields, P. E. ; Marshall district, Samuel A. Williams, P. E. ; Clarksville district, Daniel Payne, P. E. No new appointments appear, except Trinity, in the San Augustine district, and Jefferson, in the Marshall district. Bonham and Dallas missions are combined, with Joab H. Biggs and M. F. Cole the preachers.

April, 1847. At the Conference at Clarksville, I was appointed P. E. of the San Augustine District. This was an afflicting appointment to me in many respects, especially in view of my age in the ministry (this being only my fifth year in the Itineracy) ; and in consequence of a severe difficulty between two ex-Presiding Elders "Wilson & West both of whom now resided in the bounds of my work.

But I set out in trembling & in tears resolving to go and do the best that I could. Attended the wedding of Bro. Blades & Miss Swanson on Soda Lake had a pleasant time, spent a few days recreating chiefly fishing on the Lake. Long will I remember this feast, especially the kind family of Bro Blocker.

Eeached my District, and commenced my labors under many embarrasments. Spent the year as best I could; and to what profit if any to the Church, the Lord must judge.

This was a short conference year, the next session of the conference being held in San Augustine, opening on December 8, 1847 just nine months from the close of the former session. Bishop Capers presided. Only one preacher was admitted on trial Felix G-. Fawcett. Job M. Baker, Foster H. Blades, Eobt. Crawford, Orrin Hatch, Robert W. Kennon and Francis "Wilson located. The statistics show an increase of 521 white members, and a decrease of 127 colored. The appointments show the same districts, with the same presiding elders, with the exception of Clarksville district, for which no presiding elder is shown in the minutes. New appointments appearing are: Henderson, Cherokee, Upshur, Smith County Mission, Grayson, Greenville, Mt. Pleasant, Boston, Beaumont (in connection with Liberty), and Palestine. Concerning the organization at Palestine Thrall says: "In 1840 John Wilson, a supply on the Crockett Mission, organized a class near where the city of Palestine now stands, in the house of Roland Box. When the county of Anderson was created, and Palestine selected as the county seat, the Society removed to the new town." Henderson D. Palmer was appointed to the first Palestine circuit in December, 1847.

Deer 1847. Conference held at San Augustine. Bishop Capers presiding. At this Conference we had troubles times. The old Wilson & West case revived; and after spending two days in trial, resulted in the suspension of both. The Conference afterwards reconsidered the case of "Wilson and granted him a location. This was an injudicious step. The Bishop was in bad health; and his stock of patience being exhausted, gave vent to a petulant class of feelings which very much soured the Conference with him. Here too we had a dreadful "blow-up" of the Wesleyan College. The Trustees, through intrigue taking advantage of some legal defectability of the Charter, had amalgamated it with a state University, over the head of the Conference. Now all the recourse we had was to their honor, and that be (ing) so lean nothing in return could be had for buildings & fixtures worth say $15,000. Alas the folly of a weak young Conference to undertake to rear Colleges, before she is able to sustain them ; or understands how to legally hold them

We could, of course, eliminate from these remarks all personal references, as the writer's observations were not made for publication ; but so long as nothing appears to be set down in malice we see no reason for expurgating the record. It is always easy to think of the pioneers as being a more heroic and saintlier company of men than we know to-day. But in reality they were men "of like passions with ourselves," though we must concede to them more hardihood and heroism than we are called upon to exercise to-day.

The loss of Wesleyan College was a severe one to the Eastern Conference. The institution was granted a charter by the Congress of Texas on January 16, 1844, but this charter, it was discovered when too late, was fatally defective so far as it was intended to guarantee Methodist control. The Rev. Lester Janes, a relative of Bishop Janes, was the first president. He was later succeeded by the Rev. Foster H. Blades, A.M., who was in charge at the time of the " blow-up." Francis Wilson had acted as financial agent, and during the four years of its existence under Methodist control the preachers and others had raked and scraped for funds until the buildings and equipment represented an investment of fifteen or twenty thousand dollars. The energy and spirit which projected this educational venture is worthy of all praise ; the preachers and people did their part nobly, but their efforts were defeated by the internal management. As to the courses offered at Wesleyan College, these seemed to run mostly to languages. In a printed circular sent out under date of February 1, 1846, it was stated that "in addition to Latin and Greek, other ancient languages will be taught when desired Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Samaritan." Also full courses were offered in French and Spanish, and " German and Italian will be taught if required." The institution was credited with one A.B. and one A.M. graduate. During the year 1847, apparently without the consent of anybody, the trustees " amalgamated" the institution with a state school located at San Augustine, and a new charter was procured, placing it under state control. The old college building was burned down in 1868, while the East Texas Conference was in session at San Augustine.

The conference met in December, 1848, at Henderson, with Bishop Andrew presiding, and Isaac M. Williams secretary. From Bishop Andrew's "Miscellanies" we learn: "There is as yet no house of worship, but the different denominations occupy the lower room of a house, the upper part of which is a Masonic hall, and a Division room for the Sons of Temperance. "We are about building a house of worship pretty much in the same way. . . . Henderson is not the only place in the state where the church and the lodge are in close neighborhood. . . . One single fact indicates that temperance principles are quite influential. I was told that there were about five hundred voters in the county, and there are two Divisions of the Sons of Temperance, numbering about four hundred members."

At this conference the following were admitted on trial: William Jameson, Samuel C. Box, E. S. Powell, Wm. N. Harmon, Thomas L. Burnes, Samuel G. Culver,

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Wm. Blue, Jas. G. Hardin. Henderson D. Palmer, D. Shook, Jas. H. Stakes, and Daniel Payne located. William G. Booker and Henry B. Kelsey had died during the year. John B. Tullis was received by transfer from the Alabama Conference and Orceneth Fisher and Eobert B. Wells from the Texas Conference. The published obituaries give the following facts relating to the deceased brethren :

William G. Booker was born in Tennessee Nov. 13, 1816; was sometime a resident of Alabama, and from thence emigrated with his father in 1839 to Panola county, Texas. Was converted and joined the M. E. church about 1834 ; was licensed to preach, in 1842; joined the Texas Conference in 1845, during which year he travelled the San Jacinto circuit; in 1846 appointed to Liberty circuit; admitted into full connection and ordained deacon in 1847, and appointed to Henderson circuit. During the year his health entirely failed, and at the ensuing conference he was granted a year's rest. He died on the 21st of January, 1848, at Col. Hardin 's, in Liberty county, in much peace. He left a widow. He was a pious man, a zealous minister, and a faithful pastor. He would often arise from a sick bed and go to an appointment, and his early death was brought on by his excessive labors.

Henry B. Kelsey was a native of the state of New York, born in 1798. Entered the ministry in South Carolina about the year 1820 or 1821. Travelled two or three years and located. He then studied medicine and engaged in the practise of physic. Removed to Tennessee in 1832 or 1833, and about 1838 came to Texas. When our ministers found him in Texas he was in a backslidden state, out of the church and totally fallen. He again joined the church, and was restored to his standing as a local preacher. Received on trial into the East Texas Conference at Marshall in 1846. As a physician he stood high with the medical faculty; as a minister he was much admired for his talents.

At the conference of 1848 a new district was formed, called the Trinity district, covering mainly the Trinity valley. John W. Fields was appointed presiding elder.

Fields had returned to Kentucky the year before, and on August 6th, 1848, had married Miss Winna Ann Duncan, making the trip back to Texas in a buggy. From Field's journal we learn of some of the events of the year on his new district:

In January after a month's rain we set out for my new home in Kaufman county, then in a central portion of my new district, which was about 200 miles square. After wading and swimming mud and water and staying in the most miserable huts at night we reached Kaufman about 1st Feby, a distance of 140 ms. My poor wife bore it all with uncommon cheerfulness and fortitude. But when we arrived my house was not yet finished, so we remained boarders a while, and finally moved into a log cabin 16 feet square, without door, shutters, without kitchen or anything to put in it. Thus we lived one year, from hand to mouth, when we could get it. My wife taught a small school 3 months for which she realized about $12. I travelled my district for which I realized about $300. The expense and trouble of moving was great; and the privations after reaching there still greater. The country new provisions scarce and high, the season extremely wet and sickly. At last my wife and I both took sick and lay for weeks without much attention. ... In the fall of this year (1849) my friends at Palestine made me a liberal offer to move and settle there. Accordingly in the following winter I left my Prairie home in the care of a brother and moved to Palestine.

The fifth session of the East Texas Conference met at Paris, Nov. 29, 1849, with Bishop Paine presiding, and I. M. Williams as secretary. At this conference William P. Sansom, H. B. Hamilton, Calvin Askins, Neil Brown, and Sam. Lynch were admitted on trial. Richard Ransom, Arthur Davis, and Joab H. Biggs located, and Enoch P. Chisholm took the supernumerary relation. Orceneth Fisher, after one year on the Marshall circuit, transferred back to the Texas Conference.

