Gc M.L
976.401
J63
pt.l
1936835
REYNOLDS MiSi^KiCAL.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Iil|l!|!l1f1''l<ll'lllllf'llllllll
3 1833 02290 3436
ff?>-
-^~^'t<2
-mMi
cmorjnf
-AND-
lOGRAPHISAL HISTORY
OF-
Jolinson and Hill Cgimties,
.'. ILiliUSTl^flTED. .•.
Coqtair[ing the Early History of tl^is Important Sectioq of tf^e' great State of Texas,
i togetl^er witl^ Glirqpses of its Future Prospects: also, Biograpl^ical Mer]tiori
1 of Maqy of tf-je Pioqeers aqd Proirjiqeqt Citizeqs of tl^e Preseqt
j ^ Tinqe, aqd Full-page Portraits of son]e of tl^e rqost -;. ' -
' , Erqiqeqt Meq of tlqis Sectioq. ^ .J '' , '; :;
"A people tliat take no priiie in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will nevei achieve anything woithy to be
remembereJ with pride liy remote descendants." — A/ci(au/uj>,}f f?"^ Ii' iSS
±3466^ V
%:tJ
CHICAGO: ^ lk;Mi^f fc!*X42
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
. 1892. . , "
'^'^■
-■immm^^
VU)J ii!i! LVliK !
I ■■'>
c?-in^-l
1S36835
M533 Memorial and biographical history
of Johnson and Hill Co. (Texas)
Dallas
189^
ecBdcei
■1-i • ^ . •>
.MS- 33
// ^-'
Tex/
lodiuns ai
l!(juinlary
I'liysicil l''eaui
E,irlie,t Explorers,
Kivers
KleV,Ui(MI« . .
Jlinenils
Kiirly Kxpedilii
Jlissiuiis
Joil.VSuN AND llll.f. Cul'NTIIiS.
Johnson Ci
In Gkneiul:
Eirly Setllement
Skeicl. o|- Miij.;r E
.M'iieai
e'ofjoh'ub
l.usou ...
imbers '.'.
... 08
70
(>vg-M>\7.M\on
Origiu of llie Nam
-Hkeicli of M. T. J,
Eurly SiirvHyors . .
iSkflch of U. .}. CI,
I'ul.licIWords...
Ill C(
uuly. ..
.■.'.' 8:i
... b:!
. . . K.5
... 8(i
County Court
... iJO
District Court ";
Oourlliouses " " ,
Jail .■;;■..■■.'.■.;,,
Poor Farm "' ' ,
i'ol i tical .■ ....'...'....'.'.i
Election Kelurns
A Hpllectioii
TlieKar ; '..'.'.'.'.'..]]'.".[' i:
SUelcU of G. H. Jilaxey ' i
CuiMts.
.11
The IjAst Wau [\i(^
Parsons' Brigade 117, 250
Decoration Day '.12a
ItAILIfOAUS ...........'! 122
AonicuLTuitAL, Etc. . .. i-jj
The Soil '.'.'.['.'.'.[[['.'. 124
Cotton '..'.'" 120
J''|"'^ l'.'.'.['.'.'.'..'.'.'.'.'.ih
Livc-Slock 127
The Proposed Fence Law lay
Wealth of the County J2!)
Pojiulatiou i;jo
Locust Plagues VM
Agricultural Fairs , , 1^2
Farmers' Orgtiuizations lay
Sketch of Benjamin Barnes las
linUCATlONAL [vSG
C'MiliUKNK ! ll!8
Naming the Town ' . lyj
Sketch of " Pat." Cleburne IJl)
Beginnings 142
The Cleburne of To-day im
Banks , . . ! 14.5
Other Institutions ..147
Private Schools 143
Public Schools 149
Sketch of Prof. Marrs J52
Newspapers .' 155 ,
Physicians ,] ; ^0
Societies ^ .cf. .161
Churches .10.3
Cleburne Corporation / 170
Alvarado : 17y
Tlie L'uUetin 177
Sketch of G. C. Fahm .x 177
Sketch of L. B. Trulove .'.,,.... 1.80
The Corporation Jgl
-"^^^lioi'ls 181
Societies ' ]83
«i^^
^mm
c ,'■-'■ y • '•
; 1&3
Jlill ISf)
/ 1S7
; 1110
; 101
o I'J'i
1113
;.iu(
.ues 104
lOo
108
s 20;;
dl and Oilier Fourths of July '^0:3
.ems 203
IliLL County.
Featuues:
iphy . . .
.207
iiiber
/liter 210
ensons 211
Oliiiiiile and Health 212
. County Organized 213
Cuuiity Bouuilaries 213
County Seat 21G
Courthouses 217
Jail "..219
Ji.ection Uetuiin.s 219
Miscellaneous Notes 224
i^ketch of lion. .lo. Abbott 22.5
TiiEContTS 227
Comity Commissioners' Couit 327
Their Acts During the War 2:i:i
Probate Court 235
District Court 237
AOUICUI.TUUAL 237
Hesourcea 237
Proiluctiona 238
Does Farming Pay in Hill Couuly ? 230
Grain and Coltou 243
Corn and Other Products 243
r,ive.Stook 244
Farmers' Organizations 245
PoPUI.A'riON Ol'' Tllli CotiNTV 24.')
I'i'sr Okfu-k.s 24G
Tuic County's Wicai.tii 2I(;
Ta.x Values 240
Financial 247
Laml Values 248"
Railroads 249
Educational 253
MiLITAIlY 254
Company A, Twelfth Cavalry 255
Company H, Nineteenth Cavalry 257
Par.ions' Hriffade, 259
-(Jonfeder.ue'Canip 2G1
Dea'a Brigade 268
Ilillsboro Guards 2G8
Cki.minal 289
Good Character of the People 273
JIiscellaneous;
County I'oor Farm 274
Reavis' History of Hill County 274
Remarlialile Pievision 274
Paternal Joy 275
Singularly Unfortunate 276
A Hero 276
The "Loyal Sons and Daughters of the South". 276
Killed by Lightning 277
Pioneers Going 377
HiLi.snouo 278
Steiner's Deed 278
Progress of the Town 279
Present Business 283
Banks 284
Other Business 286
Post Ollice 387
Hnprovement in Values 287
I'opulation of the City 289
Newspapers 289
Sketch of Hon. A. Fields 291
t^chools 293
Attorneys 295
Physicians 297
Fires 298
City Corporation 308
Fire Company 300
>Hscellaueous 301
Jell". Davis Monument 301
Fourth of July Celebrations 302
The Poet 304
Itasca 305
HUUBAUD 314
Whitnky 319
AiiiiOTT 326
Otiieu Points:
Fort Graham 328
Peoria 338
Aquilla 338
Brandon 329
Woo<U)ury 329
Blum 330
Di-nlen 331
Covington 331
Osceola 331
Files' Valley 331
Boisd'Arc 331
Mount Calm 332 ■
Irene 333
Massey 333
Towash 834
Prairie Valley 334
Blanton 344
CONTENTS.
BIOGI^APHIGAL SI^ErpGHES.
Abbnlt, ,fo
225
AluiL-y, J. G
.342
Acliuns, F E
.;;!i7
Adams, W.J
A'U
Arnold, O. P
.017
B
liiiillio, F. B 150
liain, M.V
.727
Jiales, Mrs. H. A
.012
r..ill. B. E
.371)
Ikllara, B. W
.ri34
liullard, J.T
.0!).-)
liiirciey, 11. W . . . .
.(172
llariK's, Beiij...
.13,-)
Barnes, J. P....
.51,-)
liarues, jMoses. .
. 5.-i0
Barr, James....
582
Beiinelt, G. H..
. (.30
Berry, O.W....
4(ii)
liishup,W. B...
4'.K)
Blauloii, J. II..
.012
r.uatwrigbt, C. .
.(iS4
Boalwrigl.t, D.J...
4113
Binilwridit.W. C...
3!)4
Bc.escli, Edward....
.31)11
Boi,'g3, Thomas S....
.543
Boiiner, K. M
.705
Boone, J. M
404
l!oumls,W. R
.(101
15oyd, John II
.(128
Boyd, S. B
.330
Bradley, JacksoD...
.40!)
Brad ley, J. B
.381
I'.radlev, J. II
441
Bradley, S, I)
.40!)
liraiul,, A. F
.33!)
Hraana.., W. F
.44!)
liransom, G, W
liraii^ojii, J. W
528
Ilrooks, \..\y
581
Bruwii, E. N
.4(13
Brown, E. Y
384
Brown, J. M
4,5,8
Brown, 11. P
.301
Brown, Owen
.072
lirown, K. B
(101
Butli.J. G, U
.434
Buckley, M. M
.5.58
Bngbee, A
.(1!)H
Burges^iJ. L ■
.500
C
Calfee, C.J 397
Callaway, T 380
Carlisle, T. C
491
Ciulow, 0. S. . .
452
Carmicliael, G 545
Cartwrigbt, B. L 340
Cassady, J 053
Causler, T.G 044
CUambei-s, B. J «0
Chance, W. K 070
Chorn, J. B 511
Clardy, N. L 427
Clark, Mrs. M. M 447
Clarke, II 51)4
Clarke, J. B 009
Cleveland, J. L 408
Cline, ^V. J 505
Coals, M. T (107
Collin, B. W 723
Colville, 51. D 348
Cook, Mrs. II. M. C 580
Cook, J. C 077
Cux, J. F 715
Cox, J. P 350
Cox, M. V 715
Crane, M. M 382
Criggs, 11. L 358
Crumley, E. S 507
D
Dabney, J. P 300
Daniel, J. T 598
Davis, B. F 024
Davis, J. L 495
Davis, J. B 405
Davis, S. K.... 335
Davis, W. G 344
Deason, E. H GS5
Denton, T. II 510
Derden, David OUC
Dickson, (; G09
Dodson, W. J 525
Dongl'iss, A. 51 038
Downey, John 407
Drennan, J. A 413
Dudley, II. W 0,57
Duncan, J. 51 0!I5
Duncan, AV. G 307
E
Eagleston, James 394
Easier, 51. G , 3G1
Eu.ster, B. 51 301
Eastei, W. F 371
Edmonds, A. N 412
Edringlon, B P 311
Elam, Joel 410
Elder, B 51 375
Ellington, W. II 399
Elliott, J. J 701
K"glish, J. H 497
living, W. M 340
IC/.ell, Jolin 482
F
Fabm, G. C 177
Faucher, A. B '704
Fewell, J. W .■;'.'g79
Fields, Wm. A 091
Files, D. S 583
Files, F. 51 508
l-'iles, J. L 570
Files, J. O ,587
Piles, T.J 589
Floore, J. W 393
Flow, T. C ;. '707
Floyd, J. W....: .■g,93
Ford, II. C y59
Foster, Jacob 551
Fountain, W. D .'...V*
Fox, J. A G90
Frasier, W. E ^^T^
Frazier.JohuT .408
Frazier, It. C 40S
Frazier, B. T ■.411
Fieeland, G. W 504
Freeman, J. (; 459
Freeman, S. E 7]0
Friou, J. II ;;.'g22
G
Gatbings, E. W ' 465
Gathings, J. J 4Gy
Gatbings, Philip 4.57
Gatbings, W. C- .'.'..393
Gebhard, L. II 5o2
Gilliam, J. T 509
Glenn, P. M 711
Goodloe, P. H '.'.'.'..'.".'.'. (i^i'i
Gordon, CM 5;io
Graham, 51 507
Graham, S G G43
Graham, W. J GUI
<i™it,j.A .■.:::6G3
O'-'iy.w.J , .55a
Gieen, G. D gS9
GrilUn, J. II 0:5-
Gritlin, J. 51 .;'' "51^
Grilliu, T. II. C '..374
Guest, C.J GSl
II
Hale, N. 51 605
Ila'ey, K. II 40:i
Hall, J. M 37G
Hammer, M.D [[['.g.^O
Ilanccck, D. L 577
Hardestv, E. B 503
Hurlin,S.S 608
Harper, 51. 51 47G
Ilarrell, J. A 302
Hmiiss, J.T uyO
, J
Ihul, Miles 010
lluwpe.J. K 48'J
Ileuid, W. F 51'J
lleiiUi, A.T -l.M
lleiilli, (',. I -W-i
llealli.E. M 7^
llecock.A.T • T18
Heellj, Mis. M. T 487
Herbert, J. II :«S
lleroJ, J. F M3
Ilerrell, O. A., 4S0
llickmau, W. 1) 471
llieks, K. V »W4
Hill, B. F 580
Hill, J. :m 180
.(i04
lill, L. H
lix, Uuwara Oil
lodge. N. G 502
lollanJ, M. S 4L'0
lollaud, O «()(;
lolliugsworth, T. W 700
looker, T.J 050
lorue, M. G 413
loucbiu, \Y. A o40
lu.lsoii,C. P 037
lii.lM.n.J G 552
Hi
M. L.
, .1 I)
Keiniedy, N. B
Kilioil.uli, S. B.
King, Andrew .
KinfT, .1. S
Kin- N. J....
Kirhv, T. T....
Kirk|.iUrick, \V.
Kiio\, Benson.
.437
e, C. W 544
le, J. () 002
ug, I'eylou 503
lack \Villiuin
41)8
JaikM.n, B, F
Jarkson, D. It
.lairard, B. C
1 ay 1 ; M ....
..309
. .511
, .531)
01)3
Jol,hM,n,J.M
J,i|,ns,.n,.l. M
. . 5S5
. .071)
,lol,^^luu, 1! K
Jones, A. K
J. 'lies, A. G
Jones, M. 11
Jones, \V. H. B
-J.-d-'n O.I
..713
..454
..37b
..702
..352
. . 34i)
..520
..418
. .008
Knox, M. D 431
Kyle, CO 708
L
Lambert, W.T 0!)7
JiUnders, J. A .450..
Lurraniore, V T'.-.555
Latimer, W. H 000
Lawrence. Thomas 488
Lawson, T. N 484
Lee.C. E 0!)1
Lewellen,T 004
Liudgren, J. A 024
LoMg'^W. S 714
Lorance, T. D 015
Loveless, J. M 070
Loveless, W. A 415
Lowder, J. L D 407
Luupkiu.H. S 400
U
Maner, F. li....-- 482
Marrs, y. M. N 152
Marsh, A 728
Martin, C. L 051
Martin, G. W 477
Mason, A 0!)8
:\Iastin, T. F 50'J
3Iat=ou, J. V 0'j3
Matthews, I). M 041
JIayes, J.T 325
]\Ie(:lain, J. M 383
McClung, J. W 341
]\U;01iirB, J. 8 071
McCowan, J. W 712
McCreigUt, J 074
McGowau, J. A 357
AlelCenzie.J. F 005
MeKiuney, J. M 47U
McKinnou, A. P 303
Me.Keo,T. N ■ 407
MvK'ev, Klias 414
.MclCoy, W. I) 720
McMillan, F. C 507
:\Ic.Mnrry, Wm. A 3'.)0
McNeese, G. W 317
I\Ic(Jn.iUers, J, K 355
.Mead, L. 1' 041
.Men/., ('. \V 370
Mel/c, Joseph 514
.Milam, J. 'SI 471
Miller, T. K 0.04
Mills, W.S .038
Mohley, b. D 088
SIoDtgomery, L. D 540
Moore, A. A 301
Moore, J. A 704
Moore, U. W 430
Moorman, Clifford 073
Morgan, T. C 470
Morriscm, J. W OCl
Moss, J. S 717
Mo5.s, S. E 343
JUirray, A. G .024
Myers, 0. V 720
:\rver.s T). U 550
Myers, J W 50.0
N
Naugle Wiu. B 420
Norman, L DOO
Norton, W. F 087
O
Odom, J. E 71'i
,Orand, J. W 380
Orenbanm, J. L 4!)9
Orenbaum, T. U ' .442
Osborn, T. H 518
P
Parrott, 11. Z 732
Paschal, W, M 503
Patterson Jane M 547
Patterson, W. A 430
Patten, G. W 078
Patton, LA 574
Peterson, J. 0 (197
Pettit, J. T 030
Pickett, Janres 3(j(j
Pittman, T. E .' 404
Pitts, F.M G43
Pogue,J.M ,027
Poinde-xter, T. 0 428
Poinde.xler, VVm 420
Pool. F. JI ' '44,^5
Pratt, J. M ".'."....'.052
Prestridge, i! 454
I'reslridge, W. A .■.'.'453
Piewitl, S. 11 040
U
Ramsey, J. J 733
Itamsey, .S. S 373
Uamsey, W. F 351
l{awls,J.W 018
Kay, B. I! ,097
Keavis, \V (i(j3
B'-nlro.K. D 3a(i
Bichards, D. W ..000
Richardson. R. D 588
Roberts, A 620
R"liey, G. I) 438
Robin.^^on, S 720
Rogers, J, I 400
Rogers, J. .M ti37
Rose, A.T 092
Russell C. E 400
S
Sanderson, D. D 353
Sauder.-,on, E. W 537
Sattertield, W. 1 348
Kaunders, T. M 4(i0
Sawyers, J. B C77
Sawyers, J. C 721
Sc(jliekl, J. S 480
Scott, i'. G 404
Scurlock, A. 0 100
Senter, W. C 421
Sessions, E. L 390
SUepard, A. K 61.5
Shepard, W. W 417
■■,*"."'■
./..r,. .■ r.U
CONTENTS.
WnlliMg.J.I) (V>:i
Wiihiivpii, A IMO
Ware, U. .1 r.TC
Walls, N. F «:).-.
Wfiillipiml.F. >I :.(»:!
Weaver, C. C (i8:i
Weaver, . I. (," :>0:)
Weill), W. II 5:!1
WellHirji.T W r.:tj
We>l. W. L r.lll
We>llMook, T. >I 7:;()
While, C. (i UI7
While, .1.1 ii-.'2
Wliite, Wm. A ,V.IU
Wh.irlon, T. I! :i87
Wier, I!. I! 4-'i
Wilhaiilis, A. X dhsf
Willmiilis, H. 11 47.V
Wilie, T. W 11.'^
Williams, C'cion M'.h
Williams,.!. 1,. H K)>
Williaius. .1.12 .JSl
Williams, W. -\1 (!r,7
Williamson, 15. 11 .SUl
Wilson,. I. M. C :;(ii)
Wombwell, J. 11 Gtl)
Wo.id, 1). C 571
W.Kid, E. 1! r.ii
\\'i igley, .lames ri7'J
Y
Yeager, A. 11 :i;!0
Yeriiy, B. F -M
Yoiiiii;,.!. 11 (;■-'■")
Ymiu-, (). II !■ ■'
Y..mi--, II. W ■IM'-
'/.
Zdllicoller, E. C :i:i2
PORTRAITS.
Ahh(.lt,.l<) -'2.')
H
Barnes, Heiij l^i'i
Bonmls, W. K 001
Bradley, Jackson 40!)
Bradley, J. B Wl
Bradley, J. II 441
C
Chambers, B J 80
c'o.v, J. I' :m
D
l)ftvis,S. K 3r)
Davis, W.G 344
Dickson, C COi)
.Shine, 11. T U:i:i
Shropshire, I). N 44(1
Shropshire,.!. W 411
Simpson, K. 11 4.V^
Sims, W. F r.l.-,
Smilh, A. L 70!)
Smith, J. \V CIS
Smilh, T. B 1,11
Smilh, T. S 4!)-,'
Smylh, D. 1 014
Smylli, J. C 4.'iS
Smvlh,.!..! 7JJ
Smyth,'!'. V (il!(
^'^orrells, 0. J :;(i<;
Southern, C. A. .V 11. F 0!)4
Spivey, Jay .')48
Spoduer, G. W .Iii.")
Stanley, M. F r,78
Stevens, J. A ."ilLi
Stevens, J. ^V ti:!:!
Sioiil, J.M .V.4
Stringer, P.P 4:i:i
Stnmd, N ;!;i7
Slnrgis, George F •J'^4
.Slurgis, W. W 47-,'
Sumner, II. B 4.-,ll
Sumner, J. U .^)1.'-.
T
Tarlf.n, B. D 7i.j
Thomas, (' F 44.!
Tliomas, Mark .Mil
Tliompson, A. 1! -y.Vl
Tinmipson, 1) 4:!:.
Tliompson, J, 1'. 70li
Tiptim, K.T 008
Tipl W. 11 A^:>
Tomlinson, T.K r,4!J
Townes, J. M 707
Trulove, J. ]{ 04.1
Trulove, L. li 181)
Turner,.!. E 4-:l
U
llpahaw, S. G 47:i
V
Vanghan, B. II 4>.'i
Vaiighan. J. W 4liO
Vhk.-rs, I.saac .^;iO
Vickeis, K. B 4!)5
Vinson, J. M .54:i
W
Wagley, W. II ..or.«
Walker, A. M 72!)
Walker, I'hilip 1!)7
K
K.lringl.m,U. I' ;m
F
FifiUls, Wm. A 25)1
G
Gatlilngs, IMiilip • 4.'")7
Gathings, W. V :!!)3
(iilliam, J. T .Mil)
Gray, W. .! W:!
Ciuesi, .1. (' 081
II
Heath, E. M 72
Hill, Jesse .M 18.'i
.!
Johnson, J. M •')85
.M
Marrs.S .M. N 152
Matson, T. V .Vj:i
Matthews, 1). M 041
■MiKinnon, A. I' :!0:)
M.Neese, G. W 317
S
Saunderson, E. W r.a7
Scorield,.!. S 480
Scurlock, A. G 100
femylh, r. V U4!J
Stevens, .1. A •lO.'i
Stevens, J. W Ca;)
Slurgis, Geo. F 284
T
Trulove, L. H 180
U
Upsbnw.S.G «3
V
Vaughan, U. II 42.')
W
Walker, Philip \'J^
While, G.G 017
Wood, E. )J 521
Y
Young, J.II 625
Z
Zollicoffer, E. 0 333
HISTORY OF
Johnson and Hill Counties,
T^EXJ^S.
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
iTS^S preliminary to the history of any sec-
jfJK^ tioii of a State it seems necessary to
*^ give an outline sketch of the State it-
oelf. There have been no less than ninety
to 100 volumes, large and small, publishetl
htrictly upon Texas matters, issued from time
time since the days of Texan independence, —
the days when her heroic citizens were strug-
gling with Mexico for local self-government,
and in this remark we refer to all classes of
subjects, — railroads, immigration, agricul-
ture, trade, political matters, etc. Besides
the volumes referred, there have been hun-
dreds of pamphlets, on scores of topics; and
it is from the more substantial volumes that
we glean the facts compiled in the following
account. The compiler will endeavor to leave
noMiing untouched that is of gonuitio interest
to those not possessing the large histories.
whilst he shall condense freely,
kernel, not the 'aill, of the nut.
-give the
INDIANS AND EARLIEST EXPLOREUS.
