Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas) Page: 16
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Brothers; Lockett and Bass and William
Connolly Co.
Lockett and Bass occuped the first stone
building which was erected in Clifton. It was
constructed by Judge Stroup and still stands
west of the depot on West 5th Street.
Having been organized in 1861, Clifton's
First Presbyterian Church is the oldest
church denomination in continuous service in
Bosque County.
Actually, the First Baptist Church was the
first church erected in Clifton; it was con-
structed during the years 1884-1885. All
other church groups used that building for
their worship services until it burned.
Next church built here was by the Presby-
terians, and its construction closely was
followed by the erection of the Church of
Christ. Those structures also were used by
other denominations until several years later.
It is understood that the present Immanuel
Lutheran Church was organized east of the
railroad in 1890.
According to available records, the Church
of Christ was the first to move its building
from east to west of the railway to its current
site on South Highway 6. That congregation
later sold the Presbyterians a portion of the
former's original block of land so that the
First Presbyterian Church also could be
moved west of the railroad.
Membership in Clifton's churches-two
Lutheran, six Baptist, two Presbyterian, and
one each Methodist, Church of Christ, Pres-
byterian, Catholic, United Pentecostal, and
Assembly of God-totals more than the city's
population. All but three now are located
west of the railway.
In 1860 the legislature of the State of Texas
incorporated "The Clifton Academy", which
resulted in the settlers' building a small log
structure along the bank near the bend of
Clear Branch. As previously mentioned, its
location was near the Sam M. Oswald farm
east of the Bosque River, approximately one
mile north of "old town" Clifton and almost
two miles north of "new town" Clifton.
First members of the school's Board of
Trustees were William R. Sedberry Chester
C. Dewey, W.B. Moore, L.H. Scrutchfield,
John Locker, Sam Barnes, and J. Stenneth.
Among the first teachers were Professors
Allen, Abney, Thominson, and McSpadden.
As the settlement grew, so grew the need
for a larger and better school. In 1870 land
was donated for the three-story Old Rock
School constructed on the east side of the
river near the north bridge. One account said
it was given by J.M. Locker and another by
Amos K. Bass.
As the Lockers sold their place near the
bridge to Mr. Bass, whoever owned the
property just prior to the school's erection
evidently was the donor.
Construction of the school was begun in
June, 1870. The two lower floors were used
for school classes, and the third floor was a
Masonic Hall. Religious services also were
conducted in that building until churches
were built at later dates.
After its completion the Old Rock School
opened for classroom instruction in August,
1870, and served Clifton's children for more
than 20 years. Total cash outlay for the
building was $300.00.
First superintendent of the Old Rock
School was .John S. Perry, of Austin, a
kinsman of the family of Stephen F. Austin,
Father of Texas. First primary teacher was
16y.. L ,
'U:
Aerial view showing (clockwise from lower left) Bosque Memorial Museum, Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home,
Clifton Medical and Surgical Clinic, Goodall-Witcher Hospital and in center, Bosque County Conservatory
of Fine Arts (old college building).-1 1
Clifton College (1897-1954)
Balloon attracts crowd on Clifton Street, 1907
41.
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Bosque County History Book Committee. Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas), book, 1985; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91038/m1/32/?q=campbell&rotate=270: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Denton Public Library.