The statistics showed an increase of 690 white members and 12 colored. The new Trinity district included the appointments of Kingsboro, Dallas, Grayson, Green- ville, Smith. County, Cherokee, Palestine, and Sabine mission, with 1348 white members and 39 colored. Dallas mission had increased in membership to 279. The financial report of the conference, covering the " Conference Collections," shows $17.61 raised to apply to deficits on preacher's salaries and for the relief of widows and orphans of preachers. This munificent amount was appropriated as follows: D. Poe's children, $2.60; to L. Fowler's children and widow, $5; W. G-, Booker's widow, $5; H. B. Kelsey's widow, $5. Total amount raised for missions, $414.

A notable rise in membership had taken place at Marshall. In 1847, 233 white members were reported. In 1848 this number had increased to 644, and in 1849 to 707, being more than double the membership of any other charge in the conference. The explanation is given in the "Reminiscences" of Dr. John H. McLean, whose boyhood was spent in this section. Eeferring to these years he says: "My mother moved back to Harrison County in 1849 with her possessions and established a home with her parents five miles east of Marshall. On the premises stood a peck sawmill, as it was called a flat blade about three feet in length, with a peck or tooth at each end, which manufactured about four or five hundred feet of lumber per day. ... On the place was erected a gin and cotton press, with a capacity of one and a half to two bales a day. . . . Here for the first time in my life I was brought in contact with an organized Christian community. We had regular circuit preaching by Rev. N. W. Burks as pastor. For the two years he was on this, the Harrison circuit, he had over one thousand conversions and additions to the church, and of the number were my mother and other relatives. He was a master of men, of commanding size and forceful speech, and well educated for his day."

trict, while the McLean family lived in Bowie County. Payne, we have noted, located at the end of the year, and we are told that he joined in the first rush to California after the gold discovery, but that he was murdered by Indians on the way.

In the appointments made in 1849 we note that the new Trinity district is much reduced in size, and that John W. Fields is reappointed presiding elder, with headquarters at Palestine. From his " Notes From My Raddle-Bags" we have a more detailed report of one round made on his district :

April 1st and 2d Attended the Quarterly Meeting for Palestine circuit, at Wilson Academy congregation large and serious preached with some liberty from Eph. Ill 14 20.

Sabbath morning had a most precious Love-Feast. At 11 o'clock, preached from IX, 26-28, the Lord applied the word; and at the table we felt His presence very near.

April 8th and 9th Attended the Quarterly Meeting for Cherokee circuit at Rusk. Found a feeble, faint and fearful church, everything unfavorable to religion to contend with. During Quarterly Conference I started a proposition to build a meeting house, subscribed $5 myself to encourage the country brethren to do something. In this little mite I was nothing loser, as a liberal California gold-digger placed in my hand the amount at the close of conference. A new and important lesson was this in the doctrine of special providence. This church is likely to be completed in a few months, as there are now several hundred dollars subscribed, and the right class of men on the building committee.

Sabbath morning Attended a fine Sabbath school in the infancy of its organization. About 100 pupils present. Also attended a fine Bible class in the afternoon. These institutions tell well -on the little town, and will doubtless make the rising generation better, if indeed it should fail to redeem the present adult, adulterated population which have hitherto been considered irredeemable. I preached a plain sermon at 11 o'clock, leveled at sin generally and all the views of this day, particularly. Some gnashed their teeth, some laughed to scorn, while others looked serious and wept. At night we had a very appropriate discourse from Brother Cole, L. P. A few came forward for prayer, four joined the church. I felt much gratified at this my first pastoral visit to Eusk.

April 13th and 14th After encountering much difficulty by water, mud and quicksand I reached Kennedy's School House, the place of the Quarterly Meeting for Tyler circuit ; found old brother Craig, like an old Regular, well disciplined to holy war, at his post a good congregation in attendance, Quarterly Conference well attended a most excellent official board, mostly school in the old countries and brought their Methodism with them. Financial reports on the infant circuit good, very good.

After preaching and administering the sacrament on Sabbath, I rode 15 miles to Brother McDough's, in order to reach my next appointment, distant 140 miles, which, owing to high waters and other inconveniences, made me haste to "make hay .while the sun shone."

April 21 and 22 Attended the quarterly meeting for Kingsborough circuit, at Smith's chapel. Owing to the constant flood of rain, but little was effected in the form of visible good but the seed was sown in faith, the result we leave with God.

Monday morning I started for Dallas, but the creeks being iiripassable I was compelled to return to Brother S 's where most of the congregation, who had attended the Quarterly Meeting, still remained owing to rain and high water. I thought it best not to be idel, so I proposed to Brother H, the p. c., that we should have preaching. This we had forenoon and afternoon as it continued to rain.

I started again, found the little creeks lower but the big ones higher. The Bast Fork of the Trinity, the worst and most dangerous stream in Northern Texas, covering its miserable bottom for two miles. What shall I do? inquired I of the ferryman, and then of the Lord. "Go," said the Lord, "and lo I am with you even to the end of the world."

But the ferryman reluctantly took me over the channel and two or three of the worst sloughs ; and then he took a horse and piloted me through the most dangerous parts of the bottom. At our parting I silently offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and after compensation and many cheerful thanks to him, I made my way out finding terra firma in about one mile more.

April 27th and 28th Attended the Dallas Qt. M. at Webb's chapel. This place was dear to me from the recollection that here the first standard of Methodism was planted in this circuit, a few years ago. That time I had the privilege of attending a two days' meeting at this place, when the Lord was pleased to own and bless His word, and the poor preacher felt it a privilege indeed to be among the first to bear the good tidings to the feeble few in the wilderness. They number some 50 members. Our Quarterly meetings were well attended; much good feeling prevailed. One circumstance I was forcible struck with in the Love Feast. A very pious sister had lately gone to the spiritland, her name was frequently called and one said, "Sister

It is time to note what progress is being made in the new town of Dallas, mentioned in the presiding elder's ramblings. We have seen that Dallas circuit appears in the minutes as early as 1846. In a memorandum made by Rev. W. 0. Young, in connection with some old quarterly conference minutes, he says: "In the minutes of the Quarterly Conference of the circuit Dallas is mentioned as a preaching place on the round of appointments for the years 1848 and 1849, but during these two years there was no organization in the town and no response appearing of record to the Seventh Question 'What has been raised for the support of the Ministry,' until after the 4th Quarterly Conference of 1850, when the first instalment ever recorded was paid to the support of the Methodist Ministry in the town even $7. ' '

The minutes of the first quarterly conference, Dallas circuit, for 1848, show the following preaching places, with the financial report from those paying: Honey

East Texas Conference, 1847-1850 287

Creek Camp Ground; Wm. Pulliam's; Welburn's School House, $1; Webb's Chapel, $3.20; Cedar Springs, .75; Dallas; Keen's; Vance's (or Vann's); BusselPs; Coone's. Total collected, $4.95, distributed as follows: "To Bro. J. H. Biggs Traveling Expenses $J.95; Bro. W. C. Lewis Traveling Expenses, $2.57; J. H. Biggs Quarterage .43." Biggs was the preacher in charge and Lewis the presiding elder. In the quarterly conference reports for the second, third and fourth quarters of this year Dallas does not appear in the list of preaching places. In the report for the second quarter, 1849, Mc- Kinney appears. At the second quarterly conference, 1850, a committee was appointed "to receive propositions to select a suitable place for a parsonage." This committee reported at the third quarter, "accepting 25 acres of ground offered by Abner & M. H. Keen on Duck Creek, in Dallas County, ' ' and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions and another to superintend the building. Our first record of a "class" in the town of Dallas is the Class Book for the circuit, dated Nov. 11, 1850, showing a Dallas class of twelve names, as follows : Elizabeth Browder, Lucy I. Browder, Perry Deacon, Thomas Cruchfield, S. A. Cruchfield, Sarah Zachre, A. S. Sampson, Isabella P. Harwood, Mary McOmis, A. D. Eice. The Cedar Springs class had forty-four names, among which the Knights, Coles and Brandenburgs are prominent. Webb's Chapel shows fifty-six names, of whom are the Webbs, Cochrans, Armstrongs, Hunts, and Wm. K. Hasten, L. P., and Jesse Daniel, L. E.

