Fort Worth: A Frontier Triumph

11. A Lonesome Dove

CHAPTER 11 A Lonesome Dove THEPIONEERS who arrived in 1845 and 1846 settled in the area of present Grapevine, forming a community which was fIrst known as Lonesome Dove, thus winning the distinction of being the fIrst permanent settlement in Tarrant County. In time to do a little planting in 1845, Missourian householders in a wagon train ended their journey on the "Grapevine Prairie." With headrights from the Peters Land Company, the Missourians scouted the area and chose their land. Scattered over this region and along the present Denton County line were the log homes of B. F. and Hiram Crowley, Zeb and Eli Jenkins, Dr. J. C. Dunn, Ambrose Foster, Archie Franklin Leonard, James P. Hallford, Jimmy West and many others. Though not clustered close, they yet could see each other's chimneys, or reach each other by short riding. For a time these homesteaders comprised the "Hallford Prairie Settlement." Upon their arrival here in 1845, they had worked from dawn to sunset to carry them through their fIrst winter on the Grand Prairie. January's coldness in 1846 bound them to their fIresides temporarily. However, spiritual contemplation was not neglected. One of their number, Joshua Hodges, a minister, encouraged by his neighbor, James Gibson, called his devout members of Hallford Prairie Settlement to assemble for the BOOK II reading of the Divine Word in Gibson's cabin, it being well suited for the purpose. In its long room of log walls with earthen floor, warmed by burning timber in a large fireplace, men and women praised their Lord. Among these worshippers, a newcomer of a few weeks, the Reverend John Allen Freeman, was called upon to preach. He and his wife had entered Texas by way of the Red River the previous November, seeking the East Fork of the Trinity. On the way, Freeman encountered a companyof Rangers, the first men he had seen in Texas. In the words of Reverend Freeman: At that time they were a wild, rough looking set of men, some of them dressed in buckskin, and some of them wore coon-skin caps; some of them were drinking bad whiskey and some of them were playing cards. In this way they spent their time when not in pursuit of Indians, who came in now and then to commit depredations on the settlers. In a spirit of thankfulness for his safe arrival and for the well-being of these settlers who sheltered him, Freeman began his sermon with the text: I Peter 3: 12, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers." The congregation was visibly moved. At this service, a committee was appointed to consider forming a Baptist church. On the third Saturday of February 1846, in the log cabin of Charles Throop on the north side of Denton Creek, and on the edge of future Tarrant County, twelve faithful worshippers organized the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church, Cross Timbers. The congregation was to meet every two weeks in the homes of the people. A lengthy statute of the church was written, declaring the faith and prescribing a way of conduct . On a firm foundation was man to act, for it was written, If any Brother being hurt with another and not applying to him for satisfaction nor the church but proceeds to make remarks before the world and the Brethren he shall be deemed in disorder and shall be dealt with accordingly. When the organization was completed, the hand of fellowship was given by "Hall Medline, Nancy Freeman, John Freeman, Mary Anderson , Felix Muligan, Henry Atkinson, Lucinda Throop, Maryan Leonard , Susanah Foster, Henry Suggs, Seleta Suggs, Rachel Muligan." It was a significant moment. Author D. D. Tidwell, in his A Historr of the West Fork Baptist Association, states that "not a protestant church stood between the Lonesome Dove church and the Pacific Ocean." The following Sunday ten more members were added: "Deacon James Gibson, Nancy Gibson, James P. Halford, Sarah Halford, John N. Hal- CHAPTER 11 57 ford, Malissa Halford, Ordained Minister, Joshua Hodges, James W. Anderson, Elisha Clary, Mary James." The isolated call of a dove at dusk vividly described this little band's feeble step in the wilderness. By 1849 the ranks of the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church had increased to sixty-six members, and among those gathered into the fold were four colored women. In 1847, the members...