The Methodist Minister They Called "Fightin' Jack"

by Tom Goodman 

Before Texas communities had pastors and church buildings, many depended on circuit riders: preachers who traveled on horseback from settlement to settlement, conducting services wherever people gathered.

Few fit the frontier image better than Andrew Jackson Potter--or “Fightin’ Jack,” as friends and enemies alike called him. 

Potter had hauled freight, driven cattle, prospected for gold, and fought in the army before becoming a Methodist preacher. Beginning in 1866, he served circuits across West and South Texas, preaching in homes, churches, military forts, camp meetings, and even saloons.

His routes reportedly covered about 2,500 miles each year.

Potter made a point of going to rough communities where other ministers hesitated to serve. He frequently carried a gun, sometimes propping it beside the pulpit while he preached to crowds that included drunkards, cowboys, trail drivers, and hecklers. 

A weapon might seem an odd tool for a pastor, but it caused men to think twice before interfering with Potter's meetings or accosting him on a remote road. In the language of his day, he once wrote:

"When God calls me to travel in a region of country infested with lurking savages, my Winchester gun and a full belt of cartridges shall ever prevent distressing alarms about my safety when meeting a savage foe, feeling that in the fearful struggle for life I have some safe means to preserve my God-given manhood."

He spent twelve years riding the Kerrville circuit and later established a Methodist circuit at Fort Concho, where he preached the first Methodist sermon at the future site of San Angelo. He continued circuit riding until 1895, when he died while preaching in a Caldwell County chapel.

By the turn of the century, Texas pastors were more likely to receive an appointment centered on one town or a small group of established churches. But stories of armed circuit riders who braved lawless settlements still lingered. 

Such stories may have fortified the resolve of the real-life preacher behind my forthcoming novel when he faced dangers of his own.

My new novel is called Through Many Dangers. It's based on the remarkable true story of Jesse Lee, whom I renamed Rick Burleson for the novel. In 1905, Lee faced down a violent bootlegging syndicate in Groveton, Texas, to become known as the pistol-packing preacher. 

When I first ran across the tale, it was like someone had taken one of my favorite films, The Untouchables, and dropped it in the remote Piney Woods of East Texas.

Read the back cover copy here. To keep up with the launch, sign up for my newsletter at this page and get a free copy of Ten Texas Tales.

I need some advance reviewers who will read the book before the October 1 pub date and be ready to drop a review at online stores and review sites the first week it's out. 

Members of the Review Team will get a free copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. Apply to join the Review Team by clicking on the deputy badge below:

Photo of Jack Potter: H. A. Graves, Andrew Jackson Potter, the Fighting Parson of the Texan Frontier (1881). Courtesy of the Library of Congress and Internet Archive. Public domain. The Houston Chronicle adapted the engraving.
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Florida’s Featured Author ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

“So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war,” President Abraham Lincoln said when he met Harriet Beecher Stowe. 

 

Or did he?

The first record of Lincoln’s greeting appears in Mrs. Stowe’s 1890 biography. Though her son, Charles Edward Stowe, tells the story as family lore, his closeness to the source gives it plenty of credibility.

 

Besides, many believe that Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet's classic novel, truly did light a spark within the abolitionist movement. 

 

Here are a few facts we know are true:

 

Harriet was born on June 14, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut to Roxanna Foote Beecher (1775-1816) and her husband, Reverend Lyman Beecher (1775-1863). 

 

She married Calvin Stowe, a professor of Biblical Literature at Lane Theological Seminary, on January 6, 1836. 

The Stowes had seven children, including twin daughters. Tragically, their son, Samuel Charles, died of cholera in 1849. He was only eighteen months old. 

She died on July 1, 1896—not even a month after her 85^th birthday.

Her Writing Opened Hearts

 

Her scholarly husband, Harriet once said, was “rich in Greek & Hebrew, Latin & Arabic, and alas! rich in nothing else” (HBSC).

 

However, even before she married and had a family, Harriet's writing provided an income. Her first publication, Primary Geography for Children, was published in 1833 when she was only twenty-two or twenty-three.

 

She wrote her most famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, about twenty years later. The National Era, an abolitionist paper, wanted a short story to run in installments “that would paint a word picture of slavery” (HBSC).

Instead of the planned three or four chapters, Harriet wrote a full-length novel that opened readers' hearts to the suffering of enslaved people. 

Three more abolitionist novels followed: The Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1853),

Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856), and The Minister’s Wooing (1859).

 

During her writing career, which spanned half a century, Harriet published thirty books plus numerous articles, essays, hymns, poetry, and short stories. Her influence through her writings is immeasurable. 