A full account has already been given of Webb's Chapel, the pioneer church of Dallas County. Four or five years after the Webb's Chapel society was organized a church was formed at Cedar Springs, not far from the present Oak Lawn section of Dallas. Sometime in the middle fifties the Webb's Chapel and Cedar Springs societies united in the erection of a church on half-way ground. This church was named Cochran 's Chapel, after

Mrs. Nancy J. Cochran, the donor of the ground. 1 It was dedicated "by J. W. P. McKenzie soon after its completion. Cochran 's Chapel has had a continuous existence down to the present day and it has made a large contribution to Dallas Methodism and to other fields of the Church. The original building was displaced by another in 1885, and now this one is giving place to a handsome brick church.

We have noted in a former chapter something of the life and character of J. W. P. McKenzie; that he was a pioneer itinerant on both sides of Bed River in 1839- 40-41, and that on account of failing health he located in the fall of 1841, and settling four miles west of Clarksville, opened a private school for boys in a oneroom log house. He enrolled sixteen pupils the first year. This was the beginning of McKenzie College, which for the period before the Civil War came to be the most prosperous and the most influential school west of the Mississippi River. While most of our early schools were projected on a more ambitious scale, and had the advantage of official conference support, the McKenzie school was of slow development and simply grew up around a great educator. Within a few years the log house was displaced by a larger building, and in the course of time four large two-story frame buildings were erected, where as many as three hundred boarding pupils found ample and comfortable quarters. The institution extended its curriculum to a full four year's college course, equal to any of the standards of that day, and a female department was added. "Itinerant's Retreat" was the name which the ex-itinerant gave to his school community, and this spot became classic ground during the life of McKenzie. While McKenzie College was never regularly owned or supported by the conferences or the i The deed to the property was made in 1854, and W. C. Young says that Cochran 's Chapel was built the same year the deed was made, and that it was dedicated the same year. He places the cost at $1400, but says it was not ceiled until later years. Others writing on this subject fix various years for the erection of this church, or of its dedication, as 1856, 1858, or 1859.

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Church it was generally recognized as a Methodist institution. One of its distinguishing characteristics was the positive religious influence which it wielded over its pupils. Of this and of other features of its work, as well as of some of the men who were products of the school, we shall have occasion to refer later. Here, to give a contemporary view of some things in its earliest days, we introduce a "statement of account" of one boarding pupil, who, drawn by the fame of the "log college" had ridden all the way from Burleson County on a mule to seek his education.

Summing it all up, the above bill, which may be taken as typical, represents all the expenses in school, covering .a total attendance of twenty-five months during the years 1847-48-49, including board, tuition, books, a few items of clothing, "pills" and other sundries, as amounting to $460.59^, or an average of about $18.50 a month.

My last was dated from Clarksville, which place I left on Monday the 24th ultimo (letter bears date of Feb. 1, 1848), having spent four days and a half very pleasantly. I am more than ever pleased with bro McKenzie's Institution; and the advantages Malcolm is enjoying. And it is not a stretch of the imagination, to suppose, that the time here spent, will form an era in his history, from which he may date his rise to an honorable distinction in any profession in which he may engage. . . . The students have a debating society which meets weekly. On friday night, while in the sitting room in company with bros. Stovall and Davis the latter preacher in charge we were waited upon by a couple of young gentlemen, who announced themselves as a committee appointed, to invite us into the society. The exercises were in progress as we entered, which consisted in reading compositions previous to the discussion of the subject.

The question read for debate was as follows. "Which is the stronger passion, love or hatred?" This was argued pro and con for sometime, Malcolmn closing on the negative. A call was then made for Mr. Addison to participate in the debate. Your humble servant then rose and delivered his sentiments in favor of hatred being the stronger, not that he really thought so ; but the other side of the house had the best of the argument, and I thought I would assist the weaker party. The other preachers were invited to speak who respectively presented the merits of the two passions in glowing colors. But love was thought by the deciding power to be much the stronger.

East Texas Conference, 1847-1850 291

"We have been again visited by the monster death, and under circumstances the most calculated to afflict, on day before yesterday, in the afternoon, William McKenzie (son of Dr. McKenzie) started to a wedding, in company with a number of others, all as gay as it is possible for people to be, but they had not been gone perhaps over five minutes before he was thrown from his horse, his father had went on before to perform the ceremony he was immediately sent for, but William never spoke again, he lived till twenty five minutes after twelve. I need not try to tell you how it affected his parents. . . . Old Master told us some weeks ago that some heavy calamity would fall upon us but this was unexpected to all and more so at the time at which it happened, never have I seen a more sudden change, in about two hours from the time he started, or perhaps a good deal less time, he was brought back insensible and in less than twenty four hours from the time he was perfectly well he was buried. . . . With the exception of that calamity every thing is about as usual, several of the students have professed religion since I last wrote to you. I think that about seven or eight have professed this session.

The second General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, met in Centenary Church, St. Louis, on May 1, 1850. The representatives from Texas were : from the Texas Conference, Robert Alexander and Chauncey Eichardson ; from the East Texas Conference, Eobert Crawford and William C. Lewis. A letter from Eobert Crawford, written en route, and one from Eobert Alexander written after the Conference had opened, follow :

We are now on board a S. Boat passing up the River and we are about 30 or 40 miles above Memphis. It will take us about two days yet to get to St. Louis. The Boat shakes so that I can hardly write so that you can read it.

we fell in with Alexander, Eichardson and Peel from your Conference. Also a part of the Alabama Delegation We all took a Boat for St. Louis and at Natchez and other points we

There have been 8 or 10 deaths from Cholera since we left N. Orleans on board the boat and there are several more cases that will doubtless die.

I arrived here the night of the 1st of May but learned on our arrival that a majority of the members were not at their place on the 1st day so nothing was done until we arrived Since the morning of the 2d of May we have been hard at work in the morning from Sy 2 until 12^ & 1 o'clock then from 3 O P. M. until 5 & 6 &c And I do assure you it is a wearing business these Cholera times and this cold weather for this is a cold region, and we Southern men all have bad colds and are coughing & hawing all the time We had Cholera aboard all the way up the river have had & still have that waisting disease in this city though not in a very allarming extent

I presume we will make two new Bps and that Dr, , Bascom will be one of them further than this your deponent doth not say "We are about to have plenty of Book depositories and news papers and really I am much in hopes we will get the Banner adopted but it is yet uncertain All of our Bps are present Bp Soule is in feeble health and is excused from effective labors in fact from all labour only such as he may feel that his health will justify We have a large amount of business cut out and more than we will get through soon yet I hope we will not have a long session . . . today we obtained a general conf sanction and recommendation for the Euter Church and for the agent so

Referring to several items mentioned above we find that the General Conference approved the effort to build a church at Washington, Texas, in honor of Dr. Ruter; but beyond recommending the enterprise to the liberality of the community the Conference did not go.

Provision was made for establishing Conference Book Depositories, which resulted in a book supply house later in Texas. The Texas Wesleyan Banner, was adopted as

But one bishop was elected at St. Louis Henry B. Bascom, of Kentucky, whose episcopal career was cut so short that, unlike other new bishops, he did not have the opportunity to be tried out in Texas.

Chapter Xix Texas Confebence, 1847-1850

THE seventh session of the Texas Conference convened in Galveston, March 10, 1847, Bishop Paine presiding. Chauncey Eichardson was elected secretary. George Tittle, David Eose, William J. Wilson, A. B. F. Kerr, Eobert N. Stansberry, and Eobert H. Belvin were admitted on trial. Isaac Tabor, James H. Collard and Eobert B. Wells located. John Haynie took the supernumerary relation. James E. Ferguson was received by transfer from the Arkansas Conference.

This conference was called to mourn the loss of one of its leading members, Daniel N. V. Sullivan, who had died just a few days before the session, while serving as presiding elder of the Washington district. "The committee have been unable to obtain any information respecting the early history and conversion of Daniel V. N. Sullivan,'* runs his memoir. "It appears from documents found among his papers that he received license as a local preacher in 1833 from the Quarterly Conference in Lecksapilita circuit, Alabama Conference, under the administration of E. V. Levert, P.E. In 1838 he removed to Texas and engaged in teaching school. He was ordained deacon in 1840 by Bishop Waugh; was admitted on trial and appointed to Matagorda circuit. In 1842 he was appointed to Montgomery circuit; in 1843 to Nashville circuit; in 1844 he was ordaine'd elder by Bishop Andrew, and appointed to Brazos circuit; in 1845 to Brazoria; in 1846 he was appointed P.E. of the Washington district, which office he filled at death." In February, 1847, Bro. Sullivan was attacked with what was called inflammation of the brain, and after much acute suffering he died on Saturday, February 20, at the home of Alexander McGowan, in Houston. His memoir characterizes him as "a deeply devoted Christian, but a man of serious and reserved deportment ; a minister of a high order of talents, and especially eminent for the clearness with which he stated, and the ability with which he defended and enforced the doctrines of the Bible. ' '

At the Galveston conference no new districts were formed, and no important changes were made in the appointments, except that Josiah W. Whipple was placed on the Washington district, made vacant by the death of D. N. V. Sullivan.

