Chapter L: T. GRAY, Mayor of Jefferson City

A. G. CLOPTON, M. D., President Chamber of Commerce.
CAPT. J. M. DeWARE, Chief of Police, Jefferson.
MASON & CAMPBELL, Lawyers.
MOSELEY & SPARKS, Attorneys and Land Agents.
CRAWFORD & CRAWFORD, Attorneys at Law.
EPPERSON & MAXEY, Attorneys at Law.
PENN & TODD, Lawyers.
M. F. MOORE, Attorney at Law.
REEVES & WORD, Attorneys at Law.
THOMAS J. HUDSON, Attorney at Law.
R. DeJERNETT, Physician and Surgeon.
L. S. RAYFIELD, Physician and Surgeon.
G. H. WOOTTEN, Physician.
S. EASON, Physician and Surgeon.
A. P. BROWN, Physician and Surgeon.
A. A. TERHUNE, Physician and Surgeon.
NATIONAL BANK, W. M. Harrison, President.
CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, W. Q. Bateman, President Jno. M. Lewis,
Cashier.
JAMES ARBUCKLE & CO., Bankers.
J. A. NORSWORTHY & COX, Bankers.
ERASTUS JONES, Banker.
GRAHAM & TAYLOR, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants.
GOYNE, HARPER & MURPHY, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission
Merchants.
A. GILHAM, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants.
MIDDLEBROOKS & WALL, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants.
A. C. ALLEN, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchant.
RUSSELL, RAINEY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants.
ELLIS BAGBY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants.
BATEMAN & BRO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants.
BOGEL & RIDDLE, Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants.
NORWOOD & SCOTT, Commission Merchants.
S. FRANKLE, Commission Merchant.
BELL & ROBINSON, Commission Merchants, and Real Estate Agents.
TORRANS & RIVES, Commission Merchants and Cotton Buyers.
B. J. TERRY, Cotton Factor.
WAYLAND & WHATLEY, Wholesale Grocers.
JG FELLNER, JR., Wholesale Grocer.
COLLINS, EPPERSON & EZELL, Wholesale Grocers.
T. J. ROGERS, Wholesale Grocer.
BARNS & ELLINGTON, Wholesale Grocers.
F. ROBINSON, Wholesale Grocer.
F. C. BAKER, Wholesale Grocer.
JNO. A. FIELDER, Grocer and Importer of Fancy Goods.
J. M. MURPHY, Grocer and General Merchandise.
O. C. HERRENKIND, Retail Grocer.
NANCE & MODRALL, Retail Grocers.
E. MARX, General Merchandise, Wholesale.
P. ELDRIDGE & BRO., General Merchandise.
MOORING & LYON, General Merchandise.
K. MEYER, General Merchandise.
BIRGE, NICKOLS & CO., Dry Goods, Wholesale.
JAMES HOBAN, Dry Goods.
F. A. SCHLUTER & SON, Dry Goods, Staple and Fancy.
SIMS & NORRIS, Dry Goods.
S. W. STONE, Hardware Merchant.
JOHN C. KOLTER & CO., Hardware Merchants.
R. BALLAUF & CO., Hardware Merchants.
BONEY & BROOKS, Druggist, Wholesale and Retail.
E. W. TAYLOR, Druggist and Bookseller.
W. J. SEDBERRY, Druggist and Bookseller.
BRADFORD, BRIDGE & CO., Furniture and Carriages.
J. BRUCKMULLER, Furniture Dealer.
W. H. WYMAN, Furniture Manufacturer and Dealer.
RUFUS MUSE & CO., Wholesale Dealer in Liquors, Tobacco and Cigars.
TAYLOR & PINSON, Agricultural Implements and Machinery.
R. MAN WARING, Real Estate Owner.
DOPPLEMAYER & EBERSTADT, Real Estate Owners.
NEY & BRO., Real Estate Owners.
V. H. CLAIRBORNE, Real Estate Owner.
WARD TAYLOR, Real Estate Owner.
W. C. BAKER, Real Estate Owner.
L. MOODY, Real Estate Owner.
R. TOWERS, Property Owner.
T. G. ANDERSON, General Insurance Agent.
COTTON BROS., General Insurance Agents.
FRANK O. SETH, General Agent, Universal Life Insurance Company.
GILBERT & CO., Agents for Capitalists and Manufacturers.
J. A. H. HOSACK, Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker.
W. H. JOHNSON, District Clerk and Notary Public.
W. E. KNEELAND, Notary Public.
EDWARD GUTHERIDGE, Deputy District Clerk and Notary Public.
J. OPPENHEIMER, Recorder and Collector of City of Jefferson.
S. A. THOMPSON, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer and Dealer.
LAWRENCE & REATON, Crockery, China and Glassware.
J. H. CARLIN, Merchant Tailor.
HUGO FOX, Manufacturer of Candies.
J. B. TULLIS, Surgeon Dentist.
ADAM STOLL, Butcher.
G. A. KELLY, Proprietor Kelly’s Foundry.
MORRIS, McKEOWN & CO., Proprietors of Foundry and Machine Manufactory.
E. W. MORTEN, Proprietor “National Cotton Compress.”
TRICE STEWART & CO., Proprietors Jefferson Planing Mill.
J. B. LIGON, Building Contractor.
CRUMP & HUNSUCKER, Builders.
C. F. L. SMITY, Civil and Mechanical Engineer.
J. M. TUCKER, Alderman.
GEO. W. ROBERTS, Supt. Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
CAPT. W. H. COIT, Principal Coit’s Military and Commercial Academy.
ROOTS & HYNSON, Railroad Contractors.
JEFFERSON DEMOCRAT, Miller, McEachern and Alexander Proprietors, J. B.
McEachern Editor.
“JEFFERSON TIMES,” R. W. Loughery, Editor and Proprietor.
J. C. ROGERS & CO., Printers, Lithographers, Wholesale and Retail
Books, Stationery, Blank Books, etc.

