USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 9
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"E. Drane, Dentist, twelve miles Southeast of Corsicana, Texas, returns his thanks to the citizens of this and adjacent Counties for past patronage and will be pleased to work for those who may need his services. All orders in town can be left with Dr. Carter at the Drug Store."
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"Carriage Manufactory
Corsicana, Texas
"Sam H. Kerr is now prepared to build and finish with dispatch buggies and wagons to order. All kinds of repairing done at the shortest notice. Public patronage solicited. Shop on the Southeast corner of the Public Square."
WATER
From organization, the question of an adequate wa- ter supply for Corsicana was a problem. For many years, that is before 1879, surface wells, cisterns and artificial lakes, or tanks, supplied the necessary water for living purposes, but there was no satisfactory sup- ply for city purposes.
After the business houses became established on Beaton Street, the bankers and other business men, felt the need of some fire protection, and had built at intersections on Beaton Street large underground cis- terns.
On Sept. 9th, 1879, a call was made for an assembly at the Opera House, on the 13th of Sept. This call was signed by N. J. Mills, C. M. Winkler, A. F. Robbins, A. M. Wilson, S. F. Starley, James Garitty, Drane and Johnson, J. M. Rainwater, Miller and Tarver, R. P. Goodman & Co., A. Ferguson, J. W. Rogers, Kamsler Bros. & Co., Cerf and Rapheal, J. P. Vance & Co., Steph- en Smith, J. Y. Bates, J. J. Strupper, C. W. Jester, J.
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DEVELOPMENT
B. Stephens, F. W. Carruthers, J. B. Stiteler, S. A. Pace, J. Huey, Nat Pinkston, G. T. Jester, B. F. Davis, C. L. Fewell, C. C. Marshall, A. Fox & Bros., U. M. Lee & Co., C. H. Allyn & Co., Mallory and Allen.
A lake of 120 acres was impounded, about two miles East of town, and a standpipe 125 feet high erected. This afforded a water system for the business houses but not for city sewerage. The cost was $80,000. It was completed in 1883.
At this time the Corsicana Fire Department was or- ganized.
With J. J. Strupper, as chief, about twenty-five men met on Dec. 29, and perfected the organization. Abe Mulkey was assistant chief.
It was a volunteer company. A charter was procur- ed under the name of the Corsicana Hose Co. No. 1, which the city council agreed to equip but it was op- posed to spending much for a fire department.
In 1892, with F. N. Drane as chief, the department had one hook and ladder truck complete, two two-horse hose carriages, six fine horses, 2300 feet of hose, a good fire station, with a 1600 lb. alarm bell, three paid drivers, assistant chief, and sixty men, all volunteers.
Insurance was reduced and the fire company recog- nized by the council and citizens as a most important organization.
In 1894, in order to have a more extended water serv- ice, and sewerage, a deep well was bored, and at some-
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
thing like 2200 feet, a hot mineral water was found. It was suitable for fire protection, bathing and sewerage, but not for drinking and laundry, or for watering yards or irrigating gardens.
This water supplied Corsicana, supplemented by wells and cisterns, until 1923, when Lake Halbert, about three miles Southeast of Corsicana was finished. It was so-called because J. L. Halbert, who was then mayor, worked untiringly toward the accomplishment of the new water supply.
Lake Halbert covers about 525 acres, and contains normally 23,000,000,000 gallons of water.
When the well, drilled in 1894, brought the abundant supply of mineral water, it also brought "showings" of gas and oil, and this was the beginning of the oil fields of Navarro County and the first field west of the Mississippi.
H. G. Johnston, Ralph Beaton and others, organized a company, and shallow wells, that is, from 500 to 1500 feet in depth, were the result. These wells were scat- tered in and around Corsicana, and many of them, after more than thirty-five years, are still producing.
H. G. Johnston, with associates, established the American Well and Prospecting Company, which for many years, was the largest oil well supply factory in the world, and this company originated the first oil well rotary drilling rig.
Two of the largest oil companies operating, origi-
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Top: First Magnolia refinery at Corsicana.
Center: Group of early Magnolia employees and officials. Lower: First oil burning locomotive.
DEVELOPMENT
nated in Corsicana, The Magnolia Petroleum Company and The Texas Company, their organizers being Corsi- cana men.
The Magnolia Petroleum Company, was organ- ized in 1897, and J. S. Cullinan, who lived here for sev- eral years, originated the idea which developed the Texas Fuel Company, the parent company of The Texas Company.
The beginning of the Magnolia Petroleum may be dated from the arrival of J. S. Cullinan in Corsicana, to supervise the erection of Texas' first petroleum re- finery, which was the first in the South.
