Life of John Crumpler Averitt - Family Histories

     Rev. John Crumpler Averitt came to Coleman in the fall of 1876, locating some three miles west ot Valera, where he operated the Oak Vale Post Office and the Stagecoach Inn, which was on a line run from Fort Worth to Yuma, Arizona, located on the old Coleman-Ballinger Highway. His parents were John and Jane (Autry) Averitt of Cumberland County, North Carolina. He was born December 3, 1818, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, graduated from Wake Forest College in 1851, with the Bachelor's Degree, and in 1854, he received his Master's Degree. On December 18, 1851, he married Miss Helen Anne Crocker. born April 29, 1828, Wake Forest, North Carolina, and attended a female boarding school there, specializing in music. She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Crocker, D. D.. and his wile, Annie.

     In 1857, he came to Texas, locating in what is now Anderson County, and he, with his wife, conducted the Tennessee Colony Masonic Institute until 1861. yThey moved to Ladonia, Fannin County, and taught the Ladonia Male and Female Institute until 1865. In 1865, they moved to Fairfield, Freestone County, where they taught in the Fairfield Baptist Female College for two years. From 1867 to 1874. he was teaching and preaching at several churches in East Texas. In 1876. they located west of Valera. where he lived for several years, pastoring churches. On January 27, 1877, the First Baptist Church of Coleman was organized by Averitt, and he was elected pastor. Late in 1880 or early in 1881, he left the stagecoach inn and moved to Robinson's Peak some 14 miles northwest of Coleman. In the summer of 1880, Averitt organized the Santa Anna Baptist Church and became the first pastor. Helen died October 12, 1881 at Robinson's Peak, buried at Silver Valley.

     In 1889, Howard Payne College was organized with the assistance of Averitt. He was asked to teach Bible in the new institution. but refused, as he wished to remain in the pastorate. From 1889 to 1895, we find Averitt living in Robert Lee, pastoring churches as follows: Trickham, Cross Cut, Camp Colorado, Grosvenor, Content (Runnels County), and Cedar Hill. He died December 12, 1895, buried at Robert Lee. Averitt is said to have been the first college-trained Baptist preacher to locate in Coleman County. The eight children of John and Helen Averitt are:

     (1) Annie Jane, March 6, 1853 in Nash County, North Carolina - January 27, 1935 at Coleman, buried at Glen Cove, married James Cates, April 27, 1887 at Silver Valley. He died October 13, 1923, buried at Ballinger. Children:

       (la) Olive married John Skipper. One daughter, Chrystal Louise, married Roy D. Hughes;

       (1b) Ethel, 1893 - 1978, married Robert E. (Rob) Henderson, July 6, 1888-September 16, 1982, both buried Glen Cove, 1917 in Ballinger. Two children:

             (a) Mary Evelyn married Lee F. Craig. (Lee was County Clerk of Coleman County for several years). Four sons: Kerry Scott, (see William R Hinds), Karl Wayne, Kenneth Lynn and Kendall Glenn.

              (b) James Robert married (1) Lavera Ann Baum. They had three children;

            (1c) Gladys married Robert Henry Rogge. Three daughters: Lois Gladys, Mildred Doris and Vivian Annette.

     (2) Mary Ella, December 27, 1854 Nash County- July 22, 1946 at San Angelo, buried there, married John Robert Keeling, February 7, 1882. (see John R. Keeling).

     (3) John Crocker, May 10, 1856 Rowan County, North Carolina - April 24, 1939 in Oklahoma, married Ola L Keeling, October 11, 1866 in Fairfield, Texas- May 21, 1949 in Oklahoma, both buried there, on October 2, 1884 in Coleman County. Children:

       (3a) Ira Crocker, August 11, 1886, married (1) Byvis McDowell, July 23, 1916, married (2) Maude Huley;

       (3b) Norma Ola, January 9, 1889, married Leroy Lynch, February 14, 1922, two chidren, Corinne and Leroy Ir.;

       (3c) Herman Dale, November 24, 1890:

       (3d) Elma Ora, March 4, 1893, married Francis Byrom Baker, January 27, 1918. Six children: Francis B. Jr., Camillie, Billy Theron, Larue, Jospeh and Patricia Ann;

       (3e) Oswald Bryan, April 26, 1896 - September 9, 1951, married (1) Vera Wade. Four children: Oswald B. Ir., Geraldine, Donna Jean and Max Wade. Oswald married (2) Zann Anderson.

