Yuma County, Colorado
Photographs

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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs: 

Charles W, Logsdon

William Granville Logsdon

The two - almost certainly brothers - claimed land in 4N 46W in 1890

A 1908 legal notice described that in October 1888 William G. Logsdon conveyed a quarter of land to Henry Aldrich, secured by a promissory note issued by Logsdon to a Charles Sollman.  It later refers to the "said William H. Logsdon", and to the Henry Aldrich as trustee.  So it wasn't a straightforward land claim and subsequent sale.

One Ancestry tree has William born March 29, 1860 in Iowa, the son of Rev. Daniel and Saran Ann Christopher Logsdon dying September 21, 1933

The 1860 census of Marion County, Iowa has Daniel Logsdon 28, Sarah 25, Sarah M. 5, Mary C. 3, and Wm. G. three months.

In 1870  Harrison County, Missouri they've added John S. 7, Charles W. 2, and George F. 1.

In 1880 Harrison County William is 20,  John 17, Charles 14,  George T. 10, and they've added Sarepta 7, Daniel L. 2, and Albert W. one-month.

The tombstone in Abilene, Texas has Daniel December 9, 1831 - December 18, 1897, and Sarah A, October 28, 1833 - June 18, 1913.  So it looks like Daniel moved down to be with Charles, George, and A.W.

In 1900 Abilene Sarah is widowed. and A.W. is living with her.  He's not with her in the 1911 Abilene directory.

Charles is single, 33, farming.

In 1904 W. G. Logsdon was delinquent on taxes for the southwest quarter of section 9, 4N 46W, Yuma County.

1915 the Yuma paper "For Sale - S.W. Sec 9-4N-46; $12.50 per acre, $4.50 per acre cash, balance five years at 6 per cent.  Agents take notice - will extend usual courtesy , - J.L. Miller & Co., 6378 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California."

In 1920 Charles is married to Daisie, living in Callahan County, Texas, with Charles W. Jr. 5 and Grace C. 2

In the same cemetery is A.W. Logsdon - 1877 - April 10, 1950 and A.W. Jr. born and died December 28, 1918.

and George T. Logsdon 1869 - December 24, 1933

This is when "Granville" and Sarah were living in Iowa in 1917.

 

William and Sarah Logsdon family

The tree has his children as

Cora Olive Logsdon, born June 15, 1888 in Harrison County, Missouri, marrying Lewis Erving Ballard

Clyde Lewis Logsdon, born January 15, 1890 in Harrison County, marrying Bama L. ?.

Samuel Ernest Logsdon, born March 31, 1891 in Gentry, Missouri, marrying Vena Caster

Archibald B. Logsdon, born October 12, 1893 in Missouri City, marrying Verna M. Caster

Edith Cecil Logsdon, born November 26, 1896 in Bethany, Missouri,  marrying Thomas Wilson, then Jack Baehm late in life.

Lola Augusta, born August 23, 1899 in Missouri, marrying Michael Ackman

Virgil Logsdon, born December 10, 1904 in Texas, died 1906

William O. Logsdon, born May 14, 1933 (this sure doesn't seem possible)

 

Because one of William's descendants, Wilford Waldo Wilson, married Eva Irene Hathaway (daughter of the Yuma County Herbaughs),  it is very likely that the two brothers in the tree are the Yuma County homesteaders.

Look at the Seborn Elliott page for more information on the Herbaugh family

 

The same Ancestry tree has Charles Wesley Logsdon, born July 9, 1866 in Harrison County, Missouri, living there in 1880, but in Taylor County , Texas in 1900.  In 1902 he married Daisy Bascom Reed, and lived in the west Texas area, including Abilene, until his death in 1947.

Charles Wesley Logsdon Jr.

B.A. 1929, HSU Trustee

Charles Wesley Logsdon Jr. was born May 29, 1904, in Hamby, Texas, to Charles W. and Daisy Logsdon, a pioneer ranching family who settled in Andrews County not far from the New Mexico border. Charles and his younger sister, Grace Katherine, attended school at Andrews until their high school years. The Logsdons then moved to Abilene “to assure a fine education for their children.” Charles graduated from Abilene High School in 1924.

Following graduation, he entered Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University), and completed the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1928. Grace Katherine followed him to Simmons, graduating in 1929.

While a student at Simmons, Logsdon played for three years in the Cowboy Band. He met his future wife, Koreen Jean Willcox, on the campus. They were married on October 14, 1932, by the Rev. George W. Truett, who was then pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas.

Logsdon ranched with his father until 1947 at which time his father died and left the operation of the ranch in Charles’s capable hands.

Logsdon was a member of First Baptist Church of Abilene for more than 55 years. He was president of his Sunday school class at First Baptist and served as chairman of the Building Committee.

He was actively involved in the Masonic Lodge, holding several offices and was also a member of the Rotary Club.

As an alumnus, Logsdon gave back to his alma mater financially and also gave of his time. In 1960 he agreed to serve on the HSU Board of Development. He was a valuable asset to the work of the board and was soon named to the Board of Trustees and served on the Executive Committee. He was also appointed to the Search Committee that brought Dr. Elwin L. Skiles to the HSU presidency in 1966.

