“I have always been proud of my service in the Confederate Army, believing that it was my duty, also a privilege to respond to the call to my country’s defense.”
T.F. Meece
Members of the Ike Turner Camp C.S.A. This picture was taken one day during a regular meeting of the Confederate veterans’ organization. They are standing on the porch of Bergman’s Store in Moscow. The following have been identified: Front row: (2) Mr. Kent, (3) J.G. Locke, (4) Foster Poe, (5) I.N. Snell, (6) W.M. Kennedy, (7) J.R. Doughty, (10) Luce DeWalt, (11) Pleas Rowe. Second Row: (1) A.B. Green, (2) Dr. E.P. Angell, (3) R. Newton Green, (5) Prof. Marcellus Winston. Back Row: (1) T.L. Epperson, (2) D.S. Chandler, (5) Wyley Polk, (#8) A.C. Garvey, (9) T.F. Meece, (10) M.N. Kinard, (12) D.T. Manry.
In October of 1910 a meeting had been cancelled and delayed a couple of times, reasons unknown. The following plea was put forward by I.N. Snell and T.F. Meece:
“We are all growing old and feeble and time will soon be no longer with us, and it behooves us, one and all, to make the best of our remaining days. We should strive to leave a true and honest record of our lives behind for the benefit of our children and the rising generation. We have all been through one of the bitterest wars that has ever been recorded in the annals of history which will ever be remembered by us, and especially our foes. It will ever be a pleasure for me to meet and greet my dear old comrades of the sixties. May God help us all to make our last days on earth as pleasant as possible.”
At the meetings in Livingston, the firm of Hickman and Fain would provide free tickets to the moving picture show at the opera house. In Moscow, “They had buggies and hacks to meet them at the depot and carried them to the schoolhouse where the meeting was to be held and when the time for dinner came they were carried to the Goodwin Hotel were a sumptuous dinner awaited them.”
Clement Franklin Fain, Sr. was a partner with a Mr. June Hickman in a mercantile business (Hickman & Fain) in Livingston. Based upon the advertisements that I’ve seen, I would describe it as a department store. Fain had previously been a Manager for the Livingston Lumber Co. store in Buck, TX. In 1911 Fain would purchase the Happy Hour Theatre, the first movie theatre in Livingston. It was initially called the Unique Picture Show when it was first constructed. It would eventually be renamed The Fain.
One of the founders and owners of the Unique Picture Show was a gentleman by the name of L.A. “Lock” McKinnon. He also owned the City Drug Store. Tragically, his two sons Croson (13 yrs.) and Angus (8 yrs.), would die in May of 1910 from drowning in Long King Creek. “A large part of the population of the town were at the house, or soon came, and the scene was heartrending; indeed, the moans of the stricken parents and relatives so sad. The entire citizenship of the town was heart sick, the enormity of the accident being so appalling. Everyone shed tears, and the atmosphere seemed to be sadness.”
“Lock” sold the City Drug Store to A.J. Peebles, a local competitor, owner of the Capitol Pharmacy. In November of 1911, McKinnon and his family moved to Hubbard City where he planned to open an ice factory. I can only imagine that Livingston was a constant reminder of their terrible loss and they were looking for a new beginning.
Clement Franklin Fain, Sr. sold the theatre to his nephew Samuel Frank Fain in 1940. Samuel would go on to build a new theatre, which still exists today, in August of 1948. It is, by far, the coolest looking building in Livingston.
At the November 23rd, 1911 meeting, the “Hon. Jas. C. Feagin was introduced and delivered a fine and very appropriate address, which was much appreciated by all present, and especially so by the veterans in attendance. On motion, unanimously adopted, Mr. Feagin was elected an Honorary Member of the Camp.” The Veterans reportedly enjoyed the meeting but regretted that the ladies and young people had not attended.
On June, 6th, 1912 the following article was published: “All Confederate soldiers of the army and navy, who were honorably discharged or retired from such service, are cordially and earnestly invited and urged to attend said meeting and become active members of said Camp. But a few years more and we will all pass over the river, having answered our last roll call. Come and let us enjoy the reminiscences of the camp, our social gatherings, and recite to each other and to our friends the pleasures, as well as trials and hardships of the camp, the march and the battlefield.”
