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John Thomas Poe
Brief Sketch On The Life Of John T. Poe John T. Poe was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, August 30, 1836. He was the son of Larkin C. and Rachel Harrington Poe of Chatham County, South Carolina. He was said to have been one of the pioneer preachers of Texas, who came into the vineyard at the third hour, and helped to bear the burden and the heat of the day. He lived and worked for years in central and east Texas. He helped to strengthen the churches at Corsicana, Dallas, San Marcos. He was 25 years old when the Civil War broke out. He volunteered for service, reaching the position of Corporal in Company F, of the 4th Regiment of Texas Volunteers. He, along with other pioneer preachers like B.F. Hall, and Gen. R.M. Gano, did their part in fighting for the cause of states’ rights. After the war he served a number of years he served as Texas editor of the Gospel Advocate, and wrote for other papers as well, including the Firm Foundation. In 1874 the church in Longview was organized. Poe was the minister. Until 1884, the congregation did not use the instrument in their worship services. Poe opposed its entrance. It was not until 1895 that the instrument was added under the influence of L.A. Dale. Poe, along with 25 others, left the group to form a congregation after the simple New Testament order. Heartbroken, he ended up leaving for a few years, but returning in February, 1900. The church of Christ in Longview increased under his influence. Through his writings, and personal trips to struggling churches, he fought against the additions of the instrument into public worship assemblies. He also fought against the Missionary Societies. In 1899 he helped to have the instrument removed from the church house at Dawson, Navarro County, Texas. He wrote articles in the Gospel Advocate, and other papers encouraging brethren to stay and fight for their buildings rather than give them over to those who wanted to bring the instrument into the assembly. When efforts to reunite with brethren who had added the instrument, he opposed it saying that decisions of whether to use or not to use instruments in worship had to be decided on the congregational level, and not through a state run meeting. He organized a number of churches including the Christian church at Wills Point, Van Zandt County, in 1886. He passed from this life December 23, 1917, and was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Longview, Texas. Buried beside him are his wife Carrie, and his son William. —Sources: Texas Pulpit by Christian Preachers, The History of the Catoma Street Church, Gospel Advocate; Firm Foundation Vol 35, No. 1 Jan. 1, 1918; More On Poe's Activity In Alabama
From Dallas: John T. Poe is buried in Longview, Texas, in the Greenwood Cemetery. If traveling from Dallas, take Exit 589 off I-20, and head seven miles north. Follow Hwy. 31 north to Hwy. 80E. Go 4 or 5 traffic lights and look for the hospital. The cemetery is behind the Good Shepherd Hospital. Just past the hospital, turn right on N. 5th St. and the north end of the cemetery should be at the corner of Paden St. & N5th. However, the entrance should be one block further down on E. Magill Street. The address is 705 E. Magill St. From Shreveport: Heading west on I-20. Take Exit 596 and head north on Hwy. 259/149 (S. Eastman St.) Turn left on E. Marshall Ave. (Hwy. 80) and just before the hospital, turn left on N. 5th St. and the north end of the cemetery should be at the corner of Paden St. & N5th. However, the entrance should be one block further down on E. Magill Street. The address is 705 E. Magill St. GPS Coordinates Cemetery Map Showing Location Of Kearley Monument
Oct. 15, 1866 Feb. 22, 1909 |
