Daingerfield First Methodist Church Daingerfield TX

Our Purpose

To worship God To help people To make disciples of Jesus Christ

Our Vision

Teaching disciples to take the love of Christ out the doors to the streets.

 

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Church Historian - Claudia McGill

HISTORY of the Daingerfield First Methodist Church

The following history was written by Mr. Terrell Connor, Jr. as a part of the homecoming tribute of our church on the 90th Anniversary of the founding of Morris County. The homecoming Sunday that some of these editions were distributed was March 14, 1965.

Since the beginning of time Religion and mankind have moved from the East to the West. So, it was with Texas, the Anglo-American civilization began to cross the Mississippi and into Texas within a few years after the United States purchased the “Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. Boundaries were indefinite and the area North of Cypress was considered a part of the Territory of Louisiana, later Missouri and Arkansas. Red River County, the area North of Cypress from Louisiana on the East West fork of the Trinity, was created by the Republic of Texas in 1838. It was in this area, called the “Sulphur Fork Country”, that William Stevenson and Henry Stephenson of the Arkansas District, Missouri Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, preached in 1817.

At the Twentieth Session (1835) of the Missouri Conference, John H. Carr was appointed to the Sulphur Fork Mission, Arkansas District. The following year Carr reported to the conference that the mission consisted of twelve appointments.

Early in 1836 Texas became a Republic and Arkansas was admitted to the Union of the United States of America. The Methodist Church created a new conference to include all of Arkansas, North Louisiana, Indiana Territory and the “Sulphur Fork Country” to be known as the Arkansas conference.

In February 1837 Rev. E.B. Duncan was transferred from the Washington (Arkansas) Circuit to the Sulphur Fork Circuit. In late September 1837, Rev. Littleton Fowler, missionary to Texas from the Alabama conference, engaged John B. Senton to assist Rev. Duncan on the Sulphur Fork Circuit.

Rev. Jacob Whitesides was appointed pastor of the Sulphur Fork Circuit at the Session of the Conference held in Washington, Arkansas in the fall of 1838. At the Conferences of 1839 and 1840, J.W. P. McKenzie was appointed to the Sulphur Fork Circuit and S. Clark was appointed to the DeKalb Circuit. The Sulphur Fork Circuit now consisted of 24 regular appointments scattered over 300 miles. McKenzie’s mother was an early convert of Francis Asbury, the first General Superintendent of Methodism in America. J.W.P. McKenzie was admitted to the Tennessee Conference Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836 and from 1841 until 1870 operated McKenzie College at Clarksville, Texas. This college has been described as the largest college west of the Mississippi during the era preceding the Civil War. Over 3,300 men and women graduated from McKenzie College during the period of operations.

James Graham was appointed to the Sulphur Fork Circuit at the Conferences of the 1841 and 1842. For the next ten years Rev. Graham, assisted by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Weatherred conducted schools in Clarksville, Daingerfield and Paris. At this time, Daingerfield was the capital of the judicial county of Paschal which included the present counties of Hopkins, Franklin, Titus, Morris, Cass and part of Marion. Rev. William Duke was appointed to the Sulphur Fork Circuit by the Conferences of 1843 and 1844.

Methodism was divided into two great churches, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1844. The Arkansas Conference ceded the Sulphur Fork Country and the Texas conference ceded her northern counties to a new conference known as the East Texas Conference. The East Texas Conference was organized at San Augustine, Texas on January 8, 1845 and reported a membership of 3,450 and 488 black 707 whites and 74 black were transfers from the Arkansas Conference. Job M. Baker, who was born in Maryland in 1794 and admitted to the Ohio Conference in 1818 was appointed to Daingerfield. Baker had fought the Indians under General Harrison at an early age and had been engaged for the Harrison Circuit of the Methodist Church by Littleton Fowler in 1840. The First Session of the East Texas conference was held at Marshall beginning February 4, 1846 with Bishop Soule, presiding, and Robert Crawford, Secretary. Deed records for Morris County refer to a forty-six (46) acre (1846) tract of land near Daingerfield know “…as the campground of the Methodist…”. Titus County was created by Act of the First Legislature of the State of Texas in 1846. Annual conference was held at Clarksville in March 1847, appointments remained the same as the previous year and Daingerfield reported a membership of 221 whites and 27 blacks.

The records of the Seventh Census of the United States (1850), which was the first United States Census of Texas, lists John H. Ord, Preacher, M.E. South, as a resident of Daingerfield.