T.F. was a member of both the Monument Committee and the Historical Committee. The Historical Committees produced and published, with the assistance of the Polk County Enterprise, The Historical Polk County Texas Companies and Soldiers Organized in and Enrolled from Said County in Confederate States Army and Navy 1861-1865. I was able to find a copy of this book online as well as secure (2) copies through Amazon.
The Monument Committee was responsible for the purchase and dedication of the Confederate Monument. The Monument was constructed, October 10th, 1901, on the courthouse lawn. A.B. Green’s daughter, Rowena Green, unveiled the Civil War monument on behalf of her father. For some years, in the mid 1980’s, the inscription on the monument had been unreadable. The Monument was refurbished by the Ike Turner SCV and the Ike Turner Chapter UDC on April 26th, 1993. The Monument is inscribed as follows:
TO THE MEMORY OF POLK COUNTY’S CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS
TAKE THAT BANNER DOWN ‘TIS TATTERED AND BROKEN IS THE STAFF AND SHATTERED AND THE VALIANT HOSTS ARE SCATTERED OVER WHOM IT FLOATED HIGH SOFTLY, SLOWLY TREAT IT GENTLY IT IS HEAVY FOR IT WAVED WHERE HEROES FELL
ERECTED BY IKE TURNER CAMP SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
POLK COUNTY FURNISHED THE CONFEDERACY MORE SOLDIERS THAN SHE HAD VOTERS
DEFEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS ESTABLISH THE WRONG
One week after the dedication, an article appeared in the newspaper, the Livingston Local, on Thursday, Oct. 17, 1901, which read: The unveiling of the Confederate monument and barbecue was a most pleasant event. Large numbers of people from throughout the county were present. The exercises were concluded with a grand ball at the courthouse, in which the young people of the county “tripped the light fantastic” (dancing nimbly and lightly, often in a joyous or carefree manner) until a very late hour.”
On July 10th, 1913, an announcement was made:
Attention Veterans and Friends,
“The Historical Roll of the Soldiers and Companies organized and enrolled in the Confederate Army and Navy from Polk County has been printed in book form and is now ready for delivery. The cost of printing these books was 25 cents each, for which price they may be had by anyone making application to me. If ordered sent by mail enclose 5 cents extra for postage.”
T. F. Meece
Livingston, Texas.
On July 24th, 1913, a 2nd announcement was published:
Roll of Polk County Confederates.
“The Enterprise has recently printed and turned over to Adjutant Judge T. F. Meece for the Ike Turner Camp a 66-page booklet containing a historical roll, sketches and other data concerning the soldiers enrolled and companies organized from Polk County in the Confederate Army and Navy. The book also gives in full the addresses delivered by Judge J. M. Crosson and Judge J. E. Hill at the unveiling of the Ike Turner monument in Livingston on October 10th, 1901. In it is also found an account of the organization of Polk County and much other information which should prove interesting not only to the members of Ike Turner Camp and their friends and relatives but to everyone who desires to know something of the early history of Polk County. The data for the book was secured and prepared for publication by Jas. E. Hill Sr, J. M. Alexander, T. F. Meece and the late A. B. Green. It represents many hours of patient, careful work and is as accurate and complete as it could be made.
The books are in the hands of Judge T. F. Meece, Adjutant of the Ike Turner Camp of Confederate Veterans of whom they can be had at cost of 25 cents each and 5 cents additional for postage when desired sent by mail.”
At the October 9th, 1913 meeting, a motion was made that the Commander appoint a committee to interview the ladies of the county with the purpose of organizing a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. Comrades J. S. Evans and T. F. Meece were so appointed. A second motion was made to change the meetings to two a year, meeting at Livingston and Corrigan. Lastly, a motion was made to have the picture of Captain Ike Turner enlarged and properly framed so that it can be on exhibit at each and every meeting of the camp. The Adjutant was charged with having it done. On 10/30/13 a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy was formed and the officers were elected.
Theophilus Franklin (T.F.) Meece passed away on May 18th, 1914. I’m not sure how long the Ike Turner Confederate Veterans Camp No. 321 continued to meet. Obviously, the ranks had been depleted to such a degree that attendance had suffered greatly and they were compelled to reduce the number of meetings to two annually.