Davis Anniversary Service

Large Audience Present at Methodist Church in Athens for Event

Dallas Morning News June 6 1909
Special To The Review
Athens, Tex., May 31-

Although the birthday of Jefferson Davis does not come round till June 3, Thursday of this week a service commemorative of his birth was held at the Methodist Church here in the afternoon of Sunday, May 30. There was a good audience present, including about fifty of the gray-haired, battle-scared Confederate veterans. After a song Rev. Sam Wagoner of the Christian Church offered the invocation. Rev. W. D. White, pastor of the Methodist Church, made the opening speech and closed by presenting to the audience Mrs. Cone Johnson of Tyler, representative of the U. D. C., who with grace, ease and dignity, made a speech that glowed with patriotic sentiment and touching allusions. At the conclusion of this address she presented a "Cross of Honor" to forty-six Confederate veterans, being assisted in the presentation by Capt. Lammon and Mesdames Broughton, Evans and Watkins.
The following are the names of the veterans: J. W. Bryant, B. B. Brannan, W. M. Coffer, J. A. Duncan, Dan Donnell, W. T. Eustace, W. G. Hall, A. Hutcherson, W. M. Hughes, G. J. Killingsworth, M. D. Lampkins(?), W. A. McLeod, D. M. Morgan, T. B. Miller, L. A. Powers, Joe Reynolds, J. D. Reynolds, W. W. Royall, J. K. Richardson, F. M. Rushing, J. C. Shelton, H. P. Williams, B. F. Worsham, A. W. Brown, Hugh Carter, S. G. Culberson, R. W. Derden, G. R. Evans, W. H. Graham, W. W. Hopson, D. B. Harris, T. V. Loving, D. E. Laymance, A. Mobley, Dr. Thos. M. Matthews Sr., W. R. Murphy, E. G. Poston, E. J. Rice, J. F. Ray,
J. J. Richardson, H. W. Richardson, B. T. Smith, Jno K. Simmons, L. V. Wyrick, A. L. Brown, R. R. Hawkins.
J. C. Shelton died after the Cross of Honor had been voted him. His son received it. A son may receive a Cross of Honor in lieu of his dead father, but only a veteran can wear the Cross of Honor.
After the conferring of the Crosses of Honor, Capt. W. T. Eustace made a speech in the nature of a tribute to the private soldier, reciting his privations, hardships and inconspicuousness. In passing he made touching allusion to Mr. Davis.
The last address of the afternoon was by Editor R. E. Yantis, who gave a historical sketch of Mr. Davis and paid glowing tribute to his memory. He alluded to the fact that Lincoln is made quite prominent in the histories studied by Texas schoolchildren, he and Washington being made yoke-fellows in fame and service to country, while Jefferson Davis and his charactor and fame as statesman, soldier, scholar and gentleman, remain indefinite quantities. He would not detract from Lincoln, but would have Davis and his grand characteristics held up to the youth of the country as worthy of emulation, he said.

Military Records of Henderson County

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