Every individual’s life journey is a tapestry of distinct and diverse experiences, filled with it’s own twists and turns. Even if two journeys may appear similar, each possesses unique qualities that set them apart. These paths lead some to an early grave while propelling others toward long-lasting success. Yet, the reasons behind why some survive while others do not, or why some thrive while others struggle, rest solely within the wisdom of God. Only He comprehends life’s intricate and grand mosaic with its complex details.
Ellis County, Texas
In the late 1850s, wildlife such as deer and antelope, wild turkeys and hogs, wolves, bears, and panthers drank from the streams of Ellis County, Texas. Full of fish, these waterways meandered their way through the rural and often untamed landscape. Small hills surrounded the county, and the beautiful forests broke from time to time, revealing open meadows where settlers hunted to provide food for their families. These settlers came from a wide range of faraway places.
William Rowen, born in New York, had first emigrated to Ohio, but by 1860 he was living just north of Ellis County with his wife, Mary. His neighbor was Otwa Bird Nance, who had immigrated from Illinois, as did his brother, Quill Nance. The Nance brothers were pioneer farmers whose families would develop deep roots in Ellis County. Joshua G Phillips, born in Kentucky in about 1819, was experienced in making gunpowder. Phillips had moved to Ellis County around 1861. Tillman Patterson was born in Arkansas around 1830 but immigrated to Texas between 1855 and 1857.
Violence and Turmoil
Before Texas entered the war between the States, Ellis County was already aflame with fear and violence. The rumor mill was at work, and chinwags were circulating that white abolitionists were attempting to promote a slave uprising. On July 8th, 1860, at about 2 pm, a fire broke out in one of Waxahachie’s downtown buildings. Fires were known to have occurred that day in the towns of Dallas, Denton, Waxahachie, and Kaufman. In the climate of raging paranoia, anti-slavery factions received the brunt of the blame. Many blamed the fires on abolitionists. Citizens hanged enslaved people for allegedly being a part of slave uprisings and whites for allegedly helping them. It took nothing more than someone suggesting that a person might be opposed to slavery for these pro-slavery groups to take action against their own neighbors.
In prewar Ellis County, there were instances where members of the “upper classes” organized groups to suppress what they perceived as a potential slave uprising and sought retribution against abolitionists. During this time, a young man named David Nance and his father, Quill Nance, were witness to a distressing incident where three northern preachers were brutally beaten and forced to leave the area. Reflecting on the event in later years, David Nance would assert that the evidence against these men was based on hearsay. Additionally, it is known that numerous black individuals were rounded up like cattle and subjected to severe beatings.
During that tumultuous time, reports emerged of enslaved individuals confessing to arson and receiving poison from abolitionists to contaminate their owners’ wells. Allegedly, these individuals were promised land ownership upon their owners’ demise. It is challenging to ascertain the veracity of these claims given the charged atmosphere of the era. Many white individuals involved in acts of violence were unwilling to consider evidence that contradicted their preconceived beliefs.
In such an explosive climate, it comes as no surprise that Waxahachie overwhelmingly voted in favor of secession. A statement later summarized the root cause of the Civil War: “The prevailing anti-slavery sentiment in the North had grown and continued to grow at such a rapid pace that the institution of slavery was no longer secure within the Union.” Fortunately, the preservation of that institution was not secure.
During the Civil War era, Governor Sam Houston declined to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America, as his loyalty remained with the United States Constitution despite his disagreements with the North. Consequently, the legislature deemed his office vacant and appointed Lt. Governor Edward Clark as the new governor. Under Clark’s leadership, a 35-year-old newspaperman named William Henry Parsons, hailing from New Jersey, was commissioned as a Colonel. Parsons possessed a captivating aura and adventurous spirit that exhilarated those around him. Having gained battle experience in the Mexican-American War, Parsons was tasked with assembling a mounted regiment for the state of Texas.
In 1861, Parsons journeyed through Ellis County in search of volunteers for the mounted regiment. In August of that year, over 1,000 men gathered in the small community of Rockett Springs, located 5 miles north of Waxahachie, to enlist. This regiment would eventually become known as the Fourth Texas Mounted Dragoons, later transitioning to the Twelfth Texas Cavalry upon joining Confederate service. The name most often associated with these men is “Parsons Brigade.”
On the morning of September 11th, 1861, again, people gathered at Rockett Springs (now Rockett, Texas) to witness the ceremonies. One such young man was the David Nance mentioned above, 18 years old and 6 feet tall with a thin, angular frame. The roads around Rockett Springs were full of spectators, just like Nance, on horse-drawn vehicles, on horseback, and on foot. People stood on tiptoe, some in wagons, stretching to see the activities. There were thundering drum rolls, banners full of color, and music with a military flair. Later recollections gave the following view into that day some 155 years ago:
“At the hour of ten a.m., the bugle sounded and ten companies, comprising about twelve hundred men, formed a ‘hollow square’ in order to better perform the work at hand; this done, the marshal of the day (whose name is forgotten) demanded to know the nominations – First, for Colonel….[when] the name of Parsons was called by many voices…a proud form on as proud an animal glided into the open space and made a brief address to the volunteers around him, after which the marshal called for a vote and W.H. Parsons was unanimously elected. John W Mullins was elected Lieutenant colonel; E.W. Rogers Major;.”
