Chapter 16
ANNELISE “ELISE” CONGER
1911-1912
Circa the summer of 1911, David’s sister-in-law May Shapard introduced him to a talented and highly-accomplished young lady, named Annelise Conger (1887-1973), affectionately known as ‘Elise.’ David and Annelise became enamored with one another and began a dedicated courtship. It is believed that May knew Annelise through sorority or music circles, as they were both Chi Omegas and musically trained. At the time, Annelise was likely living in Paris, Arkansas, 40 miles east of Fort Smith, teaching piano at the local high school. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a teaching position at Central College in Conway Arkansas, where her father Dr. John W. Conger (1857-1924) was president.
J. W. Conger was the seventh of ten children. He was exceptionally studious as a young man and was educated through a private tutor. He eventually attended and graduated from Southwest Baptist University (now Union University) with an A. B. degree in 1878. Later he earned a M. A. in 1883, and L. L. D. degree in 1906. Immediately following his graduation, he became president of the Odd Fellows College, at Humboldt, Tennessee, and continued in that position for three years (1880-1883). In 1883, with W. H. Tharp as a partner, he founded Searcy College at Searcy, Arkansas, and conducted its affairs for two years until 1885. In the winter of 1885, he accepted a job at Prescott High School, and it was there that the founders of Ouachita Baptist College chose him to head their new school.
His selection as president of Ouachita College came on June 22, 1886. The school had one building and he structured a curriculum and employed six teachers to teach students ranging from first grade through college level. More than one hundred students were on hand when the fall semester began, and that number doubled by the end of the first year. During President Conger’s twenty-one year tenure, six new buildings were constructed on the Ouachita campus, 20 faculty were employed, and the student body grew to 476. These statistics illustrated President Conger’s significant executive abilities and drive, but he was also a teacher and disciplinarian who had the capacity to draw young people to him with irresistible power.
One particularly humorous story has transcended the ages pertaining to J. W. Conger’s tenure as president of Ouachita College. One evening, in 1897, it was brought to his attention that some of the female students were sneaking boys into their dormitory room after hours. That night, President Conger waited outside the girl’s dorm, in a concealed location, to observe first hand if the rumor was true. Soon a boy inconspicuously crept up to the girl’s dormitory, and, looking up to the open windows above, he whistled a certain melodious tune. In response, a large basket on a rope was hastily lowered down from a second-story window. To President Conger’s astonishment, the boy climbed in and the girls hauled him up.
Desiring to put an immediate end to the atrocious behavior, J. W. Conger, hatched what seemed like a fool-proof plan to catch the girls in the act and teach them a lesson. Approaching the dormitory under the cover of darkness, he looked up to the windows above and whistled the same melodious tune. Exactly as predicted, down came the basket. He climbed in and up he ascended to the second floor. His plan was working perfectly, soon he would discover the offenders. As he reached the window the girls screamed, realizing they had the president of the college in the basket! In a panic they dropped the rope and President Conger tumbled two stories, breaking his leg. As an act of repentance and sympathy, the student body presented their hobbled leader with a gold handled cane to aid his recovery. The cane and story have been passed down through the generations and remain a Shapard family heirloom.
In 1907, J. W. Conger left Ouachita College. His general health was not good and the pressures of the growing college had become too strenuous. Shortly after leaving Ouachita, in a less demanding environment, he became president of his alma mater (Union) in Jackson, Tennessee. He was at Union for a few years before retiring in 1909, on the advice of his doctor, and entering the insurance business in Little Rock, Arkansas. After a year in that profession, he realized that Christian education was his passion. In 1911, He accepted the presidency of Central College (now Central Baptist College) at Conway, Arkansas, at a time when the college was in a poor state of affairs. His indominable spirit that had given him success everywhere he worked, enabled him to bring about a miracle with Central College, during his nine years of tenure. During this time, Mr. Conger also served as president of the Arkansas Teacher’s Association. Ill health continued to plague him until he finally retired for good. Out of appreciation for his accomplishments, the Central College Board of the Arkansas Baptist Convention voted to make him President Emeritus with salary.
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In October of 1882, J. W. Conger married Carrie McKinney, of Purdy, Tennessee. Sadly, she lived less than a year. In 1884, he married an accomplished artist named Tennie Hamilton of Memphis, Tennessee, and they had five children: William Hamilton Conger (1891-1918), Lucile Conger (1885-1928), Annelise Conger (1887-1973), Allie Merle Conger (1894-1979) and J. W. “Little Jack” Conger, Jr. (1897-1899).
Throughout her youth, Annelise was raised on college campuses, surrounded by the brightest and most talented minds of her time. She was a young lady of refinement, ability and culture. She was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on November 27, 1887, and was educated from first grade through senior year on the Ouachita College campus. In the fall of 1904, through June of 1905, she and her sister Lucile, attended the American Conservatory in Chicago Illinois (being a daughter institution of the Julliard School of Music), to study piano, music and voice under the tutelage of master composer and professor Emil Liebling. At 19 years of age, Annelise graduated from Ouachita College in June of 1906, with a degree in piano. She also received the ‘Excellence in Public Performance’ gold medal by Professor Emil Liebling, of Chicago, Illinois. After graduating with honors, she accepted a position on the music faculty of Ouachita College teaching piano.
In the spring of 1907, Annelise became employed as the music teacher for Waldon High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her term there was short lived, as in the fall of 1907, Annelise moved with her family to Jackson, Tennessee, where her father had accepted the presidency of Union University. Whilst there, she taught music, as well as, enrolled in a post-graduate study under Frank L. Eyer, Director of Music, and Eunice Martin, Director of Voice. It was at this time that she, and her sister Lucile, joined the Chi Omega sorority.
In the fall of 1908, Annelise sought a teaching position in music, and was hired by the Edward McGehee College in Woodville, Mississippi, for one year. In 1890, the name of the Woodville Female Seminary (Methodist) was changed to Edward McGehee College for Girls, and Rev. H. Walter Fetherstun was elected president. The original two-story building burned on September 30, 1895 and was replaced by a new two-story frame building. The school again burned in May of 1912 and was never again reopened.
In the summer of 1909, Annelise received a special advanced study residency in piano from Miss Georgia Cober at the Chautauqua Institute in Chautauqua, New York. Upon her return, she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where her parents resided after her father’s retirement from the presidency of Union University in 1909. With her superior advantages, having studied under the finest instructors, she decided to open her own piano studio in room 14, at the Whipple Building on Fourth and Scott Street, in Little Rock. She taught students daily from 9 o’clock in the morning until noon.
Around the spring of 1911, Annelise moved to Boonville, Arkansas, located only 30 miles from Fort Smith, where she lived for a few months, likely teaching piano. While there, she frequented schools and churches and became an element of joy in Boonville social circles, winning a host of friends and admirers. In the summer of 1911, Annelise was hired by the board of the high school at Paris, Arkansas, 15 miles northeast of Boonville, to teach piano, voice and art for the next school year. Never to miss an opportunity, she decided to host a June summer class to advance the learning of interested students. It is believed that, during this time in Paris, she was first introduced to David Shapard, who became one of her greatest admirers.
After finishing out most of the school year in Paris, Annelise joined the music faculty, in the spring of 1912, as the piano teacher for Central College, in Conway, Arkansas. As it turned out, a year earlier, in the spring of 1911, Annelise’s father had come out of retirement and accepted the presidency of Central College. Her father, mother and younger sister, Allie Merle Conger, were all living in Conway and all were members of the faculty, making it an opportunity she could not pass up. Unfortunately, for David, Conway was about 120 miles from Fort Smith. As ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ David traveled to Conway at every available opportunity to spend time with Annelise, take her on horse and buggy dates and meet her family. Not allowing distance to fade their love, David proposed to Annelise in September of 1912, and she jubilantly accepted.
