USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I > Part 71
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Dr. Clyce acquired his elementary education
in his home locality and after mastering the elementary branches of learning entered King College at Bristol, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in the class of 1887. He pur- sued his theological education at Columbia Theological Seminary at Columbia, South Carolina, completing the course in the spring of 1890, after which he entered upon the active work of the ministry as pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Decatur, Ala- bama. He was afterward called to the Wood- land Presbyterian church at Louisville, remain- ing as pastor there for five years, during which time he pursued a post-graduate course in the- ology at Louisville Theological Seminary, com- pleting the work in 1894. He remained at Louisville in his active ministerial duties until 1896, when he was elected president of the Jackson Agricultural College, a state institu- tion, at Jackson, Alabama. He was likewise pastor of the Presbyterian church there and at the same time he organized a college of which he was president for four years, taking charge at its inception and building up a strong insti- tution, at the same time continuing his pastoral duties.
In 1900 Dr. Clyce was elected to the presi- dency of Austin College at Sherman, Texas, and on the organization of College Park Presbyterian church at this place he took pastoral charge. His efforts and influence in behalf of the church have been of no restricted order and he has succeeded in building up a strong and prosperous congregation, the mem- bership increasing from thirty-one to more than one hundred. In the meantime a handsome church edifice has been erected at a cost of about eight thousand dollars and is entirely free from debt. The church is well organized and is making substantial progress in various departments of its work. Austin College has likewise made consecutive and gratifying prog- ress under his presidency and considerable money has been collected and invested in equipments and the efficiency of the institution has been thereby greatly increased. In addi- tion to the internal equipments a very complete athletic park with all necessary accessories has
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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.
been added at a cost of seven or eight thou- "Rev. Daniel Baker was present at the or- sand dollars. It is under the charge of a com-" ganization of this Presbytery, at which time petent instructor, while in the gymnasium work a special instructor is employed. the principal topic of consideration was the selection of a site for a Presbyterian college. At the spring meeting of 1844, the Presbytery
Dr. Clyce was married in Louisville while pastor there to Miss May De Perrin, of that . took the following action :
city, who was educated in a private college "Resolved, That the ministers of Presbytery there. Three children have been born to them : ' be requested to present the subject of educa- Wallace Perrin, Dorothy and Edmonia Eliza -. tion to their respective congregations and en- deavor to secure funds for establishing an in- stitution of learning at some convenient place in the country, to be under control of the Pres- bytery, and report at the next meeting. beth, all at home. Dr. Clyce has been a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity for a number of years and has always taken an active inter- est in political affairs, he and his brothers be- ing strong advocates of the Democracy. His "Owing to the unsettled condition of the country, nothing could be done at this time. By request of the citizens of Nacogdoches, the Presbytery assumed control of an institution to be founded in that town, and also appointed a committee to select a location on the Guada- lupe river for an institution to be known as the ^College of the West.' Although neither of these enterprises materialized, the record is interesting as showing that the subject of Christian education was prominent in the minds of Presbyterians from their earliest or- ganizations in this western country. chief attention, however, is given to his church and college duties. It is a well established fact that the work of the educator is the most important to which man can give his attention whether it be from the pulpit, the lecture plat- form or the schoolroom. Dr. Clyce, laboring in all these departments, has exerted a wide and beneficial influence for intellectual and moral progress. He is a man of broad scholar- ly attainments and superior culture as has been shadowed forth between the lines of this re- view. His face indicates strong and earnest purpose and his manner embodies a kindliness and geniality combined with a force of charac- ter that have won him the confidence and trust of his fellowmen and at the same time have en- abled him to leave the impress of his individu- ality upon them.
In this connection it will be interesting to know something of the history of Austin Col- lege, of which he is now the head. A contem- porary publication has given the following account of the institution. "As early as 1834, Rev. P. H. Fullenwider, a Presbyterian minis- ter, was carrying on active missionary work in Texas. In 1838, Rev. Hugh Wilson organ- ized a church at San Augustine and another at Independence. During the coming year, Rev. John McCullough organized a church at Gal- veston, and Rev. William G. Allen one at Houston. Brazos Presbytery was organized at Chrisman's school house in Washington county, April 3, 1840, the first Presbytery in the Republic of Texas.
