Untitled The McKinney Gazette. July 27, 1899, Vol. 12, No. 24

Tom W. Perkins, Publisher.


Reminiscenses of St. John’s Lodge. Contributed by An Active Member.

A little over 50 [ca 1849] years ago, St. John’s Lodge No. 54 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas. Its first officers were H. G. HENDRICKS, Sam BOGARD, and L. C. SEARCY. HENDRICKS was a lawyer, and a good one too.
In the early fifties, Sam BOGARD was a zealous Mason, an ardent democrat, and a farmer. He represented Collin County both in the house and in the senate of Texas. He was a bright man and canvassed the county against THROCKMORTON. Vicious as a rattlesnake to his opponents, a sincere friend to those he loved, and a good hater to those he didn’t he could always be located and his character may be summed up: A good man in the right place on the frontier.
Jack McDONOUGH used to come from about old Mantua. He was a little man chock full of fun and jest. We were always lively while Jack was around. It makes me laugh now to think of him after more than thirty years his cheeriness and fun still makes my old heart warm up. Jack went west and died a few years back. Don’t you think the Good Lord has use for men like Jack to keep Heaven pleasant?
Along about that time there came three Cumberland Presbyterian ministers, R. M. RUDOLPH, a zealous Mason and good man; W. A. WILLIAMS who bought the STANDIFER place and started to work it, and Uriah SMITH. There was still another, R. R. DUNLAP, Dick, we use to call him, a companionable man. M. R. PARISH was a member of the lodge. He was once a school teacher, always a shouting Methodist, and worked for a great while in the clerks office. I don’t think associating with the lawyers ever demoralized him.
W. B. BENGE was another great Mason. They don’t make any better men than was Billy. Everybody liked him. He was accidentally killed while on a scout. Bob FITZHUGH had fixed up a supper for the boys and Jack TUCKER and Billy were on opposite sides of the table and Jack leaned his gun against the edge, somebody’s foot knocked the gun down and it went off as it fell shattering BENGE’s ankle. A good man died when Billy did.
J. M. BENGE was another good Mason. You remember him as the old clerk. The two BENGEs were fine men and universally liked.
Thos. LEWELLING was in the Lodge before the war. He started out a grand Methodist preacher. He afterwards quit the ministry and took up the law. He was a fine lawyer, an eloquent speaker, but occasionally stayed out with the boys. A brilliant man wasted his talents is the best way to describe LEWELLING.
Along in the latter part of the fifties came James H. JENKINS. In his earlier days he had driven an ox ??? and learned the vocabulary. But JENKINS was made a Mason and joined the church. The tenets of masonry have found in him a bright exemplar, and the teachings of the meek and lowly Christ a fitting way [unreadable].
T. D. NEWSOME and Dr. G. A. FOOTE were in the lodge when JENKINS was made. I. D. NEWSOME was for many years treas. Of the lodge as his son has been after him.
I tell you there certainly must be something in the order when such men as these for forty years are advocates.
Another good Mason was Jesse PORTMAN; he had his peculiarities and one of them was, he was a Baptist preacher. The world is better off for his having lived in it.
Andy PATTERSON used to come from about Highland. Andy was a good citizen whom all liked.
Milton WILKERSON, a true Mason, an excellent unobtrusive gentleman was tiler of the lodge. After his death soon after the war, his son-in-law, P. H. HOCKER was tiler. When HOCKER had been tiler for some time, Jake MOORE who had been made a Mason in Tennessee, was made tiler and Jake held the place for many long years. The lodge came near being Jake’s church always on hand. There be none who have not a kind word for him.
Dr. STEWART was a master of the lodge before the war. The doctor was a very zealous Mason, wish we had many like him.
Dr. G. A. FOOTE was many years before the war, master of lodge. He could give the degrees all right. I would like to see him again, I suppose it has been forty years since he did master work.
Before the war for a long time, St. John’s Lodge was the only lodge in Collin, but before the war a lodge was chartered, the Mantua lodge.
Y. S. McKINNEY, 80 years of age, now living at Van Alstyne, Capt. F. M. WELCH of McKinney and Capt. W. A. RHEA of McKinney were all members of old Mantua. Capt. ROSAMOND, who commanded a company in Ross’ regiment was a member for Mantua Lodge. ROSAMOND was a noble fellow, he is now dead.
