JEFFERSON HAD FIRST ARTIFICIAL ICE
Tradition, and a sworn statement, before a notary public, by the late Mr. B. J. Benefield, an honored citizen of Jefferson, gives to Jefferson, Texas, the honor of having had within its city limits the first artificial ice plant in the United States and many say in the world.
Old settlers claim that it was in operation in the late 60’s but Mr. Benefield places the date at 1874 or ’75 because he returned to Marion County from Red River County in 1874 and began working for Boyle and Scott, as the first dispenser of artificial ice, using his own wagon and teams, and sold the ice for ten cents per pound. He states that the ice was made in cakes four or five feet long, two or three feet in width and one inch thick.
The plant continued in operation about one year, when Mr. Boyle, who was the originator of the idea that artificial ice could be made, went north in search of some one to finance the making of the product.
Mr. J. E. Hasty says that Mr. Boyle raised money before he went north, to finance his project but he was never heard of after he left and his partner, Henry Scott, went into bankruptcy, while someone else profited by their pioneer efforts.
Old citizens of the state say that the plant was moved to Harrisburg, Texas, near Houston, at the time Mr. Boyle went north.
One incident remaining clear to Mr. Benefield was that one of his customers, a prominent citizen, bought one thousand pounds of ice and placed it in his cistern so that he and his family might have an unlimited supply of ice water through the summer. However, the experiment failed, of course, and the man remained a daily customer of Mr. Benefield.
It was Mr. Benefield’s understanding that the machine was patented in the U. S. Patent office.
The gas used in the manufacturing of the ice was made at the plant and the machinery was run by steam power. The old site of the plant is within the City Limits, just beyond Willard Hill on Highway 49.
Mr. Henry Scott, one of the founders, has a son and daughter now living in Dallas.
At a meeting of the Southwestern Ice Association on December 3rd., 1926, Mr. F. R. Senor presented a motion, which was accepted by the Association, the erection of a memorial in Jefferson to the honor of the man and place where the first artificial ice was manufactured in the U. S. However, that monument has never been erected.
CHURCHES
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
On June 8th., 1860 the friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church held a meeting in the Cumberland Presbyterian place of worship for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal congregation. Bishop Alex Gregg, D. D. was called to the chair and E. G. Benners appointed secretary, the Rev. E. A. Wagner being present, the secretary read the articles of association which had been prepared in accordance with the canons.
Signed by:
E. G. Benners Helen Benners Abbie Foscue Amanda M. Winslow Adeline G. Pitkins W. I. C. Rogers I. Winslow Orville Yerger Virginia Yerger A. M. Walker Jennie E. Duke Alexander Starr Emmer Charlotte Cox Martha Murphy Virginia Todd H. Witherspoon
Services were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Freemans Hall, and private homes until 1886 when the new church was completed. Bishop Gregg was the first clergyman to preach in the new church and Rev. E. G. Benners the first minister in charge.
Members of the first vestry were: E. C. Benners, Orville Yerger, John Winslow, Dr. A. M. Walker, Dr. W. C. Rogers, Dr. H. Witherspoon, H. H. Black, and Judge W. S. Todd.
At one time the church was badly damaged by storm and Dr. D. Guinn, who was minister in charge at the time, remodeled the church using the old building as a foundation. It was made into a beautiful brick veneer building.