Hymnwriters and Composers from Soul Songs and Sonnets

Below is a list of some of the hymnwriters and composers from Soul Songs and Sonnets by Sharp McNiel and B. N. Richards in 1909. I tried to include everyone I thought were East Texas folks and/or directly connected to the McNiel-Richards Company. Therefore, I did include the Bacons, who lived in Tennessee but seem to have contributed material directly to the songbook (since some of it is copyrighted by the McNiel-Richards Company). I did not include well-known hymnwriters and composers such as Laura Newell, John Newton, Isaac Watts, Thomas Hastings, and Lowell Mason.

I hope to contribute to our knowledge of local hymnwriters and composers, many who may not be known as such by some of their descendants. The list is divided into “known” (either I knew or discovered who they were),“possible or probable” (I believe I have or may have correctly identified them), “unknown” (I still am not sure who they were), and, lastly, other people who are simply mentioned in notes and dedications, etc.

If you know the identity of the probables or unknowns, please let me know. Many of these folks were students of Sharp McNiel in his singing schools.

Known hymnwriters and composers

• Geo. W. Bacon
• Katharyn Bacon
• Ben F. Creel
• Mrs. Bertie Day
• George Edward “Eddie” Day
• Joe R. Day
• Walton Day
• Douglas Goldsberry
• W. T. Green
• Rev. Charlie Hammel (sic) [as sung by...]
• Leonard Harvey
• L. L. Harvey
• Floyd Harvin
• Roy R. Harvin
• J. N. Lusk
• W. I. Martindale
• R. H. McNiel
• Sharp McNiel
• G. A. Raney
• Bernard N. Richards
• Miss Pervilla Roark
• T. E. Self
• O. D. Tannery
• R. W. Tannery
• Stella May Thompson
• Luther Thornton
• Romulous A. Wisener
• Rev. J. L. Wortham
• J. Burrell Wood

Possible or probable hymnwriters and composers

• Addie Birdwell
• Miss Bertie Calcote
• Rev. G. B. Carter
• Sylvester S. Cofer
• C. S. Goode
• Miss Eva Lewis or Miss Eva Lewis
• Oliver McNiel or Oliver McNiel
• W. E. Milstead, probably William E., son of Lewis and Louisa Milstead of Rusk County
• A. L. Reed
• Earl Reid
• J. E, Sullivan
• A. D. Wall (his brother-in-law, Allen T. Garrard, pastored in Nacogdoches; Wall was living in Texas around this time + he named a son Sharp Wall)

Unknown hymnwriters and composers

• Kittie Deason
• J. P. Henderson
• Edwin Moore
• Howard E. Smith

Other persons mentioned in notes, dedications, etc.

• Rev. Roe T. Hollowman (sic)
• S. G. Kirk (possibly Spencer Kirk of Rusk County)
• Rev. J. L. (sic) McLendon
• Mrs. W. H. Strong (possibly Mamie Strong)
• W. B. Truett