Rev. W.K. Masten was appointed Pastor and Rev. Robert Crawford, Supernumerary for Daingerfield in Nov. 1850. Crawford, a native of South Carolina, had served as a Private in Robert J. Walder’s Company at the Battle of San Jacinto and the summer previous to his appointment to Daingerfield had represented the East Texas conference at the Second General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

At the Conference of 1854, Rev. A. N. Ross, former Presiding Elder of the Clarksville District, was appointed Pastor at Daingerfield, Marshall District. In 1858 Rev. John Patillo transferred from the Alabama conference and was appointed to Daingerfield.

In 1859 and 1860 Rev. Nathan S. Johnston was appointed to Daingerfield. A few days after the Conference of 1860, which was held at Jefferson, Rev. Johnston died at Daingerfield.

The minutes of the Conferences for the East Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south for the years 1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864 were not printed due to the Civil War.

Rev. Thomas B. Norwood was appointed Pastor at Daingerfield, Jefferson District in 1866. General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was held at New Orleans in 1866. Rev. Enoch Mather Marvin, pastor of the church at Marshall during the war years was elected Bishop; the six months’ probation period for new members of the Church was eliminated; and the pastoral term was increased from two to four years.

In the winter of 1871, Rev. J.H. McLean, a graduate of McKenzie College, and Presiding Elder for this District, held Quarterly Conference at Daingerfield. Some forty-seven years later while writing his “Reminiscences” he recalls the incident. He comments on the cold of the night and the comfortable building occupied by the Church at Daingerfield, of the good stove that heated the building and of the warmth of the fire. He describes the pastor, Rev. Joseph Parker, as “a friend of the children known and loved by them, and by their parents as well…” Rev. Parker was being assisted by a local lay preacher, H.M. Mathis, who was in charge of the Church School… Dr. McLean describes this School as “…an excellent Church School… with desks of white walnut on iron frames graduated to the size of the pupil.” The students were publishing a newspaper “The Classmate” under the supervision of Professor De Lyon, an experienced editor.

On August 20, 1872, The Methodist Episcopal Church, South acquired four (4) acres of land from J. Y. Bradfield “…for love and affection for the church and $10…”. This is known as Bradfield Chapel Methodist Church today. Trustees were: John H. Orr, Charles G. Black, Relius Bridges, Willis Grissom, Eldredge Bell, Joseph Brown and Riley Randall.

Morris County was created by an Act of the State Legislature March 13, 1875, and the Book of Marriage Licenses, Morris County, Texas record that H.M. Mathis, an ordained minister of the Gospel performed marriage ceremonies in Morris County from 1875 through 1878.

An issue of the Christian Advocate a Methodist Publication printed a memo from Rev. J.W. Lively, Daingerfield September 25, 1883 received into the Church eighty conversions, fifty accessions, total one hundred and thirty (130).

The Rev. Lealeander L. Pickett, noted evangelist of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was appointed to Daingerfield in 1884. Rev. James W. Hervey (licensed to preach at Bradfield Chapel about 1900) reports that Rev. Pickett wrote and published several books and songs… one of these books “Leaves from the Tree of Lift” was written and published in Daingerfield about 1888.

The Rev. W. J. Orr was pastor of the Daingerfield Church in 1893 when the present Church lot was purchased from S. J. and S. A. Cramer for $255.00.

Rev. Orr was followed by Rev. Owens for two years and the Rev. Carr for the years 1896 and 1897. The Rev. L. H. McGee, Grandfather of Mrs. Jack Ponder and Mrs. Martha Moore, was our pastor during 1898 and 1899. Rev. McGee served various charges of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South for 37 years.

Following the Galveston storm of 1900, Dr. W. D. Bradfield, pastor of St. John’s Church, Galveston, was appointed by A. W. Chandler to go before the Annual Conferences and Churches to raise money to rebuild Methodism in the stricken city. Dr. Bradfield was a native of Daingerfield and a brother of Mrs. Woodie B. Irvin and Mr. J. Y. Bradfield.