The eighth session of the Texas Conference was held at Cedar Creek 1 a rising young Methodist center in Washington County, convening on December 29, 1847, and closing on January 3, 1848 thus scarcely ten months elapsing since the last conference. Bishop William Capers presided, and Chauncey Richardson was secretary. At this conference Harvey H. Allen, Isaac G. John, Henry Bauer, Charles Goldberg, Thomas M. Williams, and Bryant L. Peel were admitted on trial two of these, as their names indicate, Tbeing the fruitage of our mission to the Germans. Leonard S. Friend, Wm, S. Hamilton and Wiley W. Whitby located. John Haynie and Jesse Hord took the superannuate relation. Oscar M. Addison, who had been admitted on trial into the East Texas Conference the year before, was received by transfer, as was also Lewis S. Marshal from the same conference. William C. Lewis and Isaac M. Wliliams were transferred to the East Texas Conference.

i Thrall and others after him say that this Conference was held at Chappell Hill; but Thrall in his ' ' Eeminiscences " does not agree with Thrall the historian. There was no Chappell Hill in 1848, this point taking its rise the following year, if we are to believe the following account in the ' ' Eeminiseences " : "During my second year on the Washington circuit [which was 1849] there was a camp meeting held at Cedar Creek. . . . During the year Chappell Hill was laid out, and Jacob Haller opened a store. There were many accessions by immigration this year, including Dr. Swearingen, Major Browning and Judge Felder." Concerning the above Conference he says in these papers: "The sessions were held in the second story of Father Chappell 's new house, three miles distant from Cedar Creek." Contemporary references to this Conference and to this settlement in 1848 use simply the name "Cedar Creek."

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 297

The statistics showed an increase of three hundred and eighty-four white members, and two hundred seventy-nine colored. In the appointments the "Washington district is dropped, never to appear again, and the two new districts Austin and San Antonio appear ; the four districts, with their presiding elders, now being as follows: Galveston district, C. Richardson; Rutersville district, R. Alexander ; Austin district, Josiah W. Whipple; San Antonio district, Mordecai Yell. Galveston station is filled by James M. Wesson; Houston, Robert H. Belvin. A Houston German mission is organized, with Charles Goldberg in charge, and a Houston African mission is set off, with Orceneth Fisher the preacher. The German work in the southwest is included in a Victoria and Indian Point German mission, with Henry Bauer in charge.

The ninth session of the Texas Conference was held at Lagrange, January 3, IB49, Bishop Andrew in charge, C. Richardson, secretary. This was just twelve months to a day from the close of the last conference. Charles F. Rottenstein, James M. Folansbee, Charles Grote, Falacius Reynolds, Reuben Long, and James H. Addison were admitted on trial six preachers, exactly the same number as at each of the two conferences before. John Haynie and Jesse Hord were continued on the superannuate roll. 0. Fisher and Robert B. Wells were transferred to the East Texas Conference, and John C. Kolbe was left without an appointment "on account of pecuniary embarrassment." John W. Phillips was received by transfer from the Tennessee Conference. The statistics showed an increase of three hundred twentyone white members and of twelve colored. The financial statistics at the conferences in those days were comprehended under the following questions, with the answers given at this conference :

Question 15, What has been collected on the foregoing accounts, and how has it been applied? Collected from circuits, $60.26; at Conference, $16.45; draft on McFerran and Henkle, $75 ; draft on Bishop Soule, $75. Appropriated ; M. E. T. Outlaw, $50; J. W. DeVilbiss, $40; David Thompson, $34.90; E. Alexander, $21.10 ; Bp. Andrew, $75 ; Conference expense, $5.71.

Question 16, What has been contributed for the support of Missions, what for the publication of tracts and Sunday school books, and what to the aid of the American Bible Society and its auxiliaries? Missions, $308; Sunday schools, $83.35; Bible, $56.30.

These were the " Conference Collections" of that day meager enough, compared 'with the budgets of to-day, but then those were the days of simplicity and but little church machinery. It is to be regretted that there are no salary statistics available except a few examples from old quarterly conference records, as there are no conference journals extant covering that period, and the general minutes put to record only the barest outline of conference transactions.

The tenth session of the Texas Conference was held at Seguin, opening on Dec. 6, 1849. Bishop Eobert Paine was in charge, and C. Richardson was again elected secretary. Cyrus Campbell, "William F. Hubert, Joshua Shapard, George W. Rabb, William G. Nelms, Edward Schneider, and Dioclesian Wright were admitted on trial. The minutes show that David Thompson, L. D. Bragg and 0. Fisher located, although the minutes of the previous session state that Fisher was transferred to the East Texas Conference, which in fact he did. It is only another instance of the imperfection of these records. It is not always possible to trace out an accurate course of a preacher's career through these minutes, as there are examples of a preacher being located one year, and appearing on the superannuated list the following year.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 299

And so on. At this conference M. E. T. Outlaw took the supernumerary relation, and John Haynie and Jesse Hord remain on the superannuated list. Thomas F. Cook transferred to the Texas Conference from the Mississippi Conference. He was a son of Valentine Cook, of great fame in his day as a revivalist.

The statistics show a larger increase in membership than for any previous year 585 white members, and 168 colored. While old Washington has lost its place at the head of a district, the Washington circuit leads the conference in membership 392 white and 112 colored, besides 120 colored gathered in a special Washington colored mission. E-utersville shows the next highest membership 289 white and 24 colored; followed by Nashville, 244 white, 25 colored ; Austin and Bastrop, 247 white and 30 colored (the most of whom are outside of Austin), and Seguin, where the conference was held, which a year or two ago was a frontier settlement, has forged to the front as an appointment, with 232 white members, and 8 colored. The first church building in Seguin had been completed in time for this conference. The "stations" are showing little growth in membership. Galveston has 67 whites and 57 colored ; Houston, 103 whites and 114 colored. Austin alone reported the year before 33 white members, and San Antonio has reached a total of only 35 members 20 whites and 15 colored. Corpus Christi brings up six members. The places of "strategic" importance were of slow growth, but were more permanent than the others. The German mission work in the conference reported 169 members, with one church building about completed in Galveston.

In the appointments the Austin district is dropped, and the Springfield district appears, which includes the appointments of Springfield, Wheelock, Nashville, Bed Oak and Leon missions. Georgetown mission appears for the first time, included in the San Antonio district, James W. Lloyd, preacher in charge, a transfer from the

Arkansas Conference; and also Brownsville mission, N. A. Cravens, from the Alabama Conference. The districts, with their presiding elders, are: Galveston district, James M. Wesson; Eutersville district, Eobert Alexander; Springfield district, Mordecai Yell; San Antonio district, Josiah W. Whipple ; and Victoria district, Daniel Carl. The delegates elected at this conference to the General Conference of 1850 were E. Alexander and C. Eichardson.

A running sketch of the progress of the Texas Conference during the above years shows the following facts : The districts have increased from three to five ; the membership in the conference has increased by 1649 whites and 458 colored; present total membership, 3374 whites and 959 colored; local preachers have increased from thirty-nine to fifty-nine, and itinerants, actually listed in the appointments, have increased (net) by ten from thirty-one to forty-one, a small net increase in the itinerant ranks. By no sort of checking up of the minutes can the exact status of the itinerant ranks be determined. The system in operation took no account of accessions by transfer. There was no question, "Who is received by transfer?" New names simply appear in the appointments, and only by sifting the minutes of all the annual conferences can it be even approximately determined where the new preacher came from. And it frequently occurs that a name disappears from the appointments, with no account of what happened in the case.

The minutes of those days take no account of church buildings or parsonages. A United States census report for 1850 shows 328 churches of all denominations in Texas, of which the Methodists owned 173, valued at $58,195; the Baptists are credited with 70, valued at $23,190; Presbyterians, 47, valued at $20,070; Episcopalians, 5, valued at $15,400; Eoman Catholics, 13, valued at $79,700; "Christians" 5, valued at $1,500.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 301

"Educational Statistics, " and our information of the progress of our schools must be gathered from other sources. We know that 0. Richardson had resigned the presidency of Rutersville College, and that he was succeeded by Dr. William Halsey, a native of New York, a graduate of Wesleyan University, who had come to Texas and engaged in teaching in 1845. A brief reference to Rutersville College contained in a report of the Mission Board for 1847 states that 68 pupils were then in attendance.

