My cousin, Algernon Sidney Clement. A man dedicated to his family, his country and his God.
Formation of Ellis County Baptist Association
Source: The History of the Ellis County Baptist Association,
A. D. Brooks, 1907
According to Elder E. C. Leake of Navarro County, before this Association was formed in 1872, there were only twelve Baptist churches in the area comprised of all Ellis County, that part of Dallas County west of the Trinity River, those parts of Johnson and Tarrant Counties south and east of the cross timbers and that part of Navarro County between Trinity River and Chambers' Creek. In addition, only four ordained Baptist preachers lived in this area: D. D. Swindall, Josiah Leake, R. Q. Burnett and F. M. Herring, although there were some active laymen. In order to unite efforts for preaching the gospel, in July 1872 at the General Association meeting in Collin County, a movement was begun to create an association in each district. The Waxahachie Association (Ellis County) was formed in October at Liberty Church, Grove Creek, in Ellis County. Representatives at the first session were:
Lancaster
James A. Lindsay, George White, Wm. Orr, James Rafferty and Elders Josiah Leake and E. C. Leake.
Johnson Station
Elders J. C. Burnett, J. D. Blanton, C. C. Strahan and G. W. Evans
Prairie Valley
C. H. Patrick, N. V. Lovett and W. D. Vestal
Waxahachie
R. M. Wyatt, W. H. Roberts and E. Finch
Deer Creek
A. S. Clement
(Source: Ellis County Website via www.usgenweb.com
Following listings mention A.S. Clement and is likely part of his wife Rebekka (nee Farrar) family.
A. J. and Anna E. Farrar - page 211
Exs: John R. Flippin, Memphis, Tenn. ; Jas. A. Flippen; Thomas J. Flippen and George W. Farrar, Fayette Co. Tenn.
Date 10 June 1878
Attest: Mollie Farrar, John Burnett, A. S. Clement;
Filed 22 July 1880; rec. 23 Sept. 1880
(Source: Ellis County, Texas via www.usgenweb.com
1880 US Census & National Index CD
Ellis Co., Prect. 4, TX Pg. 499B
Enumeration date, dwelling & family number are not listed
Algernon S. Clement 41 W M Self Farmer Place of birth: Mississippi Father: NC Mother: MS
Rebecca " 37 W F Wife KY NC NC
Lucy Ann " 9 W F Dau TX MS KY
Henry Allen 27 W M Laborer Other AR VA MS
Bee Creek community was located about five miles south of Maypearl at Bee Creek and Bee Creek School House Roads. The creek runs though rolling terrain surfaced with clays and clay loams with oak, juniper and grasses. It is rough land and was used mostly for range with some crop land. Bee Creek empties into Chambers Creek about 5-1/2 miles north of Italy.
Postmasters were Thomas A. Canon, June 14, 1886; Clava V. Via, Sept. 25, 1886; Thomas A. Canon, Dec. 8, 1889; Amanda V. Vancleave, Dec. 1, 1891; Algernon S. Clement June 25, 1892; (name changed to Beecreek); Henry S. Vancleave Nov. 18, 1893; Marion C. Cornwell Juned 18, 1897; Hance Day Jan. 31, 1898; Matthew A. Davidson June 11, 1903. Office was discontinued Sept. 15, 1904 with mail sent to Maypearl.
There once was a school and cemetery on the School House Road, but today the scattered stones of the cemetery are the only reminders of this community.
References:
U. S. Postal Department, Washinigton, D. C.
Handbook of Texas Online
Personal visit to area and interviews with older residents
The following letter was handwritten by Lucy Clement Witten, following the death of her father Algernon Sidney Clement in 1909. Special thanks to Clement cousin and fellow researcher Marty Johnson of Texas, for sharing the letter and permission to transcribe it.
In memory of Bro. A.S. Clement. On Wednesday February 17, 1909. Bro A.S. Clement's spirit was taken from his body to God who gave it. Bro. Clement was born April 9, 1839 in Hines County, Miss. Born of poor parents and in a new country, he had very limited opportunities to gain an education and attended school only a few months in all his life. However in youth, and in later life he used ever available means to educate himself and was a constant reader, especially of the Bible, and such history as he could procure. be it said to his credit, be not only left himself conversant with the topics of the day, but attained a through knowledge of the scriptures.