 

The Stowe Family’s Florida Connection

 

The Stowes lived many years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later in Brunswick, Maine where they housed fugitive slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. 

 

After the Civil War, however, they became snowbirds and purchased property in Mandarin, Florida, on the St. Johns River. They wintered there for more than fifteen years and even bought an orange grove for their son, Frederick, to manage.

 

Charles Beecher, a minister and educator, opened a nearby school to educate formerly enslaved people, a cause which was dear to his sister’s heart.

 

Harriet expressed her appreciation for Florida’s unique beauty in her book, Palmetto Leaves(1873), where she compared the area’s semi-tropical climate to that of Italy. (Which surprises me ~ I’ve lived most of my adult life in Central Florida and I’ve visited Tuscany. To me, the climates are very different!)

 

The Beecher Family Tradition ~ A Legacy of Service

 

When it came to service and reform, the Beecher family didn’t sit quietly in the pews. 

 

Harriet’s older sister, Catharine, founded the Hartford Female Seminary which provided women the opportunity to study the classics, languages and mathematics. Harriet attended this school.

 

Isabella, Harriet’s youngest sister, helped to found the National Women’s Suffrage Association.

All of Harriet’s brothers were ministers.

Honors

• 1986 ~ Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame;
• 2007 ~ A 75¢ U.S. postage stamp was issued in her honor in the “Distinguished Americans” series;
• 2010 ~ The Ohio Historical Society nominated Mrs. Stowe as a finalist  for Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol, however, Thomas Edison was selected instead.

Your Turn ~ Uncle Tom's Cabin has been on my TBR (To Be Read) list since my son-in-law read a heart-rending chapter out loud to us a few years ago. I procrastinate because the novel seems so daunting. But I truly hope to read it when life slows down a bit. 

Have you read Uncle Tom's Cabin? If so, what did you think? If not, do you plan to? What other classics do you have on your TBR list?

Journey of the Heart

In the shadow of slavery, love answers with courage.

Stories of heart, mystery, and timeless truth.

Johnnie Alexander writes award-winning stories of enduring love and quiet courage. Her historical and contemporary novels weave together unforgettable romance, compelling characters, and a touch of mystery. A sometime hermit and occasional vagabond who most often kicks off her shoes in Florida, Johnnie cherishes cozy family times and enjoys long road trips. Readers are invited to discover glimpses of grace and timeless truth in her stories. Connect with her at johnnie-alexander.com.

Photos ~ Unless otherwise indicated, photos are in the public domain.

Bust of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Brenda Putnam at Hall of Fame for Great Americans. Photo by H0n0r at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17210647.

 

Sources

Gershon, Noel. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Biography. New York: Henry Holt and Co. (1976).

HBSC ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (harrietbeecherstowecenter.org).

Hedrick, Joan D. Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Life. Oxford University Press (1994).

Florida’s Featured Author ~ Julia Daniels Moseley

The first time I moved to Florida, after spending the first three decades of my life in Midwestern farming communities, I quickly fell in love with the state’s golden sunshine; the mid-afternoon showers (that didn’t block out the sun’s rays); the complicated history of a harsh, unforgiving land; and the celebration of multiple peoples—including pirates, Florida “crackers” (cowboys), conquistadores, Seminoles, tycoons, inventors, crazies, and quite a few more.

While settling into our new home with our young family, I read all kinds of books—nonfiction and fiction—about Florida’s past. This was one of my favorites.

The Book

“Come to My Sunland”: Letters of Julia Daniels Moseley from the Florida Frontier, 1882-1886 is about a 19th century Midwesterner—a sophisticated writer and artist—who falls in love with her new home despite the isolation and hardship she experiences.

Here’s an excerpt from the back cover copy:

“A frontierswoman of culture and refinement, [Julia] made Florida not only a home, but a canvas on which she painted old scrub lands east of Tampa in the 1880s, with their wild fields and hammock oases, their passion flowers and butterflies, mockingbirds and larks, lake vistas and flaming sunsets.”

Quick Bio

• Born ~ August 7, 1849 in Illinois
• Parents ~ Carlos and Elizabeth Daniels
• Married ~ Charles Scott Moseley on May 18, 1876
• Children ~ Carl “Karl” and Hallock Moseley
• Died ~ August 7, 1917 (68 years old)
• Buried ~ Limona Cemetery, Brandon, Florida

The book’s introduction says this about Julia:

“The embodiment of great personal charm and fancy, she put her roots firmly down into the Florida soil. She was a Renaissance woman and a cosmopolitan in the wilderness” (p. 5).