Mr. Cullinan was joined by Mr. Folger and Mr. Payne and the refinery began operations in Corsicana on Feb. 24th, 1899. The name of the original company, was the J. S. Cullinan Company, and the refinery first began running 500 barrels of oil per day, and when it was increased to 600 barrels per day, the people of Cor- sicana held a celebration, in honor of the event, little guessing that in the short period of thirty years, this same organization under the name of Magnolia Petro- leum Company, would be operating six refineries, with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, and having a net- work of gathering lines, of more than 5000 miles, and distributing refined products over six Southwestern states.
There are thirty of the original employees who en- tered the organization at Corsicana, still with the Mag- nolia Petroleum Company.
W. C. Proctor, recently retired after long and faith-
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ful service, and E. R. Brown, prominent official of the company, lived in Corsicana for many years, also E. E. Plumly who entered the organization in 1901.
W. H. Hastings, superintendent of the refinery in Corsicana for many years, died 1930; Mr. Hastings married a Corsicana girl, Margaret Pannill, whose father, Dr. William Pannill, and grandfather, Dr. Nel- son Witherspoon, were Corsicana citizens.
The original name of Cullinan Company, was chang- ed in 1901, to that of the Corsicana Refining Company, and in 1907 the corporate name was again changed to the Navarro Refining Company.
The panic of 1907, brought tribulation to the com- pany, and John Sealy of Galveston, purchased the Cor- sicana properties from a receivership on Dec. 7th, 1909, changing the name to John Sealy & Company.
The present name of Magnolia Petroleum Company was given to the organization on April 24th, 1911, and since that time the company has grown rapidly, until now the annual payroll is in excess of $2,000,000, and the employees number eleven thousand.
Besides these, other Corsicana citizens whose con- nection with the oil industry, has made them prominent are E. H. Buckner, president of Houston Oil Company, and Alma McAfee, originator of No-Nox gasoline.
Geologists have declared that Navarro County has yet heavy resources in oil, which have not been touch- ed.
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Left: E. R. Brown and right, W. C. Proctor-two of the organizers of the Magnolia Petroleum Company.
GORSIGANA PETROLEUM OIL GREATEST DISCOVERY EVER MADE IN TEXAS, QUALITYAGOOD PENNSYLVANIAS. QUANTITY. UNLIMITED
Old tank car belonging to Corsicana Petroleum Company. The Mag- nolia Petroleum Company with thousands of tank cars, is a successor to this early organization.
DEVELOPMENT
Many of the citizens who have been enriched by oil, have continued to make Corsicana their home, there- by showing their loyalty and appreciation to their old home county.
The territory in and adjacent to Corsicana, has been producing oil from shallow wells since 1895, but it was in 1923 that deep oil was discovered. Corsicana became one of the most important oil centers in Texas. The daily peak production reached 400,000 barrels. Corsi- . cana was a pipe line center, a refinery center, and oil well supply center, and was known throughout the oil fraternity of the nation. Ten inter and intra crude oil pipe lines convey the oil from the fields of West Texas and Oklahoma through Corsicana to the great refine- ries on the coast.
The deep oil was from the Woodbine sand, at an aver- age depth of 2900 feet. At one time there were 1200 wells producing.
Corsicana has the distinction of being the first city in Texas to use natural gas for fuel and lighting. Crude oil was first used here as fuel for locomotives.
Navarro County was the first to use crude oil as a help in building roads. Ralph Beaton was the first man in Texas to sell fuel oil, for which he received 58 cents per barrel.
NAVARRO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
The Navarro County Bar Association was organized in 1871. Col. C. M. Winkler was chairman. Some
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
other charter members of the Association were Colonel R. Q. Mills, L. T. Wheeler and J. F. Stout.
Some of the early members of this association were: S. R. Frost, R. S. Neblett, Colonel E. J. Simkins, Rufus Hardy and J. M. Blanding. In the nineties the member- ship included C. W. Croft, John S. Callicutt, Lee Callo- way, J. D. Lee, W. W. and H. C. Ballew, W. J. McKie, J. L. Autry, Jink Evans, Fred Freeman, Richard Mays, R. B. Molloy, M. B. Montgomery, A. B. Lee, R. E. Prince, J. J. McClellan, W. L. Stone, S. M. Kerr, W. R. Bright, J. H. Woods, O. E. Call, L. T. Carpenter, Messrs. Jack and Jack, E. J. Gibson, R. E. Prince, H. B. Daviss, J. T. Stout and Richard Mays.