Dr. LESLIE was also a member of that lodge and none stood higher.
There were three other Masons who belonged to Old Mantua: H. C. McKINNEY, W. C. CREAGOR, and William ORENDUFF. Each of them lived long and useful lives, and strange to say, all three died the same year, and officiating at the funeral was another Mason, than whom there is none better, C. H. WYSONG.
Dr. MARKHAM used to come from Farmersville to lodge and chapter meetings. The Doctor was always a true, tried, and trusty Mason.
Dick CRUTCHFIELD lived west of town, was an ardent Mason. Dick was one of the first settlers of Collin County.
George EASTES, too, lived west or south of town. He was a good man.
There was Uncle Sayles COFFEY, one of nature’s noblemen. Before the war a member of St. John’s Lodge he demitted and joined Plano and when that lodge surrendered its charter, he came back to St. John’s Lodge, a truerhearted man, a better citizen, a more enthusiastic Mason never lived.
Along before the war was Dr. B. M. E. SMITH, one of the noblest hearted men that ever lived, and John M. KINCAID. KINCAID was a farmer living east of town, a quiet, modest, unassuming gentleman. There were few men like him and few as true.
And then in order comes Uncle Jack FARIES. These are his reminiscences but the writer now interpolates. Made a Mason before the war, Past-master of St. John’s Lodge for forty years, without an enemy in the world, quiet, unassuming, regarding every man as entitled to respect, the world is well with Uncle Jack and the world is the better that he has labored here.
Tom J. BROWN now on the supreme court, was master after FOOTE, STEWARD, and Judge HARRISON. He was an enthusiastic Mason. While he was master, J. Lee FARIES, J. R. BLACK., E. F. BROWN, and T. J. CLOYD were a team and when they came in, new blood was infused in the lodge. Tom is authority on Masonic matters, though he would ...disclaim any such distinction.
Just after the war, Preston CLOYD and S. J. B. PLEMMONS joined, both of them were Masons before they came and both have made the impress on the Masonry. Everybody knows Bro CLOYD as a man and Mason, few there be to equal.
As for PLEMMONS, the like of which there is not another. If there is a Masonic Lodge and a Methodist church in heaven, the singing of the stars and the music of the spheres will not be a circumstance to PLEMMON’s hallelujah.
The house has migrated during its existence. At one time it owned the lot on which the SHAIN residence is built and held its meetings in a house on the lot. It owned in succession the lot on which John HEARD’s residence, and then, the lodge had an air, title to the upstairs over the store in which Joe McKINNEY is doing business, it then moved to the back room over the SEAY book store. In 1891 when W. B. NEWSOME constructed his building, the Masons rented the third story. In fact Mr. NEWSOME built the third story at the request of the lodge. After the lodge moved it steadily increased. It was burned in 1892 and the charter destroyed and a new one granted by.....[unreadable last line of paragraph].
C. S. BATTLE, E. H. BOWLBY and W. M. ABERNATHY are named in the new charter. The Pastmasters of St. John’s Lodge are: T. L. CLOYD, W. P. CLOYD, T. C. GOODING, J. S. HEARD, T. W. WILEY, J. J. FARIES, S. J. B. PLEMMON, W. M. ABERNATHY, Howell E. SMITH, and J. D. PAGE.
The Lodge has 136 members. Its present officers are: George WILCOX, . J. M. MARTIN, Leland FRANKLIN, W. B. NEWSOME, R. F. DOWELL, John JOHNSON, W. R. ABERNATHY, V. M. KEEN, T. J. CLOYD, and John DOWELL.
There are in Collin county, 13 lodges.
St. John’s Lodge, No. 54, McKinney
Farmersville Lodge Nol 211, P. H. Jones, M. A. JACKSON;
White ROCK Lodge, No. 234 Frankford H. HUNTLEY, G. H. MASON, W. R. BISHOP;
Lee Lodge No. 135, T. W. WILLIAMS, T. W. COWAN, M. SPRADLING;
Blue Ridge Lodge No. 490, B. C. REYNOLDS, W. A. CURRY, T. J. DORSEY;
Weston Lodge No. 501, E. A. GUYHH, G. W. CURTIS, B. D. SHOOK;
Melissa Lodge No. 569, C. H. WYSONG, P. H. BATEMAN, W. L. OSBORN;
Empire Lodge No. 586, J. A. GARRISON, E. BROWN, ?. ?. SMITH;
East Fork Lodge No. 650, J. A. LONG, J. H. RIFE, W. W.. COMBS;
New Albany Lodge No. 656, E. S. WILLIAMS, O. C. DUNSWORTH, J. H. JACKSON;
Wiley Manning Lodge No. 702, John W. HARDY, Y. T. MANNING, J. E. HUCHABEE;
Plano Lodge No. 768, J. T. ROWLAND, William A. VINES, G. W. WALLEN;
Roseland Lodge No. 8??, R. F. ODELL, L. C. ENGLISH, B. K. BIGGERSTAFF.