ARTIFICIAL GAS

In making history—the first artificial gas plant in Texas started at Jefferson, the gas being made from rich pine and pine knots, which were cut and placed in iron drums called “retorts.” These retorts were about seven feet long, tapering off at one end like the mouth of a jug. The bottom was opened with a door which securely fastened the pine inside. The retorts were subject to intense heat; the steamlike substance which exuded from the pine during the heating process escaped through an opening in the top and into the iron mains or pipes, through which it was conveyed over the business section of town—to ornamental hollow posts, on top of which were large globes. These were lighted at night and turned off in the mornings. Water often accumulated in the pipes and a negro would remove it with a hand pump—this frequently took most of the day.

The gas was forced through the mains by a large drum affair raised during the day and at night gradually sinking, its weight forcing the gas through the pipes. The large foundation upon which this drum rested is still standing near the business part of town, and several of the “retorts” may be seen in various parts of town. These “retorts” have been donated for war purposes.

Mr. J. M. Thomas, known as “Gas House Thomas,” was sole owner and operator.

JEFFERSON HAD FIRST ARTIFICIAL ICE

Tradition, and a sworn statement, before a notary public, by the late Mr. B. J. Benefield, an honored citizen of Jefferson, gives to Jefferson, Texas, the honor of having had within its city limits the first artificial ice plant in the United States and many say in the world.

Old settlers claim that it was in operation in the late 60’s but Mr. Benefield places the date at 1874 or ’75 because he returned to Marion County from Red River County in 1874 and began working for Boyle and Scott, as the first dispenser of artificial ice, using his own wagon and teams, and sold the ice for ten cents per pound. He states that the ice was made in cakes four or five feet long, two or three feet in width and one inch thick.

The plant continued in operation about one year, when Mr. Boyle, who was the originator of the idea that artificial ice could be made, went north in search of some one to finance the making of the product.