Navarro County, generally speaking, has been a law abiding community and the practice of attorneys has been mostly of a civil nature. The first hanging in Na- varro County was that of Riley White, a colored man. There was one lynching held on the court house grounds in the Nineties. With the exception of the usual frontier "bad man" and the cattle rustlers, the crimi- nal element has been conspicuous by its absence.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF NAVARRO BAR ASSOCIATION (1931)
Beauford H. Jester, President.
Judge Rufus Hardy, Hawkins Scarborough, Warren Hicks, J. M. Blanding, J. S. Callicut, J. R. Currington, B. L. Da- vis, H. B. Daviss, B. W. George, W. W. Harris, Wayne Howell, C. L. Jester, Beauford Jester, W. H. Jack, S. M. Kerr, Norris Lovett, T. W. Lovett, H. S. Melear, Cleo Miller, R. B. Molloy, C. E. McWilliams, H. C. Nash, R. R. Owen, Louis Rothkopf, J. S. Simpkins, J. F. Stout, W. A. Tarver, W. M. Taylor, C. W.
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MAGNOLIA ETHYL GASOLINE
MAGNOLIA SOCONY MOTOR OIL
Top: Gasoline being transported across plains of Texas. Center: Modern method of transporting petroleum products. Lower: One of the first tank wagons.
DEVELOPMENT
Taylor, H. E. Traylor, Lawrence Treadwell, Fred Upchurch, C. E. Upchurch, H. E. Wassell, A. H. Willie, J. H. Woods, Ramsey Cox, W. P. Goar, R. M. Tilley, L. A. Johnson, H. C. Ballew, Chas. Banister, Richard Mays, A. P. Mays.
CHURCHES
The numerous churches of Navarro County have played an important part in the life of the people. Fif- teenth Street in Corsicana is yet called Church Street at times because of the fact that there are seven churches located on it.
In former times religious debates and discussions of- ten became very acrimonious but a more tolerant atti- tude is now the rule. The Sunday morning church bell no longer peals forth to summon the worshiper, but the church performs the same important part in the life of Navarro County.
From time to time in the story of Navarro County references have been made to matters appertaining to the religious life of the community but in order that a more correlated story of the various churches be given, a definite delineation will be made of the early church- es of Navarro County.
There was no place of worship in Corsicana until the building of the little log court house. As soon as it was finished it served as school, church and seat of government.
On May 16, 1853, about twenty members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church met under the guid- ance of Rev. John Patton and organized the first
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definite religious movement in the then village of Cor- sicana. The charter members of this first organized church were: R. N. White, James Kerr, Sr., Nancy Kerr, James R. Campbell, Lucy A. Campbell, Thomas Jackson, Nancy Byers, Jeremiah Cunningham, Polly Cunningham, Caroline Goode, Emeline Lindsey, E. R. Story, Margaret Story, E. C. Story, Martha I. Story, Savana (servant girl), S. H. Kerr, C. D. Kerr and Margaret Riggs.
Rev. N. P. Modrall was the first regular pastor and was paid a salary of $150 a year for preaching one Sunday each month. He also conducted a female acad- emy in connection with his pastoral work.
The edifice erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians faced north on Main Street (now Second Avenue) about one and one-half blocks West of Church Street. It was built of logs. This building was used by all the denom- inations for some time. Many preachers traveling through the country conducted services in this church. Rev. Ferguson, the father of ex-Governor James Ferguson, preached here. Other early pastors were David Rose, Rev. Fly, Elder Byars and Revs. Hardin and Caldwell.
The Cumberland Presbyterians erected a brick church about 1874 on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Thirteenth Street. It was one long room with two doors in the East and a pulpit in the West. It was divided by an aisle, the men occupying one side and the women the other. An old-time reed organ furnished
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DEVELOPMENT
the music and one of the first organists in this church was Miss Lula Johnson.
One of the outstanding ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in the early days was Rev. Allison Templeton, who moved from Tennessee to Cor- sicana in 1879 to bring harmony to the church after a disruption caused by the question of sanctification, which at that time was causing trouble to many con- gregations. He made a vivid impression on the peo- ple of Corsicana but unfortunately he lived only three years after reaching Texas, dying June 28, 1882. His wife remained in Corsicana for many years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lewis T. Carpenter, in Dallas, on March 9, 1928.
