Formation of Ellis County Baptist Association
[Source: The History of the Ellis County Baptist Association, A. D. Brooks, 1907]
According to Elder E. C. Leake of Navarro County, before this Association was formed in 1872, there were only twelve Baptist churches in the area comprised of all Ellis County, that part of Dallas County west of the Trinity River, those parts of Johnson and Tarrant Counties south and east of the cross timbers and that part of Navarro County between Trinity River and Chambers' Creek. In addition, only four ordained Baptist preachers lived in this area: D. D. Swindall, Josiah Leake, R. Q. Burnett and F. M. Herring, although there were some active laymen. In order to unite efforts for preaching the gospel, in July 1872 at the General Association meeting in Collin County, a movement was begun to create an association in each district. The Waxahachie Association (Ellis County) was formed in October at Liberty Church, Grove Creek, in Ellis County. Representatives at the first session were:
Lancaster
James A. Lindsay, George White, Wm. Orr, James Rafferty and Elders Josiah
Leake and E. C. Leake.
Johnson Station
Elders J. C. Burnett, J. D. Blanton, C. C. Strahan and G. W. Evans
Prairie Valley
C. H. Patrick, N. V. Lovett and W. D. Vestal
Waxahachie
R. M. Wyatt, W. H. Roberts and E. Finch
Deer Creek
A. S. Clement
Ennis
Elder T. R. Taylor, B. A. Shelton
Little Bethel
Wm. Hinkle, A. A. Hendricks and J. M. Moore
Hopewell
N. C. Clark, J. A. Moore
Rehobeth
W. C. and G. F. Chrisman
Five Mile
Benj. Wilmot
Liberty
J. C. Couch, H. L. Cheney and W. L. Wilson
Pilgrim's Rest
Elder W. J. Priddy
At the 1874 annual meeting, six new churches, Long Branch, Palmer, Prairie Dale, Bristol, Houston Creek (Italy) and Milford joined the Association. Those petitioning for membership in 1875 included Hutchings, Ferris, New Hope and Village Creek. At the 1878 meeting (at Houston Creek [now Italy]) a total of 23 churches was reported, 1316 members, 14 pastors and one missionary. The 1880 meeting was in Waxahachie, with Elder Josiah Leake as moderator. The obituary report at the 1883 meeting mentions his death. At the fifteenth session in 1887, Baylor University and Belton Female College were highly recommended. In 1892, the meeting at Bethel Church ended with a resolution urging Association churches to "take action" concerning the "disturbed condition" of the Ennis Church. [No mention of reason].
Resolution adopted at the 1895 meeting: "....that as a religious body having in view the good and prosperity of our great state, we do heartily commend the course pursued by our Governor Culbertson, for his timely proclamation against the prize fight at Dallas and resolved further that we very much deplore the growing evil in our midst in the frequent Sabbath desecration in various ways, especially in the baseball craze...."
At the 1898 meeting notice was made of the state-wide trouble over educational and mission work which is "paralyzing the churches....pastors being estranged to each over in the discussion of causes of division...." It was noted that the twenty-eighth session in 1900 "ended with more harmony than the two previous ones."
The 1906 session was held in Venus. A notation was made that "since the beginning [of the Association] after a few years all the churches not located in Ellis County went to other organizations and were dropped from the original list ".....now leaving about 35-36 churches in the county working with the Baptist Missionary Association (B.M.A.) while another six or so work with the Convention....and a few which have never affiliated with this Association....we would be glad to know that the time would come when all Baptists could work together...." [It seems that the Ellis County Association changed its affiliation from the Southern Baptist Convention to the Baptist Missionary Association sometimes between 1900-1901.]
Ellis County Baptist Association Churches
Alma: organized in 1888. All records were destroyed by fire in the home of one of its members. At this time [1907] they report eighteen members.
Antioch: once called Burnham, it was organized in February 1877 with fourteen members: J. W. Taylor and wife; T. T. Reynolds and wife, S. A. Blackman and wife, Bill Petty and wife, W. M. Martin and wife, Sister Neal, G. W. Allen and wife, Sister Carrie Foster.
Avalon: located six miles east of Italy, and organized in 1879.
Bell Branch: a station on the railroad between Italy and Maypearl, the church was organized Sept. 3, 1905 with nine members.
Bethany: located eight miles west of Ennis, this church was organized by Elder W. H. Parks in September 1874, with six members: J. Goodwyn and wife, Sister Anderson, Sister Matlock and Bro. Bateman and wife. The first pastor was Bro. Puryear who served for five years. The church was desolved probably about 1893.
Bethel: located about five miles west of Ennis on the road to Waxahachie, and one of the oldest churches in the county, it was organized in 1859 by Elder W. H. Stokes, with the following charter members: H. L. Cook, Martha Cook, Tom Neil, Willie E. Neil, a brother Wright and wife, W. H. Stokes and Malissa Stokes along with others whose names cannot be recalled. Elder Stokes served as pastor for several years.
Bristol: located about eight miles east of Ennis and organized in 1885. No early history was reported.
Britton: organized July 23, 1896 with seventeen members. Rev. S. C. Bailey was first acting moderator.
Dalton: organized in 1885 by Elder W. B. Mansel with twenty-four members.
Ennis: organized in 1873 with 42 members, whose names are not known. H. A. Shelton was clerk, but minutes do not give name of pastor.
Ferris: organized in March 1875, by Elder H. H. Tilford with twenty-two members, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Vincent, the Lovetts, bro. and sis. R. P. Backey and daughter, Nannie, the Culpeppers, Bro. C. Parson and J. F. Sewell.
