This story has it's setting in the central part of Texas,
	but a little to the east. The territory is about thirty miles
	square, and was more than thirty miles west of Waco. (All of 
	that land with no churches.) The prarie was fertile and well 
	watered, which made it desirable as a location for homes. It  
	was soon settled by the ever westward advance. Waco had had a 
	church since 1851. Since the pilgrims had landed on Plymouth  
	Rock, William Penn had settled Pennsylvania, and Roger Williams 
	had founded Rhode Island, it had been the custom of the American 
	people to institute a church wherein they might worship God soon
	after their homes were established. For these people in Coryell 
	County, it was a long and tiresome journey to Waco to attend 
	services. Then, too, the the swiftest, most satisfactory mode of 
	travel was an ox wagon. It took days to make the trip. There were 
	no roads across the country and no bridges across the streams. 
	and dangers from Indians were always present. Anyway, they just 
	needed a church.

	     About 1850, the Army Engineers laid out the military roads 
	through Fort Gates, and westward to Fort Griffin and Fort Belknap.

	     Fort Gates was a few miles from Coryell Church and also a 
	few miles from where Gatesville now stands. This road went up the 
	divide between Lampasas and the Leon rivers. This gradually became 
	the highway to the west. It passed through the country which is 
	now Coryell County. It was soon organized with Gatesville as the 
	County Seat. There the Methodist people established a Methodist 
	Church and organized a Union Sunday school in 1854. By this time, 
	several families were settled in the Coryell Church community and 
	they were interested in a home church.

	      Long ago the Lord had said"For where two or three are 
	gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst." 
	(Matthew 18:20) The population had increased; now a few could gather 
	together in the name of the Lord, and they were ready to build an 
	alter for the Lord. At an appointed time, a number of missionary 
	Baptists met in the home of Brother Green Franks, and with the 
	leadership of Brothers John Clabaugh and S.G. O'Bryan, the Light on 
	the Prarie gleamed forth, and Coryell Missionary Baptist Church was 
	instituted, with the following members:


	Green Franks			Adaline Franks
	James McIlhaney		Jane McIlhaney
	Minerva McIlhaney		Margaret McIlhaney
	J. A. Green			Sarah ann Green
	Jesse James			Catherine James
	Jesse Lee			Rebecca Gibson
	Martha Hicks			 Naomi Hall
		and possibly		 Wyatt Hall

	 (Note from Larry Hall: Martha Hicks was the sister of Naomi Hall)

	      Brothers Clabaugh and O'Bryan were great men of God. They 
	disclosed the way of salvation wherever they went.Both were earnest 
	men. Like many other pioneer preachers, they suffered hardships and 
	deprivations, and solved many problems unknown to present day people. 
	They were well adapted to the work they had chosen and people listened 
	to them and their message gladly. There were many others who preached 
	the word in those days, but those two were the sowers of the good seed 
	and the founders of Coryell Church.

	      Brother S.G. O'Bryan was from North Carolina.He received his 
	education at Wake Forest College and taught school until he was called 
	to preach. Most of his ministerial work was in Central Texas, where he 
	served several churches and assisted in the organization of many others. 
	His last sermon was from the text (John 11:39) "Take ye away the stone." 
	Sixteen came forward for prayer. Two days later he was called to his 
	heavenly home.

	Our knowledge of Brother Clabaugh is limited. He was the first Pastor of 
	Coryell Church. He and Brother John mcClain were present and assisted in 
	the organization of Leon River Baptist association. The history and 
	business proceedings of Coryell Church through the years from 1855 to 
	1885 have been lost.

	


	      All the people of Coryell Community were good people and many were 
	Christians and members of Coryell Church. There was very little wickedness 
	among the whole countryside. Members of this Church or not, they usually 
	attended Coryell. They were: The Burlesons,  Halls,  Boyds, 
	Striblings, Caldwells, Olivers, Fosters, Hickersons, Edwards, Graves, 
	Merrits, Gibsons, Davis's, McIlhaneys, Morrises, Powells,Coilards, Roes, 
	Jordans, Kerbys, Comptons, Harrisons, Christians Smiths, Bennetts,
	Stricklands, Andersons, Sheffields, Gunnins, Bernards, Crains' Gilcreases, 
	Daniels, Jones, Crouches, and many others who did just as much and 
	were held in as high esteem, but whose names do not come to me right now. 
	They were good people and built Coryell well.

