JAMES GAYLON "REVEREND JIMMY" DOBBS
Birth: 8 Oct 1899
Death: 18 Nov 1983
(age 84 years, 1 month, 10 days)
Reverend James Gaylon "Jimmy" Dobbs
“STILL PREACHING AFTER 40 YEARS”
Rev. Jimmy Dobbs has lived in Parker County for 69 years and has been a preacher here for 40 years. At the present age of 72, He still preaches at the Central Baptist Church. “I’ve been a common man all my life”, said the personable preacher. “I was born and reared on a farm and I still enjoy farm work.”
Dobbs’ grandfather, George Lee Dobbs, moved to Texas in 1858 and settled near Veal Station where they bought a home in 1859. Today this place is in Rev. Dobbs’ name. His grandfather, who started the home in Veal Station, and his first wife had seven children. Two or three years after she died he remarried a widow woman and they had ten children of their own which brought the total number of children to 19 since she had some by her first marriage.
After the harvest of crops each year, Rev. Dobbs’ grandfather would haul his load of wheat and corn all the way Dallas to get it milled.
“My grandfather once received a check for $10,000 from the United States government for stolen horses and horses that had been killed by the Indians,” said Dobbs. “Once after leaving Veal Station on the way home at night with several friends they were attacked by Indians and killed one of the men riding on horseback.”
“The raids of the Indians happened quite often and my grandfather spent several nights in a stable with his rifle to guard against a prize stallion being stolen. When the cattle would come in early from the range and start loafing at the corral, it was a good indication that there would be an Indian raid that night.”
Rev. Dobbs was born on October 8, 1899 in Parker County but didn’t receive the call to the ministry until he was 19. “I fought that call until 1931 and then I was ordained in 1933 at the Shady Grove Baptist Church,” he related. “The joy of my life,” said Rev Dobbs with a twinkle in his eye, “has been the privilege of preaching to a congregation.”
Rev. Dobbs has also worked at various jobs to help supplement his income during those earlier years. Once while he was running a service station, a couple came in and asked him to marry them right then. So the likeable preacher performed the ceremony at the station. Another time while he was visiting friends at a clinic , a couple came to see him and he performed the ceremony on the porch of the hospital.
“STILL PREACHING AFTER 40 YEARS”
Rev. Jimmy Dobbs has lived in Parker County for 69 years and has been a preacher here for 40 years. At the present age of 72, He still preaches at the Central Baptist Church. “I’ve been a common man all my life”, said the personable preacher. “I was born and reared on a farm and I still enjoy farm work.”
Dobbs’ grandfather, George Lee Dobbs, moved to Texas in 1858 and settled near Veal Station where they bought a home in 1859. Today this place is in Rev. Dobbs’ name. His grandfather, who started the home in Veal Station, and his first wife had seven children. Two or three years after she died he remarried a widow woman and they had ten children of their own which brought the total number of children to 19 since she had some by her first marriage.
After the harvest of crops each year, Rev. Dobbs’ grandfather would haul his load of wheat and corn all the way Dallas to get it milled.
“My grandfather once received a check for $10,000 from the United States government for stolen horses and horses that had been killed by the Indians,” said Dobbs. “Once after leaving Veal Station on the way home at night with several friends they were attacked by Indians and killed one of the men riding on horseback.”
“The raids of the Indians happened quite often and my grandfather spent several nights in a stable with his rifle to guard against a prize stallion being stolen. When the cattle would come in early from the range and start loafing at the corral, it was a good indication that there would be an Indian raid that night.”
Rev. Dobbs was born on October 8, 1899 in Parker County but didn’t receive the call to the ministry until he was 19. “I fought that call until 1931 and then I was ordained in 1933 at the Shady Grove Baptist Church,” he related. “The joy of my life,” said Rev Dobbs with a twinkle in his eye, “has been the privilege of preaching to a congregation.”
Rev. Dobbs has also worked at various jobs to help supplement his income during those earlier years. Once while he was running a service station, a couple came in and asked him to marry them right then. So the likeable preacher performed the ceremony at the station. Another time while he was visiting friends at a clinic , a couple came to see him and he performed the ceremony on the porch of the hospital.
James King, Rev. Dobbs & Linda Lou Dobbs-King
“I was working as the clerk in the Lipan Post Office when on this particular day I was the only one there and a couple came in and wanted me to marry them. I told them that if someone came in during the ceremony I would have to stop and help them and then come back and continue. A banker came in during the service so I lay the license down and helped him and then went back and completed the ceremony,’ he said.
When Rev. Dobbs married his wife of 54 years, Lillie Mae Crow, when he was 18 and she was 16, he wasn’t able to complete his high school education. However, the hardworking and industrious man went back to school in 1950 at Millsap to complete his education. The school superintendent let Rev. Dobbs keep a study hall to pay for his tuition. So in 1951, 34 years after he had quit school, Rev. Dobbs graduated from Millsap High School. Perhaps this experience is why Rev. Dobbs enjoys working with the young people so much. “I have taken an interest in youth and have encouraged them to take part in the service. I listen to their problems and counsel with them,” he said.
Rev. Dobbs is truly an amazing person and just talking with him is a real pleasure for anyone. He is one of the outstanding citizens of our county.
published in the Weatherford Democrat August 2, 1971, by Don Taubert
photos courtesy of Jennifer Stults
When Rev. Dobbs married his wife of 54 years, Lillie Mae Crow, when he was 18 and she was 16, he wasn’t able to complete his high school education. However, the hardworking and industrious man went back to school in 1950 at Millsap to complete his education. The school superintendent let Rev. Dobbs keep a study hall to pay for his tuition. So in 1951, 34 years after he had quit school, Rev. Dobbs graduated from Millsap High School. Perhaps this experience is why Rev. Dobbs enjoys working with the young people so much. “I have taken an interest in youth and have encouraged them to take part in the service. I listen to their problems and counsel with them,” he said.
Rev. Dobbs is truly an amazing person and just talking with him is a real pleasure for anyone. He is one of the outstanding citizens of our county.
published in the Weatherford Democrat August 2, 1971, by Don Taubert
photos courtesy of Jennifer Stults