The Legacy

Julia’s granddaughter, Julia Winifred Moseley, was the co-editor of the collection of letters along with Betty Powers Crislip. Both were officers of Timberly Trust, Inc., the organization tasked with preserving the Moseley homestead.

On March 21, 2019, the younger Julia’s 100th birthday was celebrated as Julia Moseley Day, The mayor of Brandon, Florida, read a proclamation that included this accolade: 

“Julia Moseley is the personification of a protector of Florida history.”

At that time, Julia Winifred Moseley still lived at “The Nest,” the home built by her grandparents in the 1880s. The fourteen-acre property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“When you pull into the property, it is as if you have been transported back in time. Most of the buildings on the property are original to the period of ownership. The main house still has the original wall covering which consists of palmetto fiber on painted burlap. This unique wall covering was taken down and exhibited at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893” (Osprey Observer).

Home Again

Last April I became a Florida resident for the third time. I’m home again, back to where sandhill cranes stroll through the neighborhood, a family of wild turkeys sometimes scamper across the road, and at least one alligator lives in the pond behind our house.

As a tribute to my adopted state, my posts over the next several months will highlight a few of Florida’s historic authors, artists, and architects.

A virtual tour of the Moseley Homestead can be taken at the University of South Florida’s Digital Heritage & Humanities Collections site.

The latest edition of “Come to My Sunland,” with an updated cover, is available on Amazon.

Johnnie Alexander is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of more than thirty works of fiction in multiple genres. She is both traditionally and indie-published, serves as board secretary for the Mosaic Collection, LLC (an indie-author group) and faculty chair for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference; co-hosts Writers Chat, a weekly online show; and contributes to the HHHistory.com blog. With a heart for making memories, Johnnie is a fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips. Connect with her at JohnnieAlexander.com.

Photo ~ Moseley Homestead (“The Nest’) ~ Photo taken by Ebyabe; used under CC BY-SA 3.0license. File:Brandon FL Moseley Homestead dwy01.jpg. Created: 9 July 2011. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 12 July 2011

Sources

Osprey Observer ~ https://www.ospreyobserver.com/2019/04/julia-moseley-celebrates-100th-birthday-at-her-family-home-known-as-the-nest/

USF Digital Heritage and Humanities Collections ~ https://dhhc.lib.usf.edu/moseley/

Blizzards of the 19th Century - Guest Post by Jodie Wolfe

Perhaps not many are aware of the great blizzards of the 19th Century, particularly from December 1885 to March 1888. The eastern United States and Great Plains suffered the most. It’s believed that a huge volcano explosion in the South Pacific in August 1883 was the cause of the huge snowstorms in the following few years.

A couple years before this storm, Laura Ingalls Wilder chronicled the effect of blizzards in her book The Long Winter that hit the Dakota Territory in 1880-81. Old photos show a train track cleared of snow and 8-12 feet of snow on either side in Minnesota. 

It’s reported in towns the drifts were as high as the buildings and people had to dig tunnels to be able to get around. Some folks were caught out in the storm because of the fierce wind and snow. People became lost and disoriented, sometimes dying a few yards from their home. Some prepared as the storm hit by tying a rope between their homes and a barn so they wouldn’t become lost in the blinding winds and snow.

On January 1-3 and January 6-8, 1886, a set of blizzards swept across the plains in what would become known as “The Great Blizzard of 1886.” Temperatures dropped to 30 degrees below zero with negative

wind chills. Drifts as high as twelve feet or more were common throughout the state of Kansas.

Before the storm hit, temperatures had been quite warm and rainy. One report I read from a Kansas farmer commented about how much his cows drank because of the heat.
An estimated 100 lives lost in the Kansas storm, were attributed to freezing to death. Over seventy-five percent of the livestock were decimated during this storm in some areas – over 100,000 cattle. Wildlife also lost their lives by freezing to death.

Train travel stalled with 12-foot-high drifts covering the tracks.

A storm that hit March 11-14, 1888, was often referred to as the ‘Great White Hurricane’. Warm temperatures were followed by plunging temperatures and wicked winds. The East Coast was blanketed in 50 feet high drifts. Boston, New York, and other cities were hit hard by snow blocking roads, knocking out telephone, telegraph, and rail service for several days. Many lives were lost in this storm.

What an incredible time in history, particularly if you’re a snow lover like me. :) I enjoyed utilizing the information from these blizzards in my upcoming book release, Convincing Lou.

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Convincing Lou 

How hard can it be to round up one delinquent groom? 

