Baptist history award

(I didn't realize it has been so long since I posted here.)

A History of Smyrna Baptist Church, 1873-2008, received a 2010 Baptist history award -- history of churches under 500 membership -- from the Texas Baptist Historical Society. This will be recognized at their annual meeting on October 24, 2011.

Smyrna Baptist History

The history of the Smyrna Baptist Church, Rusk County Texas has been transcribed and is available online.

There are a few errors in the old book that were corrected in the reprinting about two years ago.

How many Rusk Counties?

While researching regarding Rusk County, I started wondering how many Rusk Counties there are in the United States. There are at least two. Anyone know of more?

Rusk County, Texas founded 1843
Rusk County, Wisconsin founded 1901

A Texas church list

Churches in Rusk County, TX - Texas State Church List

Bible Records of Rusk County

Bible Records of Rusk County, Texas hosted by Gloria Mayfield at Lady Texian

Note: Gloria Mayfield passed away May 9, 2010

Rusk County music teacher

I discovered the following news clipping online. Julian Hillary "Sharp" McNiel (1873--1911) was the son of George Thomas McNiel and Susan Wallace. He married Nettie L. Irby and they had several children. Sharp McNiel is buried in the old Gould Cemetery in southern Rusk County. I am guessing he originally lived somewhere between there and Cushing in Nacogdoches County. With Bernard N. Richards, he formed the McNiel-Richards Music Company. This company printed several (at least two, but probably more) seven-shape shape note songbooks in the early 1900s. Some of his titles can be found online HERE. In his song books he often gave his name with the musical sharp symbol -- "# McNiel".

Nacogdoches, Tex., April 24. - Sharp McNiel of Cushing, in this county, a well known citizen, died in the sanitarium here Sunday morning. The deceased was attacked by appendicitis while attending court here about ten days ago and was carried to the sanitarium, where he was operated on. The attack was so severe that little hope was had for his recovery during the operation.

Source: The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Texas, Tuesday, April 25, 1911; Pg. 4

J. R. Box

Following from an obituary of J.R. Box. He came from Alabama to Rusk County, TX as a boy, and after marriage moved to Van Zandt County.

Mr. J.R. Box, one of the oldest citizens of the county and a highly respected citizen of Hayden community, died at his late home last Tuesday afternoon, December 7, 1915, at 5 o'clock, and his remains were interred in the Myrtle Springs cemetery the following afternoon at 3 o'clock. Funeral services were conducted by Revs. K.W. Furrh, R. M. Wilson and E. D. Jeter, and a large concourse of relative and friends assembled at the grave to pay a last and sad tribute to this good man.

Mr. Box was born in Benton County, Alabama, July 28, 1835, and was 80 years of age at the time of his death. He came to Texas when a mere boy, settling in Rusk County, where he was married later to Miss Margaret Elliott, and they came to Van Zandt county in 1870. In 1871 Mr. Box settled on the farm where he died and has lived there continuously since that time. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving in the 14th Texas regiment, General Ector's brigade, Capt. House's company. He served with distinction and honor throughout the four years of the war. He united with the Baptist church in 1876, being one of the original members of the old Myrtle Springs Baptist church, and was the last surviving male member so far as known, who joined when that church was organized, his widow being the only surviving member of the original organization. For many years he has been what might be termed the right arm of the Baptist church of this community, always taking an active and enthusiastic interest in church work as well as all other things for the up building of his community and the betterment of conditions generally. He was a good citizen in every sense of the word and his life was such as he thought the Master would have him live. A Pioneer citizen has passed to his reward and left the world better for his having lived.