The present Texas Conference is a coalition of the 1840 Texas Conference and the East Texas Conference of 1844. The first session of this conference was held at Crockett beginning December 3, 1902 with Bishop E. R. Hendrix, presiding. Delegates to Annual Conference, both lay and clerical were elected for the district instead of by Charge as we do today. Delegates included B.C. Ansley, Queen City; T.A. Fuller, New Boston; and J. H. Snipes of Douglasville. John S. Mathis of the East Texas Conference was reappointed pastor of Daingerfield and also Chairman of the Board of Church Extension for the term 1902-1906. The Daingerfield Circuit reported 2 Sunday Schools, 9 Officers and Teachers, 100 Scholars. Paid: Presiding Elder $65, Pastor $550, Conference Claims $9, Missions, $40; Domestic Missions, $25, Church Extension $13, Education $8, American Bible Society $2; Orphan’s $7; Paine and Laine, $2.50, Minutes $2; Total, $732.50 Cason (Daingerfield Circuit) Paid: Other $400, total, $1,909. Rev. S. N. Allen was pastor at Daingerfield from 1904 to 1908 and Rev. Treadwell in 1909.

Rev. J. A. Moody was pastor in 1909 and 1910 and Rev. A. N. Goforth in 1911. Rev. C. H. Adams was pastor 1912 through 1915, when he was succeeded by Rev. L. H. Mathison who served through 1912. Rev. Howell was pastor in 1920. Rev. Hans B. Smidt was appointed to Daingerfield in the fall of 1920 and stayed four years. He was followed by Rev. R. E. Beaird for the next four years. In 1926, during the tenure of Rev. Beaird, the frame edifice built some thirty years earlier was torn down and a brick structure erected for a Sanctuary and Classrooms. This building was dedicated by Bishop Sam R. Hay in 1928. The grand Piano in our present Sanctuary was purchased by the Missionary Society during this period. The ladies raised $900 for the purchase of this piano by taking turns as Sexton of the Church. This Sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1935 and seven men, led by Professor Speed, hoisted the piano above their heads and stepping over the tops of the pews, with embers falling around them, carried the piano to safety. The piano also escaped the fire of 1950 as it was in the Education Building at the time.

Rev. J. M. Ball was appointed pastor of our Church in November 1928 and served two years. The present parsonage was built during Rev. Ball’s tenure. The previous parsonage, a two-story building, was supposed to have contained some of the lumber from an earlier Church building which was located at the corner of Lamar and King Street near the Old Town Square.

Rev. Stewart O’Dell was appointed pastor in November 1930 and served one year. He was followed by Rev. Reed who also served one year.

Rev. A. A. Rider was Pastor November 1932 through November 1936. In December 1935, the sanctuary was destroyed by fire. Church services were conducted in the Morris County Courthouse until the Sanctuary was replaced in 1936. Rev. Bernard Hatch was pastor November 1936 through November 1938. During Rev. Hatch’s tenure the Church at Iron Bluff (Lone Star) was built.

Rev. H. C. Willis was pastor November 1938 through November 1940. Mrs. Willis died during Rev. Willis’ second year at Daingerfield and Rev. Willis placed a marble Baptismal Fount at the altar where Mrs. Willis celebrated her last Communion. This Baptismal Fount was destroyed in the Sanctuary fire of 1950. Rev. J. Harvey Carlin was appointed Pastor in November 1940 and served three years. Rev. A. C. Bell was pastor of the church November 1943 through November 1945. During his tenure, the present Chimes system was purchased. Rev. M. M. Davis was Pastor November 1945 through November 1946 and was followed by Rev. H.V. Watts who served until May 1947 when the Conference year was changed to June through May.

Rev. Leo Hopkins served as pastor June 1947 through May 1950. During his tenure as Pastor the Children’s Building was erected. Rev. Jewel Strong served as Pastor June 1950 through May 1954. During the first year of his ministry, our second Church fire occurred. The Present Sanctuary and Educational Building were erected and furnished in 1951 and 1952.

Rev. John Lockhart began his four-year tenure at Daingerfield in June 1954. At the fourth quarterly conference of 1958, his son Richard Glen Lockhart, and Larry Maxell were licensed to preach.

Rev. Francis Fischer was Pastor from June 1958 until May 1961. During his tenure the North side of the lot was purchased. Rev. Fischer was followed by Rev. Ferris W. Norton for two year. During Rev. Norton’s ministry, Ronny Wallace was licensed to preach.

During the period that the above history was written, The Rev. Alfred I. Doss was pastor of our church. Rev. Doss came to Daingerfield from the Little Rock Conference in Arkansas as did some of the earlier pastors. Michael Campbell was licensed to preach in 1964, during the second year of Rev. Doss’ tenure.

The above history is a part of the history of our church itself. It was written by Mr. Terrell Connor, Jr. as a part of the homecoming tribute of our church on the 90th Anniversary of the founding of Morris County. The homecoming Sunday that some of these editions were distributed among the congregation was March 14, 1965. The majority of these were sent to the congregation.