     (4) Helen Ann, September 7, 1859 in Tennessee Colony, married Abe Jesson (see Abraham Jesson).

     (5) Henry Thomas, September 13, 1861 in Ladonia - April 18, 1928, buried Glen Cove.

     (6) William McComb, November 10, 1864 - January, 1920 at Austin, buried Silver Valley.

     (7) David Teal, September 12, 1867 in Corsicana - December 10, 1913, buried at Robert Lee, married Addie Gardner, October 1, 1895. Two children:

       (7a) Merle, October 4, 1896, married A. J. Taylor, December 8, 1914. One daughter, Shirley Louise who married M. J. Flowers;

       (7b) Shirley, November 4, 1904 married J. C. Johnson, February 15, 1937.

     (8) Lena, November 10, 1872 in Fairfield - July 8, 1962 at Austin, married John R. Patterson, October 8, 1868-August 23, 1944 in Houston, both buried in Houston, on August 24, 1893, at Robert Lee. He was a lawyer. Six children: Helen Louise (deceased), Lucille, Dudley, Doris, Truett and Lytton.

The subject of this sketch was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, December 3, 1818, the son of Judge Averitt. His mother was a Miss Margaret Autrey whose nephew perished with Travis in the Alamo. As a lad, John Averitt helped his father in the lumber mill, making barrels for the tar and turpentine industry of Wilmington. Another demand placed upon the lumber mills was to supply boards for paving the roads as the country was sandy and no cheaper pavement was obtainable in those days.

He united with the Baptist church in January 1835, and was ordained as a minister February 2, 1842. He entered Wake Forest College, Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 1846, receiving the A.B. degree in 1851, and the A.M. in 1854. On December 18, 1851, he was married to Miss Helen A. Crocker, the youngest daughter of Rev. Thomas Crocker and a personal friend of Matthew T. Yates, the great missionary to China. In 1855, J. C. Averitt moved to Tennessee and the next year to Texas, locating in Tennessee Colony, Anderson Count. At various places in East Texas, from 1857 to 1873, he pastured churches and taught in the Baptist associational schools, being associated in this work with Dr. Henry L. Graves, father of Mrs. T. J. White of Coleman. Mrs. Averitt taught music.

In the early 1870’s, Rev. Averitt settled in southern Brown county and built the first house in those parts to have glass window panes. During this time he pastured at Stephenville and other places. In the late 1870’s, he lived some three miles west of the present town of Valera, and kept the old Oak Vale post office and Stagecoach Inn. This was prior to the coming of the railroad. Stages passed there from Camp Colorado and Camp San Saba enroute to Fort Concho and Fort Chadbourne and other points west.

The Coleman Baptist church was organized January 27, 1877, under the leadership of Rev. J. C. Averitt who became the first pastor. Late that same year, in December, he resigned, being followed by Rev. T. H. Lydston.

In there early 1880’s, Rev. Averitt purchased an unimproved place a mile or so south of the present site of Silver Valley. He improved this land and made it his home for a number of years. While living here he taught school several years and pastured the churches at Robinson Peak, Camp Colorado, and Indian Creek in Brown County. His favorite means of transportation to his appointments was on horseback. Many times he rode through snow and cold to meet with his little band of members, being paid largely in produce. Among his prized possessions was a pair of woolen socks, knitted and given him by an elderly lady.

His wife died October 12, 1881, and was buried at Silver Valley. Rev. A. R. Watson of Brownwood says; “One of the most beautiful poems I ever read was one written by him as a tribute to his wife following her death.”

On June 23, 1889, a group of Baptist messengers met at Indian Creek, Brown county, to discuss the organization of a Baptist college. Rev. J. C. Averitt was the moderator of this meeting. Howard Payne College was the outgrowth of this meeting. J.C. Averitt was placed on the list of the first board of trustees, but resigned in December when he moved to Haydrick to accept work as pastor and missionary in the newly organized county of Coke. He died of heart trouble December 12, 1895, at Robert Lee, R. M. Cumbie Conducting the funeral.

The late Rev. R. M. Cumbie rated “as one of the most scholarly men that Baptists had in the South, being versed in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. His work all through the 53 years as a minister of the Lord Jesus was foundation work.” Rev. A. R. Watson says; “As a graduate of Wake Forest College, he was scholarly, yet modest and unobtrusive, while holding unswervingly to what he believed to be right.”