Early, Texas - History (part 8 of 11)

I left home, as you know, on Wednesday evening, rode to old Father Thompsons spent a pleasant night off early and arrived at Cameron about three oclock Had my horse put up at the Tavern. About sun-down I went to the stable to see my horse. I found that he had not been fed, and on inquiry I learned the startling fact, that there was not an ear of corn about the whole place. I was told however, that the Landlord was after some. . . . Late at night supper came on, and such a supper. But it is useless to try to give you an idea of our bill of fare. Suffice it to say that there was very little to eat, and that so badly cooked that it was not fit to eat. About this time "mine host" made his appearance with his few nubbins of corn. Pilgrim got a few of them, but very few. In the morning I was waked by the Landlord and one of his boarders quarrelling. The poor boarder a Doet F had been heating his copper a little too much with whiskey and he woke up very thirsty. He called to a negro girl to bring him. a cup of coffee He still in bed The Landlord told him there was none, the Doc declared there was, for he seen the negro with the coffee pot. One word brought on another till they got at it. ... I was soon up, saw three or four nubbins doled out very sparingly, tried to eat my breakfast, but couldn't got my horse paid my $1.00 and went on my way. . . . Got up to my appointment, or rather the place where it was to be about one oclock found the folks (Glenns) very clever a little dirty or so took dinner. ... At night I arrived at a Mr Marshall and though living in a hut of a place, and very much crowded, yet they treated me very well,

The old man I found to be very intelligent, and his family was ditto at least a great deal more so than those around them Next morning Sabbath Eode to my appointment on the Lampases The people had forgotten the appt as usual, and there were but few that attended I got up read and gave out a hymn, and commenced singing the folks set still, got down to pray still they set Preached the best I could prayed scolding the first time I preached to them, but I promise myself that they will rise to sing and kneel to pray the next time I preach to them

Took dinner at bro Blair's, and in the afternoon rode to the little town of Nolensville * Here I found the town in a perfect stir, anxious to see and hear the new preacher I found town was literally emptied, a very fine audience indeed. I tried to preach the best I could I am very much in hopes we will be able to turn this little town up-side down we have a pretty good class in town next morning after arranging matters as well as I could I rode over to the "Salow" I don't know how to spell the word 2 to bro "Whitefield Chalks Found him doing finely as far as this world is concerned but doing very little for his soul. . . . Chalk has a very fine grist and saw mill and is making money very fast

Next day rode to bro C. C. Cooks found a very clever family staid till f riday evening preached to them on f riday morning in the evening rode to an old mans by the name of Queen Dirt, DIRT, DIRT was the distinctive feature of the whole con-

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Preached to them the best I was able, after which in company with old bro Queen, alias the ' ' ancient of days, ' ' to Georgetown went to the Tavern and put up went to the Division of the Sons 3

In a subsequent letter from the same correspondent we learn of his immediate round of Sunday or, as it was then always expressed, "Sabbath" appointments. These were, first Sundays, at Nolensville; second, "at the Station high up on the Leon"; third, at Georgetown; fourth, at Ben Allen's, on Brushey Greek. The first quarterly meeting was held on February 23, at John T. Cox's, near Georgetown. From Nolensville he writes in April, in response to a preacher's complaint about his own seedy clothes, that "I :know by bitter experience what it is to have 'an old coat, a seedy vest and a shocking bad cravat,' " and describes his wardrobe as being in the last stage of " consnmtion. " But he exhorts, "Cheer up, my brother, there is a better day coming, and may be you and I will see it." He confesses, however, that his precept is at variance with his practice, "for I find it hard to be cheerful when my pockets are empty and my clothes torn." At Nolensville during a meeting some kind women, observing his torn pantaloons, went to the store and bought goods, and cut out and made him a new pair, of which he writes later in boastful pride.

A more detailed view of Georgetown circuit we may gather from a letter penned later in the year, as well as an epitome of the religious condition of the people. "Your circuit is an old one," he writes to his corresponds Sons of Temperance.

ent, "and Methodism is established there. Here, on the contrary, the prowling Wolves of Campbellism, Drunkardism, and Devilism of every grade, are ready to devour the sheep. . . . There is a great deal of hard riding to be done, and very little good being effected, save at certain portions of the work. Nolansville is improving very much, in more ways than one, it improves in sin and wickedness, as well as in every other way. There are a set of milk and water Methodists at this place [Lampasas, where the letter was written] who do more injury than all the wicked put together atTraid to serve God fully, for fear they will miss some of the pleasures of the world, and affraid to cut loose from God, for fear of Death and Judgment. ... I will now give you my appointments, so that there will be no difficulty in finding me the 1st Sabbath in July next month I am at Nolansville The next week after is spent between that point and Fort Gates on the Leon (try to make it so that you will meet me any other time, as there are no roads through the up country and I would be difficult to find) The Tuesday night after 15th of July I am at Joel Blair's, on the Lampases, where the road leading from Georgetown to Nolansville crosses On Wednesday evening 16th at bro Cooks on Willis creek On Thursday evening 17th at Queens, just above where the Camp-Meeting was held on Gabriel on Sat & Sab 19 & 20 the 3d Sunday at Georgetown Sunday afternoon, at Eev John T Cox's 7 miles west of Georgetown, on Brushey on the road leading from Georgetown to Austin The following Wednesday 23d at Websters Valley alias bro T F Windsors alias on the head of Brushey Friday following 25th July 10 miles below Berry Aliens on Brushey The 4th Sabbath 27th at Berry Aliens about 5 miles below Kenneys fort on Brushey The Tuesday after 29th at Tom Aliens on the Gabriel 3 miles above Mercers old Fort the friday after on Little Eiver, at Mr Glenns 4 miles above Bryants, and the next Sabbath 1st in August at Nolans-

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Georgetown mission, then, 1850-51, from the best deciphering we can make of this circuit geography, embraced portions of Williamson, Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties, and perhaps one or more points in Burnet County, and was the northwestern frontier mission of the Texas Conference. Cameron, which our circuit preacher passed through en route to his charge, was embraced in the Nashville circuit.

In the lower country we have accounts of the first church buildings being completed and dedicated during 1851 at Matagorda, Bastrop and Montgomery, all of which places were among the first to be visited by Methodist preachers in the early days. The Methodist church at Matagorda was subsequently destroyed by a storm. "It is supposed that the roof of the building was blown out to sea, ' ' says Thrall, " as it was never found. " " Our church in Bastrop is nearly ready for use," writes J. E. Ferguson, the preacher there, in June, 1851 ; ' ' and think when it is finished it will be the finest wood church in the state. It is 40 by 60 gallery across one end Plastered Lighted by ten lamps Eight of them swinging." Continuing he says: "I must not forget to tell you of our good meeting on Cedar Creek 12 miles west of Bastrop. It was my 2d Quarterly meeting. Our meeting was a triumph, for it was in the face of iceberg Campbellism, and sneering Infidelity. Eighteen joined the Church on probation, and among the number, many bright, convincing Holy Q-ost Conversions. Bro J. W. Whipple preached Monday night one of his best sermons. Our boy Whipple (Lewis B. Whipple) astonished the natives on Sunday."

In the Banner of November 9, 1851, is an account of the dedication of the church at Bastrop. The sermon was preached by J. W. Kenney, and an afternoon sermon was delivered by Father Haynie, both of whom had helped to plant the church at Bastrop and surrounding country. A subscription amounting to $2300 was raised, an extraordinary collection for that day. Father Wilson, in charge of the Bastrop colored mission, preached at night. " Quiet and unobserved in the congregation," says the account, referring to the dedicatory exercises, "sat the man, to whom more than any other, perhaps all others, we are indebted for this beautiful temple. I mean our energetic and talented Elder Whipple." The church at Montgomery, called "Alexander Chapel," was dedicated by C. Richardson in July, 1851.

The Mission has been two years in existence and on entering upon the discharge of my duties I found forty-five members on record, who all more or less enjoyed some degree of the grace of God. . . . The members had bought a house last year which is now occupied for divine worship. There are also lots obtained, two of which were bought with the house, and the other was given by a brother, all of which, is according to our Discipline, deeded to the M. B. Church, South. Our second quarterly meeting was held on the 27th and 28th of April. Brother Young from the Seguin German Mission was with us, in the place of the presiding elder, and it was indeed a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. . . . Fifteen persons joined on probation at this time, one of whom was a Eoman Catholic ; and I think it would not be unprofitable to present the circumstances of his conversion for the benefit of the German work. When the Catholics learned his intention the priest asked him if he would not go to confession 1 The man replied, no, as he had concluded to join the Methodists. The priest became excited and appointed a prayer-meeting for the benefit of this back-slidden brother. His wife also joined, and although a Protestant had as much or more opposition from her parents. Another family which belonged to the Lutheran Church, had a little child which the mother would have baptized by the Methodist minister. Her husband did not like it, but at last consented, and they called upon me to dedicate the child to God by holy baptism. One day the man was asked by his associates who baptized the child. He told them the Methodist minister. In the dispute that followed, when they saw that he held with the Methodists, they whipped him thoroughly, and since that time he and his wife never fail to fill their place in our church.