"The first really significant action in this direction was taken by this same Presbytery in its meeting at Washington, June 21, 1849. A committee consisting of Rev. Daniel Baker, Rev. J. W. Miller and Rev. W. C. Blair, was appointed to select a more central location for a college. The report of this committee was adopted at a called meeting at Prospect Church, October 13, 1849, and the college lo- cated at Huntsville. Inasmuch as Dr. Baker objected to the College adopting his name it was named after Stephen F. Austin, and thus became 'Austin College.' Another committee, consisting of Rev. J. W. Miller, D. D. Atchison and S. D. C. Abbott, secured a charter from the legislature. This charter was signed by Gov- ernor Wood, November 22, 1849, and is, with some minor amendments, still operative.
"The first Board of Trustees consisted of Daniel Baker, R. Smither, J. Hume, G. C. Red, H. Yoakum, J. Branch, Sam Houston (by his proxy, H. Yoakum) H. Wilson, J. C. Smith
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(by his proxy, S. R. Smith), A. J. Burke and J. W. Miller. They met and organzied in Huntsville, April 5, 1850, with Rev. Daniel Baker president of the Board, pro tem. Rev. Samuel Mckinney was elected the first presi- dent of the college and Rev. Daniel Baker, financial agent. Class work began immediate- ly, as Dr. Mckinney was already teaching in Huntsville.
"Presbyterianism in Texas at this time con- sisted of eighteen ministers, thirty-two churches and about five hundred communi- cants. When we consider the uncertain con- ditions that prevailed throughout the country, the poverty of the people, and the numerical weakness of the Presbyterian body, the under- taking assumes gigantic proportions. These ministers who not only laid the foundation of the college, but were the pioneer missionaries of Presbyterianism in this great section, were men by no means lacking in culture. Blair, Hen- derson and Miller were graduates of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania; Allen, of Center Col- lege, Kentucky ; Wilson and Baker, of Prince- ton College ; while the literary remains of Mc- Cullough, Fullenwider and Beckton show that they were liberally educated.
"Dr. Baker, while acting as soliciting agent, made six tours to the eastern states and se- cured nearly one hundred thousand dollars. The prosperity of the institution was his great aim, even to the close of his life. The most liberal contributor at this time was Rev. Ben- jamin Chase of Missouri, who gave fifteen thousand acres of Texas lands to the endow- ment fund of the college.
"The war between the states was disastrous in the extreme to Texas institutions ; still Aus- tin College was not forced entirely to close its doors, although its exchequer was empty, and its faculty reduced. In January, 1871, Rev. S. M. Luckett was elected president. To him and his co-laborers, J. N. Chadwick of Chapel Till and Rev. Donald McGregor of Houston, is mainly due the continued existence and pros- perity of Austin College. During this adminis- tration a growing sentiment arose for a more desirable location; and a committee was ap-
pointed looking to the removal of the college to some point in northern Texas. After a protracted controversy, Sherman was selected and the college removed thither in 1876. The present building was begun at once, and its central part completed and occupied during the incumbency of Rev. H. B. Boude, the suc- cessor to Dr. Luckett, from 1878 to 1881. Dr. Luckett resigned in 1877, but was again called to the presidency of the college in 1887. When the history of the college shall have been writ- ten, Dr. Luckett's name will be associated with that of Daniel Baker; for while Dr. Baker was the moving spirit in the foundation of the college, Dr. Luckett rescued it from the shades of oblivion that were fast settling upon it. In ten years he raised about ninety thousand dol- lars for the college, added two wings to the building, and increased the number of students to about one hundred and fifty with nine pro- fessors.
"The college building at present affords suf- ficient class rooms, library and reading rooms, literary society halls, assembly hall and labora- tories, besides a commodious gymnasium. The course of study is the prevailing college curri- culum of arts and science. The state board of education ranks this institution among the first-class colleges of the state. The college further sustains affiliated relations with many of the leading universities of the country. From its incipiency, it has never been co-edu- cational, the founders and subsequent directors believing that the best results can be obtained by a segregation of the sexes during the period of college life. The establishment of a co-edu- cational institution at Brownwood and a female college at Milford, both under control of the Synod of Texas, renders any change in the policy of Austin College unnecessary and im- probable.
