Harris Chapel Methodist Church

Information was given to Marylee Knight by Olive Allen Acker for submission

Joe L. Harris came from Georgia to Texas in 1858 and built the first house in what later came to be called Harris Chapel. His home was near the present Harris Chapel Cemetery. He must have built a small cabin for a school also; for he was the first teacher at Pilgrim Rest, as it was first called.

Mrs. Olive Acker, local historian, says, "A few years before his death, Mr. Harris donated five acres of land to the Methodist Church." That land donation shows on Deed Records for December 22, 1871. The deed was from "J. L. Harris to J. W. Yarborough and Others, Trustees of M. E. Church, South." H. Pollard, District Clerk, signed the file.

Mrs. Acker also says, "A Methodist Church was built at the southwest corner of Harris Chapel Cemetery, around 1880."

Mr. Harris died in 1885 and is buried in an unmarked grave in this cemetery. Perhaps, for a few years before the church was built, meetings were held in homes or summer revivals under brush arbors. PANOLA WATCHMAN for July 23, 1873, announced that Rev. J. R. Bellamy (pastor at Carthage) would hold a "Protracted Meeting" at Harris Chapel the next week. Evidently, this was a brush arbor meeting.

"Harris Chapel Church Register for M. E. Church, South" is a treasured volume preserved from the early years of that church by the Yarborough Family. It is a listing of members, giving the years when each person joined the church and the minister who received the member; but it does not tell where the reception into the church took place. Some were Methodists long before this church was organized.

Beyond a doubt, "Circuit Riders" preached at communities any time a group could be assembled, even though there were no church buildings. Those on the Harris Chapel Membership list were Methodists before this church was built (1880) including the following twenty-one members: Eliner E. Allen, Rachel Brasher, J. Wiley Yarborough, Elisabeth R. Harris, Martha A. Yarborough, Richard H. Brasher, Joseph M. Langley, Nancy Langley, Martin M. Allison, C. D. Mahon, Jr., C. D. Mahon, Sr., Mary A. Brasher, Dora A. Frances, Samuel J. Brasher, M. J. Mahon, Mollie P. Craig, Dora Frances, William C. Craig, J. T. Harris, Willie Watson, J. Montaree Brasher, and Frank D. Harris.

"In 1904, the Methodist Church disbanded. The building was bought by J. W. Bowen and moved off the premises," explains Mrs. Acker.

After the church ceased to function, several attempts were made to get the cemetery land into the hands of the people of the neighborhood. Finally, 1930, the Texas Conference donated "approximately three and three-fourths acres to Harris Chapel Cemetery."

Ministers (correct) named in Harris Chapel Methodist Church Record Book included three who were pastors: Joseph M. Smith (1884-1888), Leonidas C. Ellis (1888-1890) and T. B. Vinson (1890-91).

Circuit Riders and area preachers who were named in connection with the care of the members were:
Jeff Shook (first date named)
M. C. Simpson
W. W. Caulder (Pastor at Carthage, 1858-60)
J. R. Bellamy (Pastor at Carthage, 1866-70)
G. W. Lentz (First Pastor at Carthage in 1856; lived in Panola County and was probably a Local Preacher)
J. C. A. Bridges (Pastor at Carthage, 1873-76)
J. R. Wages (correct)
J. M. Mills (Pastor at Carthage, 1876, 1883-84)
J. M. Bond
J. B. Hall (Pastor in Beckville Circuit, San Augustine District, 1884)
George Langley (Pastor in Beckville Circuit, 1899)

Three of the pastors of Harris Chapel who are named above served charges in the area before or after serving at Harris Chapel:
J.M. Smith, Beckville Circuit Pastor, 1885
L.C. Ellis, Pastor at Carthage, 1890
T.B. Vinson, Pastor Deberry Circuit, Marshall District, 1892

The title sheet in the Old Record Book has the following information
HARRIS CHAPEL CHURCH REGISTER, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH; (Notice: Not being able to arrange a complete Pastor's Roll, I have commenced it with the name of J.M. Smith, L.C. Ellis, July 19, AD 1889)

Harris Chapel Society, Beckville Circuit, East Texas Conference, M. E. Church, South, 1889 Register of Members

