Introduction
“Rev. E. F. Stanton is styled the ‘singing orator’ and is an ordained minister of the Baptist church.”[i]
In my rambles of research, I ran across an “odd duck” – a preacher and music teacher who was also a lecturer on the Socialist circuit in the early 1900s. This seemed sort of incongruous to me. Here is a bit of the story of Ernest F. Stanton.
Birth/Family/Marriage/Children
Ernest F. Stanton was born in Alabama in March of 1864, to parents William Henry Stanton and Elmyra Antoinette Phillips. Born in Georgia, they married in Alabama, before eventually coming to Arkansas and finally Comanche County, Texas.
E. F. married Florence Zeriah Sturkie of neighboring Erath County, on May 12, 1887 in Erath County, Texas. They had nine children, including Henry Eugene Stanton (1892–1956), Paul Otis Stanton (1894–1969), Cora Stanton Wattenberger (1898–1949), Lawrence Edwin Moore Stanton (1900–1996), Emmette Owen/Olen Stanton (1903–1965), and four whose names are lost to posterity. Based on the 1900 and 1910 censuses, the Stantons lost four children between the time of their marriage in 1887 and the 1900 census taken June 9, 1900.[ii]
Ernest and Florence Stanton made an unfortunate splash in Oklahoma newspapers in the second decade of the 20th century, when he filed for divorce in February 1916.[iii] This was reported all across the state. This action may have been dismissed, as his wife later sued for divorce in 1919 “on the grounds of Desertion and gross neglect of duty.”[iv]
Ernest F. Stanton in U. S. Federal Censuses:
- 1870 Opelika, Lee County, Alabama; At home
- 1880 6th district, Comanche County, Texas; At home, farmer
- 1900 Duke, Greer County, Oklahoma; Music, vocal & instrumental
- 1910 Wellington, Collingsworth County, Texas; Teacher of music
- 1920 War Eagle, Benton County, Arkansas; Music Teacher
- 1930 Precinct 5, Smith County, Texas; Teacher, music
Newspaper mentions suggest Stanton moved a lot and lived in a number of other places, including in Arkansas: Larue (ca 1923); Oklahoma: Duke (ca 1902);[v] Davidson (ca 1907),[vi] Oklahoma City (ca 1907), Altus (ca 1911),[vii] Hobart (ca 1916) Lone Wolf (1918); Texas: Gorman (ca 1905), Wellington (ca 1910),[viii] Hamlin (ca 1912), Rochester (ca 1912), Smith County (1914). It is possible, however, that the newspaper reports could have gotten some of the locations wrong. Additionally, this may indicate places he lived temporarily as he traveled to teach and lecture. His death certificate (1934) states, suggests, or at least implies that his residence was in Hood County, Texas before he entered the Austin State Hospital.[ix] He had been a resident at the State Hospital for four months and 10 days (from 6/27/1934) at the time of his death (11/7/1934).
His Work
Ernest F. Stanton was a music teacher, songwriter, Baptist minister, debater, and socialist lecturer (he was listed as a farmer in the 1880 census). He actively participated in gospel singing conventions. He compiled the song book Home and Church Songs, and perhaps others. He served as an assistant editor on some other songbooks, such as Our Thankful Songs: a New Collection of Choice Gospel Songs for Prayer, Praise, and Gospel Meetings, by the A. J. Showalter Company.
Singing schools.
In connection with his music work, Stanton itinerated to teaching singing schools. For example, he taught in Proctor, Texas in 1892; Prairie Home, Oklahoma in 1900; Quartz, Oklahoma in 1902; Martha, Oklahoma in 1904: Durant, Oklahoma in 1913; Cameron, Oklahoma in 1923; Fairview, Oklahoma in 1925. These probably only represent a small portion of the singing schools he taught. In connection with this work, he was often called “Professor E. F. Stanton.” His primary fields of labor were Texas and Oklahoma.
Orator.
E. F. Stanton is labeled as a Baptist minister on several occasions. There is no evidence that he was ever a pastor, and his primary religious work was probably itinerant evangelism. Additionally, most newspaper accounts of his oratory skills refer to lectures on the subject of Socialism – suggesting he was more of an evangelist for social reform than religious revival.
