USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 20
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 20
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AND HIILL COUNTIES.
S. Johnson was the minister. After sermon on Sunday the doctrines and forms of gov- eminent of the Presbyterian church were brietly stated, and the following persons pre- rented themselves as desirous of organizing: W. Il. Graves, Mrs. M. L. Graves, M. S. Kahle (the only member here now), R. A. MeNeilly and his wife L. A., J. D. Wilson, Bena Barnes, William F. George and his wife. M. II. Messrs. Graves and MeNeilly were the first elders; and the first deacons were M. S. Kahle and J. D. Wilson. From the date of organization to the present time, the elders have been W. II. Graves, R. A. McNeilly, W. C. Alexander, M. S. Kahle, Peyton Irving, J. M. Lewis, W. II. Wilson, W. M. Rivers, A. Irvine, S. C. Anderson,- all of whom have died or moved away except Mesers. Irving and Kahle. The deacons have been, M. S. Kahle, J. D. Wilson, F. E. Adams, D. R. Garrison, J. J. Wilson, Robert Craig, J. W. Lambard,-all of whom are deceased or removed away excepting Messrs. Adams, Craig and Lambard. The present membership is about fifty-five. April 16, 1876, the Presbytery ordered the consolida- tion of the Alvarado and Cleburne churches.
About a year after the organization of the church, when there were but eight or ten members, and they had no minister, they took a vote with reference to dissolving, and they all voted for the proposition except Mrs. George, and she won the victory, holding the church together. It is now in a good, healthy condition, having a neat house of worship, well furnished, 60 x 34 feet, and situated on north Main street, with a parson-
age in the rear. The congregation is out of debt.
The ministers have been Revs. W. S. Johnson, supply, October, 1875, to October, 1876; he is now deceased; S. A. Doak, sup- ply, November, 1877, to May, 1878; T. J. Stone, supply, from May, 1878, to September, 1881; C. S. M. See, pastor, January 1, 1882, to February, 1886; S. B. Irvin, supply, De- cember 1, 1886, to January 1, 1889; and sinee February, 1889, Rev. J. M. Cochran, who is one of the most evangelical of all the ministers the church has had here. 1Ie has been a resident of Texas for fifty-three years. Rev. Mr. See is one of the best scholars in the Presbyterian church in this State.
Cumberland Presbyterianism .-- The first ministers of this denomination who organized churches in Johnson county, were two brothers named Robert and Finis E. King, from Ellis county, about 1853, commencing in Alvarado. The latter was a man of over average size physically, of more than ordinary intellect, of decision, energy and vim, but of a mild, conservative and affable disposition, of warm and lively affection; and though of little education in a technical sense, he was by no means an ignorant man. He was an at- tractive and efficient preaeler. Ile finally fell a victim to the fearful epidemie, the flux, that ravaged lis neighborhood in 1859. Ilis brother Robert is also deceased.
The first Cumberland Presbyterian minis- ter who settled in this county, was Thomas L. Wilshire, a good man. His son Josiah soon afterward, also became a preacher, and
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continned in the ministry until his death two or three years ago. The last mentioned was probably the first minister of this denomina- tion who preached in Cleburne; but possibly it was Rev. Daniel G. Molloy, recently of Alvarado and now of Ovilla, Ellis county. This gentleman came from Arkansas, where his father was a minister of some note, hav- ing four sons in the ministry. Ile was edn- eated at Canehill College, Arkansas, and rose to a high standard of literary attainment. Mild and pleasant in manner and fluent in speech, he clothes his ideas in beautiful lan- guage, and is able to exhibit a high degree of oratory; and as a theologian he has but few superiors.
Prior to 1870 Benjamin Austin, a supply, was preaching here in Cleburne, after the church had been organized. The next was William Groves, who was pastor for about a year; and then John Collier, a year and a half probably; W. D. Wear; I. S. Davenport, about two years; W. C. Rushing, two years; S. E. Kennon, three years; F. M. Gilliam, four years; Jacob Hodges, two years; W. C. Rushing, two and three-fourths years; and finally Robert D. Wear, since October, 1891. Of these, probably Mr. Gilliam made the most marked impression, being very popular and efficient.
In Cleburne the first serviees were proba- bly held at the courthouse, then the Baptist College, and then the courthouse again until the present church was built. In 1870 there were about fifty members. In August, 1873, the church was organized the second time, with about 130 members.
The present house of worship, 36 x 60, and seating about 250, was dedicated January 29, 1876, by Rev. Daniel G. Molloy, of Ellis county. The building is at the corner of Brown and Anglin streets.