Mr. J. E. Hasty says that Mr. Boyle raised money before he went north, to finance his project but he was never heard of after he left and his partner, Henry Scott, went into bankruptcy, while someone else profited by their pioneer efforts.

Old citizens of the state say that the plant was moved to Harrisburg, Texas, near Houston, at the time Mr. Boyle went north.

One incident remaining clear to Mr. Benefield was that one of his customers, a prominent citizen, bought one thousand pounds of ice and placed it in his cistern so that he and his family might have an unlimited supply of ice water through the summer. However, the experiment failed, of course, and the man remained a daily customer of Mr. Benefield.

It was Mr. Benefield’s understanding that the machine was patented in the U. S. Patent office.

The gas used in the manufacturing of the ice was made at the plant and the machinery was run by steam power. The old site of the plant is within the City Limits, just beyond Willard Hill on Highway 49.

Mr. Henry Scott, one of the founders, has a son and daughter now living in Dallas.

At a meeting of the Southwestern Ice Association on December 3rd., 1926, Mr. F. R. Senor presented a motion, which was accepted by the Association, the erection of a memorial in Jefferson to the honor of the man and place where the first artificial ice was manufactured in the U. S. However, that monument has never been erected.

CHURCHES

EPISCOPAL CHURCH

On June 8th., 1860 the friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church held a meeting in the Cumberland Presbyterian place of worship for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal congregation. Bishop Alex Gregg, D. D. was called to the chair and E. G. Benners appointed secretary, the Rev. E. A. Wagner being present, the secretary read the articles of association which had been prepared in accordance with the canons.

Signed by:

E. G. Benners
Helen Benners
Abbie Foscue
Amanda M. Winslow
Adeline G. Pitkins
W. I. C. Rogers
I. Winslow
Orville Yerger
Virginia Yerger
A. M. Walker
Jennie E. Duke
Alexander Starr
Emmer Charlotte Cox
Martha Murphy
Virginia Todd
H. Witherspoon

Services were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Freemans Hall, and private homes until 1886 when the new church was completed. Bishop Gregg was the first clergyman to preach in the new church and Rev. E. G. Benners the first minister in charge.

Members of the first vestry were: E. C. Benners, Orville Yerger, John Winslow, Dr. A. M. Walker, Dr. W. C. Rogers, Dr. H. Witherspoon, H. H. Black, and Judge W. S. Todd.

At one time the church was badly damaged by storm and Dr. D. Guinn, who was minister in charge at the time, remodeled the church using the old building as a foundation. It was made into a beautiful brick veneer building.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson was organized between 1846 and 1850 by Rev. Solomon Awalt, who lived many years in the Pine Tree neighborhood, three miles from Longview, Texas, an old fashioned Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He was a German, a diligent bible student and a strong theologian.

The first church was a small frame building located on the corner of Line and Jefferson Streets. In 1873 the brick church was built by Mr. John Ligon, on Jefferson Street. It was at that time the finest Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Texas. Dr. N. P. Modrall was the first minister in charge of the New Church. The 1875 general assembly met in the church. After the assembly the railroads of Texas gave all the delegates from other states a free excursion over Texas, visiting Dallas, Houston, Galveston and other places of interest. This beautiful church is still standing and in constant use. It is known as the Presbyterian Church U. S. A.

The Presbyterians Manse of today known to many of the “old timers” as “The old General Rogers Place” is said to be the oldest home in Jefferson, and is in good repair today. At the corner of this ancient building is found an old iron post, with a large wheel design near the center, which is as placed there in the early days of Jefferson. Then the most direct route to the boat landing was along that street, turning this corner and passing down Delta Street, the oxen trains cut the corner so close that some protection had to be given the property. And today the post hangs far out over the street as a result of the oxen running too close.

Most of this information was given by Rev. W. B. Preston, who served the church twice, from June 1888 to December 1890, and from February 1910 to December 1911.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The 24th. day of March 1855 the first Baptist Church of Jefferson was organized. The first addition to the church after it organized was William I. Bateman in June 1855. The deed to the church lots where the church now stands were recorded Oct. 11th. 1860.

