Joe Harding
Sept 4, 1839
July 13, 1915
Wife Carrie C.
June 12, 1843
Feb 27, 1916
Son: Robert Burns Harding
Daughter: Estella "Stella" Harding
From the thesis by J. Marshall Butz:
Somewhere between 1900 and 1902, the Pierce Avenue Church was given new impetus by the coming of “Weeping” Joe Harding. “Weeping Joe,” so dubbed because he was easily moved to tears while speaking, increased the number of Christians by his open-air evangelizing. At the period of Harding’s advent, open-air preaching in the summer was customary with many religious groups. The church obtained a permit from the city to preach on Alamo Plaza. Sam Hall, who operated a wood and coal yard, furnished a wagon which was used to transport a ready-made congregation. Parking the wagon on Alamo Plaza in front of the post office and not far removed from the chili peddlers then frequenting the Plaza, the group would sing several songs, and Brother Harding would deliver a sermon. This put the church of Christ before the public more than had before been done, since large crowds gathered to hear and watch. From these efforts people were converted, and the church grew.
Harding also held protracted meetings in various sections of the city, concentrating particularly upon the area south and west of Conception Park. As a result of the efforts in this latter section, a new church was built. Early in 1908, land was purchased and a building constructed on South Flores Street. Harding then began to preach regularly for the new congregation, and McGary, Hall, Gish, and others resumed the preaching duties for a while at Pierce Avenue.
In 1908 land was purchased on South Flores Street and Harding began to preach regularly there.
Harding was a civil war vet.
Harding died of Diabetes Mellitus and Exhaustion.
From History of the Churches of Christ in Texas by Stephen Eckstein.
Probably the most colorful evangelist in Texas was Johnson “Weeping Joe” Harding. Harding was born in Tennessee in 1832. After an illustrious preaching career in many states and some of the chief cities of the nation, he arrived at West Dallas in the 1870’s accompanied by a large portion of his home congregation from Gallatin, Tennessee. The group purchased a plot of land and built their own homes. Many of the streets still retain the names of the Harding family and other members of this group. Shortly thereafter, Harding began a vigorous evangelistic program in the area.
Harding, whose services were always well attended, conducted his revivals with considerable fanfare. Assisted by a co-worker, “Harding’s Timothy,” he rode in a phaeton which headed a cavalcade of wagons transporting his whole congregation. Next came a long wagon, directed by a uniform driver, with seats on each side on which his singers were seated. Harding, who was an excellent singer, took great pride in his chorus.
His powerful presentation of the gospel, forcefully aided by dramatic gestures, led thousands to be baptized during his ministry. In the heat of his fiery denunciation of sin, often he removed first his coat, then his vest, collar and tie. His favorite hymn was “Oh, How I love Jesus.” At one revival, as the song was being sung with great fervor, Harding spied a man who appeared “unsaintly.” Immediately he rushed to the man, pointed a cane in his face, and cried out, “Stop singing that song; you are singing a lie!” This strapping six-foot evangelist with a magnetic personality left his imprint upon Texas for all time.
For more information on Church history in Texas, see Dr. Stephen Eckstein, Jr.'s book. Order it here.