History of Haggai Chapter No. 53.

Haggai, Chapter No. 53 was chartered June 1856 with G. A. FOOTE, M. S. PULLIAM, and J. J. HARRISON as its officers. Dr. FOOTE and Marshall PULLIAM are both still active members of the chapter. Nothing so pleases the younger members of the craft as to have these brethren with them in the meeting.
Dr. FOOTE is president of the Collin County bank and in days gone by used to hob nob with Sam HOUSTON, another good Mason and the Doctor, his friends say, was once upon a time somewhat a politician himself, but of late years, hunting wild game is more to his taste.
Marshall PULLIAM lives at Melissa, is of a retiring disposition, unassuming, he practices out of the lodge the teachings he received in it; of no man can anything better be said.
J. J. HARRISON was an eccentric genius, for a long time county judge of the county, scrupulously honest and correct. He moved west and died at Fort Worth.
Two years after its organization one joined it to whom more than any living man, Haggai Chapter owes its place as the best all around chapter in the state. The storm never kept him from its meeting, the flood or snow had no terrors such as to keep him back. The chapter was weak, the more essential was it for him to come; other members were lukewarm, the more need for his zeal, other officers did not qualify themselves for their duties, the more necessity he should learn theirs too. Always ready for a jest, he never entered the lodge but with a smile, he never left it without a good wish. Literally and theoretically he divested himself, etc... The chapter Mason has already defined to whom this refers, and has said: “God bless Uncle Charley”. There used to come with him three other faithful “Giblemites”: Marshall PULLIAM, George NIPP, and J. R. ROGERS. George NIPP is still a member and meets very frequently with the chapter.
J. R. ROGERS was a schoolteacher and well qualified. He moved to the Indian Territory and is now dead.
About 1870, Judge ANDREWS joined the chapter. The judge divided his affection between Masonry, his bees and his jerseys, and a heap of affection for them...
The record shows that William BAGLEY served the chapter as secretary for over twenty years.
In 1892, when the Newsome building burned, the charter was burned and in the succeeding December, a new charter was granted with C. H. WYSONG, W. M. ABERNATHY, and L. C. ENGLISH as officers.
A Biographical Sketch of the Contractors Who Will Complete the Masonic Temple.
Of the team of HAMILTON & MARTIN, who have the contract for the completion of the Masonic temple, both have been engaged in this kind of work for more than a score of years.
Jno. W. HAMILTON is from Kentucky and came to McKinney in 1867. He has been actively engaged in contracting and building for 33 years. During the time in which he has been here, he has been called upon by many parties who have been burned out to make estimates of loss by fire and out of 369 estimates that he has made in the county, not a single person failed to get their insurance money from the company on his estimate.
His name appears as chairman of the committee on arrangements on the laying of the corner stone and this is sufficient evidence that his committee will arrange things all O.K.
Mr. J. M. MARTIN of this team came to McKinney in 1883. He has been engaged in building houses for twenty years and is not only a first class builder but an architect as well. Many of our best houses in the city have been built on plans drawn up by him. He has drawn up the plans for the house of Henry FINCH, Henry WHITE, the WILCOX hotel, and the Masonic temple, and he now has four or five others on the way.