No.	Name	When Rec'd	How	Minister	Death, Disposal or Other Information
1	Elinor E. Allen	Oct. 1842	Ritual	Jeff Shook
2	Rachel Brasher	Sept. 1853	Ritual	M. C. Simpson
3	J. Wiley Yarborough	Sept. 1857	Ritual	W. W. Caulder
4	Martha Yarborough	Sept. 1859	Ritual	W. W. Caulder
5	Elizabeth R. Harris	Aug. 1858	Ritual	W. W. Caulder
6	Richard H. Brasher	Aug. 1862	Ritual	W. W. Caulder	Death: April 189?
7	Joseph M. Langley	Nov. 1867	Restor	J. R. Bellamy
8	Nancy Langley	Nov. 1867	Restor	J. R. Bellamy
9	Martin M. Allison	Aug. 1869	Ritual	J. R. Bellamy	Death: 09/27/18??
10	G. D. Mahon, Jr.	Aug. 1873	Ritual	G. W. Lentz	by letter
11	G. D. Mahon, Sr.	Aug. 1873	Ritual	G. W. Lentz
12	J. Mentree Brasher	Aug. 1873	Ritual	G. W. Lentz	Death: Aug. 1893
13	Frank D. Harris	Sept. 1873	Ritual	G. W. Lentz
14	Mary A. Brasher	Sept. 1873	Ritual	G. W. Lentz
15	Dora A. Francis	Sept. 1874	Ritual	J. C. A. Bridges
16	Samuel J. Brasher	Sept. 1874	Ritual	J. C. A. Bridges
17	M. J. Mahon	Sept. 1874	Ritual	J. C. A. Bridges	Transferred to Beckville
18	Mollie P. Craig	Aug. 1875	Ritual	J. C. A. Bridges	by letter, 2/15/1891
19	Dora A. Frances	Sept. 1874	Ritual	J. C. A. Bridges
20	William C. Craig	Aug. 1876	Ritual	J. R. Wagnon
21	J. T. Harris	Sept. 03, 1879	Ritual	J. M. Mills	by letter, 1/2/1893
22	Willie Watson	Sept. 03, 1879	Ritual	J. M. Mills	by letter, 1892
23	Robert M. Echols	Aug. 1880	Ritual	J. M. Mills	Death: 02/14/189?
24	Elisabeth V. Echols	Aug. 1880	Ritual	J. M. Mills	by letter
25	N. America Echols	Aug. 1880	Ritual	J. M. Mills
26	Mattie E. Echols	Aug. 1881	Ritual	J. M. Bond	Death: 8/7/1891
27	Martin A. Echols	Aug. 1882	Ritual	J. B. Hall	Death 1890
28	M. Texas Echols	Aug. 1882	Ritual	J. B. Hall	by letter
29	M. Lou R. Echols	Aug. 1882	Ritual	J. B. Hall
30	Bill Harris	Aug. 1883	Transfer	George Langley
31	Bettie Harris	Sept. 1882	Transfer	George Langley	Marriage to W. E. Fort, 11/16/1890 by L.C. Ellis
32	Ada E. Odom	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Death: 10/28/1892
33	Annie E. Allison	Aug. 1883	Ritual	J. B. Hall
34	Beele Harris	Aug. 3, 1885	Transfer	George Langley
35	Ada E. Watson	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
36	Joshua P. Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
37	R. Elasabeth Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
38	Mattie Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
39	Sina Virginia Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Death: 1891
40	Emily Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	to Baptist Church
41	James B. Chamness	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
42	Mary Chamness	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	gone to Campbellites, 1891
43	Cary A. Coats	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
44	Vinnie H. Coats	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
45	J. Pink Allen	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
46	Effie E. Allen	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
47	Mollie A. Allen	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
48	Jane A. Livingston	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
49	Missouri C. Livingston	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Death: 1890
50	M. James Livingston	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
51	Laura Livingston	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
52	Martin Bell	Sept. 3, 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
53	M. Eugene Yarborough	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
54	Allice V. Yarborough	Sept. 1888	Certif.	J. M. Smith
55	George R. Frances	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
56	W. A. Brasher	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
57	Richard S. Brasher	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
58	Beatrice Brasher	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
59	William M. Watts	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Transferred to Beckville, 1891
60	Annie O. Watts	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Transferred to Beckville, 1891
61	Haywood Campbell	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Dropped by Church Order
62	Elisabeth Downs	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Married Lou Morton, Jan. 1893, by J. A. Crawford
63	Limeda Downs	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
64	W. J. Downs	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
65	E. J. Downs	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Married to John Flowlan, 1892
66	Rebecca Clark	Sept. 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
67	T. B. Black	April 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Withdrew by Certificates, June 21, 1891
68	Viola Perry	April 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
69	M. A. Perry	April 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
70	Bula Perry	April 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
71	Mary Bonds	April 1888	Ritual	J. M. Smith
72	Mary J. Downs	July 24, 1889	Ritual	L. C. Ellis
73	Maranda F. Barber	July 25, 1889	Ritual	L. C. Ellis
74	Nancy E. Downs	July 1889	Ritual	L. C. Ellis	Married to Robert Morton, 1891
75	William C. Black	July 1889	Ritual	L. C. Ellis	Dropped by Church Order
76	Ida Lee Brasher	July 1889	Ritual	L. C. Ellis	married Silas Holtzclaw, 1889; transferred to Baptist, 1890
77	Bettie Harris Fort	Nov. 16, 1890	Transfer	J. B. Hall
78	Ida Lee Holtzclaw	1889	Transfer	J. B. Hall
79	William B. Marshall	Nov. 15, 1890	Transfer	J. B. Hall
80	Ellen N. Marshall	Nov. 15, 1890	Transfer	J. B. Hall
81	Catherine Watts	Nov. 15, 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis	Death: 01/18/1891
82	Bettie Bowen	Nov. 15, 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
83	Maggie E. Lee	Nov. 15, 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis	Transferred to Beckville, April 19, 1891
84	Mary V. Clark	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
85	J. Albert	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
86	Eugene Baxter	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
87	Viola R. Baxter	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
88	Maude A. Baxter	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
89	John D. Pugh	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
90	M. Adaline Pugh	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
91	Della Davidson	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
92	Fannie Davidson	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
93	R. Nuton Davidson	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
94	Frank T. Lampkin	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis	by letter, Jan. 28, 1893
95	E. Emma Brand	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
96	J. Middle Lee	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
97	Mary E. Lee	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis	Transferred to Rock Hill
98	Walter A. Lee	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
99	William R. Davidson	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis
100	Ward Grandy	Aug. 1890	Transfer	L. C. Ellis	Dropped by Church Order
101	M. H. Johnson	June 21, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
102	Mary Morton	June 21, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson	Dropped 1893
103	Mary Pruitt	June 21, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
104	S. S. Pruitt	June 21, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
105	Eddie Barber	Sept. 27, 1891	Ritual	T. B. Vinson
106	M. Ida Downs	Oct. 1891	Ritual	T. B. Vinson	Married to A. J. Williams, Jan. 1893, by J.A. Crawford
107	Hubbord Foster	Oct. 1891	Ritual	T. B. Vinson
108	Alma Bonds	July 28, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
109	M. Laura Yarborough	Nov. 15, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
110	William H. Foster	Nov. 15, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
111	Mary J. Foster	Nov. 15, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
112	Danille M. Foster	Nov. 15, 1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
113	M. F. Williams	1893	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
114	Samuel Foster	1891	Certif.	T. B. Vinson
115	Nancy E. Warton	1891	Certif.	L. C. Ellis
116	M. E. Daley	May 15, 1892	Certif.	W. M. McAnally
117	Mollie Slaughter	May 15, 1892	Ritual	W. M. McAnally
118	Elizabeth Morton	Jan. 1893	Ritual	J. M. Smith	Following marriage-- Elizabeth Downs