Ellie Lou Williams will do just about anything to save her ranch, even going undercover as a man to round up a fella who is late to his own wedding. The reward will more than cover the money she owes the bank and solve all her problems.

Caleb Martin agrees to one final job as a deputy U.S. Marshal before he starts his new life away from the trail and tracking criminals. What he isn’t counting on is a mysterious bounty hunter who’s determined to undermine his every step.

Will one reach their goal first? Or will they learn to lean on God and work together?

*Winter images royalty free use from Pixabay.

A Wild West Icon: The Traveling Medicine Show

What did folks do for entertainment in the Wild West? Well, yes. A certain element of society occupied themselves with gambling, drinking, and ladies of easy virtue. What about everyone else? I’m talking about the homesteaders, merchants, and school teachers who forged a life for themselves by honest labor. These townsfolk might meet at religious observances or socialize at occasions like barn dances, weddings, and harvest parties. However, most of the time they stayed home and were content to take care of household chores. That changed whenever the Medicine Show rolled into town.

A Wild West Icon: The Traveling Medicine Show by Janalyn Voigt

From the mid-1800’s to early in 1900, a uniquely American extravaganza promoted intriguing products offered by patent medicine companies. Based on the performances of traveling charlatans who stepped into the gap after circuses and theaters were banned in 14th-century Europe, the Medicine Show featured acts usually found in a circus. Jugglers, muscle men, magicians, singers and dancers, and ventriloquists were among the performers. Wild West and Native American themes abounded, although the shows also appeared in others parts of America. Sometimes the shows took on Indian names due to the Indian-named medicines they offered, a variation called a traveling Indian Medicine Show.

"Indian tonics occupied a special niche in old medicine shows, and the Kickapoo Indian tribe salesmen were extremely successful in selling theirs by putting on an impressive show to draw in customers. “New Nationalism” (drum) was Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive platform in the 1912 presidential election. This 1910 lithograph depicts an Indian medicine show performer trying his best to sell “Outlook Tonic” to a crowd of skeptics." FDA

Smooth-talking “medicine men” billed as “doctors” or “professors” extolled the virtues of elixers, medicines, linaments and ointments from the back of ornate wagons. The slick salesmen convinced their audiences that their potions could remedy almost any ailment, including veneral disease, tuberculosis, colic, digestive ailments, female complaints, and even cancer. Many of the linaments contained snake oil, which gave rise to the term “snake-oil salesman” to describe the dishonest salesman of an ineffective product.

Many of the supposed miracle cures did not pass muster, but buyers wouldn’t realize this until after the show moved on. A few were laced with alcohol, morphine, opium, or cocaine and marketed for children. Actual doctors and medical scholars objected to patent medicines, complaining that they didn’t work, created drug and alcohol dependencies, and kept sick people from seeking professional treatment, In the late 19th century, temperance adherents objected to the use of alcohol in medicines.

This product contained cocaine. Visual motif: Shows young woman emerging from behind a pillar on which is written Brown's Iron Bitters.

Responding the the prevailing pressures, in 1881 drug manufacturers founded “The Proprietary Association” and fought the calls for regulation. They were aided in the mission by the press, which enjoyed advertizing dollars from medicine makers. Despite their efforts, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 demanded that ingredients appear on medicine labels. It also cracked down on false advertising.

"This is one of five printed, gummed labels for patent medicines marketed as cures for Cholera Morbus, a historical, obsolete term for a gastrointestinal ailment characterized by fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Each label includes specific medicine names, such as Cholera Balm and McLaughlin's Magic Relief, as well as dosage instructions." Science History Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Not all medicine-show products were “quack medicine.” Some, like Pepto Bismol, Listerine, Bayer Aspirin, Milk of Magnesia. Ex-Lax, and Richardson’s Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve (modern-day Vick’s Vaporub) withstood the test of time.

I had fun researching traveling medicine shows for The Promise Tree, part of the Montana Gold western historical romance series. In the story, young Liberty Hayes' search for answers to her identity leads her to an unexpected surprise at a medicine show. 

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes western historical romance and medieval epic fantasy. Romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy appear in all her novels in proportions dictated by their genre.

Learn more about Janalyn Voigt and her books.

  

Unsung Heroes - Our Local Museums

When was the last time you visited a hometown historical museum? Did you ever wonder where the funding comes from or who keeps them running? If it were not for generous individuals with a love of history, who would preserve the past? To the men and women (and sometimes children) that give of their time, energy, and resources to impart your combined knowledge, I for one am grateful.