The Sunday-school has an average attend- ance of about seventy-five; there are 110 names on the roll, in nine classes. It is a live, active school. J. C. Foster is superin- tendent.
The Trinity Congregational Church was organized in 1884, by Rev. II. C. Todd, from Wisconsin, who remained as pastor for a year and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Dobson, now deceased, John C. Calnon several years, and finally by the present pastor, Rev. D. R. Francis, from Ellis county.
The church edifice was ereeted in 1886, at a cost of about 85,000, including lot, and will seat about 225. It is the most finely fur- nished church in the city. A comfortable parsonage stands at the rear of the church.
There are now about forty members, and the deacons are W. II. Graves and C. W. Mertz.
The Cleburne Baptist Congregation .- The first meetings of this denomination in Cle- burne were held in the college building, which, although the school therein was under Baptist auspices, was used by all denomina- tions for a number of years. Rev. W. A. Mason assisted in the formation of this church. Ile afterward entered mercantile business in Montague county, where he is probably still living, and is still a minister. Ile was for two years agent for the Ministers' Relief Board of the State of Texas. In the
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pastorate here he was succeeded by Rev. J.| R. Clarke, who took charge of both the in- stitute (college) and the church until about 1952, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Beverly, who is now in Austin, preaching in churches in that vieinity; he was here four years, and then succeeded by Rev. W. A. Simins, probably about three years, closing his pastoral work here in 1889; then A. M. Simms five years, and since May, 1890, Rev. C. D. Campbell. There was no pastor for six months, from January 1, 1590, to July following. The greatest increase of mein- bership took place under Rev. J. R. Clarke, the number reaching 212. W. A. Simms is now in charge of a Baptist church in Dallas.
The present number of members is 200 and the officers of the church are: elder, C. D. Campbell; deacons, J. S. Clayton, B. F. Clayton, V. Gray, Dr. A. L. Smith and E. G. Chiles. Average attendance at Sunday-school about 110, besides fifteen officers and teachers. J. S. Clayton is superintendent.
The church edifice, brick, and seating 350, was erected about 1875, at a cost of $2,500, the lot being donated.
The Church of the Holy Comforter, Prot- estant Episcopal, was first org .. nized in Cle- burne in the fall of 1871, by Rev. Nash. In 1872 or 1873 the church was built, the first that was completed in Cleburne, the Meth- odists having commenced one previously, which was not yet finished. This edifice is on Henderson street, corner of Robertson. The membership has grown from twenty to np- ward of fifty. Rev. W. P. Brown from Louisiana is the present rector, since March,
1891. A ladies' guild exists in connection with this church.
The Catholic Church maintains a congre- gation of about twenty-live Families in Cle- burne, in an edifice of their own, near the railroad, which was erected five years ago, at a cost of abont $1,550, including lot. They also have a Sunday-school. Rev. Murphy, the first to read mass in Cleburne, established the congregation and built the church. Ile has been succeeded by Revs. Lee, Brannan (from Weatherford, who resided here), and by the present pastor since the autumn of 1891, Rev. Coffey, now living in Dallas.
The Christian Church .- The first minister of this denomination here was Elder John Whitmire, as early as 1856, who located at Grand View, organized a church there, preached at three or four different points, and died in Cleburne, some time since the war. Ile had considerable ability and was a good Christian man. The first evangelist was Elder L. J. Sweet, who came from Dallas county and preached at several points, about 1857-'58, establishing several churches.
This denomination began to grow more rapidly after the war. The church in Cle- burne, the first organized after the war, was organized by Elder B. F. Hall, from Ken- tucky. J. G. Ilix was one of the elders of the first congregation. This was probably about 1867 or '68, when thero were about thirty members. Services were first held in the courthouse and then in the Baptist col- lege. Preaching was kept up for a number of years, by Elder Bantau, who was largely instrumental in building the present house of
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
worship, which is in West Cleburne. He was a ready debater, and died some years since, in Parker county. He was succeeded by George A. Farris for a year, now of Abi- lene, Texas. He did good service, putting the church on a good basis, which has ever since been preserved. Then Elder Clark, now of Add Ran University at Thorp's Springs, preached here frequently. Next, elder J. P. Grubbs, who, during the prohi- bition fight of 1887 in this county, could not join the prohibitionists, publishing his argu- ments in the Chronicle, and was severely erit- ieised by some of the members, and resigned on that account. He now lives in Texarkana. Various other preachers were here occasion- ally until Elder H. II. Whitlock came in the spring of 1890.
