Beginning Years in Smiley 1907 - 1919

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BEGINNING YEARS IN SMILEY 1907 - 1919     In 1906 the newly laid railroad passed through the area leaving the little town of Smiley Lake about one-half mile to the south. The population, businesses, schools, and churches gravitated to the newly-made townsite of Smiley. In 1907 the Masons bought the community interest in the schoolhouse and moved the building into the townsite. This move made it necessary for the Church membership to seek another place of worship. They obtained a plot of land in the Morey Addition to the town of Smiley and erected a Church and parsonage. The Church building was a one-room rectangular shape, the style used extensively by Protestant churches in that time period. The parsonage occupied the northwest portion of the three city lots. In those days a parsonage always had to include a barn to house the pastor's carriage, horse and cow, as well as a garden area nearby.   1885 - 1985   100     Years        of Methodism     in Smiley           B.B.P.

On the Rancho Circuit 1879-1907 Beginning Years in Smiley - 1907-1919 Years of Growth - 1919 - 1925 Structural Change - 1927 - 1943 New Building and Dedication 1943 - 52 Study and Learning - 1952 - 1962 Church Organization - 1962 - 1978 Years of Invovlement 1978 - 1985

Unfortunately, the records of the next few years fell prey to dampness and termites, so we tell of memories and personalities. In 1907, Bro. W.M. McKinney was appointed as pastor of the Smiley Circuit with churches at Rocky, Davy, and Cabasa on the Charge. At various times, in later years, Floyd's Chapel, Pandora, Seals Chapel, and Westhoff-Cheapside have been on the same circuit as Smiley. McKinney was the first pastor to serve the new Smiley Methodist Church and to occupy its new parsonage. This was a learning time for the Congregation, a time to adjust to having a "parsonage family."               Bro. McKinney was most effective in his evangelistic and emotional style of preaching. The Sunday School and League took on new life and there was a steady growth in Church membership. When Bro. George Ryan came to the work in 1910, he brought a fine family of young children. His was a calm and gentle ministry yet forceful as he presented the teachings of the Bible. One of the young sons was Lowell Ryan, later to become a highly respected minister and leader in the Conference of the Methodist Church.

Bro. E.G. Hocutt began his four-year pastorate in 1911. His family consisted of his beloved wife, Monnie, and his horse, "Jim." One member of the Church recalls how the pastor often used "Jim" to illustrate a point he wished to make in his sermon. Although Bro. H.B. Owens only served one year, 1915, his influence was felt and well reflected in the lives of his son, Frith and his foster daughter, Rose King. They were graduated from the local high school and were role models of the Christian home. On July 19, 1919, Bro. W.A. Hart comments in his Third Quarterly Conference report: "As to the general state of the Church I believe it is better now than at any other time this year, We had a good meeting, received five young people into the Church. We have just the one League at Smiley and I believe it will do better now as a great many of the boys have returned from the War. I believe I will get the Conference Collections."

	To contact us: Smiley United Methodist Church Corner of Lee and Morey PO Box 98, Smiley, TX 78159-0098 Phone: 830-587-6423 Fax: 830-587-6593 Email: jmcmanus@ev1.net
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