The years 1850-51 saw the rise of three new Methodist schools in Texas, these being at Chappell Hill and Bastrop, in the Texas Conference, and at Henderson, in the East Texas Conference. Chappell Hill, located in the eastern part of Washington County, was rising into prominence as a Methodist community, and here in 1850 the " Chappell Hill Male and Female Institute" had its beginning, with two male and three female teachers and one hundred students. The conference of 1850 took the Institute under its patronage, and from the first the school prospered. At Bastrop, during the same year, a Methodist academy was projected, which opened its doors in 1851. A report to the church paper stated that more than $20,000 had been raised at Bastrop during the year for the new church building and for the academy. The progress of these schools will be noticed in a later chapter. At present the question arises as to the cause which gave birth to these new institutions in the Texas Conference, located as they both were within only a short distance of Eutersville College.

With regard to the pioneer venture at Eutersville we are told that "Eutersville College, through unwisdom somewhere, was on the decline, though it had been in operation only about ten years. " 4 Some such general statement is as far as our modern references go in explanation of Eutersville 's decline. But the correspondence of the preachers of that day throws some light on the situation. From this we gather that one Applewhite, a Methodist local preacher residing at Eutersville, and con- to plant the church at Bastrop and surrounding country. A subscription amounting to $2300 was raised, an extraordinary collection for that day. Father Wilson, in charge of the Bastrop colored mission, preached at night. " Quiet and unobserved in the congregation," says the account, referring to the dedicatory exercises, "sat the man, to whom more than any other, perhaps all others, we are indebted for this beautiful temple. I mean our energetic and talented Elder Whipple." The church at Montgomery, called "Alexander Chapel," was dedicated by C. Richardson in July, 1851.

The Mission has been two years in existence and on entering upon the discharge of my duties I found forty-five members on record, who all more or less enjoyed some degree of the grace of God. . . . The members had bought a house last year which is now occupied for divine worship. There are also lots obtained, two of which were bought with the house, and the other was given by a brother, all of which, is according to our Discipline, deeded to the M. B. Church, South. Our second quarterly meeting was held on the 27th and 28th of April. Brother Young from the Seguin German Mission was with us, in the place of the presiding elder, and it was indeed a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. . . . Fifteen persons joined on probation at this time, one of whom was a Roman Catholic ; and I think it would not be unprofitable to present the circumstances of his conversion for the benefit of the German work. "When the Catholics learned his intention the priest asked him if he would not go to confession ? The man replied, no, as he had concluded to join the Methodists. The priest became excited and appointed a prayer-meeting for the benefit of this back-slidden brother. His wife also joined, and although a Protestant had as much or more opposition from her parents. Another family which belonged to the Lutheran Church, had a little child which the mother would have baptized by the Methodist minister. Her husband did not like it, but at last consented, and they called upon me to dedicate the child to God by holy baptism. One day the man was asked by his associates who baptized the child. He told them the Methodist minister. In the dispute that followed, when they saw that he held with the Methodists, they whipped him thoroughly, and since that time he and his wife never fail to fill their place in our church.

The years 1850-51 saw the rise of three new Methodist schools in Texas, these being at Chappell Hill and Bastrop, in the Texas Conference, and at Henderson, in the East Texas Conference. Chappell Hill, located in the eastern part of Washington County, was rising into prominence as a Methodist community, and here in 1850 the " Chappell Hill Male and Female Institute" had its beginning, with two male and three female teachers and one hundred students. The conference of 1850 took the Institute under its patronage, and from the first the school prospered. At Bastrop, during the same year, a Methodist academy was projected, which opened its doors in 1851. A report to the church paper stated that more than $20,000 had been raised at Bastrop during the year for the new church building and for the academy. The progress of these schools will be noticed in a later chapter. At present the question arises as to the cause which gave birth to these new institutions in the Texas Conference, located as they both were within only a short distance of Eutersville College.

With regard to the pioneer venture at Eutersville we are told that " Eutersville College, through unwisdom somewhere, was on the decline, though it had been in operation only about ten years." 4 Some such general statement is as far as our modern references go in explanation of Eutersville 's decline. But the correspondence of the preachers of that day throws some light on the situation. From this we gather that one Applewhite, a Methodist local preacher residing at Eutersville, and con- nected with the College, came under serious charges of immorality and swindling. The accused was brought to trial in the church, all the details relating to the case it is not necessary to relate here; but the reports growing out of the matter spread far and wide. Says J. E. Ferguson, in a letter of May 18, 1850: "You wish to know something about the Applewhite case. To give you a history would require a weeks writing, but my private opinion is, that it is worse than we want it. ... But this it has done, it has given the death blow to the Eutersville College. And I will say this to you if we can not move the College from that place I want the Conference to have no connection with it whatever; for I fear that the egg was laid wrong, and has never been hatched properly, and appears to be an ill stared thing. The citizens of Fayette county so far from fostering & patronising the College they have taken great delight in pulling it x down. ' ' Under date of July 24th he says : ' ' The Eutersville school is well ny dead. There is not a student from Travis or Bastrop Counties that has returned, and to name the matter to any parent is to insult them, and the reasons for all this I will not put on paper. Applewhite is up before the church for a new trial with some other charges of swindling &c &c."

The reports to which reference has been made cast a shadow upon the domestic life of one of the best known and best loved men of the early days of Eutersville College Chauncey Eichardson. Time has kindly drawn the curtain upon the situation which existed at Eutersville in 1850, and it shall not be our part to lift it. Eef erence is here made to these things, which then were matters of common knowledge or report, only to show that Eutersville College did not die a natural death. The institution lingered along with a small patronage until 1856, when it ceased to be a Church school, being succeeded by the "Texas Monumental and Military Institute," under private management, and its course thereafter was very brief. Most of the old Methodist families, who had gathered about this early " Athens of Texas," moved away from the town, and it dwindled to the obscure village described in later years in a History of Fayette County, published in 1902, as follows: "Rutersville about six miles northeast from Lagrange, in the fertile Rutersville prairie, hog-wallow land, near the banks of Rocky Creek. Rutersville consists of a store, a saloon, a gin and a blacksmith shop. It is a voting place in the county and a post-office. Mr. G. D. Wessels is the owner of a fine hall for dancing, the best in the county. He is also the owner of a first-class saloon. ' '

Editor Richardson's report of the East Texas Conference of 1851 may be given almost entire, except the appointments, as it contains information which the scanty General Minutes do not furnish. One may also, if he is careful, discover some editorial characteristics which were not confined to the olden days. The account is as follows :

In company with Rev. S. B. Cameron, I arrived in this town on the 25th inst. (25th ult. he means). We found the roads very bad and of course we made very slow progress. We found that we had been expected, and arrangements made for our accommodation in the family of Mrs. Shed, a member of our church, and a most estimable Christian lady.

The town of Henderson is handsomely situated on a beautiful elevation with slightly undulating surface, and contains a population of some twelve hundred inhabitants, and many fine buildings, which evince taste, enterprise and wealth. Our first view of the town impressed us favorably. Being the seat of justice for the enterprising county of Rusk, it is destined at no distant day to become a town of commercial importance. It is also spoken of as the Athens of Eastern Texas as it is the seat of East Texas Conference Institute. Of the prospects of this institution, I am not prepared to speak at this moment.

votional service. The Bishop not having arrived a President was balloted for, resulting in the election of Eev. S. A. "Williams. Brother Williams was quite modest in the acceptance of the Presidency of the Conference, and on taking the chair made some appropriate remarks. Rev. J. W. Fields was re-elected secretary, and Eev. James W. Shipman selected Assistant Secretary. Rev. James R. Bellamy of the Holston Conference presented his certificate of transfer, and took his seat within the bar of the Conference. Rev. Edward F. Thwing was readmitted. Appropriate committees were appointed on " Public Worship," "Sabbath Schools," "Books and Periodicals," "Memoirs," "Necessitous Cases" and "Finances."

The second day Nathan S. Johnson was re-admitted. The following were admitted on trial: Henry Fullingim, John P. Simpson, Daniel M. Stovall, James Johnson, John McMillan, Harvey W. Cumming and Samuel D. Sansom. Other names were presented, but action was deferred for the present. The increase by admission on trial will not be less than ten, and two by re-admission.

The Conference held two sessions each day, Friday and Saturday. The business is conducted with great harmony all evincing a high regard for the feelings and interest of each other. The examination of the candidates for full admission was conducted by Rev. 0. Fisher, in the church. His address to them was highly appropriate and impressive. The committee on Sabbath Schools made an excellent report which was adopted.

The missionary anniversary was held on Saturday night, at which $101.00 was collected. The house was crowded, and all seemed interested in the missionary enterprise. Of my speech I will not speak, but that of Rev. 0. Fisher was worthy of the man, and of the occasion.

Sunday was a high day in Henderson. The love feast at nine o'clock, conducted by Rev. S. A. Williams, was highly interesting. At the eleven o'clock service the house could not accomodate the congregation. It was my privilege to occupy the pulpit hour. At 3 p. m. Rev. O. Fisher delivered a most eloquent and effective sermon on the sacred office, to a crowded and deeply interested audience. Brother Fisher stands deservedly high in the estimation of the Conference and of the people.