"As the college stands a monument to the strong conviction of the fathers of Texas Pres- byterianism that Christian education is all im- portant, and that prudence demanded of the west that it train its own ministry, it follows that religious instruction has always been an essential factor of the student life. This insti-
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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.
tution was one of the first in the west to intro- duce a bible course into its curriculum ; and . Jan. 1, 1885. now, no matter what the preference and the purpose of the student, this course is not sub- ject to election, it is required.
"From the standpoint of accessibility, health,. educational spirit, social and moral culture, Sherman is an excellent place for such an in -: stitution. The buildings and grounds are on a beautiful suburban eminence of College Park, in the northeast of the city, a mile from the business plaza. Electric car connection with the principal parts of the city, water works, electric and gas light, free mail delivery, and telephone connection give this suburban com- munity all the advantages of the city, with the quiet and amplitude of rural life.
"The moral atmosphere is elevating, the cur- riculum as complete as can be effected, the in- struction comprehensive and thorough. Sher- man is a prohibition town, the seat of a pro- hibition county. The community about the college is in the closest sympathy with the faculty and student body, which condition goes far towards creating an ideal college environ- ment. The boarding system is the cottage plan, combined with a club hall for students who desire to live as frugally as possible. A high standard of manhood is maintained by the students, rendering discipline on the part of the authorities an easy matter; and a student who is not utterly devoid of principle should find some incentive to higher aspirations and a nobler life."
The following have occupied the presidency together with the dates of incumbency :
Rev. Samuel McKinney, D. D., 1850-1853.
Rev. Daniel Baker, D. D., 1853-1857.
Rev. A. E. Thom, pro tem., 1857-1858. Rev. R. W. Bailey, 1858-1862.
Rev. Samuel Mckinney, D. D., re-elected 1862; in office until Jan., 1871.
Rev. S. M. Luckett, D. D., Jan., 1871; re- signed April 24, 1878.
Rev. H. B. Boude, D. D., 1878-1881.
Prof. W. D. Vinson, LL. D., pro tem., 1881- 1882.
Rev. E. P. Palmer, D. D., 1881; resigned
Rev. Donald M'Gregor, D. D., 1885-1887.
Rev. S. M. Luckett, D. D., re-elected 1887; in office until 1897.
Rev. T. S. Sampson, D. D., 1897-1900. Rev. T. S. Clyce, D. D., 1900.
Thus for fifty-five years Austin College lias been a force in the intellectual progress of Texas. A contemporary publication has said of the institution, "It has stood like the im- mortal heroes of the early days, unshaken and uncompromising in ideas of truth, manhood and, true culture. Much of its most interesting history has never been written. But it goes without saying that an institution that has weathered the storm blasts of fifty winters, the fire of civil war, financial panics, and the disintegrating effects of adverse criticisms and ill-founded jealousy must have some indestruc- tible enduring power. And the situation is easy of comprehension. It has been from its incipiency philanthropic in its character. The statement is probably correct that no student was ever turned from its doors because of ina- bility to pay tuition. . What a record! For fifty years and more the great work of equip- ping men has been going on within its walls! Through the years when schools and churches were scarce and meager, through the period of public school development and working side by side with the movement, through the era of the inauguration of the university when the hopes of the most advanced opportunities were seemingly to be consummated, on to the close of this, the grandest century of the world's history. Sometimes buoyed with bright pros- pect, sometimes overburdened with debt, ever moving steadily onward, never wavering in its purpose of affording to the youth of our coun- try the opportunity of thorough Christian scholarship-what a record!"
The same publication in speaking of the work of Dr. Clyce has said, "Being a man of wide scholarship, fine executive ability, and in- domitable energy, combined with a remarkable power of coming into personal contact with
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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.
people, Dr. Clyce soon showed himself as much at home at the head of an institution of learn- ing as in a pastorate. After four years of faith- ful service at Jackson, he was urged to come to Texas and preside over the destinies of Austin College. Although so recently installed in his new office, he has taken hold of matters in such a way as to give evidence that he under- stands the situation and is alive to the exigen- cies of his work. In full harmony with his faculty as a scholarly, tactful, consecrated lead- er, already ingratiated into the affection of the community in which he labors; already com- manding the esteem and confidence of his board of trustees, and possessed of the good will of the church at large ; it is easy to predict that with his administration begins a new era for Austin College." Five years have passed since the above was written and the work of Dr. Clyce has been carried steadily forward, adding to its efficiency in touch with the mod- ern ideas of new education and at the same time-yet without this object in view, for his entire thought seems consecrated upon the church and the college-winning for himself a reputation as one of the ablest educators of Texas and the south.
