GOD & TEXAS: Tyler Rose

When you think of the Tyler rose, do you think of world-class rose bushes or NFL Hall of Famer Earl Christian Campbell? Both were born in the vicinity of Tyler, Smith County, Texas, and both are acclaimed as élite in their field.

Formed in 1846, Smith County is about 100 miles east of Dallas and is named for Texas revolutionary veteran General James Smith. The county seat of Tyler is recognized as the Rose Capital of America and the annual Texas Rose Festival.

The fertile soil in Smith County attracted many pioneer farmers. Tyler-Porter’s Bluff Road, a historic trail used by early immigrants, passed just south of Garden Valley, and boasted large peach orchards that were cultivated for generations by the Indians.

In the 1840s, Smith County had honest people and low crime. Most residences did not have locks, and the few that did were thought to be overly cautious or hiding something. Men seldom had fights, and a hunter could hang his meat outside his house without fear of theft.

By 1850, the federal census reported that there were seven church buildings in Smith County. In general, the churches had a seating capacity of 300 or fewer congregants. However, one Methodist brush arbor church seated 1,000 people! Going to church was common for most residents, and many felt their Christian values guided the manners and customs of the thriving community.

Peter and Adaline Shamburger moved to the Starrville community near Tyler in the late 1840s. Starrville was founded and named for Rev. Joshua Starr, a Methodist minister from Alabama, and the sale of alcohol was illegal. Later, the Shamburgers were the founding members of Harris Creek Baptist Church. The church met for a while in their home, and by 1850 they had constructed a pine log sanctuary.

While peaches were the Shamburgers’ main crop, Peter’s oldest son Matthew began experimenting with growing roses. He was the first to build hot houses to grow the tender plants. Due to bitter winters and even harsher summers, Matthew dug caves in the local ravines to protect his cuttings and sprouting bushes. He and his son T. J. were among the first to raise roses on a commercial basis in East Texas and are revered today for their innovative methods.

The legendary Shamburger Rose Nursery continues today, and its roses are acclaimed nationally. But many sacrifices were made by the growers to produce such beautiful plants. When discussing thorns on the rose bushes, Sam Goldwater of Lone Star Nursery said, “Enough thorns stick you that it becomes part of your blood.”

Thorns in the Bible often symbolize difficulties and hindrances we must navigate and still be faithful to God. The Apostle Paul spoke of the humbling effect of his thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:7. And yet he remained faithful to the will of God. Though most rose bushed have thorns, the flower eclipses them. May the blossom of our lives outshine our obstacles.

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