DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how I'm gonna pass it along to you. Way out in the Pecan Grove community, just west of what would become Whitney, Texas, a group of folks gathered in 1875 with one purpose in mind. They were going to organize a church.
Now, the man who led them through that organizational meeting was the Reverend I. M. Reeve, and Reeve was a circuit rider, which means he didn't have the luxury of a single pulpit.
He rode. He showed up where the people were, and on this occasion, the people were in Pecan Grove, and they were ready. So the congregation took shape right there.
Then 1880 rolls around. One year after the town of Whitney was founded on the rail line, that fellowship made a move. They built a sanctuary, planted themselves in Whitney proper, and took on a new name to match their new home: the Whitney Methodist Church.
But the story wasn't done bein' named yet. Come 1901, the congregation made a decision. They were going to honor somebody.
Captain Newton J. King, an area pioneer and an early member of that very church, would have his name carried forward. From that point on, they were King Memorial.
The name wasn't chosen lightly, and it wasn't chosen quickly. It came after more than two decades of community, of worship, of people showin' up for each other. Over the years, as the marker tells it, the congregation went right on providing significant service and leadership to the town of Whitney.
Some institutions just keep earnin' their name.
What the marker says
The organizational meeting for this church was held in 1875 in the Pecan Grove community just west of Whitney. The Rev. I. M. Reeve, a circuit rider, led the congregation in its formation. In 1880, one year after the town of Whitney was founded on the rail line, the fellowship built a sanctuary here and became known as the Whitney Methodist Church. The name King Memorial was chosen in 1901 to honor Capt. Newton J. King, an area pioneer and early church member. Over the years, the congregation has provided significant service and leadership to the town.