When Stanton lectured at the schoolhouse at Texola, Oklahoma in 1907, the reporter found the auditors listening attentively to the entire speech, except for a “few of the younger persons who like fiction more than facts, fun more than logic” who left the building when the lectures began.[x] Likewise a Socialist Justice periodical that same year described that in a courthouse speech “For two hours the ‘Singing Orator’ held the audience spell-bound with the glorious Gospel of Socialism.” Stanton himself wrote that he “Lectured at one place before a large audience. Every man was converted to Socialism except one old man who just returned from the asylum.”[xi]
A blurb in a Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene periodical in 1918 suggests that E. F. Stanton might have been connected with that denomination at the time. On the other hand, it may be that Stanton was only ever loosely connected to the Baptists, and that his moving ministry was inclusive of all denominations.
Herald of Holiness (Kansas City, Missouri), Vol. 6, No. 45, February 13, 1918, p. 16
Debate.
Stanton engaged in debates promoting Socialism. (Newspapers mention some that failed to make.) In 1910 a four-days debate with J. L. Davis rendered for Socialism “a powerful victory,” gaining 20 new members to the Wilmoth, Oklahoma local Socialist group.[xii] I found no records of religious debates.
Other.
E. F. Stanton authored several booklets, including The Fall of Babylon (possibly a poem) and What Socialism Is and Why It Should Prevail (Gerard, KS: Appeal to Reason, 1909).
In 1910, Stanton applied for and received a patent on a crude oil burner.
In 1918, the Herald of Holiness blurb calls Stanton the president of the Stanton Art Company.
- Report of the Eastland County Singing Convention, April 8, 1905
- Report of the Nickle Hill Singing Convention, May 20-21, 1905
- Report of the Carbon District Singing Convention, May 27-28, 1905
Death
Ernest F. Stanton traveled extensively in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas – and perhaps other places not now known. He seems to have been most active in Oklahoma. Perhaps the people of this young state overall were more friendly to his Socialist views. It is not hard to imagine how this belief could have hindered him in this period. Many Christians associated Socialism with atheism. In the context of challenging Stanton to debate, Luther Roberts also announced an address on the subject in which he would “charge, and prove, that socialism was hatched in atheism and that it is today atheistic and anti-religious.” [xiii]
Stanton’s life ended in the state where it began, Texas. He spent the last four months (and 10 days) of his life at the Austin State Hospital, Travis County, Texas, and died while there. His death certificate says he is buried there in the State Asylum Cemetery. Thus ended the career of the Socialist Singing Orator.
Three songs by E. F. Stanton
[ii] I searched Find-A-Grave and did not find any likely burials on that site for these children.
[iii] He complained that she was “nervous, quarrelsome and irritably disposed” to such a degree “to break up his health and injure his mental equilibrium and physical health.” “Enough After 29 Years,” The Weekly Democrat-Chief (Hobart, Oklahoma), Thursday, February 17, 1916, p. 1.
[iv] “Suit for Divorce,” The Mangum Star, Thursday, December 18, 1919, p. 3. The divorce may have been granted, as he is not in the censuses with his wife in 1920 and 1930, or they may have simply lived as separated. E. F. Stanton is listed as “widowed” in those censuses (his wife was not dead), and “separated” on his death certificate.
[v] “23 Years Ago,” Altus Times-Democrat, Friday, December 25, 1925, p. 10.
[vi] “Who Opposes Socialism,” Justice (Duncan Oklahoma), Friday, June 7, 1907, p. 6. It is possible that Davidson was not where he lived, but where he was on his lecture circuit when he wrote to the newspaper. (Justice appears to be a Socialist newspaper.)
[vii] Altus Weekly News, Thursday, June 8, 1911, p. 2.
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] “Hood County, Texas” is entered over the line “If non-residence give city, or town and state.” For profession, the death certificate lists “Laborer.” This must be information collected from his records at the hospital, since the informant is “Austin State Hospital Records.”
[x] “Noted Musician Lectures Here,” The Texola Herald, Friday, August 9, 1907, p. 1.
[xi] “Who Opposes Socialism,” Justice (Duncan Oklahoma), Friday, June 7, 1907, p. 6.
[xii] “Debate At Wilmoth,” The Oklahoma Pioneer (Oklahoma City), Saturday, December 17, 1910, p. 3; The debate was held at the Cottonwood Schoolhouse near Wilmoth, beginning November 21, 1910, “on the question: ‘Resolved, That Socialism Would be to the Best Interest of the People of the United States.” Stanton favored, and Rev. J. L. Davis of Bluffdale, Texas opposed. “Debate Near Wilmoth,” The Oklahoma Pioneer, Saturday, November 12, 1901, p. 4.
[xiii] “Speaking at Teacross,” Hollis Post-Herald, Thursday, January 26, 1911, p. 1.
