Diary of a Frontier Preacher
Rev. Walter Smith South, Methodist Circuit Rider
Walter Smith South, a Methodist minister, came from Kentucky to Texas about 1858, and ministered in a number of counties in the north central area of the state. These extracts from his journal cover his time spent in Ellis County, and depict some of the hardships and setbacks this young man endured - especially with regard to transportation.
Oct. 20, 1860 Traveled 15 miles to Bro. Hawkins's, head of Waxahachie Creek, where we were greeted with a cordial welcome. Took dinner and then traveled some 15 miles to Bro. Brack's where we found comfortable lodgings although Bro. Brack was not at home.
Oct. 21, 1860 Went to Bro. Whitworth's meeting on Chambers Creek near Stokes's Bridge, Ellis County. Put up our horses at Bro. Carr Forest's and walked some 300 yards to church. Found Bros. Whitworth and Odom in attendance. Bro. Odom preached. I tried to preach at night.
Oct. 23, 1860 - Visited several families. Took dinner at Bro. Zollicoffer's and went in p.m. with Bro. Cox to Bro. McDaniel's. Found them all well. Had quite a pleasant visit with Miss Lizzie.
Oct. 26, 1860 - Went to Waxahachie; took dinner with T. Whitworth at Dr. Briggs's. Bought of Angelman a cloth coat $14.00. Returned to Bro. Sims.
Oct. 27 - Spent the day riding a young horse which Bro. Sims had proposed letting me ride to Conference as my young mare was very much reduced. The horse was quite wild, so that I had some trouble with him.
Oct. 29 - Went to Bro. Ferris's to dinner, then to Bro. Rogers. Called a short time at Mr. Howell's whose wife had been raised in my native Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Found Bro. F. P. Ray in good health except his lungs were somewhat injured by his last year's labor. He thinks he will not be able to take work another year. He has labored faithfully and not without success and had received $100.00. His claim was $350 - a sad proof that there is great want of vital Godliness among people. Found Bro. J. G. Johnson P. E. He had just closed his labors of four years on the Fort Worth District. His health is not good. But leaves his work with the prayers and good wishes of all. Old Father and Mother Rogers still in health and prosperity. May God abundantly reward them for their kindness to the Methodist preachers.
Oct. 30 - Returned to Bro. Sims. Traveled several miles in buggy with Bro. Johnson. In the evening put the young horse I was breaking in the buggy and worked him some, but he seemed quite awkward and wild.
Nov. 1 - Set out for Conference on horseback, leaving my mare and boggy in care of Bro. Sims. Called at Milford and took dinner with Bro. Long. In the evening traveled about 12 miles to Bro. Graham's on White Rock Creek.
Nov. 3 - Set out again for Conference. Took dinner with my old friend Wm. Polk. Called a short time at Bro. Mose French's and them went to Cos.[Cousin] 'Lias Lee's. Found him quite ill.
Nov. 6 - Went to Springfield to the Presidential election. It was astonishing to see with what solemnity the people approach the polls and cast in their votes. their hearts burdened with the thought that this may be the last time that the suffrages of free and united people will ever be exercised in the selection of a Chief Magistrate to preside over this great republic, the glory of Columbia's land! Took dinner with Bro. R. Long and went to Bro. J. McGuire's in p.m.
Nov. 14 - Our Conference opened at 9 a.m., Bishop Andrew in the chair. I passed my examination in the class of the fourth year. Heard Bro. B. F. Perry preach the Conference sermon at night.
Nov. 21 - Conference session finished up business. All hearts beat with anxiety to know our appointment for another year. At night the Rev. Bishop Andrew read out our appointments, giving us advice and instruction as how we should labor for the next year.
Dec .17, 1860. Traveled some 8 miles; took dinner with Bro. W. Caruthers, then traveled some 11 miles to cousin Lias[Elias] Lee's [in Navarro County]. Found him and his family up, though not well.
Dec. 18 - It was raining in the morning though I had traveled some six miles to Brother Mose French's. Here I stopped and preached in the neighborhood at night to a small but attentive congregation.
Dec. 19. Rode 18 miles. Called and took dinner at Bro. Steel's. Went to Milford in p.m. Put up with Cato, took supper and then went to Bro. Burnet's.
Dec. 20 - Visited some of my old friends. Took dinner at Bro. Cal. Zollicoffer's, then rode some 10 miles to Bro. Nic Sims.
Dec. 21. Spent the day reading Dodridge's Rose and Progress. It was quite cold. Found that my mare was gone. Bro. Sims had turned her out with his horses some three weeks ago, and some three or four days ago she left his horses and is gone, we know not where. We looked for her some.