When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, and
in fact, for nearly three centuries thereafter,
numerous tribes of Indians inhabited the
counti-y, in addition to the semi-civilized
Aztecs, or those peopling the more southern
portions of the vast territory stretching from
what is now the upper boundary of Texas to
the gulf. In the upper, or rather eastern, ,
section of this New Spain — in short, Texas'
— a very powerful tribe of Indians who called
themselves Tehas lived and roamed. They
were members of the great Caddo family,
and from the name, Tehas, comes Texas. The
country, however, has been known by various
names. The northern portion at one time
n(
' ') . ' \ \-
^^' .ri '\r
SAXCIl^-
/.Yii.'i I'-y '.'.'•.tT.'i'i! y.!!./.,';
tJ ;o I ■ eiir ,1' 'I i->iru , -i ;'..:a- .-..i - it, ^ i •
EAiiLY irisronr of tex^is.
boro tlio title of New I'liillipiiics, while to
the westward on the old maps it was called
Estreinadura or Coalmila. The Spaniard, De
Narvaez, tvaversed the country from tiie Rio
Grande to Mobile in 1522, and in 1537 De
Nisa, another Spaniard, visited the village of
Isleta. Three years later, 1540, Coronado
took formal possession of the village in the
name of the Spanish crown. Missionaries
accompanied these conquerors, and after they
subdued their almost defenseless victims ad-
ministered to them the rites of religion,
thereby stilling their consciences for the bar-
barities practiced. Espejo, at the head of a
force, also having in his train a number of
missionaries, took posfession of Santa Fe
and El Paso. One iuindred years later, 1685,
the French laid claim to a large portion of
Texas, basing it upon the fact of La Salle and
his colony having landed upon the coast. The
old French maps give it as a portion of
Louisiana. The Spanish put it down as a
part of New Spain, and very justly, taking
into consideration the fact of the conquest by
Cortez. These rival claims were unsettled
for many years after the last date mentioned.
In the incantinic a small liut powerful young
giant had been boni, who began stretching
out his arms at quite an infantile age. In
1803 France sold Louisiana to the United
States; but this young Hercules also wanted
Florida and Texas. Spain, however, did not
want to part with eitiier, but in 1819 she was
induced to surrender Florida, in consideration
of which the United States gave uj) all claim
on Texas; but just when she had obtained
any claim on Mexican territory history fails
to state. Yet Uncle Sam was only following
in tiie footprints of much older States, and
he may, possibly, some day perform a few
more imitations.
BODNDAKY.
The boundary of Texas on the north up to
the period of the Revolution was still unset-
tled, several large settlements on the south
side of Red river being claimed by both Texas
and Arkansas, and not until 1849 was the
matter definitely adjusted. Richard Ellis,
for whom Ellis county was named, lived in
one of the disputed settlements in the Red
river country. He was a prominent citizen
and represented his municipality in the Con-
vention of 1836, being president of that
body. The doubt existing, as stated, as to
which government this section of country
belonged, to Uncertain of representation, his
son, who lived in the same house with him,
was elected to the Legislature of Arkansas as
a citizen of Miller county, of the State named.
The elder Ellis died in 1849. In 1850 Texas
sold Santa Fd, now known as New Mexico,
thus parting with 98,360 square miles of
territory, equaling an acreage of 56,240,640.
According to the treaty map, published in
1850, Texas had left after the sale 237,321
square miles, equal to 151,885,440 acres; but
estimates from our own land office give the
State 268,684 square miles of territory, ex-
clusive of Greer county. The State is nearly
1,000 miles from north to south in its great-
est extent, and very little less from east to
west.
4 ^f....c ,i:i-i: io 0^
" ?*"'■■ 'i
.n'l •'(!; 'V.I M. ' ifix^-.l ' '•^1
SO'l
JK.XI,.. V ' i i:
EARLY IIISruilY OF TEXAS.
PHYSICAL FEATUKE8.
Tlio geo^'ni[iliical situation of tiiis vast em-
jiirc, Btrutcbing as it does from the Gulf of
Mexico half way to the Pacific ocean, and
presenting a variety of climate unequaled on
the face of the globe, is something that the
ordinary thinker fails to grasp at first thought.
In those portions of the State devoted to
Bfjriculture a large proportion of the land is
susceptible of cultivation, and immense bodies
are as rich and fertile as can be found on the
continent. This is true, not only of the al-
luvial bottoms, but also of a considerable pro-
portion of the prairie lands in the interior.
I'ersons are apt to speak of sections of Texas
as being especially adapted to certain prod-
ucts. They say the " stock region," the
"sugar belt," the " cotton bolt," tho " wheat
rogion," etc., seemingly thereby to imply that
tho sections named are only fitted for those
certain products. But such is not the case,
as every kind of stock can be raised anywhere
in tho State with proper attention, and every
arable acre of land in tho State will produce
cotton, corn, sorghum, potatoes, peaches,
grap<'8, etc. Sugar from the ribbon cane
may be profitably cultivated everywhere
south of tho thirtieth parallel of north lati-
tude, and wheat, rye, oats, apples, etc., tiny-
whoro north of the latitude indicated. In a
number of counties cotton, wheat and corn
can bo raised almost in the same field. For
a distiinco of fifty to ono hundred miles in-
teriorly from the coast, tho country is quite
level, but beyond this it is rolling, with
gradual elevations and corresponding depres-
sions, continuing to become more and more
elevated till it finally becomes hilly and then
mountainous from tho northwestern limits to
the gulf, into which by way of its thousand
streams it empties all its waters. Persons
who have never been in Te.xas are under the
impression that it is very unhealthful; that
the heat is violently excessive, and that those
who are unused to the climate run great risk
in coming here. This is very far from the
truth. The temperature of Texas in the hot-
test days of summer is usually several de-
grees less than the greatest heat of the north-
ern cities; and whilst sunstroke is common
in those cities, there is not a single- well-
authenticated case of death from that cause
on record or otherwise in the whole of Texas.
In winter tho difference in temperature is still
more apparent, the cold being many degrees
greater in the northern cities than here.
Texas has the most uniu.rm, equable and mild
climate of all States in the Union, and is,
therefore, the most healthful. As an evidence
of the truthfulness of this assertion, one has
but to look upon the citizens of the big State
of Texas, and he will see people in proportion
to the size of the grand empire wherein he
is living, — great big men and women, strong
and active, riding or walking in the flaming
sun as unconcerned about the heat as though
no such thing existed. Kentucky has popu-
larly been supposed to produce the largest
men, and well has she sustained her reputa-
tion in that regard; but it is tho opinion of
the writer that if a new measurement were
taken, Kentucky would have to take second
place, or hold her own by an inappreciable
■,.)h
""•'"I"'
ci.,' (1.--
RARLT niSTORT OF TEXAS.
diifereiice. AVestern Texas is fast gaining a
reputation for its iiealth-imparting breezes,
and annually thousands of invalids visit those
regions, nuuiy of tiiein couiingaway outircly
cured at the end of the season.
DISTRICTS.
A State as vast as Texas must, for con-
venience alone, he subdivided into districts,
and in this case these districts are each large
enough to form one or more States equal to
any in the Union. What is known as North-
ern Texas includes within its area a double
or triple tier of counties on the south side of
Red river, as far west as the counties of Wise,
Montague, Erath, and others, thirty or more.
But this subdivision must again be divided,
and about twelve counties should properly be
attached to East Texas, as the character of the
country on the east differs widely from that
on the west. The first is heavily timbered
and the other is prairie land, rolling and very
fertile. The timber of this region is valu-
able, especi allythe pine, extensive sawmills
being found throughout the country. Besides
the pine there is post oak, black jack and
some hickory. Water is alMimlant, generally
good — invariably freestone. West of this
timbered section commences the great prairie
region. In the western portion of this sub-
division commences tlie " mountains," so
called, and although they do nut possess the
altitude of the Rockies, the Alleghanies, or
the Blue Ridge, yet they are true mountains,
with rocky ledges, spurs, jircci pices, etc.
Many of those elevations are isolated cones,
rising from the table lands: to the southward
some of them are covered with cedar, valu-
able for fencing. East Texas includes about
twenty counties, lying between the Trinity
river and the State line olf the east, and ex-
tends from the Gulf of Mexico to the south-
ern boundary of Northern Texas. Much of
this division is flat, and a considerable por-
tion is covered with valuable timber. Nu-
merous rivers and creeks traverse all portions
of it, many of the streams being navigable.
Middle Texas lies below Northern Texas and
embraces all the territory from its upper
boundary to the gulf between the Trinity and
Colorado rivers. The bottom lands of the
Brazos, which of course is included in this
section, is extremely fertile. These alluvial
lands have been aptly compared to the delta
of the Nile. Within the bounds indicated
are the cities of Austin, Galveston and Hous-
ton, and a number of other growing towns
and thickly popular d counties. Ordinarily
considered, West Texas includes all of the
country west of the Colorado river, but the
country between the Colorado at Austin on
the northeast, and Bexar county on the south-
west, and the Colorado and San Antonio
rivers to the gulf, must also be included.
About forty counties lying north of Bexar,
and extending to the western line of Kimble
county and thence to the Red river, including
Greer, and all eastward to North Texas, is
what forms that portion of the State known
as Northwest Texas. The character of the
country is similar to that of Northern Texas.
To a large extent, it is as yet undeveloped.
It is BUiipoEod to be inexhaustibln in mineral
wealth and for agricultural purposes. South-
'jii:.f<iti
' '■■■ix> yj'K .': I -"
I'.lll-lWUI.i VlUU
!l J .!:rili|iKl
in v,,y|., ,l:
l.ii-Sii; \[!.,;
,:i •''j.'.t irlJ fi.O' i :i(j-rr
EARLY HISTOnr OF TEXAS.
wetit To\nB includes all tlio country south of
Crockett county, between the San Antonio
nnd Jviu Grande rivers. It is an extremely
rich section of the State, and was visited and
jiartially settled at a very early date. This
a|)()lie8 to a small portion of it, but the entire
region is well adapted to the raising of cattle.
What is known as the mineral region com-
j)ribcs a large scope of country composed of
the counties of Crockett, Tom Green, Pecos,
I'residio, and El Paso. Its mineral resources,
however, have only been partially developed,
l)Ut tiie region gives great promise of future
wealth. The character of the country is
very similar to the Pan Handle or Staked
Plains region, and a description of one would
answer for the other.
IXANO ESTACADO.
Ill regard to the famous name. Staked
riainB, the best explanation of the matter is
ill this wise: A number of stakes driven into
tiie soil were discovered by the early explorers
of th» country, some of which had upon their
lojw skeleton heads of buffalo; and it has
Ih-'ou conjectured that when the Fathers in
1781 IruviMiiod the country from Santa F6 to
Jniu Saba to establish a fort and mission, they
«ut up these stakes and placed buffalo heads
ujioii them in order that others who might
follow them could the better find their way
across the then trackless wilderness. Thus
CAino the Spanish Llano Estacado. This re-
gion is described, in connection with a map,
ill Yoakum's History of Texas, published in
1850, as follows: "From the head waters of
the Ked, IJrazos and Colorado rivers to the
Rio Pecos is a desolate and sterile plain from
100 to 200 miles in width, elevated about
4,500 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, without
water or timber and with a scanty vegetation."
But the facts, as since ascertained, are differ-
ent. All the great rivers, from the Canadian
on the north to the Pecos and Rio Grande on
the south, have their sources in springs found
in canons penetrating this plateau, or from
underground streams, from the same source,
issuing out at the surface, as at San Antonio,
San Marcos and other points. Colonel Shaf-
ter, of the United States army, made a thor-
ough reconnoissance of this region in 1875,
and he reported that large portions of it were
adapted to grazing, having sufficient timber
for all necessary purposes, with good running
water along nearly the whole route he passed
over. Ho started from Fort Concho, in Tom
Green county, about 21*.' miles northwest of
San Antonio. He says there are numerous
springs in the ravines and cafions.
The rivers of Texas are numerous, and
many of them are Tiavigable. In the north-
eastern section are the Red river. Big Cypress
anil Lake Soda, which are naivgablo during
the rainy seasons, and considerable trade is
carried on with New Orleans by means of
them. The Red river on the old Spanish
maps is called Naugdoches, after an Indian
tribe that formerly lived along that stream.
The Sabine is the eastern boundary of the
State from the thirty-third parallel of latitude
to the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniards called
it Adaes, but in 1718 De Alarconne called it
iifi'.'iioniK'.K
^a 4.311 I yjl-i ur. .;
i-P ^:1 f- , ■,. (i:
M
KMUA- in STORY OF TEX. IS.
Kio do Sail I'ViUiuiHOij do Sabinas. Tlio An-
gelina and Nueces rivers enter Sabino lake.
'J'rinity ris'or has been variously called. Tlie
Indians were Arkokisa and La 8alle called it
Kiver of Canoes, because be had to procure
canoes to cross it. Tho San Jacinto empties
into Galveston bay, after forming a junction
with Diilfalo Bayou. The Brazos has been as-
cended in boats 600 miles, to tiie falls near
Marlin. The Spaniards are said to have given
the name Colorado to theBrazos^ but by some
means the names were interchanged. The
San Bernard and Caney creeks have been
navigated, the first for about twenty miles
and the latter about seventy. In 1847 a
small steamboat, built above the obstructions
at the mouth of the Colorado river, ascended
that stream to the falls above Austin, 600
miles. The Indian name for this stream was
Pasholiono, and tradition has it that a party
of Spanish explorers, after nearly famishing
for water, suddenly came upon this river and
reverently kneeling called it Brazos de Dios
—"Arm of God." The Navidad and its
conlhient is navigable thirty miles, to Te.xana,
and the Guadalupe has been navigated seventy
miles, to Victoria. Its jn-incipal western
branch is the San Antonio, which is some-
times called the Medina. The Nueces river
is navigable for small vessels up to the vi-
cinity of San Patricio. The Rio Grande, so
prominent in the annals of Te.xas and her
struggles with Mexico, and forming the
boundary between the two, is navigable for
500 miles, to Comargo. The stream bears
three names. At Santa F6 it is called Rio
del Norte: at Reinosa it is the Rio Bravo.
EL1CVATI0N8.
The elevations in Texas shown on the old
maps, at a time when guessing as to what the
character of a country, was, what the map-
maker never had seen, were largely the result
of imagination or from highly-coloi'ed descrip-
tions given by persons who had seen thefe
" mountains " from a long distance. While
some of them are mountains, as stated previ-
ously, yet if they were in a mountainous re-
gion they would be called hills. The early
maps had the Tehuacana mountains in Lime-
stone county' Colorado mountains, above
Austin ; Guadalupe mountains in Kerr county ;
Pack Saddle and other peaks in Llano county.
Later maps have Double mouutain at the
northwest corner of Jones county; White
Sand Hills in Tom Green county; Chenate,
and other peaks in Presidio county; and
Eagle mountains in El Paso county. One of
the highest points in the State, the top of one
of the spurs of what is called the Guadalupe
range, is 5,000 feet above the sea level, but it
must not be understcjod that these spurs are
anywhere near that figure from their bases.
Tlu^y are very modest and do not hold their
heads very high. Red river, at the mouth of
the Big Wichita, has an elevation of about
900 feet; San Antonio, 600; Austin, 600;
Castroville, 767; Fort Duncan, 800; Fort
Lincoln, 900; Fort- Inge, 845; Fort Clark,
1,000; Round Rock, 1,145; Fort Chadburn,
2,120; Phantom Hill, 2,300; Fredericksburg,
1,500; Valley of the Pecos, 2,350; Jacksboro,
2,000; El Paso, 3,750; higheat point on the
San Antonio and El Paso road, 5,765; Llano
^?/.
. v..
■ ]•■ A.iJii'.sionnw
..- v:
^,i>i '.i.;: L.a.V:o.p,
. 0.^
■Vi^.i ,;.ii.'.<H-::j^ V-
-''■;
i:;-l-''.:it'j V'H^l^fS .1
li •::t
,d- :./.. >!
I .' i'lil
K. '(.^^i
''*•'-■ (''■^
':,',-...i .:--^,..r
r, ._"j(.l ■
KMiLV HI STOUT OF TEX^IS.
liio do Sail KriuiciHOij do Subiiias. I'lio An-
gelina and Nnecea rivers enter Sabino lake.
I'rinity rivor has been variously called. Tlie
IndiauB were Arkokisa and La Salle called it
liiver of Canoes, bocauae bo had to procure
canoes to cross it. Tho San Jacinto empties
into Galveston bay, after forming a junction
witli IJuifalo Bayou. The Brazos has been as-
cended in boats 600 miles, to the falls near
Marlin. The Spaniards are said to have given
tlie name Colorado to theBrazos^ but by some
means the names were interchanged. The
San Bernard and Canoy creeks have been
navigated, the first for about twenty miles
and the latter about seventy. In 1847 a
small steamboat, built above the obstructions
at the mouth of the Colorado river, ascended
that stream to the falls above Austin, 600
miles. The Indian name for this stream was
Pashohono, and tradition has it that a party
of Spanish explorers, after nearly famishing
for water, suddenly came upon this river and
reverently kneeling called it Brazos de Dios
— "Arm of God." Tlie Navidad and its
conlhient is navigable thirty miles, to Texana,
and the Guadalupe has been navigated seventy
miles, to Vi('tt)ria. Its jirincipal western
brunch is the San Antonio, which is some-
times called the Medina. The Nueces river
is navigable for small vessels up to the vi-
cinity of San Patricio. The Rio Grande, so
prominent in the annals of Texas and her
struggles with Mexico, and forming the
boundary between the two, is navigable for
500 miles, to Comargo. The stream bears
three names. At Santa F6 it is called Rio
del Norte; at Reinosa it is the Rio Bravo.
ELI0VATION8.
Tlie elevations in Texas shown on the old
nnips, at a time when guessing as to what the
character of a country, was, what the map-
maker never had seen, were largely the result
of imagination or from highly-coloi'ed descrip-
tions given by persons who had seen thefe
" mountains " from a long distance. While
some of them are mountains, as stated previ-
ously, yet if they were in a mountainous re-
gion they would be called hills. The early
maps had the Tehuacana mountains in Lime-
stone county; Colorado mountains, above
Austin ; Guadalupe mountains in Kerr county ;
Pack Saddle and other peaks in Llano county.
Later maps have Double mouutain at the
northwest corner of Jones county; White
Sand Hills in Tom Green county; Chenate,
and other peaks in Presidio county; and
Eagle mountains in El Paso county. One of
the highest points in the State, the top of one
of the spurs of what is called the Guadalupe
range, is 5,000 feet above the sea level, but it
must not be understood that these spurs are
anywhere near that tigure from their bases.
Tiu^y are very modest and do not liold their
heads very high. Red river, at the mouth of
the Big Wichita, has an elevation of about
900 feet; San Antonio, 600; Austin, 600;
Castroville, 767; Fort Duncan, 800; Fort
Lincoln, 900; Fort- Inge, 845; Fort Clark,
1,000; Round Rock, 1,145; Fort Chadburn,
2,120; Phantom Hill, 2,300; Fredericksburg,
1,500; Valley of the Pecos, 2,350; Jacksboro,
2,000; El Paso, 3,750; highest point on the
San Antonio and El Paso road, 5,765; Llano
r:-;a tilj, hI .(■ il;j.;8 9i!'l .f,il.-;i
■r'fVJitcl'il'iy
.-.j,J :.i.J-;(> liH.'i n' --iii'; l-::ph ' SfVf •:■• ■ t' -:r '• r^^ t>:::i.,. i. ':■.-. I 'Jiri' ..:.l|il(
:,ws, 1 :<.[;•:
EARLY HISTORY OP TEXAS.
Kstiicado, about 2,400;
Dallas, 4S1.
Fort North, 629;
MINKIiALS.
Minerals, cspocially copper, exist in large
quantities, said to be inexhaustible in several
counties of the State, especially in Archer,
Wichita, Olay, Haskell, territory of Bexar,
ami counties of Pecos and Presidio. Immense
iiills of copper, extending to the Rio Grande
in the district indicated, are known to exist,
some of the ore yielding 55.44 per cent, of
pure metal. Tests have even shown a higher
percentage than the figures given. The ore
contains, also, some silver and one oxide of
iron. Manganese, cobalt, nickel, lead, and
silver are also found. Lead and silver are
always associated together in the deposits in
Texas. A sample of the combination from a
vein in Llano county gave 286 ounces of
silver and 74.45 per cent. lead. There are
sliafts in the section mentioned that were un-
doubtedly worked by theBpaniards, as at fifty
feet from the surface drill and chisel marks
were found. The most remarkable deposits
of iron exist in northwestern Texas, consid-
ered by experts to fully equal in extent and
richness the deposits of Sweden, Missouri,
New York and New Jersey. They comprise
almost every variety, exhibiting magnetic,
specular, spathic and hematite ores. Loose
masses of ore lie scattered over the surface of
the ground in Llano, Mason and other more
western counties. Analysis has given 96.890
per cent, of peroxide of iron, with 2.818 per
cent, of insoluble silicious substances, prov-
ing it to be a magnetic oxide, which will
yield 74.93 pounds of metallic iron to 100
pounds of ore. Coal, not only bituminous,
and of the class of the best western grades,
but anthracite equaling the best Pennsylvania,
is found, whilst deposits of asphaltum, gyp-
sum and guano are abundant. Many salt
springs are also found, as well as springs
imjjrcgnatcd with petroleum.
^4rk^
o'h
^.hjM
■I. \y
•-. ' '..biit
,^i
..::.'- (y..
• ■ j;''i ■!•(.* ■
V
t.iM'-
::
'. w ) '. .,' i .-
: ■■• 'if. j ' i .,'
■^
i .:>;.'. .1-..
/li 1«
7.-. / •-, ^
!■.;■ ..('"!■•!
"- --'I
.-';: ■-. S^H.iri ^-.^r I .
'■^iJ
.it . .;/; V>V
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
EARLY EXPEDITIONS.
fllEKE is little doubt that tlie Spanish
claim to Mexico, when taking into con-
sideration all the facts, was a just and
uquitableone, at leastover tlieclaimsof Fiance.
Spanisli explorers from the Mexican territory
pioper had traversed Texas as early as the
latter part of the sixteenth century and the be-
ginning of the seventeenth. Being in Texas,
they, according to the usages then in vogue,
no doubt took formal possession in the name
of their sovereign, or, not considering it a
separate territory, waived the ceremony,
looking upon it as a matter of course that it
belonged to the Spanish crown. But, not-
withstanding these facts, historians usually
begin the history of Texas with the landing
of La Salle on its soil in 1685.
After crossing from the lakes and de-
scending the Mississippi river, and having
planted the standard of France at its mouth,
La Salle returned to France to obtain means
and men to plant a colony at the mouth of
the great stream in order that a new route
bo opened for commerce between France and
her Canadian colonies. The "grand monarch"
granted all that his loyal and enterprising
subjects desired.- Louis XIV gave him a
commission to establish colonies and placed
at his command four finely equipped vessels:
the Joil, a frigate of thirty-six guns; the
Belle, carrying six guns, a personal present
from the king to La Salle; the Amiable, a
ship of some 200 tons' burden; and a small
vessel, the St. Francis, a supply boat. A
naval otHcer of distinction, Beaujean, who
was in the command of the frigate, also was
in command as sailing master of all the
vessels, but under the direction of La Salle,
except as to the navigation of the fleet, un-
til they should arrive in America. Seven
missionaries, 100 soldiers, thirty volunteers,
together with mechanics, girls, etc., accom-
panied the expedition, in all about 300 souls,
among whom were two nephews of La Salle.
