Wood County, 1850-1900 Page: 29
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said this church continued for a few years when the
members were dismissed by letter to unite with the
Baptist Church.
On 23 December 1865, the Masons purchased the
interest of the lots and buildings held by the
Presbyterian for $75. After the purchase the Masons
ordered that all denominations of Christians have free
access to the lower floor of the lodge building, each hav-
ing their respective Sabbath to hold their services.
This first building was torn down in 1900, and the
Baptists and Masons erected another two-story frame
building on the same site. During this period it was
often difficult to get a pastor for the once a month ser-
vices, but the membership grew as the area population
increased. Among the first ministers to be ordained in
this church were Ed Sharp and Ambrose Fitzgerald.
The ordination service took place on the fifth Sunday
in March 1857. The Reverend Sharp preached his first
sermon that year. Some years later, James Stephen
Hogg joined this church by baptism.
The Quitman Methodist Church was organized
about 1868. The earliest pastor recorded was J. L.
Terry. The location of the church is said to have been
across the street from the present county jail. Both
blacks and whites attended the services.
In minutes recorded in 1874, $375 is shown as
salary of the pastor for that year, the Reverend D. F.
Fuller. Dr. John H. McLean was Presiding Elder. He
later became a prominent leader in the Methodist
denomination and served as president of Southwestern
University for a number of years.
Among the most outstanding pastors of the Quit-
man Methodist Church was Charles A. Tower. The
Reverend Tower was pastor in 1894 and received 115
members into the church.
Source: Wood County Democrat
Hawkins Methodist Church was the first church
organized in Hawkins. It was located on land donated
by the Texas & Pacific Railway 15 September 1885. Jay
Gould, president of the railway company signed the
deed.
The first trustees of the church were Dr. A. P.
Head, J. M. Dagnell and B. F. Allen, a druggist in the
town. At one time, Hawkins' only school was taught in
this church building. Mollie Nettles Bryan was
teacher. The building also served other denominations.
For many years only one service a month was held.
Source: Devorah Lynch Palmer
St. John Baptist Church was first located a short
distance northeast of Gentry Cemetery in the Redland
Community. There are no existing records of its
organization but it is thought to be as early as the
1860's, perhaps earlier as this was the first white settle-ment in the county.
According to Mrs. Jane McCarrell Moore, born 1
April 1879 in the Redland Community, the one room
building was used as both church and school until it
was destroyed by fire in the 1880's. After the destruc-
tion of this building, the congregation selected a site
about two miles northeast of the old site and "Old
Brother Caldwell" donated three acres of land for a
new St. John's Baptist Church. James Long and
Charles Pierce helped to cut the timber and hauled it
to Lee White's sawmill, located west of Gentry
Cemetery, to be finished for construction of a new
church building. Lee White donated his time and labor
and Ben Martin hauled the finished lumber to the site
with a six oxen team.
The earliest pastors recalled of the "new" St.
John's were Caldwell, Revelle, Norman, Murray and B.
F. Blaylock, who was pastor 1887-1897. Years later
another Baptist church was organized in the com-
munity, and the two churches were combined tc form
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
A church that preceded St. John's Baptist Church
was simply known as the Campbellite Church. It was
located south of the Gentry Cemetery and was founded
by the Gilbreath family who came to the area prior to
1860.
Source: Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Pierce
Mrs. Jane McCarrell Moore
Center Methodist Episcopal Church was organized
about 1873 in the Center Community. The Reverend
Blakefield, S. S. Sapp, E. H. Holden and Peter
Thompson were among the early day pastors. For many
years the log church building was used as school, lodge,
festivals and dance hall. A two acre building site was
purchased for $6 from Sarah A. Maxey in 1879. The
church is presently known as the Center United
Methodist.
In the early days the pastor of the church was
usually the teacher in the school. Peter Thompson was
pastor and teacher in the late 1870's and early 1880's.
Source: Gould Hall
Mrs. Robert Richard29
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Wood County, 1850-1900 (Book)
This text gives an overview of Wood County, Texas from roughly 1850 to 1900. It includes historical sketches of various aspects of life in the county as well as anecdotes. Genealogical information and documentation are also included for pioneer families in the area.
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Wood County Historical Society. Wood County, 1850-1900, book, 1976; Quitman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91051/m1/37/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .