JOHN WESLEY DEVILBISS
“When he crossed the Sabine River into Texas”
“He saw his first one-story house and wondered,”
“To the amusement of the others,”
“Where they went when it snowed.”
Folks, There are other stories of Circuit Riders that are readable and enjoyable but have very little mention of the humorous side of these dedicated servants of God. Here is the story of “Circuit Rider – John Wesley DeVilbiss,” by Myra Hargrave McIlvain. This missionary had to change his name from John Wesley Devilbiss to John Wesley DeVilbiss to get away from the Devil. Oh, you will love the tales that are spun here in this history of his journey from Ohio to Texas and his toil among the Egypt circuit of the Colorado River valley in Texas. Just let me relate one of the many funny stories. New to Texas and wanting to reach his destination speedily, when they came to the Colorado River, he found it swollen and flooded. Although he received advise not to cross, he and his companions started to build a raft and go across. As they were cutting trees, a messenger came around looking for carpenters and saw that they were ministers. He told them he was looking for someone to build a coffin and needed a minister to lay to rest a gentleman who had tried to cross the river earlier in the day. Another funny story: he and his partner came to a big creek. There was a big bluff on the side of the creek and after cooning over on a tree with their packs, came back across to get the horses over. The only way to run the horses off the cliff and have them swim over. So, they pushed the two horses off the cliff. Looking down, they saw that one came up immediately and started swimming. The other one stayed down so long that they feared he drowned – but finally, the horse poked his head out of the swirling water – and one of the ministers yelled out, “Oho! I have got a Campbellite!” Well as a Campbellite, I fully understand that joke!!! You will love these tale after tale of a Circuit Rider of whom author Myra Hargrave McIlvain says, “John Wesley DeVilbiss lived his life, did his work, spread his faith, like he began his ministry in Texas. Courage to be first is the spirit that settled the West and he is a symbol of the men to whom we owe this heritage.” I am proud my ancestors, James A. Thornton, Martilus E. Baldwin and Joseph Tarkington were Circuit Riders. A true tale of romantic American History. Well, I don’t have the space to relate the story nor do I want to spoil it, but you will just love it.
Please read this. There were many a western story published – the common ones about cowboy and Indians are listed on Ebay every day but the rarer ones like this unusual tale of the Circuit Riders of the old Pioneer Days are seldom found. Collectors treasure them and their price guide value rises every day. They are hard to find. I hunt them out cause really the better, untold and rarer stories were published in the rest.
Here’s one of ‘em.
Following my retirement, I have dedicated my remaining hours to indexing the Genealogy of our western pioneers. During my research, I discovered that thousands of our kinfolk lay unfound and unrecognized on some book dealer’s shelf. Because Old Western History and Memorabilia was printed before computer indexing, I index every item I sell.
This complete index will be bound and included in this offering at no additional cost.
Humbly, I am trying to keep our history alive.
I hope you appreciate the effort.
JOHN WESLEY DEVILBISS
BY MYRA HARGRAVE McILVAIN
ANCESTORS INDEXED HEREIN, CIRCA 1830s – 1880s
ANCESTOR’S LOCATION: OHIO, TEXAS
DEVILBISS (or DeVilbiss), John Wesley *
DEVILBISS, Martha Lucinda Kerr, 2nd wife of John Wesley DeVilbiss
DEVILBISS, Mary Priscillia, daughter of John Wesley Devilbiss
DEVILBISS, Talitha Ann Menefee, 1st wife of John Wesley DeVilbiss
DEVILBISS, William Kerr, son of John Wesley DeVilbiss
El Padrecito que tiene La Campana (the little priest that owns the bell) Mexican’s name for John Wesley DeVilbiss
HARRIS, Buckner, Reverend
McCULLOUGH, John, Reverend
McILVAIN, Myra Hargrave, Author
PALMER, Brother
SMITH, U. S. Consul, and Mrs. Smith
THRALL, Homer, Brother
TINSLEY, James
Pict. 1: The plaque on the wall of LaVillita Church in San Antonio, Texas commemorates the DeVilbiss bell. *
Pict. 2: Oak Island Methodist Church, located in Medina County, Texas, between San Antonio and Poteet. *
Pict. 3: DeVilbiss helped his son build the pews at Oak Island Church. He built the pulpit and lamp stands himself. *
PLACES AND THINGS PROMINENTLY MENTIONED w * INDICATING PICTURE:
American Bible Society
Augusta College, Kentucky
Bexar County, Texas
Colorado River Valley
Columbus, Texas
Egypt Circuit
Fayette County, Texas
Gatesville, Texas
Lavaca, Texas
Matagorda, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
Oak Island Methodist Church, Medina County, Texas *
Ohio River
Plaque on LaVillita Church in San Antonio, Texas *
Red River
Sabine River
San Antonio River
San Antonio, Texas
Texas Rangers
The Historic Little Church of LaVillita (German Methodist)
Tiffin, Ohio
Victoria, Texas
Washington County, Texas
JOHN WESLEY DEVILBISS
METHODIST CIRCUIT RIDER
BY MYRA HARGRAVE McILVAIN
OLD CIRCUIT RIDER
MEMORABILIA IS RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING
While others clip ads from magazines, I save history. It’s as simple as that. It’s a shame that our past is being lost.
My wife kids me that after I find a piece I like, buy it, read it, research it, take a picture, scan it, write the blurb, pay the Ebay entry fee and commission, that I end up making about 50 cents an hour. But, OH HOW I LOVE THIS OLD WESTERN HISTORY. What a story, Rare Story!!! Great Pictures. You will love it as it was published in this old complete western magazine of many years ago. The issue is in good condition, the cover is in vibrant color.
As clearly stated in my description, this is featured story in a rarely found and seldom read unusual and complete western magazine. I don't give out name of publication or date because I have caught competitors copying my index and work and trying to sell it as theirs. I hope you understand.
Buyer pays postage of $3.50 First Class Postage to U. S., $4.50 to Canada, $5.00 Priority Mail, $13.95 Priority Flat Rate Envelope for Air Mail for International Mail. Texans must pay 8-¼ % sales tax. Thanks,
Tom
THIS INDEX IS A GENEALOGY IMAGESOFHISTORY COPYRIGHTED PRESENTATION