The expedition started from Ilochelle, but
during the voyage, a long and tedious one,
disputes arose between La Salle and his
naval commander.' The Spaniards captured
the St. Francis.
On December 26, land was discovered,
which was .supposed to be the coast of Flor-
ida. They were mistaken and driven far to
the westward by winds. A landing was final-
ly made near Corpus Ohristi early in Jan-
nary, 1685, says Joutel, the historian of the
party. They finally reached their destina-
tion after many hardships and the loss of the
Amiable; and to still add to their sad condition
they got into trouble with the Indians, who
killed two of their principal men, Ory and
Des Loges, besides which the naval com-
mander got angry witli La Salle and sailed
away to France with one of the two remain-
ing vessels, taking the crew and a consider-
■>; '-^v^ ^{'.\<- ■ -u
■I'l ,;■- l>ll' .':-■- ■ ... ; • '■ ^ .'.. .K>t;'.'!i ^ -: ' ' t'? -!- i
o'l ■,!!)
;. , v^.i.s
■i'!' '*-
i-'D '^-k: ...,,;.. J.'.ji''-. •! 'I'' ■.•':■ l.'-'- ' . .-. ' ",■ i' "• " '■ :..•■'■!'•': -,..;.7^
-a«MitiiK ov. I •>f'i V... • >i''w ■ <n\ .•-( ^.;v/j< j 1. .■Ji.tbiuu'. -.I'i yJU^S >:.' rl i;!. ;•> ^ I' •(••■■jl
(JAHLY Ul STORY OF TBXA8.
~~m
iil)lo portion of tlio ainmunition and supplies.
\m Salle was still anxious to get to the Mis-
bissippi river. ■ Leaving Joutel in charge of
till) littlo fort which had been erected, the
f,'roat explorer started on a hunt for the
mighty currotit. lie passed too far to the
wuBtward, iiaving reached the Brazos; so he
rotiiriied to the fort. lie had ordered a
faithful friend in Canada, De Tonti, to de-
liccnd the Mississippi until he reach the mouth
of the Arkansas, where he was to erect a fort
and gather supplies for the colony lie was to
bring to America. He started to discover
the point where he believed De Tonti would
i>e, hut disaster again met La Salle, and he
once more returned to his base of operations.
He had started with twenty men, and only
eight I'oinained of that number. At the fort
he found the numbers so decreased that he
bud only thirty -four persons left to him out
of tlio original 300. With seventeen com-
panions, on January 12, 1687, La Salle
started for the northwest, taking with him
Joutel and leaving the fort in charge of Sieur
Itarber, who had married one of the maidens
brought out from France. This expedition
wan fatal to La Salle, as not only his nephew,
Moragnet, and two of his most faithful men
were slain by five discontents of his party,
but the distinguished explorer also lost his
life at the hands of Duhant, who in turn was
shot by Heius. Joutel succeeded to the
command, and pursuing their journey across
lied river they were gratified on reaching the
mouth of the Arkansas river, to see the
French flag floating over the fort erected by
the loyal De Tonti. As soon as this expedi-
tion into Texas became known in Mexico
measures were taken to dislodge the French,
and the Count of Monclova, who became
viceroy in November, 1G8G, made this dis-
lodgment one of the first acts of his adminis-
tration. A military post was established in
the interior, and Captain De Leon made
governor of Coahuila. The governor from
his post sent out a party to oust the French
from their post on the Lavacca river. This
Spanish captain or governor was a very hu-
mane man. He recovered, not to say cap- «
tured, a few of the followers of La Salle and
kindly sent them back to their own country.
Also learning of the brutal murder of La
Salle, Captain De Leon sought out two of
the conspirators, who were among the In-
dians, and after a trial sent them to the mines
for life, lie founded the mission of San
Juan Bautista, on the Rio Grande, at Pre-
sidio. De Leon was succeeded in 1691 by
Domingo Teran, who became much interested
in Texas, and penetrated the country as far as
the Red river. In 1712 Louis XIV of
France granted to Anthony Crozat, a mer-
chant of the Louisiana country, and a trading
expedition was sent out to the Rio Grande
by him. In 1718 war was declared between
France and Spain, and in 1719 St. Denis and
La Harpe, two French captains, collected a
small force and invaded Texas, but they were
repulsed by the Spaniards. Don Martin
D'Alarconne, at that time having become
governor of Texas, backed by a considerable
force, proceeded to dislodge the few remain-
ing French who had not left the country. La
Ilarpe, in fact, had not left, but had taken
', ,>ftV, ....•
.!.:.;T.t^.K!. .:.
EARLY UISTOHY OF TBX^\3.
refuge with some friendly Indians. As sliovv-
ing the conrtosy existing betweon military
commanders of that day the following cor-
respondence is given:
Monsieur: I am very sensible of the
politeness that M. De Bienville and yourself
liad the goodness to show to me. The or-
ders that I have received from the King, my
master, are to maintain a good understanding
with the French of Louisiana. My own in-
clinations lead me to afford them all equally
the services that depend upon me.
But 1 am compelled to say that your ar-
rival at the ISIassonite village surprises me
much. Your governor could not be ignorant
that the post you occupy belongs to my
guvernment, and that all the lands west of
the Nassonites depend upon New Mexico. I
counsel you to advise M. De Bienville of this,
or you will force me to oblige you to abandon
lands that the French have no right to
occupy.
1 have the honor to be, etc.,
D'Alahconne.
Trinity River, May 20, 1719.
To this polite epistle the French com-
mundor replied:
Monsieur: The order from his Catholic
Majesty to maintain a good understanding
with the French of Louisiana, and the kind
intentions you have yourself expressed toward
them, accord but little with your proceed-
ings. Permit me to inform you that M. De
Bienville is perfectly informed as to the
limits of his government, and is very certain
that the post of the Nassonites depends not
upon the dominions of his Catholic Majesty. '
lie knows also that the province of Las
Tekas (Texas), of which you say you are
governor, is a part of Louisiana. M. De La
Salle took possession in 1G85, in the name
of his Most Christian Majesty; and since
then possession has been renewed from time
to time.
Respecting the post of the Nassonites, I
cannot comprehend by what right you pre-
tend that it forms a part of New Mexico. I
beg leave to represent to you that Don Anto-
nio de Miner, who discovered New Mexico in
1683, never penetrated east of the province,
or the Bio Bravo. It was the French who
first made alliance with the savage tribes in
this region ; and it is natural to conclude that a
river that flows into the Mississippi, and the
land it waters, belong to the King, my mas-
ter. If you will do me the pleasure to come
into this quarter, I will convince you that I
hold a post that I know how to defend.
1 have the honor to be, etc.
De La Haepe.
Nassonite, July 8, 1719.
Immediate hostilities between these two
Chesterfieldian commanders seemed certainly
imminent, but, fortunately for the French,
D'Alarconne, not being reinforced, as he had
requested and had been promised, resigned
his position and returned to Mexico, thus
leaving the French undisturbed in East
Texas.
About the same time another French force
came to Texas, under M. Belisle, who formed
an alliance with some of tiie more civilized
tribes, but after a feeble effort to maintain a
settlement the project of colonization was
fl' ■■ 'x«l!t w«»'l ^'-^
I i!^!'" l".',^; f ;ii O.T '■;.;• .jl 0'.. ."i •!r':l)r
■■■ ii f-iiisiirio. '. i:' '■' • .■['] ,i[ liii//
EARLY niSTORY OP TEXAS.
nlmiuioiicd, and with tlie failure iilso fell all
ciiiim of tlie Freiicli on Texas.
CES8IUN8.
In 1708 France transferred her Louisiana
|)u8808sion8 to Spain, but in 1800 Spain gave
it back to France, being induced to this
course through European complications. In
1S03 the Emperor Bonaparte sold Louisiana
to tiie United States. Disputes then arose
as to the ownership of a portion of Texas, and
tlio chiiin was based upon tlie former occu-
pancy by La Salle.
During the discussion of these matters a
more serious one was hatching. The numer-
ous and powerful tribe of Natchez Indians,
and a number of other " hostiles," as we call
thom now, formed a league for the purpose of
exterminating or driving from the country
tlio French in Louisiana and the Spaniards in
Texas. The plans of these red warriors were
well laid, and numbers were not lacking to
carry out their designs; for the Natchez, the
Coinanches and Apaches could put into the
field ptissibly as many as 40,000 braves.
Fortunntoly, the l''ronch commander, St.
Den is, had been informed by some of his
friends among the Indians of the plot, where-
upon he took a force and entered the Natchez
country and administered such a telling
chastisement to that tribe that it put them
out of the notion of going to war at that
j)eriod. At San Antonio, also, there were
troubles with the Indians, but Governor
I'listillos organized an expedition and settled
the rodskinK for the time being.
From the time of the occupation of Texas
by the Spaniards till 1820, a number of
" missions " (Catliolic) were established. The
first one was founded in 1690, by Alonzo De
Leon, on the Rio Grande, the first mass be-
ing celebrated May 25 that }ear. These
missions were conducted by monks of the
order of St. Francis. Desirable locations
were always selected when obtainable. Large
tracts of land were donated to the Fathers in
cliarge, and as soon as practicable substantial
stone buildings were erected. A chapel for
worship was first built, and generally so con-
structed that it could be used as a fortress in
case of an attack. As large a space as con-
venient surrounding the building was inclosed
by a heavy stone wall. Buildings for the
accommodation of the priests, soldiers and
domestics were also erected. The most im-
portant, as well as the most famous of these
missions, is the Alamo. The name and loca-
tion of this ever-to-be-remembered mission
changed several times from its tirst establish-
ment. There was a time when the name of
"Alamo" involuntarily sent the hand of
every patriotic Texan to liis pistol belt or the
handle of his bowie. The mission was com-
menced in 1700, on the Rio Grande, under
the name of San Francisco Solano; in 1703
it was removed to a place called San Ilde-
phonso; in 1710 it was moved back to the Rio
Grande; about the year 1716 or 1717 it was
removed to San Antonio, under the name of
San Antonio de Valero; in 1732 it was re-
moved to the military plaza in the city, and
in 1744 transferred across the river to its
•(' ■:.] h'}» ■■! ! }J-
';uT '':■} (••'Ij '■)■' e. o.Qii i7a v.. Jti'
''■li' .. ^ "IS .10'
iii ^Jl ■:■';''' j(ij "o't r.-Oj..:)/ ii i!l Jko
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
present location, takinji; the name of Alamo,
— I'oplar Churcli. The corner-stone of tiie
building was laid May 8, 1744, and a slab in
the front wall has the date 1757. In 1793 it
ceased to be used as a parish church.
COLONIZATION.
An attempt was made by the Mexican
government during the administration of
Marquis de Casa Fuerta as viceroy, to intro-
duce colonies into Texas. The ofiicia] named
liad visited this portion of the dominions of
the Spanish crown, and was very favorably
impressed with the country. He induced the
king to defray the expense of bringing fami-
lies from abroad, and it is said that about
$70,000 was expended in bringing from the
Canary Islands sixteen families. Tiie new
settlement was on the San Antonio river, and
the village named San Fernandez. The Fran-
ciscan fathers were also working to make
citizens out of the Indians, but it was a terri-
bly up-hill task. The red Indian was then
just what he is now, — an Indian, and nothing
more or less, as he possibly always has been
and always will be. At one of the principal
missions, San Saba, after tlie kind and con-
siderate treatment given them by the fathers,
the Apaches rose up one day and butchered
every one at the mission, not even sparing a
servant, either man or woman.
At the beginning of the present century,
after a lapse of over a century, very few mis-
sions had any population to speak of, and
Texas was comparatively an uninhabited
wilderness. San Antonio contained a popula-
tiuii of about 3,000, and the only commerce
was mostly cai'ried on by buccaneers. Tiiere
were possibly 140,000 cattle and horses.
Yei-y few Americans had then come into the
country. Philip Nolan, an Irishman, in 1797
entered Texas for the purpose of procuring a
supply of cavalry horses for the army of
General Wilkinson, then in Mississippi Ter-
ritory, with the consent of the Spanish
authorities; and having a letter from Baron
Carondelet, Governor of Louisiana, he had
no difficulty in procuring what be desired.
He (Nolan) drew an accurate map of the
country through whicli he had passed, and
took notes and observations generally.
SKIKMISUES.
Again visiting Texas, ostensibly for the
same purpose as previously, he was suspected
of plotting against the interests of Spain,
and was finally forbidden to enter the prov-
ince, lie managed to elude the vigilance of
the Mexicans and made his way into the
country as far as the Tehuacana hills in what
is now Limestone county. Here, with four-
teen Americans, live Spaniards and a negro,
he took a position and built a blockhouse, in-
tending to capture mustangs. He was pur-,
sued by Mnsquis, the commander at Nacog-
doches, who, with sixty-eight regular sol-
diers and thirty-two volunteers attacked the
blockhouse with a small cannon, killing
Nolan on the first discbarge. The figiit was
kept up by the rest of Nolan's band, under
Bean, for several hours, and they finally sur-
rendered under promise of being sent to the
United States. The promise was broken,
however, as tiioy were put in iruns and sent
bijj -• ■ /.y'.ti
'ilp?;''l V 'i ijJiii
...,:,(.va.
■'1 .!'. '''
EARLY in STORY OF TEXAS
to San Antonio, wliere tliey were imprisoned
«nil iniiiinianly treated. They were then sent
■rroKs the Ilio Grande aud remained prisoners
for many years, some of them dying and
tlireo escaping; one was shot. This expedi-
tion and several other matters then in dispute
increased the natural hostility that a mon-
art;liist had against republicanism. Philip
II. declared that nothing but Spanish com-
merce should be conducted on the Gulf of
Me.xico, whilst on land non-intercourse with
the United States was proclaimed. The claim
of France to Texas was renewed on the part
of the United States, after this Government
littd purchased Louisiana. If Texas had be-
longed to France, and was a part of Louis-
iana, the United States Government had
purchased it. At this time General Wilkin-
(on was in command of the American forces
on the iiorder, and General Herrera in com-
mand of tiie Mexican forces opposite on
Jfexican territory. These two generals,
through some trickery, and the passing of a
considerable suna of money to Wilkinson, who
\i charged, was mixed up in the scheme of
Aaron Burr, came to personal terms, and the
ro#ult was tlie withdrawal of the American
forces, mucii to the disgust of the soldiers.
In the adjustment of matters between the
two generals, an agreement had been made
that a strip of country lying between the
Sat)ino and the Arroyo Hondo should be re-
spected as neutral ground, and remain
unoccupied by either government. This
strip of country became the resort of free-
booters and desperados of all kinds, and the
troops stationed at Natchitoches were princi-
pally engaged in protecting travelers and
traders passing across it. Lieutenant A. W.
Magee was one of tlie officers detailed upon
this duty. This officer, with a number of
others, conceived the idea of assisting the
Mexican republicans and bettering their for-
tuTies at the same time. The project of Burr
was in Magee's mind, and he hoped to rescue
Texas from Spanish domination and organize
a republic. This he hoped to accomplish by
getting the assistance of leading Mexicans.
An alliance was formed with some of the
Lidian tribes in the vicinity, through John
McFarland and Samuel Davenport, who had
been Indian agents. The services of Bernardo
Gutierrez were secured, lie had been engaged
with Hidalgo in the Revolutionary movement
in Mexico, and had taken refuge at Natchi-
toches.
About the middle of June, Gutierrez, with
158 men, crossed the Sabine and had a skir-'
mish with the Spanish guards. They marched
forward and reorganized on the Trinity river,
at that time having about 400 men. They
reached Goliad and finally drove the Spaniards
into San Antonio. Here the city was cap-
tured, and the private soldiers released; but
the officers, including the Governor and Gen-
eral Herrera, fourteen in all, were slaughtered
by order of Captain Delgado, whose father
had been murdered by the Spanish. The
republicans held San Antonio for some time,
but were finally defeated and slaughtered in
the usual Mexican fashion.
Although this defeat was complete for the
republicans in Texas, a new organization was
formed in iMexico, under Morclos, and one of
iii'j br.4. ,i
.,„.„,., w. .,>,!. oi.. I.)
EARLY BISTORT OF TEXAS.
tlie features of the movomeiit was tlie occu-
pation of tlie coast of Texas, including of
course the harbor and island of Galveston,
which would afford the republicans an outlet
to the world by water. They occupied the
island, and in November were reinforced by
about 200 men under Xavier Mina, a native
of Navarre. While Mina and Aury were
occupying the island. Perry had taken pos-
session of Bolivia Point, with 200 men.
The details of what followed from tliis
time till Mexico became a republic are too
liomogeneous and prolix to relate here. Suf-
fice it to say that Spanish domination ceased
in Texas forever.
In 1812, Hidalgo was the first to unfurl
the republican flag in Mexico, and, although
he failed, Moreles and others kept up the or-
ganization, struggling for freedom from the
Spanish yoke. The mother country herself
was passiiig through the ordeal of a change
in dynasty, and it was a favorable time to
strike for independence. Iturbide, the ablest
of the loyalist generals, favored the move-
ment, and a conference of the republican
leaders was held. The result of this inter-
view was known as the " Plan of Iguala."
This plan was somewhat modified afturward;
but the result was the termination of Spanish
rule in Mexico.
COLONIZATION KKSUMKD.
In 1819, after Spain had sold Florida to
the United States, by which sale the latter
Government agreed to relinquish all claim on
Texas, eiforts wore made on the part of Mexico
to colonize her province. Several liberal
propositions were made; but none accepted
till citizens of the United States took the
matter in hand. The survivors of the Magee
expedition had given glowing accounts of
Texas and its possibilities and of tlie liberal
disposition of the Mexican authorities, and a
number of Americans set out for the new
field of enterprise. Moses Austin, who had
moved into Missouri when it belonged to
Spain, resolved to become the founder of a
Texas colony. To make preparations, he
visited San Antonio, but was at first coolly
received by Governor Martinez, and ordered
to leave the province; but, happening to meet
Baron de Bastrop, whom he had previously
known, that gentleman, who was one of the
alcaldes of the municipality, became warmly
favorable to Austin's plan, and through his
influence the governor was induced to give
the colonial project his sanction. With the
aid of Do Bastrop, Austin succeeded in get-
ting the signatures of all the oflicials of the
city to his application, which was forwarded
to Arredondo, the commander of the eastern
interior provinces.
Having no doubt of the success of his ap-
plication, Austin returned to Missouri to
make arrangements to introduce his colonists;
but on his journey he was so much exposed
that he took sick and died after reaching his
home. During the time that he was in
Mexico, his son, Stephen Fuller Austin, was
in New Orleans maturing plans to co-operate
with his father, Arredondo promptly gave
his assent to the colonial project, and Vera-
meiidi and Teguin, two prominent citizens of
San Antonio, were ap])ointed commissioners
■:).r-'|
ni'li ;|.
1 :-yr.
i'j.f-.v:. ri.ii !■.
v! :;;_t /. ,11, •• . :: , i ■ .-n '' .frfi" •■ o ■! -r
■^ U&iJl '-tOn-ASIMO.' '.'^
«',(•!(. ['! ;■ .•_? ;>/;tl (1
'-n'lA ,'^'}''' ;'•'( )ii'' ' !^!»<;) ai t :'ii8
EARLY HISTORr OF TEXAS.
to meet Austin at Natchitoches. Stephen
Austin, liearin>=j of these commissioners and
thu meeting place, set out to go there, but on
the road lieard of the death of his father.
Tlio authority of the elder Austin was trans-
ferred to the son. Being cordially received at
San Antonio, he returned to New Orleans,
and with the assistance of citizens of that
city purchased a vessel, loaded it with sup-
plies and started it for the mouth of the
Colorado river; but the schooner was never
afterward heard from.
Austin at once departed by land, and was
joined ou his trip by ten companions. The
lands selected were upon the Brazos and Col-
orado rivers, and the party reached the bank
of the Brazos December 31. The conditions
upon which the colonists were permitted to
euttlo were at first quite stringent. They
must he Uoinan Catholics; citizens of Louis-
iana; must take an oath to support the Span-
ibli monarchy and be of exemplary character.
Each man was to receive 640 acres of land,
his wife 320, and each child 160. To the
Loads of families eighty acres were given for
oaeh slave brought in. The land was to be
j)aid for at the rate of twelve and a half cents
j)er acre.
But the condition of affairs was so unset-
tled that Austin was compelled to waic a
whole year before a government sufficiently
stable was formed by which he could arrange
his colony on a firm basis. As an induce-
ment to colonists a clause was inserted in the
law, which is quite lengthy, exempting all
colonists from taxes, tithes, etc., for six years.
Tiio Bcttlements iillod up and grew with con-
siderable rapidity. Austin had opened a
farm on Red river, where he raised a large
quantity of produce for his colony. He
gained the friendship of General La Garcia,
commander of the eastern interior provinces,
and made friends of all the leading persons
with whom he came in contact. In conse-
quence of the restless and rambling disposi-
tion of a majority of the colonists, they scat-
tered from San Jacinto on the east to
Navidad on the west, and from the coast of
the gulf to the old San Antonio and Nacog-
doches road. Ferries were established, farms
opened, stores set up, and the condition of
the colonists was assuming quite a comfort-
able aspect.
Ilayden Edwards also obtained a contract
for the introduction of some 800 families,
with grants of land sufficient for all that he
might bring. He was unfortunate, however,
in his location, as it was in the neighborhood
of Nacogdoches, which had been settled by a
roving band of dangerous characters. Be-
sides this, Edwards got into trouble with the
Mexican authorities, and his contract was an-
nulled after he had spent several thousands of
dollars in bringing out his colonies. He or-
ganized a party and attempted to regain his
possessions, but was finally defeated. These
transactions occurred in 1826.
Numbers of other impresario grants were
made throughout the country, too numerous
to give in detail here.
The people in Austin's colony enjoyed all
their rights and privileges for several years
without molestation, and for six years, as
previously stated, were exempt from taxation.
.?i.v tv '..v i .v:>T^^
'u;,;i.:'r ':.) 'Ml- ' '•'■ fw'.* t-*!!,''-'
-..,>:! .!-.,. ,v j; i--j:;blw.
(f;p - J .i/iu
.n ;i ..(, L.'ii. li mti li' ■ .1
KMU.y msrour oi^ tkxas.
■riu. ^ov.unm..nlK.uotlu-,., lil..Mal gruuln ,,1'
Iniid, iiiul tlioBo (liddHtiuticd with tliuir lirst lo-
I'litiuiis wore poniiitted to cluuigc.