A Basket Picnic.
The citizens of Chambersville will give a basket picnic on Saturday, August 12th. There will be nice refreshments, music by Chambersville’s brass band, a mother hubbard base ball game, and other amusements. Hon. Wallace HUGHSTON, G. P. BROWN and Tom W. PERKINS have been invited and will address the people. Everybody go, and carry a well filled basket.

In Clerk HALL’s Court – Several important suits have been filed.

Although Judge DILLARD’s court does not convene here until October; still District Clerk HALL has already filed several large and important suits:
On July 21st a suit was filed in court by GARNETT, SMITH & MERRITT, attorneys for M. S. COBB vs. H. & T.C.R.R. Co. for personal injuries received.
Attorney R. T. SHELTON of Plano has filed suit of W. E. Mc???, Fletcher VINSON to ......for damages.
[several items are unreadable]
Master Ray HERNDON of Mineral Wells and Jack STIFF took tea with Dr. and Mrs. J. E. GIBSON last evening. A little later they were joined by a number of other young people and a very enjoyable time was passed.
Judge P. B. MUSE of Sherman is greeting his many friends in this city, his former home, today.

Rock Hill Pebbles.
Mrs. Dr. COMBEST was on the sick list the past week.
Miss Cora BLUE who has been on the sick list for several days is up again.
Miss Millie STEVENSON has returned from her visit to Tioga.
Dr. COMBEST and W. L. SHIPLEY of this place are in your city today on business.
Miss Gussie BATES of Denton is visiting friends and attending the protracted meeting at Bates.
Dr. R. L. DOUGLASS from Denton was in our vicinity this week.
Miss Minnie HERMAN and Isaea DILLOW of your city was in the vicinity yesterday and attended services at the C. P. church.
Shot One Time to [sic] Many.
Friday night at sheriff PAFFORD was returning to this city from an official trip in the Weston vicinity, he heard the sound of a pistol shot a short distance down the road in front of him and in a few minutes met a young man on horseback riding toward Weston from this city. The sheriff halted the stranger who quickly threw his pistol aside but not too quick for the sharp eyes of Collin’s vigilant sheriff and the young man who gave his name as Ed LEWALLEN, was brought back to this place and lodged in jail to answer to a charge of carrying concealed weapons. He gave gone this morning in the sum of $200 and was released.