Dec, 22 - Spent some time reading and some time hunting Fannie
Dec. 25 - Rode the forenoon hunting Fannie. Took dinner at Bro. Sim's then went to Bro. Brooks.
Dec. 26 - Bro. B. and I went out to hunt Fannie. Rode some 6 or 7 miles; found her and returned to Bro. B's to dinner. My mare was so bad off with distemper that I scarcely knew her when I found her. In the evening I rode with several persons and had a fine time chasing mule rabbits.
Dec. 27 - Went over to Bro. Dunaway's for dinner. Left Fannie in Bro. Brooks' pasture. Borrowed a pony and went to Bro. W. Richardson's. Had a pleasant time.
Jan. 1, 1861 - Went to Waxahachie. took dinner at Bro. Rodgers. Heard some news from frontier. Capt. Ross had recently overtaken a party of fifteen Indians, killed thirteen and took two prisoners. Also took from them a white woman that they had captured. Passed by a Mormon's house this morning who has recently sold out to move to Salt Lake. Poor self-deluded mortal. Went to Judge Brack's in p.m. My mare seems to be improving.
Jan. 4 - Spent part of day reading and part breaking a young horse so that I might have one to ride while my own is not fit for use.
Jan. - 12 - Went with F. P. Ray and Bro. Lambdin to Waxahachie to attend Q. M. [Quarterly Meeting]. Bro. Lambdin, P. E. [Presiding Elder] preached at 11 a.m. Took dinner at Bro. Marchbank's; attended Q. Conf.[Quarterly Conference] in p.m. and at night hard Bro. J. P. Stanfield; a pretty good discourse. Lodged for the night at Bro. Rogers' hotel. Bro R. just returned at dark with a number of rangers from a campaign on our frontier against the Indians. Capt. Rogers is commissioned by the Governor to raise a company and range for three months.
Jan. 14 - Spent the forenoon in company with Veal, Lambdin and Stanfield. Took dinner at Bro. Marchbank's; returned to hotel and spent p. m. writing to Wm. South, my nephew at Eutaw, Texas and my beloved Mary. [his "promised bride."]
Jan. 19 - Went to Lancaster in Dallas County to see if I could get a school. Found they had a teacher. Took dinner with Bro. Moffet at hotel.
Jan. 20 - Went to Bro. John Bell's who lived some half mile across the field from his brother. Had a pleasant time. Found the brothers Bell good zealous Methodists.
Jan. 21 - Returned to Bro. Rogers where the Methodist preachers have always found a comfortable home.
Jan. 22 - Went to Waxahachie, took dinner at Bro. R's hotel, then went to Mr. Hardeman's on Chamber's Creek, 13 miles to see about getting a school.
Jan. 26 - Went with Mr. Hardeman to Waxahachie. Capt. Rogers organized a company of rangers for the frontier, to march next Monday for the frontier near Belknap. Took dinner at Bro. R's Hotel. Went down to Bro. Roger's at night.
Jan. 30 - Went to Waxahachie. Bought a fine coat $25, vest $4, and several smaller items. Came off indebted to Bro. Clift $30, and set out to see my fair one to consummate our union. Travelled 12 miles to Bro Car Forest's.
Feb. 2 - The wind was high, what is called a strong norther. I greased my buggy and fixed for my journey to Dresden, and lo, I was informed that my mare was out and gone. She got out of the stable. So I set out in haste on the hunt for Fannie. Rode in the cold wind till dark to no purpose. Here was the beginning of sorrows. My mare was gone, no telling where - my buggy loaded with baggage and I on my way to get married. [He had proposed to Miss Mary Burleson of Eutaw, Texas in December 1861 - his bride and his brother, who was to perform the ceremony, were anxiously awaiting his arrival]. May the Great God as a Kind Father, watch over my interests and give me grace to be resigned.
Feb 3, 1861 - Set out on the hunt for my mare, as I conceived it to be a case equivalent to pulling the ox out of the ditch. Rode some 22 miles to Bro. Rogers; heard nothing from her.
Feb. 4 - returned to Bro. McDaniel's; heard nothing still from my mare.
Feb. 5 - Rode all day. Went down Mill Creek, and up Chambers Creek. Late in the evening at Mr. Watson's mill I heard from my mare. She had come here on Saturday, in consequence of the creek being in her way she stopped till Sunday night at dark, which was the last they had seen of her. I went to Bro. Cobb's and stopped for the night.
Feb. 6 - Went to Rogers again; heard nothing from her.
Feb. 7 - Returned to McDaniel's; heard nothing from her. Then went to Bro. Cobb's.
Feb. 8 - Went again to Rogers looking the prairies and little creeks all between. Returned to Bro. Wesley Richardson's.
