Eastland County, Texas - Chapter 8, 1904

Chapter 8

The first church organized in the county, of which there is anything known, was in the Allen neighborhood and was effected by Eev. William Mlonk, a pioneer preacher, who attended his first Texas Annual Conference at Tyler, in 1854. In 1865 Mr. Monk was on the Palo Pinto Misison, which included Eastland County. With a few members he organized a Methodist church on the Allen and Davidson ranch. The m'erabers were Peter Dayidson, wife and four children, Robert Xewberry and Uncle Bobbie Martin, with their families.

Mr. Monk writes: "In 1872 I was Presiding Elder on the Stephenville District. In 1873 I attended a Quarterly Conference at McGough's Springs. Rev. Levi P. Collins was the missionary and had organized a little church there, which I suppose was the second organization in the county. The county was infested by Indians. jWe all went to church with our guns, not knowing what moment we would be attacked. Two nights before I went to McGough Springs the Indians stole my horse at Picketville in Stephens County. I made my way down there on borrowed horses, and from there to Comanche I went on a wagon, where I secured another horse."

all of Erath east of Stephenville and all of Johnson west of the Brazos River. Hood County was not organized then. I also had two appointments in Parker County, Big Valley, where your father then lived, and Kiekapoo. I made the 'round on my work every four weeks, preaching under trees, in private houses, under brush arbors and in littlo school houses. Our congregations would be from twenty to one hundred people. We had some great revivals. I organized the first church at Big Valley and held a great meeting. When I traveled the Stephenville District in 1872, '73 and "74, it included all the territory west of the Brazos Elver from Waco to Fort Belknap, Fort GrifSn, San Angelo, Camp Colorado and Fort Mason. These were the outside settlements, but all the territory to isew Mexico belonged to the district. I made the round every three months on horseback, with my Winchester rifle hanging to the horn of my saddle, and my wardrobe in a pair of saddle bags. Thes^e were the happiest years of my life. I believe all the preachers that were associated with me then have passed away, except Levi Collins and Brother Smith of Stephenville. If I could see you I could tell you many things of interest, hut caii write but little now. Wishing you success with your book, I am yours, W. MONK."

EisiNG Star Church. - This charge first belonged to the Pecan Circuit and was served by L. S. Chamberlain in 1877. In 1879 this same preacher was returned to the work and then organized the class at Eising Star with eight members, Jaines Trb}', Sallie J. Irby, Andrew Agnew, N. S. Agnew, I. P. Agnew, Sarah Agnew,

Dennis Bond and Sarah Tannerhill. Out of the eight memlbers only James Irby and wife remain with thn church today. It was at a night appointment this organization was made in a little 10x12 log school house

The Rising Star Misison was created some time later with two appointments (Jewell being the other), and had an appropriation of one Irandred dollars from the missionary board. It was included in the Breckinridge District, with A. K. Miller as Presiding Elder r,nd G. F. Fair pastor, 1883-1885.

By and by a new school house was built near where the cemetery now lies, and served for church purposes. The class continued to gather strength; to its membership were added those of Uncle Tommie Anderson and his family. Mrs. L. S. Anderson still retains her membership. She is the aged mother of H. E. Anderson.

In 1881 the first Sunday school was organized in the school house. A Methodist Sunday School in a school house did not prosper, so under the leadership of the indefatigable R. R. Raymond a church was built and later a parsonage. They are valued at $2,000. On a beautiful, grass-covered lawn this church has put up a tabernacle at a cost of $300.00.

In 1902, under the pastorate of J. H. Chambliss, assisted by J. C. Watkins, a most wonderful revival took place, resulting in such an increased membership that the church had to be enlarged. This was done at a cost of $500, making a total of $2,800 of church property. With a membership of nearly three hundred, a fine Sunday school, both Senior and Junior Epworth Leagues and an active Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, the church is doing well.

The Church at R.4NGER was organized by Eev. Hightower in a tent in 1881. The membership has growTi to ninety-two with church property valued at ,500.00, which includes a house of worship and parpomge. The present pastor is Eev. B. E. Wagner.

