Shelby County Historical Society
January-February, 2017 Newsletter
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Traveling Trunk
Maggie Casto |
Gail Sholar |
Bob Casto and Nolan Sholar |
The Shelby County Historical
Society held its monthly meeting January 17, 2017 at the Shelby
County Museum with speakers Maggie and Bob Casto and Nolan and Gail
Sholar. Their program featured the DRT Traveling Trunk Show. It was
interesting to see how ancestors worked and lived in the time frame
of the1840s in Texas. |
The Shelbyville Methodist Church
The Shelbyville Methodist Church |
Merle Howard |
The monthly meeting for the Shelby County Museum was held Tuesday, February 21, 2017. The meeting was held at the Shelbyville Methodist Church. Opening prayer was given by Teddy Hopkins and the pledges to the flags were led by Ann Bowen. Ann then presented the speaker for the program, Merle Howard, who would give a history on the historical Methodist Church. Merle then introduce Buster Bounds, County Historian, who was videoing the program. She next introduced the Methodist Church pastor, Sherry Harding. Merle stated that much of history of the Church had been compiled by Juanice Powell. The Church is in the Eastern District of Texas Conference and all the architectural elements of the building points up to our Heavenly Father, the gothic windows, high pitched room, the steeple, and the pews hand made by architect, J.M. Pigg. The present building was built in 1897 after a storm destroyed the original building. The men of the church cut cypress trees in the Sabine River bottom and hauled by mule drawn wagons. These trees were cut into 18-inch block from which shingles were cut to roof the building by using a drawing knife. The roof and steeple were braced with enough timber, it was said to build a house. The finial on the steeple was made from the end of a large timber which extends downward into the steeple, some eight or 10 feet. Lightning struck the steeple in 1973 and again in 1985. After this the steeple was top with copper to help prevent future strikes. In the 1970’s the rails surrounding the altar and pulpit were redone. Until that time there was only one podium and it stood in the center of the floor. A new pulpit was built to match the original by John Doggett. Mr. Doggett and John Howard rearranged the rails as they are now. The original flooring was replaced under the direction of James Powell. The flooring was laid from ash, hickory, maple, oak, persimmon, sassafras, and walnut timbers and was left unstained after it was recently refinished. In 2009 the foundation of the steeple was found to be in a weakened state. As the bell in the steeple weights nearly 1000 pounds the bell wasn’t rung for nearly a year. After the steeple foundation was repaired the bell now rings in each Sunday morning service. In 2013 the painting “Easter Morn” by Fredrick W. Cole of Canterbury, England was cleaned. The painting was presented to the church by N.O. Thomas in the 1970’s. It took Beth Crafts over a year to clean the painting. Ms Howard shared with the group that no church would be complete without the faithful members dedicated to the history and restoration of the building. The Shelbyville Methodist Church of Shelbyville claims that it was organized in 1825. Tradition holds the first church service held in Shelbyville was in 1825 by “Brother” James English. Another early preacher was Henry Stevenson who was there from 1834-1836. William C. Crawford came in 1836 and added 200 souls to the membership of the Church. Teachers had a great part in the formation of the early church. A young lady from New York answered an ad for a teaching position in Melrose, Texas. This was the future wife of W.C. Huntington, Mary. She helped organize the first Sunday school program, the Women’s Society, and the Juvenile Society which was the forerunner to the Methodist Youth Fellowship program. Mr. Huntington died in 1864 leaving Mary with 2 sons. Mary Huntington died in 1911 and her portrait is in the history room of the church. |
Memorial Donations
Robbie Mae Hudson Still
Dorothy Jane Hudson Lynch
Donated by
Donated by
Charlene Kraemer Charlene Kraemer
Margaret A. Nix Warren
Pam & Terry Bailey
Donated by
Donated by
Carolyn & Darnese Parrish J. C. & Venorah McSwain
Pat Tucker
Mitch Menefee
Donated by
Donated by
Marleta Childs
J. C. & Venorah McSwain
Mildred Ashby
Lesa Davis
Donated by
Donated by
J. C. & Venorah McSwain
J. C. & Venorah McSwain
Timpson, Texas The Galveston Dailey News September 1, 1886 Timpson
Timpson, thirty-two miles east of Nacogdoches, is a young
town of a year's growth, and is looked upon as "the future
groats (coins)" of its section, a prophecy not unwarranted
by its present thriving appearance.
Organized twelve months ago, it has already gathered
seven hundred people within its limits and shipped abroad
the following receipts: 2628 bales of cotton, $103,120; 88
cars lumber, $6150; 20,000 pounds’ wool, $2600; making a
total of $117, 089.
From this and other sources was drawn a trade of
$175,000, all lines of business being fully represented
except liquor, which is rigidly excluded from the town.
There are already three churches, a handsome school
building, and a newspaper edited by a brave lady, who buried
her grief's and courageously took up the unfinished duties
left by her murdered husband.
In manufacturing interests, there are two saws mills
and one gin and grist mill combined.
With a tributary territory reaching into the counties
of Shelby, San Augustine, Nacogdoches, Panola and Rusk,
Timpson's prospects as a trade center are very encouraging,
and the chances are that it will one day become the county
seat, the disposition generally being to bring the seat of
justice and the records to accessible points along the
railroad.
Some idea of the faith of the people in the young
town can be had from the fact that property has enhanced 30
per cent in value already, and it is the intention of
prominent business houses with substantial buildings of
brick, material for which is already at hand.
It is the supply depot for several interior points,
among them being San Augustine, Minden, Caledonia, Clayton,
and Center, the county seat.
The country adjacent is already sufficiently populous
to guarantee a good local trade.
they confidently expect to handle from 8000 to 10,000
bales cotton this season.
In addition to its regular exports of pine lumber,
Timpson is experimenting with her find black walnut, several
carloads of which has been shipped North as a test of its
value.
If the experiment proves successful this will become
a profitable industry, as the supply is abundant and easily
marketed.
|