The parsonage was quickly built on the property just west of the church immediately after the tornado in April 1918 destroyed the church. The parsonage was built with lumber that was dismantled from the remains of the church. The congregation got busy and built the frame house that is still a residence today.

The brick church building of today was contracted out and built by the same group that built the Christian church.

During the 1930 census, Rev. Tooley lived with his wife, Ida Z., who was 41 years of age. They had a son named Luther B., Jr. who was 14 years old. Rev. Tooley’s brother John T. who was 77 years old also lived in the parsonage.

Rev. Tooley was born in Georgia and his parents were born in North Carolina, while his wife was born in Texas and her father was born in Georgia and her mother was born in Alabama. She did not have other work that helping at the church.

The couple was married when he was 40 and she was 21. John T. Tooley was divorced and they didn’t own a radio.

Going south down the street, next door lived Annie Woodard. She was 63 years old and had a lady boarder named Eloise D. Anderson who was 21 years old. Annie was born in Texas and her mother was born in Virginia and her father was born in Alabama. The boarder, Eloise, was a school teacher and was born in Texas.

Across the street from these two women lived Ninnie Broyles and her grand daughter Mamie L. Ninnie was 72 years old and was born in Texas. Her parents were born in Tennessee. The 11-year-old granddaughter was born in Texas as were both of her parents.

Rando Parsons lived across the street from the Broyles. He was 39 years old and his wife, Maggie J. was 36 years old. They were both born in Texas. Rando’s parents were both born in Virginia. Rando’s occupation was the waterworks manager. They owned their home which was valued at $600.

On down the same public road that is now named Plum Street was the 68^th household on the census. The family was named Ferguson. No name was recorded for a first name. He paid $5 rent and was 66 years old. He was born in Texas and his parents were born in Tennessee.

On the corner of Pecan and Plum lived Allie Thorne who was 68 years old. Mrs. Thorne was born in Mississippi. Her father was born in Tennessee and her mother was born in Mississippi. She had a daughter named Myrtle A. who was 35 years old who lived with her. Myrtle A. was 35 and was born in Texas. Her father was born in Alabama and her mother was born in Mississippi.

On the street of was West Pecan was the location of another home of George W. Williams, who was 26 years old and his wife Rheba E. was 19 years old. They had two sons, James L., 4 years old, and Charles O., 1 year old. The entire family was born in Texas. George Williams was a county laborer. He rented his home for $10 a month. Going west on Pecan Street, Mrs. Ada Allen registered the Ashley couple. His name was Smith A. and her name was Emma. Smith was 68 years old and Emma was 65. He was born in Kentucky and his parents were also born in Kentucky. Emma was born in Texas, her father was born in Georgia and her mother was born in Virginia. They had a brother-in-law named John Mann who was 62 years old. He was born in Texas, his father was born in Georgia and his mother was born in Virginia. He was the owner of a restaurant.

Next door to this family lived Joseph S. Farmer, who was 48. His wife Myrtle was 38. Joseph was born in Tennessee and his parents were born in Tennessee. Myrtle was born in Texas, her father was born in Missouri and her mother was born in Tennessee. They were odd job laborers and rented their home for $7 a month. This couple had nine children. All of the children were born in Texas. They are: Joseph S., 16; Elaine, 14; Nona, 14; Shirley (a son), 11; Edgar D., 7; Imogene, 7; Aline (a daughter), 7; Eugene, 4; and Zelma L., 2 years and 7 months.

Arthur L. and Dora E. Wilson lived next door to the Farmers. Arthur was 30 years old and Dora was 21. Arthur was born in Tennessee, his mother was born in Texas and his father was born in Alabama. He was a grocery store salesman.

The 74^th household on the census roll was that of Thomas Wilson. I will pick up with him next time.

In hunting for a photo this week, I ran across the old photo that was made around 1890. It was made just after the Methodist church that you can see in the background of the field of baled cotton was constructed with several wagon loads of lumber from Jefferson, Texas. The lumber was purchased by Rev. Bates, an early day pioneer and early preacher that was instrumental in starting and helping establish the Methodist group that was part of the original Onega settlement.

I was trying to find this old photo when L.Z. Harmon, Sr. came in the store. I showed it to him and we discussed the old members of the church that joined at about the time this wood frame building was built in the 1880's. I am not sure if there are any people living that can recall the big lot of baled cotton.

When the census taker went down Pecan Street during the 1930's, that area was already occupied with the residences and the gin on the west side of the railroad track no longer existed. The Rev. Bates originally settled in the area of Oak Grove Methodist church and possessed a large track of land that was involved with cotton farming. He was also the minister of the Methodist Church. Rev. Bates and his wife are buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery along with many of their family members. One of the Bates family members wrote and recorded many facts of early day Denton County.

The names of the roster of the Aubrey Methodist Church are a conversation within itself and much time can be spent in bringing these facts into our modern day conversation.