CHILDREN OF HARDY AND AMELIA
ANN DALE
.....1. Mary Elizabeth Dale b.Nov. 3, 1845 in Knox Co. TN. d. June 4,
1886. Married Leroy Corum March 2, 1864 in Knox Co. TN.
.....2. JEREMIAH HARDY DALE b. Feb. 9, 1848 in Knox Co. TN. d.
Jan. 19, 1912 in Collin Co. TX. Married Nancy Mabe Dec. 22, 1867
in Knox Co. TN. (Note: Jeremiah is my great grandfather.)
CHILDREN OF JEREMIAH & NANCY DALE
.....1. Ellen Dale b. 1865 in Knox Co. TN. (Note: This date puts her
being born two years before Jeremiah and Nancy were married. I
figured the date from the 1880 Federal Census record which
indicated she was 15 yrs. old.)
.....2.John L. Dale b. 1869 in Knox Co. TN.
.....3. Joseph N. Dale b. 1870 in Knox Co. TN. d. October, 1961 in El
Cajon, CA.
.....4. Mary Dale b. 1873 in Knox Co. TN.
.....5. James Dale b. 1876 in Knox Co. TN.
.....6. GEORGE ANGUS DALE b. January 12, 1882 in Corryton,
Knox Co. TN. d. November 9, 1979 in Lubbock, TX. Married Frances
Jane Simmons October 16, 1898 in Collin Co. TX. (Note: George is
my grandfather.)
.....7. Della Dale b. Oct. 28, 1882 in Knox Co. TN. d. Aug. 1, 1891.
CHILDREN OF GEORGE AND FRANCES DALE
.....1.Everette E. Dale b. Oct. 6, 1899 in Collin Co. TX. d. 1977.
.....2. Elsie Dale b. Feb. 3 1901 in Collin Co. TX.
.....3. Virginia Dale b. Dec. 4, 1904 in Collin Co. TX.
.....4. Paul Dale b. Jan. 1907 in Collin Co. TX.
.....5. TROY LEE DALE b. Jan. 24, 1910 in Westminster, Collin Co.
TX. d. August 23, 1985 in Abilene, TX. Married Mary Elizabeth Dyer
Jan. 12, 1936 in Lubbock, TX. (Note: Troy Dale is my father.)
.....6. George Truett Dale b. Nov. 17, 1915 in Collin Co. TX.
THE STORY OF JEREMIAH HARDY AND NANCY MABE DALE
Jeremiah and Nancy were married in Knox County, Tennessee on
December 22, 1867. According to the 1870 Federal Census they
were still living in Knox County, where Jeremiah was a day laborer
and Nancy was staying home with two children. By 1880 Jeremiah
had dropped his middle name and had shortened his name to Jerry
M. Dale. At that time Jerry was farming, which he continued to do for
the rest of his life, and Nancy was keeping house with five children.
By the end of 1882 they had seven children, four boys and three
girls.
In 1888 Jerry and Nancy moved the family to Collin County, Texas.
At that time there were only five children still alive. The two oldest
girls had died. I have not seen any records of their deaths, so I have
no idea how or when they died. Three years after relocating in
Texas, their youngest child, Della, died. She died on August 1, 1891.
Her grave is in the Thompson Cemetery on Highway 78, just north of
Lavon, Texas. The cemetery is just a few miles from where the
family lived and farmed in the community of Culleoka. The following
obituary appeared in the McKinney Democrat-Gazette on Thursday,
August 6, 1891: "Miss Della, daughter of Jerry Dale, aged 9 years,
died at her home near Copeville, August 1, last and was buried the
following Sunday. The cause of death was congestion of the
stomach and bowells."
During the time that Jerry and Nancy lived in Collin County, Jerry
bought several parcels of land that were part of the John Russell
survey. In September, 1891 he bought 40 acres for $800 (that's just
$20 per acre). The land was purchased from Mr. Addington. Jerry
paid $175 cash and signed a note for the remaining $625, which was
to be paid off in November, 1904. In September, 1896 Jerry bought
an additional 10 acres for $140 (that's just $14 per acre). In January.
