The History of this aged and venerable Bro. is closely identified with the history of the M.P. Church of Texas. I had the pleasure of meeting with and forming the acquaintance of Bro. Daugherty in the fall of 1880 at our annual conference held at Forney, fifteen miles east of Dallas. What I shall say of him and his ministerial labors during his long and useful life is taken from notes jotted down as related to me in a personal interview. Bro D was then in his 82nd year. Was born in KY, August 22nd, 1797. At the age 10, he removed with his parents to East Tennessee; here lived until grown. Married Miss Sallie Ciscill in his 22nd year. In 1830 removed to Arkansas and here lived 14 years. The wife of his youth and mother of his 10 children was taken from him by the grim monster, death, on the 12th day of January, 1842, leaving a disconsolate husband and motherless children to mourn their loss. Married again Feb. 28, 1842 to Miss Matelda Pagitt. Moved to Texas January 1845, stopped for a while in what is now Kaufman County. The first vote he cast in Texas was for a delegate to the annexation convention. Remaining but seven months in Kaufman, he removed to what is now Cherokee County, and here settled himself. The Indians had but recently been removed from this territory; its mildness of climate and productiveness of soil, connected with other advantages, soon induced a heavy immigration of every religious proclivity, who settled therein. The principal town and local trading point was Rusk, now the County seat. School houses, churches and preachers were exceedingly scarce at this early day. A Christian (Campbellite) minister came to their little town from Palestine, who held a series of meetings and affected an organization of fourteen members. The subject of this sketch, being religiously inclined, his wife having previously belonged to this church, went into this organization. Bro D says, "In a few days afterwards, having occasion to go to town, in passing a grocery, I saw one of this organization drunk, another at a different point in a broil, cursing and swearing, and some others not doing much better." He says, I went home disheartened and disgusted, told my wife this organization would not do for Christians. He withdrew from it and from this day. this first religious organization went for naught. For a while his new community remained as it had been, without any religious organization or instruction. At length a proposition was made and accepted for all denominations to come together and form themselves into a religious social compact, with the understanding that when strong enough, each should have the privilege of withdrawing and joining a church of his choice, that this association should elect and hire a minister to serve them. The subject of this sketch went into this compact. The services of the Rev James Harris, a Presbyterian, were secured, who served them two years. This was in 1848. The same year the Texas Conference was organized. In 1850, Rev L. L. Dillard, heretofore mentioned, a minister of the M.P. Church, of very precious memory, came into this section, established a preaching place near the town of Rusk, and labored zealously to build up the cause of Christ and his Kingdom. After preaching for some months, he explained the difference between the M.E and M.P. Churches, and proposed to organize an M.P. Church at his next appointment. The time came around and the preacher with it. After sermon, the organization of fifty members was affected. Bro. D and wife went into this church, preferring its government to all others. A quarterly meeting was soon organized, at which Bro. D was licensed to preach. He attended the ensuing annual conference, was received, placed under the stationing authority and assigned to the Cherokee circuit as assistant, L.L. Dillard pastor. He traveled this circuit three years. Having laid aside his law books, he now devoted himself exclusively to the ministry. The next three years he traveled the Bowie circuit which embraced Bowie and Cass Counties. The year following was on the Canton circuit. At the close of work on Cherokee circuit, the membership had increased to 170. At the conference embracing 3rd Sabbath in Oct. 1858, the scattered members of the Colorado country, who were without a shepherd to guide and feed them, came up with the strong Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us." Bro. D's missionary zeal, love of his church and salvation of his fellow man, induced him to say, "Here I am, send me." He, accordingly was appointed Missionary to regions beyond the Colorado River. In this act, he ignores worldly honors and emoluments, considering himself the servant of the church, and was willing to spend and be spent in the service of his Master, "having respect to the recompence of the reward" in Heaven. Having arranged his domestic affairs, he repaired to his new field of labor early in the spring of 1859. He thinks he organized the first Protestant church in the Colorado District in Hoover's Valley. During this year, he traveled extensively as far out as San Antonio. The good Lord abundantly blessed his labors and he was successful in building up our church so much so that the Colorado brethren thought themselves strong enough at the end of the conference year to petition and obtain a separate conference. Bro. D was elected President. His first years labor as a missionary resulted in the addition of several ministers, among others the Rev J. G. Mabry. Bro. D remained in this conference after its organization in 1860, four years, two of which he served them as President. While here, Bro. Isaac Hoover was frequently his traveling companion. In the language of J. J. Mabry, "These two brave hearts made a full team, it would seem from the old land marks. Here and there you will find traces of their foot prints." During his five years in the Colorado conference, he traversed this whole country though danger of hostile Indians, preaching the unsearchable riches of the Gospel. Bro. D was present at the Texas District conference in 1865, having returned to his old home, was home missionary 1868 and 1869, pastor of Palestine circuit 1870 and 1871. Since that time has occupied A superannuated relation. When interviewed, was living with a widowed daughter near Forney. Two of his sons, prominent and honored citizens and worthy members of the M.P. church also live in Forney. The language of David, the psalmist, can be truthfully applied to bro. D. "I have been young, am now old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread." (From the writings of Rev Daniel T. Lake) Paul R. DAFFT ([email protected]) 1605 Cottonwood Road Carrollton, Texas, 75006-3856