	


	      From the organization of Coryell Church to 1885, the membership 
	worshipped in the log schoolhouse. Usually they were on the ground 
	floor, but one Sunday when the weather was a little frosty, They went 
	upstairs where they could have a little fire. The weight of the congregation 
	caused the floor to fall through to the floor below, precipitating the entire 
	congregation to the floor below. No one was seriously injured.

	      It now became necessary to start thinking of building a house of 
	worship, and commitees were appointed.

	The building commitee was W.J.G. McIlhaney, M.A. Dowis, and W.B. Fowler.

	The land was donated by Green Franks and Henry Hall.

	The lumber for the building was cypress brought from California. Because 
	of lack of funds and other handicaps, the building was not completed until 
	1888, and is still in use today.

	


	

	

	




	

	The sign marking the spot where the old church once stood.

	


	

	

	







	

	The State Historical Marker.

	


	

	

	







	

	Standing in front of the Tabernacle
	It was built from the old church lumber after
	the building was condemned in 1982.





	

	

	







	

	Inside the Tabernacle. The old pews and the pulpit
	from whence the pastors gave forth with their sermons 
	remain there still. Slowly deteriorating. Ah, the stories
	those old pews could tell...




	

	

	







	

	Looking from the cemetery towards the Tabernacle.

	


	

	

	







	

	Henry Hall donated land for the church site.
	


	

	

	







	

	Jane (Hamm)... wife of Henry Hall


	


	

	

	







	

	The actual State Historical marker.


	


	

	

	







	

	Shot from the south as I was leaving.

	


	

	

	




	 
	The Coryell Baptist Church fold began to dwindle as
	the small farms were bought up by larger conglomerates
	and the younger generations moved away. Soon services 
	were held only on alternating Sundays and then once a month.
	After services ceased, some Sunday school classes were still
	held there. The last pastor, Rev. Miller Robinson, served from
	1954 to 1955. The old tabernacle and graveyard stands today only 
	as a reminder of times past and loved ones passed on. 

					Larry Hall

	


	

	

	



Information provided to me by Web site visitors:
Thanks for your time and effort.
 
Information related to the family of S.G. O'Bryan


Hello Larry,
 
   First, let me tell you how much I appreciate all the hard work
you put into the web site concerning the CORYELL CHURCH.
   I have only one direct connection to Coryell County.  My mother,
Margo Brockette Cowan, was born in Coryell City in 1919.   Her
father, Rev. Claude Tuttle Brockette was a Methodist minister
who served many churches in Central Texas.
   I have only recently started researching the O'BRYAN family.
My Great Grandmother, Mary Serena Hood COWAN, had a
sister named Isabelle Jane Hood Beaird Garner.   Isabell
died in 1879 in Belton, Bell Co., TX.   Her first marriage was to
John Walden Beaird, who died in 1864 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX.
He was in the CSA and I don't know if he died from wounds or
from disease.   He and Isabelle had three children.  Isabelle
married a widower, William L. GARNER in Bell County.   After
the death of Isabelle, her children by John Beaird were scattered.
William L. Garner appears in the 1880 McLennan Co., TX census
with his three children by Isabelle.   I have now found out that living
next door is Irwin T. O'BRYAN, a physician.   He is aged 54 and is
married to Dora, aged 23, (closer to 20) who is a daughter of John
and Isabelle Beaird.   Irwin is a brother of Rev. Solomon Green
O'BRYAN.   As of now, I do not know when or where Dr. O'Bryan
died.   He came to Texas in 1846 and enlisted in the Sixth Texas
Cavalry during the Mexican War after graduating from Tulane
Medical School.
   I have found Dora E. in the 1920 El Paso Co., TX census with
her son, Jack O'Bryan and wife, Rose, living with her.   Dora's last
name in 1920 is Williams (another search).
   I found Dora in the 1930, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ census.
She is again a widow and her last name is HURST.   She married
a George W. Hurst in about 1922 in AZ.
   Dora last appears in the 1943 California death index.
   Irwin T. O'Bryan's first wife was Martha Chandler.   Her father was
also a Baptist Minister, originally from GA, but was living in Fayette
Co., TX in 1850.   His name was Pleasant Barnett Chandler.   His
first daughter, Sarah, was married to Solomon Green O'Bryan.
Pleasant died in Coryell County in 1904.   Pleasant was also involved
in starting schools in Fayette County similar to what Solomon did in
Bosque and McLennan Counties. I have found that Solomon played
a major role in the development of the Waco Classical School, later
to become Waco University and eventually merged with Baylor University
in 1886.   Solomon was the second minister of the First Baptist Church
in Waco and served there from 1854 to 1860.
   Do you know anything more about Solomon G. O'Bryan?   If I can find
him, maybe I can find his brother, Irwin. 
   I appreciate your time.   If you are unable to furnish any additional
information, I understand.   
 