The first conference after the war was Jan. 28th., 1866 with Rev. H. T. Buckner presiding. Rev. Buckner was known later as “Father Buckner” to his 800 orphan children, who loved him devotedly. He made Buckner’s Orphans Home the largest and most noted in Texas. W. E. Penn and wife came to Jefferson from Lexington, Tenn. and on February 24th., 1886 joined the first Baptist church. Major Penn immediately became superintendent of the Sunday School, continuing in this capacity for ten years. He was known in 1877 as “The famous state Evangelist of Texas”. In 1866 a committee was appointed to solicit contributions to build a church. W. E. Penn and B. J. Terry were the first building committee, this resulted in the brick edifice which is today standing on Polk Street. The church was dedicated Dec. 4th. 1869. Rev. D. B. Hale (grandfather of Jim, Miss May Belle Hale and Mrs. Oralee Hale Miller) assisting in the dedication service.

In 1870 a pipe (imitation) organ was installed costing $1,000.00. The organ remained in use for fifty years. Rev. C. P. McCloud was the first pastor of the First Baptist church in 1869, while the Rev. D. B. Culbertson, father of Col. D. B. Culbertson, acted as pastor while the church was using the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in which to worship. Dr. Tucker was pastor when the church was first organized and he received $200 for his services during the year of 1855. The Southern Baptist convention met with this church May 7th., 1874 and was the largest ever held up to this time and first to meet in the state of Texas. Over 1000 attended. Many distinguished divines were present including Dr. A. J. Broadus, Dr. J. R. Graves, P. H. Mall, J. L. Burrour, W. W. Laundrum and many others. W. W. Laundrum, Jr. was ordained as a minister during the convention. His father delivered the charge. The convention held until May 12th. when the visitors were taken on a free tour of the state of Texas, through the courtesy of the Texas and Pacific Railroad.

In January, 1877, J. H. Rowell, Sr., was elected superintendent of the Sunday School, a position he held about thirty years.

Rev. S. A. Hayden was pastor of the First Baptist Church for five years, he was given leave of absence in 1882 to visit Europe and the Holy Land. In 1883 he resigned to take possession of the Texas Baptist, at Dallas. Dr. L. J. Anderson, father of Mrs. Jodie Rowell, was another much beloved pastor during the latter years of the church. Plans are at present being rushed to repair the building, preserving the original exterior architecture.

JEFFERSON METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH

Pastors

The first Methodist preacher to be appointed to Jefferson was the Reverend James W. Baldridge. The year was 1844. That Methodist preachers had preached in Jefferson prior to this date is very likely. The great and wide-spread Harrison Circuit covered this country and, in all likelihood, the modest settlement which sprang up at the head of navigation was a preaching point for the circuit rider.

The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had joined the conference in 1843. He served Jefferson for three years the records state. Jefferson was in the East Texas Conference as an appointment the first year that conference was formed from the older Texas Conference. Later in 1867, the church was in the North Texas Conference, and in still more recent years, the territory came back into the Texas Conference.

At the close of the year 1845 the church reported 50 white and 3 colored members. The custom of having the slaves join the church was continued through Civil War days. By 1845 a number of churches had grown up through the immediate country about Jefferson, so the work was listed as the Jefferson Circuit with the town as the principal church. The membership reported that year was 508 whites and 89 colored.

A complete record of all pastors for Jefferson from 1855 to the present day is preserved. The names of some from the years 1847 to 1855 are missing.

The Famous Bell

Legend held dear in Jefferson says that in the year 1854 the famous Meneley Bell Foundry of Troy, N. Y., was called upon to cast a silver bell for the Methodist Church. To assure a silvery tone, 1500 Mexican silver dollars were raised and sent to the foundry to be melted down and cast into the bell. That bell hangs in the belfry of the Methodist Church today.

Some of the present citizens of Jefferson tell that the 1500 silver dollars were the gift of one man, famous and beloved in this section, Mr. F. A. Schluter, and that the date was 1858 since that is the date on the bell.