AiiBtin iillod the position of military as
well as civil ruler, and up to 1828 was tlie
superior judge. Although he did everything
that he could to bring in colonists, and he
was eminently successful, yet the history of
frontier expansion shows that it is no easy
tusk. Especially in Te.icas the dithculties
were great, it being remote from other set-
tlements and in the midst of a country so
vast that one fails to appreciate the extent of
it. These colonies were, in addition, in a
foreign country, with laws and a government
entirely different from that whence the set-
tlers came, and in a country, too, filled with
hostile Indians, and scarcely less treacherous
and cruel Mexicans. Taking into coneidera-
tion these facts, the success of the Austin
movement was most marvelous. But he was
no ordinary man, and his colonists were
sturdy, brave and industrious. They asked
no favors of the Mexican government, and
were left to pursue their business uninter-
rupted. They knew how to protect their
homes, and were more than a match for a
dozen savages. From that race of pioneer
heroes came the fatock that afterward threw
from their necks the Mexican yoke, and gave
rise to the mighty arms and masterly heads
which are now so numerous in the Lone Star
State. The statesmen and warriors who
have been and are now lending luster to the
American name sprang from that grand old
body of fearless men and women.
I'Ol'ULATION.
In 1834 the population, as estimated by
Almonte, whom Santa Ana sent into Texas
to gather statistics, was 3G,300, of whom 21,
000 were civilized and 15,300 Indians. An
extract from Almonte's report shows that
while the Mexican population fell off nearly
one-half from 1806 to 1834, the Americans
had grown from nothing in 1820 to 7,000,
exclusive of negroes. He says:
" In 1806 the departmentof Bexar contained
two municipalities, — San Antonio with a
population of 5,000 souls, and Goliad with
1,400; total, 6,400. In 1834 there were
four muncipalities, with a population re-
spectively as follows: San Antonio, 2,400;
Goliad, 700; Victoria, 300; San Patricio,
600; total, 4,000. Deducting 600 for the
municipality of San Patricio, an Irish settle-
ment, the Mexican population had declined
from 6,400 to 3,400 between 1806 and 1834.
The department of the Brazos (Austin and De
Mitt's colonies) had the following munici-
palities: San Felipe, 2,500; Columbia, 2,100;
Matagorda, 1,400; Gonzales, 900; Mina, 1,-
000; total, 7,000 to 8,000, exclusive of ne-
groes."
Matters were progressing satisfactorily in
Texas, but the question of taxation was aris-
ing,— how to obtain revenue to support a
government for the rapidly increasing popu-
lation; for colonists, as well as other people,
must be ruled wiih officers, and those otlicers
'>>Tl'V ''. -U^O'.-.W I \v
,ia.;.i/.iii.^yq ^,.;,i ICo,
;ni><iMA vr ! 1-^fl' )7-;. I
..I: .t.il- :..,V.;,!..::,l,„i,.|;
..-■'■■!/: ,_' !j
;.i! 'oil ,:.liii! il-ii ((i ;,i)i':ij <i Lli:.j-j ?j.! ii:it)
I ,.^ YV.':^,(! :-l(f!
EARLY HISTORY £}F TEXAS.
must Iio paid for their services. Without
lawful restraints society lapses into anarchy,
no iMiitter how well contented the people may
l>o ut the start. The colonists of Texas wyi-o
nut only exempt from all interna! taxes and
titho.'', hut could hring what they liked into
tho country free of duty. From the founda-
tion of Austin's colony up to 183()-'31, Texas
from one end to the other was exempt; hut
tho oxemption of so large a portion of the
State could not have the effect of producinjj;
plethora in the treasury at Saltillo; so, not
Iiavini; tho funds to pay officials, very few
ollicials were to be found in Texas. A
niimhcr of expedients for raising the de-
»ired amount of revenue were tried. The
Tfxans, no matter how good they were
u citizens, did not feel kindly toward assess-
OM and ta.v collectors. They had lived so
long without those burdens that they dreaded
woffO than over to return to them.
The time of expiration of tax exemption in
tlio case of many of the colonists had now
trrivt'd, and in 1830 the government took
•tt'pa to collect. It was not unreasonable that
it ihould do bO, if the process came about in
llio ueual nuumer; nor would it have ijoen
ohjucted to by the people. If tho assessors
•ml collectors had gone about their work
without any display of force, all would have
Ix-'cii well. Hut the Anglo-Amei'ican can not
hj-ook in silence a civil ollicer parading around
with urmed bands of soldiers at his heels and
nocompanied by-^'" th dictatorial pow
en. Tho question of slavery iiad some influ-
ence, of course, in the growing discontent, as
tho ^^oxican government had abolished that
institution, after guaranteeing the colonists
protection for their slaves when they tirst
came.
Tho Fredoniansat Nacogdoches had caused
sus{)icion against tho Americans, and, besides,
the United States had renewed its claim on
Texas.
All these things were but precursors to the
storm that was shortly to burst upon the peo-
ple and by which Mexico was destined to lose
much of her fair territory. It was evidently
the intention of the authorities thoroughly to
Mexicanize Texas, as in April, 1830, a decree
was issued prohibiting any further immigra-
tion into Texas from the United States, which
was followed by a still more odious one, di-
recting that Mexican convicts be banished to
Texas. Customhouses were to be established
at several points at the border, and about a
thousand soldiers were to be distributed
throughout the settlements. These soldiers
were the vilest wretches that ever wore a
uniform, and their officers, clothed with abso-
lute power over the citizens, were unprinci-
pled and restless. Many acts of oppression
are recorded against the minions of Baste-
mento, but the tyrant Bradburn stands con-
spicuous. This officer seems to have taken
special delight in annoying the Toxans. He
endeavored to close all the ports in Texas ex-
cept Anahuac, in order that he and Teran
might reap the benefit, their headquarters
being at that port; but his action was so un-
just that it called forth the leading citizens,
who demanded the instant nullification of the
order, and they succeeded. He then en-
deavored to set the slaves of the Texans
^■^,l.•\'v >.x
1 111 01
0;i» ^ :.•. ■ , )l
it*-: ..'aHlv-VJ C';"'i,:: W J'ufi '3.ii::y
'■'1 <,.i.!l :.'"iiai OM ,1,11
1.;' .11 1? , r
] II. i! V) t.'l.. I.- \'
EARLY HISTORY OF TEX,\B.
free, causing thein much trouble and incon-
venience.
His next act was tlio arrest of William B.
Travis, J^atrick A. Jack, Monroe Edwards and
others. The news of this outrage flew like
fire before the wind over the plains of Texas;
and the smothered indignation broke out in
the raising of a military company and march-
ing to the Anahuac, who upon approaching
that place captured seventeen of Bradburn's
soldiers. Tlie citizens then demanded the
release of the prisoners held by Bradburn,
which was at first refused; but at the inter-
cession of a liberal Mexican olKcer, Colonel
Souverin, Bi-adburn agreed. The citizens re-
leased the soldiers, but the treacherous Brad,
burn broke his word and retained the citizens.
The citizens now resolved to take the fort,
and sent for cannon at Brazoria; but in the
meantime Santa Ana had pronounced against
Bastemente, which materially changed the
aspect of affairs. Bradburn was relieved from
C(jmmand and the prisoners in the fort re-
leased. The citizens of Brazoria, not knowing
of this change in the situation and smarting
under the order of Bradl)nrn, rose in arms
and demanc}ed the surrender of the fort at
. Velasco, then held by Ugarteciioa. The fort
finally surrendered.
The throe most imjwrtant forces sent to
Texas had now been disposed of. The rem-
nant, that is, those who had escaped the
Texan bullets, were now gathered together
and sent to Tam
against Baste ..unte.
in the revolution
Thusended the warlike
■ommotionsof these colonies," says Edwards.
' On the 2d of September, 1832," he con-
tinues, "just as the inhabitants were informed
that their greatest arch enemy, General Teran,
and his troops, on theii- way from Mexico to
Matamoras, had been surj'ounded by the Lib-
eral forces of General Montezuma, and that,
too, on the identical plain where the inju-
dicious Iturbido lost his life, Teran, having
determined within himself neither to unite
with the Liberals nor submit to thorn as a
prisoner, returned to a private plfico and fell
on his own sword, appearing, to thoeo who
found him still alive, as inexorable in the hour
of death as he was uncompromising in politi-
cal life."
" Texas," says another writer, " now
breathed one enthusiastic feeling of admira-
tion for Santa Ana as the undoubted liero
and main support of the Federation." But
one short year, even, can make mighty
changes in a man's opinions and actions.
Who would have thought at that time that
the apparently patriotic Santa Ana would be-
come the tyrant he afterward proved to be,
and the butcher of the gallant martyrs of the
Alamo?
The legislature at Saltillo, in April, 1822,
repealed the liberal colonization law, and
passed another based upon the decree of April,
1830. The new law forbade anybody but
Mexicans from becoming etnpresas, but the
influence of the delegation from Texas was so
far felt that a law was enacted creating new
municipalities, and allowing the people to
elect their officers. A movement was made
to form a separate State of Texas, and to a
sepaiation from Coahuila, as the former had L
sufliciont population, and the junction of the I
AIILY UISTOnr OF TEXAS.
two States was considered only temporary
wlien in 1824 they came top;ether for conven-
ionce. Tile project foil tlirougli, and Austin,
wiio liiid f);one to Saltillo to consummate the
Boparatiou, wa8 arrested and placed in prison,
where he remained for nearly two years,
Bometinies in solitary continement without
Riiy of the comforts of an ordinary prison.
Texas was quiet during this time (1834),
b)it Goahuila M'as in a state of revolution.
Kuiita Ana now befi;an to show his cloven foot
in matters touching Texas. At a convention
to consider the Texas question, he drew up a
6ut (if resolutions which bore hai-d on the
Toxans. Austin seemed to confide in Santa
Ana, and wrote favorably of his project, but
the Texans did not have faith in him, and his
BClioiis a little later proved them to be con-ect
in their estimate of him.
TUE KEVOLCXrON.
At the beginning of the revolutionary
j)Ori.id tiie colonists were in quite a pros-
{Mjroua condition. They had found in their
new homes just what they had sought. A
dyinc,
;on in the populat
their cattle and horses were uinltiplying; cot-
ton, corn, sugar and all that they needed in
the way of produce was easily cultivated, and
in hirtre quantities. They were contented
and hiuipy, but the political sky was begin-
ning to iJi. ^'^'■vi^st with dark and portentous
clouds. Santa .tiua, who had taken the reins
of government as a Republican, was getting
into full accord with the aristocratic and church
party, and was prcj)aring to overthrow the
Republic, lie was ambitious, unprincipled,
cruel and treacherous. lie betrayed the
party which had elevated him to the highest
position in Mexico. lie still held Austin in
continement, who was ignorant of the charges
against him. There could be no justifiable
accusation against the Texan leader. A few
concessions were made to Texas, in order to
cajole the settlers. An additional delegate
was allowed that State in the general legisla-
ture. In the fall elections of 1834, the Cen-
tralist party, headed by Santa Ana, was vic-
torious everywhere except in Texas, Zacatecas
and Coahuila. In revenge for the action of
Zacatecas, that State was declared to be in
rebellion, and the number of militia was re-
duced to only one in every 500 persons, the
balance being disarmed. Many acts of usur-
pation were perpetrated upon the citizens of
the three sections which had not endorsed
Santa Ana at the late election, and tinally
that general, at the head of about 5,000 men, '
started for Zacatecas to reduce that Republi-
can State to submission. The governor of
Zacatecas, Francisco Garcia, was a Republican
of high standing, but lacking military ex-
j)erienco and ability, lie hud under him
fully as many soldiers as Santa Ana. He
evacuated the city and made a stand on tiie
Guadalupe plains, and after a bloody battle
he was disastrously defeated, losing 2,000
killed or wounded, and the rest taken pris-
oners. This was a terrible blow to the Re-
publican cause, and in addition Santa Ana
was clothed with unlimited power. He soon
used this power by dissolving all State Legis-
latures. The people of Texas were thus left
.• ; -.b/l< .^..; '.;■-:■< ^-jiiJ I'.'-.l
<!■>,: . li V
?!"■;■= : / ..' i'/lli Oil// ,i.lV/. vlii,i.-l .3(.l:'
EAUI.T HISTORY OF TEXAS.
without a civil government. True, the politi-
cal Shiet's and alcaldes exercised their func-
tions, lint the laws were all of Spaninli origin
and distasteful to the Americans. Beinf,'
mostly farmers, the Texaiis were averse to
any warlike nieasures, if they could honor-
ably be avoided. Some were for submission
to Santa Ana, but the slumbering lion in the
nature of these liardy border men foreboded
a terrible storm when the lion should be
aroused by too much prodding from the
keeper. Santa Ana, in the meantime was
preparing, umler cover of collecting the
revenue in Texas, for the military occupation
of the province. He landed 500 men at
Lavaca bay, and forwai'ded them under (ien-
eral Ugartechea to San Antonit>. The custom-
house at Anahuac was taken in charge and
enormous dues were demanded. So exccssi\-e
were thoy that W. B. Travis raised a com-
pany and captured Captain Tenorio and the
soldiers at the customhouse. They wei'e
sliortly after released, as the act of Ti'avis was
thought l.)y his friends to be too hasty. When
Tenorio reported these proceedings to his
u|)erior officer, he
still
uncalled-for errand. A .Mexican KejUiblican,
Lorenzo de Zavalla, had lakeii refuge in
Texas, and Santa Auii, fearing his iiilluence,
ordered his arrest, but no one would under-
take the task. Another ordei' was sent from
headcjuarters to arrest U. ^I. AV^illiainson, W.
i;. Travis, Samuel l\. Williams, Moseley
Baker, V. W.Johnson and John 11. Moore,
and a B\ibse(]uent order includeil the names
of J. U. Carravalial :?nd Juan Z.Mubrano.
The two last being Mexican citi/.en.s, they
were carried oil'; but the job of arresting tlio
first six persons was considered so dangerous
that no oflicer had the temerity to attempt it.
In addition to these ]\Iexican outrages on the
Texans, the Indians were becoming trouble-
some. Merchants and traders were inter-
cepted and killed, and their goods carried off.
But these Lulian outrages served one impor-
tant purpose: they ga\'e the Texans an excuse
for forming companies, procuring arms and
drilling ostensibly for operations against the
savages, but really to resist the encroacliments
of the despotic Mexican government. The
companies were called "committees of safety,"
and their business was to disseminate infor-
mation, secure arms, ammunition, etc. A
central committee was also formed which met
at San Felipe, and an administrative council
was organized. The council sent Messrs. iJar-
i-ett and Gritton to San Antonio on a mission
of peace to General Ugartechea, but nothing
was accomplished. Stephen F. Austin in the
meantime was returning, when lie was made
chairman of the council at San Felipe. He
expressed regret at the action of his friends
and stated that he had hoped to find every-
thing peacelnl.
Santa Ana still proFessed to have the kind-
est feelings toward the Texans, and he
authorized Austin to tell his people that ho
was their friend, and that he desired their
prosperity; that he would do all he could to
promote it, and that in the new constitution
lie would use his inlluence to luive conditions
therein to give Texas a special organization,
suited to their education and habits. V.n\
Sania Ana could lie iiothin- but treacherous,
(I-'C"! -.y." '7 J7i
.. '■ll. . 'J'
't ,1 rVUi-l,'. -. ,,U
EAHLY IIISTOliY OF TEXAS.
tir
A the
that
pur-
liijii iif tliu Statu occuj)ied by his troups but
ill in'coiilfd with liis professions of good-will.
C'iti/.eiis Were arrested, money forced from
tliii.-c will! fell into the hands of the despot's
minions, and coniniimities stripped of their
.iriiiH, the soldiers compelling families to sup-
port them, the attempt to disarm all citi-
L'Ui liiMiijr a principal feature of the plan of
Mdijii^atiun. Captain Castenado was sent to
(i'Mi/aies to seize a small cannon \\'hich had
li'. II ^risen to the corporation for jiroteetion
a^.iiiipt the Indians. The citizens were un-
williiij^' to part with their gun and prepareil
1. 1 reM-t the demand of Castenado, who had
Iwll Mil.lirrs to back liim. A company was
. r^.iiii/.ed, which charged the J\Ic.\icans and
put thuiii tullightin disorder. The news of
ilii.-. ciiiillict roused a warlike spirit in the
'rix.iii,-'. A company was raised to ca])ture
iIk' MexiLau {j;arrison at Goliad. Captain
(ir.ir;_'e ('(illinsu'ortli led the party and almost
without liring a gun the exultant Te.xans
u,;>.h:
pn
of the whole force, about
I'.viuty li\e, including Colonel Sandoval, be-
M.lixJjtaiuingSOO stand of arms and military
.-tor.',-, to the am,.unt of $10,000. The Mexi-
i.iM flirt at Liiiantitlan was also captured
^hnrtly after.
Nut iiuly liad Austin returned, but the
i,..t«d lieiijamin R. Milam had escaped from
Munlcrey and returned and joined the pati-iot
f..ri-i\-. Austin, who was a boi'U commander,
v*ii« ]iut in immediate command of the Texan
fnnv.-, on his arrival at Conzales, which was
oM the 11th of October.
The c.jusultation met October 1(5, but there
lieing only thirty-one mendjers present an
adjournment was made till November 1.
November 5 a preamble and set of resolutions
were ado])ted, in which the declaration was
made that although they repudiated Santa
Ana and his despotic government, they yet
clung to the Constitution of Mexico of 1824.
On November 12, an ordinance was passed
for the creation of a provisional government,
with an executive council, to be composed of
one ineinberfrom each municipality. Henry
Smith was made Governor and James W.
Robinson Lieutenant-Governor. Sam Hous-
ton, who, it will be noticed, had figured some
little in Texas history since 1832, was selected
to command the army to lie raised; and just
here an extract from a liiographical sketch
of this famous man will not bo inappropriate:
" Aftei- the very adventurous life in the In-
dian country Houston visited Washington, in
1832, and wlien he left he bore a commission
as Contidential Indian Agent among the
tribes in the Southwest. Ho had already
been meditating a settlement in Texas, and
the establishment of a stock ranch on some
of her beautiful jirairies. lie determined to
visit the I'l-ovinee, partly to look for a new
home, and partly to fullill his mission to the
Indian ti-ibes within her territory. He
crossed Red rivei at Jonesboro, December
10, 1832, and proceeded to Nacogdoches,
passing but two houses on the route. At
San Felijie he met James IJowies who in-
vited him to visit San Antonio and have a
"talk" with B(jme Comanche chiefs, then
camped in the i:eighborhood of that city.
From this period Texas became his iiome,
/;!..t.-. '.r
1 1'
-».•<■ 'i r,"H .-Kin ■ .•■;). iMnji-.:!yl,
».<;0: In.'' ■■Ah ' y.A *'jv:J"'! ••■.; ..'.■!/
'oi)j_ bay :l-ir ■::•' ■ I •■_.< .■.■•■,;; i/m!' '
I.J iO c in.
KAliLY msTOHY OF TEXAS.
luiiJ tor tliirty years liis character I'orins he
jiriiicipal figure, and her soil entombs hi
Mr. lloustoi
brid
g"
county, Virginia, in 17U3, and, his father
dying when he was t'oui-teen years old, yonng
Sain inoved witli his mother and lier nine
children to IJlonnt cunnty, Tennessee. lie
ran away and joined the Cherokee Indians;
was in the battle of Horse Shoe, on the Tal-
lajioosa i-iver, in lSl-1; \\'as made Indian
Agent in 1817. He .•,tndied law, and in 1819
was district attorney of Davidson county, Ten-
nessee; in 1823 ho was elected to Oong-ress,
anil after his second term was elected Governor
of Tennessee. In January, 1829, he married
a Miss AVhite, and they seemed to live happily
to<^ether, but one morning Mrs. Houston left
for her father's house in (lallatin, and tiie
governor fled from the city in disguise, after
resigning his position. The cause of these
mysterious proceedings have never been made
known, the two persons interested carrying
the secret to their i^raves. Houston was the
man that Te.\as needed at the period of his
advent here. He liad had experience as a
legislator, as an executive, and as an ollicer
of the United States army. His youth had
been passed in severe struggles with poverty,
and ncai'ly his whole life had been spent on
the frontier. He was a pioneer among those
liardy adventurers who are constantly enlarg-
ing the lioundaries of civilization. He was
still in the prime of manhood, and his fine
jovial — perfectly at home; could barbecue
his own meat, and, if he enjoyed such a lux-
ury, could ])repare his own cup of cofiee.
Self-reliant and self-helpful, he exacted no
sei-vico from his soldiers that he was himself
unwilling to undertake. When planning a
campaign, or conducting a battle, he was
equally self-reliant, but incire reticent, seldom
advising with his brother othcers. He also
bsed the rare and wonderful
.hysiquo
il him out as one born to
command. Around the crimp lires, in the
company of his coinpanions-in-arms, he was
of
popular orator. He could sway the multi-
tudes as the trees of the forest are bent by
the passing tornado. He could on any oc-
casion, on a moment's notice, address his
fellow-citizens, or his felhjw-soldiers, in such
strains of convincing ekxpience as inspired
his au<litors with his own lofty sentiments.
The advent of such a man into Texas prop-
erly forms an epoch in our history."
The lirst service that Houston rendered
Ids adopted country was as a member of the
con\'ention at San Felipe, in 1833, being
chaii-man of the committee that drew up a
constitution Ibr the State as it was to be,
when separated from Coahuila. It was never
adopted, owing to the despotic measures of
Santa Ana. Houston at lirst did not think it
best for Texas to attempt a separation from
Mexico, and as late as August, 1885, he in-
troduced a series of resolutions at a public
meeting at Nacogdoches, declaring for the
Constitution of 1824. He also, as a member
of the consultation at San Felipe, in 1835,
still opposed a declaration of independence.
His abilities were so great that, notwithstand-
ing these views, he was mailc commander of
the army as jireviously stated.
:ll' . '17, cl .11:
£ qr ■,,-.;:i '■ i;
.■-.■; ., ...A' ei!' ,,.^v ,i.-!
I'n ..; 1 f>;»! )* i r:u M ■.■(''
, : . ■, .. Tin,; -r:^^,
KAliLY IIISTUHY OF TKXAS.
(ii'iiurul Cos, with 500 soldiers, landed at
l';i.-n (\iviillo, in Septeinbei-, and niHrehed ini-
iii.-diutely to San Antonio, when lie 6iiper
r.Nled Creiicnd ITgai'tecliea. Austin, after
ri':icliing (ionzales, and eifecting a reorganiza-
tiijii of the volunteers, started for San An-
tonio, llereaehed the Missi(.)n La Espada,
nine miles below tiie city, on tlie 20tii. On
ihc 27th, after resting his men he detached
tlic companies of Fannin and Howie, ninety-
twi) men, to ascend tiie river and if j)racti-
Ciihle select a more suitable camping ground,
l-'annin spent that night in a bend of the San
Antonio river, near the Conception mission.
'I'he point was well chosen, but the Mexicans
lowked upon it as siinjily a trap, to secure
their game from which was all they had to
ill.. It was a natural fortification, but Gen-
iT.il Cos thought he had a sure thing of it,
bo lie marched out in the morning and made
i>n attack. The Me.vicans surrounded their
ouppo,-ed prey and the battle began. The
Te.\ans with their deadly rifles plucked off
nil the gunners from the enemy's battery, as
tliL^y came within range. A charge was made
or attempted three separate times, but they
wen; hurled back in ctmfusion by tlioTexans.
\\\\o remained masters of the field. Sixteen
dead bodies were found near the abandoned
cannon, which had been discharged but five
times; so true was the aim of the riflemen
that the Mexican gunners were shot before
they could Are, in moat cases. This was the
^lr.^t battle of the lievolution, and the loss
of the 'iV-xans was one man — llichard An-
drews. The Mexican loss was about sixty, as
I'ViTy une of the patriots who fired took aim
and usually brought down his man. Austin in
October moved up al)out half a mile, on the
Alamo ditch, near the old mill, and the next
day to within one mile east of the city. He
had nearly 1,000 men, but they were ill pro-
vided witii arms and ammunition of war, and
without cannon. He was poorly prepared to
attack a larger force than his own in a
strongly fortified city. He, however, sent to
Gonzales for the cannon at that place. Then
came a number of skirmishes with the enemy
and the capture of 300 horses by Bowie. The
executive or general council, in view of the
lack of funds wdierewitli to provide the sup-
plies, etc., so much needed at the time,
Messrs. Austin, Archer and Wharton, Com-
missioners to the United States, were em-
powered to negotiate a loan of §1,000,000 in
bonds of S;1,000 each, and the commander-in-
chief was authorized to accept the services of
5,000 volunteers and 1,200 regulars. Pro-
vision was also made for a navy.
To return now to the army under General
Burleson encamped befoi-e San Antonio:
Many of the men had gone home, although
others were arriving daily; still, only about
half the original force remained. There had
been about 1,400 men in the camps at one
time; 600 was the number on the 1st of
December, while Cos had a much larger force
in the city and was expecting 500 more.
These additional troops arrived in time to
take part in the defense of the city. The
defenses had been put in order and the old
fortress of the Alamo on the east side of the
river had been repaired and fortified with
cannon. The main t)laza had been fortified
ir
4
I'l'l ;iy ,-.).' Ill « 'jl; :■ ,'i ■ : i ',|
., ,.: ,,.•.. . , .,: M .•.,•.1
■I fVj,
•■-' tXlllj I.' I'-'" 1 ' '■ K •■'• ■■" I- "■■ ' I
.I'l _|: . i.'l i •: -!. ■. .'^ •-. i . : :J
:l< L...„ .'..ili'lT )»1 -ir!! -lo.i./J,, •oil
EAIUA' HISTORY OF TEXAS.
and tho stivots Unvu-.x
houses ill the iiunow sti
1, while tliu adoho I
ts allurdcd slitdU
^W
hliers. Mai
}'"
f liurles.,:
lilHi'L-is, in coiisidoration of thuso tacts, wore
ill favor of abaiidoi'.iiig tiie siege. On tho
Ud (-f l)eeeiiii)er it was decided to make the
attack
The f(
par:
:d and a strong
address was made \>y CoU.nel William II.
Jack. A call was tlien made for volunteers,
and 450 men, including the Kew Orleans
Grays, responded, the latter under the com-
mand of llajor li. 0. Norris. It was decided
to make the attack next morning, although
many considered tho project as u hopeless
one. Hut three citizens arrived in camj) from
the city and gave such encouraging news that
on tlu^ next morning Colonel xMilam sug-
gested to liurleson to make the attempt while
the enthusiasm was at its lieiglit. lie agreed
and Milam stepped in front of iJurleson's
tent and gave a loud and ringing huz:::ah,
wliicii, together with his magnetism, aroused
the whole camp. lie said he was going into
San Antonio and wanted volunteers to fidlow
him. A ready response was made, and the
little band, foi-niing into two sections and
accom|ianied by two field pieces, entered the
town by d
Jilt directions. A
tioi
of this famous ha
tiiat its details a
words to all Texai
has so often been given
almost like household
The result was sullicient
almost to place it in the categ(jry of one ot
the '• decisive battles of the world," for the
remilt of a battle is what makes it great.
Hundreds of battles have been fought where
thousands on each side have been slain and
yet the result has been nil. This siege and
capti
re (d' the strongly protected city of San
Ant,
nio de HexarwusuU imjioitaiit to Texas.
Itga
ve the Mexicans to understand that not
in ni
mbi'rs alone coiish^ts the strimgtli (jf an
nrni}
lleie was a forco of undisciplined
front
lersmen, potu'ly armed and equipped,
only
.1 few hundreil in number, attacking a
well
trgani/.ed army (d' regular soldiers, ad-
vane
ng into their very midst and forcing
them
to surrender. The dillereiice in ap-
pare.
t strength of the two forces and the
resul
t W(iiild appear ridiculous were it not so
sei'ious a imitter. The spectacle of a general
such as Cos seemed to be, surrendering to a
few Texaiis, was a scene to be remembered by
those who took part in the siege, iiiit it is
the old story of the Anglo-Saxon against the
field. He is rarely ever the under dog in tho
tight at the finish.
But, during the time the ilghting men were
doing such splendid work, the jjoliticians
were quarreling; uor are we lacking in a
more '•modern instance"', or two, on both
sides of i\Iasoii and Dixon's line. Go\ernor
Smith vetoed some matters that the council
had \oted, and the council promptly deposed
him and placed Lieutenant-Governor Robin-
son in the executive chair. Smith held the
archives and claimed to be governor still, and
there were consefjuently two governors at
once; but that state of affairs is not uncoin-
nioii in these days. Much other legislative
matter of some interest at the time was trans-
acted, l)ut it is not now of sujireme impor-
tance. The main historic facts is what tho
compiler wishes to emphasize in these j)ages.
•(\X.\'\ iU> !.
litl • ii* C! ^.'S.
•IJm j1 H.Oy HI
EAHl.Y lUSTOUY OF TEXAS.
S.M'ral declarations of iii(le]a'nileiice wure
a.lu|.ti-.l in dillcrent soL-tions of tlie eiultryo
Slalf, hut an election was lielil lor lU'legutes
to II cuHvention which met on tlie 1st of
.March, 183G, and on the seeontl day a eoni-
iniltce Was appointed to draft a declaration
of iiidependence, wiiich was duno, and it was
imaiiiniously passed, Tom lioustoii olt'ering
the rcM>liition that the report of the com-
mittee he adopted. Richard Ellis, for whom
IMIis county was named, was president of the
cmixi'ntion. A constitution was also framed
uhich was adopted March 17, and a oovern-
Micnt ad iutcriiii inaugurated: David G.
Harnett, {'resident; Lorenzo de Zavollfi,
Vice- ['resident, and Sam Houston, Coinman-
dcr-iii-Chier of the army in the Held.
Zaratecas, ai.d the district over which
(Icvernor (iarcia still had nominal sway, tho
remaining portion of old Afcxico wherein the
Kc))uhlieans held out the longest, at last fell,
Santa Ana having gained a complete victory
o\er the forces of the governor. This swept
iiuay the last vestige of the Republican party
111 .Mexico. Yet Te.xas was not oidy holding
her own, Imt gaining strength witli every
ilay; so Santa Ana ileterniined to subjugate
thir. State, lie pro])Osed to send two columns
into the province, General (irrea being or-
dered to Matanioras, to take one ilivision
along the coast to Goliad and Victoria, while
the president himself with the main division
would take the province by way of I'residio,
thence to San Antonio ami San Felipe. In
.lamiary, 18i56, Santa Ana reached Sallillo, and
(iiierrero, by the 15th of February. From
the latter place he wrote to Sciior Torncd,
Jlinister of War, giving that official on out-
line of his jjlans in reference to Texas, which
were "to drive from the province all who had
taken part in the llevolution, together with
all the foreigners who lived near the sea
coast, or the borders of the United States; to
remove far into the interior these who had
not taken part in the Kevolution; to vacate
all lands and grants of lands owned by non-
residents; to remove from Texas all who had
come to the province, and where not entered
as colonists under Mexican rules; to divide
among the othcers and soldiers of the army
the best lands, provided they would occupy
them; to permit no Anglo-American to settle
in Texas; to sell the remaining vacant lands
at $1 j)er acre, allowing those speaking the
French language to purchase five inillion
acres, tlaise sjicaking English the same, and
those speaking Spanish without limit; to
satisfy the claims of civilized Indians; to
make the Texans pay the expense of the war;
and to liberate and to declare free the negroes
introduced into the colony." And further to
cut oft' from Texas the hope of aid from the
United States, the IMinister of War, Toruel,
issued a general order to all commanders to
treat all foreigners (volunteers from the Uni-
ted States) as outlaws, to show no (juarter,
and slay them when taken as prisonei's, — in
short, to take no prisoners alive.
Colonel Travis, with 1-15 men, who was in
the vicinity of San Antonio, on the approach
of a portion of the invading army, retired to
the fortress of the Alamo, on the east sitle of
the ri\er. And just liei-e a description of this
famous fortress, the Alamo, and its anna-
EAULY IIISTOUY OF TiCXAS.
munt will bo in pliice; and altiiuiigh it has
often been duscriljL'd yot the niL-niorics .siir-
naindin^' it, glorious tlLOU-h bad, cannot bu
la'|,t too IVl'sIi in the minds ,,f all who lovu
BU|]rcniu hiTuioni, — tiio Sjiartan heroisni as
shown by Travis and his littlu band. " Tho
main ediapul id 75 x U2 lect ; walls of solid
masonry, Tour tout thick and twonty-two and
a half loot hi^di, roolloss at tlio time of tlio
hioi^o. It fronts to the west toward the city,
onodialf mile distant. From the northwest
cornor a wall extended fifty feet to the con-
vent buildinji;. The con\-ont svas a two-story
bnilding, with a Hat roof 18tj x 18 feet. Froni
the northeast corner of the chapel a wall ex-
tended 186 feet north, thence 102 feet west
to the convent, inclosing the convent yard.
I'^rom the southwest cornei- of the ciiapel a
strongly built stockade extended 75 feet to a
building called the pi-isoii. The prison was
ono-story, 116 x 17 feet, and joined a part of
the south wall of the main Alamo plaza, of
which the convent formed a part of the east
wall; and some low buildin-s, used as a bar-
racks, formed a jiart of the west wall. The
main jilaza, imdosod with walls, was 154 x 54
yards. 'i'he dilVorent enclosiuvs occupied
botweon two and three acres,- -ample accom-
modations for 1,000 men. The outer walls
were two and a half feet thick and eiglit feet
high, though, as they were planned against
the Indians, the fortress was deftitute of
salient and dominant points in case of a
bombardment. A ditch, used for irrigation,
jvitsod imnu'diately in the rear of the (diurch;
another touched the northwest angle of the
main H(juare. The armament was as follows:
three heavy guns, j.lantod uj.on the walls of
the church,— one ]iointing north, toward the
old mill; one west, toward the city; and one
south, toward the village of Lavallota. Two
guns {)rotocted tlie stockade between the
church and the prison; two protected the
prison, and an oightoon-pounder was planted
at the southwest angle of the main square;
a t\velvo-puund caniu)nade jirotected the cen-
ter of the west wall, and an eight-pounder was
planted on the northwest angle; two guns
were planted on the north wall of the plaza, —
in all, fourteen in position. (Jver the church
floated the tlag of the provisional govern-
ment of Texas, the Mexican tri-color, with the
numerals 1824, in place of the eagle in the
white stripe."
The siege began on the 23d of February,
and So stubbornly did Travis and his men
resist the furious onslaughts of the Mexicans
that not until Sunday, March 6, did the fall
of the Alamo occur, an account of which,
briefly told, will here be given: " The Mex-
icans advanced to the attack at about four
o'clock in the morning, but the Texaus were
ready, and poured nj)on the advancing col-
umns a shower (d' grape and musket and
ritle b;dls. Santa Ana was watching the
operations from behind a building about 500
yards south of the church. Twice the assail-
ants reeled and fell back in dismay. Rallied
again by the bravo Costrellon (who fell at
San Jacinto), according to Filisola, ' the
columns of the western and eastern attacks
meeting with some dilliculty in n-aching the
'!'«
of the
all
ses form
the wall
of the fort, did, by a simultaneous ujovement
i : \ /;-? .,t., j ( i:.. -J-
' ■i:i;n;t.'i io 1)8;: .- "■: .:;•
3 .;'H -'Ml- - . :.; - !■ .! f>K[ ... ;i-J
.....7 ! ),n.i...l!
KAIILY HISTORY OF TKX.IS.
35
to the ri^'lit. and t.^ tho lu
until the tlirre colnnm.s
iifT northward
ed one donse
niH.-.-, uliicli, nnder tlio u;nidanc(j ol' their
olhrrrs, tinally tiiiccwded in idlcctino; an
.•niraiifc into tliu unclosed yard. Aliuut lliu
eiunu tinio tho coliiinn uii tlio south nnidu a
hriMih in tho wall and cai)tnrod oiio of the
^'1111.-.' Til is yiin, the eifrhteen-ponnder, was
immediately turned upon the eonvent, to
\vhirh Bonie of the ]\le\icans liad retreated.
'1 he cannonade on the center of the west wall
«a.-. ^till manned hy the Texansand did fear-
ful execution upon the Mexicans, who had
Mhturi'd into the yard. IJut tlio feeble gar-
ri-on coidil not long hold out against such
ovcru hehniug numbers. Travis fell early in
liic action, shot with a riHe hall in tho head.
After hcing .-hot he had sullicient strength
to kill a .Mexican who attempted to spear hint.
The hudicD of most of the Texans were found
in the huildinys, wliere iiand to-hand lights
took place. The body of Cioekett, however,
wa.-, in the yard, with a number of dead Mexi-
caiirt lying near him. Itowie was slain in his
Ih.I, and it is said that he killed three Mexi-
caur with his pistols before they reached him
Jtcr breaking in tho door. The church was
th.' last place entered by the foe. It 'had
been agreeil that when resistance seemed use-
liB.-., and susjiectiiig tlieir fate, any surviving
Texan should blow up tho magazine. Major
I!vans, it is said, was performing this sad
duly when he was killed in time to prevent
the explosion. Several Texans appealed to
their inhuman captors for (juarters, but they
Were cut down without mercy. The butchery
IS spared!
Icto: not a Texan sol
Two hidies and a negro servant wore tho only
occupants who remained to tell the tale of
the Alamo. Tieutenant J )ickinson attempted
to escape with a child on his back, but their
bodies fell, riddled with bullets. One hun-
dred and eighty Iwdies of the Texans were
collected together and partially buried. The
Mexicans lost twice that number.
Santa Ana, in the meantime, had ordered
Urrea to proceed along the Texan coast, and
that general reached San I'atrieio on the 28th
of February, entirely unknown to the Texans.
Some narrow escapes were made by Colonel
F.W. Johnson and others, but a party under
Major Morris and Dr. Grant were captured
and they fell victims to the Mexican murder-
ers,— for they were nothing less. Colonel
Fannin had been ordered to prepare for a
descent on Matamoras, but hearing of the
advance of Urrea he re-entered Goliad, where
he had been in command some time. Having
been requested to send some reinforcements
to Captain King his force was thereby de-
pleted by 112 men. King and his men, after
a skirmish or two, by some means got sep-
arated from another portion of his force and
were captured and killed. Fannin, in Goliad,
on tlie ItJtli of March, was reinforced by the
twenty-eighth cavalry. lie then prepared for
a retreat; but just at nightfall a large force
of the enemy was discovered in the neighbor-
hood, when ho remounted his cannon and
prepared for defense. The following account
of the disastrous battle of Colita which fol-
lowed is copied fi'oin an able historian of
Texas: -'The morning of the 17tli was foggy,
and
as no eni'iuy
peared to be
193G835
t .-,■ «.'_.ii:i
b.lr •)..
U yd (
.,;'!
acH.rJ^et
1. .>j;<,,,:.1 ■: (J /a l!/ il/' kII;J ..:
, .if-! .■! .1. lU ii/.d ■ ' I., in ,.■■«'
:.''l ,,-». .,11 .U ^■:ii!.;M.i rl^
'.'Mi
> < I
I... I,,.: ^, y. ,„1 ,,.
ARLV niSTUUY Of TKXAS.
Fa
111)
11 coiicliulo
] to
,nake -ood
After
reaching :
,.u.
lit aljoiit
aw
'.y
from (iolia
1, til
ev halted t
U.N
•n
to irraze.
The
y then re
IIK
1-cl
and were
wit
liii ahout
1 Ids retreat,
eight miles
:,, |Hn-rnit the
smiieil their
two miles of
Ccdita creek wlien a company of Mexican
vereJ
front of them,
issuinjr from a point of timber. Urrea had
taken advantage of the fog to get aronnd and
in front of Fannin's force. Ilortou's cavalry
liad gone in advance to make arrangements
for crossing the stream and coiikl not get
liack to their companions. Two charges of
Uri-ea's cavalry were gallantly repnl>ed l)y
Fannin's artillery, which did great damage
to the ]\Icxicans. The light was kept up till
nightfall, when the enemy retired out of
range and the Texans ])repai-etl tor a renewal
of the light in the morning. Their condition
was indeed critical. Fourteen of their num-
ber had been killed, and sixty others, includ-
ing Fannin, were wounded. Urrea received
during the night heavy reinforcements.
With luj adequate protection, in an open
prairie, without water, surroundinl by an
enemy live times their number, what could
they do but surrender as prisoners of war'i
A while thig was raised and the following
tei'uis of surrender agreed u[)on: That the
Texans should be treated as prisonei-s of war
according to the usages of civilized nations;
that pi'ivate property should be respected and
restored, but side arms of the officers should
be given up; the men sliould be sent to Cop-
ano, and thence in eight days to the United
States, or as soon as vessels could be procai-ed
to take thein; the otlicers should be paroled
and
to tb^
United States in like
returned
manner."
After surrenih
lying upon the honor, in this case, at least,
of the Mexican general, the prisoners were
looking tbrwai'd to a speedy release, and ou
Palm Sunday, the 27th, they were expecting
to be forwarded to their lioines. But alas!
vain hope! the treacherous scoundrel to
whom they surrendei-ed had broken his mili-
tary word and was about to place his name
in the same category as the Caligulas and
Neros antl other liends in human shape.
Without warning and under the pi'etence of
starting them homeward the ])rivates were
marched out in four companies, strongly
guarded, from the old mission at Goliad,
where they had been sent and where tlie
men of Ward's force were also confined, and
who, too, met tlie same fate as Fannin's men.
They were taken in dill'erent directions, and
within .sound of the officers, whose fate had
also been decided upon, they were brutally
slaughtered. A few, by feigning death and
lying still till dark, escaped. The officers
and the wounded who were still in the Ibrt
were then taken out and all of them met the
same fate as the privates, Fannin being the
last to suffer death. That Santa Ana, at the
close of the victorious revolution, should
have been permitted to escape the fate of
those brave patriots, has been a hard pill for
most Texans to swallow. Ten years later,
when Im was in command of the Mexican
army o[)posing General Scott, aiul when lie
was again captured, it was ditlicult for the
Ainerican soldiers to k(>ep their hands off
I, I,,;. J .. „ ..1^ ;.: ■■■■ „, ,vl
'.. ,'fl<).o iii •)." ■IJ Imic ,oiu>
.t\:ii\ / ;«Bl '. 1
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Ilif Moo.lthirsty hrute, and lie liad to be
• truii^'ly i^'iiarded to save him from tliu vcii-
^i.iiirc of many a grizzled Texan. Not con-
tent uilii tlie.-e ImtcheiieH, Sanla Ana, tliink-
iii^' llmt the eon(Hiest of Texas was complete,
^4Vf orJer.-i to his suliordinates to shoot all
|.ri-oncrs, he himself making prepai-ations
I., reliro to the capital, iiut when he heard
llmt II conBideral)le army under Houston was
.-till ill the field, he, at the solicitation of Al-
iii.Mite and Filisola, concluded to remain and
C'.inplcte his work.
(ieneral Houston had been re-elected com-
iiiiiiider-in-chief of the army and had gone to
(ii.iizales, with the intention of reorganizing
till' forces, in which he had great ditiiculty,
f.ir the fate of Travis and Fannin and their
iiiLii caused a gi'eat panic when the news
h.'canie known. Besides, thirty-two of the
citi/.m Soldiers of Gonzales, who had entered
the Alamo the night before the battle, were
fliiiii, leaving a dozen or more families of
that town without a head. A number of
di'scrtions also occurred and the alarm was,
iiidceil, wide^pread. Then came some niove-
iiieiits on the part of General Houston that
CMii.-cd great criticism of his actions. Tiiero
was not a very considerable cordiality between
llie cuinniander and the newly inaugiii'ated
[uc.-ident, and in an order to the former
fioin the latter these words were added:
••The enemy are laughing yon to scorn.
Vuii must tight them. You must retreat no
furthiM-. The country expects you to fight.
The Kilvation of I he country (h'peiids on
your doing so." The (Jonfe.lerale as well as
the Federal generals, during the late war,
had their critics at tlioir respective seats of
government, yet the names of Houston, Lee
and Grant live on; but where are they, who
were tluiy, who sought to b:ach those great
soldiers? The baltle of San Jacinto was tlio
resjtonso of the great Texan to his official,
not to say officious, superior. And the best
report of that decisive battle is contained iu
the otiicial rejiort of the commander who, by
that one blow to Mexico, secured the inde-
pendence of Texas, the annexation of our
great State to the greatest nation on earth,
and linally led to the acquisition of the vast
interior region stretching from the Rio
Grande to the Pacific ocean:
'•Hk.vih^l'akteks of tue Army, )
"S.\N Jacinto, April 25, 183(3. )
^^I'o His Excellency., D. G. Buknet, Presi-
dent of the IlepuUic uf Te.ats:
"Sir: — I regret extremely that my situa-
tion since the battle of the 21st has been
such as to jjrevent my rendering you my
otiicial report of the same previous to this
time.
"1 have the honor to inform you that on
the evening of the 18tli instant, after a forced
march of tifty-tive miles, which was effected
in two ilays and a half, the army arrived op-
posite Ilarrisburg. That evening a courier of
the enemy was taken, from whom I learned
that General Santa Ana, with one division of
Jiis choice troops, liad marched in the direc-
tion of Lynch's Ferry, on the San Jacinto,
burning Harrisburg as he passed down. The
army was ordered to be in readiness to march
r:iv\y on the next morning. The main body
elfected a crossing over llullalo bayou below
■'^' \ ■■
..iltvlriu ,-, i('v .! • M ii
EAULY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Ilarrisljiirg un the morning of the 19th,
liaviiig left tlie baggage, the sick, and a
Buliicieiit canij) guard in the rear. We con-
tinued tlie niarcdi tiiroughwnt tlie night,
niaiung but one halt on the prairie for a
short time, and wiihout refreihmeut. At
daylight we resinned the line of march, and
in a short distance our scouts encountered
those of the enemy, and we received informa-
tion that General Santa Ana was at New
Washington, and would that day take up the
line of march for Anahuac, crossing at
Lynch's Ferry. The Te.Kan army halted
within half a mile of the fei'ry in some tim-
ber, and were engaged in slauglitering beeves,
wdien the army of Santa Ana was discovered
to
battk
been encamped at Glopper's Point, eight
miles below.
"Disposition was immediately made of
our forces, and preparations for his i-eception.
lie took a position with his infantry and
artille'-y in the center, occupying an island
of timber, his cavalry cuvering the left flank.
The artillery, consisting of one double-forti-
fied medium brass twelve-pounder, then
opened on our encampment. The infantry
in column advanced with the design of
charging our lines, but were repulsed with a
discharge of grape ami cannister from our
artillery, consisting of two six-pounders.