                                                            Thank you,
 
                                                            Jim Cowan
                                                            Spring, Texas



Hello again Larry,
   I found this information just after my message to you:
 
Hix Cemetery
Elder S. G. O'Bryan
Born Jan 22, 1821
Warren Co. N.C.
Died Sept 26, 1867
Burleson Co., Texas
 
   No other O'Bryans listed.
 
                                                   Thank you,
 
                                                   Jim Cowan
                                                   Spring, Texas







Memories of Mrs. Estella Stanley of Delaware

Hello Larry,
I was surfing the web and found your site about the church 
I attended while living in Gatesville, Texas in 1954-55.  
My husband was stationed at Ft. Hood.  

I attended the Coryell Baptist Church then.  If my memory is correct, 
it was like a one-room school house with a pot bellied stove in the 
middle of the room.  

There was a very young pastor there at that time.  
I remember that people came in their bib overalls and house dresses.  
And they welcomed everyone who came.  It's not like the church
is now a days, with everyone all dressed up and not very friendly, 
except for the core group who keep the church going.  

At least, that is the way it is up here in the little State of 
Delaware, where I have lived all my life except for the year I 
spent in Gatesville.  

My husband and I always wanted to come back for a visit but never 
had time when we were young and now his health prohibits that.  
Hope I have helped give you a picture of what it was like back then.  
Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures when I was there.  
We didn't have a camera and couldn't afford one.  God Bless.

Mrs. Estella Stanley




Memories of Tawana West Nance
Tawana grew up across the street from the old Church




3/15/2004
I enjoyed your website about Coryell Church. 
I grew up right across the street from the church.
It was not having services at that time.  
I have great memories of going inside the church. 
Tawana West Nance

3/15/2004
One more thing....Geneva Hilton taught "The West Children" 
Sunday School at Coryell Church.  She drove about 2-3 miles
every Sunday to teach us.  We walked across the street to meet 
her every Sunday. Do you have any pictures of the inside of the
church?  I have pictures in my mind but if my mind ever goes,
 (ha) I'm in trouble!  The church had stairs leading to a loft.  The loft,
 I believe had 2 rooms.  I remember an old black board on the wall.  
Anyway, I will talk more if you're interested.
Thanks,
Tawana 

3/17/2004

Let me go ahead and tell you some of my childhood memories of the church.  
Like I said, there was no services going on at that time-I was born in 1965.  
As a child my brothers and sisters and other relatives (when they visited) 
would "Play Church".  We would play the old piano and sing songs from the 
old hymnals that were in the church.We would take turns standing behind 
the pulpit preaching!!  We got a huge surpise one day when we opened up 
the door to the pulpit and found a nest of pink baby mice!  We would go 
upstairs but I was always scared that I was going to fall through the stairs.  
I didn't spend much time up stairs.  It was kind of SPOOKY as a child.
Each year there would be a "HOMECOMING".  My mom was paid to clean 
the church.  We washed all the pews, swept, mopped the hard wood floors, etc.  
I remember it was a lot of hard work or at least for a child I thought it was.  
We had a couple of hymnals from the church that we took home with us 
and momma would sing as she rocked in her chair and I would join in with her.  
That is how I learned all the hymns.  She would tell us to go get a hymnal from 
the church and she always made us take it right back to the church when we 
were finished with our singing.