The Cumberland Presbyterians, under the leadership of Rev. Jerry Ward, built a handsome brick building about 1891 which still serves the congregation. After the union with the Northern Presbyterians the word "Cumberland" was dropped from the name of the church and it is now called the Third Avenue Presby- terian Church. Some of those who preferred the desig- nation of "Cumberland Presbyterian" built their house of worship on Twelfth Street and their first pastor was Rev. J. H. Swingle. Rev. J. W. Hornbeak has served this church for many years and consecrated his life to preaching in Navarro County. Mrs. Hornbeak was the daughter of Col. Root of Wadeville.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized May 30, 1868, by Dr. S. A. King of Waco who was a Pres-
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byterian evangelist. The charter members of this church were: Mrs. Alex Duren, Perry McCammon, Mark H. Bird, J. D. Cook and Capt. M. M. Morrison. Rev. Mosely was the first pastor.
For a while the First Presbyterians worshiped in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, then for some time in the school house and court house. After using "Cedar Hall" as a place of worship for some time they built a plain, frame church. A brick building was erected in 1878, at a cost of about $6,000, during the time J. A. McMurray was pastor. This was considered one of the best churches in town for several years after its erection but due to improper foundation the walls cracked and it was necessary to tear the building down. The present building used by the First Presbyterian church was erected in 1903 during the pastorate of Rev. George L. Bitzer. The present manse was built in 1895 when Rev. Bigger was pastor.
The Baptist faith was first represented in Corsicana by Elder N. F. Byars, who settled in Navarro County in 1846, and he and Elder T. N. Morrell began to for- mulate plans for organizing the Baptist faith. The Trinity River Baptist Association was organized in 1848 and Navarro County was part of this Association. R. E. B. Baylor was District Judge and he arranged his court matters in such a manner that he could preach the gospel at stated intervals. Judge Baylor's name is assured a place in the annals of history through the great university at Waco bearing his name. Some of the other Baptist ministers who preached in the ear-
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ly days of the Baptist church in Corsicana were: El- ders Abner Simmons, G. H. Compere, E. R. Freeman and S. G. Mullins.
The first duly organized Baptist church in Corsicana was under the direction of Rev. E. R. Freeman, who came to Corsicana with his family in 1869, mov- ing from Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Rev. S. G. Mullins was in the same wagon train but he lived at Chapel Hill about two years before coming to Corsi- cana. Records indicate that two of the charter mem- bers of the First Baptist Church were Mrs. W. J. Mc- Kie and Mrs. E. O. Vaughn. The Baptist church in Corsicana has been from time to time under the direc- tion of the following pastors: Revs. E. R. Free- man, S. G. Mullins, C. C. Lee, C. A. Coulson, Shelton Wayne, Giles, Taylor, A. B. Ingram, Jeff D. Ray, O. L. Haily, B. W. Vining, E. P. Kennedy and Howard Wil- liams.
The original Baptist church stood where the Cum- berland Presbyterian church now stands and during the formative days Mrs. F. B. Stiteler devoted her efforts toward furthering the interest of the Bap- tist denomination. Her husband was a teacher in old Baylor College which was then located at Independence. The Baptist denomination erected a church on the cor- ner of Collin and Fourteenth Street which served until June, 1925, at which time the new $150,000 church was finally opened for worship. The new church is one block West of the original location.
The first Methodist church was erected in Corsica-
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na in 1871 by W. R. Carroll and the contract called for a building forty feet wide and seventy-four feet long and twenty-four feet from floor to ceiling. This con- tract also stated that it was to have a steeple and upon completion Mr. Carroll was to receive $4,000 in gold. This house of worship fronted on Fifteenth Street and the interior was arranged as were those of other early day churches. Horace Bishop was the first pastor and in 1872 while living in Navarro County he married Miss Powell of Hearne. Rev. Bishop makes his home with his daughter since the death of his wife some few years ago. He has been a Methodist pastor for sixty years.
The first state democratic convention to be held after the Civil War convened in the Methodist church build- ing at Corsicana in 1872. This was a lively convention in more ways than one; many issues were bitterly fought on the floor and hogs sleeping under the church added to the confusion by the noises which they made. It was at this convention that Roger Q. Mills was nominated for Congress and it was also, incidental- ly, the first state political meeting held in Texas after the Civil War without military guard.
Another Methodist church was built in 1896 of brick. Additions have been made to the Methodist church from time to time and the pastor's home ad- joining the church is of commodious proportions. A new, modern educational building has recently been erected.
The Methodist faith has been served by many men
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of outstanding merit, among the number Revs. Everet Armstrong, Vaughn, Solomon, Whitehurst, Barcus, Booth, Wright, Monk, Hall, Culver, and the present pastor, John Bergin.