Forreston: located south of Waxahachie. H. P. Tyra is their present pastor but no earlier information has been received..
Great House: organized in 1879.
Harmony: The present church, in the same community, grew out of the original church. Because of some problems, twenty-two members were dismissed by vote on 11 March 1893, and a new church organized the same night. Bro. Selvage was the first pastor for the new organization.
Hopewell: organized at Mt. Rock August 27, 1871 by Brethren Forreston, Center and Herring, with six members, George Moore and wife, Fannie, Elisha Moore and wife, Jane, Almer Moore and John A. Moore. At the first meeting after organization, M. D. Clark and wife joined by letter. Elder Herring served as pastor from 1871-1873.
Italy: organized in August 1869 by Elder D. D. Swindall, then living in Lancaster, Texas. Charter members were B. F. Blasengame, J. T. Bryson, William Lacy, Elisha Richards, Mrs. M. J. Richards, Mrs. Lucy Loyd, Mrs. Nancy Loyd, Mrs. M. J. Hardiman, Mrs. Polly Buttes, Mrs. Emma Butler, Mrs. M. E. Haynes and Mrs. Kate Hardiman.
Lone Cedar: located in the forks of Chambers and Mill Creeks, it was organized in 1885 by Elder F. M. Hensley.
Maypearl: [formerly called Glencoe] organized Sept. 30, 1894 with twenty-three charter members. W. A. McKinney was the first pastor and served nine years.
Milford: organized second Sunday July 1855....charter members: James M. Higgins, Sr., Eliza A. Higgins, James M. Higgins, Jr., Robert Smith, Mildred Smith, Nancy Smith, Marther E. Wardlow, Uriah and Elizabeth Dodson.
Oak Grove: organized in September 1906 by Elder F. M. Hensley.
Ovilla: organized in 1898.
Palmer: organized in 1869 by Bros. Fuqua and Sewell; entered Waxahachie Association in 1874, pastor then was E. R. Taylor.
Plum Grove: [formerly called Mill Creek], organized Aug. 13, 1883 by Elder Thomas E. Muse with twenty-two charter members. U. W. Jarrell was the first regular pastor.
Red Oak: organized July 18 1869 with six members, [names not given] by D. D. Swindall and E. H. West.
Rutherford: organized in 1890 and located between Palmer and Waxahachie.
Sardis: organized in 1885 by Rev. G. W. Wells with twenty members.
Spring Garden: located in northwestern Ellis County five miles from Maypearl; organized summer of 1905 with only a few members.
White League: organized Sept. 15, 1883 by Elders Fuqua and Daughtery, the latter serving as first pastor.
Venus: located at the edge of Johnson County but united with the Ellis Association in September 1905; organized August 25, 1905, under a tent, with twelve charter members. D. I. Smith was the first pastor.
[The author notes that in some cases no information was furnished regarding the church organization].
Biographical Sketches
A. D. BROOKS, b. Madison Co. Ky. 26, July 1826, son of Rev. Henry Brooks, Sr., and gr-son Rev. Robert Brooks; married Miss Drucilla Anderson in 1846; one son, deceased. Spent two years in California 1850-51 and began teaching; moved to Clay Co. Mo. in 1853; preached first sermon Jan. 1, 1856, and has been in ministry ever since, in Ky, Mo. and Miss. In 1883 moved to Wise Co. Tex. then to Red River Co. and to Milford in 1889. After death of first wife, married again [name not given]; had son and daughter.
A. H. BUIE, b. Franklin Co. Miss. 25 Feb 1847; served CSA Co. I, 4th Miss. Calvary under Bedford Forrest; married Miss Virginia Hebra 23 December 1868; came to Milford 1873 where lived 32 years; moved Jones Co. 1905.
E. C. LEAKE, son of Elder Josiah Leake, b. Woodford Co. Ky. 22 Dec. 1841; moved with parents to Mo. 1851; to Tarrant Co. 1861, where enlisted Capt. Hiram Crowley's Company A, 34th Tex Dismounted Calvary; licensed to preach Grimes Co. 1869; ordained in Lancaster [Dallas Co] August 1873; lives near Corsicana, Tex.
Elder Josiah LEAKE, b. Mason Co. Ky. 1811, son of Walter Leake and Susanna Jones; moved to Mo. 1850 and back to Ky, to Mo. and to Texas in 1861, living for a time in Dallas and Tarrant Counties before moving to Maypearl. At least 3 sons in ministry.
T. B. PITMAN, b. Tenn.; grad. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 1884; married dau. Capt. L. W. Means, Decatur, Texas; children Lewis and Ruth; served as pastor Ferris, Arlington, Decatur, Houston, Brownwood, Terrill and again at Ferris. Received D. D. while at Houston, being the youngest to hold such a degree in the entire South.
W. L. B. MORGAN, b. Walton Co. Ga. 26 July 1821; mar. Nancy C. Moore 2 Oct. 1845; to Texas 1852, Grimes Co. and then Ellis. Joined Italy Baptist Church 1869; died 15 July 1897; wife d. 10 April 1900; three sons and five daughters [not named]. J. F. McCLUNG b. 10 April 1852 Campbell Co. Ga; grew up Ark. and Cass Co. Tex; ordained 1878; pastor of Italy Church six years and still lives there.
L. C. WRIGHT, b. Washington Co. Ind. 18 May 1830; moved to Texas 1856; served CSA 4 years; deacon of Milford Church for many years before death 2 February 1906; married twice, both wives deceased. Said to have had one son.
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