|
Virginia Point Methodist Church Sherman Democrat August 2, 1929 Virginia Point Oldest Church In North Texas Believed to Have Been Organized in 1844, While Texas Was Republic Holds a Fine Historical Record in M. E. Conference Built by Pioneers of Native Logs Sawed by Father of G. R. Wear Special to the Democrat BELLS - Virginia Point Methodist church, located about four miles northeast of Bells a few feet over the Grayson-Fannin county line, is believed to be the oldest church organization in North Texas. It is so old that its origin is clouded in legend and the hazy recollection of old settlers who have heard their parents talk about it. Old residents of Bells assert that it was organized in 1844 while Texas was yet a republic, that its organizer was a Rev. Mr. Graham, and its first meeting place an old log cabin school house. The log cabin was built by pioneer families, many of whom came to Texas from Virginia, and they named the location for their parent state. When the cabin was built is not known. It is known that G. D. F. Whitting of Denison, an old resident of that community, was baptized there when an infant, 83 years ago. According to records of A. P. Templeton, stewart-secretary of the Virginia Point church and of the entire Bells charge from 1874 until his death twelve years ago, the present church was organized and built in the year 1860. Land for it was donated by Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Youree, great grandparents of Jesse Youree, now a resident of the community, and of Mrs. Harve Gibson of Bells. Men Sawed Logs Robert S. Wear, father of G. H. Wear of Sherman, sawed logs for the structure which were hauled by the father of the Rev. W. A. Fleming, present resident pastor. Robert S. Wear owned and operated a saw and grist mill at Virginia Point and was active in the church, and it was in the old church cemetery that he and his wife lie buried. The building committee was composed of E. H. Holland, H. A. Henery, B. F. Williams, John Gilliam, J. D. Pritchett, William Youree and the Rev. S. J. Spotts. Rev. Mr. Spotts, who was pastor at the time of the church's erection, was the grandfather of Sherwood Spotts, publisher of the Christian Advocate at Dallas. A complete list of the pastors in charge following reorganization in 1860 were kept by Mr. Templeton from 1865 to 1917. Books kept between 1860-65 were lost in a residence fire. If the memories of older citizens of Virginia point and Bells serve them well, the following men were pastors of the church in that interim: J. H. Cotton, W. D. Beavers, W. T. Milugin and S. J. Spotts. Some of the Pastors Following Rev. Mr. Spotts in 1865 was a Dr. Walker, the lit included R. Buchanan, B. M. Williams, H. C. Rogers, James Graham, J. R. Cole, W. C. Blair, M. R. Crowder, J. G. Worley, W. F. Clark, D. M. Proctor, _. H. Reynolds, T. L. Miller, R. N. __own, J. F. Alderson, Joseph God___, J. F. Archer, E. L. Spurlock, _. A. Emmons, J. D. Whitehead, A. _. Hightower, D. F. Fuller, J. W. __on, L L. Naugle, L. A. Hanson, Frank Richardson, R. P. Buck, C. N. Smith, W. D. Hudgins, J. A. Dickey, E. L Wright and W. B. Reaves. Three resident ministers whose influence has been of great benefit to the community are the Rev. B. M. Williams, an old settler, his son, the late Rev. Ed Williams and the Rev. William Archer Fleming. The Rev. Mr. Fleming was born in Virginia Point community March 7, 1860. He was licensed to preach in 1898, ordained a deacon in 1902 by Bishop Hendricks, and ordained an elder in 1906. He served Denison and Sherman Mission as a supply pastor for several years, but has lived all his life in this community. The Rev. W. B. Reaves, present pastor, was born in Pope county, Ark, April 8, 1891, where he was reared and received the greater part of his education. He first came to Texas in 1909, returning to Arkansas to engage in the drug business. In 1912 he became a farmer in Texas and followed farming for four years. He married Miss Ida M. Pierce of Whitewright in 1916. Converted Early in Life Rev. Mr. Reaves was converted at the age of 16 and became a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1918, he joined the Methodist church at Callisburg which he served as steward, superintendent of Sunday school and trustee. He was licensed October 9, 1920, and was later admitted into the North Texas conference. He has served churches as pastor in Dexter, Gainesville, mission, Marysville, Siveles Bend, Blue Grove, Texoma and Stringtown oil field, and Bells. The Virginia Point church has two cemeteries nearby, one of them belonging to the log cabin era. Many of the graves it contains are without markers, either due to the fact that none were placed thereon originally, or because time and weather have erased them. One of the early graves is that of Andrew Youree whose monument shows the date of 1866. In a corner of the old burying ground are a number of unmarked graves of slaves who were owned by Mr. Youree and who died before General Gordon Granger proclaimed negroes of Texas free June 19, 1865. The newer cemetery which was opened up when the church building was erected, containers a monument bearing the date 1872, which is the oldest date within its bounds. The first name on the church roll is that of Mrs. Fannie Fitzgerald who joined by letter in 1858. Two of the oldest members of the church, who have never at any time moved their membership are Mrs. A. P. Templeton, Bells, and Mrs. John Proctor, Virginia Point. Many Familiar Names Many names which have made history in the state of Virginia are familiar in the Virginia Point com-...............  Virginia Point Methodist Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |