Autobiography of Cleora Victorine (Agee) Taylor Anderson (Edited by grandson James Dean Taylor)

Daughter of Jonathan Francis (Frank) Agee and Satsie Anne Elizabeth (Lewis) Agee

Born 1868, May 27th in Smith County Tennessee.

Begins:

My father Jonathan Francis Agee came to Texas In January 1871, and settled in Camp County, Texas in 1872.

He (My father J.F. Agee) bought a small track of land. So there (in Camp County, Texas) they (my mother and father)-raised their Family or the eldest ones of which I was the second.

My Father was a farmer; my mother [Satsie Ann Elizabeth (Lewis) Agee] was a good scholar for that day in that she had taught several schools in Georgia. It was also Georgia that was my mother’s native State.

Having no school nearby (in Hunt county, Texas), our Mother gave us a very good start in our young days. The Old Blue back Spelling was our principal study and later my father and other’s hired a lady to teach in a log cabin in the neighborhood where we lived. We had school only a part of each year and as we grew older my father and mother thought we should go to a better school. They let us go to school in town, a few miles distance.

Our teacher’s name was Mister Major Richardson, a good teacher and a very good teacher he was. I sure did like him.

About this time of my life at 13 we had horses and saddles that were used on the farm so we were forced to walk to school much of the time.

We were poor and I could not dress like the girls in town. The other girls made fun of me, and I took it very much to heart so to wish so much to become a Christian. This state of mind (conviction to become a Christian) continued for two or three years.

Sometimes I was burdened with fear of being lost forever and I knew that God was not pleased with me. Mother and father admonished me (put fear in me) often and they taught me to read the word of God. I read often and found I was commanded to love God, because He loved me.

Many times I would weep and cry, but I would not pray.

One Sunday night, just before prayer time (which was my father’s custom at the time to read and pray with the family), I decided to retire to my room and go to bed. My father came to my room and told me to get up and go to prayer. So I got up, dressed and went to the sitting room where my father read a portion of the word of God, but I have forgotten what he read. My conduct increased my conviction that led me to imagine I was one of the most ungrateful (for what I did).

I may have been ungrateful for God, but still I didn’t even try to pray.

I did not get saved until the fall of 1888 when I had to stay out of school on account of my mother’s health, to help take care of my little brothers and sisters. I was very much worried about mother’s condition.

Father was working hard to keep the younger children in school and built a log smokehouse (as we called it) where the meat was kept.

One day I went to the smokehouse to get some meat to cook for supper. I do not remember ever praying before; but, I said “Lord thy Will be done” and a cloud appeared (on the west side of our house) with the Lord in a white robe almost the shade of the cloud. Virtue (moral righteousness/excellence) came from Him to me and the cloud vanished and I could see the logs (in the smokehouse) as before.

I don’t know why I did not pray before. Dear reader: If you have never prayed, please pray just now. Jesus was waiting to bless me. I am His word and by His children, also by providence, by His prophets, and teachers. Please remember it is your time now, to hear Him, and answer Him while you have time and opportunity.

I kept my experience to myself; but suggested we might read one chapter each night. My parents approved of the plan, so we read a chapter each night fore sometime.

The Lord said “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and lead of me and I will give you rest”.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. My mind was drawn from The Word somewhat so that the time I finally remembered this scripture I would be 17 years old my next birthday. I decided to go more, be with other folks more as there were many girls and boys with whom I had been going to school. I was anxious to be with them and decided to attend some socials the young folks were having in our neighborhood.

My father objected to my going (to the socials); but still I was set on going. While I did not go to every one (social), I went to quite a few. This change in me (going to the socials) seemed to put a stop to our Bible reading. At least every night, as this practice took part of my time.

As I had never been baptized, this fact began to trouble me. I did not know just what to do about it.

My father and mother were once members of the Primitive Baptist Church but for not believing in false doctrine had refused to submit to the majority. They were put out of fellowship.

Later, when we lived in a neighborhood where there was a Primitive Baptist Church, I was about 20 years of age. This church was opposed to this false doctrine of which my father and mother were apposed to. I being very anxious to be baptized; joined that church and as their custom was baptized in water. This was the summer of 1888.

