Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church History

Foreword Introduction The Ground You Walk on Has A History Texas History from Independence to the Formation Of Panola County European Rule in Texas First Baptist Sermon In Texas From Settlements to Rebellion And Independence Early History of Pre-Panola County Establishment of Panola County and Carthage Murvaul, Texas General Data Timeline Interesting Facts from the Timeline Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church: Early History Early History of Murvaul Baptist Church and Concurrent Events that Preceded the Organization Pastors of Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church Today Points of Interest Footnotes

Foreword

As a Baptist minister, I have thoroughly acquainted myself with church history. As a native of Northeast Texas, I strive to educate myself in Texas history, specifically as it pertains to the several counties and communities in which I have served and lived. It is in the pursuit of this latter interest that I have been able to study the history of Panola County and the Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church.

In the study and recording of history, one finds that very little material will be original with the author. the following information has been compiled from historical sources and other records on file at the Murvaul Baptist Church. For many years these records were faithfully maintained and preserved by Mrs. Beatrice Mason, the church clerk, however, the earliest church records are the works of many different people. While it is not possible to name all the clerks who ever served the church, it must be noted that the material herein is their work. All outside sources and the works of authors not affiliated with the church have been documented.

This material is prayerfully submitted in the hope that it sparks a greater interest in church and local history.

Introduction

This little overview begins with prehistory. Specifically, it commences with the prehistory of the land that became Texas. It then proceeds to cover, very quickly, a period of time ranging from the 1500's to the organization of the Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church in 1902.

I am very aware that this is much more material than can be adequately covered in twenty or so pages, but my purpose has not been to write a detailed account of history. Herein, the history of Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church has been placed alongside the better known events of Texas history. This has been undertaken so that we may gain a better understanding and appreciation of the endurance and continuity of our church.

Beyond this, it cannot be denied that the past is just plain interesting. It holds unique information that we have forgotten, or never even knew. How many of us know that our church clerks used to refer to our church as the "Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church of Christ?" This is unthinkable today because of denominational differences, but it was once common.

Who would have expected that some of the residents of Panola County once held the occupation of an ostler¹? How common is the knowledge that, in 1860, only three people in Panola County identified themselves as ministers? Facts such as these are generally not known, but they are fascinating.

This is not the first time someone has written about the history of Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church, but it is the first time the subject has been approached from this particular perspective. I hope you gain understanding and a greater interest in this material.

The Ground You Walk On Has A History

It was made by God. It was and is inhabited by man, but man does not possess the omniscience of his Creator. Sometimes the knowledge of entire continents was lost. Thus it was with the ground you walk on.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America. By the early 1500's, Spanish adventurers were exploring the land that would become Texas. Not far behind were the equally adventurous French, who would make many journeys into the interior. Each of these representatives of European power would soon discover a fact well known to modern history: the "New World" was not so new, after all. In fact, it was populated by entire nations of people.

In Panola County and throughout Northeast Texas, it is not uncommon to find evidence of these first residents. In some places, all one need do is walk through a recently plowed field to discover the remains of their culture (surface finds such as potsherds or arrowheads). Most of the time the artifacts of the people are better known than the identity of the people themselves, but the information does exist for those who will seek it out.

The State of Texas was formerly the home of many American Indian tribes. In East Texas there existed a large group, now collectively referred to as the Caddo Indians². the Caddo were not strictly a single tribe, but rather a number of tribes. There were in fact more than two dozen tribes of these people.

A few of the Caddo tribes were independent. Others joined together into one of three confederacies. These were the Kadohadacho, who lived at least as far north as the Oklahoma-Texas border; the Natchitoches, near the vicinity of the modern town of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and the Hasinai confederacy. It is in the Hasinai³ that we will be particularly interested.

The Hasinai confederacy consisted of at least eight individual tribes⁴. They were an agricultural society and, along with other Caddo tribes, they are remembered for their success in farming the alluvial terraces of Texas rivers. Before the colonization of their homeland such things as flood control were unknown. Thus, the rivers could be expected to flood and redeposit rich topsoil on a regular basis. This led to the very successful production of "Three-Sisters" type gardens (corn, beans, and squash), as well as sunflower seeds and tobacco.

The Hasinai form of government appears to have been something of a theocracy⁵, centered in the leadership of a priest-chief known as a Xinesi. the religion itself is obscure; however it follows the general Mississippian pattern common to the Southeastern Indians. One feature associated with the Caddo religion is the temple mound - artificial foundations of earth onto which were built temples and other structures.

The Hasinai (the tribe proper) were removed to Oklahoma in 1859, but they and the confederacy that was called by their name play an important part in the history of the ground you walk on. Although they have not been present in Texas for many years, the state itself takes its name from a Caddo word meaning, "friend," and today the Hasinai are often referred to as the "Texas Indians." They made their home in the area of modern day Panola County, with the Sabine River marking the general boundary between themselves and the northern (Kadohadacho) confederacy⁶

Texas History From Independence To the Formation Of Panola County

European Rule In Texas

At the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, the areas west of the Mississippi River were claimed by France and Spain. By 1803, the United States had acquired the French claim in the famous Louisiana Purchase. That part of North America west and south of the Louisiana Purchase was still claimed and loosely administered by Spain. It was secured from European rule in 1821 when Mexico won its independence. the new country promptly claimed all Spanish territories for itself.

First Baptist Sermon In Texas

During the rule of both Spain and Mexico, all religious activities not sanctioned by the state church were banned. Despite this, records indicate that the first Baptist sermon in Texas was delivered in 1820, one year prior to Mexican independence, by Joseph Bays. Joseph Bays was a preacher who had joined with a group of Missourians traveling to assist Moses Austin in his efforts to colonize Texas. While camped at Camp Sabine (directly across the Sabine River from Texas) Bays preached to the Missourians. When word of his preaching reached the Texas side of the river, he was invited over to preach by some of the Texans, and this was the occasion for the first Baptist sermon in Texas. (Bays was soon ordered to cease his activities by the authorities of the state church, but chose to ignore the order.)⁷

From Settlements To Rebellion And Independence

During its time as a part of the Republic of Mexico, men worked to settle the land of Texas. In 1820, Moses Austin had received permission from the Spanish government to set up a colony in Texas. When he died, his plans were carried out by his son, Stephen F. Austin. Another man, Hayden Edwards, attempted to set up an independent republic. This took place from 1826-1827 and met with failure.

Within fifteen years of Mexican independence from Spain, its government was overthrown by General Santa Anna, who established himself as dictator (C.A. 1833). After this, the residents of Texas revolted, declaring independence in 1836 and, after a series of memorable battles such as the famous last stand at the Alamo, achieving it that same year. Thus, Texas was a part of Mexico for only fifteen years.

Early History Of Pre-Panola County

From about 1833-1840 is an interesting time in the history of (what would later become) Panola County. the first Anglo settlers entered the area by coming down the Red River or traveling a trail referred to as Trammel's Trace. the trace was an Indian trail, which later became the western boundary of Panola County.

In 1833, the first known Anglo settlement in our area was established by a man named Daniel Martin, who had originally planned to join Stephen F. Austin's colony. the Martin party entered the area by way of Trammel's Trace and camped near a creek (Martin Creek), west of Beckville. the group determined not to travel farther and established a trading post and a fort for defense. Around this same time another group, led by the Reverend Isaac Reed, was established near the location of modern day Clayton.

Establishment of Panola County and Carthage

By 1840, the number of settlers had increased, with at least forty-nine families established in the area that would become Panola County. It was also in this year that the boundary between the Republic of Texas and the United States (the line that later became the county's eastern boundary) was established. At this time, just four years after Texas Independence, there was no still no such thing as a Panola County, but its formation would quickly follow in 1846, when the Texas Legislature established the new county from Shelby and Harrison counties.

It is unclear how the name "Panola" was chosen, but the word itself is derived from ponolo, the Cherokee word for "cotton." It is commonly believed that the name was first suggested to Isaac Van Zandt (the author of the act that established the county and the man for whom Van Zandt County was named) by Judge John Allison, the county's first chief justice. Allison had formerly lived in Panola County, Mississippi, and had raised cotton.