1911 Jerry bought another 40 acres for $1500 ($37.50 per acre -
land had almost doubled in value). He paid $900 cash and assumed
an existing note of $600. There may have been more land
purchased, but these were the only ones I was able to find. When he
died, there was a lot of "splitting-up" of land among the boys, and
the research became far more complicated than I was capable of
following. A search of the abstracts related to this land, and the John
Russell survey in general, would indicate that it all lies at the bottom
of Lake Lavon, which was formed by the building of the dam
between 1948 and 1953. Even though the community of Culleoka still
exists, I think Jerry and Nancy's land is now a fish park.
On January 19, 1912, Jerry died. He was almost 64 years old. His
grave is also in the Thompson Cemetery. He and Nancy share a
single grave marker. On his side of the marker is engraved these
words: "Jerry M. husband of Nancy Dale, born Feb. 9, 1848, died
Jan. 19, 1912. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Although
there was no obituary found, the following article was printed in the
McKinney Democrat-Gazette on Thursday, January 25, 1912: "Joe
Dale, formerly of this county, but for some time a resident of Big
Springs arrived in McKinney Friday AM enroute to the home of his
parents near Culleoka, in answer to a message received by him
early Thursday morning to the effect that his father J.M. Dale was in
a very critical condition, and that small hopes were entertained for
his recovery. Arriving here, Mr. Dale learned that it would be late
afternoon before he could reach home if he waited for the train, and
being informed over the telephone that his father was still alive, but
thought to be sinking, secured a livery stable rig and left immediately
for home." Jerry died that day. We don't know if Joe made it in time,
or not.
Nancy died seven and a half years later on June 18, 1919. On her
side of the grave marker is engraved, "Nancy wife of Jerry M. Dale,
born Dec. 29, 1844, died June 19, 1919. She will rise again in the
resurrection at the last day." The following obituary was printed in
the McKinney Democrat-Gazette on Thursday, June 19, 1919: "Mrs.
J.M. Dale, aged 74 years, 5 months, and 28 days, died at the family
home near Culleoka Tuesday night. She had been seriously ill for
several weeks, but was a patient sufferer. She is survived by four
sons, Rev. G.A. Dale, formerly county missionary for the Baptist
churches, now pastor at Josephine, John and James Dale of
Culleoka and Joe Dale of Big Springs. She was a member of the
Baptist church. She had been a resident of the Culleoka community
for the last thirty years. Burial took place at Copeville Wednesday."
I have stood in the Thompson Cemetery at the grave sites of Jerry,
Nancy and Della. It is a neat feeling to know that many years ago my
grand father and grand mother, with my father and my uncles and
aunts, stood in that very spot and mourned the passing of two
honest, hard-working Christians who had been father, mother, grand
father, grand mother, and sister to them. It is times like that when I
remind myself that family is important.
THE STORY OF GEORGE ANGUS AND FRANCES JANE
SIMMONS DALE
George and Frances (Fannie) were born only a few miles from each
other in East Tennessee. There was only one year difference in their
ages, but they never met in Tennessee. Both families moved from
Tennessee to Collin County, Texas. I don't know when Fannie moved
to Texas but George moved with his family in September, 1888 - he
was six years old. Both families were farming in the area around
Clear Lake and Culleoka.
They finally met in 1897 during a revival at the Baptist church. Fannie
said, "And I'll tell you, I fell in love with him right away. He was that
handsome. I believe he was the handsomest man I ever saw. He
wanted to get married right away. I knew I was too young - but he
had a little money put away, and he said that if I would marry him,
we could use that money to buy us some land, but if I didn't, he
would spend it all." There seemed to be some problem with her
daddy also. He thought George was too rough and worldly for his
daughter. On October 16, 1898 George and Fannie were married in
the community school house (there was no church) by the Missionary
Baptist preacher, M. L. Davis. She had turned 15 the day before, he
was 16.