This circuit embraced the section of country in which Mr. Kinney settled and organized his first societies, and that in which Mr. Alexander married and settled. Messrs. Alexander, Kinney, Fisher, Sneed, and Wells, travelling preachers, lived on this circuit; local preachers, Thomas Wooldridge, Thomas E. Nunn, and A. C. Delaplaine; exporters, B. L. Peel, A. T. Kerr, H. O. Campbell, Cyrus Campbell, and J. C. Harrison. The following were class-leaders: N. Chambliss, E. D. Tarver, Adolphus Hope, James Gray, John Atkinson, and Thomas Bell; stewards, Fletcher W. Hubert, "William Dever, "William Kesee, J. D. biddings, William P. Kerr, William Chappell, B. F. Eeavill, John M. Brown, Amos Gates, and Eufus E. Campbell. The plan contained 14 appointments, and 254 white and 55 colored members. At the close of Mr. Thrall's second year the circuit was divided and subdivided into several pastoral charges, and Washington Circuit as such disappeared from the Minutes. Before Mr. Thrall took charge of the circuit it had been travelled successively by J. W. Kinney, E. Alexander, Abel Stevens, Jesse Hord, Mr. Kinney again with E. B. Wells, Joseph P. Sneed, and William C. Lewis. At that early period the necessity for houses of worship was as great as at the present time, and in many places cheap structures were built, so that we could have our own denominational Sunday schools. A plain church was erected at a neighborhood called Cedar Creek, in Washington County, in 1847. Soon afterward the village of Chappell Hill was laid

The years 1847-49 mark the rise of Methodism at San Marcos. According to the version of a surviving member of that church 2 the following is the story: "In 1847 my father moved from Grimes County to the spot upon which San Marcos is built. There was no house here then, but Gen. Henry McCullough with a company of Bangers was camped here. Indians were occasionally around here at that time. A few months after our arrival my father, Jno. D. Pitts, got in touch with Eev. A. B. F. Kerr, our former pastor, and got him to come here and preach to the few who had formed a settlement. In August, 1847, Bro. Kerr organized the church. The meeting was in our house, and nine persons constituted the charter roll. Besides my father, mother, brother and myself, there were Ed Pitts, Wm. C.Pitts and wife, Thos. McGehee and wife and Mike Sessums. Services were held at intervals in our home until 1849, when the first church was built."

We have noted the projection of the Springfield district in 1849, which was the seed germ of the future Northwest Texas Conference. Springfield, in the heart of Limestone County, first appears in the minutes of 1846, and returns at the end of the year 98 white members and 1 colored. Eichland, in Navarro County, with Jas. E. Ferguson and Jas. G. Hardin, in charge, appears in 1847, and for this mission at the end of the year 162 white members and 2 colored are returned.

Although Denton County was, according to the official boundary, properly in the territory of the East Texas Conference, as the Trinity Eiver was the line, preachers from the Texas Conference first pushed northward into this region and planted Methodism there. Two accounts of Methodist beginnings in Denton County which we have seen are not in exact agreement, and a third account, which we are about to offer, does not agree with the others, though all have some points in common. In a lengthy account of Methodism in Denton and Denton County, appearing in the Texas Christian Advocate in 1918, we are told that "Denton County was attached to and became a part of Bed Oak Mission, and in July, 1846, Eev. J. E. Ferguson, presiding elder of the Austin District, and in charge of Bed Oak Mission, organized a church near where the town of Lewisville now is, with nineteen members." Another account, from Bates 's "History of Denton County," is as follows, the statement having been prepared by the son of John W. King mentioned : * ' The first Methodist class in Denton County was formed in July, 1846, by James E. Ferguson, presiding elder of the Bed Oak Mission. John W. King was class leader." The names of the members included the Harmonsons, Kings, Waggoners, Suttons and others, to the number of nineteen. We are told further : ' * The class met regularly, had monthly meetings from 1846 to 1852. . . . The preachers in charge were as follows : Bev. James E. Ferguson in 1846-47, Bev. George Tittle in 1848, Bev. Bandalls, a native Texas preacher, in 1849." In the above accounts, the first probably derived from the second, some matters are badly mixed. The conference records show that James E. Ferguson did not come to Texas until the winter of 1846-47, transferring from the Arkansas Conference. The Texas Conference, at which he received his first appointment in Texas, was held in March, 1847, at which time he was appointed, with a colleague, J. Gr. Hardin, to the Bichland circuit, Navarro County. Josiah Whipple was presiding elder of the Austin district that year, and not Ferguson, as stated above ; and the Bed Oak Mission, referred to as existing in 1846, was not created until 1848. That Ferguson visited Denton County in 1847, and left a church organ- ization there, we are certain, from his own account ; and that he had been preceded there a year before by another preacher, Wiley W. Whitby, we are told also. Ferguson's account is as follows : 3

In 1847 the territory now embraced in Navarro, Ellis, Tarrant, and a part of Limestone, Dallas and Denton counties, was served by a young man of twenty-two summers. It was his third year in the ministry and first in Texas. The country was newly settled by a hardy, hospitable class. He met a kind reception among the people, and found them kindly disposed toward religion. The highest point visited by my predecessor, Rev. W. W. Whitby, was in Denton county, called "Harmonson's School House." While at this point in the month of August I received a message from Mr. John Waggoner, living on Elm Pork of the Trinity, twelve miles distant, requesting an appointment at his house. The appointment was made for the following Sunday at 4 p. m. I found about 25 persons present. I gave out a two days meeting in September at the house of Peter Waggoner, brother of John. In the early part of the week in which the two days meeting had been set the missionary passed through the settlement on his way to preach at Fitzhugh's Station 18 miles further up on Elm Fork. . . . The second Saturday in September I began the meeting at Peter Waggoner's. A Mrs. Sutton was gloriously converted, and died before the end of the year in great joy. Another man King, an ex-Campbellite preacher in Missouri, after a hard struggle was converted, with his wife and three daughters. Over 20 joined the church. This man King was left as class-leader.

While the above piece of historical reminiscence is unsigned, the description which the writer gives of himself corresponds exactly with Ferguson's age and ministerial career.

Red Oak mission (Eed Oak being in Ellis County) was created in 1848, and George Tittle appointed to the charge. This fact leads us to the beginning of Methodism in Waxahachie. In a historical sketch of the Waxahachie Methodist Church* we have the following: ''The first sermon preached in what is now Waxahachie was in 1848 by George Tittle, who was preacher in charge of Eed Oak Mission. On one occasion he lost his way on the prairie, and stopping at the cabin of Major E. W. Eogers to make inquiry, he was invited to spend the night and preach. That cabin occupied the ground where the Hotel Eogers now stands. In the spring of 1849 Eev. Mr. Eeynolds organized a Methodist Society, consisting of nine members, in Major Eogers' cabin. This was one year before the town of Waxahachie was located."

Continuing our search of the minutes, Eed Oak Mission returned at the end of the year 74 white members and one colored. In the fall of 1848 Falacius Eeynolds was appointed to Eed Oak Mission, and in the following year Springfield district appears, covering this territory, with the following appointments: Mordecai Yell, P.E. ; Springfield ct., Fabricius Eeynolds (his name never appears the same way twice); Wheelock, Eeuben Long; Nashville, John W. DeVilbiss; Eed Oak Mission, D. F. Wright, Win. G. Nelms; Leon Mission, James H. Addison. Georgetown Mission, as we have noted, appears for the first time this year, but is included in the San Antonio district.

The following report from the new settlement of Waxahachie, and noting the projection of its first church, signed D. W. Wright, and dated Eed Oak circuit, July 15, 1850, appeared in the Texas Wesley an Banner:

Waxahachie, the county site of Ellis county, Texas, is pleasantly situated on the north side of Waxahachie creek, on the road leading from Dallas to Austin, about thirty miles from Dallas, and about eighteen miles west of the Trinity river, surrounded by a country of rich, undulating land, and from its central position, the intelligence and moral worth of the citizens in and around the town, it bids fair to become a pleasant and thriving inland town.

erection of a church. Brother B. W. Eogers has donated a lot for the purpose of a church and parsonage. Our plan for raising funds to build said church, is by subscription, and already quite a number of names appear.

This is followed by a subscription list amounting to $330, headed by E. W. Eogers, $50, and on which appears the name of Gen. E. H. Tarrant, $30. This first building was located on what was later called East Franklin Street. It was a building 16 by 20 feet, constructed of clapboards, and was completed and occupied in 1852.