City’s Improvements. McKinney Moves Steadily Upward and Onward. ....To mention all of the many improvements which have recently taken place in the city would require a greater amount of both time and space than we have at our command....
Messrs. KELLY & STEELE, the waterworks contractors, will in the immediate future, commence on the construction of an excellent sewerage system.
A private enterprise...is the large packery and ice plant of Wm. ALLEN & Son’s situated just north of town near the railroad....
A handsome brick structure upon which the workmen are now engaged and which will be completed about the same time as the Masonic Temple, is the two story hotel building being erected for Mr. J. M. WILCOX on west Virginia street and to be occupied by Mrs. M. WADE.
.......The G. W. FOX wholesale grocery company is an enterprise which opened up for business here several months ago and is building up a fine trade...
Other enterprises occurring to mind, which have just recently started here are: The Collin County Drug company; J. E. WOLFE, confectioneries; J. A. RUSSELL, restaurant; the plumbing establishments of Frank PIERCE and KELLY & STEELE; the dry goods emporium of W. S. KNIGHT; the hardware establishment of A. W. KNIGHTON, and the McKinney steam laundry.
A brick extension has recently been made to the building occupied by MASSIE & DAHONEY and a similar extension to the law office of GARNETT, SMITH & MERRITT is nearing completion.
......Some decided improvements have also lately been made upon the FOOTE House, the Blue GALLERY, the residences of G. E. ABERNATHY, J. P. CROUCH, B. F. HOUSTON, and W. B. NEWSOME and of the Electric light plant and Oil mill.
....Among the private residences recently completed or now in process of construction, some of which are exceptionally costly and handsome may be mentioned those of S. D. HEARD, J. S. BRISTOL, Mate BARNETT, Harry McDONALD, r. M. BOARD, W. T. BROOKE, Cliff McDOWELL, Rev. ERWIN, Will GRIFFIN, J. R. GOUGH, J. S. RODERICK, U. P. CLARDY, J. G. FITZHUGH, J. S. NELSON, Dink ESTES, and H. A. FINCH.

Mrs. J. J. PITTMAN of Lebanon, with her music class, will give a musicale Friday night at the Christian church of Lebanon.

J. T. WEBB keeps open day and night. Andy WILLIAMS is night bartender.

Prof. SMITH and C. D. WARD, two of Chamberville’s best citizens called on the Gazette today.

W. B. HARRISON has just received a dustless corn sheller which has a capacity of shelling 300 bu. per hours.

To. W. B. CARTER’s Bedside. Dr. WILEY Hastily Summoned There Thursday.
Early Thursday morning, Hugh STEVENS, a young man, rode into this city on horseback at a rapid rate from Foncine to summon Dr. WILEY to the bedside of W. B. CARTER at that place, who was thought to be choking to death. STEVENS, it is said, rode the entire distance from Foncine in 20 minutes. Dr. WILEY immediately left for the suffer’s bedside, and suceeded [sic] in somewhat relieving him. Mr. CARTER who is a brother-in-law of Messrs. W. T. COX and Henry PARVIN of this city, has been suffering with an affection of the throat for a long time, and his many friends greatly deplore his condition.

Seized with Paralysis was City Recorder Hunt BOWLBY Friday.
About 6 p.m. Friday, as City Recorder Hunt BOWLBY stepped out on the back porch at his residence he was suddenly stricken with a severe paralytic stroke. He was assisted into the house by his wife and daughter and medical attention quickly summoned. Saturday he suffered another stroke and is in a bad condition, being unable to scarcely speak. The news of Mr. BOWLBY’s sudden attack came as a great shock to his hundreds of friends throughout the city and all earnestly hope that he may soon recover.

A Good Man Gone.
...Mr. J. B. MITCHEL, an old, well respected citizen of Collin county....[died] at his home near Prosper, Texas on June 28, 1899.... [for the complete obituary, see the Obituary listings at this site]

F. M. HILL is repainting and otherwise beautifying his home on College Hill.

G. F. RAINE, foreman of the force which bored the artesian wells for the Mil & Elevator Company and the oil mill here, left Saturday for Dallas. From there he will go to Farmersville where the machinery was taken and will tomorrow commence the work of boring a well for the oil mill at that place.

The Eastern Star Lodge.
....McKinney Chapter, No. 61 is growing in numbers and has interesting meetings the first, second, and third Saturday nights of each month. The officers are: Mrs. Carrie LOVEJOY, Dr. H. L. PEARSON, Mr. Will CLOYD, Miss Pearl NELSON.

State Normal Appointment.
Miss Lizzie GULLETT of this city has received one of the appointments from this county to the Sam Houston Normal Institute at Huntsville, from Representative John R. SMITH. A better appointment could not have been made.