There are at present about 100 members, and a Sunday-school of about 100 pupils, about two-thirds of whom are in regular at- tendance. C. L. Ileath is the superintendent, and also one of the local elders, the others being Brown Douglas, W. M. Reaves and I]. II. Whitlock.
The church edifice, a neat frame, was built about 1878, at a cost of about 82,000. The members taking the lead in the building of this house of worship were E. M. Heath, B. J. Chambers, N. II. Cook and T. J. Jelfries, who was for some time an elder here. The church has a seating capacity for 600 or more, and it is linely finished.
The Seventh- Day Adventists organized a small church in Cleburne abont 1877, under the ministrations of Mr. Kilgore, but it went down. They built a small house of worship
in the southwest part of the town, but it was Bold. Mr. Kilgore was a strong doctrinal man, and published the main arguments in favor of the Sabbatarianism of his church in a very able, succinct form, in the Cleburne Chronicle.
MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
Public theological debates were far more comnon in former times than at the present period. The first debate in Cleburne was held in Angust, 1875, in the Baptist Col- lege, between Rev. Price, Methodist, and Dr. Caskey, Christian, the latter taking the place of Rev. II. D. Bantan, the original man on his side concerned in the challenge. Previous to this debate, and after the chal- lenge had been made and accepted, a series of seathing newspaper articles were published in the Cleburne Chronicle upon the utility of public theological debates and upon the relative situation of the contestants, from which the public probably learned many lessons of modesty.
Price affirmed the following propositions: That the Scriptures teach that faith is the only condition of pardon to the sinner; and that in conversion the Holy Spirit operates directly upon the sinner's heart independ- ently of the word of God. Dr. Caskey affirmed that baptism, preceded by faith and repentance, is for the remission of past sins, - while each, respectively, of course, denied what the other aflirmed.
The debate was held for six days, in the Baptist Institute, which was crowded with eager listeners from all parts of the county.
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AND HILL COUNTIES.
During the sixth and last day of the debate the Chronicle said: "The ladies seem to be not the least interested part of the daily audi- ence, and their smiles cheer the debaters and urge them on to flights of burning eloquence. The exercises are opened each morning with prayer, and then the battle begins, arms on armor elashing and missiles of logieal light- uing eleave the air. Now and then, as a good point is made by either party, an un- wouted smile trips over the faces of the friends of the lucky champion, while the other side plainly say by their countenances, . We see nothing to laugh at.'
"The dispute has been condueted in a most conrteons and gentlemanly manner, each con- testant bearing himself in a manner be- coming a Christian minister; but the intel- lectual character of the two men is widely different. Both are able and both are earnest advocates of the eanse they espouse, but here the parallel ends. Mr. Price is seareely above medimin stature, well built and of very dark complexion, has a large, shapely head, a dark, confident eye, and a general bearing that in- dicates coolness in the midst of action and unrelenting endeavor in following up what he believes to be the truth. Dr. Caskey is tall, above the multitude, rather awkward and nneouth in manner, but withal having such a spice of originality about him as makes this defeet of grace becoming. Ifis head is small and narrow across the forehead, his eyes keen and piercing, flashing about the room like vivid streams of electricity. His manner on the stand is that of a surgeon who pieks and lays bare to the eye the inseles 11
and veins and sinews and ligaments of the disseeting room."
The debate between Price, Methodist, and Brown, Baptist, on infant baptism and "elose communion," took place at Cleburne in June and July, 1877, when the respective subjects were thoroughly treated.
If listeners to these debates would only use paper and pencil and be faithful in taking notes of every point, they would profit greatly without being harmed; and one of the most important results of studying both sides of every question is liberality of spirit. Even if one is not by such means converted to the other side, he learns many useful things by the way, and has an intelligent view of the doctrines in question.
In 1880 there was an amusing row among the colored ehnreh members, of which the Chronicle of June 16, that year, gives the following account:
"Parson. Wilburn is the popular shepherd of the colored Baptist congregation of this city. Last Sunday was a day set apart for administering the ordinance of baptism to a number of new converts. A large congre- gation of the brethren assembled on the banks of East Buffalo, under the breezy shade of the tall, leafy elms, to witness the eere- mony of immersion. There is also a Meth- odist congregation of colored folks in the town. A number of these were also on hand to see what was to be seen.
"All being ready, the parson led the sub- jeets down into the water and 'buried them in baptismn" according to the rites of his church. One was a tall woman. When she
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came out of the water she leaped and skipped for joy. Now, the bank was steep and the water deep, and for fear of an accident, it is supposed, the parson drew his arm tightly about the sister and held her fast. Thus she stood while ever and anon he would exhort, 'Sing, brethren, and don't be excited.'