Logsdon was a quiet, unassuming man who had deep convictions and lived a dedicated Christian life. He was a cooperative and helpful companion to the administration of the university and was always liberal in his support of the school. In 1971, he received the John J. Keeter Award, which is the highest award presented annually to alumni of the university.

Soon after his death in 1981, Koreen, in accordance with her own desires and in fulfillment of the stated desires of her husband, provided resources for the university to endow the Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Logsdon School of Theology and to fund the building for the school. Transferring properties that included Logsdon’s family ranch lands in Andrews County and near Abilene, along with mineral rights and other properties, their gift amounted to more than $5 million, the largest single gift to the university at the time. Grace Katherine White also provided $300,000 for the Visser-Rowland pipe organ now located in Logsdon Chapel in memory of her brother.

In a statement made at the time of the Logsdon gift, Dr. Jesse C. Fletcher, then HSU president, said, “The Logsdon gift makes possible the dramatic escalation of a program that is at the very heart of Hardin-Simmons University. The School of Theology will be able to train, on both the undergraduate and the graduate level, Christian vocation workers for both home and abroad on a plane unparalleled in the university’s illustrious history. In addition, it will make possible the training of lay workers in Abilene and the Big Country area through special scholarship programs.”

In 1989, along with her second husband, Dr. Lee Hemphill, Koreen established the Logsdon Chair of Church Music at Hardin-Simmons University with a $500,000 gift in Logsdon’s honor. He was a man who loved music, knew its value to the proclamation of the gospel, and was dedicated to Christian education.

Logsdon was known for his Christian grace, humility, and deep sense of stewardship, service, and generosity. Longtime friend and co-worker, Dr. Elwin Skiles, said of him: “Charles Logsdon, a dear personal friend, was loyal and devoted to the causes in which he deeply believed. These causes included his family, his church, and his school. His interest in his alma mater was revealed in a constant concern for the development and well-being of Hardin-Simmons.”

At the time of his death on October 8, 1981, Charles continued to serve HSU as a member of the Board of Trustees Executive Committee.

 

Logsdon Building and Chapel History

The Logsdon School of Theology building was constructed on the campus of Hardin-Simmons University in 1988 after a generous gift by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Logsdon of Abilene. The 27,200-square foot building includes classrooms, a distance learning facility, preaching lab, reading room, faculty and staff offices, faculty lounge, reception room and chapel. The facility was designed by the architectural firm of Tittle, Luther and Loving, and built at a total cost of $3.7 million.

Of the many distinctive features of the Logsdon School of Theology building, Logsdon Chapel is perhaps most obvious to passers-by. The 350-seat Logsdon Chapel is used for special events such as Logsdon Seminary chapel services, state and regional conferences for pastors and churches, guest speakers on the Hardin-Simmons University campus, various community events, university concerts and organ recitals, and weddings. The chapel space is defined by a stained-glass window at its front and a Vissar-Rowland Opus 93 pipe organ at its back.

The window, a special gift from Mrs. Charles Logsdon, was designed and constructed by Byrd Glass Company of Lubbock, Texas after consultation with Logsdon’s first dean, Dr. H.K. Neely. Though designed as a single element, the window was constructed in 60 individual panels on metal framework. During the day, the sunlight creates a magnificent kaleidoscope of light on the 30-by-41 foot wall for those within the building; at night, the Logsdon window is lit from the inside and serves as a wonderful piece of Christian art for the Abilene community to enjoy. The building, and specifically the window, has been featured in numerous local and national publications, and is regularly a highlight for campus visitors and tours.

The window in Logsdon chapel is, however, more than just an architectural element or tour stop. The window design includes three pertinent elements that exemplify the purpose, mission and vision of Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University: a cross, an open Bible, and a dove. The cross occupies the center of the window, pointing to the centrality and Lordship of Christ in the life of each believer and in theological education at Logsdon. The open Bible represents the commitment of Logsdon School of Theology to provide theological education guided by the authority of scripture. The dove represents the Holy Spirit and the global mission of the church for which Logsdon prepares servant leaders. Each of these elements is placed upon a field of color and concentric circles representing the world into which students are called to serve.

The chapel organ, constructed in 1992, is likewise designed to inspire a sense of grandeur. Officially known as the Grace Katherine White Organ, it was provided as a gift from Mrs. Katherine Logsdon White, sister of Mr. Charles Logsdon and built at a cost of $300,000. It is based on a traditional North German-Dutch design, but possesses a distinctively French character specially customized for this installation. This three manual tracker organ consists of 45 ranks spread over 36 stops, with a total of 2,627 pipes ranging in size from the copper pipes of the 16-foot Montre in the pedal to pipes much smaller than a pencil in diameter and size. The casework of the organ is made of Appalachian Red Oak with the keys being made of ebony and maple. The instrument and pipes occupy the majority of the chapel’s balcony, and offer a visually stunning sight as one exits the chapel.

The Logsdon building complex, including the Logsdon Chapel, with its unique architecture and distinctive elements anchors the southeast corner of the Hardin-Simmons University campus and draws visitors from around the world. The entire building is a concrete example of the historic mission of this Baptist-affiliated university to provide an education enlightened by faith.

 

This page is maintained by M.D. Monk.