The city of Carthage, even before it officially had a name, was nominated as a candidate for county seat (C.A. 1846-1847). It shared this honor with another small town name Pulaski (either nine or fifteen miles east of Carthage, depending on what source one consults⁸), which had initially been named as county seat but did not meet the required location (it was too far away from the center of the county). In an 1848 election, voters chose Carthage to be county seat. Spearman Holland, a former member of the Tennessee legislature who represented Panola County in both the House and the Senate, is responsible for giving Carthage its name. He had formerly lived in Carthage, Mississippi.

Murvaul, Texas

When turning from Panola County to the study of Murvaul, information becomes disappointingly scarce. As concerning the founding of the community itself, it is apparent that specific details must be lost. Every source and history book declares that the area was settled around the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), but this appears to be the extent of our knowledge⁹. No source will even offer conjecture as to how the community may have received its name. It is not known if "Murvaul" is the name of a pioneer family (I have not found that name in census records) or a place name from somewhere in the eastern United States. Frustrating as it is, the information remains unknown.

General Data

What is known about the Murvaul Community is sketchy. Here are a few facts that are commonly available, in no particular order:
the area was settled around the time of the Civil War (1861-1865)
the Murvaul area had a population of about 200 in 1888.
At around 1900, Murvaul was a stop on the Texas and Gulf Railroad.
A post office operated at Murvaul for a number of years. Occasionally it was discontinued and the mail rerouted, but it would eventually open again. the post office was first established in 1874. It was discontinued permanently on February 28, 1918. the first postmaster was Frank A. Hudson; the last was Jos. N. Morris¹⁰ [sic].
After World War II, county maps showed a second community called Murvaul. It was located on Farm Road 699 eight miles southeast of Carthage¹¹.

Timeline

If we put the dates of Texas/county history on a timeline and end with the organization of the Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church, we can gain a sense of our place in history:
Prehistory -1859 Hasinai (Caddo) Confederacy
1500's Spanish begin explorations of Texas
1500's - C.A. 1800 Spanish and French claim Texas
1803 Louisiana Purchase
1820 Joseph Bays preaches first known Baptist sermon in Texas
1820 Moses Austin receives permission from Spanish government to start a colony in Texas
1821 Mexico wins independence from Spain (becomes the Republic of Mexico)
C.A. 1833 Santa Anna overthrows Mexican government and becomes dictator
1833 Daniel Martin settles near Beckville
1836 Texas gains independence and becomes the Republic of Texas
1840 Forty-nine families living in what would be Panola County
1846 Texas Legislature establishes Panola County from Shelby and Harrison counties
1848 Carthage, a previously unnamed town, becomes county seat
1861 - 1865 American Civil War; Murvaul Community settled
1874 Post Office established at Murvaul
1888 Murvaul reported a population of 200
1902 Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church organized in the Murvaul School House
1918 Post Office at Murvaul permanently closed

Interesting Facts From the Timeline

Murvaul MBC was organized 99 years after the Louisiana Purchase.
Murvaul MBC was organized 82 years after Joseph Bay's sermon.
Murvaul MBC was organized 66 years after Texas Independence.
Murvaul MBC was organized 56 years after the establishment of Panola County.
Murvaul MBC was organized approximately from 37-41 years after the settlement of the Murvaul Community/Civil War.

Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church: Early History

Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1902 by W.H. Williams and M.C. McChristian in the Murvaul School House. the first church building was dedicated in 1935¹². the Baptists and Methodists conducted joint services until 1952¹³. the present church building was dedicated the 2nd Sunday in September of 1954. A parsonage was erected the same year¹⁴. Ottie Reed and Augustus Downing were ordained to the ministry from her membership.

Some previous pastors include H. Allen, W.G. Griffith, H. Dry, Ottie Reed, O.H. Griffith, R.L. Hooper, Raymond Alexander, Barney Grant, D.S. Madden, A.D. Cockrum, Lynn McBryde, Joe Brooks, Winfred Robinson, Billy Pearson, J.T. McNabb, Don Hiser, Carrol Grigsby, John Marlor, Alton Denny, Danny Blevins, Jim Anderson, Mike Evans, Phil Griffith, Bob Womble, Mike Daniel, and Rob Hively. the current pastor is Bro. Scott Moore¹⁵.