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Rev. 0. Fisher was desirous that the Conference should send a missionary to California, in response to Dr. Boring's proposition, and wished to be the appointee to that field. But it was considered that the call for missionaries in East Texas was as urgent as the California call. The proposition of Bro. Fisher in the premises was declined because he could not be spared, and not for the want of missionary zeal in the Conference.

In a brief statistical summary which accompanied the foregoing editorial correspondence we have for the first time information of the number of church buildings in the conference " Chapels (deeded) 40." Eef erring to the General Minutes we are told that "No minutes of this conference were received until July, 1852, and when received were so imperfect that we had to answer the 13th question (relating to membership statistics) by the minutes of last year." There was a considerable dropping out of preachers, as shown in the list of appointments. Robert Crawford was appointed Sunday school agent; Job M. Baker was "left without appointment at his request"; J. G. Fawcet "left without appointment on account of ill health"; S. G. Culver "left without appointment at his request"; Neil Brown "left without appointment in consequence of ill health ' ' ; John Powell "located at his request"; R. B. Wells was transferred to "Western Texas Conference"; J. W. Fields, "agent East Texas Conference and Fowler Institute." The following were received by transfer : J. R. Bellamy, from the Holston Conference ; Geo. W. Lentz and Alex. Henkle, from the Tennessee Conference; John N. Hamill, from the Louisiana Conference, and Job M. Baker, from the Missouri Conference although Baker had been living land preaching in Texas for many years, by a peculiar circumstance his membership seems to have been retained with his former conference until now.

Fowler Institute, located at Henderson, and named for Littleton Fowler, is first mentioned in the minutes of the conference of 1851. J. W. Fields, who had been named as its "agent," says that a brick edifice had just been erected, and "we were ready to open (and did shortly afterward open) the institution, manned by Isaac Alexander, A.M., and his brother as teachers. But there stood a ghost at the door. A debt of about one thousand dollars was calling loudly on the trustees for payment, and suit threatened if not liquidated soon. Under these circumstances the Agent was appointed. . . . The year was spent in expensive traveling in Texas and other states hard begging, and after my traveling expenses and a small salary which did not meet half my entire family expenses for the year, I only had about $50 for the Institution. This was the most mortifying result of my itinerant life. After my wife spending the summer with her parents, we returned in the fall fully satisfied with College agencies. ' '

The Texas Conference for 1851 was held at Bastrop, opening on December 17th three weeks following the East Texas Conference. Bishop Capers had been assigned to the conferences in Texas, but on account of illness he was absent from both. Robert Alexander was elected president at Bastrop, and C. Eichardson was again elected secretary.

At this conference efforts were made to rehabilitate the sagging fortunes of Eutersville College. E. Alexander was appointed special agent for the College in Connection with his pastoral charge of Chappell Hill and Brenham with authority to appoint sub-agents ; and J. M. Wesson, David Coulson and I. Gr. John were appointed a visiting committee to examine into its affairs. A visiting committee was appointed for the Chappell Hill Institute also, consisting of W. C. Lewis, J. M. Derrhammer, and James E. Ferguson.

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publication of the Banner found it necessary to report that that enterprise was not meeting expectations, and that curtailment of expenses was necessary. We have seen that a contract was made in Houston for the printing of one thousand copies of the paper, at $2500 per annum; and that it was expected that the subscriptions would pay the printer, and that the advertising would take care of the editor. At the end of the conference year 1851 it was found that the number of subscriptions had run to only eight or nine hundred, and that many of these had not been paid for and had not been discontinued. In consequence a considerable debt had accumulated. The committee reduced the salary of the editor from $800 a year to $300, following which Editor Richardson resigned. George Eottenstein was elected editor, and he took charge of the paper and carried it on in connection with an appointment on the Houston African Mission. Following the conference at Bastrop ,the Publication Committee raised funds from a few financial friends sufficient to purchase a printing outfit for the Banner, and Charles Shearn of Houston, a prominent layman and merchant, was induced to supervise the financial end of the paper, which he did successfully, and without remuneration until the enterprise was tided over its immediate embarrassments.

At the conference at Bastrop the following were admitted on trial: Peter Moelling, John Patton, Marcus L. Smock, Lewis J. Wright, and Thomas Lancaster. E. B. Wells, who had just transferred back from the East Texas Conference, W. S. Hamilton, and E. Long located. John Haynie and Jesse Hord remain on the superannuated list, to which is added the name of William Young. Charles F. Eottenstein withdrew from the conference, and later entered the ranks of the Episcopal clergy. The statistics give an increase of 997 white members the largest increase of any previous year. In the appointments the districts with their presiding elders are as follows: Galveston, C. Richardson; Rutersville, James M. Wesson; Springfield, W. C. Lewis; Austin, J. W. Whipple; Victoria, D. Carl. The "Rio Grande District" of last year disappears. Chappell Hill and Brenham appear the first time in the appointments, united, with Robert Alexander ; and Waco makes its first appearance, with P. M. Yell in charge. J. W. Phillips and B. L. Peel are "left without appointments on account of ill health, and J. W. DeVilbiss on account of pecuniary embarrassments." Asbury Davidson and Daniel W. Fly were transferred from the Mississippi Conference to the Texas Conference this year, but they did not appear in the Texas appointments until later. Geo. W. Sneed, a superannuated member of the Tennessee Conference, and a brother of Joseph P. Sneed, died in Texas during 1851. Our correspondent of last year on the Georgetown circuit, James H. Addison, was changed to the Corsicana circuit, and a few extracts from his letters during 1852 while riding this newly settled black larid circuit to the northwest will be of interest. His first letter was dated Corsicana, January 9, 1852, from which the following is taken : getting badly lost arrived at bro Carroll Powers, and on Wednesday I got to Yells (at Springfield). . . . Our Mordecai a'nt hopping about his appointment. He declares he will not ride the circuit at all. I will try and give you some of his reasons for not taking the circuit. In the first place he had made an arrangement just before Conference to put a Steam Saw Mill on old Billy Nelms' piney in Leon County, he was to furnish the mills and nelms the pine, and they both were to share the and be able to attend to the mill, without interfering with his Quarterly meetings, but being confined to a circuit he could not attend to it at all Another reason was that at the very utmost Springfield circuit couldn't pay more than $100.00 and that would starve his family A still greater cause of complaint than either of the above consisted in this, that by the hand of P. M. Yell he addressed three several communications to the Conf. One directed to the Bishop containing suggestions in regard to the men to be sent to this District. Another giving an account directed to the Bishop and members of the Conference. Not one of the communications were read in Conf. and no attention paid to them at all. . . . Left Yells Thursday morning and late at night arrived at a good bros house by the name of Ward, who lives in the forks of Pin Oak and Richland creeks just below where Peter Jacksons land is situated. . . . Friday in the evening after stopping by the way I got to Corsicana. stoped at the Tavern the proprietor of which is a Methodist the supper bell rung. It was Hurra boys; the first one gets there gets the best chance, no blessing asked, as fast as they struck the seat, so quick would their fork stick fast in a piece of meat, and they fell to eating Well we got through supper after awhile, and went into the Hall, all the boarders, or most all of them went to see the Elephant which is a ten pin alley over which is the following impressive sign "Corsicana Elephant"