Tho enemy had occupied a piece of timber
within rille shot of the left wing of our army,
from which an occasional interchange of small
arms took place between the troops, until the
enemy withdrew to a position on the bank of
the San Jacinto, about three tpiarters of a
mile from our encampment, and commenced
fortification. A short time before sunset
our mounted men, about eighty-tive in num-
ber, under the special command of C/olonel
Sherman, marched out for the purpose of
reconnoitering the enemy. Whilst advancing
they received a volley from the left of the
enemy's infantry, and after a short renconter
with their cavalry, in which ours acted ex-
tremely well, and performed some feats of
daring chivalry, they retired in good order,
having had two men severely wonnded and
several horses killed. In the meantime the
infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Alillard, and (jolonel Burleson's regi-
ment, with the artillery, had marched out
for the pui'p(jse of covering the retreat of the
cavalry if necessary.
"All these fell back in good ortler to our
encampment about sunset, and remained
without any ostensible action until the 2l6t,
at half past tliree o'clock, taking the first re-
freshments which they had enjoyed for two
days. The enemy in the meantime extended
the right flank of their infantry so as to
occupy the extreme point of a skirt of timber
on the bank of the San Jacinto, and secured
their left by a fortiflcation about Ave feet
high, constructed of packs and baggage, leav-
ing an opening in tho center of their breast-
work, in which their artillery was placed,
their cavalry on their left wing. About
nine o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the
enemy were reinforced by 500 choice troops,
under the command of (leneral Cos, increas-
ing their eifective force to upwards of 1,500
men, whilst our aggregate force for the Held
■:T,in. j:)!
■1 - O'l.v .; 1 -J .
ii: V .1 >e-<.f.isin ^'W JiiydviiL
::..-.: ''..( - ^ t„a -n-.i: I 1,11,. ,f.-, -ii.: ,-. ■■--. >
■.'^ -,:.' .■ I- -I iik>'v")
■' rh 1. ..I.,:, ., Uyd^iliUr
EAULY nisronr of texas.
i,:,n,l.. r. 'I Kl. At lialf |,;ist lliivu o'clock
u, il„- .■wiiiiij^' 1 onlcRMl lliu oltireis uf tlio
i. v.in anil)' to paraili: tlicif I'fspcctive coin-
MMii.l^, haviiM- in llic nu.antinu' ,,i<l(;nal tlie
l.n.l-c.n tho ,.nly rua.l .•(Hinininicatiiio; will,
the i;ra/.u8, distant; eight inilus from our
ciu-iunjiniuiit, to be destroyed, tliiis cutting
(■If idl |)t)ssibility of escape. Our troops
jiaiiidcd with alacrity ami spirit, and wei'o
iinxioUb for the contest. Their conscious dis-
parity in number seemed only to increase
their enthusiasm and contidence, and height-
ened their an.xiety for the conllict. Our
situation aflorded me an oppiortunity of
making the arrangements prepai-atoiy to the
attack, without exposing our designs to the
ciicuiy. The first regiment, commanded by
("uloncl iJurleson, was assigned the center.
The second regiment, under the command of
I'ulonel Sherman, formed the left wing of
tile army. The artillery, undei' sjiecial com-
Miiind ot Colonel George W. Hockley, In-
^p(•ctor-(ieneral, was placed on the right of
the lirst regiment; and four companies of
infantry, under the command of I.ieiilenant-
Colmiel Henry Millard, sustained the arlil-
kiy upon Ihn right. Our cavalry, sixty-one
in number, commanded by Ooloiiel Mira-
beau 1!. Lamar (^wliose gallant and daring
conduct on the previous day had attracted
the admiration of his comrades, aiul called
him to the station), placed on our extreme
right, completed our line. Our cavalry was
lirot despatched to the front of the enemy's
l.t't, for the purpose of atlracting their
notice, whilst an extensive island of timber
iill'ordcd us an opportunity of concentrating
our forces and displaying from that point,
agreeably to the ]irevious design of the
troops. Every evolution was performed with
,', th
lino.
,, without any
en. The artil-
protection -whatever for our
lery advanced and took station within 200
yards of the enemy's breastwork, and com-
menced an effective lire with grape and can-
ister.
"Colonel Sherman, witli his regiment
having commenced the action upon our left
wing, the whole line, at the center and on
the right, advancing in double quick time,
rung the war cry, ' Remember the Alamo!'
received the enemy's tire, and advanced with-
in point-blank shot before a piece was dis-
charged from our 1
Our line advanced
without a halt, until they were in possession
of the woodland and the enemy's breastwork,
the right wing of Burleson's and the left of
Millard's taking possession of the breast-
work, our artillery having gallantly charged
up within seventy yards of the enemy's can-
,y o
ur ti
JJIS.
The
null, when it was take
conflict lasted about eighteen minutes from
the time of close action until we were in pos-
session of the luiemy's encamjinujnt, taking
one piece of cannon (loaded), four stand of
colors, all their camp equipage, stores and
baggage. Our cavalry liad charged and
routed that of the enemy upon the right, and
given pursuit to tlie fugitives, whicli did not
cease until they arrived at the bridge which
I have mentioned before. Captain Karnes,
always iimoiig the foremost in danger, com-
manded the pursuers. Tiie conflict in the
{ . -I
•Si: ■:. : i
11. OVI j:,nl ill
iH^nc, i,.)
)i ^l ,|.: ., if t.-
RAULY lIlsroUY OF TF.XA.'-
breastwork lasted but a few iiioiiieiits; inaiiy
of the troojis encountered liand to hand, and,
not liaviiij^ tlie advantage of liayont-ta on our
t^ide, our rilleinen used llirir pieces as war
clubs, breaking many of them oil' at the
bi-eecli. The ruut eemmom-ed at half past
lour, and the i)ursuit by the main army con-
until twiliijht. A irnard was then
tinut
left ill charge of tla* enemy's eiicatnpment,
and our ai'my returned with their killed and
wounded. In the battle our loss was two
killed and twenty-three wounded, six of
whom mortally. The enemy's loss was G30
killed, among whom were one general oliieei',
four colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, ii\e
captains, twelve lieutenants; wounded, 2US,
of which live were colonels, three lieutenant-
colonels, two second lieutenant-colonels,
seven captains, one cadet; prisoners, 730:
President-General Santa Ana, General Cos,
four colonels (aids to General Santa Aiui),
and the colonel of the Guerrero Jiattaliou
are included in the number. General Santa
Ana was not taken until the 22d, and
General Cos on yesterday, very few having
escaped. About (JOO muskets, 300 sabres
an. I 200 pi.Mol.s have been collected since the
action; several hundred mules and horses
were taken, and near §12,000 in specie. For
several days previous to the action our ti-oops
were engaged in forced marches, exposed to
excessive rains, and the aildiLional incon-
venience of extremely bad roads, ill supplied
with rations and clothing; yet, ainid evei-y
difficulty, they bore up \vith cheerfulness and
fortitude and jjerformed their nuirches with
hjurit and alacrity, 'i'here was n.i murmuring.
'•Previous to and during the action, my
stalf eiinced every (Jis|iosition to be useful,
and were actively engage,! in their duties.
In the eonlliet 1 am assured they demeaned
themselves in such a manner as [iroved theiu
woi-thy membei-s of the army of San Jacinto.
Colonel T. J. Rusk, Secretary of War, was on
the field. For weeks his services had been
highly beneficial to the army; in battle he
was on the left wing, where Colonel Sher-
man's command first encountered and drove
the enemy; he bore h
3lf
lantly, and
continued his efforts and activity, remaining
with the pursuers until reoistaiice ceaseil.
"1 have the huiujr of transmitting here-
with a list of all the otiicers and men who
were engaged in the action, which I respect-
fully request may be publisheil, as an act of
justice to the iudiviiluals. For the com-
manding general to attempt discrimination
as to the conduct of those who commanded
in the action, or those who were commanded,
would be impossible. Our success in the
action is conclusive proof of their daring in-
trepidity
;ry otlicer and man
prov:
he 1
iself worthy of th
■hich
:led, while the triumph received a
lustre from the liiimanity which character-
ized their conduct after victory, and richly
entitles them to the admiration and gratitude
of their general. Nor should we withhold
the tribute of our grateful thanks from that
Peing who rules the destinies of nations, and
has in the time of greatest need enabled us
to arrest a powerful invader whilst devas-
tating our country.
ii ;>
EARLY inSTOIiY OF TKXA3.
"I Ikivu tliu hoiiur to be, with lii-^^li coii-
-Idcr^aiiui, your uljedieiit servant,
"Sam ILii-.sTON,
^^Commander-ia-Chlef."
'I'lu' L'uiniition ill wliicli Santa Ana was
wWn LM|itiirLMl wa> in accoi-ilancL' witli the
i.rtiMiis ,,r all hloodthirsty cowards wlion
iiilia[i]ieil by tliose they have wrcni^^a'd. lie
Imd t,,Mi fruin his body his ^audy uniform
uiid donned the oarb of a eoininon country
iiiiiii, but he had forgotten to take from his
rliirt bleevcs a pair uf cnlf-buttons, which
nniu-cil the keen suspicions of James II.
SvKi'jter, a jiriiiter, the man who found the
tnr.d.in^r despot hidden in the grass. The
cuptiuc, as told by a writer who had knowl-
.d-c of the facts, are the.e: -'Some of
ibulc.-oii's men were out hunting for the
fiij.'ilivc, when one of them ,siw a doer on the
prairie looking intently at some objoct in the
tall gia.-s. The man approached the sjiot
luid found lyiiio ,,n the gra>s a Mexican in
.■oinnion garb, but, np(,n discoverino a oold
butloi, on his sleeve, took him bac|i to his
companions, wIkj conducted him t<j camp,
Imviiig no iilca vl his rank. As theconipaiiY
pa-rd in, the Mexican prisoners e.xchumcd,
cr.il .\lmonte, wdio announced that the one
jii-t biciuoht in w^s lip less a jiersonage than
S.mla Ana himself. He was conducted to
llou>lon's camp, and his own otlicers allowed
to lemain with him and his pers.mal baggage
rc.-tored. lip.-ides Sylvester, who found him
and brought him to his companions, the cap-
llow that little force of 783 Texans, badly
equi])ped, poorly clothed, and half starved,
could march out and crush to atoms, as it
were, in less than half an lunir (eighteen
minutes, says Houston in his report), an
army of 1,500 men, splendidly accoutered,
ably generalcd, and comfortably clothed and
fed, is nothing short of marvelous; and with
a loss of but two killed in battle and twenty-
nine Wounded to the victors, against ■ 630
killed and 208 wounded of the enemy, to say
nothing of the prisoners; for all, or nearly
all who were not killed or wounded, were
captured, hardly a man escaping! I5ut oh!
the Te.xans had the fate of those two brave
martyrs, Travis and Fannin, in their minds,
and when the battle cry of " Kemember the
Alamo!" rang out as they rushed to battle,
every man was a Hercules. Ten thousand men
could not have daunted their invincible cour-
age. They knew that defeat meant death to
every one of them, and it \vere better to dio
in harness than to be led out like shecj. to
the slaughter. They shot and struck to kill.
Death had no terror for those iiatriots, and
woe betide the brutal Santa Ana had he
been caught in the [iction! He. was so sure
of victory that it is said that h;; contem-
].lated with pleasure the close of the fight
that he might show his power. Every man,
Houston and all, of those San Jacinto liero(;s,
would have been immediately shot if they
would have been so unfortunate as not to be
killed in battle. Knowing this, how those
Texans could have refrained from killing
s were Joel W. Robinson, A. II. Miles this man has always puzzled the friends of
d pavi.l C'ok
No St:
"I •'•-'*1 :'" ■'
EAnir UlSTORT OF TEXAS
upon the escutcliuuii ut the Ixme St:ii- State.
Al'ter iniicli coiitro\en;y, especially in re-
gai'il to the disposition of tlie captive Presi-
di'iit oi' Mexico, a treaty was entered into by
I'resident IJiirnet and must of liis cabinet
and Santa Ana; but tiie clause providing
for the release of the latter was bitterly ob-
jected to, and at one time the matter bid fair
to be the cause of serious troubles and inter-
nal complications. During tlieee times a
number of captures of vessels on the coast
near Copano were made, especially by Cap-
tain Eurton, wlio commanded a company
of mounted rangers. Cavalry does not seem
to lie the best arm of the service in naval
warfare, but this bold captain used yery
inij;eniiius stratagems to induce passing ves-
sels to stop at Copano, when his men would
step abuai-il and take jiossession in the name
of the Uepublic of Texas.
On -Inly 23 the I'resident issued a jiroela-
mation, in accordance with the power vested
in him, for an election for President, Vice-
President and members of Congress, to be
held on the first Monday in September,
which electioji resulted in the selection of
Sam Houston for President, and Mirabeau B.
Lamar, Vice-President. In due time these
officials were inaugurated, and thus the
wheels of the new government were set in
motion, and another star in the galaxy of
nations shone forth.
h.i.Ai HO 1;
T'KH>".»'i H)
:■ "t ^'.fj.' ;ilt I ',= ' '.'• ". j K'l.iilj •_•»!; jij ' ;i!iiA. yW-.K 'jmc
,t t,i-,o,, ..-I ,»i ).- : ; •■((,.r fiitj jiuj • !.(. •; I J !>«i'.i.i
;80 ,■ '11. II IV) ■ ■.U-LlJi,.1> \fli..l
.. ' ■ ' ■;!: M^l ■>/
EAHLT HI STORY OF TEXAS.
S KTTLED GOVERNMENT.
I'TJfV'' t'"-' iii:iii(i;ur;itiou of rrc.-iilciit IIuub-
itM ^""' '"'' P'''-'*'"'^'^'' tlio ypt'uker of tlie
"♦" llousu his Bwoi-il, witli tlie following
remarks: "It now liecoines my July to
make a presentation of this sword, the eiu-
Muiii of my past office. I lia\e worn it
\iith fiuine iuiniljle pretensions in defense of
my country; and should the danger of my
country again call for my servicea, I expect
to again resume it and respond to that call,
if needful, with niy blood and life." The
lii.-toriaiis have somewhat criticiced this little
^'randiioquent speech, saying that as he had
rcsi^'ned his office as Comniandev-in-Chief on
May 5, and had ju.-t lieen re-invested, by
virtue of his position as President of the
ilcpulilic, with the comuiand of not only
tlic army bnt also the navy, they cannot see
the propriety of the resignation. iJiit then
ft ntatesmiiu and a tighter like Saui Houston
i,i entitled to say almost anything he pleases.
lie ga\e evidence of the genuineness of the
mettles of which he was composed. lY'ricles
was not only the gi-eatest general of his time
ill (ireece, but also the vainest man.
Santa Ana was still held as a prisoner
lifter the commencement of the administra-
liou of Houston, and the question what to
ilo with him was still agitated; but the Presi-
dent cut the Gordian knot by sending him
to Washington city, where he was Hnally re-
leased; and after all the magnanimity .shown
liim he repeated his former liuleberieo by
ordering several jiaities of 'J'e.x.ms shot after
they had been captured. Several attempts
were maile atdilferent times to invade Texas.
Filisola, stationed on the Kio Grande, was
about entering Texas, but the revolution
under Montezuma gave the Alexicans enough
to do at home. ' Trouble was experienced by
the appearance of a Mexican fleet in the Gulf
and many captures occurred. These were the
parting shots of the enemy at the people by
whom they had been vanquished. They were
the snarlings and snappings of the dying
wolf.
SIcrrLEMKNT.
The Congress of the United States, on
March 2, 1837, ])a8sed the bill recognizing
the independence of Texas, and during the
next yeai' commercial treaties were negotiated
with (Jreat J)i-itain and Franco, though the
former insisted upon eonsideiing Texas as a
])art of the ^[exican Republic. At the elec-
tion held Sejitember 3, 1838, Mirabeau B.
Lamar was elected President, and Uavid G.
Burnet, Vice President. Lamar took ground
against the annexation of Texas to the United
States, but he was a very able man, and
during his administration Congress laid tiie
foundation of the school fund, by setting
asiile iifty leagues of land for a university
and three leagues for each county in the Pe-
pul
due
4)K
I settlemi'ht
the go\erniiient made a number of contracts
;:,;■/ . ,lf;..-.-, J,:. ...M.,
EAUI,Y HlSTonV OF 'J'KX/
with various parlies. In 1841-'42, W. S.
Peters obtained two contracts ol)licj;atin^ liim-
6eif to inti-cHJiicc 800 faiiiilics into liie region
around J)allas. Fisher .V Miller took a con-
tract to settle GOO families on the upper Col-
orado and l.lano ri\-ers; C. F. Mercer two
contracts for settling GOO families in the
region of country aho\-e tlie Peters colony,
toward Iu;d ii\er. A German emigration
company settled Comal and Gillespie coun-
ties; and Henry Castro introduced about GOO
families into western Texas, settling Castro-
ville in IHU- Quipi in Is^o; Vandenbnrg
iti 184G, and Dhanis in 1847. In 1840
France and Belgium recognized the inde-
])endence of Texas.
The policy of President Lamar towaid the
Indians was entirely in opposition to that of
General Houston. The latter was tor con-
ciliation, whilst the former advocated the
entire exclusion ti-om tho soil of Texas of
every redskin to l)e found, and to do it, if
necessary, with the sword. I.atmii-'s ideas on
this subject are vei'y generally endorsed at
the ])rcsent day l)y the citizens of the "West
and Northwest. The I'l-esident had a very
onerous task daring his administi'ation. The
credit of the country was at a very low ebb,
and the expenses of the government wei-e
excessive. lie was as I'resiilent, as is usually
the case, whether responsible for the condi-
tion of affairs oi- not, blamed for it, and to
such an extent did the storm prevail that his
eeusitive nature could not stand it, and he
asked permission of Congress to absent him-
self from the Kepnblic, which was granted,
and the government was administered during
the last year of his tei'm by the Vice-
President. At an election held in Septem-
ber, 1811, Sam Houston was again elected
I'resiilent, and Fdward l!ui-]eson, Vice-Presi-
dent.
Matters seemed to be, and were, as far as
the growth of the country was concerned,
jjrogressing smoothly enough, but there was
still trouble ahead. Mexico still chei-ished
the delusion that she could still snlidne the
Texans. When the subject of annexation to
the United States began again to attract at-
tention, ]\Iexieo, to keep np the shadow of a
claim on her severed province, sent paities
into the country at vai-ions points. One of
those, unhei'alded and entirely nnexjiccted,
under the command of General Vasqnez, on
March 5, 1842, made its appearance in the
neighborln)od of San Antonio and demanded
the surrender of tlje city, which, after con-
sultation of the authorities, was complied
with. A''asquez remodeled the city govern-
ment after the JMexican style, and no citizen
was disturbed. Otiier parties of Mexican
soldiers temporarily occupied Kefugio and
Goliad, but in September a more formidable
force unde)- General Adrian Wool, arrived in
the vicinity. The raid was unexpected, and
the District Court being in .'>ession, Judge
Hutchinson, J. W. Robinson and a number
of other lawyers and officers of the court were
arrested. A small battle near the city ip
which Wool was defeated, caused his d^;-
parture. Those Mexican raids had awakeneij
a martial spirit, and pi'eparations Cor aggress-
ive warfare were made, but troubles arose in
the ccimmands and very little came out of the
r-^. (• 7
I.M
KAliLY UlSTUUY OF TEXAS
.nil,
t; hut minibci
iic'l .Mexicans \
i.l.T.as Ainpiu:
,lelnc,y of pr
ICC with tlie
iutu the lianils of
irdcrcd them after
, when iiegoliatiny
to liiin, "ill ae-
aiiimous iMexieau
iiiitioD." 'J'lie details of tiie shooting in eohl
liliiiiil of tlie hundreds of eapti\es, is a ]iage
ill Mexican liistory well known to all Texans.
Scptcmher 2, 18-U, Anson Jones was
elected I'leBideiit, and Kenneth L. Anderson,
\'ice-l'resident. During this administration
lliu niiliject of annexation was iipperniost
(■\cr)'where in Texas aiul the Uniteil States,
and James K. Polk had been elected on that
jilatforin. Kngland and France, jealous of
tlie gi'owing power of the great republic,
i.trcii'd to guarantee the independence of
'I'vMiA on condition that she should not be
iiimexed to the United States, but Texas had
too many natives of that country to accejjt
the kind oiler. Those countries were com-
paratively safe in their proposal to violate
the "Monroe doctrine" at that day, but they
uoiild hcbitate a long time now to undertake
the job. Texas was scarcely in a condition
to keep up a government at the time, and a
l.irge majority of her citizens were anxious
to become citizens of our country. A reso-
lution for "annexation" was promptly passed
l>y Congress, ami as promptly .signed by
I're.ideut Tyler. On the Gtli of May, Presi-
dent Jones issued a proclamation for an elec-
rojKisition
for delegates to consider the
,.f tlie United States, wliicl
111 the a.luption by the Te
Ihc Ititb of J une, of the aniie.xati
And thub the Lone Star Stale m
inally
suited
Congress, on
iieasure.
id. led to
the grand galaxy of the States of the Union.
As soon as the annexation bill passed the
Congress of the United States, Mr. Almonte,
the Mexican Minister at Washington, de-
nounced the measure and demanded his pass-
ports. AVar with Mexico was inevitable, and
it came on, resulting, as all know, in victory
for the Americans. The details of that strife
are not in place here; they are matters of
national history. (Jovernor Henderson, the
tir.,t to till that positioi
inauirurated
February 1(J, 184G.
A very {)erplexing question soon arose; by
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February
22, 18iS, Mexico had ceded to the United
States the section of country now known as
New Mexico, usually called at the time Santa
Fc\ and the latter country set about putting
the wheels of a territorial government in
motion; but Texas claimed New Mexico as a
portion of her territory. Tlie matter caused
very bitter feelings on the jiart of some hot-
heads, who threatened to dissolve the bonds
that bound Texas to the Kejiublic, but better
counsels prevailed, and a bill finally passed
by which Texas was to be paid ^5 10,000,000,
ind the disputed
Sam. Elisha M.
Pease was inaugurated Governor JJecember
21, 1851, wa.s re-elected in 1853 and served
four years. During the administration of
Governor Pease the public debt and other
financial cpiestions were uppermost. Decem-
ber 21, 1857, Hardin R. Runnels was in-
auguratetl. During this year a severe drouth
pre\ailed in Texas, but numberfl of settlers
came in. Peace generally prevailed through
y wl
der certain conditions,
•ritory passed to Unci
r s(i
d'. '.An
. ,1.1
•l.y iV
::, '.nit
't '•. .'.u- i. U :;)i,J „I,
EARLY lUSTvny OF TEXAS.
out tlio State, but tlio Indians j^ut to l>c tronb-
It'sonie, and bad to be removed from our fioil.
Tlie I'aiiiuus Juan ('ortina also ctimmeiiced
(Icjtreilationw, and carried tbeiii to t-ueb leiigtliw
tbat tbu United States bad to fake tbe matter
in liaiid. Among tbc comniandera sent to
put down tbu bantiit was Colonel Robert E.