A second roll gave only sixty-three of the members above. No date was given for the list.

A third roll gave thirty members, and gave no data for most of them. One gets the idea that the church was declining rapidly in membership.

1	E. E. Allen
2	J. P. Allen
3	J. W. Yarborough
4	M. H. Yarborough
5	W. E. Yarborough
6	Alice V. Yarborough
7	M. L. Yarborough
8	M. H. Allen
9	Bettie Bowen
10	M. H. Pugh
11	G. R. Francis
12	Dora Francis
13	M. G. Bonds
14	T. E. Barber				Removed by Conference Action
15	Alec Sharp
16	Ella Sharp				Death, June, 1896
17	R. S. Brasher
18	Rachel Brasher
19	J. M. Langley
20	Nancy Langley
21	J. B. Chamness
22	Viola Perry
23	Alma Williams
24	Mary Pelliam
25	Bettie Barber	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues	Removed by Conference
26	C. A. Barber	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues
27	Alice Barber	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues
28	Viola Wilson	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues
29	Minnie Wilson	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues
30	W. F. Skinner	Aug. 1895	Ritual	Rev. Hues

Six marriages were given in the book as follows:

W.E. Fort	to Bettie Harris	Nov. 16, 1890 by L. C. Ellis
Silas Holtzclaw	to I. Lee Brasher	1889
Robert Morton	to Nancy E. Downs	1891
John Flowers	to E. J. Jones	1892
Son Morton	to Elisabeth Downs	Jan. 1893 by J. A. Crawford
A. J. Williams	to M. I. Downs	1893

The Record Book ends with the following Register of Baptisms:

Nancy E. Downs	July 25, 1889	Leonidas C. Ellis
William C. Black	July 25, 1889	Leonidas C. Ellis
T. E. Barber	Sept. 27, 1891	T. B. Vinson
W. E. Downs	Oct. 18, 1891	T. B. Vinson
William B. Marshall	Oct. 18, 1891	T. B. Vinson
E. N. Marshall	Oct. 18, 1891	T. B. Vinson
James A. Marshall	June 28, 1891	T. B. Vinson
William H. Foster	June 28, 1891	T. B. Vinson
Mary J. Foster	June 28, 1891	T. B. Vinson
Mary E. Foster	June 28, 1891	T. B. Vinson