My circuit is a pleasant one in several respects 1st. The rides are not hard, twenty miles being the farthest ride in a day, and only twice do I make such rides in a round, the distance averaging each day about 8 miles. 2d. In having a very hospitable set of folks to deal with, those who feel for a preacher a correct moral community. As an evidence of this I may state that in this town (Waxahachie) which has not been in existence more than about 12 months, and which now numbers about 100 souls has a very fine M. E. Church, and no Doggery, nor has there been one. Beat that if you can 3d. Because there is no jarring with other denominations all is peace and prosperity, and methodism takes the day But as usual there are drawbacks, one for instance, a Lady at whose house I was Kopping, a member of the church, after supper placed the books down on the table, invited me to hold prayers, and then quietly took up her knitting I selected my chapter & hymn, and waited till she quit she knit on and I waited, till she was convinced I would not commence till she quit, she folded up her work & I commenced, but as soon as she had got me fairly started she recommenced her knitting with a will. I soon put a stop to is easily gotten over and if there is no greater drawbacks than this I can get along. ... I have taken about 16 in the church since I have been here, and I think there is a fair prospect of a good many more. Day before yesterday (Sabbath) I tried to preach four times at this little Town at 9 I tried to preach a sermon on Sabbath schools, at 11 to the citizens, at 3 to the negroes, at night to the citizens again I also organized a Sabbath school, and obtained 30 or more members. Our Quarterly Meeting (held at Corsicana) went off pretty well considering all things. It was very bad cold weather, and the house we worshiped in was a very open one, Yet we had some intimations of good nine joined the church Brother Lewis was with us, in good health and spirits, and earned for himself a name as a big preacher in the town of Corsicana a Quarterly meeting coming on and be bored out of all patience by the enquirys of your flock in reference to his (the Elder's) coming? . . . And did you ever start to the Q. M. with awful forebodings in reference to your ability to say any thing profitable, and at the same time feel a presentiment that he would not come? . . . My Quarterly meeting came, but no P. E. I felt a little fretted as there were folks who had come about twenty two miles to see him. I heard that he was sick so that contented me, and the people concluded that if they couldn't get biscuit they would take dodger and they set and listened to me. The meeting closed with 13 accessions . . . bro Lewis got up to the two days meeting at Waxahachie (held at a later date) and informed me that he had the misfortune to have his horse stolen. When this became known the folks of Waxahachie with characteristic liberality made him tip between 60 & 70 dollars in the hard money. This for a little town of seven or eight houses is doing very finely indeed, is'nt it?.. . My circuit has been very slow in paying their preacher this year, nearly three quarters of the year gone, and I have received about twenty eight dollars. I have great difficulty to keep myself decent. I should have not been able to do that, but I had the good fortune to marry several of the folks this year, for which I received $16.95 all told. That helped me out considerably. I have collected, however for Missionary purposes some $50 odd, and I hope to increase it before I leave the circuit. . . . We had bro McKenzie to preach to us last night, and to my shame be it spoken, I haven't laughed as much in Church in twelve months, as I did then, he makes so many quaint remarks, as well as so many rough expressions, for instance "Poor knockkneed scabby sheep" "pigeon livered coward." But I need not attempt to give you an idea of his preaching. . . . We had a sweet revival in Corsicana some four weeks ago. This place has been considered one of the hardest places around, all efforts to get up a revival had failed, by the help of the Lord however, we were enabled to kindle a little fire, it took hold of the giants, and the tallest sons of Anak about this place fell before it 26 united with the church some of the most influencial ones of the town. I think we will have a camp meeting grow out of the revival here, and if so, I think we will have a very moral place of a town. Bro McKenzie gives rather a doleful account ul matters and things pertaining to your circuit, bro Morse sick, unable to attend to his appointments, the Baptists and Campbellites stealing your sheep, and the devil triumphing. Lord help us all. I had rather dwell with a community of savages than with Campbellites. I thank goodness have none on my work, but occasionally I go to bro Nelms' circuit, where they are as thick as hops, and you may be sure we have some rare times. They are death to spirituality, killing religion as dead as a stone. ... I have had a continuous revival all round my circuit A hundred and thirty one joined and I think before the year is out, I will make it a hundred and fifty. . . . What a difference does the appearance of the country present now, from what it did the first time I came up here then there was hardly people enough to fill a little rail pen, now the whole face of the country is covered with farms &c.

Head of Waxahachie Hawkins Town of Waxahachi Trinity City On the River Trinity Chatfield point 14 miles from Corsicana Baggett. Trinity river below In the forks of Trinity & Chambers

Dropping in among the older churches of the lower country we have an example of how a church often wasted its energies, or perverted them, rather, in an attempted application of discipline, when the courts of the church were too often used as a means of airing personal grievances. The case in point is one of which we have the record, occurring on the Victoria circuit in 1852, and was introduced by the following letter:

The Years 1850-1852 343

Sir after my respects to you I will commence the painful yet dutiful task of giving you my charges against Joel Heard as an offending Brother As you are well aware I have not done this without waiting a due time and giveing all parties conserned in this matter ample time to make such disposition of the matter as they saw proper I have been trampeled on and that not a little and thus far have submited but to proseed to my charge without any more remarks on the subject

Joel Heard did on the^thirty first day of July A D 1852 willfully malignantly and with forethought knowledge and intent to rong and injure your complainant swear false in the Court House in the Town of Victoria and state of Texas and has continud to state that which was false varias times since to the great injure and damage to your complainer

In like manner did Humphry Heard on the same day and place as above mentioned state under oath that which was not so and has at varias other times continued to state false to the great damage of your complainer all of which I am prepaired to prove your petitioner would tharef ore pray that the offenders Joel Heard and Humphrey Heard be caused to appear before a commtee of the Church in legal form and manner to answer the (illegible) they cannot expect that any sivel not say religous society can put up with such behavior your petitioner would farther pray that the offenders be brought to trial before your next appointment at this place and that they be suspended this matter has been defered long enough all ready yours with respect the special charges that I would make against the two mr Heards to wit Joel and Humphry Heard are simply these that on the day and place before mentioned stated false concerning the fense of my own and concerning the hogs which are thomas C Heards they both stated that the hogs in controversy wer

Thomas C Heards which I am prepaired to prove is false and Joel heard stated that my f ense was down for six weeks after I had planted my corn which I am prepaired to prove is false and humphry heard stated that the hog that was killed would weigh from 175 to 200 Ibs which I am prepaired to prove is not so with respect yours & C

Upon receipt of this bill of charges the machinery of the church was set in motion by the preacher in charge, with a view of bringing the offenders strictly to account. Citations containing the charges and specifications were written out and handed to the accused, and both were cited to trial. A committee of trial was appointed, a time set, and the matter came on to be heard. The record contains several pages of testimony of direct and crossexamination and the findings of the committee. The charges were not sustained, in the opinion of the committee, and the following remarks were added: "Committee think the Plaintif manifest bad disposition and unchristian temper." The following entry is made by the preacher presiding: "Bailey walked up to the altar and addressing me in rather a spiteful maner said, 'You will please take my name off of the class paper.' "

At the conference at Bastrop in 1851 we have seen that Chauncey Richardson resigned as editor of the Banner and was appointed to the Galveston district. H. S. Thrall records in his "Beminiseences" that after the adjournment of conference he had a long, private conversation with him. "He seemed depressed," says the writer ; "he spoke of Rutersville College, for which he had labored so hard, and of the Banner, which he had hoped to see a power in Texas. His experience in college and editorial work was not satisfactory, and henceforth he intended to devote his whole life to the regular itinerant work. We shook hands with moistened eyes and parted with words which proved to be final farewell. The next tidings I had of Chauncey Eichardson he was dead."

The Years 1850-1852 345

It was a sad decline, hastened by the misfortunes which had overtaken Rutersville College though the responsibility for these were in no sense his and by the embarrassments of the Banner, of which he had been editor for two years. Mr. Richardson immediately after conference moved his family back to Rutersville from which they had departed a year or two before, where he had a home, and from that point served his district. He had completed one round on his district and was preparing to set out home, when he was taken down with pneumonia at the house of Rev. John Patton, in Fort Bend County. His family was notified, and his wife reached him a short time before his death. He expired on April 11, 1852. His remains were transported to Rutersville and buried, and there he sleeps until this day, upon a hill overlooking the site of what was once Rutersville College.

The Years 1853-1854

Win. McCarty, Jesse S. Vann, and F. A. Medaris were admitted on trial. S. Q-. Culver and Jas. W. Shipman located ; F. Gr. Fawcett and Greo. "W. Lentz took the supernumerary relation, and E. P. Chisholm, Robert Crawford, Geo. West and M. F. Cole are reported on the superannuated list. Jno. N. Hamill was transferred to the Louisiana Conference, to be re-transferred back, however, at the end of the year.

The Texas Conference assembled again at Bastrop, meeting this year on December 22. Bishop Paine had another long, cross-country ride from one conference to another, and he was met and attended, as he was three years before, by J. W. Whipple. " While traveling with Brother Whipple of the Texas Conference," says his biographer, "a report sadder than any ordinary deathwail came to the travelers that Brother Whipple 's son had been drowned, and that his body could not be found. He gave to his afflicted brother the tenderest sympathies, and expressed the hope that the report might be false. Upon their arrival at Bastrop, the seat of the conference, they found the report too true. The father was overwhelmed, and the distress was increased by the loss of the body. On the first day of the conference the body was found, and the conference adjourned to attend the funeral of Wilbur Scott Whipple. The Bishop officiated, and gave great comfort to the family by his tender Christian counsel and sweet words of consolation, so radiant in our holy religion. As he returned to the laborious duties of the conference at two o'clock, P. M., he simply wrote in his diary: * Sleep on, sweet one.' "

This incident cast a gloom over the occasion, and besides the conference was saddened by the absence of the one who had served it for so many years as secretary, Chauncey Bichardson, whose death we have noticed. Homer S. Thrall was elected secretary.

At this conference John W. Chalk, Benj. Dashiell, Wm. L. Kidd, Thomas Wooldridge, Henderson Lafferty, Joseph E. Bankin, and John W. Addison were admitted on trial, the last named being the third son out of one family who had entered the Texas Conference. The ranks were depleted by six locations : John C. Kolbe, Jas. W. Lloyd, Samuel M. Kingston, C. W. Thomas, Asbury Davidson, and D. W. Fly, the last two having transferred to Texas only the year before. S. B. Cameron, who had filled Austin station during the year, took the supernumerary relation. Our old friends John Haynie, Jesse Hord and William Young remain on the superannuated list. A considerable company of reinforcements were received by transfer, as follows: John S. McG-ee, "Wm. P. Bead and Ivy H. Cox, from the Kentucky Conference; F. S. Petway, J. W. Cooley and John W. Ledbetter, from the Tennessee Conference; and Garrett L. Patton from the Alabama Conference, and Thomas G-. Gilmore from the Louisiana Conference.

sas, as Ms senior colleague. From Addison's journal and his letters home we will extract some of his experiences and observations on conditions. The first from his journal :

On. Thursday, the 14th of January, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-three, I left my home near Caldwell to travel on the Lavacca Circuit, the first appointment I ever received from the Conference.

