Thursday, December 18, 2008

Electra, Texas


Electra owes its existence to three things:

•the huge Waggoner Ranch.¹ Headquartered in nearby Vernon, the half-million acre ranch is said to be the basis for the Reata Ranch in Edna Ferber's book Giant and the movie of the same name. The town was named after W. T. Waggoner's daughter, Electra (1882-1925).


•the arrival of the railroad. W. T. Waggoner successfully lobbied for a depot and switching yards to be built in Electra which allowed for the transportation of the ranch's cattle and provided jobs.

oil. The area needed water. W. T. Waggoner would have water wells dug, and as luck would have it, keep finding oil. But it wasn't until April Fool's Day, 1911, that Clayco No. 1 struck a gusher and the Electra Field began.

In 2001 the Texas Legislature named Electra the Pump Jack Capital of Texas.


The population fluxuated. It never became more than a town. The Handbook of Texas Online says that the population of Electra was about 500 in 1907, 1000 by 1910, 5000 just a few months after oil was discovered, 6712 and the most populous in 1936, 3599 in 1988 and 3168 as of the 2000 census.

Today water remains scarce. Three gas stations/convenience stores are the closest things to a grocery store there. The church where A. G. Abbott ministered has folded. The Texas Almanac describes Electra as a commuter town to Wichita Falls though it also mentions the annual goat barbecue. Blogs discourage people from moving there. One woman's account of Electra begins with a very unflattering title: A Fading Town...

My memories of Electra are not all that kind either. The wind and the red sand gave concrete an almost pinkish hue. Before the bypass was built, Highway 287 ran through the center of town, parallel to the railroad tracks. There were two traffic lights. One was odd and probably illegal today. On 287 the light was typical with red at the top and green at the bottom. On the side street,however, green was at the top and red at the bottom. Example. This saved money as only three bulbs were needed. There was the Oil City Barbershop, a one-screen movie theater and a furniture store downtown.

A. G. and Beth Abbott lived at 102 W. Wharton. See google map, and be sure to go to "street view." Their house was the second one from Main Street and faced downtown. The street was paved with brick. As was common in those days, the house had white asbestos siding. Each piece of siding was about 24" long and 12" high with a wavy bottom. They are, of course, illegal to make today and have largely been replaced by the James Hardie brand. The roof was green composite shingles. Air conditioning consisted of one window unit evaporative cooler , a black oscillating fan, one box fan and open windows. In the winter heat was provided by three individual room gas stoves (which sat on the floor and could be stored in the summer), the typical built-in bathroom gas stove and the kitchen oven when in use.

You entered the house into a foyer, large enough to greet guests yet too small for furniture. To the immediate left was what could be called a study. It was used to store A. G.'s books, a chest with his old army uniform and quilts, and sundry items that had yet to find a more permanent place in the house. To the right as you entered was the living room. It contained a green, somewhat uncomfortable sleeper sofa, swivel rocker, a television set that recieved three channels (channel 3, channel 6, and on a few days channel 7 out of Lawton), upright piano and a mantle clock that had a constant ticking and a bell that went off each quarter hour.

Directly behind the living room was the dining room. This was where the evaporative cooler was, and it blew directly onto the six-chair dining table. There was also a waist-high hutch to hold the china, silverware and fine dining linen.

Walking from the living room through the dining room was the kitchen. Upon the linoleum floor and in the center of the room was a 1950s era kitchen table and four chairs. The metal was chrome and the table top along with the chairs' vinyl or plastic seats and backs were red. The stove, Frigidaire refrigerator and double sink were white. The countertop was quite small but proportionate in size to the kitchen. There was a small pantry near the back door. Inside the refrigerator was a bottle of cooking wine which had only been used once. Breakfast was always eggs — poached, fried or scrambled to order, sometimes bacon or sausage and toast with preserves or the ever-present store-bought apple butter. Pecos cantaloupe was served at other meals when in season and Jello was always on the menu. It was in that kitchen that, at age 12, I learned to drink coffee — no cream, no sugar. The drink of everyone's choice at other meals was iced tea with a bit of mint which grew wild on the shaded side of the house. Other than that lonely bottle of cooking wine, alcohol was never available. I believe that wine was finally introduced to the drain.

To the left of, and with entrances from both the dining room and kitchen, was the hall. The only thing of significance there was the black rotary dial telephone sitting in a recess built into the wall. The norm of the day was party (telephone) lines. Incoming calls rang at all four households, but each with a distinctive ring. Local calls required dialing only four or five numbers. Long distance calls were considered expensive and often limited.

The hall connected the two bedrooms, with the bath inbetween. Due to age and the sleep difficulties associated with it, A. G. and Beth maintained separate bedrooms. Each bed was full-size. A. G.'s bedroom was toward the front of the house and had maple furniture. Beth's bedroom was at the back and had cherry furniture.

With the exception of the kitchen and bath, the house had wall-to-wall carpeting. I do not remember much artwork on the walls.

Just to the east of the house was a paved driveway. As was typical of the day and to save costs, the driveway consisted of two concrete runners to accomodate car tires. Between them was sparse grass. As the lot was narrow, the two-car garage was behind the house. The garage doors hung on rollers from the top and moved side-to-side, meaning both could not be open at the same time. At the front of one car space and on the concrete floor was an upturned kitchen sink meant to tell the driver how far to pull in. Since A. G. did most of the driving he generally drove the newest car. Beth seldom drove outside of town and had a copper colored 1957 Chevy Bel Air 4-door.

The kitchen had a back door that led to a small concrete porch with two or three steps. The back yard was a mixture of grasses while the front yard was primarily St. Augustine. At the far back was an alley where the trash was collected. The cicada was a common summer neighbor.

A. G. died in 1964 when I was 14 years old. Soon after, Beth moved to Sherman. Except for a quick drive through town around 1974, my memories of Electra ended with Beth's final 144 mile trip east.

¹one link

another link

yet another link

one last link











Monday, December 15, 2008

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

(Newspaper article¹)

REV. A. G. ABBOTT FATALLY INJURED IN WICHITA FALLS AUTO CRASH WED.

Rev. Arthur Guy Abbott, 76, of Electra was fatally injured in a two-car accident in Wichita Falls Wednesday morning in which three Oklahoma residents were injured.

The accident was reported to have occured about 9 a.m. on the Seymour Highway at Farm Road 369. Abbott was taken to Wichita Falls General Hospital where he died about 10:30 a.m. of multiple head injuries. He was alone in his car at the time of the crash.

Three occupants of the other car, Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Crass of Stroud, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Bonnie Wilson of Ada, Oklahoma, were injured.

Abbott was reportedly driving south on Farm Road 369 and was struck broadside by the auto driven by Crass which was headed east.

A retired pastor of the First Christian Church of Electra, Abbott resided in Electra at 102 W. Wharton. He retired in 1954 after serving the church here from 1944 to 1947 and then serving seven years as a state evangelist; however he had continued to serve churches at Truscott and Roaring Springs on alternate Sundays.

Rev. Abbott was born November 27, 1887, in New Market, Iowa. He entered the military service from Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University before entering the ministry.

Before coming to Electra he served at Quanah, Rule, Pecos and in the San Antonio area. His wife, Beth Ann, is a teacher at Dinsmore Elementary School in Electra where she is in her twentieth year of teaching.

Also surviving are one son, Roger Abbott of Longview; one daughter, Mrs. Homer Grigg of Sherman; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the chapel of the James B. Totten and Son Funeral Home. Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Park in Wichita Falls. Members of the Electra Ministerial Alliance will serve as pallbearers.

(Hospital paperwork²)

ATTENDING PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT

1. Name of deceased in full? Arthur Guy Abbott

Residence at time of death? 102 W. Wharton (P.O.Box 472), Electra, Texas

2. How long had you personally known deceased? 9/30/64

3. What was the apparent height, weight and age of deceased at beginning of last illness? Unknown

4. Date of your first visit, consultation or prescription in last illness? 9/30/64

5. Date of your last visit? 9/30/64

6. State cause of death as given in official certificate of death. If no such certificate was furnished, state disease which caused death.
Multiple injuries of head, abdomen, chest, laceration of scalp.

7. When and where did you receive your medical diploma? University of Oklahoma, 1958

8. What is your office address?

Street and number 1518 Tenth St.

City and state Wichita Falls, Texas

I do hereby affirm that I have carefully read the above questions and have written the answers thereto; that each and every one of said answers is full, complete and true to the best of my knowledge and belief; and that there are no material facts in the case which are not disclosed.

Date 10/17/64

Signature (possibly P. L. Stephenson MD)
Attending Physician

(Obituary)

See A. G. and Beth Abbott post.

(Death benefits)

Pension Fund of Disciples of Christ
Indianapolis (4), Indiana

Proof of Death and Claim for Widow's or Orphan's Pension or Death Benefit Under Pension Plan

CLAIMANT'S STATEMENT

1. Name of deceased in full? Arthur Guy Abbott

Residence at time of death? 102 W. Wharton (P.O.Box 472), Electra, Texas

2. Date of birth of deceased? November 27, 1887

3. Name of widow? Ann Elizabeth Abbott
Date of birth? February 15, 1900
Residence? 102 W. Wharton (P.O.Box 472), Electra, Texas

4. Date of marriage? November 24, 1921
Place of marriage? Fort Worth, Texas

5. Children: Name and date of birth of each?
Ida Margaret Abbott Grigg — October 5, 1922
Calvin Roger Abbott — June 5, 1925

6. Place, date and cause of death?
Place Wichita Falls, Texas
Date Sept. 30, 1964
Cause Automobile accident

¹most likely from the Electra Star News

²attached to the Pension Fund statement

Friday, December 12, 2008

Trivial Repute

This post is of little historical value. Hence the word Trivial used in the title. The letters, however, reflect upon the character of A. G. Abbott. Hence the word Repute used there also. It's simply a catchy title to help remind you to return to this post after you have examed most of the others. They are transcribed as written. My comments are in italics.
— — — — —
CITY OF SABINAL
SABINAL, TEXAS

A RESOLUTION OF THANKS.

At a meeting of the City Council Tuesday night December 5th the following resolution was passed.

1. WHEREAS WE: The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Sabinal, and the President and Directors of the Chamber of Commerce desire to express our deep appreciation to our friend and Brother, A.G.Abbott for the many services rendered the public as distributor of Red Cross supplies, and other civic activities while in our midst, and to wish him success and happiness in his new home.

2. That this resolution be published in the Sabinal Sentinel, recorded on the minutes of the City Council and Chamber of Commerce, and a copy given Mr Abbott.

Signed,
Mayor, W.E.Heard
Aldermen, K.T.Biggs
Frank Sutherland
G.W.Proctor
J.M.Fowler
J.P.Cullins
W.M.Fowler.

Pres Chamber of Commerce, H.G.Peters
Vice Pres H.M.Waldrip
Directors C.A.Griffin
W.O.Woodley
G.W.Proctor
H.L.Stuckey
Frank Sutherlan
Mrs Rosalie McCaule

A copy of the envelope apparently used to mail the copy to A. G. is at the bottom of the copy of the letter. The postmark is Dec (?) 1933. Postage was 1¢. The address was simply:
Rev. A.G.ABBOTT.
SABINAL TEXAS.
— — — — —
CAMPBELL & CAMPBELL ¹
Furniture & Undertakers Supplies

SPUR, TEXAS

March 6/30.