Extracts from the same church paper the Texas Wesleyan Banner for the same year give us the beginnings of two other future important points. The first is from James W. Lloyd, P.O., on the new Georgetown mission, two items, dated October 3 and November 10 respectively :

Our meeting commenced on the 27th of September, and under somewhat unfavorable circumstances, but we were not discouraged. The ministers and the Church put their trust in Him, who never deceives his faithful followers, and went to work with all their energy. The result was one conversion on the first night of the meeting. The meeting progressed with interest, notwithstanding we had a severe blow from the North on Saturday night, which broke up our services, turning over our tents, and exposing us to the dripping clouds ; but the Lord was with us, and amidst the roar of the storm you might hear the songs of Zion from the neighboring wagons and vehickles. And ere our meeting closed, which was Monday, we numbered seventeen conversions and as many accessions to the M. E. Church, South. And the members of the Church were much revived and strengthened in faith and doctrine. Our prayer to the great Head of the Church is, that the revival may extend all around the Mission, and throughout the borders of our Israel. Pray for us, dear brother, while we labor in the frontier part of our territory.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 307

Suffer me through your columns to make a meagre report from the Georgetown Mission. When I was appointed to the work there were about forty members in full connection, and about twenty on probation. We dropped six of the probationers, and gave letters to two of the members, which left fifty-two in all, scattered over a territory comprising two counties. There have been twenty-five members received on probation, and 38 by letter, making in the bounds of the Mission 115 communicants; out of which there are four local preachers and two exhorters.

It may afford your readers pleasure to learn that, since my arrival at Brownsville, the field assigned me as the field of my ministerial labors for the present Conference year, we have succeeded in building a church edifice, sufficient for our congregation. I arrived here 27th of February, and found Brother Chamberlain, a minister of the Presbyterian church, had preceded me about five weeks, and he had secured the use of Brother Stansbury's School house, the only suitable house for religious worship at that time in our city, except a house then occupied by the Catholics; so that there was no chance for me to enter efficiently upon the discharge of my ministerial duties until we could build; in this state of things time was valuable, and to work we went; and the result is a building 60 feet long, 20 feet wide, ten feet cut off for bed room and study for the preacher. Our house is canvassed inside and overhead, and a set of good seats, suitable pulpit, and yellow-washed outside, paled in, and the palings white-washed; the floor of the preacher's room carpeted with oil canvas, and suitable furniture for comfort of preacher. Last Sunday the house was solemnly dedicated to the service of God.

In the absence of any other preacher for our church, it became my duty to preach on the occasion; Brother Chamberlain, by special invitation, assisted in the services, following the ser- vices with appropriate and eloquent remarks, and a very solemn dedicatory ceremony, after which a subscription, amounting to nearly one hundred dollars was raised to help in defraying the expenses of the building.

This you are aware is the first church built in the valley of the Eio Grande since the Mexican War. The only Protestant church on this whole frontier. May God make it a great blessing to the city and the country adjacent to it.

The Texas Wesleyan Banner, from which the foregoing extracts have been taken, was a new thing in Texas Methodism, and as it came into existence during the period we are now considering, an account of its origin is here in place. 5 In 1847 Eobert B. Wells, a son-in-law of Orceneth Fisher, located and settled in Brenham, and commenced the publication of a paper which he named The Texas Christian Advocate and Brenham Advertiser. Having had some previous experience in the printing business, Mr. Wells was encouraged to undertake the establishment of a church paper by such men as Fisher, Eichardson, Kenney, Thrall, Whipple, and Yell, and a few citizens of Brenham, notably Col. J. D. Giddings and others, subscribed liberally toward the expenses of the paper. As a consequence the paper began with a dual name and a dual character half church and half secular. The editor was assisted in getting out the paper by his wife, Mrs. Mary E. Wells, a daughter of Orceneth Fisher, a sister of 0. A. Fisher and an aunt of Sterling Fisher the last two later of the West Texas Conference and Mrs. Wells recounts some of the difficulties which finally defeated the enterprise. The citizens of Brenham were all liberal supporters of the paper, "but," says she, "when we came to the work, and tried to get printers to set type and hands to work off the papers we were at a loss to know what to do a long ways from market, and

5 The account is derived from an article on C. Eichardson, by H. S. Thrall, in T. C. A., 1877, supplemented by a letter from the widow of B. B. Wells, in T. C. A., 1904.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 309

news of interest was scarce. The editor was a good printer and good manager, and also a hustler, for he worked night and day on the paper, and had it ready on time. His wife made up the mail with very little help. Houston was our nearest market, and in rainy weather the road was almost impassable. We would have trouble with our press, and it was hard to get paper. We soon found that Brenham was not the place for the Advocate there were too many difficulties to overcome, there being no conveniences at hand, it was such an uphill business. But we struggled on until the end of the year, when its managers decided to move to Houston, where there were more conveniences. Then the Eev. 0. Fisher, D.D., took charge, Eev. E. B. Wells returning to traveling and preaching. ' '

The paper, now called simply The Texas Christian Advocate, was conducted as a private enterprise in Houston by O. Fisher until the fall of 1848. At a consultation of preachers and laymen, held at the Eutersville campground in September of that year, it was determined to take over the paper and carry it on as a church periodical. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements, and at the request of the committee H. S. Thrall prepared a " prospectus," which appeared in the Houston Telegraph of October 12. At the succeeding conference, held at Lagrange, the enterprise was approved, and C. Eichardson was elected editor. The new editor, on his own motion, changed the name of the paper to Texas Wesleyan Banner. In February, 1849, Messrs. Alexander and Thrall took a horseback ride from Washington County to Houston, and on behalf of the publication committee of the conference, they entered into a contract with Messrs. Cougen and Moore, by which the latter were "to furnish everything and deliver to the editor weekly one thousand copies of papers of imperial size, at $2,500 per annum. It was expected that the subscriptions would pay the printers, and the advertisements the editor," whose salary had been fixed at $800 a year. In due time the Banner was unfurled, beautiful in appearance, and in size equal to any paper in the state. It was popular both with preachers and people. The East Texas Conference adopted the paper, and appointed a committee to act jointly with a committee from the Texas Conference; and in 1850 the General Conference gave it official recognition. We shall leave t~hs Banner floating in the Texas breezes for the present, simply adding with reference to the story so hopefully begun "to be continued."

In 1847-48 no little disturbance was created in church circles in Houston and elsewhere by the defection of Gen. Moseley Baker, a local preacher and a man of prominence and influence, who had been a captain in the Texan army at San Jacinto, and a member of Congress. An extract from a letter, dated Houston, May 4, 1848, gives some' account of the origin and course of the trouble : 6

In my last I informed you Gen. Baker had withdrawn from the church. This has not much surprised me, as I knew he was not altogether satisfied in our church. ... I am now at Gen. Baker's, who is my host during this visit to Houston. There is an old man here named Alley, who has (or professes to have) received great spiritual light. He has been sanctified, and enjoys a state of holiness higher than this blessing. He contends the Millenium commenced from the year "40," and that Christ has now come the second time. From scripture he says that there was to be a night of darkness or a dark age previous to the Millenium, in which we were not to be able to enjoy much spiritual light; but now Christ has come the second time, there is a state of glory to be enjoyed by the church she has never before known. All sectarian feelings are to be done away with and the followers of Christ are to be united. This he is commanded to preach, &c &c. Now bro. Baker professes to have received great spiritual light, and receives the preaching of

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Mr. Alley as from God. This may have had some influence in his withdrawal from the church. He says he is happy, and would not join again for the world.

Gen. Baker, whose strange doctrines seemed to be partly derived from this man Alley, who was described as "a shrewd Yankee from the North," and partly consisted of the new fads of mesmerism and spiritualism, began the publication of The True Evangelist, through which he disseminated his railing accusations against the Church. A heated controversy was kept up for some time between the Evangelist and The Texas Wesley an Banner. The name "Bakerites" came to be applied to the readers of the Evangelist; however, but few persons followed the General's example in withdrawing from the Church, and in the course of a year or two the excitement subsided. Gen. Baker died of yellow fever in the latter part of 1848.

A few further extracts from the letters and journals of various preachers may be used as reflecting conditions here and there within the wide bounds of the Texas Conference during the period 1847-50. The following paragraphs are from letters from William Young, San Antonio, dated at different times in 1848 :

I have now been here about four months, and truly I can say I have been blessed in a very peculiar manner. I have never met with a more kind reception anywhere than in this place. It is true we have not a great many members of the church, but our citizens generally are friendly to the cause of religion, our congregations are large and attentive, and where these markes are exhibited there is hope of doing good. "We stand very much in need of a few more members to aid us in carrying out our purposs, and if you felt dispose to move from where you are now settled I think you might do very well here, we certainly have a much more healthy climate than any of the Brazos country the coolest water and the purest air that can be found in Texas I suppose and if you and brother Joseph were settled here and disposed to follow your occupation as mechanicks I think you might do very well our people are very much in the spirit of building and good workmen who do their business properly are very scarce. . . .

