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Oscar Hugh McGavock
Sketch On The Life Of O.H. McGavock
Oscar Hugh
McGavock was another of those great and useful gospel preachers who
has long since gone to a better land, but who served well while he
was here. He was born of Oscar H. and Nancy Bryan McGavock near
Chestnut Bluff, Tennessee on May 16, 1859. When he was three years
old his father died and his mother remarried. This did not work out
well for the young boy, and when he was eleven years old, he began
living in the home of a married sister, and later in the home of a
married brother. Soon he was "out on his own," which happened to
many boys in that time. He did such work as he could get in a rural
environment, and managed to get some schooling as he went along.
When he was about eighteen he began working for D. M. Brown, a
Christian man in Lake County, Tennessee. His mother was a Methodist
and he had been brought up in that belief. But Brother Brown began
to do "personal work" with him and soon had him studying the Bible,
at first mainly to protect his mother's Methodist faith, but it had
the desired effect in Brother Mc's life, and when he was about
twentyone he obeyed the Lord's teaching. About this time he had
gotten over into the beautiful Ozark country of Izard County,
Arkansas and the brethren in Melbourne and Newburg encouraged him to
get back in school and helped with the cost. He attended the public
schools of Melbourne and Lacross. Here he came in contact with
Brother George W. Cone, who diligently taught him the Bible for
about two years. While here in school, he began to preach, and when
his schooling was finished he went to see his mother at Chestnut
Bluff, Tenn. While there he held a gospel meeting, his first, and
baptized a large number of people, including his mother. Nearly all
the people at that time were interested in religious matters, and
most of them had some acquaintance with the Bible. There was much
religious prejudice, but many of the people were honestly seeking
the way of life. Soon after this he conducted a meeting at New Port, Arkansas in the face of much opposition from the sects. One night while preaching he noticed a young lady who seemed to be interested in what he was saying, but was constantly disturbed by her male companion. After the service he made inquiry and learned her name was Miss Laura Massey, and her companion was her uncle. He managed to get an introduction to her and was much impressed by her, and her desire to know more about the Bible. But he soon came up against religious prejudice on the part of her family, which would not allow him to visit her. However, he did manage to write to her, and as often as they could they arranged to meet in different places. In about two years she had reached the age of eighteen and they began to make plans to be married. On the appointed day, he rode his horse to claim his bride. Her father was a machinist, he went by his shop to ask for her hand, which he did in a proper manner. Her father replied: "She is of age, and can do as she pleases." Her mother was not so lenient, and told him to "never come to their house again." Miss Laura mounted the horse behind him and they rode to the justice of the peace, where they were married. The parents soon relented, and in the two years he lived and worked in that community, he baptized both of them into Christ. Though we do not have the exact date, the McGavock family moved to Texas with the Joe S. and Henry E. Warlick families. The McGavocks went to live on a farm owned by his uncle, Wash Brian, on which a part of the city of Abilene was later built. He farmed and preached here for about a year and when his wife's parents moved to Robinsonville, Texas and went into the grocery business, he joined them, working in the store and preaching. By now the McGavocks had two small daughters. About a year later, William Humphrey walked into the store to talk with Brother McGavock, inviting him to move to Humphrey's community. Humphrey had a large ranch on Valley Creek, about forty miles from Abilene, and offered to give Brother McGavock fifty acres of good land if he would move there and help build up the community. Mr. Humphrey was not a Christian, and there were no schools, but Humphrey had a teacher for his own children living in his home. The McGavocks gladly accepted this generous offer, and the Spring of 1889 found them with their (now) three daughters settled on their own place ten miles from Hilton, the nearest post office. Neighbors were few and far between, it was a long trip to town, hardships were constantly present, but all in all they had a good life. He did much preaching, and prospered on the farm. His preaching laid the groundwork for many of the good churches that have been in that section all the years since. Soon Post Oak school was built two miles from their place, and in this school house, a church of the Lord began to meet. The teacher, Mr. Cornelius, was a Methodist, and stayed in the McGavock home. They talked much about the Bible, and Brother McGavock kept trying to get him to diagram Mark 16:16, which he was very reluctant to do. One night, when all were asleep, Mr. Cornelius awakened the whole family, almost shouting that he had diagrammed the sentence. The next day Brother McGavock immersed him in Valley Creek. Brother McGavock kept busy preaching, riding a horse, and later going in a "gig" (a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by one horse). Sometimes he would have to camp out on the prairie for the night, and once lost his horse doing so. He met a man who helped him find the horse, and of course they met at church. In addition to the three girls, Azilee, Alvys, and Harmon, Elnora, Oscar, and Austin H. were born to them, making a total of six children. The three still living are (Dec., 1977): Mrs. Alvys Huan, Mrs. Harmon Adams, and Mrs. Elnora Thompson. All six of his children attended Christian schools, along with nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Joe Adams, Jr., and Stan Small are great-grandsons who are now gospel preachers. Ken Adams, also a great-grandson, teaches music in Oklahoma Christian College. Hardship was the lot of pioneer people, especially gospel preachers who had to be away from home so much. But the McGavocks prospered and in a few years sold the fifty acre farm and bought a larger one closer to Hilton. He continued to