One must appreciate how far outside of David’s social, religious and economic class into which he was marrying. While David had a sophomore level high school education, Annelise had a post graduate study. David had come from very humble financial means, and Annelise came from wealth, position and connections. David was an orphan, having lost both of his parents, and Annelise still had the present love and affection of her parents. David had deep roots in Southern Methodism, and Annelise was a resolute Baptist. Despite all the differences, however, both David and Annelise shared the commonality of good and honorable surnames, as well as, a strong commitment to family, high ambition in life, a deep love for Christ and a sincere affection for one another.
What was about to occur, was one of the most elaborate and resplendent engagement and wedding ever held in the Shapard family. On September 26, 1912, Annelise’s sister, Mrs. Lucile Bailey, hosted a five-course luncheon attended by about forty friends. The event was thoughtfully orchestrated, as each table was artistically decorated with appropriate place cards and favors and a large centerpiece representing the ship of life’s voyage. At each place setting was found a ribbon with a short quotation and, when combined, these bits of verse, adapted from a Tennyson poem, read by the guests made the announcement ending with a question, which was answered in the affirmative by Miss Conger. After Annelise publicly announced her engagement to Mr. Shapard, the elated guests were entertained, between the courses of the delicious luncheon, by witty toasts. Mrs. Joseph Frauenthal spoke from a married woman’s standpoint. Miss Riggs from an old maid’s standpoint and Miss Daisy Bruce from a girl’s point of view. Mrs. Harry S. Traylor proposed a toast to the bride-elect and Miss Conger responded briefly. The guests were given miniature suitcases filled with bonbons as the party favor. The wedding date was set for October 16, being the same wedding anniversary of Edwin and May Shapard, to honor them for introducing David to Annelise. Immediately after the luncheon, Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Conger publicly announced to the citizens of Arkansas the engagement of their daughter through the newspapers.
On October 5th, an enjoyable linen shower engagement party was given by Mrs. John D. Dunaway, in honor of Miss Annelise Conger. In the receiving line stood the hostess, Mrs. J. W. Conger, Miss Annelise Conger, Miss Allie Merle Conger and Miss Annie Lee Hamilton. The guests were ushered to the dining hall, where punch was served my Misses Daisy Bruce and Maibelle Hildreth, followed by, a delicious salad course. After all invitees had assembled in the parlor, little Walter Dunaway, dressed in white and drawing a white wagon, entered and presented a beautiful collection of linen to the bride-to-be who gracefully accepted them. Each guest was given a souvenir a red satin heart and each registered her name in a beautiful hand painted guest’s book.
Another pre-nuptial party in honor of Annelise Conger was held on October 12th, hosted by Miss Daisy Bruce, and was touted by the newspapers as one of the prettiest events of the season. The Bruce residence on College Avenue was artistically decorated in pink and white. In the reception hall Mrs. G. W. Bruce, Mrs. J. W. Conger and Miss Annelise Conger received the guests. Mrs. R. G. Bruce, Mrs. J. B. Cox and Misses Allie Merle Conger, Mary Lee Dodson and Annie Lee Hamilton were in the receiving line in the parlor. After the guests had assembled Annelise Conger was invited to “follow the rainbow,” which led into the dining room, where a handsome collection of gifts was found in a large chair. A dessert of pink and white cream and cake were enjoyed by those in attendance.
