Hopkins Co. TX - Mr. Agee - A man who helped to make Hopkins County Submitted by: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. A Man Who Helped To Make Hopkins County By J. T. Arthur and G. G. Orren Saltillo, Texas Gazette - 1938 D. H. Agee was born in Tennessee, Jan. 2, 1828, and moved to Mississippi when a boy. He married Sarah Keelin, the daughter of a Methodist preacher, Dec. 22, 1852. They came to Texas in 1856 and settled about three-fourths of a mile south of Old Saltillo church. Both professed religion in early life and joined the church. Twelve children were born to this union, five now living. They have 47 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Agee died July 22, 1911, and his wife died March 10, 1920. Mr. and Mrs, Agee came to the country in a one-horse wagon from Mississippi. They began clearing land the next day after arrival and making preparations to build a round pole log house. The cracks were daubed with mud and the top was made of boards fastened with wooden pegs. The house was also equipped with a stick and dirt chimney. They cooked on the fireplace. Mr. & Mrs. Agee were consistent, devoted Christians and were both charter members of the Old Saltillo Methodist Church. They were always prompt at church unless kept away by sickness. Mr. Agee is the man that made such a wonderful plea for Old Saltillo Church when it was almost closed on account of disturbances from "toughs." On one occasion a number of hunters camped at the church and when the people met for worship the hunters got on their horses and began blowing their horns used to call the dogs. They rode around the church with the yelping hounds following. Finally, the "toughs" went to the stores at Saltillo to get some whiskey, but when they arrived back at the church services had been dismissed. The report of this disturbance reached the annual conference. The conference considered the place past redemption and were ready to throw the church out when Brother Agee arose and begged the conference to give the church another chance, explaining that the "toughs" were not residents of the Old Saltillo community, but were from certain surrounding communities. The church was given another chance until the next annual conference. The next report was favorable and the church has been ever since. Brother Agee was blessed for his efforts for working for the church by having a son, H. K. Agee, called to the ministry. Mr. Agee was elected steward of the church at its organization. He served as long as he was able and when too old to serve he was made honorary steward for life. God promised Abraham that if he would obey him his descendants would be great and was beyond number. Likewise, Brother Agee^Òs obedience blessed him with many descendants, which is more than we know of outside of Abraham. Mr. and Mrs. Agee, seven of their children, and other descendants have now gone to rest in the Promised Land.