Perhaps a few months later for I was 20 years old (my birthday being May 27, 1968), I began to study the bible for myself.

I liked to read what the Savior had said best. In the Acts, Christ’s promises are what caught me. I believed in Him and I was now sure He was alive since I had met Him. The Acts seemed to be Gods Will for his children.

My father and mother became very good Bible students. Studying the word continually -almost. They were searching for the will of God. I read a great deal also, and wondered why we did not live according to the pattern of the most pious. This fact humbled me and I left off some of my worldly times, but did develop into what I could see others had or they seemed to have: a more Victorian life.

About this time (of my life) the Holiness (or Methodist who believed in Holiness) began to be known in our country. We liked to hear some of them (the Methodist preacher’s) preach and to read some of their books and papers. This gave me some help in living an overcoming (conquering) life.

Around this time of my life I met a young man, William Colin Taylor who came from Montgomery, Louisiana. He was almost ideal in looks and also very nice mannered. I resolved to answer “yes” if he by chance asked me to marry him. So as providence provided were married May 14, 1896.

Born to this union were three girls and one son. One girl born on October 5, 1905 left us on April 30, 1907. We laid her to rest in Greenwood (actually Oakwood) cemetery in McAlester, Oklahoma. We were grieved almost to disparity.

I had a warning of her death, from the Lord. I dreamed we had a real cyclone. I had the baby in my arms and “He said:

She was safe” and, then I hugged her to myself. I went to the Load with my sorrows and resolved to live a more consonant life and

repented all of my sins that I knew about. I asked God to forgive me --as He knew all things.

As churches were scarce in the country at the time, we had a little schoolhouse in the neighborhood. A Presbyterian minister came and preached for us on the third Sunday of each month. This was only a few weeks after our baby left us. For see God cares when our heart is sad, I know He cares, oh yes He cares.

The Minister asked me to lead in prayer, which I did as best I could. This was the beginning of my public service for God. It was the summer of 1907 at which time my husband was having bad health. He had not been well for some time, just suffering most of the time.

One day, he (my husband) being discouraged thereby turned his face to the wall and prayed that God would let him die. I was so grieved at his condition that I went out alone and prayed for him. God heard me and caused my husband to reconsider. My husband heard me also and decided to go to the doctor and get some medicine. He soon got to be a well man and weighed 172 pounds in a few months.

When cold winter came my husband took pneumonia and was sick until May 15, 1908 being unable to recover he passed to his reward. This was just twelve years after he took me to his home.

We laid my husband beside our little baby girl (Gladys) to wait for the promise of resurrection day that will surely come.

Job said: “if a man die, shall he live again? Also the worms devour this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God? (Job in the Bible despite great suffering and adversity, kept his faith in God).

While I was caring for my family, my mother had been more interested in spiritual things and had left me far behind. She had been writing me of a wonderful experience she had since I last saw her.

My mother wrote me a letter when my heart was tender and I was more humble that I had been on account of having to give the baby (Gladys) up. She explained the difference in accepting the doctrine of Sanctification by faith; instead of trying to get it by works and for the first time I sought it by faith rather than works. I had thought to receive it by works. I realized the truth, I did my very best to get it by works and had not accomplished anything. But, now Oh what a difference in my attitude. Something to be thankful for, to Praise God for, to accept blessing by faith, because God has promised them, is so wonderful, Glory to His name.

I received this experience before my husband passed away. He left a bright testimony of his faith and trust in Jesus. His fellowship was with the Father and with His son Jesus Christ.

I was left a widow with two girls and expecting a new arrival in 2 ½ months. This took my mind from spiritual things again to some extent and I went to live with some of my brothers in Fort Worth.

On July 24, 1908 after we buried my husband, a son was born to us. I had the joy in my heart, for which I was very thankful. When he was three weeks old I dedicated him to the Lord and this prayer has been much help to me in being able to trust God to take care of him.

In regard to Visions, will say, I have received some.

One (Vision) was just after our baby passed away. We were gathering her dresses and everything that reminded us of her (Gladys). As I went into another room to put some of her clothes away, a soft whisper came to me saying: “Don’t you want to see my little clothes?” So then we did not put them away and enjoyed having to look at them.