Mrs. MATTINGLEY’s little 13 months’ old baby died Saturday evening and was buried Sunday evening in Pecan Grove cemetery. It was sick some three months.

The 11-months old child of A. B. DRAKE of near New Hope died Sunday and was buried Monday evening at Princeton. Elder John McKINNEY conducted the funeral services.

Dr. E. E. KING returned Saturday evening from his visit to relatives in the Territory.

Of the many business men of our city who have made rapid strides in the mercantile line none are more noticeable than the original ....William A. PURNELL....He came from Mississippi to McKinney ? Years ago and embarked in the business arena in a small store room on South Tenn. Street as a salesman working in a stock valued at about $1500.... Melissa Missiles.
Jo CAMP, now of Midland, is visiting friends here this week.
The meeting at the Baptist church is still in progress. Bro. KEY has been assisted by Bro. AIRHART, of Weston.
Bro. CARNES began his meeting at the Christian church at Anna, Saturday night.
Constable BELDON is in daily training as a fast runner so as to be able to run down any disorderly person that might come to town and need looking after.

Advertisements.

J. T. COUCH – Pianos and Organs. McKinney, Texas.

McKinney Academy. Profs. MOSELEY, WANCK, Miss Laura MOORE and J. B. WARREN.

For Staple and Fancy Groceries, Dry Goods, Notions – call on G. W. CURTIS, Weston.

Dr. B. F. SPENCER – Physician and Surgeon, Weston, Texas.

T. H. STAMPS – Drugs, Books, Stationery, and Groceries, Weston, Texas

G. A. C. TURNER. Blacksmith and Wood workman. All work first class. Patronage solicited. Weston, Texas.

J. A. DORSEY – Confectioneries, Ice Cream, Cold Drinks, Polite and Courteous Attention, Weston.

J. C. N. SMITH, Dentist. Office over S. WEISMAN, McKinney, Texas.

Hugh McCLELLAN, Attorney at Law. Loans Negotiated. Office up-stairs over J. A. ROGER’s grocery store. McKinney, Texas.

T. S. JACKSON, Attorney and Counsellor at Law. Office over W. E. DITTO’s grocery store.

H. L. PEARSON, Dental Surgeon. Office over M. Aron & Co.’s Store.

D. W. LEIGH. Vocal Music Teacher. Verona, Texas.

H. L. DAVIS, F. E. WILCOX, Attorney’s at Law. Office up-stairs in MORROW Block.

Tom W. PERKINS, Attorney-At-Law, McKinney, Texas.

J. P. CROUCH & Co. Ginners’ Supplies.

A. J. GUNSTREAM, White and Barred Plymouth - Rock chickens. Erudia, Collin County, Texas.

G. H. PROVINES – if you get in trouble, you want a lawyer. If you are going to die, you want a preacher. But if you are sick, you want pure drugs.

Benj. E. THROCKMORTON. D. F. HOUSTON. Physicians and Surgeons.

E. L. KERR. Contractor and Builder, McKinney, Texas.

Dr. W. T. HOARD – Dentist.

Dr. E. L. BURTON, Practice limited to Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.

McKinney Practical business College. For information address. N. R. STONE, Pres.

Hawthorne College. Offers to the boys and girls of Collin County an excellent opportunity to get a college education at the lowest possible cost. For catalogue address. H. G. REED, F. G. JONES or H. NEWTON.

Purse Teasers and Appetite Fixers. Groceries at KENDALL & LARGENT’s.

The Tennessee Shop – I. A. ARMSTRONG, Proprietor, McKinney, Tex.

The hot weather season is on us and it reminds us of the fact that we must buy hammocks, ice boxes, ice cream freezers – J. P. DOWELL, McKinney, Tex.

Books and Stationery. Kept at all times on hand. Chas. BUSH, McKinney, Texas.

DULIN, The West-Side Jeweler.

END