James Snider
One o'clock the afternoon of February 4, 1864, Rev. J. B. Wilmeth brought his sermon to a close at the home of James [Madison] Snider, preparing to ride back to his home north of McKinney. Rev. Wilmeth was well satisfied,, there had been three conversions to the Christian Church, and one of them had been James Snider.
J. B. Wilmeth was home on furlough from Galveston, where he was a lieutenant Colonel in the confederate forces on he Coast, he had come home to attend to some business before rejoining his command. Having a few days left of his leave, he had accepted John M. McKinney's invitation to preach at Forest Grove (James Snider's home). It had turned cold the night of the 12th, growing steadily colder thru out the 13th, the temperature had dropped to near zero on the afternoon of that Saturday and was below zero on Sunday morning. No sleet or snow, but that till frigid air had frozen everything solid. By the time the sermon was over the terrible cold was moderating rapidly, and Rev. Wilmeth knew he would not suffer riding home in his buffalo robe.
James Snider laid his hand on his shoulder, "Brother Wilmeth, I want to be baptized." The reply was "Why of course, Jim, just as soon as the weather turns warmer." James Snider said "Brother Wilmeth, I want to be baptized now - today." Rev. Wilmeth was astonished, he argued, pointing out that all streams were frozen over, saying a day or so would make no great difference. James Snider insisted, saying, ""I can't wait," he said firmly, "with the war going on and the country full of bushwhackers. I can't wait. I must be baptized now." So it was arranged, the men built a huge fire on the shore of Snider Lake, the Rev. Wilmeth and James Snider put on old clothes furnished by Mrs. Snider. John M. McKinney and Gabe Fitzhugh took axes and broke the thick ice at the edge of the lake, Wilmeth and Snider waded in, took axes and broke the ice until they were some fifty feet out where the water was three feet deep where they stopped, the men on the shore sang a solemn religious song. With James Snider facing the men on the shore, J. B. Wilmeth placed his left hand to Snider's back and raised his right. The men on the beach dropped their heads in silent prayer. Across the solid ice, the Reverend Wilmeth's words came to them clearly. " I baptize you, James Snider, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
James Snider was lowered beneath the sub-freezing water. Both men made their way back to shore, wading in the lane they had hewn out and came to the fire on the beach. Here they changed their wet clothing to dry raiment and the party came back to James Snider's home for such refreshments as Mrs. Snider and the other ladies could furnish. There was, of course, no liquor, and there was no coffee, as such was unobtainable during the Civil War.
They drank a tea made from dried mullein leaves, and ate the lunch of cold venison and cornbread. Both the venison and bread were flavored with salt, another necessity hard to get at the time. This particular salt had been secured on James Snider's smoke house floor. The floor was of the natural soil, and the salt had been obtained by scraping up the top part of the earth and boiling out the salt that had dripped from curing meat.
The Reverend J. B. Wilmeth has dead over 60 years. James Snider has long ago passed to his reward, and of Snider's Lake there remains hardly a trace. By this act they had set a hard example for us to follow; these find old pioneers. To seek baptism under such conditions would certainly put one's faith in the Lord's Word in the very highest notch. Deep and abiding faith was part of the pioneers' nature - a large part.
J. B. Wilmeth was home on furlough from Galveston, where he was a lieutenant Colonel in the confederate forces on he Coast, he had come home to attend to some business before rejoining his command. Having a few days left of his leave, he had accepted John M. McKinney's invitation to preach at Forest Grove (James Snider's home). It had turned cold the night of the 12th, growing steadily colder thru out the 13th, the temperature had dropped to near zero on the afternoon of that Saturday and was below zero on Sunday morning. No sleet or snow, but that till frigid air had frozen everything solid. By the time the sermon was over the terrible cold was moderating rapidly, and Rev. Wilmeth knew he would not suffer riding home in his buffalo robe.
James Snider laid his hand on his shoulder, "Brother Wilmeth, I want to be baptized." The reply was "Why of course, Jim, just as soon as the weather turns warmer." James Snider said "Brother Wilmeth, I want to be baptized now - today." Rev. Wilmeth was astonished, he argued, pointing out that all streams were frozen over, saying a day or so would make no great difference. James Snider insisted, saying, ""I can't wait," he said firmly, "with the war going on and the country full of bushwhackers. I can't wait. I must be baptized now." So it was arranged, the men built a huge fire on the shore of Snider Lake, the Rev. Wilmeth and James Snider put on old clothes furnished by Mrs. Snider. John M. McKinney and Gabe Fitzhugh took axes and broke the thick ice at the edge of the lake, Wilmeth and Snider waded in, took axes and broke the ice until they were some fifty feet out where the water was three feet deep where they stopped, the men on the shore sang a solemn religious song. With James Snider facing the men on the shore, J. B. Wilmeth placed his left hand to Snider's back and raised his right. The men on the beach dropped their heads in silent prayer. Across the solid ice, the Reverend Wilmeth's words came to them clearly. " I baptize you, James Snider, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
James Snider was lowered beneath the sub-freezing water. Both men made their way back to shore, wading in the lane they had hewn out and came to the fire on the beach. Here they changed their wet clothing to dry raiment and the party came back to James Snider's home for such refreshments as Mrs. Snider and the other ladies could furnish. There was, of course, no liquor, and there was no coffee, as such was unobtainable during the Civil War.
They drank a tea made from dried mullein leaves, and ate the lunch of cold venison and cornbread. Both the venison and bread were flavored with salt, another necessity hard to get at the time. This particular salt had been secured on James Snider's smoke house floor. The floor was of the natural soil, and the salt had been obtained by scraping up the top part of the earth and boiling out the salt that had dripped from curing meat.
The Reverend J. B. Wilmeth has dead over 60 years. James Snider has long ago passed to his reward, and of Snider's Lake there remains hardly a trace. By this act they had set a hard example for us to follow; these find old pioneers. To seek baptism under such conditions would certainly put one's faith in the Lord's Word in the very highest notch. Deep and abiding faith was part of the pioneers' nature - a large part.
