John Sterling Durst Pioneer Minister

Duane's take

The way this marker tells it, here's the story of John Sterling Durst, and I'll do my best to honor every word of it. Born in 1841 in Leon County, John Sterling Durst came into this world as the son of pioneer Texans, which means the frontier was already in his blood before he ever had to earn it. He served in the Confederate Army, and when that was behind him, something happened that changed the whole direction of his life: a single sermon moved him to join the Church of Christ ministry.

Now think about that for a moment. One sermon. That's the kind of thing that makes you sit real quiet by a campfire.

In 1883, Reverend Durst bought a farm and moved his family out to Kimble County, and let me tell you, Kimble County at that time was still a frontier region. This was not a gentle posting. He preached in this area, and he took summer tours around the state, carrying his ministry wherever the road led.

And somewhere along the way the community recognized what they had in this man, because they elected him county judge (a position he held from 1902 to 1910) and they trusted him as county school superintendent too. He had married Adelaide Reed, who passed in 1874, and later he married Lilla Kittrell, and together they built what the marker simply calls a large family. John Sterling Durst lived until 1924; eighty-three years, from a Leon County birth to a Kimble County legacy.

One sermon set it all in motion. That's a long echo for a single afternoon.

What the marker says

The son of pioneer Texans. John Sterling Durst (1841-1924) was born in Leon County. After service in the Confederate Army, a sermon moved him to join the Church of Christ ministry. When the Rev. Durst bought a nearby farm and moved his family here in 1883, Kimble County was still a frontier region. He preached in this area and on summer tours around the state. A respected leader, he served as county judge, 1902-1910, and as county school superintendent. He was married to Adelaide Reed (d. 1874) and then to Lilla Kittrell and had a large family.