He professed religion when but a youth and joined the old County Line Baptist Church near his home. He left his home in early life traveling west on horseback with little money, but a good store of determination. He stopped a year or two in Louisiana and then came to Texas, where he became a citizen of Ellis county in 1868, living with his Aunt Mrs. Davis.
Some time in 1862 he was drafted as a soldier and served in Mc Gruder's Calvary, west of the Mississippi river until the close of the war and received his discharge.
In 1870 he was married to Miss Rebecca Farrar, who died June 22, 1901. One child, a daughter was given to them, who is Mrs. Pat Witten of Waxachachie.
He has three sisters living, Mrs. Hudson, Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Leak and two brothers, G.W. Clement of Maypearl and C.C. Clement of Baylor county.
He was a charter member of Old Bee Creek Church and went into the organization of what is now the Ellis County Baptist Association in 1879.
He was afterwards a member of Greathouse Church, where he was ordained a deacon. Later he became a member anda acting deacon of Plum Grove Church, where his membership was when he died.
Always faithful, honest and true, always standing firm for what he thought to be right. In December 1902 he married a second time to Mrs. L.J. Ray, who survives him and mourns his death.
Be it resolved by the Plum Grove Church, That in his death Plum Grove church lost one of her strongest followers, a model deacon, and a loving member, his wife devoted husband and a most aggreeable companion, his daughter a noble and loving at her; his relatives a friend whose place cannot be filled; Ellis county one of her best citizens, Texas as one of her good men.
Friends, relatives, daughter and wife he has gone never to return until the resurrection morning at which time his spiritual form will come forth from the grave a spiritual tabernacle for the indwelling of that same spirit that has gone to God who gave it.
Knowing these things let us not weep as those who have no hope, but rather rejoice that the time is soon coming when we will go to that glorious time if we follow the example of our dear brother as he followed Christ. His faith in Christ was surpassed by none, but he, like Paul, felt a weakness in the flesh and trusted all to Christ, who he believed would bring him out of the grave at his coming to gather up his followers.
He was a deep thinker and in all things reasonable. It was his delight to talk of the work of the Kingdom of his Lord-A lover of the church work and his pastor was thought of and looked after by him; his friends were many, his enemies few, if any - His presence is gone, but his good works and influences is with us and will remain to point us to a higher life.
He fought a good fight; he kept the faith and God has called him home to wear the crown.
A.W. Willis
A. Wardlaw
D.B. Dearcy
Committee
Adopted by Plum Grove Church in regular conference Saturday, April 24, 1909, and ordered sent to the Baptist Echo for publication and a copy sent to his wife and daughter, and also spread on the church records.
In Memory of my dear Father
By Lucy Clement Witten
@ death of Algernon Clement
(Reference to Algernon being born in "Hines County", is actually Hinds County, Mississippi)
transcribed Sept. 1, 2006 by Gayle Hennington -Van Horn
Family Group Record
Husband: Algernon Sidney Clement
Born: 9 Apr 1839 - Hinds County, Mississippi
Died: 17 Feb 1909 - Milford, Elllis County, Texas
Buried: - Milford Cemetery, Ellis County, Texas
Father: William Sidney Clement (1807-Abt 1874)
Mother: Amelia Ann Mullican (1822-After 1900)
Marriage: 18 Jan 1870 Place: Ellis County, Texas
Other Spouse: Lucinda J. Ray (1849-After 1920) Date: Dec 1902 - Ellis County, Texas
Wife: Rebekah L. Farrar
Born: 9 Mar 1842 - Kentucky
Died: 22 Jun 1901 - Milford, Elllis County, Texas
Buried: - Milford Cemetery, Ellis County, Texas
Father: George W. Farrar (1807-)
Mother: Ann E. Hester
Children
1 F Lucy Ann Clement
Born: Apr 1871 - Ellis County, Texas
Died: 9 Mar 1964 - Ellis County, Texas
Buried: - Hillcrest Burial Park Cemetery, Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
Spouse: Patrick Shields Witten (1868-1950)
Marr. Date: Abt 1892 - Texas