"Ann, the parson's wife, was present and was not pleased with the situation. She ground her teeth and looked toward that Methodist squad. There stood Ike Weldon with his mouth like a cave and his lips work- ing like elephant's ears. At this sight her wrath was no longer to be imprisoned within her bursting bosom. Fire blazed from her eye, and burning, blistering words were heaped upon the Inekless Ike. The bandying of words beeame boisterous, and when Ike yelled to one of his Methodist sisters in the Baptist company by way of supreme insult, ' Tho't yon was better raised than to be down dar with dat trash, Liza Oaks,' the parson's wife could stand it no longer. She made for Ike like a brood hen for a small dog. She collared him and boxed his jaw feelingly. While she was yet holding him the parson released his charge to fall into the creek if she wanted to. With body bent he dashed between his wife and Ike, who at the self- same moment weut sprawling to the ground. A witness stated, ' Ike fell over; do-no what made him fall over 'less he scared. I never touched the nigger myself. He made a 'sturbinent with his mouf, turned round and pushed out his eoat-tail like a pea-fowl hoist- ing its tail. Then Ann called out, " Mr. Wilburn, you hear dat man call me trash?"
Then she rund and took him by the collar and hit him in the mouf.'
"A fist debate was threatening between the rival congregations, when Captain Plummer came up and prevailed on the crowd to dis- perse. The ease was before Esquire Bishop, where Ann, the parson's wife," was fined for assault. The parson himself was tried by a juryd an acquitted."
CLEBURNE CORPORATION.
The first aet of the legislature establishing the "Corporation of the Town of Cleburne" was approved May 3, 1871. Under this regime the town organized, with Mr. Cun- ningham as mayor; but his name does not appear in the minutes now preserved. The first entry in this record is dated in 1874, and reads as follows:
" Be it remembered that on the 16th day of November, 1874, the mayor and aklermen eleet for the town of Cleburne, Johnson county, Texas, met and were duly qualified by his honor, B. P. Lynch, ex-Mayor of said town.
M. M. CLACK, Mayor. T. FowiEk, J. A. WILLINGHAM, THOMAS LAWRENCE, L. F. LEGG, " JAMES P. AIKIN, Marshal."
Aldermen.
" Whereupon the board procceded to trans- act the following business, to wit: To elect J. A. Willingham treasurer, and J. B. IInd- son secretary, of said town; and ou motion S. N. Clark, T. Fowler and L. F. Legg were appointed as a committee to draft a
AND HILL COUNTIES.
code of by-laws and ordinances for the gov- ernment of said corporation.
" The board then adjourned to meet on Friday night, the 20th inst.
" Approved, M. M. CLACK, Mayor. JOHN B. HUDSON, Secretary.
" At a called meeting of the city council, held Thursday evening, December 17, 1874, there were present M. M. Claek, Mayor; S. N. Clark, T. Fowler, T. Lawrence and L. F. Legg, Aldermen; James Aikin, Marshal; and John B. IIndson, Secretary. The follow- ing proceedings were had:
" 1. Receiving and accepting the resigna- tion of J. A. Willingham.
" 2. Account of J. R. Clarke, for survey- ing and establishing the lines of the incor- porate limits of the city in 1872, was presented for payment; and upon motion and second, S. N. Clark was appointed to wait upon the ex-mayor and aldermen and inquire as to the nature of the contract and the validity of said account, and to report at the next meeting."
Section 23 of the code of eity ordinances was so modified as to provide that the clause shall not be so construed as to levy an addi- tional tax on livery stables.
" Be it ordained that the mayor bring to immediate trial all offenders of that section of the city ordinance which provides for the closing of saloons and billiard playing on Sundays, and if necessary to employ counsel to proseeute the same.
" Be it further ordained that the regular monthly meeting of the city council shall be
on the second Tuesday evening of each month. Adjourned."
At the next meeting of the council, the account of J. R. Clarke was rejected. Thomas Lawrence was elected city treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Willingham. At a second meeting, upon reconsideration of the account of Mr. Clarke, he appeared and "defended the validity of his account with forcible eloquence;" but no definite action was taken. At the next meeting it was " postponed indefinitely."
S. Nance was granted exclusive use of the streets around the publie square for the term of three years, that he may ereet and use public seales.
March 31, 1875, the marshal was author- ized to set up liitching-posts around the "court square."
