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John Thomas Poe
1836-1917

Ligon Portraiture Picture
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

Directions To The Grave of John T. Poe
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
Acc to 14 ft.
N32º 02.582' x WO 96º 28.753'
Grave Faces East
8th Addition / Section B/ Lot 10
Cemetery Map Showing Location Of Kearley Monument



J.T.
Poe
Aug. 30, 1836
Dec. 22, 1917

Carrie
H. Wife Of
J.T. Poe
Feb. 21, 1843
Sept. 13, 1922

Wm. F. Poe
Oct. 15, 1866
Feb. 22, 1909
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