In the year after my husband went away I saw a Vision of him, in my room, he was clad in light clothes, in his shirt sleeves, his feet did not touch the floor and again later I saw a vision of my oldest sister in my room, two or three days before my baby passed away.

In the Vision, my sister was behind me, so I rocked the baby. I did not look around, as I perceived it was a vision. This was in daytime. The Lord was very gracious to me and blessed me while raising my three children two girls and one boy.

I gave our son his father’s full name. Here is a little history about the name my mother in law (Tabitha McNaughton Taylor) told me: She said her husband was William Colin Taylor and his son was William Colin Taylor. So, I named my son William Colin Taylor and he named his son William Colin Taylor. So according to information I received from my mother in law, my son is William Colin Taylor III and his son is William Colin Taylor IV. [Note: this fact/statement not believed to be true because 1860 Macon Georgia census records show Tabitha McNaughton husband’s name was William T. Taylor. Also it is interesting that this William T. Taylor’s father was William Taylor and his father was Tekel Taylor]

Some of my brothers helped me in many ways while I was raising my children.

My mother was a year before she passed to her reward. I think of her so often and miss her so much. I have many old letters she wrote me before she came to my house and sometimes when I am lonesome for someone to cheer me and talk of the wonderful love of God I get some of here letters and read them.

I dreamed of her (my mother) a few years after she passed away. I dreamed she was sitting before the fire, got up hastily. I thought to myself and knew she was going to pray.

In the year 1920 one of my girls (Sybil) was taken sick. We got a doctor M.D. and he said she had T.B. We took her to the sanatorium, Texas near San Angelo. She stayed there nine months and seemed to be well. Soon after she was dismissed from the sanatorium and she married a man Wright Robert Jefferson Davis Gibson who lived in Rising Star, Texas. In a few years she took sick again and this time she seemed to have stomach trouble of some kind.

There was an evangelist that came that way preaching the word of God on healing. He said we should receive the Holy Ghost, Acts of the Apostles2, 38, and to speak in tongues as they did on the day of Pentecost. Also he said that the award taught us, in many places, was to expect receive what we asked for.

She (my daughter Sybil) received divine healing. She was taking four kinds of medicine. She quit all the medicine and began to improve. She only weighted 108 pounds and she kept improving until she weighed 158 pounds. In 1923 she wrote to me about her experience and insisted on me investigating this (divine healing). She did seem to be very happy in Jesus love, wrote a good letter, and quoted many scriptures. I wrote her I was coming to see her the next summer. So, I left in that summer with my son William staying in Fort Worth to attend summer school.

I was very anxious for her (my daughter Sybil) to speak in tongues, was not as presumptuous as some I knew, for after I received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, some asked me to speak for them; but, of course I did not. No-No, but I did not ask her, to speak in tongue for me. So I had to wait Gods time, at least several days after I got there. She spoke in an unknown tongue of language, said something about the Shekinah which meant the Divine was present or the Devine Presents. This encouraged me greatly and I went to a prayer meeting, where the saints met at a cottage to pray with them.

At this prayer meeting I met a Mr. Edmund Pearce Anderson who had a similar religious experience. He being a man with discernment said I was stubborn. My daughter Sybil was there said “Mother you know you are stubborn”. So I could hardly deny the charge being two against one. I kept going to the meetings and there was one (revival) in progress there in Pioneer Texas.

My daughter Sybil and her family had moved from Rising Star, Texas where she had first heard the preacher Reverend Harvey Williams who was holding a revival one year before when she first received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

I was making no move toward this new doctrine as I thought it to be when one day my daughter rebuked me sharply. So this rebuke gave me courage, which I needed badly. I was not ignorant of the word, for I had read it many times but had been taught it was done one way.

I got up early (one morning) as the word gives us so many times when God’s people are really interested in hearing or finding God’s will. There was a little grove of oak saplings, 10 or 12 feet from the back door where I went to pray. Still in doubt, every morning for 4 mornings I prayed about 4 O’clock. My daughter was up early to get her husband off to work, as he was a druggist. I was really bothered, fasting, praying most of the time and I thought my daughter was neglecting me, to some extent. I have learned it is best not to pet folks too much, when trying to win them. For God sometimes wants us to tell others what God has said, about them who will not hear Him and also to tell those who forget Him, will be turned into hell. The last of the four mornings I saw a vision in the sky (as daylight was appearing) of an oval shaped throne of rainbow color. In this throne and around it were people dancing, to the most perfect rhythm I ever saw or heard.

I went to church that day as usual. I was very desirous to know the truth, in regard to, receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in an unknown tongue or language. After we had our regular services I told some of them I did not want to go home until I was sure about this - So some of the Saints stayed with me and prayed for me. About 2 O’clock in the afternoon I received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues as much as two verses. One of the brethren gave some interpretation: The Lord said “ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.”

I sure could tell a great change had taken place. Bless the precious name of Jesus. Praise God, who worketh all things to the counsel of His own will. No good thing will he withhold from that who love Him. Praise his wonderful name. Quietness, resigned, able to tell what the Lord has accomplished for us who believe. Whatsoever things ye desire believe, ye receive them and ye shall have them.

Up to this time I had never interpreted anything. I read in the word. If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue pray that they may interpret. So the next time I spoke in an unknown tongue I prayed to God, to let me know what I had spoken. He gave me the interpretation.

I was still at my daughter’s (Sybil) home. My son had come for a visit also. I was out in a grove of oaks alone, but when God gave me the interpretation I ran to the back door where my daughter Sybil was washing and told her what the Lord had given me. My son (William) being in the house at that time heard me tell her and came to the door and said “Mother can you do that again?”

I just went to praising the Lord God, for his wonderful works to the children of men. All I got at this time had come true; except one, and I am expecting that will come in due time. God is able to do more, than we ask or think.

I went back to Fort Worth where I was living as planned. Later the man and I met at Pioneer, who said I was stubborn, were married. Later we went to live in his home (ranch) near May, Texas. I left my son who was only 16 years of age. He refused to go out there (west Texas) to live. That gave me much sorrow.

My girls were both married and had families of there own I had been active in Christian work for several years in Fort Worth. I went to cottage prayer meetings and attended many revivals of different denominations. So when we moved out to the west Texas near May, I was put out of my work to some extent.

But as the Lord always provides, my husband (Edmund Pearce Anderson) bought a light truck for transportation in teaching the gospel. He was a minister of the gospel (Pentecostal persuasion), had been healed of rheumatism by prayer of faith, he being 59 years of age and almost feeble at that time. About one year and some months before we were married the Lord added 22 years and some months to his day.

We traveled quite a bit, only in Texas. We became tired of being away from home. We decided to stay home and work where we lived. This lasted about two years or more. We held several (prayer) meetings near us. One church called him to preach once a month. This church was 22 or 23 miles distance from us, and we had to discontinue our services on account of rainy cold weather. Still, we went when the weather was favorable, and if we did not go to Pentecostal Church we went to Baptist Church or Methodist Church.

The Methodist had him to preach for them as fill in, or on 5th Sunday. His father was a Methodist minister of the Gospel, some wanted him to have every 5th Sunday, but some objected, so he did not get every 5th Sunday.

Finally we sold our truck and bought some goats and some cows too. About this time, my son decided to come and live with us. He took half interest in our pasture, purchased some sheep and cows. He gave a fancy price for them. Within two or three years they (the prices of livestock) came down to an exceedingly low price. He then sold most of his stock and decided to get married and let nature take its course (I heard him tell one of our neighbors this).

I was willing for him (my son William) to get married for I had known some who did not get married in their young lives and were very unhappy. My son and his wife (Vivian) bought them a home and moved to themselves.

Later, providence worked wonders in this case (William and Vivian). In answer to our prayers he (my son William) was reinstated in his former work at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. God says every one that asketh, receiveth, and “ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you”. So there he remains to this day (William Taylor worked over 40 years with the company to retire in 1969). God blessed him because he was humble in all this. I was humbled in all this because anything that touches our offspring touches us. God rewards of them that seek him and again when we commit ourselves to him he will direct our steps.