Mr A.G.Abbott:
Sabinal TExas:
Dear Preacher:

Dont kno of any one that might have left here, that I could miss more that I do you, it is lonesome, now more so that ever for when you were here, I always did look forward to your little visits to the Store, for they were always a pleasure.

I want to thank you for the many time that you have helped me, in kindness, deed, an they way you lived your life, you not only Preached it, but you lived it, an that is what we are needing now in this old world, more that any thing else, (A MAN THAT WILL PREACH, AN LIVE WHAT HE PREACHES.

I want you to kno that I valued your friend ship more maby that you thot for. I have not been around much, but I believe I kno a man when I have lived around him, as much as I did you.

Am sorry that you had to run into all of that bad weather, but Preach, it just stayed cold out here, an I thot several times, I did not kno wheather I could make it or not. For more than two weeks, I carried water from town out home, our mains froze up on us.

If I ever get down that way, I will see if you can remember, what you said about a few days on the river. Telll Rogers Howdy, give my best regards, to you an yours,

Yours, Webber.
(signature, possibly ?. B. Williams)

A copy of the envelope used to mail the letter to A. G. is at the bottom of the copy of the letter. The postmark is Mar 7 1930. Postage was 2¢ and the envelope had the postage printed on it rather than a stamp. There is no explaination as to why postage was more on this one than the letter mailed 3+ years earlier.
— — — — —
Except for the letterhead, this final letter is handwritten. It is transcribed as best possible. The date is unclear.

LEON F. HEARD
HARDWARE — HOUSE FURNISHINGS
COFFINS — FUNERAL SUPPLIES

Sabinal, Texas______________________192__

To Whom It May Concern
Bro & Sister Abbott have been with the Sabinal church nearly four years will be four years in Jan. Their work has been a successful one from the very first and today is in splendid condition. Our Midweek Prayer Meeting has for the entire time run well above fifty in attendance - This is about one third of the Membership. On those Meetings Mrs Abbott has with her group of teachers taken care of the young folks and children where they all were given splendid instruction in the Bible. Bro Abbott had charge of the adults
Bro & Sister Abbott are popular in the church and out of the church and are highly regarded by all for their honesty & (unreadable) service to the church and community.

In my opinion this is a (undecipherable) couple for work. They seem to never tire and today though planning on making a church are as attractive to the work as they have ever been. Frankly the church and town do not want them to go but our finances are growing bad on account of several contributors becoming unable to keep on. And we would not ask a further reduction in salary.

(unreadable) F. Heard
Chairman of the Board

¹http://www.spurtexas.com/

A Minister's Salary

Four photocopied documents were provided by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. They are printed forms with pertinent information handwritten in ink. One form, "Service Information," contains no added information. One form, "Information Schedule," is dated Nov 30, 1925, shows the address of Arthur G. Abbott as Rule, Texas, shows his Present ministerial position as pastor and shows the dates of birth of the four family members and the date of marriage which are all detailed elsewhere.

A third form, "Record of Ministerial Service," is also dated Nov. 30, 1925, and has the same person's handwriting as the one mentioned above. It lists the locations served, dates and salary. It is easily assumed that the salary is annual. One sentence of importance in the document is, In calculating salary, count the parsonage, if any as a 15% addition to the cash salary.
•Oil Field Church — Wichita Falls, Tex — $900.00 — Nov. 1919-1920
•Handley, Tex — $1200.00 — 1920-1921
Justin, Tex¹ — $1500.00 — 1921-1922
•Rule, Tex² — $1680.00 — 1922-

The fourth form, "Pension Fund of Disciples of Christ," is dated Sept. 8, 47. By this time A. G. and Beth were living in Electra, Texas, position listed is Evangelist, serving Texas Christian Missionary Society — Fort Worth, Texas. Salary listed is $3600.00 and No Parsonage is furnished.

¹This is the only mention of A. G. ever ministering in Justin.

²A parsonage was provided in Rule.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Why Attend Church?

