It appears to have been written about 1930

(Written at the request of Rev. W. D. Bratton by Mrs. W. D. Clapp, about 1930)

In the year 1884 a saintly Minister of God came to live with his widower brother in Wichita Falls, Texas, Rev. H. C. Shaw. The Rev. Mr. Shaw wanted to serve the Lord and establish the Episcopal Church in this mission field. He lived a simple life, caring little for this world's goods, only hoping to save enough to educate his brother's son for the Ministry if he should be called to that work. It was believed that Mr. Shaw's sweetheart died when young and that he remained true to his love until death. Mr. Shaw's cottage is still standing near where he used to live, in the country then, but in the city now, a little north of Havener Park.

Mr. Shaw gave his means to help build the Church of the Good Shepherd and served as Rector for nine years, refusing to receive a stipend until the Church should be free from debt. During Lent he rode in on his well known grey horse, in time to light the fires for the afternoon services, and many times he began the services alone without another soul to worship with him.

Mr. Shaw came within two votes of being elected Bishop of this Diocese at one time. Being a dignified, elderly minister, he was shocked one day to find presented at his gate a couple desiring to be married in a buggy by the roadside. After all persuasion failed to get them into his house for the ceremony he performed the ceremony in the buggy, much against his sense of decorum, and without his vestments. In relating it he said, "I had to marry them in my coattail."

After an absence of some time Mr. Shaw returned for a visit, and finding that the Church was not doing better than it had under his charge, and being told that the minister's wife was blamed for the lack of harmony in the congregation, he exclaimed, "Dear, dear me, I thought that was the trouble with me, I did not have a wife to help in the Church work." The dear saint had been troubled because he thought his deficiency in that way had deprived the Church of something.

Rev. Wm. T. Douglas, the next rector, was a godly missionary who had a young man from New York studying under him for the ministry, Mr. Chas. Cook. He carried on part of the services while Mr. Douglas went out into the highways and byways to look up church people in isolated places and to bring the Church to them. Baptizing them and preparing them for confirmation. Mr. Douglas drove over the lovely prairies with a team of horses and a spring wagon, to help out the living, and was the first president of the still popular Unity Club. Mrs. Douglas taught a kindergarten.

Mr. Douglas did not permit us to ask for pledges, believing that all should be free will offerings to the Church. Many families moved away after the great drouth and it was very had for those who remained to carry on the Church work and to support the minister and his family.

He moved to Arizona. Among the first Lay Readers were Major Cobb, Col. James and Mrs. Stinnett. Mrs. Cobb was organist for ten years, never failing and her daughters members of the choir.

Mr. P. T. Hickey was the first Church School superintendent. Mrs. Hickey was very active in the Church, undertaking one summer to make the Rector a coat.

The first Vestry was composed of Col. John James, J. A. Mayfield, Major Green, Major Cobb and others. Mr. Will Ingersoll did carving on the Altar and was always helpful, as was Mr. Nat Henderson, The McGregors, Childers, Clapps, Mrs. Henderson (Mother of Mr. Nat Henderson) Mrs. Edgar Rye, McCutchens, Lynchs, and later the Cravens, Inges, Sammons, Fontains, Dr. Mackechney, Mrs. McElroy, Mrs. Johnson, Miss Ethel Chamberlain, Mrs. Bruce Smith, (now Mrs. Randell), Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Thorburn, and Miss Ethel Cobb.

Mrs. W.M. McGregor's early zeal found expression in giving liberally and faithfully to the church.

About the year 1906 the Bishop (our dear Bishop Garrett) sent us Mr. Richard Morgan, a divinity student. Mr. Morgan gathered the church people together and began the Sunday School again with the children of three families. Mrs. Rye, a most untiring worker, was organist, and Miss Emma B. Childers, a beautiful Christian character, a teacher, and Mrs. Clapp a teacher, and Mr. Morgan, superintendent. Mrs. Rye left us, but her beautiful spirit lived on to make us more zealous in the Sunday School work. Mr. Morgan returned to Sewanee in the fall, leaving Miss Emma B. Childers and Mrs. Clapp in charge. The Sunday School grew and later we had thirty-five children enrolled.