One such venue, the Tabor House in Ellijay, Georgia recently 

hosted an Open House. Volunteers dressed in period clothing, and shared information about life in bygone times. From an explanation of the history of Cherokee in Georgia to a demonstration by two enthusiastic young children about toys of the time, it was an eye-opening event. I learned bits and pieces about the area and era that I had never heard of before. I was able to envision what life was like in the mountains of Georgia in the late 19th/early 20th century. 

The Tabor family and its many branches inhabited Gilmer County from near its inception. Early Tabors built a home near the center of Ellijay. They supported the local Oakwood Academy private school. Before government funded public schools, families paid for their children to attend classes. Neat tidbit, the first woman to graduate college in Gilmer County emanated from Oakwood Academy. Miss Emma Tabor attended Wesleyan College and received her degree in 1889. 

One descendant, Herbert, was known as “Tall Tabor.” A graduate of Young Harris College, Herbert began a career in banking and later founded the first insurance company in the mountains. With a reputation of honesty, he served his local community. He was the father of the Mountain Fair that began in 1950. 

A serious liver condition sent Herbert to the hospital. Unable to work or walk, he read about hydroponic gardening. A newspaper article titled, “One Man’s Garden Started in a Bottle… at Hospital,” explains how Herbert inquired of the local dentist to drill holes in glass bottles. He hung these receptacles on his front porch (see photo above) to grow vegetables. A lengthy convalescence helped Herbert expand his knowledge and produce. The article exclaims of his mammoth, juicy tomatoes, and yard squash. Yes, thirty-six inches long! His hobby became a passion, and he eventually took his prized produce to the Mountain Fair.

This son of an Ordinary, Judge Thomas Tabor, was known for his storytelling prowess. While healthy, he made rounds to the local stores and sat at the "Liar's bench" outside the courthouse. He gathered gossip and tall tales to share at future gatherings. He could weave a yarn with the best of them is part of his legacy.

The Gilmer County Library archives feature a book entitled, The Mountains Within Me, by none other than Zell Miller. The inscription inside this copy reads, "To Herbert Tabor, the most eloquent spokesman our mountains have ever had. Thank you for your friendship. - Zell Miller"

We can imagine this gentleman walking to the hardware and general stores, sitting on his porch, and tending his plants. Can we picture what it was like inside his home? Thanks to those preserving the past, we can get an idea of his daily life.

We step onto the porch, go through the door into the parlor. We look to the tin ceiling tiles and hear the wood floors creak before we even notice the wide and weathered planks. The pipe organ with its hidden bellows rests just beyond in the living room. The kitchen in the early days of this home would have been outside as a separate building to prevent fires. 

One volunteer explained the use of carbide in houses. Much like people have propane tanks to fuel various appliances in their homes today, carbide tanks supplied energy to light the sconces and ceiling light fixtures in some homes of this time.

For our education, a mock kitchen displays wares of the past. A wood burning stove, hand irons, brooms, cast iron pots and pans are a few of the items on display. Canned goods, hand beaters, a grinder and Ball Mason jars flank the shelves.

Narrow stairs lead up to the bedrooms. As feet were noticeably smaller in that period, the depth of these steps is roughly the size of a woman's US size six shoe.

At the top of the stairs the children's bedrooms allow visitors to comprehend a bit more of daily practices. The bed shows why we hear, "Sleep tight." The ropes tied along the pegs were often tightened to keep them taught and support the weight of the people sleeping on the tick (mattress).

There is a "toilet" in the corner. An outhouse did exist on the property. This convenience, however, served a purpose at night. Sears catalogues met needs instead of toilet paper. This I learned long ago on my uncles' farm. However, on this trip to the Tabor House, the docent explained that families in the area used corn cobs as well. That is a fact I did not learn at home or in school. Did you?

There is a room honoring those who served and serve in the United States Armed Forces. Enlightening exhibits in this room give a glimpse into life as a soldier. One item is a bullet used during surgery. In the absence of anesthesia, patients would bite down on an item to bear the pain. One object used was a lead bullet. Hence the phrase, "Bite the bullet." 

Resurrection Morn hangs on the wall. This story is from November 1863 when Rev. Willie Ragland baptized Goodwin of Company A in the Rapidan River. The Northern Army was just across the water. As the Southern soldiers approached the bank, they began to sing the old hymn, "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood." The Northern soldiers joined in and sang from across the river. War stopped for a time and peace ensued as one soldier said goodbye to his old body and welcomed in the new through Jesus.

If you would like to visit the Tabor House or support their efforts, the museum is open to the public mid-March to mid-December. 138 Spring Street, Ellijay, GA 20540

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 100 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia.

Connect with Rebecca: Clubhouse Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest Twitter