I reached a good Bro. Baptist's where I spent the night very pleasantly. The following morning was a rainy one, but my appointment being two days' ride farther on, I took my leave, and after riding all day in the rain and swimming one stream, I reached the home of a Campbellite, where I was hospitably entertained. On the morrow I rode to within thirteen miles of my appointment, when I was stopped by the Navidad, which was impassable; so I was forced to wait until Monday when I crossed the creek and rode to Bro. Hester's. I got my dinner and then rode to the town of Hallettsville.

Feb. 17th. We have held the first Quarterly Conference, had a very good congregation on Sunday. The amount required of this circuit for the pastor's salary this year is 375 dollars. Bro. Cottingham receives 275 dollars and one hundred dollars is to be paid me. The amount I received at this Quarterly Conference was $7.05.

Feb. 27th. Today I preached at Cuero. There was a little circumstance that made me feel bad. It was this : An old school Presbyterian preacher during last week had made an appointment at this time and place, tho' my appointment had been outstanding for four weeks, but it seems he did not know it. When he stepped in at the door, I was standing up reading Hymns.

The Years 1853-1854 349

March 5th. Yesterday I preached at Lyons to twelve or fourteen women and three men. When I think of the home I have left, and the friends who are far away, I feel that I have indeed left all to follow Christ.

March 12th. Today about six o'clock p. m. my horse laid down to rise no more. Don't know how I am to get to my appointment Friday unless I walk, or can borrow a horse, which is doubtful.

March 26th. At last I succeeded in getting a horse to ride, a spoiled Spanish thing. I have saved two appointments I expected to lose. . . .

April 4th. Went to Bro. Chambliss' and found that Br. Cottingham had purchased a horse for me from a Mexican cavayard a pretty good horse. Bro. Cottingham 's family not being well, I started around the Circuit to fill his appointments as well as my own. The year is stealing away and I have done no studying of any importance.

Our Q. M. closed last Sunday evening we had a tolerably cold time of it. There is no appearance of a revival on this ct but I hope for better things soon. ... I wish I could give you an exact account of this ct. it is a four weeks ct. but it has rained so much that I have only went around it once, but expect to start again tomorrow and will get back here in two weeks: there are something like twenty appointments in all. or will be when they are all made out. I think of all the cts in the Conf this is one of the greatest for having a few of all kinds of people in it. from Methodists down to Papists, not forgetting Campbellites, and almost every kind of ite and ism in the Creation, and they are all as hidebound as the Devil himself.

acter is impeached, & that if he is not there at His trial, it will be very apt to go hard with him, but it is impossible for him to get there in time, he talks of locating on the Bay and going into stock raising. . . . He appears to have lost all his zeal, and in a great measure, to have backslidden, some of the official members have begun to lose confidence in him. they think, which is the truth, that he is too careless about preaching, that he spends all his spare time fishing. Think not that I say this with any other feelings than of deep regret, for I feel much hurt at the course he thinks of pursuing, but I cannot help it.

(May 7th). I presume you have heard that the folks have built a fine academy in Halletsville and are going to establish a school, they have employed a Methodist Preacher by the name of Spencer to take charge of it. the house cost them 4.000 dollars. I am no judge of such matters, but Spencer appears to be a well educated man fully competent to take charge of the "Alma Institute" (that is its name).

The minutes have shown that Charles Eottenstein withdrew from our ministry. He immediately joined the ranks of the Episcopal clergy, and one of our letters of this year gives a portrait of him in robes, as well as some attendant incidents of interest. The letter is from J. H. Addison, this year on Bastrop circuit, and dated Bastrop, May llth (1853) :

As there was a revival going on in Bastrop I came over yesterday and learned that Bishop Freeman (of the Episcopal Church) had sent an appt down to preach at night. Bro Whipple gave way for the Bishop, and expectation was on tiptoe to hear him. Well, at the appointed time the Bishop in his black robe, and the Bevs Messrs Eucker and Bottenstein in their white ones came sweeping down the isle with all the dignity that could be assumed I was so irreverant as to laugh at the appearance of "our Charley" he looked and acted so consequential. The service commenced by Bucker, the Bishop and Charley responding. . . . The Bishop took his text "Except ye be con- verted and become as little children" & c He commenced by stating that "there were many men who taught the doctrine that the sacrament of the Lords Supper was designed for none but those who had assurance of present acceptance, and that which was designed to impart all the assurance necessary, was withheld until that assurance was imparted. This assurance the men taught was preceded by deep remorse, or pungent conviction, and then by a joy and peace inexpressible, and men were terefied from approaching what those self-constituted teachers caled merely the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of Christ, and as a warrant for this belief, they relied among other passages on the text selected by me, but I will leave it to the judgment of all present, after I am done, whether with just grounds. He then opened the subject first by presenting the meaning of the words "Kingdom of Heaven," declaring that in the passage under consideration it referred to the "church." Next the meaning of the word "converted" was defined to be a turning. . . . Hence the popular theory of the self-called and self -constituted teachers of the present day, that conversion was a change of heart, or the pardon of sin, was all wrong. . . . He then defined it Convertion to be a change in the mind, not by any inward impression but alone by the power of the man himself, a making himself righteous by his own actions. . . . Then is he fit for the sacrament. This is the evidence of Conversion, and no man know this save by receiving the sacraments. These are the appointed channels of God 's grace and man need not look for any other. . . .

After he got done preaching he bowed and scraped and prayed, and pronounced the benediction and the Parsons had got down upon their knees to pray the congregation out of the house. Whipple jumped up and told them we would have a prayer meeting and asked them to stay. I tell you the Bishop and his aids, or laqueys left in a hurry and Whipple commenced I never have heard him come out as plain in my life. He told them that he believed and preached heart-felt religion and that those who trusted to any thing else might be in the fix of those who demanded admittance into Heaven on the score of their having taught in his name and in his name done many wonderful works, they might receive the sentence ' ' I never knew you. ' ' We then had a real Methodist prayer meeting, and anoyed the

A great variety of subjects persons, events and conditions are discussed in the correspondence of several preachers of that day, which we have in much patience deciphered and sifted. We learn that early in the year 1853 George Rottenstein, editor of the Banner, yielded up the tripod, surrendered his credentials as a Methodist preacher, and followed his son Charles into the Episcopal ministry. There was great rejoicing apparently among the Methodist preachers, as the Banner and its editor had been growing more and more unpopular, and the paper was scarcely able to keep its head above water. Bro. S. B. Cameron, who had taken the supernumerary relation at the previous conference, and had moved to Houston, was temporarily placed in charge of the paper.

A letter from Chappell Hill says that the school is prosperous; that the people had all united to sustain it; attendance, about ninety pupils, "all under good discipline," and more than one hundred expected before the end of the session. A new church expected to be completed before the end of the year.

A very remarkable expression of temperance sentiment is recorded. ' ' We in the Colorado valley are driving right ahead," says a writer, referring to temperance reform. ' * In the Corporation of Bastrop an election was ordered by the Mayor to test public sentiment in regard to the liquor traffic within the bounds of the Corporation. When the votes were counted out it stood one hundred and seventy three against licensing doggeries in the town to three in favor of it. In Webberville the citizens met, and appointed delegates to the state convention, and I believe we will be able to get a Maine liquor law passed by the next legislature."

The Years 1853-1854 353

plenty and I am of the opinion that many of the good folks of Burleson county will go totally deranged," writes J. E. Ferguson. "Dead men's spirits are called up with as much facility as one would whistle up a gang of dogs, and then the astonishing revelations that are made, why it is enough to harrow up the soul, freeze thy blood, and make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres."

This good year 1853 was the open season for the delegates to he elected to the ensuing General Conference, and the subject nils no little space in the communications of the preachers. A little conference politics now and then is relished by the best of men. "As to Deligates," says one, "I have nothing to say. I intend to vote if I get to Conference but some men and probably the choice of the Conference I never can vote for to fill responcible stations. ... I would like to know that the young men of the Conference would seek out such as would not lay such burdens on our shoulders the next four years as we have borne these : but I look for it to be as in the days of Jeroboam The thigh will be substituted for the finger."

It was in the year 1853 that a new brick church was completed at Washington, erected and named in honor of Dr. Martin Euter, the first superintendent of the Texas mission, who had died and was buried at Washington in 1838. Early in May of this year the remains of Dr. Euter were removed from the old burying ground and re-interred at a spot adjacent to the new church. J. E. Ferguson, who was present on the occasion, thus writes of the events of the day :

I have been to Washington to the re-enterment of Dr- Euter since I wrote to you, where I met with Bros Alexander, Kinney, Peel & Lewis The excessive rain, and other causes had a bad influence upon the exercises of the occasion about fifty to eighty masons were in the procession. Nothing but Ms bones remained, the Coffin was entirely decayed. His wig was entire, and his teeth looked natural, but nothing ramained of the great and good man but the skeleton. The eye was gone from, beneath the massive and noble brow. The tongue of eloquence had mouldered to the clay. The large and ardent heart was no more the thing of life, but like other parts of his body had crumbled to dust. The soul was gone, the dust remained to us to honor. I felt while we were handling his dust that if he was not displeased with us he pitied the empty pageantry of earth Bro Kinney made a complete failure in the eulogy, and Crawford's oration was without points the Collection was meager, only about 275$. But Judge Felder has agreed to seat the house and finish the belfry &C &C.