Lee, wbo is now embalmed in tbe memory of
all Sontlierners as well as Texans. In 1859
Sam Houston was a^ain electee! to tbe cbief
ollice in Texas. February 1, 18G1, Texas
issed tbe ordinance of secession, tbereb
falling in line witli ber sister Soutliern States.
'J'lien came on tbe war witb all its bori'ors, tiie
details of wbicb cannot be incorjioi-ated bere;
illice
tbat Ti
i slu, always lias
done, did ber duty. After tbe war, in con-
junction witb tbe otber Confederate States,
Texas felt tbe iron lieel of tbe victor during
reconstruction times, but, wben General Han-
cock was placed in command of tbe depart-
ment wbicb included Texas, matters were
very mucli ameliorated, since wbicb time
Texas lias grown witb marvelous rapidity.
■:t ' ) I., ,1m;
y.'i
'^••'■••'V
.11 ....,:.i
.1 .'^iUs
01 INS0N AND Hill Gounties.
TTt.'iffE come now to consider more partic-
Wl/ftul "''"''y t''^ feiitures and liistory of
^^^ Johnson and Hill counties. Together
they constitute, pliysically, what wc might
ilciiumiuate tiic garden of the State of Texas,
nil accuunt of its soil and climate, and po-
litcally they are in active sympathy on
uiTouiit of their topographical relations.
Th.'so counties, we might say, are strong in
cU'iy sense of tiie word, — strong agricultur-
ally, strong ^o(■ialiy. and strung politically,
idtlioiigh not near su old as must of the
(liilf counties. This strength is due, of
iMiirse, mainly to the character of the early
iiumigrants, bringing those of like enter-
prising spirit from the older States, and
,-ccoiidarily to the opportunities atl'orded
hv th
nd
late, aniJ the faci
ties fur transportation.
.\ATU11AL FKATIIKKS.
The ninuty-sevenlh meridian west oi Cireen-
wich, England, and the thirty-second parallel
cross each other near the town of I'eoria in
Hill county. Therefore Cleburne is about
ninety-^even ilegrees and twenty miles west
of (Jrceinvich and about tweiity-si.\ miles
north of the thirty-second ])arallcl. From
tliis jioiiit tlie n(jrth star consc(iuently appears
a little over thirty-two degrees abovt' the hori-
zon; ami licing niiiety-NCven degrees west of
Greenwich, the standard (railroad) time in
this county is about half an hour ahead of
local mean sun time; but it must be borne
in mind that local sun time, not averaged,
varies from one to sixteen minutes from mean
solar time every year, there being only four
days in the year when the shadow of a per-
pendicular will be upon the noon mark pre-
cisely at twelve o'clock; for sometimes it
varies as much as sixteen minutes and a
fraction one way, and at other times as much
in the opposite direction.
The latitude of Johnson and Hill counties,
Texas, north of the e<|Uator is the same as
the parallel passing through or near the fol-
lowing points around the earth, commenc-
ing at the Pacific coast: A few miles south
of California and Arizona; near El I'aso,
Texas; Vickshurg, Mississippi; Selma and
Montiromerv, Ahi
(ii
Madeira l.landb (off the coast of Africa);
Morocco; and the Harliary States of northern
Africa; the Isthmus of Suez, southern part of
Persia and Afghanistan, northern Hiridostan,
central Thibet and central China (Nanking).
The general average height of the surface of
the land in Johnson and Hill counties above
sea level is 100 to 800 feet, Cleburne being
about 800 feet, while h'ort Worth is said to
be 1,100. Typically, the surfaceof thecountry
is rolling or undulating jirairie, with slight
I , I
'iOoi'-r Xj>
r>i •ti.U (^fiyni'x ) '"■./' 't; Ol'l jr''.>"/'i?';'J-'x.> i - ■"■'.m' ■ Ml) I
,1'j^r.ay/: on
-1 .i'- ';,■;
: f>.) ■.-.M
it
'•• -0
..'i. :;,...>' •■: .1 \. ]•
nT/, :'i : :.■{
uisronr o/<' joiinson
skirtings of low, scraggy timber along the
]iiiiicij<;il wiitcr-courf-L's, an<l tlic i^cuienil ap-
jicurancc (lilVcr^ hut little Iruni all the great
western plains from hike .Miehio;;Ln to the
Jlio liraiide. The cause i>f all the [irairies is
generally considered to he tlu' i)ractice of
burnin-^^otf hy the Indians, either pnrposely
or carelessly, eordiniie<l I'or ages, which kept
the trees and shnihs from encroaching upon
tiie grass area, lint for some reason the
timber of this part of Texas is limited in
variety and considerably dwarfed, crooked
and knotty compared with that of the older
ytates east and northeast.
While to the casual observer, traveling
through the country by rail fiom northern
Illinois to the IJrazos river, there seems to be
but little change in the chai-acler of the sur-
face, yet to the scientilic eye there are many
little curious features to be discerned witliiii
the domain of the natural sciences.-^-geology,
botany, zoology, toj)ograj)hy, climate, i^tc.
Originally, to the eye of the beholder it
presented one vast scene of jirairie; i'or what
little timber anci brush existed was eon-
lined to the low grcuind along the streams,
and hence was not perceivable at a distance,
as the high and nndidating prairie intervened
above or at least on a level with the top of
the tindier. 'J'he j)rairie was covered with
tall, luxuriant grass, bedecke<l with tlowers
of all shades of beauty, anil in places re-
sembled a garden. The grass was from one
to four feet high, and even higher still when
it produced seed, sonjetimes attaining a height
of six or seven feet. Tiiis tall grass, bedecked
with
,yna,l
ing
breeze, resembled a scene at sea at the setting
of the sun, its rays shining through tlii', crested
waves of foam and the billows, and presenting
all the prismatic colors.
A Ijillowy ocean with green carpet spread,
Wliicli seemed almost too jieat tor man to tread,
Willi glittering stars of umaryllis white,
With violets blue and roses red and bright,
\\\\.\i golden cinquefoil, star-grass, buttercups,
With dazzling cardinal tlowers and painted cups.
And Ions but cheerful meadow larks to sing,
This grassy sea a|]])eared in smiling spring.
In sunniier came the stately compass-plant,
As if to guide the wandering immigrant;
Then asters, golden-rods and wild sunflowers
O'erspread the vales in labyrinthine bowers.
Thus nature, clad in vesture gold and green,
lirought autumn in and closed the llural scene.
The name "Texas" was derived froni the
fact that one tribe of Indians, the Oomanciies,
called this country "teas,'" meaning beatiti-
inij)ressioii upon all trasclers. One beholder,
in the exuberance <d' his emot ions, exclaimed
that he believed that when the Creator said
that his work was good he must ha\c been
either in Texas or had this laud in view!
Another person, upon wlioin the etfect was
nut so lestluaic, said thai the Creator had a
!,d of .<.'raj)s left which he threw together,
and the result was Texas!
In describing the topography of any sec-
tion it is customary to notice tirst the most
conspicuous feature, the water-courses. In
Jolins(.in county creeks are numerous. Wal-
nut creek, rising a few miles from Alvarado,
in the eastern division, runs across the county
line into Ellis comity. iMounfain cieek rises
near the same place, and extends northeast
^■ - B( IT
U - . ; > .11,' :.:
U\V HILL COUNTIES.
int.. i;iliH cnunty. (llKuiiber.s' crwk (tliu iiortli
f,,rk) l.ikcs its hcgiiininn; about six luilus uMst
..f ClilMinio, in tlie Cross Tiiiiliers, passes a
littl.' Miiith (jf Alvarado ami oinLTo;es I'ruiii
iln- (■(.iiiity near tlie southeast eurncr. The
r,,(ith fork oi' this creek, from the same Cross
Tiiiiheis, liiids its way to (Ti-aiul View and
thciiee into Kliis at some distance from the
l.,,int where the nortli fork crosses. Caddo
rii'ik drains tiie nortiierii part of the county,
rihin;,' a few miles north of Clel)urne and
|iir- iu;^ into Tarrant county not far from the
wi. -trill edge of the Cross Timbers, llack-
JMTry creek, the |irincipal stream within Hill
...iiiily, runs through its central portion.
Ihil tlie laroest and most noted stream
ill the^e counties is Noland's river. Tiiis
rli-i;un has its bei^nnnini^r on the divide, not
liir fnnn tlie northwest corner of dohnson,
IM-M'.-, MMithward by tlie point where the vil-
i.ige of Kuchanaii once stood, thence live
mile, west of Cleburne, and crossinc/ the Hill
loiiiily line soon empties into the Brazos
riMT. Its most imp.jrtant tributaries are
Ciiiiip creek, on the west, and IJnllalo creek,
oil the east. 'I'his river was named in honor
,,f I'liilip Nolaiid, a trader between the United
Siaie» and Mexico, who was killcl near its
e.i.-tern bank, some time between 1820 and
INJU. Uo was on his way from Nacogdoches
lliriiU{j;h this section to Mexico, on a trading
cvjicditioii, when he met a company of hostile
Mexican,-, with whom he had a severe light.
.\ p;ir,-]K.rt had Ijeen given him, and he with
1,1.- parly had slopjied at a log fori, when they
were attacked by about 150 Mexicans. Some
were killed and the rest captured, and >,ome
of the latter were carried to Mexico. The
exact place of Poland's death is pointed out
to be on the II. G. IJi'uce sun-ey, a lew miles
northwest of Cleburne, according to one ac-
count; but according to another it was in or
near the northwest corner of Ilill county.
The foregoing streams run during a con-
siderable portion of the year, and during the
driest seasons most of them have within
their banks water snfHcient for all necessary
purposes. There are also numerous S|)rin<rs,
and well-water can generally be obtained at a
depth of twenty to thirty feet. The water
thus obtained in the eastern portion of the
county is soft, but contains more or less
mineral substances, while in the western half
of lilt; comity the water is vcvy hard, being
strongly saturated with calcareous or chalky
and limy matters.
The -'Cross Timbers" is the name given
to that great strip of light wooil, several
miles wide, extending across a large portion
of the State of Texas from southeast to nortli-
west, between the Trinity and Brazos rivers,
but west of the divide, which is called the
" Mountains." It consists mostly of post-
oak, black-oak, white-oak and burr-oak. An
amusing U'gend is current that in a former
age a Alexican giant who owned all this
country leased it to another giant for the
purpose of raising a crop. The latter filled
his pockets with acorns for planting, and.
wliih; plowing one day the landlord suddenly
ajipeared for the jiurpose of taking undue
advantage of him, and the lessee, in running
away from him, had to stop frequently and
bit ilown to pull the cactus thorns out of his
0!
yiiltv '«."'■ ; .
■iiu ... 1.
.!.' '.. 1 ,
in 'a "...
UlSTOHY OF JOHNSON
feet, wlieii Boiiie ut' the acorns would roll out
of his pocket!
Ill .lohiisoii comity the V.ru^i Tiiiihera have
till avurai<i^ wiJtIi ol' aijout twelve iiiilca, tlie
wetitoni edge cutting tliu county nearly into
liahes. Thus the eastern part of tiie county
irt mostly wooded wiiile the western portion
is clean prairie. Tlie strij) runs throu^di the
western part of llii. eoiinty.
Caddo Peak, in the northeastern part of
Johnson county, is the highest elevation .11
these counties, its suiniuit reaching about 350
feet above the level of the surrounding
country. Looking north, one can see from
its top, without the aid of a glass, the Blue
lvnol)3 beyond Von AVortli, twenty-nine miles
distant. In the far northeast and east the
range of hills called " Cetlar mountains " can
be seen very distinctly. These lie in Ellis
and Dallas counties, at least thirty miles dis-
tant. Looking directly northeast, a post-oak
grove near Cedar Springs, in Dallas county,
can be outlined, and that point is at least
lit'ty miles away. Turning tow^ard the south,
a high timber ridge obscures Cleburne from
view, but objects far beyond Cleburne, dis-
tant thirty miles, may be [ilainly observed.
Turning the eye in the direction of the set-
ting sun, we have Comanche I'eak, thirty
miles away, in Hood county, plainly in our
sight. Looking southwest, tiie Dulfaii moun-
tains in JJosque county meet the eye at a
distance of forty miles. Again, casting the
eye into the northwest, you behold the west
fork of the Trinity river, clearly delinetl by
the timber along its banks. Indeed, the
range of lands beyond Weatlu-rford, distant
thirty to thirty-live miles, may be seen with-
out straining the eyes. From this " grand
stand " the red men of Texas u.-^ed to make
their (;bHTvalioii.x
At its base the peak is about three-fourths
of a mile in diameter, and it rises abruptly
to a giddy height. The summit is ilat and
about 100 feet in diameter. Hrown sandstone
was the material used by old Dame Nature
in the construction of this huge pile. jNLmy
names of visitors have been inscribed upon
the rocks at this suininit, some of wiiich are
still visible. Some are dated back as far as
1830, and even 1810, but of course it is not
certain whether these are true dates or riot.
The weather-beaten and worn character of the
cuttings, however, shows that some of them
Were made there many years ago.
In the substance of the stone are remains
of marine shells, showing that these strata
were once underneath the sea. Encircling
the sides of the peak are steps twenty feet
broad, supposed by some to have been made
by Indians for convenience in making obser-
vations while sheltered from the wind.
UEOLOOV.
Ill Older to obtain a comprehensive view of
the geological structure of the formations
underlying this region of Texas, we quote the
following, somewhat abbreviated, from the
First Annual Report of the State Geological
Survey, dated 1889, which is all that is yet
authentically published concerning this sub-
ject. No detailed investigation of the fossils
of this region have yet been made; some
notes have been taken by one of the assistant
,;>w: vl tr.,.i -../■.■'!
iu'ii t.'i.uit ;j'.>.l/. M -!. n "v;
: V >jj; [ 111;
'!. I.- f .;i« .• . '.t.
J. 1,1.- -.,,.. i> I •■ M, ■ ' U^J..
.,:., .4,;; i,.-,h •...'Sniit 'jlii
AND UILL COUNTIES.
M.ilr j^coUigisls, hut are not yet publisliod.
'I'lic two tjcrius of rocks coinprising the
('r<l:ii:foiis system oecuj)}' tlie area of the
Si. ill' known as tlie hlack jiraii'ie, the Grand
|.r:iiiif ami tlie two cross timbers, and un-
ftiidicd arras in the eastern and trans I'ecos
r.-ioMH of tlie State. To these strata the
Si.iti: owes a laro^e part of her agricultural and
^'I'Hi'ral ]U-ospei-ity, for they are tlie fouiida-
li.iii of the rich black-waxy and other cal-
.-.ireoiis soils of tliese regions. In addition to
lliiir a^'iicultural features tiiey are the most
jiriMliictive source of building material, while
.idjiiceiit to the ])arting betwi^eii them, ex-
iiiidiiig tlie entire leii-th of the State and
di'|iriident Upon tlieir stratigraphy, is a re-
iiurkalile area of natural and artesian wells,
.u rccn at Fort Worth, Austin, AVaco, Taylor,
S.m Marcos and elsewhere. That these for-
iiiiitiuiin are of great value to the State is also
tlu.wn by the fact that they are the site of
I'lir |irincij)al inland cities and the rich agri-
ciiltiiial soils wliich surround them.
'i'liis is in general a chalky country, and
iiiii.picly Texan, so far as the United States
.iru concerned, Constituting a distinct geo-
^'raphic region, in every tojiographic, eco-
imiiiic and cultural aspect, and one which
hhoiild not lie confused with other j)ortionsof
diir country. It covers an area of over 73,-
MU (-ipiaro miles, or over one-fourth of the
toiiil area of Texas, forming a bi-oad belt of
fi-rtili! territory across the heart of the State,
from the Ouachita mountains of the Indian
Territory and Arkansas to the mountains of
n.prlhern Mexico, — an area larger than the
average American Stateand eipial to the com-
bined area of all the New England States.
One third of this region lies north of the
Colorado river, and the remainder to the
southwest.
This region, with its many ditiei-ent prai-
ries, each covered by its peculiar vegetation,
its sweeping jdaiiis and diverse valleys, its
undulating slopes clad with jiatches of live
oak, its narrow strips of cross timbers, its
ragged buttes and mesas, jiresents a \-aried
landscape, yet possessing as a whole an indi-
vidual as])ect peculiarly its own. All these
features, with their ditl'erent tints and tones
of soil and vegetation, with their varied con-
ditions for human habitatioti, are but the
surface aspects of the system of chalky rocks
(chalky sands, chalky clays and chalky lime-
stones) upon which it is founded, and to which ^
is principally due evei-y physical quality of
the country. In fact, it is the gi'eat chalky
region of the United States.
The rocks originated as sediments of the
Atlantic ocean, laid down with great uni-
formity during two of the long epochs of
subsidence and emergence, when the waters
covered this region many hundred fathoms
deep. These ancient sediments are now more
or less consolidated and elevated into fertile
land, which is decomposing under atmosjiheric
conditions into soils and debris, and in its
turn being slowly transported to the ocean,
where it will make other rock sheets. They
now occur in regular sheets or strata, dipping
beneath each other toward the sea, while
the projecting western edges, each of which
weathers into, and imparts its individuality
to, its own peculiar belt of country, outcroj)
'] ^■
;i:> < I J! t im^j/o I
I '■ I. ill. VU.JCf/l,
■ly'!/ .■-■.<l;.. ,|
lUSTUilY OF JUUN.SOiV
belts, sul.
]Kini
to th
|ii-osent oeeaii oiitliuo. Thus it is tliatasone
proceeds iiiliiiid from the eoast ho constantly
erosses siUH'c.-sividy lower and lower sheets of
these formations. The oldest, or lowest, in a
^rL'ol(,o;ieal sense, of these outerojis forms the
upper cross limbers, those above these make
the (iiMud prairie, the next sheet forms the
lower cross tindters, the next the black ])rai-
rie, etc. Each of these weathers into a char-
acteristic soil, which in its turn is adapted to
a pectdiar agriculture. Each also has its water
conditions, and other feattires of economic
value.
The Cretaceous country of Texas, as a
whole, like the system of rocks of which the
surface is composed, is separalile into two
great divisions, each of which in turn is sid)-
di\ided into a number of parts. These two
regions are known as the Jilack I'rairie and
(Jrand (or Fort Worth) Prairie regions, each
of wdiicli includes in its western border, north
of the Urazos, an elongatt^d strip of timber
known as the Lower and Upper ('ross 'I'im-
bers, respectively.
The Black Prairie region occupies an elon-
gated are.i extending the length of the State
from the ited ri\cr to the liio (ii-ande. The
eastern iiorder of the lilack I'raii'ie is ap-
proximately the Bouthwestern termination of
thogreat Atlantic timber belt. The Missouri
Pacific and the International railroads from
Denisoii to San Antonio approximately mark
the western edge. In general tins region con-
sists of a level plain, imperceptibly slo])ing
to the southeast, varied only by gentle undu-
lations and tieep drainage vallr^s, unmarked
by jn-ecipitatc cafions. It is transected at in-
tervals by the larger streams, whose deep cut
valleys, together with their side streams, make
indentations into the plain, but not snlliciciit
to destroy the characteristic llatness of its
wide divides, — remnants of the original {)lain,
or topograi)hic marine base level, which has
not been completely scored i»y its still youth-
ful drainage system. The altitude of the
plain is between 600 and 800 feet.
The surface of most of the Black Prairie
region is a deep black clay soil, which when
wet becomes exceedingly tenacious, from
which fact it is locally called " black-waxy."
In general it is the residuum of the underly-
ing clays, and contains an excess of lime,
which, acting u|)on the vegetation by com-
plicated chemical changes, causes the black \
color. It is exceedingly productive, and
nearly every foot of its area is susceptible of
a high state of cultivation, constituting one
of the largest continuous agricultural regions
in the United States.
Johnson and Hill counties, ex-cojiting the
eastern part of Hill, are situated in the most
characteristic part of the area. Upon dig-
ging down to water the suli-structure is found
to cousi.-^t of a light blue or yellow calcareous
clay, called by the residents " soapstone "and
"joint clay," from its jointed and laminated
structure. The surface, especially of the
high undrained divides, is also accompanied
in many places l)y minute depressions known
as " hog-wallows," which are produced by the
drying, cracking and disintegrating chaiacter
of these excessively calcareous clays in poorly
drained places.
'"•■•-• 1
( . I'^i.
./(i ,.*, r-ii'lT'^'-'D It'
mn , I}:
j\ND IIIIJ. COUNTIRS.
53
'I'lif wc^tiTii (■ilfi;o of tills cliiilky region, as
..-,•11 lit Oiik (Mitts, near Dallas, at Slicrinaii,
llill-l.un.and other places, iiMially cu.ls in an
..■.,',u-|.niei.t (iverlookino; a valley eontainin-
tl,u iniiH.r lllaek I'rairie aiul knver ( 'in,-,s 'I'ini-
U•rM^i|>.■^. It is nixm this chalk that the
iinL-t iiiosperous of the inturioi- cities of Texas
are located.
Wet of tlie •• white-rock " or chalky divis-
i.iii, and generally at a slightly lower altitude,
i»-cii|iying a valley across the State, is a sec-
i.nd narrow strip of hlack clayey land, of a
imliire similar to that of the main hlack-
uH\y ai'ea, and likewise accompanied liy
•• hng-wallows." This is the country east of
l>iiituii and Whitesljoro, in the I\[ountain
creek di.-trict of Dallas county, and along the
line (if the Missouri Pacific railway from
Alviu-adotoAVaco.
Let IIS now study the live stratigraphie and
lilh..K.gie divisions of the Hlack I'rairie re
gull more technically in the light of geo-
logic science, commencing with the lowest:
1. The lower cross-timber sands, extending
Iroiii the lirazos river to the lied, are hrown
aiul more or less ferruginous, heiiig a pre-
.ioiiiinaiilly sandy lit toral .leposil, and resting
iiiicoiifoniiahly upon various liori/oiis of the
hcuii-chalky beds of the Washita division, or
top of the Comanche series. These sandy
diposiis present an infinite variety of contli-
tions of cross-bedding, clay intercalations,
ligiiilic patches and variation in fineness of
^i/.e and angularity of tlie uncemented jiarti-
clrri, (diaracteribticof ty])ical littoral deposits,
whde occasionally there are found fossilifer-
the beds of the lower cross timbers, the lig-
nite being frei]uently mistaken for bitumi-
nous coal; hut it is doubtful whether either
can be found in sullicieiit (jiiaiitity for com-
mercial use. it is probable, however, that
an artesian well sunk almost anywhere in the
cross timbers along the Centi'al Texas rail-
road would yield an abundant tlow of water.