A day or two before the wedding, David, his brother Edwin and friend Ben F. Dansby arrived at Conway by train from Fort Smith. The evening before the wedding, Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Conger, entertained the bridal party of the Shapard-Conger wedding and the Central College faculty in the parlors of Central College. David had selected his brother Edwin as his best man and Ben F. Dansby as his groomsman. Annelise had selected two additional groomsmen dear to the Conger family, being Frank Ferris of Conway and Dr. Cecil Dickerson of Little Rock. Annelise chose her sister Allie Merle Conger as her maid of honor. Her bridesmaids were Miss Daisy Bruce, Rosa Mae Hutchinson of Little Rock and Mary Lee Dodson graduate of Union University. The rooms were tastefully decorated in the wedding colors of yellow and white. Upon a table, draped in these colors, was the decorated bride’s cake, chrysanthemum bonbon cups and the wedding dream cake. Here, too, were the favors for the bridal party the ladies received beautiful hand-painted pins, the gentlemen gold cuff buttons bearing the initials “C” and “S” and the recipient’s own initials. A large wishbone was suspended from the arch between the double parlors, and under this Misses Nanette Aiken and Doris Owen presided at the Bride’s Book where the guests inscribed good wishes for the bride and groom. The color note of yellow and white appeared in the ice cream served. A gorgeous array of beautiful presents proclaimed the popularity of the young people. The out-of-town guests were Mr. Edwin R. Shapard of Fort Smith, Mr. Ben F. Dansby of Fort Smith; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Conger of Jonesboro; Miss Mary Lee Dodson of Humboldt, Tennessee, Annie Lee Hamilton of Newbern, Tennessee, and Rosa Mae Hutchinson of Little Rock.
On Wednesday October 16, 1912, a most beautiful and impressive wedding ceremony was held at 8:30 in the evening when Miss Annelise Conger was united in marriage to Mr. David Shapard at Central College, in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas. The elaborateness of the decorations gave the wedding all the impressiveness of a church wedding, combined with the delightful air of college life. Yellow and white was the color motif for the decorations, including the window curtains, with lovers’ knots of tulle at the top, and large urns filled with gorgeous yellow Japanese chrysanthemums on each sill. The aisles and broad steps leading to a ferned and flowered stage were carpeted in white, flanked by huge jars of chrysanthemums tied with tulle ornamenting the steps.
After the 300 guests were assembled, a beautiful program of wedding music was performed: Solo - “My Thoughts of You,” by Ashford, sung by Pattie Reveille; Solo - “What is Love,” by Grant, sung by Annie Lee Hamilton, cousin of the bride. Then with Prof. Utermoehlen, at the organ, and Mrs. Frank Jones, at the piano, the coming of the bridal party was announced by strains of the Lohengrid chorus “Faithful and True,” sung in bridal processions by Misses Reville, Hamilton, Wise, Osterhaus and Messrs Leverett, Farr, Gossett and Workman, who took their stand at the rear of the stage, being closely followed by Rev. Otto Whittington who took his position at the altar.
Then came the ribbon bearers down the center aisle, two small girls, Ada Allen and Dorothy Pyle, followed by the ushers, Messrs O. S. Russ and James Anderson, all whom took their positions below the stage. Down the right aisle came the beautifully gowned bridesmaids, Misses Bruce of Conway, Hutchinson of Little Rock and Dodson of Humboldt, Tenn. Coming from the left aisle and passing them at center were the groomsmen. Messrs B. F. Dansby of Ft. Smith, Frank Ferris and Dr. Dickerson of Conway. These formed at the rear on either side of the broad steps leading to the improvised altar. Then David Shapard accompanied by his brother, as best man, approached the altar from center aisle and took their position to the right of the stage. They were joined by the maid of honor, Miss Allie Merle Conger, the sister of the bride. The maid of honor and bridesmaids were gowned in white wearing the bonnet veils and carrying yellow chrysanthemums. Allie Merle was followed closely by the ring bearer, little Walter Dunnaway of Conway, carrying at large white chrysanthemum, in the heart of which rested the wedding ring.
As the chorus continued in more tender strains of the bridal hymn, the bride entered in her exquisite white gown and bridal veil which fell gracefully about her. She carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, and wore as her only ornament a diamond lavalier, the gift of the groom. She approached the altar on the arm of her father Dr. J. W. Conger, who gave her in marriage. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Wittington, as Professor Utermoehlen played softly the sweet melody of Lohengrin’s music for ambiance. The young couple were joined in marriage, and after a reverent prayer, Mendelssohn’s wedding march was played as the bridal party left the auditorium. After the ceremony the entire bridal party retired to the private apartments of Dr. and Mrs. Conger. At 10 o’clock that night, David and Annelise Shapard left on the train for Fort Smith where they made their home
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