In 1853 Methodism took a new start in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, according to reports published by the Missionary Society of the Church, South. 1 Lewis B. Whipple was the preacher at San Antonio, and Henderson S. Lafferrty was at Corpus Christi: "The city of San Antonio," says the Report, "has hitherto been rather a barren field upon which we have bestowed labor. But this year it has pleased God to bless the labors of his servants, and some 18 souls were happily converted to God. A noble two-story rock church edifice has been built, 35 by 60 feet. The upper room is used for divine worship. The basement (entirely above ground), for a schoolroom. In March last a church was organized in Corpus Christi by the missionary, which numbers 18 white and 6 colored members. The walls of the church building are pretty well up, and they have some of the materials for completing it. ' '

The East Texas Conference met at Marshall on November 30, 1853, Bishop Andrew presiding, and John W. Fields secretary. Marshall C. Simpson, Bennett Elkins, A. W. Goodgion, Jas. A. Scruggs, William G. Coons, A. C. McDougald, James Greene, Calvin Cocke, John Mc- Millan were admitted on trial the largest class in the history of the conference, and Henderson D. Palmer, M. C. Robinson, and J. K. Hawkins were re-admitted. J. Johnson and Robt. Crawford located; Geo. W. Lents,

The Years 1853-1854 355

M. F. Cole and J. G. Hardin went on the supernumerary list, and Geo. West remained on the superannuated roll. Samuel W. Bobbins was received by transfer from the Indian Mission Conference, and John W. Ellis, Sr., from the Alabama Conference.

The following delegates were elected to the General Conference, to meet the following year: S. A. Williams, 0. Fisher, and Jeff erson Shook ; N. B. Burkes, reserve.

Four appointments in this conference have now reached the dignity of stations, namely, San Augustine, Henderson, Marshall, and Jefferson, although each place was also the head of a circuit. The membership in these stations was small 41 whites at San Augustine, 82 at Henderson, 70 at Marshall, and 43 at Jefferson. It was the day of great circuits, and some of the strongest men of the conference filled these circuits. Paris, Bonham, Greenville, Dallas, Grayson, Palestine, Tyler, Jacksonville, Clarksville and Cherokee were the great circuits of the conference, from the standpoint of membership, Paris standing at the head, with 784 white members, and 112 colored. The membership in the conference has reached a total of 9230 whites, and 1268 colored ; increase during the year, 2227 whites and 310 colored the best year yet. The districts remain as last year, which, with their presiding elders, were as follows: San Angustine, J. T. P. Irvine; Marshall, N. W. Burkes; Clarksville, A. N. Eoss ; Palestine, 0. Fisher ; Woodville, Wm. K. Wilson. The Texas Conference met at Huntsville, December 21, 1853. Bishop Andrew was in charge, and H. S. Thrall was elected secretary.

Fountain P. Bay, Absalom C. Delaplaine, Bufus Y. King, Henry D. Hubert, Williamson Williams, Thomas F. Windsor, and Augustus C. Fairman were admitted on trial. Transferred in : H. E. McElroy, from the Missouri Conference; Wm. G. Foote, from the Virginia Conference; Solomon S. Yarbrough, from the Tennessee Conference; William H. Seat and John H. Davidson, from the Mississippi Conference.

William Young was born December 17, 1822, in Madison County, Alabama. He was converted and joined the Methodist Church in Benton County, Ala., in 1838. He was licensed to preach in 1844, and immediately took work by appointment of the presiding elder on Caffeeville circuit. In the fall of 1844 he was received on trial into the Memphis Conference. In the fall of 1845 he transferred to the Texas Conference. During his brief ministry in Texas he served on the Nashville, San Antonio, Austin and Bastrop, Seguin and San Antonio, and again San Antonio charges. During the year 1850 his health failed, and in the fall of that year he took the supernumerary relation. At the close of the next year he was superannuated. He returned to Mississippi, and in March, 1853, he was married to Miss Eliza M. Sims. His health had greatly improved, and he expected soon to return to Texas and resume his place in the ministry. But in the latter part of the year he fell into a rapid decline. He died in Mississippi on February 18, 1853. Bro. Young was described as a man of vigorous mind, of fine tastes, and as a preacher his ministrations were often highly spiritual and awakening. The people always heard him gladly.

Simon B. Cameron was a native of Ohio. He entered the travelling connection in Kentucky, where he labored two years, then came to Texas in feeble health. He entered the Texas Conference in December, 1850. He served one year in Houston, and one at Austin. He then took a supernumerary relation, and removed to Houston. He was for a few months editor of the Texas Wesleyan Banner. He was stricken with yellow fever in Houston, and died there on October 2, 1853, leaving a wife and one child.

Delegates elected to the General Conference : E. Alexander, H. S. Thrall, James M. Wesson and J. W. Whippie; William A. Smith and William C. Lewis, reserves.

The Years 1853-1854 357

The Texas Conference closes the quadrennium with a total membership of 6234 whites and 1687 colored, showing an increase over the previous year of 1397 whites and 301 colored. The membership for the two conferences now standing, 15,464 whites and 2955 colored number of local preachers in Texas Conference, 104, number in East Texas Conference not given. The Texas Conference covers a much wider territory everything west of the Trinity Eiver, and has six districts and not including these and special appointments has sixty-two regularly listed appointments. The East Texas Conference has five districts, and only forty regularly listed appointments ; but as shown, the membership in the East Texas Conference far exceeds that in the Texas Conference, showing the comparative density of population. The Texas Conference has no such populous circuits as are found in the eastern portion of the state. And strange to say the charge that stands up toward the head of the list in the west is one of the newer black land circuits Waxahachie, with a white membership of 337. The leading circuits in the conference are, in the order of membership: Bastrop, 393; Waxahachie, 337; Caldwell (formerly the old Nashville), 301; Anderson 276; Huntsville, 258; Leona, 247; Goliad, 221, and Belton, 200.

The minutes of the Texas Conference for 1853 show that two new schools had come into being Andrew Female College, at Huntsville, to which James M. Follansbee was appointed principal, and Paine Female Institute, at Goliad, with A. B. F. Kerr as agent, in connection with his appointment as pastor. The minutes also show that Robert Alexander was not only presiding elder of the Huntsville district, but he was also " agent of Chappell Hill Institute and Andrew Female College." "We have, then, existing at the same time five schools within the bounds of the Texas Conference namely, at Huntsville, Chappell Hill, Bastrop, Goliad, and Eutersville, as the last named had not yet closed its doors, or been transferred to other hands. The East Texas Conference had two Fowler Institute at Henderson, and McKenzie College, near Clarksville. It is little wonder that we find talk of concentration going on in the Texas Conference, and that such sentiments should find expression within a few months in the projection of a "central university," to be located at Chappell Hill. The school at Chappell Hill soon came to be the most prosperous in the conference. Originally started under the name of "Chappell Hill Male and Female Institute" in 1850, it was reorganized in the fall of 1852 and its name changed to "Chappell Hill College." An announcement issued in the winter of 1852-53 says: "The next Spring Session will commence on Monday the 7th of March, 1853. Both departments of the College are under the superintendence of Prof. P. S. Euter, late of Transylvania University, Ky. . . . The Female Department occupies a new and spacious building, 50 feet by 24 in size, two stories high, and at some two hundred yards distance from the former one." The Female Department was in charge of Miss Elizabeth Knox, of Pittsburg, Pa., while Miss Charlotte Euter was in charge of the music department. President Euter and Miss Charlotte Euter were children of Dr. Martin Euter, as was also A. "W. Euter, who came to Texas about this time and engaged in teaching.

' ' History, Geology, Logic, Ehetoric, Moral or Mental Philosophy 15 00 " Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Physiology, Algebra, Geometry, Latin, Greek, or the higher branches of

Board for girls and young ladies can be obtained in good families at $8 to $10 dollars per month. For young men and boys, at $7 to $10, according to accommodations.

The Years 1853-1854 359

Students from a distance are requested to bring with them whatever school books they have. These will be used as far as practicable. Whatever new ones are required can be had at the stores in town.

The two Departments of the College, (male and female), are kept distinct and apart, with no intercommunication, save through the officers of the Institution.

Eev. Bryan L. Peel has been appointed travelling agent for the College, to raise funds with a view to the endowment of the Professional Chairs.

As the Chappell Hill community and church became one of the famous centers of Methodism during this period, it might be of interest to transcribe here a part of the contents of the " Church Book" for 1853, which has been preserved and has fallen into our hands. In common with all church records of that day, this book is prefaced by a " charge to the membership," this one containing the following :

Brethren be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Remember the Friday preceding each Quarterly Meeting as a day of fasting and prayer, for the general prosperity of Zion.

and under the headings "Life" and "Soul" initials are set down to indicate the state of life married, single, widowed and the state of soul.

The Years 1853-1854 361

Following this list of "Male Members'' is the roll of "Female Members," listed under the same heads, and numbering fifty-six names. On succeeding pages is the roll of "Coloured Members," numbering eighty-nine, with sundry additions following. The following is an extract from the colored roll :

We have also class books of the Chappell Hill and other old societies, when the class-meeting was in its day. In these the members are enrolled as in the church book, their " state of life" and "state of soul" being designated, with the addition of their presence or absence rioted at weekly class-meetings through the year.

