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Topic: GOURLEY, Rev Thomas H; Bethal Bible School, Topeka
Conf: Shawnee County Queries, Msg: 104972
From: Rob Swinson (reswinson@aol.com)
Date: 2/27/2007 10:20 AM


Please respect the fact the following information is copyrighted:

Looking for information on background and family of Rev. Thomas Hampton GOURLEY, a Pentecostal "Holy Roller" Minister from Jewell Co. Kansas, born January 08, 1862 in Miami Co, Indiana at or near Peoria (or possibly Ft. Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana). Thomas was the son of John Hampton GOURLEY and Julia Matilda (HAWKINS) GOURLEY who had a farm in Ezbon Township, Jewell Co., KS in June 1880. Family migrated to Jewell Co., Kansas in 1870s from Miami Co., Indiana. Thomas had an older sister, Martha Susan GOURLEY, born July 17, 1859 in Miami Co., Indiana, died August 1907 in Joplin, Jasper Co., Missouri, married Will H. TASKER reportedly on June 10, 1872 (almost 13 years old!) at unknown location, and they had 9 known children. There were two other siblings of Thomas and Martha Susan, but names and sex are "unknown." One of the "unknown" siblings died before June 1900. No record of either "unknown" sibling found in 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 census records.

Rev. Thomas H. "Tom" GOURLEY was a "Pastor" in October 1896 when he married Effie E. MASDEN in Norton Co., Kansas, either at her parents farm near Lenora or the Congregational Church in Lenora where her parents, Joseph and Emily Jane "Emma" (MCDANIEL) MASDEN attended services.

Thomas GOURLEY became an early twentieth century Pentecostal "Holy Roller" Minister. Lived in Lawrence, Douglas Co., KS in June-July 1899 where his wife, Effie, died on July 11th. Tom GOURLEY was living in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS in July 1902 where his first son, John Jacob GOURLEY, was born July 5th after marrying for second time to Mary Elizabeth NEFF on January 17, 1901 at Corning, Nemaha Co., Kansas. Mary Elizabeth NEFF born December 17, 1881 in Nemaha Co. and died September 05, 1917 in Roseburg, Douglas Co., Oregon. Her parents were James W. and Alice W. (BLANKLEY) NEFF of Soldier Township, Jackson Co., Kansas located just a few miles south of Corning in Nemaha Co.

Children (all sons) of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth GOURLEY, in addition to John Jacob, were: James Nottingham GOURLEY, Sr., born May 31, 1904 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California; Peter Hampton GOURLEY, born April 07, 1907 in Washington, probably Ballard Beach area of Seattle in King County; Philip Milton GOURLEY, born February 09, 1910 in Ballard Beach, King Co., Washington; and Levi Matthew GOURLEY, born July 29, 1912 in "Community Settlement" of Rev. Thomas H. Gourley on Lopez Island, San Juan Co., Washington.

Rev. Thomas GOURLEY was very likely closely associated with Rev. Charles Fox PARHAM of Kansas, considered by many to be the "founder of modern Pentecostalism" who held the very first evangelistic Pentecostal Revival of the twentieth century at the former Stone mansion outside of Topeka, Kansas in Shawnee County that started on January 1, 1901 with 40 of his students. "This revival would give rise to the most dynamic force for evangelism and missions in modern times." It was held at the Bethel Bible School (aka Bethel Gospel School) which Charles F. PARHAM had founded in October 1900 when he rented the former Stone mansion. This Pentecostal religious movement was well known for "speaking in tongues" (glossolalia), the first documented event occurring on January 1, 1901 as the revivial got started. These revivals might go for days or weeks.

In 1920, Rev. Thomas GOURLEY left the Lopez Island "religious colony" that he had founded in 1911 and was killed while riding on a train, the "Dixie Flyer," when it wrecked near Calhoun, Gordon Co., Georgia on February 26, 1923. His mother, Julia, died the same year in Macon, Georgia - don't know if it was the town of Macon in Bibb Co. or county of Macon. Julia may have been living in Macon with Tom and his 5 sons when he died in the train wreck, as his wife had died in 1917, and his father had died in 1902.

If you have additional information, please contact me directly by email.

Rob Swinson
RESwinson@aol.com