The current fellowship hall was constructed in 1992 to replace a small portable building that had been used for several years. This fellowship hall was built almost entirely by members of the congregation. Eight classrooms were added in 1998¹⁶.

Early History of Murvaul Baptist Church and Concurrent Events that Preceded the Organization

In 1885 there was a country schoolhouse built near Payton Pope's residence seven miles southwest of Carthage, two and a half miles from Six Mile Baptist Church (organized 1866), and the schoolhouse was named "Peace and Harmony," but was generally known as the Pope School House. Several schools were taught by Dave Dubose, Will Ingraham, Mrs. Jennie Hull, Buddie Nelson, Dan Duke, Miss Gilly McCoy, and others. There was a Sunday School organized and occasionally there was preaching by Morris, Bryant, Roberts, and others. It was here that Eld. E. S. McLeroy preached his first sermon on the subject, "The Lost Man is Like Unto the Fool Man Who is lost In the Woods." [sic]

After a few years the Pope School House was removed to another location, about two miles east and located on lands of W. D. Todd, and it was afterward known as the Todd School House. the house was removed by Jim Koonce and Bob Butler for a consideration of twenty-five dollars. Several schools were taught at the new location by Billie Holmes, Myrtie Born, Olive Leach, Bennie Green, Julian Green, Jewell Boren and others. There was also a Sunday School organized at the new location and occasionally they had preaching by Daniel Koonce, Alfred Wilkerson, J. F. White, and others.

In 1901 Six-Mile Baptist Church extended an arm to a meeting held by J. A. Long, pastor of Six Mile Church, near the Todd School House, and Mrs. Nannie Daniels, Mrs. Linnie English, Frank Johnston, Will Tate and others joined and were baptized.

In 1902 a Baptist Church was organized at the Murvaul School House on the Santa Fe Rail Road near Murvaul Bayou, about one mile east of the Todd School House, by W. H. Williams and M. C. McChristian. the church has had four pastors, W. H. Williams, F. C. Roark, E. S. McLeroy, and H. M. Allen, the present Pastor, who has been the Pastor for sixteen consecutive years¹⁷.

The church met in the Murvaul School House from 1902 to 1917, when the School House at Murvaul was destroyed by fire and the church meetings were afterward held in the old Todd School House.

At the regular meeting in November (Sat. Nov. 15, 1924), the church received a deed to the Todd School House and lot and will either build or repair the old house in order that the Sunday School and church meetings may be held in the house during the winter months.

A. D. Pate and J. I. Bone are the Deacons; Mrs. Liza Todd is the Church Clerk, and H. M. Allen is the Pastor, Post Office Carthage, Texas¹⁸.

Pastors Of Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church

History Of Pastors¹⁹
1902-1947 W.H. Williams, F.C. Roark, E.S. McLeroy, H.M. Allen, W.G. Griffith, H.M. Dry (34-40), Ottie Reed (40-42), O.H. Griffith (42-47) Church met 1/4 time from organization in 1902 until 1949
1947-1950 R.L. Hooper Church went from 1/4 time to 1/2 time in 1949
1950 J.R. Alexander Note: Filled pulpit for three months
1951-1953 Barney A. Grant Church went from 1/2 time to full time in 1952. Note: D.S. Madden filled pulpit for two weeks in 1953
1954 A.D. Cockrum Term ended in 1955
1955-1960 Lynn McBryde Term ended in 1961
1961 Joe R. Brooks Term ended in 1962
1962-1963 Winford Robinson Term ended in 1964
1964 Billy Pearson Term ended in 1965
1965-1966 J.T. McNabb, Jr. Term ended in 1967
1967 Don Heiser Term ended in 1968
1968-1970 Carroll Grigsby Other records note term from 1968-1969
1971 John Marlar Other records note term from 1970-1972
1972-1973 Rusty Denny Other records note term from 1972-1974
1974-1975 Danny Blevins Term ended in 1976
1976-1978 Jim Anderson Term ended in 1979
1979-1981 Michael Evans Term ended in 1982
1982 Philip W. Griffith, Sr. Term ended in 1983
1983-1984 Bob Womble 1984-1987 Mike Daniel Unclear whether term ended in 1987 or 1988
1988-1996 Robert Hively Started in 1987 or 1988
1997-2002 Scott Moore
2002-2004 Robert Dillon
2004- Bobby Peek Started August 2004

Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church Today

The Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church continues to operate as the God-ordained institution commissioned to and charged with taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Its membership is active and although the rural area in which it is located is slow in numeric growth, the church continues to add to her membership. the church is active in all phases of mission support and is focused on the redemptive work of Christ as undertaken and completed at Calvary.

Each member of the Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church is very aware that he or she exists to be a servant of Jesus Christ. To that end, we make it our duty to do three things: We reach out, we spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we share the love of God as commanded by Christ.

The Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church still conducts Sunday School and three preaching services each week. Its Bible teaching ministries are oriented toward all age groups - there is something offered for everyone. If the church is small numerically, it certainly cannot be said that it is small spiritually.

Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church is 103 years old at the time of this writing (2005). We trust in our Lord that she will continue to reach people, teach people, and proclaim the Gospel to the lost world, and that she will still be so doing when our Redeemer returns. Our doors are open to you, and we welcome you to join us at any time.

Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church
3390 FM 10
Carthage, TX 75633
Reaching Out - Spreading the Gospel - Sharing the Love

Points Of Interest

Times have certainly changed since the church was organized. the following historical points will show just how much. Other, general interest items are included as well:
In 1931, church services were cancelled because of rain.
Also in 1931, a vote of thanks was given to an individual who had blessed the church with the gift of a gasoline lamp.
In 1934, a business meeting was held. the minutes were not read because the clerk had moved away.
Again in 1934, the pastor was paid with an offering of $8.42 in "fruit and money."
An unknown hand inserted this note on a sheet of paper: "In 1929, the church ceased to be until August 1934. Bro. H.M. Dry held a revival under a brush arbor in Nov. 1934. Plans for a new church were discussed. Was built by Bap-Methodist Church dedicated May 1935." Note: This cannot be completely correct. In 1932, the church accepted a member by letter.
In an 1860 census, three people in Panola County identified themselves as ministers: one Methodist, one Minister O.S.B., and one Minister/Farmer O.S.B. Note: O.S.B. is an abbreviation for "Order of Saint Benedict," a Roman Catholic organization.
Other 1860 occupations include livery stable workers, mail riders, and tavern bar keepers.
In 1850, there were twelve blacksmiths in Panola County.
Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church is 22 years older than the American Baptist Association.
In 103 years, the church has had 30 pastors, excluding present pastor. Thus, the average stay of a pastor has been only three years and three months.
In 1922, the church clerk noted that the minutes for August had "disappeared, as miraculous as this seems."
In 1934, the church voted to buy a new record book because the old one was filled up.
In 1952, the church voted to let the Methodist church have the collection plate. the Methodists paid $3.50 for it.
In 1935, the church voted to work on the new church building on a Monday because it was too wet to plow.

Footnotes

1. An ostler is a person employed in a stable to take care of horses.
2. the Caddo Indians are presently located near Anadarko, Oklahoma.
3. the Indians of Texas. This tribe was variously called Asenai, Assoni, Asenay, and Cenis by early writers and explorers. the Handbook of Texas Online gives other names including Aseney, Asinai, Asinay, Assinais, and Iones.
4. According to the Indians of Texas, these are Hainai, Neches, Nacogdoche, Nacono, Namidish, Nasoni, Anadarko, "and perhaps [the] Nabedache."
5. A government ruled a by religious authority, as seems to have been the case with the Xinesi.
6. the Indians of Texas.
7. This fascinating piece of history is found in Missionary Baptists In Texas 1820-1998, by Dr. O.H. Griffith. Bro. Griffith was pastor of the Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church from 1942-1947.
8. It is not unusual for communities with the same name to come into existence near to one another. Pulaski was the first county seat of Panola County. It is honored with a historical marker located on the Sabine River, (on a private road between FM 31 and FM 2617).
9. This information has eluded me completely, if it exists at all.
10. Jim Wheat's Postmasters & Post Offices of Texas, 1846 - 1930.
11. the Handbook of Texas Online.
12. Minutes note "Methodist services in P.M. Baptist services in A.M.".
13. It was the Baptists who initiated the separation. Murvaul Missionary Baptist Church and Murvaul.