The third General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was held at Columbus, Ga., in May, 1854. Among its membership appear for the first time some men who are just rising into prominence, and who later are to link the old generation with the new. Among these were E. M. Marvin, H. N. McTyeire, and John C. Keener. But many of the towering figures of a former period had not yet fallen out. Joshua Soule was now seventy-three years of age, and was very feeble. Bishops Andrew and Capers were also well advanced in years. Bishop Paine was at the height of his strength and usefulness, but he was the only one of our general superin- tendents who had yet the promise of many years of labor. The General Conference, therefore, deemed it necessary to add new life to the episcopacy, and accordingly three new bishops were elected, as follows : George F. Pierce, of Georgia, John Early, of Virginia, and Hubbard H. Kavanaugh, of Kentucky.

A long period of litigation over the publishing interests of the Church, North and South, had resulted in a decision in favor of the Church, South. The total sum inherited by this decision amounted to $275,000, and the decision was at once made to invest this sum in a publishing establishment of our own. The city of Nashville, Tenn., was chosen as the location of the enterprise, and in consequence that city soon came to be recognized as the headquarters of our Church. Eev. Edward Stevenson and Eev. F. A. Owen were elected the first publishing agents. Depositories were opened in other cities, including one at Galveston, Texas. Thomas 0. Summers was elected book editor; D. S. Doggett, editor of the Quarterly Review; J. B. McFerrin was elected editor of the Christian Advocate (Nashville), and C. C. Gillespie was elected editor of the Texas Christian Advocate, successor of the Texas Wesleyan Banner, and the Texas organ was moved from Houston to Galveston, and with a book depository and the Texas church paper located there, the Island City was for a few years to be looked upon as Methodist headquarters in Texas.

The fifteenth session of the Texas Conference was held at Chappell Hill on December 13, 1854. Bishop John Early, who had been elected to the episcopacy the preceding May, presided over this conference. Homer S. Thrall was elected secretary.

A class of ten were admitted on trial, as follows: Frederick Vordenbaumen, John "W. Cope, Jas. W. Points, T. B. Buckingham, August Engel, Chas. L. Spencer, Gustavus Elly, John E. White, John C. Kopp, Anthony Warns. The following were readmitted, all in elder's orders : James McLeod, Eobert L. Drake, G. W. Cottingham, Andrew Davis, P. M. Yell, Wm. G. Foot, J. W. Ledbetter. "Wm. L. Kidd located. Jesse F. Walsh was received by transfer from the Memphis Conference, and Byron S. Garden and Hyram G. Garden from the Arkansas Conference.

Garrett L. Patton was a native of Tennessee. Admitted on trial into the Tennessee Conference in 1842, and was transferred to the Alabama Conference. Transferred to the Texas Conference in 1851, and appointed to the Springfield district. At the end of one year he was appointed to the Galveston station, and died while serving that charge. His memoir characterizes him as "a good man, a close student, a man of varied information and a useful preacher/'

John W. Addison, as we have seen, was the youngest of three brothers who had entered the Texas Conference. He was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1828, the son of Isaac S. and Sarah Addison, and was brought to Texas as a child with the family in 1835, and settled in Burleson County. The family was one of primitive culture, and of piety after the old-fashioned Methodist order devoted and loyal to every rule and custom of the Church. Following the course of two older brothers, Oscar M. and James H., John Wesley Addison was first licensed as a local preacher, and in 1852 was admitted on trial into the Texas Conference. His first appointment was Hallettsville circuit. We have already given extracts from his journal and letters while on this work. At the conference at Huntsville in 1853 he was appointed to Lynchburg circuit. His letters during 1854 reveal very hard and trying conditions existing on this charge, often discouraging to a young man. From one of his last letters, dated Lynchburg, November 2, 1854, we extract the following, addressed to his brother Oscar, in far-away Brownsville :

Through the blessing of a kind Providence I can report myself well, and willing to do my duty, and the only thing I have cause to grumble at, is my own f ruitlessness : I do know that I might have done better. I feel a degree of self accusation that I have not been more devoted, but as our failings may be used for profit, and as it is useless to spend the time in vain regrets, will you not pray for me, that I may remember the past only to improve? ... I coincide with you in your observation about Ministers possessing a spirit different to those around them, and I would that I had all the mind that was in Christ; then should I be better able to dispense the word of life to those who are making their way to eternal ruin. . . .

The Yellow Fever has not been in Harrisburg, that I have heard of, but it has been and is still in Houston & Galveston; there was a death in this place some said from yellow fever, and one reputed case in town now, but I do not much believe it, there have been no other cases in any part of my work, I think we will have frost in a few days, and I hope the fever will disappear.

Our 4th Q M is to be held in this place the 18th & 19th inst. and that will close my labors on Lynchburg Circuit. Jimmy F's meeting comes on the week after and I think I shall visit him, and if the Lynchburg Circuit Rider can get a chance he may hold forth to the citizens of Houston. . . .

Before this reaches you I expect to be on the way to Chappel Hill. I have sold my horse, and shall have to go up on the stage from Houston. I presume you will come by water to Galveston & H. and take the stage from there, I would like to fall in with you if you do either at this place or Houston. . . .

I feel like I wanted to be more devoted to the Saviour, that I want to love him more. Lord revive thy work in my heart, fill me with Thyself

The Years 1853-1854 365

Nov. 22d. I came up from Lynchburg to Houston last night on a boat, a very disagreeable trip, boat was so crowded. Went to the parsonage and stayed with Bro. Jim Ferguson, spent the night at the vestry.

On Sunday, December 3, Bro. Ferguson, the pastor, went to the country, and arranged with J. W. Addison to fill the day in Houston. While in the pulpit at 11 o 'clock Sunday morning Addison was taken violently ill. A letter from Charles Shearn to James H. Addison, dated Houston, December 15th, may well be used to give the account of the sad and sudden closing of the young preacher's career:

You have before this heard all Particulars Respecting the Sickness and Death of your Brother I have written to several Brethren and I should have Wrote to you but for the Reason We fully expected your Brother here from Brownsville. Presuming now he has gone by Land I am of necessity compelled to write for it is Doubtful if I come to Conference or not. . . . Your Brother was taken sick in the pulpit at morning Service the 3 Inst, and on thursday morning at 10 minutes before 3 o'clock he Expired, we gave him the best attention possible, and you may Eest assured that nothing could have been done more than was done, we had two Physitians frequently coming in, as friends, and the best we could get Hired as the Practitioner he told me he was as well Prepared for the Change now as he would ever be. If it was the Will of God to take him now, It was his will to go. We buried him on the evening of thursday and a very large procession there was Revd Mr Fairbairn Performed the Funeral services in the Church and the Good Samaritans at the grave. . . . We buried him in his best suit of clothes, a new pair of Black Broad Cloth pants, a new Satin vest, and his best coat, his trunk is at my House. . . . Brother Hardcastle and myself . . . Packed up all we found in his trunk. . . . His watch if I come to the Conference I will Bring with me. the amount of money he left is $37 25 I have paid for funeral expences all the difference which is small, I am Willing to bear ... he left a New Silk hatt, and a very good Panama the Silk one he has scarcely ever worn ... we found but very few books, he left a fine new overcoat.

The most important action taken at the Texas Conference in 1854 was that looking toward the establishment of a " central university*' for Texas Methodism. A committee was appointed to which this project was referred. The committee was composed of E. W. Kennon, Eobert Alexander, J. W. Whipple, H. S. Thrall, D. Morse, J. M. Wesson, W. H. Seat, J. S. McGee, and M. Yell. This committee came together in Galveston on April 1, 1855, and promptly selected Chappell Hill as the location of the proposed university. The following session of the Texas Conference, held in Galveston in December, 1855, ratified the action of the committee as to location, named the prospective institution "Soule University," and elected a board of trustees and a financial agent. Further than this we shall see when we get on into the year 1856.

quadrennium, following our plan, and in order to keep up with the preachers and the various charges, we shall give a detailed view of the statistical tables and the appointments : The membership statistics reported at that conference were as follows :

Huntsville District

Cold Spring, B. S. Garden Montgomery, to be supplied Madisonville Ct., H. D. Hubert Anderson, C. L. Spencer Retreat, C. H. Brooks Washington, A. B. F. Kerr

Victoria District

Helena, Jno. S. McGee Gonzales, Wm. H. Seat Texana, Joshua H. Shapard Coleto, H. S. Lafferty Clear Creek Ger. Miss., E. Schneider Victoria Ger. Miss., Anthon Warns Nueces Miss., A. C. Fairman Corpus Christi, J. G. Johnson Brownsville Miss., to be sup. Laredo Miss., to be sup.

Francis Wilson and J. W. Chalk transferred to East Texas Conference. J. F. Walsh transferred back to Memphis Conference. Next conference to be held at Galveston, Dec. 12, 1855.

The East Texas Conference met at Tyler on November 29, 1854, some two weeks before the session of the Texas Conference. Bishop Early presided, and John W. Fields was elected secretary. The conference met in a new church just completed, at Tyler, which was dedicated by Bishop Early on Sunday, and called " Andrew Chapel."