I never attended church as a child (my mother didn't drive) so Mrs. Geneva Hilton 
drove over every Sunday and taught Sunday School to us. (I come from a large family-11 kids).  
At that time it was four of us she taught (she taught my older brothers and sisters as well).  
As you entered the church, Mrs. Hilton, had an old small table set up close to the door.  
This table had a drawer where she kept all of her papers, pencils etc... for Sunday School.  
Every Sunday we sang "Love Lifted Me".  This must have been Mrs. Hilton's favorite song.  
She must have lots of crowns in heaven right now for how she ministered to us as well as 
others in her life time.

 We called, what you are calling the pavilion, the tabernacle. I remember it before the tin was 
put on it and before it was restored.  Wow, lots of time spent under that old tabernacle looking 
for doodle bugs-rollie pollies and playing on the long tables (shame on us).Up until last year,   
we had our annual family Easter Egg hunt across the street. If you ever go back to visit,  watch 
for rattlesnakes.  An easter egg was hidden inside the tabernacle in a crack right next to a baby 
rattlesnake. MANY rattlesnakes have been killed out there. 

My brother is the person who tore the church down in 1982.  I was in high school and remember 
it being a very emotional time seeing it disappear. We have several pictures taken of us kids at 
home and you can see the church in the background but as far as I know, no one took any of the
inside.  I bet I could find one of the tabernacle before it was restored. 

Momma and Daddy still live across the street.  Momma is 81 and Daddy 80.  The house you are 
talking about is not that of your relatives because daddy built it about 45 years ago.  I do know 
that right next to moma and daddy's house are some old steps. I think those steps were the 
steps to an old school house or store???  I'll have to ask daddy- he will know.  

I too am very interesed with history.  I have recently started working on genealogy.  
What was it like for the people having services that day.  I wonder if momma and daddy were 
living there before they stopped having services there. The house was built 45 years ago.  We 
would have to do the math.  I wonder if my parent's house was built where your relatives house 
was at one time.I have walked many, many, many, miles around the cemetery looking at the 
families graves and the babies being born and dying right after birth or just a few years old.  
There is one family plot where every child died at a very young age. Tears are rolling down my 
face as I share these childhood memories.  I haven't thought about it for sometime
.  
Lots of memories Coryell Church has made for many people since 1855. The Holy Spirit can 
still be felt as you walk on the grounds of Coryell Church.  May the Lord continue to be glorified 
as we share our testimonies of His love to others.  Thanks to the faithful people that decided to 
share the love of Jesus by establishing Coryell Church.  Because of the establishment of Coryell 
Church,  I learned about the love of Jesus from a faithful woman named Mrs. Geneva Hilton who
 took time to teach children about His love in a church were the only ones present were four 
children, Mrs. Hilton, and the Holy Spirit that had continued to work in the lives of the people 
who entered the church since 1855. The services never reallly stopped!!
  
I hope all of this makes sense!  If you ever come to back to Texas, stop by Momma and Daddy's
 house they will be glad to share their memories.
Tawana West Nance



Some wonderful photos provided with great kindness by Tawana:

 Click Here


Thanks for the effort Tawana, it is much appreciated by all.





From JC Ward, of Victoria Texas.

 
Hi,
I saw on your write-up of Coryell Church that you
welcome pictures of the old Church.  Here is a picture
of Coryell Church that I took years ago when I was 
passing through.  My Father, J. C. Ward and Mother,
Ellen Graves Ward were converted there and my two
oldest sisters went to school there back around 1920.
My parents on both sides all lived in that community
until they married.  
J. C. Ward, Jr.  Victoria, Texas







Thanks for the wonderful picture, J.C.

  

 Coryell County Texas Genweb Site