They farmed for a while, and started having babies in 1899. George
had become a Christian when he was 13. He was converted in the
old Bethany Church near Culleoka and was Baptized in August, 1894
by Rev. Clem Clarkson. According to Fannie, she was not a Christian
until after they married. He had "heard the call" to become a
preacher when he was 15 years old, but was trying to ignore and run
away. He had become a deacon in the church in hopes that that
would satisfy the "call", but that didn't work. In 1902 he surrendered
to preach. When he announced his decision during a Saturday
meeting at the church, "...well, it shocked me. I didn't marry a
preacher. I hadn't had the call." On October 25, 1903 he was
licensed to preach by the Clear Lake Missionary Baptist Church. His
ordination credentials read as follows: "This is to certify that Brother
G.A. Dale was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry by
prayer and the laying on of hands of the presbytery on the 29th day
of July, 1906. He was called to ordination by the Culleoka Baptist
Church, which had ample opportunity to become acquainted with his
piety and ministerial gifts. The Ordaining Counsel was composed of
Elders E.G. Dunn, Pastor of the Culleoka Baptist Church, A.J.
Fawcett and W.W. Harris, of the Farmersville Baptist Church, who
after a deliberate and thorough examination of the candidate,
cordially recommended him to the Church for ordination. Our beloved
Brother, the bearer of this paper, has therefore, the entire approval
of the ordaining Counsel in being publicly set apart to preach the
Gospel and administer the ordinances of the Church of Christ. May
he like Barnabas, be 'full of the Holy Spirit and of Faith and through
him much people be added to the Lord.'" His mother and father,
Jerry and Nancy Dale, were members of the church in Culleoka, and
Nancy was asked to pray at that service.
And thus was launched a career of ministry that would not end for
another 70 years. But first, George needed to go back to school.
Public school in those years was three to four months a year, and
certainly did not prepare a person to be a preacher. George and
Fannie moved their family of three children to Westminster, Texas,
where George would attend Westminster College. The college had
been built by the Methodists but had been sold to the Baptists and
become a part of Baylor University in 1902. George would attend the
college from 1905 through 1910. As he said, "The building was built
after I started to school. It is built of concrete walls. I helped to pour
the walls, then went to school inside them." The family survived by
George working at manual labor jobs and Fannie taking in boarders.
George also started preaching at churches in the area.
Interestingly enough, in 1909 George and Fannie bought 1/2 acre of
land in Westminster for $60. I have no idea where they came up with
$60, but the plot thickens. September 6, 1909, they contracted with
the Conner Bros. Company to build a "four roomed, boxed and
weatherboarded, shingled roofed dwelling house" on their half acre.
They paid $179 upon delivery of materials and signed a note for
$110. (The microfilm was very difficult to read, but I think that was
the full price.) Imagine having four kids already and building a four
room house. Then my father was born, probably before the house
was completed. I'll bet Saturday night baths were fun! There were
actually two 1/2 acre lots that George and Fannie bought in
Westminster. One sold in 1912 to J.M. Kirby and one sold in 1915 to
W.L. Barnes. I think the latter was the one with the house. The
selling price for each of the properties was $550, so both may have
had houses.
Between 1906 and 1934, George was pastor of 16 different
churches and had served as County Missionary on three different
ocassions. The breakdown is as follows: 1906 - 1908 Honey Creek
Church (1/4 time - $50 per year), 1906 - Snow Hill Church (1/4 time),
1907 - Shiloh Church (1/4 time), 1907 - 1912 Verona Church (1/2
time), 1909 - 1912 Altoga Church (1/2 time), 1908 Culleoka Church
(1/4 time), 1912 - 1913 Blue Ridge Church (1/2 time), 1913 - 1915
Princeton Church (1/2 time), 1912 - 1915 Merit Church (1/2 time)
1915 - 1918 Collin County Missionary, 1918 Josephine Church, 1919
Park Street Church in Greenville, 1919 Hunt County Missionary,
1923 White Rock Church (1/2 time), 1923 Greenville Church (1/2
time), 1924 Princeton Church, 1925 - 1928 Royse City Church, 1928
Hunt County Missionary, 1929 - 1934 First Baptist Church, Madill
Oklahoma.
During this period they raised six children and as George said, "I
was permitted to baptize each one myself." In 1934 he and Fannie
moved to Tahoka, Texas where he was pastor of the First Baptist
Church until he retired in 1943. He was actually forced to retire due
to a massive heart attack which he suffered in 1942. When he
retired, they moved to Lubbock, Texas. "Retired" is not exactly the
term I would use to describe what George did for the rest of his life.