I spoke of the kindness and attention of this people to religion and ministers of the gospel but at the same time it needful to remark that there is a great deal of wickedness amongst a portion of our community and we have a great many opposite influences to contend with, but what else could we expect under the circumstances It is now the rendesvous for a portion of the army and where ever soldiers are embodied wickedness will arrived here this after-noon and they are now greeting him with a round of artilery so you see I spoil a word sometimes by jumping at roar of that awful gun.

We have been getting along peacibly most of the time since I last wrote, an attempt however was made on last Saturday to kill me off, and I consider that I made quite a fortunate escape, but bro. McCullough our Presbyterian minister escaped still more narrowly than I did. A gambling fellow by the name of Glanton, who had some difficulty with bro. M. about a church lot came on his horse, drunk, and attacked our house he first rode into my room and presented a large six shooter at me but I jumped out of his way and he did not fire, he then rode out and stood before Mc's door and as he opened it he fired, the bullet passing through his hat, he shut the door when he fired again the ball passing the second time through his hat, he then rode arround and fired at the window and broke it with his pistol firing again, and after which he came to my room, and fired at me but did no damage, for I did not stay to see it. He was arrested and bound over to court. This is taking things by storm. "We are not doing much at present in the white congregation but there is a deep interest among the colored people. Our conference year is drawing to a close, and we have not seen any fruits of our labors worth naming yet, and can you wander at it in such a state of things as we have here? It would take something extraordinary to affect much of a change for the better here.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 313

Ferguson was born in Alabama in 1824; removed to Arkansas in 1835, and entered the Arkansas Conference in 1844. In 1847 he was transferred to the Texas Conference and appointed to Richland circuit, as we have noted before. In 1848 he was on Nashville mission. He subsequently filled some of the leading stations in the conference, and was said to have been a man "of much force of character, and decidedly original in his manner of administering the affairs of a station." Following is the letter :

Yours of the 13th. ultimo was received on last evening, and read with pleasure by your friend Jimmy. I expect that your letter has been some time in the office as I have been absent for some time on a trip with bro Whipple on a Campain of Campmeetings, and a few items in relation to the trip will be the most interesting topic that I have on hand. The first meeting that we attended was near Dallas on Bro Tittle work. There was a heavy norther down upon us all the time of the meeting, and sin and the cold so frose up the people's hearts that little good was done in comparison to some others. There were only three conversions, but quite a time with the church, from that meeting I whent to see my brother in Kaufman Co found he and family well. From thence I whent to Bro Rose's meeting at which place we had a fine meeting. 20 converts and near as many accessions at which place I met the Cicero of the Eastern Conf Bro Davis. He is truly eloquent, but not that kind that warms the heart, but fills the head with many grand ideas. You would all ways hear him with more pleasure than profit, while he is preaching you are in a continual blast, but when done there's not a trace behind. He is very companionable and has he did. Would to God he had. He has got a woman I fear not a wife Her character epitomized stands thus, she has neither wealth nor beauty nor sense, and as to her broughten up she didn't have any. She is not religious without she has been converted since I left. ... At Wheelock we had a splendid meeting 38 joined the church, the conversions we estimated at 30 or 40 I know that there was a great many, and enough fuss on Monday night to have made the walls of Jericho fall. And today my Campmeeting commences. It is now four oclock P. M. Thursday and the tents are all occupied, and I am all the preacher on the ground. More anon Oct 24th, The Campmeeting is now over. We had Bros Whipple, Snead, Rottenstein, Tittle, Wooldridge, J. H. Addison and your humble Servant. I am certain we had ten conversions we had many mourners, and had not the rain come down on Saturady night and Sunday we would have had a good meeting. Bro Whipple 's wife is very low and he left us on Sabbath evening. Bro Snead immortalized himself on Monday. My humble self reminded him of a Black leg gambler. The Baptist were Sheep Thieves

I have nothing more to say in relation to meetings more than I am now on my way to one on the Colorado. ... I can say to you that I have more religion than usual. I feel a fresh call to the ministry. May the good Lord bless you abundantly is the prayer of your brother

J. E. Ferguson

Since a son of J. E. Ferguson and of the same name afterwards became governor of Texas, it is interesting to have the elder Ferguson's observations on the retirement of one governor and the inauguration of another, the following description of the event being contained in a letter, dated Jan. 29, 1850, written after a visit to Austin :

Brother Phillips and I visited Austin, and was present at the Inauguration of Gov Bell. In my humble judgment the Ex, & Elect, Governors made poor speeches. I will tell you what Wood put me in mind of Bro Snead trying to be eloquent, or at least very interesting. He drank water, spit and Pawed and with all his awkwardness he was cheered, huzzahed, as if a thunderstorm of Eloquence was pouring like a burning river of fire. Bell read his speech, in a dry, solo style and stop occasionally to wet his whistle. He also was cheered at a round rate.

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 315

I am of the opinion, if any of our preachers were to go to Austin and make as stumbling an out that half of the congregation would leave the house in high dudgion. Bro Phillips acted as Chaplain, and did his part well.

Forbearing the use of numerous other letters, which might extend this chapter indefinitely, a few words covering episcopal labors in Texas during this period may well close this section. Bishop Paine, a new accession to the episcopal " bench" as the order was then called held the Texas Conferences in the winter of 1846-47; Bishop Capers, another recently elected bishop, was in charge in 1847-48; Bishop Andrew in 1848-49, and Bishop Paine again in 1849-50. Of the long journeys made to and from the far southwest, traveling by steamboat, stage and on horseback, and usually in mid-winter, Bishops Andrew and Paine wrote interesting accounts for the church press, and also in letters home, extracts from which are given in the "Life" of each. 7 Bishop Andrew had been in Texas five years before, and he notes many changes; among them the wide sweep of country now occupied by the Church in Texas. He gives it as his opinion that the Texas Conference would soon be extended to embrace the ' ' provinces of Mexico. ' ' The missionary problems of the country the Mexicans, the negroes and the Germans and the want of workers, brought forth extended observations. " There are too many men in the East, many standing about the market places idle," he says, "and too few in the West." The Germans, coming in such large numbers, and settling so often in colonies, bringing with them their own pastors or priests, and retaining their own language and customs, constituted a hard missionary problem, and under such conditions they would sooner or later become a political problem.

Bishop Paine reports that, while at Fort Smith, Ark., while on his way from the Indian Mission Conference, he saw thousands moving to Texas. "Wagons, wagons were crowded along the banks of the river" all headed for Texas. Bishop Paine entered Texas for the first time at G-alveston, in March, 1847, en route to the seat of the Texas Conference, at Cedar Creek, Washington County. The Bishop 's account of one stage of this journey, given several years later, 8 is as follows :

In one of my trips to Texas to hold the conference we had to ride on horseback several days from Houston. Quite a number of us made the trip together, and we had a merry and pleasant party. One morning when we got up it was warm and pleasant, but a blue haze lay to the northwest, and the knowing ones among us prophesied a "Norther." Along toward noon, the norther, a wet one, struck us. It was a fearful wind from the north, with a driving mist in our faces. The temperature dropped almost instantly from summer to winter. The sun was blotted out, and it was indeed a blue and disagreable day. Overcoats were soon put on, and the most of us were reasonably comfortable. Some though had insufficient wraps, and suffered considerably.

After a rather cheerless lunch we rode on north. The piercing wind driving the cold mist to the very bones, grew in force as the afternoon wore on. About three o'clock a young man rode up beside me. He had no overcoat or shawl, and was indeed thinly clad. His teeth were chattering, and his face looked blue and bloodless.

I said, "Why, my brother, turn your horse around, and ride as hard as you can back to the last house we passed. You will have your back to this wind, and can get back all right."

"But, Bishop, I am going up to enter Conference, and the committees I understand are exacting, and if I come in a day or so late I don't know whether they will give me an examination."

Texas Conference, 1847-1850 317

Well, we rode on, getting colder and colder. It was near midnight when we reached the settlement we were making for. It was just a one room log hut in a clump of timber. The frontiersman was very kind. He invited us into his house, where there was a good fire in an old fashioned fire-place. We had to hitch our horses to the trees, without food of any kind. In the one room there were two beds, one occupied by our host and his wife, and the other by his mother-in-law. There was nothing for the rest of us but the dirt floor. We soon had made a pallet, and stretched out side by side, covering with our shawls, overcoats, etc. It was warm in the house out of the wind, and when we lay down I asked for the outside place, which was readily granted. I fell promptly to sleep, but woke up after awhile exceedingly cold. The fire had died down, and the wind was coming in through a huge crack under the door. Covering up the best I could, and getting as much warmth from the next brother as possible, I again fell into a troubled sleep. After awhile I again woke, but was warm and comfortable. For a moment I could not understand it, but turning over I found that a large dog had crept through the crack under the door, and had curled up just at my back. I patted him on the head and said, "Good doggie, you stay here." And he did, and I got a good sleep until things were stirring next morning.