The Powder Mill
The need for weapons and gunpowder arose in the quest to arm Southern soldiers. A part of the solution to this problem emerged in the form of William Rowen, a 50-year-old New York native who settled in Waxahachie and established a gunpowder mill. Despite being a dedicated secessionist, Rowen possessed a kind disposition and an unwavering work ethic. His speech carried a gentle southern accent, while his demeanor hinted at a noble lineage. Rowen’s sharp intellect was evident through the presence of numerous books and journals in his home, covering various subjects such as philosophy, history, religion, and the art of gunpowder production.
Concerned about his health, Rowen’s wife, Mary, constantly worried about his well-being. However, he would often jest, vowing to “never allow a heart attack to deprive her of a good husband.”
In Rowen’s gunpowder enterprise, he had a junior partner named Tillman Patterson. Tillman was married to Ravia Mulkey, and her brother, Stephen Mulkey, served as the chemist at the powder mill. Another key member of the team was Joshua Phillips, an experienced powder man who had recently relocated to Ellis County.
Rowen secured a contract with the state of Texas, which supplied the necessary raw materials for gunpowder production. As part of the agreement, Rowen was entitled to retain half of the produced powder as his payment. This arrangement provided the foundation for their operations and ensured a vital supply of gunpowder during the challenging times of the Civil War.
The construction materials for the powder works were sourced from an old horse mill and a blacksmith shop. While the building walls offered only modest protection from adverse weather conditions, the foundation was strong. Ten small mules powered a treadmill that crushed and ground the saltpeter and sulfur, transforming them into powdered cakes. The powder mill itself was a dirty and dangerous environment. “three clusters of dirty, barnlike structures interlaced with loading platforms, wooden tramways, service shelters, and storage sheds. The major buildings were the furnace shed, roller mill, and a powder house. Each contained crude and sometimes makeshift machinery.” Due to the embers it produced, the furnace shed had to be situated at a safe distance from the other buildings. Stephen Mulkey, the mill’s chemist who predominantly operated in the furnace shed, incessantly grumbled about the intense heat within.
David Nance
Through negotiations with the government of Texas, William Rowen facilitated an arrangement where individuals serving in the military could work in the powder-making industry. Seizing this opportunity, Quill Nance, a former neighbor of Rowen, made arrangements for his son to join this workforce. Rowen himself had also extended a request for Quill’s son to come and work under his supervision. Consequently, young David Nance became an employee of the Powder Works in Waxahachie, Texas.
Despite his initial lack of knowledge in gunpowder production, young Nance quickly adapted and found satisfaction in his work in Waxahachie. His first day at the mill was on December 27th, 1862. Nance arranged to reside with William and Mary Rowen on Red Oak Road. This living arrangement granted him access to Rowen’s library, where he spent countless hours immersed in reading. Nance also enjoyed socializing within the local community.
Given the understaffed conditions, Nance’s presence brought relief to the other four men at the mill. Joshua Phillips and Tillman Patterson forged a strong friendship, and despite the laborious and repetitive nature of their work, the group managed to produce substantial quantities of gunpowder, amounting to thousands of pounds. Their collective efforts contributed to meeting the pressing demand for ammunition during those challenging times.
An Unforgettable Day
The laborious work at the mill left these men very dirty. A bathhouse was available for them to clean up and change clothes before leaving at the end of the day, as their work attire became saturated with gunpowder residue.
On April 29th, 1863, at around 4:00 pm, Stephen Mulkey made the decision to leave for the day. He headed towards the bathhouse to freshen up and encountered his brother-in-law and fellow employee, Tillman Patterson, who had also decided to leave early. Mulkey and Patterson left together, intending to spend the remainder of the day working in their garden.
David Nance was working in the mill grinding cake when Rowen came in, and together they and Phillips decided that they should also stop work for the day.
At just that moment, about 4:15 pm, a bright flash illuminated the mill, followed by a deafening explosion in one of the mortars. The mill suddenly filled with a bitter, pungent smoke. Subsequent explosions reverberated through the building, one of which tore the rear of the building away. These secondary explosions shook the very foundations of the building and inhibited the men from fleeing.
In the midst of the chaos, Nance attempted to flee through the front door. However, the force of the explosions knocked him to the ground, and his powder-saturated clothing ignited, engulfing his entire body in flames. His entire body began to be scorched by the fire as his clothes were literally being “burned off.” In a desperate struggle, he managed to regain his footing, rushing through the doorway while frantically clawing at his burning clothes.