For the next 25 years he served as interim pastor for about 35 or 40
churches, one as far away as Casper, Wyoming. He helped organize
one church in Lubbock that was named Parkdale in honor of him.
In his personal journal, diaries, and amongst his belongings are many
referrences to people and places, letters from friends, newspaper
clippings which chronicle events in their lives, all too numerous to
include here. But one such document
I cannot resist including. This was sent to him in a letter from Mrs. A.
Adamcik, and I believe she thought of him when she read it: "O
Lawd, give thy servant this mornin' de eyes of de eagle and de
wisdom of de owl; connect his soul with de Gospel telephone in de
central skies; 'luminate his brow with de sun o' heaben; pizen his
mind with love fer de people; turpentine his 'magination; grease his
lips with 'possum oil; loosen his tongue with the sledge hammer of
Thy power; 'lectrify his brain with de lightnin' of Thy Word; put 'petual
motion in his ahms; fill him plum full of de dynamite of Thy glory;
'noint him all over with de kerosene oil of Thy salvation, and set him
on fire. Amen." And that's the way I remember him preaching well
into his eighties. He could make the hair on the back of your neck
stand out.
On November 9, 1979 George Angus Dale died. The following
obituary was printed in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Services for
the Rev. George A. Dale, 98, of Bender Terrace Nursing Home will
be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Melvin
Rathael of Sun City, Ariz., the Rev. I.D. Walker, interim pastor, the
Rev. J.T. Bolding, retired pastor of First Baptist Church, and Dr. J.
Ralph Grant, pastor emeritus, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven
Memorial Park under direction of Sanders Funeral Home." Then it
goes on to tell all the things I have already told, and concludes, "One
son, Everette, died in 1977. Survivors include his widow; three sons,
George of Lubbock, Troy of Nashville, Tenn., and Paul of Plano; two
daughters, Mrs. G.R. Kennedy and Mrs. James C. Edwards, both of
Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren." We called
him Big Dad. He was trully a remarkable man and servant of God.
In November, 1981 Francis Jane Simmons Dale died. Her Obituary in
the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal read: "Services for Mrs. George A.
(Frances) Dale, 99 of Lubbock, will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Ford
Memorial Chapel of the First Baptist Church here. Officiating will be
Dr. D.L. Lowrie, pastor, Rev. John Ballard, minister and Rev. J.T.
Bolding, former pastor. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial
Park...Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. G.R. Kennedy and Mrs.
James C. Edwards, both of Lubbock, three sons, George T. of
Lubbock, Paul of Plano, and Troy of Dallas, 10 grandchildren, 22
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. We called
her Big Mother. She had the greatest lap to sit on that I ever
experienced.
Before they died, they had been married for 81 years. Paul Harvey
mentioned their anniversary on his national radio program for many
years. On their 80th anniversary there was this article in the Lubbock
Avalanch-Journal :"The Rev. and Mrs. George Dale, who celebrated
their 80th wedding anniversary October 18, have received messages
of congratulations from all over the country. Among them was a
letter received this week from President and Mrs. Carter. Dated
October 18, the letter from the President and first lady read: 'We are
pleased to join your family in sending you our warmest
congratulations on your wedding anniversary. May love and devotion
continue to bless your marriage.'" I'm not sure why they missed the
date by two days - they were actually married on October 16 - but it
was a nice gesture. And they say that people who marry young
won't stay together. I guess they really were in love!
On December 25, 1955 Big Dad gave Big Mother a new Bible. The
poem he wrote says everything about their love:
Out of deep gratitude and everlasting love do I present this Bible to
one who has shared my trials and walked beside me through the
years.
We have traveled together you and I to the lonliest part of the road,
In going down hill we wonder still how we managed to carry the load.
We concluded there was someone strengthening us,
And we simply obeyed His will.
Day after day, He showed us the way to climb up the rugged hill.
Now we have come to that part of the road where we miss the old
friends we knew,
We rest at the bend as memories blend, in long retrospective review.
We cannot be far from the journey's end, not many more years to
roam,
But oh such thrilling going down hill to know we together are nearing
home.
With All My Love
Phillipians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..."
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Hardy and Amelia Dale,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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