Rev. Dr. Mansfield came next, a man of great talent and accomplishments, being a graduate of a noted school of music in Europe. Dr. Mansfield had a hymnal of his own compositions and was also a poet, lending a book of poems to the Public Library, being too modest to give it while living here. Dr. Mansfield was accustomed to Washington society and dedicated one of his poems, "The Ship of State" to his college chum, Secretary Hay. Dr. Mansfield had not been West before, and when a dust storm came, he walked to Sunday School with a handkerchief tied over his mouth and wanted all to do the same. Dr. Mansfield had a great reverence for the Church and if it was the least muddy he carried a pair of shoes in a box to put on at the church door. A lovable old man and very pious. His stipend was twenty-five dollars a month, with his room rent to pay, as the rectory was rented. His Sunday dinner consisted of bread and milk, many times. As he did not like to dine in public places on Sunday.

One member once thought she could not ask the elegant Mr. Mansfield to Sunday dinner because she had failed to get her white tablecloth ironed, but after service she asked him if he could dine off of a red table cloth. He took several seconds to keep from smiling and purse up his lips, to answer very primly, "No." But he did not mean it, but enjoyed his dinner off the red table cloth. Mr. Mansfield had a picture of our Church and Rectory put in the Spirit of Missions, with a description of the country, saying "There is room for all the unemployed Clergy out here."

Rev. Mr. Eaton was with us for a time, also Rev. Mr. Joseph. Both were in poor health, but men whose prayers for the sick were answered in a most marvelous way. There were only two deaths in over thirty years, except from old age or accident. Mr. John T. Roberts came later as Lay Reader and with Mrs. Roberts did good work in the Sunday School. Arch Deacons Wilkins and Crittenden made us visits in the absence of a Rector.

In 1903 we had sixteen members who contributed to the Minister's salary. the town began to grow and in 1913 we were able to pay as much as one hundred dollars a month for a Rector and we called Rev. Chester Wood. Mr. Wood lectured six months of the year and preached six months, but gave the Church a great start forward with us. Mr. Wood was an orator and would carry people away with his sermons, many people leaving their umbrellas and other things, so taken out of themselves were they. Dr. Fletcher's mother Mrs. Bowen, always entertained the Bishop and Clergy at the St. James Hotel and was always a great help. She was muchly surprised once to see the stately Bishop Garrett in the hotel kitchen among the pots and pans and servants looking for her to bid her goodbye.

The town began to grow, and with new people coming in, the old Church site began to be very valuable and we began to see that we could sell the old site at Lamar and Eighth, and build further out. We called the Rev. Fred T. Datson in 1914 and under his Rectorship the new Church was built in 1915. Mr. Datson served many years as Rector and was much beloved by others as well as his own congregation. Mrs. Datson has done a beautiful work in the Sunday School. Mr. Datson was called to Fort Worth during the world war and served there two years. Rev. Mr. Hicks and Mrs. Larsen served there two years during his absence.

Mr. Datson returned to Wichita Falls in 1918 and his good work speaks for itself. The beautiful Parish House being built and the congregation enlarged.

Mr. Carter McGregor served very efficiently as superintendent of the Church school for sometime. In 1926 Mr. Allison and Mrs. Allison came here to live and have been a great help in the Church work and especially the Church School.

Mr. Datson is now in Paradise and God has sent us Rev. Mr. Bratton, who is so kind and gentle. Mr. and Mrs. Bratton have won their way into the hearts of all and the Church of the Good Shepherd bids fair to flourish.

Signed An old member

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The following note was added by Mr. J. M. Sammons:

In looking over the early history of the Church by Mrs. Clapp, it seems to me she has omitted a few items of interest. The names of Mrs. H. A. Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gates should be among the list, as well as Mrs. Mackechney, mother of Dr. Mackechney. Mrs. McElroy was not here at that time, but came later on. Mr. Chas. W. Reid was the first Superintendent of Church School in the new Church and gave very liberally, as well as serving the Sunday School faithfully. And it seems as if Mr. A. E. Murdock should be mentioned, as he gave freely of his money and time as Organist for several years, going to England and selecting a library of music which he presented to the Church.

Summary HISTORY OF CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 1884 Mission established by Rev. H. C. Shaw.

First Church built under Mr. Shaw.

Rev. W. T. Douglas

Mr. Richard Morgan, Divinity Student

Rev. Dr. Mansfield

Rev. Mr. Eaton

Rev. Mr. Joseph

Interim

Arch-Deacons Wilkins and Crittenden

1913 Rev, Chester Wood. Parish Organization effected.

1914 Rev. Frederick T. Datson

1915 New Church erected

1916 Rev. Mr. Hicks

1917 Rev. Mr. Lasen

1918 Rev. F. T. Datson

1927 Rev. Mr. Francis B. Cannon

1923 Rev. W. D. Bratton

1933 Rev. C. A. Beesley

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