progressed , became the father of six children . During this time , Gilliland became well-known for his talents in fiddling for house and barn dances .
Not much is known of Gilliland ’ s activities in the 1870s through the 1890s . There are some sources that credit him with helping to form the second Methodist church during this time . Some sources have him hauling timber to and from the Fort Richardson area . Notably , it is on record that he was elected District Clerk of Parker County in 1888 . He also began participating in ( and winning ) fiddling contests around North Texas .
“ In Oklahoma , I played in thirteen prize contests and won twelve out of thirteen . I cannot begin to tell the number of first prizes won in Texas , but there were many ,” Gilliland wrote .
In 1901 , he helped to create the Old Fiddler ’ s Association of Texas , and served as its secretary . In 1910 , Gilliland traveled to Little Rock for competition , tying with Jesse Roberts and Moses J . Bonner in holding the title of World ’ s Championship Fiddler .
Later , Gilliland and his wife moved to Oklahoma , although he visited friends and family often in Texas , as well as competing in fiddling competitions there . In 1913 , Susie passed away , leaving Gilliland in a deep depression .
“ I was now broken up ; my good wife called away , and I was left alone to finish fighting the battles without a
helper ,” he wrote . On Aug . 20 , 1914 , he married a widow , Mary Self , noting that although she was 26 years his junior , that she was “ all that keeps me alive .”
In 1922 , Gilliland teamed up with Eck Robertson , traveling to Victor Records studio in New York to create one of the first records of what would come to be known as country music . The pair recorded two sides : “ Arkansas Traveler ” on one and “ Turkey in the Straw ” on the other .
Afterwards , Gilliland returned to Altus , Okla ., where he lived peacefully until April of 1924 , when he passed away at 79 , leaving behind a legacy of early Texas pioneering and the beginnings of the country sound for which our beloved state is so famed .
Sources : -Country Music Annual 2001 . Edited by Charles K . Wolfe and James E . Akenson , The University Press of Kentucky , 2001 . -Fontenot , Kevin S . “ Henry C . Gilliland .” Texas State Historical Association , tshaonline . org . Accessed 12 Feb . 2018 . -Gilliland , Henry C . Life and Battles of Henry C . Gilliland for Seventy Years : Wars of the Confederacy , Wars with the Indians , and Wars with the Fiddle and the Bow . 1915 . -Green , Steve . Henry C . Gilliland . Traildriver . com . Accessed 12 Feb . 2018 .
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MARCH 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
63
progressed, became the father of six children. During
this time, Gilliland became well-known for his talents in
fiddling for house and barn dances.
Not much is known of Gilliland’s activities in the
1870s through the 1890s. There are some sources that
credit him with helping to form the second Methodist
church during this time. Some sources have him hauling
timber to and from the Fort Richardson area. Notably, it
is on record that he was elected District Clerk of Parker
County in 1888. He also began participating in (and
winning) fiddling contests around North Texas.
“In Oklahoma, I played in thirteen prize contests
and won twelve out of thirteen. I cannot begin to tell
the number of first prizes won in Texas, but there were
many,” Gilliland wrote.
In 1901, he helped to create the Old Fiddler’s
Association of Texas, and served as its secretary. In 1910,
Gilliland traveled to Little Rock for competition, tying
with Jesse Roberts and Moses J. Bonner in holding the
title of World’s Championship Fiddler.
Later, Gilliland and his wife moved to Oklahoma,
although he visited friends and family often in Texas,
as well as competing in fiddling competitions there. In
1913, Susie passed away, leaving Gilliland in a deep
depression.
“I was now broken up; my good wife called away,
and I was left alone to finish fighting the battles without a
helper,” he wrote.
On Aug. 20, 1914, he married a widow, Mary Self,
noting that although she was 26 years his junior, that she
was “all that keeps me alive.”
In 1922, Gilliland teamed up with Eck Robertson,
traveling to Victor Records studio in New York to create
one of the first records of what would come to be known
as country music. The pair recorded two sides: “Arkansas
Traveler” on one and “Turkey in the Straw” on the other.
Afterwards, Gilliland returned to Altus, Okla., where
he lived peacefully until April of 1924, when he passed
away at 79, leaving behind a legacy of early Texas
pioneering and the beginnings of the country sound for
which our beloved state is so famed.
Sources:
-Country Music Annual 2001. Edited by Charles K. Wolfe
and James E. Akenson, The University Press of Kentucky,
2001.
-Fontenot, Kevin S. “Henry C. Gilliland.” Texas State
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