On a subsequent trip to Texas, in 1849, Bishop Paine entered from the north, and having held the East Texas Conference at Paris, he had before him then a horseback journey of more than three hundred and fifty miles, to the seat of the Texas Conference at Seguin. Andrew Davis accompanied him on a part of the journey, when J. W. Whipple met the party and conducted the bishop to Austin. An instance of the bishop's " entertainment" on the route is given by Davis. While staying overnight at a certain place, supper was called, and the bishop and company sat down to a dish of bacon and peas. On casting his eyes about a little the bishop saw that his supply of needful instruments for managing the peas was very limited, as he had nothing but a pegging awl. So after taking in the condition of things he determined to make the best of the situation, and without a word started in after his peas with the awl. His companion, sitting near at hand, seeing the bishop's plight, quietly slipped him the half of knife which he had found at his plate about half of the blade had been broken off and although the knife had been seriously damaged, it served better for handling peas than a pegging awl, and the bishop graciously accepted the favor.

On this long and arduous journey Bishop Paine was taken violently ill. A physician was called, who prescribed enormous doses of calomel, blue-mass and quinine, twenty grains of calomel at night, and ten grains of quinine every few hours during the day. Although so sick that he thought again and again that death would be the result, the bishop pushed on, because he found no place at which he could stay. At length tired, sick and wasted, he reached Austin, where Chauncey Richardson and Bobert Alexander, friends of other days, had come to meet him, and where he could rest and receive proper attention. He reached the conference at Seguin late, and was scarcely able to travel at its close. But he proceeded on horseback to Houston. ''Arriving at Mobile on January 1, 1850," says his biographer, "he heard from his wife for the first. time since leaving home in September. Amid all his labors, dangers, sufferings, his heart had not been gladdened by one line from the loved ones at home so uncertain were the mails in what we then called the Far West."

Chapter Xx The Years 1850-1852

THE East Texas Conference met at Palestine, November 27, 1850. Bishop Henry B. Bascom, after his election at St. Louis in May, 1850, had been assigned to the Western District, to include the Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Mission and East Texas Conferences ; but within less than four months after his elevation to the episcopacy Bascom was in his grave. He held but one conference the St. Louis, at Independence, Mo., July 10th, from which he returned home sick. He died on September 8. The East Texas Conference was left without episcopal supervision for the remainder of the year. Samuel A. Williams was elected to preside at the Palestine session, and John W. Fields was chosen secretary.

The conference held its sessions in a new Methodist church, just completed, at Palestine, and in memory of the deceased bishop was named Bascom Chapel. On Sunday morning, December 1, after a sermon by Dr. 0. Fisher, the house was dedicated. ' ' After the sermon ' ' says an account in the Texas Wesleyan Banner of that day, "a collection of $135 was taken up to finish paying the debt due against the church ; also $21.80 to finish paying for the bell; also $36 to paint the house. Total $192.80."

In the same report of the conference we learn that the Missionary anniversary was held on Saturday evening. The speakers were 0. Fisher and S. A. Williams. The collection amounted to $147.75, besides 325 acres of land, donated by J. S. Tanner to the children of Daniel Poe, a deceased preacher of the conference.

At this conference the following were admitted on trial: Win. 0. Guigley, Joseph McMillan, John Poe, Edward F. Thwing, Acton Young, William E. George, William K. Masten. F. M. Stovall located ; Eobert Crawford and E. P. Chisholm took the supernumerary relation, and Geo. West is the sole name on the superannuated roll. In answer to the question, "Who have died this year," is the brief answer, "Andrew J. Harris died in great peace." John Powell transferred to this conference from the Louisiana Conference, and William C. Lewis and Francis Wilson transferred back to the Texas Conference. The minutes state simply that Isaac M. Williams was "left without appointment"; but from Fields' journal we are informed that Williams was under charges of immorality at conference, and that he was finally expelled.

The Years 1850-1852 321

The eleventh session of the Texas Conference was held at Eichmond from December 11 to 16, 1850, with Bishop Andrew presiding, and Chauncey Richardson as secretary. Ulyses Salis, Thaddeus 0. Kidd, Lewis B. Whipple, Simon B. Cameron, Chas. "W. Thomas and Joseph Derrhammer were admitted on trial. Lewis B. Whipple was a brother of J. W. Whipple, already a leading member of the conference; S. B. Cameron had formerly been in connection with a conference in Kentucky ; Chas. W. Thomas, it will be remembered, was one of the first teachers in Eutersville College; " Joseph H. Derrhammer, ' ' says a report in the Texas, Wesleyan Banner, "formerly a Roman Catholic priest, took upon himself our ordination vows as an elder, without the imposition of hands." M. R. T. Outlaw and R. H. Belvin located, and John Haynie and Jesse Hord remain on the superannuate roll.

David L. Bell was a native of Kentucky. His father was a Baptist minister. In the year 1841 he was brought to the knowledge of God under the ministry of Rev. J. M. Steel. He was admitted into the Arkansas Conference in 1842 ; ordained deacon in 1844, and transferred to the Texas Conference. Here from pecuniary embarrassment he was compelled to locate. But his heart was still in the work of the ministry. He was resolved to re-enter it at the earliest possible period. By diligence and industry he succeeded in relieving himself of his difficulties, and at the Conference of 1849 presented himself for readmission. From the Conference he returned home to prepare for his new field of labor (which was Victoria circuit), but Providence ordered otherwise. His days were numbered, and his public labors ended. He was quite unwell when he reached home, and his disease (pneumonia) grew worse until on the 25th of January, 1850, he ceased from suffering and toil, and entered into an immortality of rest and recompense. One who knew him well, and was with him during his sickness, says: "I had several interviews with him during the first days of his sickness, in all of which he spoke as one determined on the accomplishment of a great enterprise. . . . With this sainted brother it was my happy lot to be associated for some three years on this Western Frontier. I have known his public walks and private ways, in prosperity and adversity, in times of plenty and scarcity, in calm and storm, in safety and in peril. ... In every relation, I have known him to be an agreeable companion, a gentleman, a dauntless Soldier of the Cross, a conscientious Christian, and a faithful minister."

The Years 1850-1852 323

The above is the official list, as published in the General Minutes, but it is incomplete. In the appointments as they appear in the Texas Wesleyan Banner, following the conference, are the following additions : 0. Bichardson, editor Banner; a Montgomery station appears with Jas. G. Johnson in charge, and a Eio Grande district, Nehemiah A. Cravens, P. E., with these appointments: Brownsville Station, N. A. Cravens; Point Isabel, to be supplied ; Eio Grande City, to be supplied which appears to have been a temporary arrangement for allowing Cravens to serve as his own presiding elder, as his post was so far removed from other portions of the work.

The appointments all through this early period will show in most instances that the preachers were changed at the end of one year. They were nearly all unmarried men, and moving from one appointment to another was a .small matter. A preacher's possessions usually consisted of a horse and a pair of saddle-bags, in which could be conveyed "a change of raiment" and a few books and personal articles. A preacher frequently had a wornout horse at the end of the year, and sometimes borrowed one to ride to conference, with the understanding that his successor would return it. It was nearly always "Good-bye" to the folks when a preacher left a charge for conference, as there was no returning to pack up, or to enjoy lingering farewells, or to store up in memory expressions of regret.

A few extracts from letters will serve to give a glimpse here and there of preachers and conditions during the year 1851. The first is from James H. Addison, appointed to the Georgetown circuit, giving an account of his first round, and this is followed by others from the same

The Years 1850-1852 325

Through the goodness of God I have at last arrived at my field of labour, and have went about half way round. Not having an opportunity before of writing, is my excuse for my seeming neglect, for you must know that we are not so pleasantly situated in this up country as perhaps you folks are in the lower country. For our one house serves for Parlour, bed-room, kitchen, smoke-house, and in fact for everything else that houses are used for, add to this, you know the proverb, "A poor man for children," and as the folks are poor here, there is no lack of noise. But at present I am at a very clever house near the head of Brushey, the proprietor of which is by the name of Windsor, a methodist Local preacher, and though not exempt from the poor man's blessing, yet they have sense enough to keep them out of the Preacher's way.