As published (expect where formatting was web prohibitive) in Cass County Connections Volume 23 Number 4 December 1997 Cass County Connections is a quarterly publication put out by the Cass County Genealogical Society of Cass County, Texas. Permission granted by Cass County Genealogical Society to Dana Thomas for publishing on The Cass County, TXGenWeb Project Pages.

From her files Jean Gilley furnishes the following information

"Source unknown other than handwritten notes found in Cass County Genealogical Society
files"

LANIER

Friendship (Lanier) Baptist Church was organized 11 May 1875, with Elders David Simmons,J. L. Whittle, Henry Sheffield, J. A. Singletary setting as presbytery. J. M. Caves was pastorand E. W. Fant was clerk. some early families were Fants, Simmons, and Cromer families.

SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

(This article must have been published about 1972, as it is titled Shady Grove Baptist Near 100th Birthday. (The article states " in the 97 years of the church", and also that it was"organized in 1875").

Shady Grove Baptist Church was organized in 1875 by the following ministers: Rev. West Godify, Rev. Charley Clark, Rev. Hammlin, Rev. C.C. Wilson, and the Rev. O Mothershed. Each of the above ministers serves as pastor of the church.

The first church was located about one mile from Bloomburg, Texas. It was built among a grove of trees that provided shade, thus the name Shady Grove.

In the 97 years of the church history, a total of 19 pastors have served. Perhaps the most memorable is the Rev. Oscar Mothershed, one of the founders. Rev. Mothershed served from 1890-1926, thirty-six years of service. From 1926 to present the following ministers
have served the church: Rev. Holmes, Rev. Temer, Rev. Johnson, Rev. C. Shepherd, Rev. Beasley, Rev. Marcray, Rev. Wilder, Rev. Sims and the present minister Rev. F.J. Wade.

In 1968, a portion of the church was destroyed by fire. Three years later, under the leadership of Rev. Wade, a new church was dedicated. The church is still the center of activities for the community.

Like most rural churches Shady Grove served as the center of activities for the community. And also, like most rural churches, the membership has dropped from more than 200 members to about 75 to 80.

The present deacons are: Mr. Burl Beasley, Mr. B. F. Mothershed, and Mr. Rufus Butler.  Rev. F. J. Wade is Pastor and Mrs. Essie Beasley, Clerk.

SAINT WILLIAMS CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Saint Williams Catholic Church was organized at Red Hill, Cass County, in January 1912, and the church building was dedicated on 21 May 1912, by Bishop J.P. Lynch of the Dallas diocese.

Father J.M. Hayes of Texarkana was the first pastor of the church. There were 25 members in the organization.

Father J. P. Callahan, of Longview, Texas is the present pastor. The trustees are: V. O. Henderson, and Ed Lambert.

"Source: An old newspaper clipping, likely from a Cass County newspaper, no date".