The bell was brought by water down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, then back up the Mississippi and Red Rivers to Shreveport and through Caddo Lake and the Cypress to Jefferson.

The Church Buildings

The Methodist Church building entered into the early history of Jefferson. In the early days a private school was taught in the basement. Some existing records of the Jefferson Baptist Church point out that the preaching services of the Baptist were held “in the Methodist Church.”

Possibly in the years of prosperity of the ’50’s a fine brick building is revealed in the remarkable “bird’s-eye-view” picture of Jefferson which is preserved in the Carnegie Library. It took its place with the magnificent structures which had been erected by the Presbyterians and Baptists in this same period—the “fair fifties”. The Methodist building was condemned some fifty years ago, razed and a new wooden structure built, using a part of the original foundation of the brick building. That wooden building is the existing Methodist Church of today. Thus Jefferson Methodism has probably seen three buildings in its over 90 years of history.

Great Meetings

In 1860 the East Texas Conference met in Jefferson on October 24-30. A half dozen young preachers were admitted on trial at this session who were to go out and make history in the state and church. Among these was one, John H. McLean, who served in Jefferson for two years, (being sent to Jefferson in 1863) and who in 1874 and 1875 served as Presiding Elder of the Marshall District, of which Jefferson was a station. He became an influential figure in Texas Methodism and education.

There was excitement in Jefferson and Texas in those October days over the national presidential election. Portents of civil conflicts were plentiful, and when news that Abraham Lincoln had been elected President reached Jefferson during the conference session, many declared that it meant WAR!

When the next session of an Annual Conference met in Jefferson ten years later (1870) Jefferson was in the North Texas Conference, the Civil War having come and gone. But its effects very present. Some of the honored names of 1860 were missing. Among these was the name of Rev. W. B. Hill who was pastor in Jefferson during 1860. He was killed at Fort Donelson in 1862.

Gifts to the Church Now Recalled

Property

The first title to property on which to build a church was granted in 1848. The first church evidently stood in property to which the church did not hold title. Mr. Allen Urquhart “sold” (the $100.00 of the transaction seems to have been given by Mr. Urquhart) to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the town of Jefferson the lot on which the present church stands. Construction of the brick church must have started shortly, for many older residents of Jefferson today state that “the Methodist Church was the first church in town.”

Mrs. Mamie Tullis Smith remembers hearing a former slave of her father tell how her father put him to work wheeling brick and mortar and how tired he became. He spoke, however, of what a great honor to him it was to work on the Methodist Church.

The lots on which the parsonage was later built were acquired in 1866. One lot was purchased fer $100.00 from a Mr. and Mrs. Rooks. The second was “purchased” from Mr. F. A. Schluter for $500.00, the money being given by Mr. Schluter himself. It was this honored resident and pioneer Methodist who served as one of the trustees in 1848 when the church lot was acquired and who gave the whole $1500.00 in Mexican silver dollars to go into the bell. Mr. J. C. Murphy, a wholesaler with a great business, likewise served on this Board of Trustees, and it was he who carried the dollars on a steamer to New Orleans for shipment to New York.

The Gas Heating System

There is a bronze plate hanging on the wall of the church with the following inscription:

THE GAS HEATING EQUIPMENT
IN THIS CHURCH
WAS GIVEN
BY
MISS BERTIE TAYLOR
IN MEMORY OF
HER BROTHER
WARD TAYLOR

On the opposite wall rests this inscription:

THE ELECTRIC FANS
IN THIS CHURCH
WERE GIVEN
BY
D. WURTSBAUGH
IN MEMORY OF
HIS WIFE
MRS. LUVENIA CLEMENTINE WURTSBAUGH

This last year (1935) Miss Bertie Taylor turned over to the church for safe keeping a copy of the “First Directory of the Jefferson Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Jefferson Station, Marshall District, East Texas Conference.” This directory was compiled in 1896 by the following Directory Committee: