While waiting for the machinery to arrive Capt. Salter impressed one out
of every ten slaves in Robertson Co. to dig and burn brick for the
building of the factory. The building was completed near the end of the
War between the States and the final outcome was the investors lost
everything they had sunk in the venture for the Confederacy.
While there were no visible land scars to remind the new State of Texas
of the war, financial loss in Robertson Co., Texas was considerable with
private citizens outfitting and maintaining their troops. The death of
its young men and the maimed and crippled veterans returning was a
staggering toll on the youth of the community....a mute reminder of the
war which should never have been fought.
In 1860 a number of progressive Citizens of Wheelock assembled
themselves under a big oak tree and there pledged themselves, their
means and every energy to the creation of a Community building which
could meet the requirements for public assemblies of all kinds. The
building was 60 feet wide by 80 long, two stories tall with a belfry
over 40 feet making the structure nearly 70 foot from ground to bell.
Wheelock Prairie provided the cedar and oak for the timbers to be hewn
for the Community building. Finishing lumber was ox-team freighted from
Huntsville or Houston. Stone for the foundation was quarried in the
nearby hills. It took four years to build and was the site of all the
preaching, marrying, burying, and town meetings for years to come.
The Community spirit was shown in the use of the big building as a
Community Church with preachers of all sects using the hall for their
meetings. Rev. W. E. Penn, an evangelist of the Baptist denomination,
preached hellfire and damnation with convincing vigor from the platform
of the Community Church building. An ex-major of thc Confederate Army,
Penn, a huge bundle of energy six feet two and over 200 pounds, often
led three or four services in a day doing the preaching and singing for
all. Gov. Lawrence Sullivan Ross was one of Penn's 16,9000 converts,
credited to him within the five state area of his evangelizing.
In 1835 Rev. Isaac Addison moved into Robertson Colony and established
the first Methodist Church on San Antonio Prairie. Pastor Robert
Crawford, hero of San Jacinto, was Circuit Rider in 1840 of the
Nashville Mission, which included Wheelock, Tinnian and Old Franklin.
Brothers George and Joseph Steed were preachers at Staggers Point. Rev.
Robert Alexander, a greatly loved Methodist preacher, held services in
Wheelock.
Saddlebags of the traveling preacher held his Bible, hymn books, his few
changes of clothing, cold food that would stand up under the Texas
weather.....deer jerkey, cold corn pone, dried peaches or apples. Beside
all these items the preacher carried his rifle.
0ther preachers who came to Wheelock and held protracted meetings were
Rufus C. Burleson, R. E. B. Baylor, B. H. Carroll, and G. B. Cranfill.
At preaching time the men entered on the left of the building and sat on
the left hand side....women on the right. Baptizing was usually in the
clearest pool of the Little Brazos over beyond Hearne, sometimes a
nearby creek afforded sufficient water. Generally Baptist and Methodist
preaching men came along with the first settlers, Catholic priests
followed close behind, and Presbyterian, a bit more reticent and having
to take more time for formal education before being admitted to the
ministry than other protestant preachers....made a belated appearance in
the frontier towns.
The establishment of schools was of much concern to the settlers of the
Robertson Colony. In 1838 Franklin Academy in Franklin was the first
such institution. By 1858 there were 15 schools in the County. The
largest of these schools was taught by
=61 =
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The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.
It must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
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Last Blue Promise...Poetry and Links to All my Web Sites
http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/meath/45/index.html
OR
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Bistro/6720/index.html
...It is in silence where music lies...
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Listowner CARRINGTON and CAVITT surnames
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