preach, and as trains became available, traveled that way, though it was a long trip to the station in Abilene or Ballinger. Many churches were established as many people were brought to the Lord. A Brother J. P. Noll came into their community and held a great meeting in which many people obeyed the gospel, including the entire Humphrey family. In 1894 C. W. and S. W. Smith had established a small school in Lockney, and though it was called a "college", for the first few years no college work was taught, but the students were taught the Bible, and later college work was offered. In 1898 Brother McGavock took his family in a covered wagon to Lockney so his children could be in that school. G.H.P. Showalter was President and W.L. Swinney was Vice-President. They had about two hundred students at that time. Lockney was a very small town some eighty or ninety miles southeast of Amarillo, the nearest railroad. Brother McGavock bought a house near the school and added enough room so he could keep eight young men from the school. He and Brother Charley Smith went into the business of hauling freight from Amarillo, and he was preaching all he could. By 1900 he had begun to have some health problems, and thinking it might be connected with the work he was in, he sold his house to Brother Showalter, who was soon to be married, and the McGavocks were soon in a covered wagon headed for Oklahoma. He had read in a Dallas paper that the railroad had reached Granite in Greer County, and he went there, finding a tent town. He hauled lumber from Quannah, Texas, built a building in which he operated a dry goods store in the front part and lived in the back part. The town grew rapidly, and his preaching and store kept him busy. A congregation had been started in Granite and was doing well, and the W. D. Hockaday family, who was to wield such a tremendous influence for good in that area, moved there about that time. The three Dunn brothers, John E., Jasper, and Gus held a great meeting in which many obeyed the gospel. The church was further strengthened by the preaching of such men as J.D. Tant, G. Dallas Smith, and J.H. Lawson. Brother McGavock continued to have health problems, and he traded the store for a farm in the Sand Hill community north of Granite, where he established a church. (Later known as Lake Creek, and some years ago merged with the Granite church.) He preached over a wide section of Western Oklahoma, including such places as Elk City, Sayre, Hammon, Texola, Brinkman, Taylor, Cedar Top, Rosebud, Sweetwater, and Lott, Texas. Since that time faithful churches have served the Lord until now in most of these places. His health problems continued, and though he often underwent tests, they could not find the cause of his trouble. He continued preaching at home and abroad, and once in his home community during a meeting, he baptized a husband and wife, their two married sons and their wives and three teenagers. He took them all into Lake Creek and beginning with the oldest, immersed them in order of age. After moving to Oklahoma, Brother McGavock sent some of his children back to Texas so they could be in Christian schools, but he was unhappy with this, wanting a school closer home. J.D. Tant came to Granite for a meeting, and while there he and Brother McGavock had dinner in the Hockaday home, and the three men talked about building such a school in Western Oklahoma. From this conversation came the school in Cordell. Brethren Hockaday, McGavock, A.E. Freeman, J.C. Harrell, E.F. Grogan, and Henry E. Warlick, who had moved to Greer County, composed the first board. Two of the McGavock daughters enrolled at Cordell the first day, and possibly Elnora (Thompson) was the very first student to enroll there. Brother McGavock moved to Cordell, where he preached and raised funds for the new school. Later he moved to Abilene and did similar work for the new school there, but soon he was back in Cordell. His health continued to fail, and gave more and more trouble in his work. In 1913 he went to Texas for a meeting, became ill and had to return home. This time the doctors learned he had a malignant tumor that had been bothering all these thirteen years. It was too late to do anything about it, and though faithful brethren did all they could, including the physicians, just as the sun was setting on February 15, 1913, his soul took it's flight to a better land, after a short sojourn here of only fifty-four years. Brethren J.N. Armstrong and Henry E. Warlick spoke at the service, and he was laid to rest in the Sod Cemetery, two miles northwest of Cordell. "Resting in hope of a glorious resurrection" is inscribed on the stone that marks his grave. On July 10, 1936, twenty-three years later, his beloved Laura gladly answered her Master's call, and she sleeps by his side at Cordell. In 1911, two years before his death, he reported that he had baptized more than three thousand souls into Christ. That is no small accomplishment! Like Abel, he being dead, yet speaketh through the multitudes he taught of the Lord and through the good family he left behind. Personal note: For many years I knew that Brother McGavock had lived, but he died when I was but a child. I have known many of his children and grandchildren, and it is a special personal privilege to become acquainted with him through the material furnished by Sister Thompson and her sisters for this article. We must not forget the lives and work of such people! I hope each reader will enjoy learning of this good man as much as I have. —Gospel Preacher Of Yesteryear, Loyd L. Smith, page 224-228, This Article Appeared Originally In The Christian Worker, December, 1977
Directions To The Grave Of O.H. McGavock Oscar H. McGavock is buried in Sod Cemetery in Cordell, Oklahoma. Cordell is located SW of Oklahoma City. Traveling west on I-40 go Exit 66 in Clinton and turn south on Hwy. 183. Travel south 16 miles to Cordell. Just before entering Cordell, turn right on E1170 Rd County Road. Go two miles and the cemetery will be on your right. Enter the cemetery and bear to your left to get to the McGavock plot. While in the area, be sure to drive a few miles south to Rocky to visit the grave of Samuel Claud Wall.
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Webmaster's Note: It was my pleasure to visit the grave of O.H. McGavock October 11, 2004. I was traveling with Graham McDonald, Scottish missionary. |