Thrown backward from the entrance into the wreckage of a burning wall, Rowen and Phillips desperately attempted to make it to the exit, their clothes not yet ignited. At least 20 seconds or so after Nance exited the building, Rowen and Phillips made their way out of the mill. About “ten steps from the door,” Phillips tripped over an open barrel full of powder. The spilling powder ignited and then, catching their clothes on fire, turned both men into human torches. Both men ran through the front door and flung themselves into an open well.
Seconds later, the fire ignited approximately 800 lbs of gunpowder which was in process. This last and largest explosion shook the entire town “like an earthquake.” Embers pelted the area out of an enormous billowing pillar of smoke. Burning embers caused small fires on the top of the powder house containing 9000 pounds of finished powder. Volunteer firefighters quickly arrived and rushed to the powder house, putting out the flames before a greater catastrophe could occur. All that remained of this powder mill was the warehouse that held the finished powder. The explosions killed most of the mules, and smoke rose from pieces of rubble lying in the street as far as two blocks away. The buildings around the powder plant had visible scars from the fire.
The explosion left Joshua Phillips unrecognizable due to severe burns. Despite enduring unimaginable agony, he lived for only five hours. Phillips identified William Rowen before passing away, confirming that Patterson and Mulkey were not inside the building. Rowen, also severely burned, fought for survival but succumbed to his injuries approximately 12 hours later.
In the climate of paranoia and fear indicative of the time, immediate rumors told of a man seen at the plant just before the explosion. The man and his wife were staying at the Rogers Hotel. This man was said to have disappeared just after the explosion. In such a dangerous, volatile job, one needs to look no further than the occupation itself for the cause of the explosion. B.P. Galloway postulates that the explosion may have started directly in the mortars where Nance was working. Nance’s own account of the bright flash there lends to this theory. The initial flash, the secondary explosions, and the 800 pounds of mill cake exploding would account for the remaining and increasing blasts.
The aftermath of the Blast
After the explosion, Nance was brought to the Rowen home, where he received medical attention from a physician. The following day, his parents arrived to take him back home. Nance’s recovery was a long and challenging journey as he remained bedridden for two months, relying entirely on others for his care. His mother had to feed him using just a spoon. It wasn’t until July of 1863 that Nance regained enough strength to resume work.
Fortunately, Nance found employment at his uncle Otwa Nance’s wool processing plant. Nance stated that working with the oily wool had the unexpected benefit of toughening his hands. As soon as he was physically capable, in the autumn of that year, Nance eagerly set off to meet his company and reunite with his company.
Joshua Phillips died without a will, and his grave is located in Waxahachie Cemetery. His probate, dated May 18th, 1863, was administered by his wife, Lucy. Joshua’s new friend, Tillman Patterson, signed the inventory of belongings. Lucy never remarried and passed away on August 8th, 1919.
Mary L Rowen remained in Waxahachie and passed away in 1894; her grave is located in Waxahachie cemetery. Stephen Mulkey moved to Fort Worth, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Tilman Patterson continued to live in Ellis County, passing away on May 25th, 1893. He is buried in Waxahachie Cemetery.
David Nance’s Later Years
Dave Nance finished the war, later moving to Fannin County, where he worked for a bookkeeper. He married Miss Sallie M Hackley and bought a farm in Fannin County but would later return to the old home place in Dallas County, where he lived out the remainder of his years.
Later in life, he would ponder that of the three, he alone survived the blast in Waxahachie. He would also remember several other times when he narrowly escaped serious injury or death. He was always mindful that God’s hand was on his life. David’s grandson, Don Heath Morris, would become a Bible scholar, President, and Chancellor of Abilene Christian University.
Though William Rowen, Joshua Phillips, and numerous others did not live to witness the conclusion of the war, Ellis County endured the tumultuous era. While the valleys and rolling hills still cradle waterways, the once-abundant fish and game have dwindled. The Ellis County of the mid-1860s exists only in tales of the past. Today, little remains to indicate the presence of the Confederate powder mill or Parsons’ brigade in Ellis County, save for a handful of memorials and dusty records, serving as faint reminders of a bygone era.
Conclusion
In the end, the most insightful perspective on the events that unfolded in Ellis County during the 1860s emerges from the words of one who witnessed them firsthand. Within his words is a glimpse of Ellis County during the Civil War years from the perspective of one who experienced it firsthand and learned lessons from the forks in the road of life.
In 1860, Dave Nance watched as enslaved people were beaten nearly to death. While he was horrified at what he saw and did not favor slavery, he agreed that those in the South should be able to decide whether or not to continue the institution and fought for that cause. Almost half a century later, in 1908, it was recorded, “… if there is any one act of his whole life which he regrets more than another, it is his entering the army. He regrets, first, because he wishes he had never assisted in protecting an institution so fraught with evil as human slavery; second, because war is murder, and murder has no mercy in it. Then, he entered the army against his father’s will, and he regrets it for that too”.
In the 20th century, the First Baptist church stood near the site of the old powder mill. One person reported that they found charred areas when they dug into the ground to work on an addition to the church.
Bibliography
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