Feb. 9 - Went to Bro. Dunaway's, where Fannie had run on a wheat pasture for some two weeks. Heard nothing from her. Then went to Bro. Nic Sims, where Fannie had also run on a wheat pasture for some weeks. Heard nothing from her still....
Feb. 10 - Went down the Creek to Mr. Henderson's, 10 or 12 miles. Took dinner and got Bro. Cobb and Mr. Henderson to go with me, and we hunted out the bottom for some miles to no purpose. Went to Bro. Cobb's for the night, much discouraged. I came near giving over the search, but having no money to boy another horse, and thinking how long it would probably take me to earn another, I determined to spend another week hunting. On last Monday I wrote to my intended informing her of my misfortune. Today, which is Monday again, I have no good news for her and yet I must write. Went to Mr. Hardeman's at night.
Feb. 12 - Went to Bro. Car Forest's to put my letter in the office, then went to Bro. John Sims to hunt my mare. Took dinner and then went to Mr. Henderson's.
Feb. 13 - Went down the creek, searched out the bottom for several miles. Lodged for the night with Mr. N. P. Rankin. Was very kindly entertained.
Feb. 14 - Went through the prairie in search of Fannie, on Onion Creek, and Long Branch, and over near Waxahachie. Called for the night at Bro. Delet Rogers'. Was kindly entertained. Here is the [first] place any one has mentioned giving me assistance. Bro. Delet said he thought that if I should ultimately fail to get my nag he thought that the brethren ought to make up money and buy me another. This kind suggestion gave me some encouragement, and I felt much better.
Feb. 15 - Went down Waxahachie as far as Mr. Boring's and then returned to Bro. Richardson's. Bro. Richardson went a little further than Bro. Rogers. He not only proposed to assist me in buying a horse but actually gave me 5 dollars and proposed in case I should not find my mare to attend to it, and make up money to buy another, if I would return to his house when I finished my search. These kind friends gave me much comfort.
Feb 17 - Went to Bro. Brooks in the morning; met with Bro. W. G. Veal, who also had lost a good horse. A friend let him out and he had eloped. Went to church. Heard Bro. Veal preach a good sermon.
Feb. 20 - Went to Bro. Car Forrest's, bought a pony at $60, on a credit. Took dinner and then went to McDaniel's where I had left my buggy since my mare got away from me.
Feb. 21 - Harnessed my pony and hitched him in the buggy, although he never had been hitched before. Traveled some 20 miles to Bro. Mose French's, Navarro County.
Feb. 22 - Spent the day reading and writing. Wrote a number of advertisements for my mare and sent them to different places; to Bro. Manley, Johnson County; Bro. Wright, Palo Pinto County and to Bro. Vannoy, Young County.
Feb. 27 - Went to Mr. W. Clary's then to Mr. Elliot's. Here I found Bro. Quillion just about dismissing his school as he said in consequence of ill health. He at once agreed for me to take charge of the school upon condition that I would pay him for the chairs which he had purchased.....
March 17 - [Navarro County] Had altogether a pleasant time with my old friends today. But oh, how I long to see my loved Mollie. Found the people generally knowing of the fact that I was engaged and soon to be married so that I was somewhat embarrassed.
March 19 - Set out in company with Bro. Cox to get Bro. Littlepage, P. C. for Springfield, to go down and perform the marriage ceremony for me but he was not in nor was Bro. Crabb so we went on down without them. Arrived at Mrs. B's [Burleson] just at night....found my brother here and things in readiness.
March 20 - Went to Marlin with Bro. J. Welch, my future brother-in- law, to get my license.
March 21 - Went to J. Welch's, spent the day; returned in the evening and was married at early candlelighting to Miss Mary A. Burleson by my brother, H. W. South. Bro. Cox was my attendant and Miss Bettie Burleson was the other attendant.
March 22 - Got $30 from my brother and set out with my own dear Mollie for Pin Oak where I had been teaching school. It was a sad leaving with family weeping to see Mollie forsake the parental roof and go a homeless wanderer with an itinerant minister. May God bless the bereft and oh, that Mollie and I may have grace to live so that we may ever enjoy His smiles.
March 26 - We set out for Bro. Car Forest's after Fannie, the young mare which had got away from me. We traveled some 12 miles to Cos. Lee's where we spent a pleasant p.m.
March 27 - we set out again and reached Bro. C. Forest's just after dark. Here we truly were made comfortable and happy. Mollie was perfectly delighted with Sister Forest. We found Fannie (my mare) also in good plight, but I had to pay $10 for finding her, which Bro. F. had been so kind to advance for me to the gentleman who found her. I also paid Bro. Forest $15 toward the pony I had bought of him. [Other entries concern his stay in Navarro County where he taught school].
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