The Episcopal faith in Corsicana was not represent- ed prior to the year 1870 but when the H. & T. C. rail- road came in 1871 several families of this faith mov- ed into the growing village. Bishop Gregg of the Epis- copal denomination first sent Rev. Waddill into Cor- sicana and he held services in the court house and other places. Rev. Virginus Gee of the Episcopal faith also held services in Corsicana and in the winter of 1872 Bishop Gregg confirmed a class of eight. Rev. Gee was followed by Rev. Edwin Wickens in 1873 and in the summer of 1874 under his guidance the Episcopal congregation erected their church on the corner of Fourteenth and Collin Street. This church was called St. John's Church. Mr. Wickens was suc- ceeded in 1875 by Rev. J. J. Vlaux of Tennessee who re- mained about two years, after which time services were held only intermittently. Rev. J. P. Lytton of Sherman visited this church occasionally until Febru- ary, 1878, when Rev. Peter Wager was placed in charge. Rev. Wager remained for about three years and in February, 1881, Rev. John B. Linn was Rector of the church, remaining in Corsicana for four years.
Various improvements were made to the church building between the years 1895 and 1906 at which time Rev. J. C. Black was Rector. In the interim
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a new brick church had been built. The old frame church was moved to the back of the lot and converted into a parish hall. The present Rector, Rev. H. J. El- lis, began his rectorship April 7, 1918. A new parish hall has recently been completed.
The C. H. Allyn family gave a splendid two manual Pilcher pipe organ to this church.
A company of twenty people of United Presbyterian faith met in Corsicana at the home of J. L. Bonner on October 16, 1895 and there organized the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. Services of this faith were first held in the city hall and some months later a tent was secured and erected on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fifteenth Street and used as a place of worship. The first pastor of this faith was Rev. W. W. Orr, and during his pastorate the present church was erected. The United Presbyterian faith has been ably served by Rev. Ransome, who followed Dr. Orr, Rev. J. W. Good, Rev. R. E. Hough, Rev. A. H. Griffin, Rev. W. R. Gay and the present pastor, Rev. C. E. Mc- Stravick. The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was transferred to the United Presbyterian Church of North America in May, 1906.
Several families of the Jewish faith moved into Cor- sicana and in 1899 they erected Temple Beth-El. This was a handsome frame building and the Jewish faith has been under the guidance of Alex Fox as first Presi- dent; I. N. Cerf following Mr. Fox; Sam Brooks, who is now President, following Mr. Cerf. Ben Goldsmith has been secretary of the congregation for more than
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twenty-five years. There is also in Corsicana an Or- thodox Jewish Church.
The Catholic faith was given sufficient money to es- tablish a church by John Noonan and his wife. This church was erected in 1896 and the church and convent were the center of the Catholic educational movement for some years. Father Graffeo is the priest who min- isters to the members of this church. Prominent among the families are Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hickey, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Garitty, Mrs. N. J. Garitty, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Garvin, Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Wilkes, Mrs. Childress and the Shehees.
The first Christian Church in Corsicana was organ- ized in 1888 by Dr. T. F. Driscoll who was the first min- ister of this faith in Corsicana. The first edifice built by members of this church was erected on Fifteenth Street between Collin and Fifth Avenue, at a cost of about $3,500. This church served for about 17 years until the present building was constructed. The Chris- tian faith now worships in a beautiful church with an educational building and their property in Corsicana is appraised at $120,000. Seventeen pastors have served the Christian church in Corsicana, including the pres- ent minister, Paul L. Merrill.
There are now in Corsicana four Baptist churches, four Methodist Episcopal churches, one Catholic church, one Christian Science church, four Presbyter- ian churches, one Christian church, one Church of Christ, two Jewish synagogues and two Nazarene churches.
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The Church of Christ has a prosperous congregation, housed in a handsome new church on Fifteenth street. J. L. Hines is the pastor.
The Protestant Methodist, first organized in Corsi- cana by Rev. York, is located on Eighteenth street. The present pastors are Rev. Copeland and Kenneth Cope- land, his son. The latter is still a student.
The Salvation Army is also an individual religious faith whose activities are wide-spread and the Full Gospel faith meets in a building on West Seventh Ave- nue.
There are also several colored churches at which the negroes worship and their religious fervor is equal to that of any nationality.
THE NAVARRO JOCKEY CLUB
During the later Seventies and the Eighties horses enjoyed a period of notice and care, which since then has not been recorded. Beginning with the early settle- ments, the horse was a beast of burden, and necessary to daily life. Later breeders and stockmen, and many others, had occasion to enjoy the horse, and ev- ery Sunday the roads were full of buggies, single and double rigs, with horses of all kinds on exhibition. There were several livery stables in Corsicana. Per- haps the Mitten place was the largest, as Mr. Mitten was a real horse man. There was a race course on the Southeast side of town, where regularly there were
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