The following is a one-page printed article, date and name of publication unknown, as provided by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. The copy appears to be the recto page of possibly a small pamphlet. Its significance here is that it was written by A. G. Abbott.

WHY ATTEND CHURCH?

TO WORSHIP GOD — We go to Church to wait quietly, thoughtfully in the presence of the Eternal. There one recognizes the Greatness and Goodness of God as our Creator, Preserver, Benefactor. Through Jesus Christ one sees in God a forgiving Father and in His presence he humbly bows in reverence, devotion and worship.

TO LEARN OF GOD — There is a certain knowledge of God that comes through study — the study of nature for "the heavens declare the glory of God;" the study of the Scripture for the Bible is God's revelation of himself; but there is a knowledge that can come only through experiencing God. A thoughtful, reverent service of worship helps us thus to know Him, "whom to know aright is life Eternal."

FOR INSPIRATION — This is not an easy world in which to live with honor, to keep one's heart high, do one's work well, face the rebuffs of fate and the blows of sorrow, and at last fall asleep unashamed. Only through the inspiration that comes through the association and fellowship with earnest people in the worship of God can one hope to receive power and strength for life's testing problems.

FOR SERVICE — The purpose of Church worship is not only that one may know God, but that through that knowledge and experience he may go out to serve mankind. "For the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life as a sacrifice for others."

— — — — —
"Forsake Not the Assembling of Yourselves Together." — Hebrews 10:25
— — — — —

Rev. A. G. Abbott, President of Quanah Pastors' Association

The space for this message contributed by Joe H. Anderson Sheet Metal Works in appreciation and cooperation with the Quanah Pastors' Association in THE CHURCH ATTENDANCE MOVEMENT.

Disciples of Christ Historical Society

I emailed this group requesting information on A. G. Abbott and received 18 copied pages about him from their files. Some of this information will be condensed as posted but all will be entered. This research sent by:
Sharman Hartson, Curator
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
1101 19th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
615.327.1444
hartson@discipleshistory.org

Their file began with a letter dated April 26, 1990, written by Margaret Abbott Grigg, daughter of A. G. and Beth Abbott.

Mr. James M. Seale, President
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
1101 Nineteenth Ave., South
Nashville, TN 37212

Dear Mr. Seale:

I am enclosing my check in the amount of $15.00 for a Regular membership in the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.

I was with a tour that visited your headquarters a few years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I was very impressed with your method of preserving our religious heritage.

In looking through your individual files, I did not find one for my father, Rev. A. G. Abbott. He was a Disciples of Christ minister for more than 50 years, beginning as a Timothy¹ from the First Christian Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. He served as student minister in Handley, Texas, then served as full time minister at the following Texas towns: Rule, Spur, Sabinal, Pecos, Belton, Taylor, Quanah, and Electra. He ended his full time ministry serving as the Rural State Evangelist through the Texas Christian Missionary Society. Following his retirement he served the churches in Truscott and Roaring Springs on week ends. He was killed in an automobile accident on September 30, 1964.

While I was touring your facilities I asked one of the employees if there could be a file established for my father. She suggested that I send some papers concerning his ministry. When I returned home I immediately began searching my files for appropriate items. I found a few, and had planned to search for more. As often happens with good intentions, these were put aside and forgotten until I was reading a recent issue of Discipliana. I decided I would at least send what I had found about my father, and then if you feel it would be appropriate, I would look for more.

Although my father did not serve large churches, I believe he was a very positive influence to those who knew and loved him. He and my mother both took the ministry seriously, and were full-time Christian servants.

I trust the enclosed items may be of interest.

Sincerely,
Margaret Abbott Grigg

¹The closest reference I can find to a "Timothy" is this link:
http://www.timothycc.org/AboutUs.dsp

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Perplexed, Confused, Bewildered

This one-page typewritten account had me stumped until I read it a few times. The Loretta Abbott Williamson mentioned here appears to be the same as Luretta Abbott Williamson mentioned in Long Ago & Far Away and other references, so the assumption can be made that Luretta is the correct spelling. She is the daughter of Isaac C. Abbott, who is the grandfather of A. G. Abbott, thus making her the aunt of A. G. Abbott.