M, V. Mitchell

The Cisco Methodist Church had its beginning in the fertile brain of a pioneer "circuit rider," Eev. Lamb Trimible. On the quiet hunt for any one who wore the name of Methodist, where he might find a kindred spirit, shelter and something to eat, he discovered M. V. Mitchell and wife (in a log hut 10x12 feet) running a sheep ranch. The tired preacher was not long in accepting a large hospitality in small quarters. The dirt floor to the little room had been overlaid with grass and on this was spread a carpet. The cubby-hole, (or jhed room) and a bed of skins was the only place for the preacher, while plenty of blankets for cover and a good case of religion made him happ3\

In 1880 this pTeacher organized the first church, and when that roll was called the only names were M. V. Mitchell and wife,, Mr. and Mrs. Walton. Mr. Mitchell was elected steward. This church was begun in a little '.og school house, located where now lies the beautiful cemetery. Eev. Andrews was the next circuit rider, and - lohn Lane steward. In 1881 Cisco was founded at the ijnction of the railroadS; and everybody moved to town, the school, post office and church following the people.

Kev. Mills was the next pastor. He and Rev. E. B. Vaughan canvassed the new town for Methodists and found about tv.'enty. The people were all living in tents A school house was s^on built by popular contributions, f.nd this sufficed as a place for the monthly preic'iiing.

Two or throe years latei , during the pastorate of Eev. John A. Wallace, a small church, costing six or seven hundred dollars, vvas erected on the lot where the present building now stands.

During the pastorate of Eev. T. C. Eagsdale the house was enlarged to meet the growing demands of the congregation. This was swept away by the cyclone in 1893, and a beautiful and commodious house was erected at a cost of about $6,000. The church has a parsonage valued at $1,200, and a membership of three hundred and thirty members. During the past year under the pastorate of S. J. Vaughn there was a net gain in mem- ln'it^hipof ciglity, and about $800 were expended in improvements on the church and parsonage. The church is doing fine work in all departm^ents. The building is lighted by electricity.

The Carbon Chuech was first organized in 1890 by I. N. Eeeves, with about twenty members. There was no building other than Thurman's store, which was utilized, the counters serving, in part, for pews. As the preacher stood with his back to the door he could not understand, during this first sermon at 11 o'clock Sunday morning, why a row of girls directly in front of him were so intensely amused. They caused so much confusion that he stopped shortly after he began and dismissed the audience. Afterwards he learned that a man onion the street in front of the door, with a woman's sunbonnet on his head, was "making a monkey of himself."

At night the audience gathered early. The counters were filled with boys, who wore clanking spurs. The preacher had. barely reached his "secondly" when one of the boys on the counter noisily left the room, brushing right by the minister, who stood near the entrance. In a very few minutes another boy was rattling his spurs in his rush to get outside with the one who started what was evidently meant to include all who sat with them. At this juncture Dt. Jules Trader rose to his feet and with an imjjetuous oath exclaimed, "Parson, I don't want to interfere, but if you'll knock the next boy down who tries to pass you, I'll stand by yon." The sermon continued without further interruption. ,

I. N. Neel, agent of the railroad, , organized and taught a Sunday School in the station house where he lived. Later, the railroad gave the, town, an acre of ground on which to build a school house. When this was completed the Sunday School went there, and at the end of Mr. Reeves' second year there were eighty-seven inenibera. The church building was erected during the pastorate of Eev. Maxwell. The present pastor is Hev. J. H. Walker.

The Baptist Churc ii. - This church organization might be truthfully compored to a mighty oak, whose roots dig down deep through the soil, drink in and transmit the food to the trunk, limbs, branches and leaves, and forage for the minerals that help color the foliage and make it a thing of joy and beauty, as well as a protection from the sun's fierce rays and the storm's beating rain. Nor is this all, it affords the songsters of the forest a sheltering place for their young.

As this mighty oak has grown from a tiny acorn and is now able to withstand the terrible wrenchings of storm and tornado, so the Baptist Churches have grown in Eastland County.

Away back many years ago- - Mr. M'cGough does not remember the date - under a brush arbor, the Eev. W. H. Erashears organized the first Baptist Church in Eastland witi) seven members, C. Brashears, J. R. Higgins, Enoch Dawson. Amanda Dawson, W. C. McGough and Avife .and the preacher. This was known as Providence Baptist Church, and was one of four in the county when the Rev. C. G-. Stevens of sainted memory projected and accomplished the organization of that wonderful body known as the Red Gap Baptist Association, which not

There now exists a Cisco Baptist Association which inchides all the organi^iations in the County with two or three exception-. The locations, names of pastor and present membership follow :

One interesting feature of the work of this association is that it keeps a missionary continually in the field. Rev. I. D. Hull, the present Associational Missionary, has served several years. Last year the amount reported paid to missions - home and foreign - was $875.31. This did not include the $295.18 paid to the Buokner Orphans' EPome, $52 foi ministerial education, nor $29.30 for the poor.