JAMES N. CRAIG. Representative as a citizen of Jack county and prosperous and in- dependent as a farmer and stockman in the vi- cinity of Newport is James N. Graig, named as the subject of this review. A resident of the county during the period of its greatest development and most substantial and endur -. ing prosperity, his time and talents have been devoted to the cause of agriculture and grazing with results that have been gratifying and en- couraging in the extreme.
Mr. Craig is a representative of that family whose history appears under the caption "Samuel Marion Craig" in this work, and he was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, March 1, 1836. In both Montgomery and Ma- coupin counties, that state, he grew up and the district schools of the country gave him his limited knowledge of books. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Merrill) Craig, and he was the third in a large family of children.
His grandfather, Thomas Craig, married a Miss Brown whose progeny numbered eight, as follows: Millie, who married John Boor ; Larkin, whose longevity reached one hundred years and who passed away in Illinois ; Samuel died at eighteen years; Thomas, who is buried in Georgia Gulch, Colorado; Jesse died in St. Louis county, Missouri; Sarah, wife of John Brown, died in Montgomery county, Illinois ; and Betsey, who married Hiram Brown and died in Illinois.
At twenty-one years of age our subject be- gan life with a pair of mules, saddle and har- ness, and threw his energy into the work of the farm. After following this for a time he was induced to take the road as a lightning man, at fifty dollars a month and expenses and this he followed for ten years, covering thirty counties of his native state and the same num- ber over in Missouri. Out of his wages he laid up money for future use and when he came to Texas in after years he embarked in the stock business and laid the foundation for the success of his later years. The first of January, 1875, found James N. Craig in Texas. He stopped the first two years near Pilot Point, where he farmed, and in 1877 he located on the head of Hall creek, at Berton Springs, and en- gaged in the cow business, covering a part of the open range. He finally transferred his herd to Greer county, Oklahoma, and later on to the Deep Creek country of Collingsworth county, Texas, but in 1884 sold his cattle and returned to the settlements, locating on White's prairie in the edge of Jack county. He moved up near Newport in 1883, and im- proved the farm now owned by Mr. Ireland, and upon selling this he located on Ten Mile, the place of his present abode. Eleven hun- dred and thirty-two acres represents the results of his landed accumulations in the county and show in a substantial way what the net results of his nearly a half century of industrial effort has been. His brand, "A bar X," on the left side, and his chain diamond brand used first, now using a circle on the neck, grazed the country from Grayson to the Brazos and over the Red river country of the Panhandle were familiar to the ranch men of that time, and Keech Halsell became its owner when his last
.
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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.
stock and brand passed from him. Of late but returned to Grayson in 1873, again re- years farming has occupied him largely and his. turning to Hays, and died there in 1885.
bunch of one hundred and fifty head consti- tute his present interest in the cattle business.
February 1, 1883, Mr. Craig married, in Jack county, Miss Fannie C. Elliott, a daughter of Thomas and Delincy Elms Elliott. The mother died in Mississippi in 1863, and the fa-, ther died there in 1865. Mrs. Craig was born in Neshoba county, Mississippi, in 1839 and she and her husband are without issue.
In politics Mr. Craig has ever owned fealty to Democracy and in the earlier and more vig- orous years of his life aided in winning victories for his party in Jack county. He has served as precinct chairman, and the results from his beat have shown what his labors have accomplished prior to many elections. He is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist church and is a Master Mason of Post Oak.
SAMUEL ALEX. GREEN. Montague county has known Mr. Green as a settler for the past thirty-one years, he having cast his fortunes with it in 1874, at which time he set- tled a piece of Hill county school land near Brushy Creek school-house. With but two changes of location in those years we find him now in the same neighborhood where he first located and in the enjoyment of a beautiful home and, corresponding surroundings, which his labor and his management produced.
The year 1868 marks the advent of this in- dustrious family to Texas. Augustus Green, our subject's father, brought it hither from Boone county, Missouri, whither he went in 1843 from the state of Kentucky. He was born in Maryland in 1790 and made his way through the then new country of the northwest into Kentucky in early life and married, in the latter state, Miss Hannah Robinson, who died in Hays county, Texas. As a Missouri farmer he was eminently successful and when the war came on he was numbered among the well-to-do men of his calling. As a result of the rebellion he lost heavily and when he came to Texas he was not in affluent circumstances. He estab- lished himself in Grayson county the first three years, and, in 1871, he went to Hays county,
The issue of Augustus and Hannah Green were: Sarah, who died in Boone county, Mis- souri, as the wife of Samuel Gibson; Irena, whose death ensued in Grayson county as the wife of Will Ambrose; Martha, who is buried in Grayson county, was the wife of David Pugh; J. W., of Hays county, Texas; Dock, of Grayson county ; Robert, of Hays county ; Joseph, of Temple, Oklahoma; Samuel Alex., our subject; Tine, wife of Elijah Chisholm, of Grayson county ; and Bettie, the wife of Miles Reasoner, of Hays county, Texas.
S. A. Green's life in youth was passed chiefly on his father's farm and he obtained little edu- cation from the common schools. At eighteen years of age he began life as a cowboy in Uvalde county, and a year later he employed with the Jourdan boys, who were engaged in the business of buffalo hunting on the Texas plains. The expedition roamed about over the frontier, establishing their camp in a "dug- out" near some stream, and changing it as often as was necessary to keep in touch with the bo- vine king of the plain. The force was divided into killer, skinners, packers and teamsters, and during the year Mr. Green was with it he had exciting times and interesting experiences in every department of the work.
On quitting the plains Mr. Green returned to civilization and settled down to the routine and monotony of the farm. Having located him in Montague county, we find him, with pony team, toiling industriously on his Hill county and later his Pinola county claim, slowly climbing the ladder of success and keeping nearly always the "wolf" at a safe distance from his cabin door. He located on his pres- ent farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in 1890 and all the art-work that it contains is the product of his hand. While many years have been devoted to cotton and corn, he is now interested in fruit, and with the lapse of time his homestead will be a bed of bud and bloom and fruit.
Mr. Green was first married in Grayson county, in December, 1876, to Miss Nannie James, who died in 1894, the mother of Ewing,
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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.
who married Minnie Nichols, and resides near by; Lacy, of Montague county, married Georgie Warren ; Jennie, wife of Paul Laster, of Montague county; Walter, An- drew and Clarence are still useful adjuncts to the family home. In April, 1895, Mr. Green married Mrs. Ellen Short, a daughter of Wil- liam Milligan, from Missouri. Tiny, Lillie and Minnie Short are children by her first husband, and Mrs. Green passed away in 1903 without further issue. In September, 1904, Mr. Green married Miss Gertie Speck, a Ten- nessee lady, whose father was Henderson Speck, of that state.
Industry and singleness of purpose have ac- complished for Mr. Green all that he has achieved. While he has been laying up stores for the future he has lived in harmony with all the world and the good-will of a whole neighborhood goes out to him and his.
JOHN T. PRATER. One of the attractive homesteads near Stoneburg is that owned and occupied by John T. Prater, the subject of this biographical notice. In the twenty-three years that Mr. Prater has been a citizen of Montague county his efforts have been directed almost wholly in the line of farming and stock-raising with the result that he has come to be regarded among the substantial men of his community.
Mr. Prater came to Texas from Monroe county, Tennessee, in 1871. At the time he was a youth of sixteen and in company with his parents, John J. and Margaret J. (nee Simp- son) Prater, who now reside in the suburbs of Denison. Their first settlement was made in Tarrant county, but in 1872 they removed to Grayson county, from whence, nine years later, our subject joined other good citizens from the same county in Montague and has since here resided. The Praters are of English origin and in its purity the name had an "h," being Prather. By some means, en route to the present, it underwent the change to its present form, but the "Prathers" and the "Pra- ters" are not the less related. Benjamin Pra- ter, the founder of the family in the United States, was an Englishman. In Tennessee he established himself in the last years of the eighteenth century and died on the farm he
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