The last sentence (?) does not end with a period so there may have been more to this account. True or embellished, the last paragraph is interesting reading. The Mary Jane Jenkins mentioned was the paternal grandmother of A. G. Abbott and Jenny Cunningham was his great grandmother.

(Information concerning Abbott history, from Dorothy Salomon. She stated that Loretta Abbott was our grandfather Abbott's sister. The following information was sent to Kenneth Abbott by Mrs. Edwin Allinger (834 Lakeview Drive, Redding California 96001), who was a niece of our grandfather Abbott.)

The following information is from Mary Salisbary who is Loretta Abbott Williamson's granddaughter.

Loretta Abbott Williamson was born Sept. 25, 1847 in Ohio (probably in or near Cincinatti). Died Dec. 27, 1912 at Hillsburo, Iowa where she is buried.

She had a daughter (Mary Salsbury's mother) Laura Emma Williamson Kelly who was born at Caly Grove¹, Iowa, Jan. 25, 1869. Died at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Jan. 5, 1953 and is buried at Houghton, Iowa. Married James Samuel Kelly who was born at La Crew, Iowa, Jan. 7, 1869. Died Oct. 4, 1943 at Iowa City. Buried at Houghton, Iowa.

The children of Laura and James Kelly:
James William, born at La Crew, Iowa Oct. 25, 1892
Samuel Oran born at La Crew, Iowa Oct. 7, 1896. Died Oct. 12, 1970 at Davenport, Iowa.
Mary Emma Hattie Kelly Salisbury, born at La Crew, Iowa, Nov. 16, 1900.

Some of the remembrances of Abbott family of Mary Salisbury are:

The name "Emma" that Laura and Mary both have was after a relative — Emma Abbott, a great singer in the East when Laura was born (1869).

Hearing that Isaac Carson Abbott came from Mass.² to Ohio and bought considerable land in Ohio for $1.00 per acre which is now part of Cincinnati. He leased it for 99 years and she recalled hearing that the lease was up a few years ago and that the heirs were unable to do anything about it. She also thinks that her grandmother said she was the youngest of the family. She recalls hearing that Isaac Carson owned a small farm at Houghton, Iowa.

Mary Salisbury relates the following very interesting story concerning Mary Jane Jenkins' background. I had not heard it before and wonder if any of you heard this.

Mary Jane Jenkins' mother was Jenny Cunningham, daughter of the Earl of Edinborough³ of Scotland. She married Jenkins who was of Royalty of Italy. He was the oldest son and was supposed to marry, but he wanted to be a Priest so he was exiled and went to Scotland and became a gardner in the Earl's gardens. He met Jenny and they fell in love and were secretly married. Then both were exiled and came to America. Jenkins did not live long after they came to America. Mary Jane was very small when he died. Then Mary Jane's mother married a man named Reed and they had a son, P. Risher Reed who became an artist and poet. The night of the great Chicago fire, he was to open his own Art Gallery. He had sold thousands of tickets to it. He had a big house on Chicago Gold Coast. He fire burned most of his pictures and poems. Only what was left in his home were saved. He then sold his home and his poems to well known poets of his time who used them as their own. He also wrote the first drawing book used in the Chicago schools. After the fire, he went up in the mountains of Colorado and had a waylay station. He stayed there until death. He is buried in Burlington, Iowa. He was Mary Jane's half-brother

¹most likely Clay Grove.

²Don't get your hopes up before going to this link. Isaac C. (grandfather of A. G. Abbott) was born in 1810. His father, Josiah, was born in 1770. However, people in those days were likely to name their children after relatives. Link to another Isaac Abbott:
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7704410.html

³I can find no reference on the Internet to the Earl of Edinborough or the Earl of Edinburgh.