October 12, 1875, the mayor approved of the act of the legislature passed March 15 previously, " in lieu of their charter for the government of the city of Cleburne;" but soon after the officers commenced work the citizens criticised them, and they, becoming thereby discouraged, ceased to meet and transaet business; so that by February, 1876, the corporation was finally dissolved. Pub, lie matters then lay quiet for a short time, the only article appearing in the city papers on the enbjeet being an amusing squib in May following, in favor of reviving the cor- poration, on a modest seale, more for the repression of " rip-roarious human beings " than for anything else. In a few weeks a vote was taken resulting in favor of re-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
organization, electing J. M. Odell, mayor, W. Il. Brown, marshal, T. A. Scurlock, assessor and collector, N. 11. Cook, treasurer, and W. F. George, secretary. Since that time the corporation has been run regularly, and with a degree of satisfaction as great at least as the average of city governments.
Recently a eanvass was ordered and made of the territory embraced in the one-fourth mile circuit from the corporation line, to secure the signatures of those who desire the corporate limits extended that distance, re- sulting in a majority of about six to one petitioners in favor of the extension.
Under the direction of the city government the streets of Cleburne have been graveled and nicely macadamized.
The two principal city officers from the beginning to the present time have been:
MAYOR. SECRETARY.
M. M. Clack 1874 John B. Iludson. . . 1874
B. D. Simpson 1875
S. N. Clark, 1875
J. M. Odell. 1876-7 W. F. George 1876
W. N. Hodge 1878-81 W. F. Wells 1877
J. M. Odell. 1884-6
M. M. Crane. 1878
J. L. Gillum 1886-8 James A. Graham .. 1879-80
J. II. Vosburg ... 1888-9 II. W. Patton .. .. 1889
B. F. Frymier 1889-92 W. N. Hodge and
Patton . 1883
W II Graves 1883-9
Lee Shaw 1889-91
N. F. lliggins. 1891-2
W. II. Graves, being secretary pro tem. most of the time during the years 1877-'79, signed most of the minutes during that period.
The other city officers at present are: J. Il. Keith, marshal; W. D. MeCoy, attorney; J. M. Clower, treasurer; J. M. Eller, assessor and collector; aldermen -- E. M. Heath, P. J.
Norwood, E. B. Stonesipher, S. C. Lockett, J. J. Williamson and J. C. Conway.
There have been no great conflagrations in Cleburne, but still a number of rather " de- structive " lires. The first fire occurred May 9, 1881, when fonr business houses were de- stroyed, inflicting a loss of 85,000. The Masonic hall, a two-story frame, owned by G. II. Maxey, and two one-story frames owned by L. M. Guggenheim were destroyed. The lower story of the Masonic block was oc- eupied jointly by N. H. Cook, Mack Wil- son, and Pierson's millinery establishment, a branch of the Dallas store. Nearly all the merchandise owned by these parties was saved. The fire originated in the rear end of the grange store, conducted by Ransone & Co., and was first discovered between two and three o'clock in the morning. Miss Camille Byrd gave the first alarm, and W. G. Dodson, a cotton-buyer who slept in the Masonic building, was the first to reach the fire and perhaps the last to leave it.
January 17, 1886, a fire burned ont T. W. Guggenheim, Conway Bros., W. II. Byrd, ete., the total loss being about 821,000, with some insurance.
The Cleburne fire department, volunteer, organized many years ago, is now paid $200 a year. They have a look and ladder truck, a hose carriage and chemical fire-engine which has a double tank, costing 81,800. The de- partment also has a hose house. J. A. Lind- gren is chief of the department.
As to water supply, as has already been noted, tho citizens were at first furnished from a grand spring in the bank of the ercek. " As
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the population increased, however, they be- gan to hanl water from other springs and from Noland river. For six years the yield of the several little springs along the Buffalo was run into a eistern, whence it was pumped into a reservoir. This was ex- pensive. Then they began to dig wells, which although furnishing good water were also ex- pensive, on account of the hardness of the rock which they had to penetrate, especially along a strip in the central and western por- tions of the town.
Not until the antumn of 1891 was a satis- factory system of water supply established, and that was by the drilling of four artesian wells, by S. W. Lovelady, about 1,000 feet deep, on llenderson street near the ereek; and these now yield water enough for a eity several times larger than Cleburne; and it is good water. At present only one well is drawn from. The water is sold at a certain rate per hydrant, or ten cents per 1,000 gallons where 3,000 gallons or more are used per day. For residences only $6 a year is paid. The city, of course, has made special arrangements for the use of this water supply in case of fire.
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