This information was found in the vertical files of the genealogy department of the Longview Public Library.

THE AVINGER CITIZEN
Special Historical Edition
June 18, 1954

MIMM'S CHAPEL IS 111 YEARS OLD

The Mimm's Chapel Methodist church was organized in 1843. It is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in East Texas. The first church building was called the "Rock" church because of large rock formation nearby. The one room school that used to be next to the church was called the "Rock" school.

Pioneer settlers in the area was Squire Mimms after whom the community was named. Mimm's bridge over Bib Cypress also gets its name from this early settler. Some of the direct descendants of this family still living is Mrs. Winnie Mimms Dean, an outstanding author who has written a number of books and magazine articles about the Jefferson and Mimm's Chapel area. Two of her recent books are "DIAMOND BESS" and "JEFFERSON QUEEN OF THE CYPRESS".

The Wickers are descendants of another pioneer settler. John Wicker, grandfather of Mr. Tom Wicker of Avinger and Bard Wicker of Mimm's Chapel came to Texas from Virginia before the Civil War. Messrs. Tom and Bard Wicker's mother was Nancy McCaslind of Lassater.

The first store at Mimm's Chapel was operated by Joe Goolsby where remains of old Jefferson Coffeyville road crossed present highway 729 at Sutton home place. There was also a Goolsby school near this point about 70 years ago named for this early family.

The Slaytons, ancestors of the Goolsbys, had a large plantation on a bluff overlooking Big Cypress before the Civil War. The remains of the chimneys and old wells of the old house and of a number of slave cabins are still visible.

Dr. Nash was a large landowner and well known doctor in the community. He built a foundry near the present railroad pond where he made pig iron, pots and other items. Mrs. Loyd (LaNell) Nash Brown is a direct descendant of this colorful individual.

TYLER FAMILY

Mimm's Chapel history wouldn't be complete without mention of the Tyler family. The first one to come into the area was Frank Tyler from Tennessee in the late sixties. He settled near big cypress where he acquired considerable acreage. A direct descendant of his is Mr. Ed Tyler of Avinger.

A prominent, industrious family in the community whose ancestors came later are the Browns, Major Brown, the original ancestor to come to Texas arrived from Alabama in about 1885. One of his sons with descendants still very active in community life and affairs was the late Kim Brown known for miles around during his lifetime as a progressive farmer. He married Miss Maud McNeil, a member of another outstanding family in the area, in 1908.

OTHER FAMILIES

Other early families in the area were the Alleys, Wimberleys, Suttons, Fites, and the Ferells. An early ancestor of this family was John Ferrell after whom Ferrel's bridge, much of the news of later, was named. Members of this same pioneer family are Sam and Emmet Ferrel of Rt. 2, Avinger whose father came from Tennessee in the '80's. Their mother, who was raised in Texas was a Sheppard.

HAD A RAILROAD

About forty years ago, Mimm's Chapel boasted a railroad, the Port Boliver and Iron Ore, also known as the Featherstone Road, because of its founder and developer, Colonel Featherstone. There were high hopes of the place becoming a future metropolis when the Colonel's line became extended to within a mile or so of the church and began to haul out large quantities of washed iron ore and lumber. On one occasion a big picnic was given in honor of Colonel Featherstone, who hailed originally from Pennsylvania.

The old right-of-way, dotted with many old rotten ties, is still visible. A pretty little artificial lake, known as the railroad pond is still there, the water having been backed up by a long railroad fill which makes up the dam.