The following were admitted on trial : "West D. Lovelady, Eobert C. Mount, Laban B. Hickman, J. W. H. Hamill, Lewis C. Grouse, Milton H. Porter, Win. E. Bates, Win. A. Stovall, Abner Brown, and Solomon T. Bridges. Job M. Baker and Johnson McMillan located. J. W. Ellis was transferred back to the Alabama Conference, and Francis Wilson and J. W. Chalk came from the Texas Conference, and Levi E. Dennis was received by transfer from the Tennessee Conference, Wm. Monk from the Alabama Conference, and John S. Noble from the Indian Mission Conference. M. F. Cole, Samuel W. Bobins and F. G. Fawcett took the supernumerary relation, and Francis Wilson (just re-transferred from the Texas Conference), J. Gr. Hardin, Eobert Crawford, J. T. P. Irvine, E. P. Chisholm, and Henry Fullingen, were placed on the superannuated list.

Woodville District

It is seen at once that this had been a year of prosperity in the East Texas Conference, and a glance at the tables reveals that the Church has had its greatest development in the northern and western portions of the conference. The tables will also show the location of the "black belt/' Marshall district leading all others in its colored membership. The tables of the Texas Conference also show that the strength of the Church was drifting more and more to the north and west, while the black population is confined mainly to the plantation regions of the lower country.

Mabshall Distbict

Orceneth Fisher transferred to California in April, 1855, and spent several years on the 'Pacific Coast, but finally returned to Texas. Fisher, as we have seen, first came to Texas in the winter of 1839, supplying Brazoria circuit for a few months ; and thus he is to be numbered among that earliest company of preachers who labored in Texas before the organization of the first conference. He returned to Illinois, but after a year or two he moved his family to Texas and regularly took work here. He was born in Vermont (1803), and began his ministry in Ohio. His first wife having died after coming to Texas, in 1848 he was married to Eebecca Gilliland, one of the survivors of an Indian tragedy, recounted in a former chapter. At the time of their marriage Fisher was fortyfive and his wife seventeen years of age. After a few years in California Fisher returned and finished his course in Texas. His widow still lives, at the age of ninety-three, residing in Austin. A son by his first marriage, 0. A. Fisher, became a member of the Texas Conference, and a grandson, Sterling Fisher, perpetuates the name in our ministerial ranks. Orceneth Fisher was one of the greatest preachers of his day, and was especially noted for his exposition and defense .of Methodist "doctrines/' He was the author of a large volume on "The Christian Sacraments. ' '

Chaptee Xxii The Yeabs 1854-1857

THE period covering the middle fifties from 1854 to 1858 was one marked by unusual development in Texas, and by a hitherto unequaled prosperity in the Church. It was an era of great increase in population, and of an increasing drift westward, to the great open country in the western and northwestern portions of the state. Twenty-seven new counties were organized during these years, among which were Coryell, Comanche, Bosque, Erath, Brown, Lampasas, Hamilton, San Saba, and the counties of Palo Pinto, Montague and Wise on the northwestern frontier. This period saw the first railroad building in Texas, and resulting from this many new centers of population and trade arose. The first railroad was called the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway. The line was later incorporated into the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio railroad, a part of the Southern Pacific system. The road was completed from Harrisburg to Richmond, on the Brazos, in 1855, a distance of thirty-two miles. The Brazos River at Richmond was bridged with "a cheap pile bridge, only six feet above the water at low stage, the middle sections being removable on flat boats to permit the passage of steamboats and other vessels that occasionally navigated the river at that time." This piece of engineering, descending from high banks on both sides, and swinging low in the middle, in the shape of a hammock, was said to have been a wonder in its day.

The Years 1854-1857 377

The Galveston and Bed Eiver Eailway, afterwards the Houston & Texas Central, threw up its first grade out of Houston in 1853. The road reached Cypress City in 1856, twenty-five miles, and to Hockley, ten miles further, in 1857, to Hempstead in 1858, and to Millican in 1860, where it rested until a year or two after the war. The Washington County railroad, another link in the present H. & T. C. line, was built from Hempstead to Brenham in 1857-60. The Galveston, Houston & Henderson line was built from Galveston to Houston during the period 1854-58. A tap line from Houston connecting with the B. B. B. & C. Ey. was built by the city of Houston in 1856, seven miles. Other short lines projected or actually begun in the fifties were the Texas & New Orleans, the Eastern Texas, and the San Antonio & Mexican Gulf. The " Southern Pacific, " afterwards the Texas & Pacific line, had twenty miles of road in operation about Marshall by 1858. The Transcontinental branch of the same road was begun near Texarkana in 1857, but only a small segment of the line was completed before the outbreak of the war. A " railroad map" of Texas, showing completions prior to the Civil War, gives a total construction of 492 miles. Most of this is in short lines radiating from Houston. We have not yet reached the railroad era in the state.

The minutes of the conferences during these years show that unusually large classes were being admitted on trial. The ranks of the ministry were largely augmented also by transfers coming into the state. We shall dispose of these conference sessions at once, before proceeding to a more detailed view of these busy years.

The East Texas Conference met at Marshall on November 21, 1855. Bishop George F. Pierce was president, and Neil Brown was elected secretary. Isaac W. Overall, William H. Crawford, Charles L. Hamill, Thomas W. Eogers, John P. Lard, John Stubblefield, Isaac B. Walker, Eandle Odum, Martin Matthews, and Isaac Alex- ander were admitted in trial a class of ten, the same as the year before. Nearly as large a number located, as follows: Jesse S. Vann, Francis H. Maderis, Aiken N. Ross, Andrew Gumming, Alexander E. Dixon, John S. Noble, William Monk, and Jonathan K. Hawkins. Eobert S. Finley was received by transfer from the Texas Conference.

The Texas Conference met in 1855 at Galveston, Bishop Pierce in charge, and Homer S. Thrall secretary. A class of thirteen, the largest on record thus far, was admitted on trial. The members of the class were as follows: Isaac P. Jeffries, John Carpenter, Henry Bowers, Eobert "W. Pierce, Eobert J. Gill, James A. J. Smith, Benjamin A. Kemp, Hiram M. Burrows, Geo. W. Burrows, "Wesley Smith, Frederick Imhoff, Hiram M. Glass, Joshua E. Wittemberg. Eeadmitted: Charles W. Thomas, John C. Kolbe, Joseph P. Sneed, Job M. Baker, James W. Shipman, Eobert G. Eawley, William G. Foote. Only one location : Eobert H. Belvin. Henry W. South was received by transfer from the Louisville Conference, James Eice from the Washita Conference, and Edward F. Thwing from the East Texas Conference.

The East Texas Conference for 1856 met at Paris, Bishop Paine presiding, James T. P. Irvine secretary. Jonathan C. Smith, Matthew H. Neely and William J. Joyce were admitted on trial. John S. Mathis was received by transfer from the Arkansas Conference.

One preacher had fallen during the year Henry Fullingin. He was born in North Carolina, November 18, 1788. Eemoved to Georgia at age of seven with family, settled in Cherokee nation. He received a limited education. Served in the Creek war in 1812. Married in 1816. Converted in 1817, and joined the M. E. Church. Served as class-leader for several years, then as an exhorter. Eemoved to Benton County, Alabama, where he was licensed to preach. Came to Texas in 1850, and settled in Lamar County. Admitted into East Texas Conference in 1852, and appointed to Boston circuit. He served the Upshur mission the following year, and in 1854 was placed on the superannuated list. He died during the year 1856.

The record is again broken in admissions and readmissions. Eobert P. Thompson, Walter S. South, Orceneth A. Fisher, Thomas P. Ferguson, John Budd, Horatio V. Philpott, William F. Compton, Jackson L. Orabb, William Eees, Jas. M. Stringfield, Buckner Harris, Ulrich Steiner, Joseph B. Perrie, and Thomas H. Ball were admitted on trial. Readmitted in elder's orders : Leonard S. Friend, Alexander F. Cox, Franklin C. Wilkes, Pleasant M. Tackett, Valentine H. Hey, and Asbury Davidson. J. L. Terry received by transfer from Georgia Conference, Preston W. Hobbs from the East Texas Conference.

The record for this conference was broken in admissions. The following composed the class : John Adams, John H. Low, Eufus B. Womack, Elisha Blanton, George W. Harwell, Edward P. Eogers, Jacob M. Binkley, John T. Kennedy, Everett L. Armstrong, Joshua Y. Youngblood, Harin W. Moore, Wm. N. Bonner, Bennett Elkins (deacon), Lorenzo V. Brown, Joshua H. Wooten, James L. Terry 16.

Removed to Randolph County, Ark., 1829. In 1840 or 1841 converted and joined the M. E. Church. Licensed to preach May 12, 1842. Immediately employed by P. E. oil Little Red River mission. Admitted Arkansas Conference 1842. At close of first year discontinued at own request. In 1844 came to Texas and engaged in teaching and surveying. In 1845 married Miss Martha Frazer, of Tyler County. In 1851 admitted into East Texas Conference. He served Livingstone one year, Woodville one year, Crockett two years, and Anderson one year. His name disappears from the minutes of 1856. He died May 31, 1857, of pneumonia. He was described as a man of feeble constitution, yet of much energy, and of a sanguine temperament. He was possessed of a good mind and fine social qualities.