We lived on the ranch until my husband was 72 years old. We then decided to move to May, Texas which was only 3 ½ miles from the ranch. So we moved our house (or had it moved) to May and had it put on a very nice lot next to the Baptist Parsonage, which was next to the Baptist Church, school buildings nearby, and also the Methodist Church. It was about one quarter of a mile to the squares, post office, dry goods and grocery stores. Here he (Ed P. Anderson) lived the rest of his life. In April 17th 1945 he passed on to his reward.

I was very grieved; but realized my loss was his gain.

He was a very good singer, and knew many old hymns by memory, and made a practice of quoting or singing some most every day, which I did surely enjoy, as well as he. I use to say to him that I wanted him to sing to me while I was dying, but that can never be unless God lets me hear from Heaven. That makes me think about when I heard a gentleman say to some ladies. “God seems to be far away,” he said to one of the ladies and after a few seconds said “God is not as far as we think, sometimes”. Paul Acts 17th chapter. 27th verse, says that they should seek the Lord. So happily they might feel after (seeking) him and (when they) find him though, he will not be far away from every one of us. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit, for he see kith such to worship Him as to worship him in spirit and truth. The Samarian woman was interested. Unless Jesus gets our attention, He can’t teach us. So He said “Mary hath chosen the better part”.

It is useless to tell how I miss my earthly companion (Ed P. Anderson). I will quote some of my late Husbands choice songs. Oh for a faith that will not shrink:

1. Oh for a faith that will not shrink,

2. Tho pressed by every foe,

3. That will not tremble on the brink,

1- Of any earthly woe,

2- That will not murmur or complain,

3- Beneath the chastening rod,

4- Or in the hour of grief or pain,

5- Will lean upon its God,

6- A faith that shines more bright and clear,

7- When tempests rage without,

8- That when in danger knows no fear,

9- In darkness feels no doubt

10- Lord give us such a faith as this,

11- And then what are may come,

12- We will taste even here the Hallowed Bliss,

13- Of an eternal home

After my late husband passed away, I went to visit my son in Lubbock, Texas for two weeks, and then went to Fort Worth to visit one of my girls, Stella for two weeks. (After those visits) I went home to May Texas. Oh how lonesome!

I stayed there (at my May home) till December and could not get anyone to live or stay with me. In December one of my brothers (Claude Agee) came to live with me. He stayed until the same time next December. At that time three of his sons came and took him back to Fort Worth as he was sick and we had no doctor at May at that time. After my brother left me I was alone until February 2nd.

I had offered my dwelling to some Ministers, and Saints to come to worship God, at every Sunday evening (afternoon) at 2 o’clock. I had a light stroke while they were there (at my home in May). My daughter (Sybil) was there also and took me home with her. I have never gotten over it (the stroke) entirely, but am able to be up and keep house with some help.

In August of the same year, I had another light stroke, which lasted only a few hours. My daughter (Sybil) came and brought a Doctor. They had phoned from here to come and bring a Doctor, as we did not have one at May. We had a hospital but no doctor. My neighbors came when I as first taken sick.

A little boy who came most every morning to see if I wanted anything from town. It was about 10 o’clock in the morning when I asked him to go tell his mother that I was sick. She came and called others, so I had plenty of company. They held a consultation and asked me if I wanted them to phone my children. I told them no; I would be okay, in a little while and to not bother them. But they all thought best to phone my children so they did.

My daughter brought two or three ladies with her and the doctor came too. The doctor said I was not dangerous and if my daughter would stay with me it was not necessary for me to go to the hospital; but my daughter had her family to care for. It was decided to take me to the hospital. They had prayer saying for me by the Baptist preacher’s wife at the church. So I was taken to the May hospital for a few days only.

My son in Lubbock got the phone call (from May, Texas) and came. He got there about mid-night and asked to see me. The nurse refused to awake me, so my son and family stayed at my house. In the morning very early my son came to see me, but he had to return to work. His family stayed to take me home with her (Vivian his wife). But my business was in such a shape she (Vivian) returned home and I was to come out there later and which I did. I am here with my son and his family.

I do very little work. Taking care of myself is a little work to be sure. I darn some, do a little family work. Go very little. I am not feeling well at any time. I am in my 80th year. God has been very gracious to me. I don’t feel well at any time. My usual weight has ranged from 120 pounds to 140 pounds. I now weigh only 101, don’t seem to be able to gain.

End