2. The Eagle Ford clay shales lie to the
eastward and immediately above the lower
cross-timber sands, and are the foundation of
the minor Black Prairie streak. ^ I'eneath the
scarp of the wliite rock (Austin-Dallas chalk)
at Dallas, and extending westward through
the Mountain creek country to the lower
cross timbers, can be seen typical localities of
this division, the thickness of which is esti-
mated at 400 feet. These clays in their \
medial portion are dark blue and shaly, higlily
laminated, and occasionally accompanied by
gigantic nodular septarite, locally called tur-
tles. Fossil remains of marine animals are
found in these clays, including many beauti-
fully preserved species, the delicate color and
luster of the shells being as fresh as when
alive. Most abundant among these are oys-
ters, lish teeth, chainbored shells and luo-
North of Waco these beds increase in
thickness and extent, forming extensive black-
waxy areas in Ilill, Johnson, Ellis, Dallas,
Collin, Lamar, Fannin and Grayson counties,
west of the white-rock scarp.
The chief economic value of the minor
iJlack Prairie will ever be its magnificent
black calcareous clayey soil, while some of
the chief geologic considerations are the as-
;H i(.. i-r ■ !j
Vl;i- 'fl ,,
Hfi; . ■ 1' (,
J-.. if: .'1 >.
IIISTORT OF JOHNSON
L-ertaiiuiient of means to make this soil more
easily handled and less tenacious hy devising
suitable mixtures, the discovery of roatl-
makin^ material and the increase of water
for domestic and an;ricultural iiurniises. Ow-
foun.:
for plant use treble the quantity of moisture
of some of its adjacent sandy districts, but
surface and ilowing water is scarce. Fortu-
nately, however, this district is also within the
central Texas artesian well area, and an abun-
dant supjjly of water can always be obtained
at a depth of less tlian 1,500 feet. Wlieii
this fact is fully appreciated the region will
become one of tiie most prosperous in Texas.
In the valleys of most of the streams running
eastward across the east half of the minor
IMack Prairie, artesian water can be obtained
at from 100 to 300 feet. The source of this
water is the lower cross- tini be
id. Man
of tile concretions and calcareous layers are
probably suitable for making cement; but
tests must be made. The clays may also
prove of commercial value.
3. The White-Rock or Austin- Dallas chalk,
next above the preceding, is the most con-
spicuous ri'presontative division of the whole
Upjier Cretaceous system. This occupies a
narrow strip marking the western l>order of
the main i51ack Prairie region, separating it
from the minor Plack Prairie. The outci-op
of this chalk extends from Arkansas south-
westward through Dallas, Waxahachie, Ilills-
boro, AVaco, Bellon, Austin, etc.
The rock of this formation is a massive,
nearly pure, white chalk, usually free from
grit, and i^asily carved with a pocket-knife.
Under the microscope it exhibits innunieralile
shells of foraminiferai. It weatliers in large
conchoidal ilakes. In composition it varies
from eighty-tive to ninety-four per cent, of
calcium carbonate, the residue consisting of
magnesia, silica and a small proportion ot
ferric oxide. The tliicknoss of this chalk is
about 500 feet. This formation abounds in
fossils, most of which, however, are but poorly
preserved casts.
The economic advantages of this bed are
various. Peing porous, it is healthful as
affording sites for dwellings and cities, and is
easily applied to all useful purposeb towhicii
chalk generally is applied.
4. The " Exogyia Ponderosa " marls, con-
stituting the bed next above the last, extends
eastward from Dallas, and therefore does not ^
concern us here, as also the 5th, the Upper
Arenaceous or Glauconitic, still further east.
(^n the principal ridge in the eastern part
of Johnson county the sandstone upheaval is
a Wonderful water-bearing sti-atum, while the
limestone below it is dry and impervious. At
a certain level below that ridge there is an
abundance of water on both sides of the ridge
showing the existence of an immense fount-
ain.
The lower strata (below the Cretaceous)
have been upheaved above this ridge. Brown
haematite ore is abundant.
In phices throughout the cross timbers
there is the most beautiful fire clay in the
world, — a bright cherry red. A hrick com-
posed of this clay can be thoroughly heated
white hot, and never aftei'ward changed by tire.
There are also traces of coal in that region.
(6JJ .'•o,i;!'f|M ■„(!
.7^ ;■.!!.; <;o
, 'i^ !n,. /o. j;;. (;■, ,,t.(j V.
.: <-' I.,. K-- " ' if!.. :r.3V;
!ii..i, v:t.j'>n
AND UILL COUNTIES.
Ill two of tlio Caiido peaks tliere is a (jiuin-
tit^ (if iron, iletloctiiig tlio needle of ;i coiii-
[1.1-0 wlii'u broiiglit ill that \ieiiiity.
Ill the western ]);ut of Julmsun county
lliiTi' lire traces of gold, in quartz. Mr. li. II.
A. lair, the county surveyor, as well as others,
li.i^ found specimens there. There are indi-
iMtioMs of gold-mining having been done
ill former times, in outcroppings near Mr
Ko.-.li'n place, near the junction of AValniit
creek with the IJrazos river and two miles
from Acton.
Ill the western, or prairie, portions of
Joliiibon county sulphur springs are immer-
oufl. Along the Brazos arc springs of pure,
cold water, from the sandstones. The river
'\^ several hundred feet below the general
Irvcl of the country, and these springs are
iiinler cool bluffs covered with cedar. Near
the summit of these blulfs is some of the
linc.it building stone in the country.
In the eastern portion of the county the
\Ncll water is generally soft and in some
jihiccs impregnated with minerals, while
ill the western part the water is harder.
Ill both sections well water is obtained at a
ilr]ith of twenty feet oi' a little more.
The borings of the artesian wells at Cle-
burne give the following strata: The first
lifty or si.\ty feet, the cretaceous, — same us
the outcroppings of the country; a more
homogeneous blue lime-stone for 250 or 300
fr.-t; blue marl or soapstone, fitteen feet; 150
fiet further down, the first vein of artesian
water; then blue limestone again, with occa-
i-ionally a little slate. At a depth of about 885
leet, sand, extendino; down to the dei.tli of
1,000 feet from the surface of the ground.
Ne.\t was a red, teiiaciousclay, which is prob-
ably 300 feet ill thickness.
at that noint
1,300
Une artesian wi
feet deep.
From the borings of the artesian well at
Itasca, we ascertain the following: First
twenty feet, drift; 130 feet, black slate;
thirty feet, sandy lime; two feet, hard lime;
forty feet, black slate; thirty-five feet, water-
bearing rock; forty-five feet, caving black
slate; twenty-two feet, lilue slate; 119 feet,
wdiite slate; and the rest of the way down to
a depth of 1,150 feet from the surface (the
depth reached at this date, January 25,
1892), shale in layers alternating in colors
between blue and very wdiite, including five
or six feet of pipe clay. Most of this shale
is considered "too dry" and chalky to be
deemed true soapstone.
Very few fossils have been discovered in
our district. The most noted, of which we
havtj account, are Ammonites ten to f'onrteen
inches in diameter along the IJrazos, where
other fossils also are most abundant.
Gold and petroleum liavo both been found
in small quantities, in Hill county.
The climate of this section is generally
mild. Daring the long summer seasons there
is a constant breeze sweeping over the prai-
ries which tempers the day and renders the
night cool and refreshing. In the hottest
weather there is scarcely a sultry day without
some mitigating breeze. On this account
sunstroke is almost totally unknown, and
•.'\^'rv.-
th .;, 7.1 ':..!: ml ..1
n I STORY OF JOHNSON
tlie oll'ects (if lieat less ovci'jwwci'iny and ilo-
striictive tliuii in tlu' nortlieni States. Tlio
winters are sliort and UMially dry. A few
fro.-ts and sometimes an incli or so (d' .snow-
is tiie extent of winter weatiier. Most of tlie
days during tiie winter seascni, — wdiieli ox-
tends from ahoiit tlie middle of December to
the middle of February, — are sunny and
clieerful, while the wind is not disagreeable,
except diii-ing an occasional "norther." At
all other periods the northers are not unwel-
come. For at least five months in every year
they drive oft' the malaria and bring in a pui-e
and bracing air from the Inghcr ])lains and
mountains. The traveler from most other
States is particularly impressed by the bright
sun from sunrise to sunset, the tonic quality
of the atmosphere and the halcyon character
of the weather. The buzzards and carrion
crows devouring the carcasses of all dead
animals before decomposition contaminates
tlie air, and tliere being no cellars under the
liouses, — the most producti\e factories of
malaria, universal among Northerners, — tlie
people in this part of Texas ought to be more
liealthy than those of any other part of the
world. Tlie sickness from wiiicli they suffer
here, therelbre, must certainly be due to tlioir
own bad habits. The air of all Spanish
America is indeed so free from bacti-ria, tiie
source of decay, that fresh meat is easily
cured liy simjily drying out doors, without
salt. The best country in the world tor dys-
jieptics to recover is in this givat Southwest.
As to the rainfall, it is acknowledged that
it comes a little too much concentrated at
certain seasons, without much regard to the
necessities of the planters; yet the agricult-
ural class have adapted themselves to this fea-
ture, and are prosperous in the raising of
cotton and corn; while fruits and vegetables
of all kinds are easily raised in great abun-
dance and of good (quality.
On one occasion, wdien a family was on
their way to Texas, they met a woman and
her family leaving the country. She was
asked why she was going away, and answered,
that although Texas looked all right and was
healthy and productive, yet she did not care
to have all the dry weather at once, nor all
the rain at once, but would like a mixture, as
it were, — a streak of lean and a streak of fat;
that "it never rained here, and that when it
did commence it would rain forever!"
There was some truth in the woman's rea- \
son. Fur several seasons nearly all the rain
fell within a few days, or weeks, fri'(|iiently a
month. For a number of years from 1846
and onward, the most of the rain fell in No-
vember anil March, about two weeks each,
and the balance of the year was dry. It is
not so uniform of late years, the wet spell
coming in January, sometimes in May, June
or July. Here, in this part of Texas, it has
been quite a common occiirrenco for it not to
rain for five months, yetgootl crops are usually
made, sometimes better, sometimes worse.
This state of alfairs is due to the superiority
of Texas soil.
KIOCOUI) OF TIIK WICATIIKU 18-iO-"Jl.
Following is a record of the weather in this
region, from the fall of 1840 to the fall of
18'J1:
I .... ■»■■! ' .
l/rt/., ■.,!' <t
AND HTIJ. COUNTIES.
IS 1(! ^'7.— Scarcely any winter wuatlicr
1^17. ^ A few northers whicli lasted From
luo 1(1 thi-i'O (lays, acconiiiaiiicd with a lew
li^'ht tro>ts,— su lighl that the cotton stalks
[.at (.>iit sprouts near lie groinul.
is IS. Deceujher ;^, a heavy rain, acconi-
[.anlcl with lightniiij; and thunder, and fol-
lowed hy cold weath.r, freezing and sleeting
li\cly until evening, when it liegan to snow,
and ciintiiincd nntil the ground was co\'eied
to the depth of some four or live inches with
ice and buow, which remained on the ground
iih(iut ten days or two weeks. It was so cold
iliat it not only froze the branches and creeks,
lail the I'ivers. The IJi-azo.s river was frozen
o\(i-, and persons crossed it on the ice l)eluw
\VaC(j. lied river was also frozen over to
rucli a degree that the feri-yboat was stopped
af.jut a week and the people crossed on the
ice. North of Bonham they cros.-ed it in a
heat (Ml December 21), and it was still cov-
ired with ice above and below wdieie the boat
cro.-.cd.
ls-l',1.- .May the 15th corn was killed as far
f(Mitli as Austin. There was but littK; rain
plea-anl and salubrious.
l.So()--51.— Dry and mild.
lSJ2. - This wasa\cry wet year from July
the l.-t till the fall, and a vast amount of
H, kne.s prevailed. Chills and bilious fevers
prev.iiled. The spring was dry.
lSo:j. — Dry in s|iring and summer; a cold
biell in winter; (piite cool in the spring;
1853-'54-. — The snrino-s of these years
e sp
were extremely cool, so cool that the farmers
harvested with •'arm-strong reapers" (scythe
ami cradle) all day with overcoat and mit-
tens on, and did not sulfer with heat from
the lOth to the 15th of ]\Iay.
1855. — Quite a cold snap in January;
heavy snow in places for this section; snow
remained about two weeks.
1856. — Normal temperature, but dry and
water scarce.
1857. — A i)ril5tli of this year a heavy norther
blew up, killing vegetation clear down to the
ground. Wheat was headed out and in bloom,
wdiich froze in waves in daylight, and as soon
as the clouds passed away and the sun shone
out the wheat, grass, corn, and in fact all
vegetation wilted and fell to the ground. In
a few (lays it would have burned, and some
person.s did really bui'U their wheat cdf;
others, with the hope of facilitating its suck-
eiingfrom the root, mowed the wheat; others
turned their stock in upon it and grazed it
oif; some let it alone, trusting to Providence
for the result. On the 11th it snowed all
day, making a depth of about four inches.
Those who decided that the c<u-n was all
killed, planted over after the freeze, and be-
low the snow. The snow made moisture
enough to bring the crop up, and to the as-
tonishment of all the wheat sprouted up and
made from three to ten bushels to the acre.
Corn that wao not planted till after the snow
lay in the gror.nd as sound as if in the crib
till the la.-^t .d' .\ugust. No rain the entiresea-
.-,on till that lime, and still there was nuule
wheat and corn e.iougb from the moisture
/v,-,rfi'....,.;,['i.. ;!i
IIISTOUY OF JOllNNdN
of that anow, supiiluiiientLMl by lliu
There were iiiaiiy long t';.
that s
;,^s
proportiijii to the puimhitiuu, and no wuinler,
for it surely did look like starvation for all;
for there were no means of transportation
save hy ox teams and wagons, and of course
the people eould yet notliin<^ from other
States liy that means in time, to save them.
Numbers of persons, ho\\'ever, who eame
to Texas at an early day lived without bread
for as lonn- as a year in some cases, or until
they coukl make a crop.
1S58. — More than ordinary rain ; temjiera-
ture mild, but unpleasant in wintei-, owing to
the rain.
185U.— The summer was fearfully hot, the
winds having the chai-aetei-isties of regular
siroccos. It was so Imt that numbers of
buildings in town an.l country were burned
to the ground. The burning was charged
to the negroes, as at that particular time, not
long before the war broke out between the
Northern and Southern States, abolitionism
was exciting the people. Although the
negroes were ignorant and easily deludeti, yet,
be it baid to their credit, they were jK'ai-eable
and alien. led lo ibeir work as a -eneral rule.
AVhilst this was the case, the mass of the
people tlumght otherwise, and they went
" crazy " on the subject, to use an exacirerated
expression. A number of negroes, as well as
some whites, wcu'e roughly dealt with. It
was thought tliat the tires were the work of
incendiaries, as in most instances no cause
could be traced whereby tlie buildings could
have taken lire from accidental causes; but
hnally matches in old Uncle Jiilly Oldham's
store in Waxahachie tock lire whilst lyii;g on
a shelf, right niuler tlie sight of the clerks
and jirojirietor, in hrord daylight. The'^cat
was out of the bag; the explanations of all
the mysterious and alarming conilagrations
was plain — spontaneous ignition. To test the
matter, and that all nright see the cause for
themselves, matches were placed on the side-
walks and in other situaMons, which in a short
time burst into tlame. In fact, as soon as the
matches, in many ins ances, touched the
heated ]javements they ignited.
185'J-'60-'61. — Almost no rain for three
years, and still good crops, esjiecially wheat,
rye, oats, barley, etc.; corn, moderate, but
very little of it planted. Wheat made from
twenty to forty bushels per acre, weighing
from sixty-eiglit to seventy-two j)Ounds to the
measured bushel. The question naturally
arises. How could such a crop be pi'odiiced
with ahnost no rainfall? We hail what was
known as sea or gulf fog, which came up
nearly every morning about ilaylight or
shortly after, and continued until about eight
o'clock. All vegetation would bo wet with
it. These fogs have very nearly disappeared.
Im-dui LSKi to the '()<)s, they nccurred almost
eveiw morning; but they have become fewer
and fewer until now, 1891, they scarcely
ever appear. As to the cause of their cessa-
tion we have not as yet been able to solve the
the problem. We never saw one of these fogs
beyond lied river, ami have been on this side
amid a heavy one, whilst across the river
there was no sign of a fog. They originated
in the gulf, imt just why they came then and
not now, is one of those inscrutable mysteries
.= -, -'',1
L .,^',.j,.
AND nil.!, COUNTIK.
\\W\A\ -■.L'l'iu beyond our ken. What tlie cli-
iiiiitii.' cli;iiigi! or ehanfres can be to pi'oduce
r.. marked a diti'crence, not even tlie Veiinors,
t!,.. F,,.tcrs, nor the Old i'rohs can tell us.
Old I'^arth i^oes rolliuL; right along, appar-
.Miily the sauie as she was 5,000 or lS,000
yi .ir.-^ ago, hut we must renieuiher that Fgypt
I;. it much over 2.000 years hack was a laiuJ
ll.r.viiig with milk and honey, and one of the
n,..^t uia^rnificenl empires of the world, with
rl.itcly moniiinents and an adv;inced ci\ili-
z it ion, whilst to-day she is almost a howling
wiMcrne-s. The winds that apparently
i,i..u;_dit those fogs still blow, but whether so
rti-.uig us formerly is doubtful, (^ne thing is
.■riiain, howevei-, that a breeze seldom blows
\\'>\K which ]ir<-vents one from carrying an
umbrella. A further evidence of some great
(■!i:iugi' in our meteorological conditions is
the prevalence of those psstiferous little
gnats, which very Sehloin annoyed oiie at
w..rk outdoors. For instance, in •' chopping"
C'lttou, as it is termed, in those former days'
it wa^ rare tijat any one was annoyed, but
\v>\ the little insects are so numerous and
|Hr.-i = t,-nt that one at W(U-k in the Held is
(iflcn c pc:llcd 1.) we;ir a \eil o\ ci- the lace.
l•^.•ll in traveling it was rarely the case that
one was anmiyed.the wiiul blowing the gnats
olV: but now they ai'e extremely bad at times.
The beautiful phenomenon of the mirage
acc'unip.inii'd the.so gulf fogs; that is, they
]ircceded the fog. Pictures suspended in the
low clouds, consi.-^ting of landscapes, liill and
dab,', gi'oves, fai'ms, houses and farms, a[i-
prarcd, and would last for some time. 'I'hey
were .-iniilai- in pi-iiiciple to the mirages seen
on deserts aiul in the Arctic region, and wert
formerly thought to be optical illusions, super-
induced by the wants of the traveler, as in
])assing o\-er a deser
t wlr
was needed.
These would see beautiful streams, ami those
in the Ai-etic region see Iwats of rescue; but
investifration has shown that these images of
the mirage are the reHection in the clouds,
under peculiar circumstances, of real oljjects.
The summers of 1800 and ISGl were dry and
liot, but without liot winds.
ls02-'03. — Springs cool and liackward
Men ran reapers with overcoats, comfort and
mittens on, and still sulYered with cold.
iy64-'()0-'iJ(). — Ordinary as to tempera-
ture, but dry and hot in the summer season.
1807. — This year tiie spring was also cool
and backwani; hail a sleet and snow during
the last of March. In Hill county the snow
was deepei-, Imt the weather was not so cold,
and little damage was done. Peach trees were
seen in full bloom several times in Feb-
i-uary and March, envelopetl in ice, when
they looked exquisitely beautiful, the full
bloom expanded, yet .solid, with the petals
glisteniuii' in the light. Of course it seemed
that not a peach would be borne upon the
trees, but, strai
nniy apjies
tlr
crop was a good one. At other times a
" norther," no colder, and with no ice, would
kill every blossom on the trees, aa well as the
oats and garden vegjf.ables. The ice protected
the fruit from the cold winds.
18(;8.~Wet, cold winter; Iieavy liail the
17th of March; summer hot and dry.
18f')'J-70-'71.— Ordinary as to rainfall and
tcmjiei'ature.
■• l)lu) ■ ■ ! ,■■"! _.i ,; .1 ..^i .. ■ ;. . i.ir... r ■■ : : •__ .'I '.;'; -,,l j;; nn
lIlsroUY (IF J()lIN,'i<>X
lS72-'73.— AVot, vury wet in harvest:
null six weeks almost without interniis-
rai
sioii.
lS71-'75. -l!ut little rain; dry and eol.l
snap (iiirinc^r huth^vintors.
187(). — 'I'his year \vaB a remarkably cool
one, with trust every month hut two, July
and August. The eoi'n was killed about the
20th of June. It is needless to say there
were no garden vegetables that year.
187S. — Same as preceding year.
lS7y. — Very dry and but little corn made.
On the 5tli of October, tliis year, Mr. Lewis
and family, who were in camji two and a half
miles from old J<nchaiian, had a narrow
esea[)C from drowning in a Hood. Sunday
iiiyht about ten o'clock, in the slioi t space of
seven minutes, Noland's river was oveillow-
ing, and, with the back water from a bin ice,
soon had the family entirely s\irroiinded, and
aim. .St submerged. A fearful gu.^t of wind
inid swept the tents away upon the lirat
appearance of the rain, and only by the use
of blankets thrown over the children and the
slight protection ailorded by the trees were
tlie smaller chil.lreii saved fr..m being
dr..uiH.l. Wh.Mi i1h> rain ha.l .•.a.sc.l the lit-
,y was ues|
snatched b
nee. r-lnn.r
ing into the sluice on horseback with an
intrepi.lity that would have done honor to one
of more mature years, amidst the impenetra-
ble darkness, he lan.led safely on the ..pp.)-
site shore. Arriving at the house of ^Ir.
Hooker, who lived near by, he aroused him
and notilieil him of the danger that menaced
the family. Mr. Hooker r^uickly repaire.l to
the scene and by swimming his liorso back
ami forth across the .stream succcided in tak-
ing the family one at a time to high land. ^
Mr. Hooker says that in a few minutes after
the last one lui.l been rescu..! tli.' little inland
with wati
deep to have carried away the family. They
were conveyed to Mr. Hooker's, where they
received the cordial hospitality of his family,
an.!, from his own statement, a more grate-
ful people it was never his fortune to enter-
tain.
ISSO. — Ordinary as to rainfall, but tem-
perature above normal.
1881.— Wet in winter and spring; tem-
perature aliove normal.
1882. — More than ordimu'y rain; tempera-
ture onlinary.
1888. — Normal.
1884.— Very wet in sjiring, ami cotd.
1885-'8t5.— Weather dry and hot.
lSb7. — More than ordinary rain. About
miilnight of Mon.lay, August 29, tho
rain began, and .luring the day following
it fell in torrents until half past twelve
o'clock. The waters in Hackberry creek,
Hill county, arose tifteen or eighteen feet.
The ii:ieen-fo(,t railr.iad embankment just
south .d' the Hackberry bridge succumbed
an.l about forty feet was washed out, leaving
the rails and ties suspende.l. The H.jo.l is
thought to have been three feet higher than
that of ISGO. It was f.;ur f.'et deep in Mrs.
Haley's resi.ience on the sl.)pe beyond her
gin on the west si.le of the Hackberry. The
stream was over one mile wi.le. It reached
the secon.l story of the mill. Nearly every
bull. ling in Ilillsboro sulfered from leaky
)l f'il'
AND HILL COUNTIES.
rnor.-,. ilridges ami dams almost ovury wlioro
ill this SL'ctiijii ol' 'J'uxaB woro washed away.
No los than live washouts on tlio railroad
i.twc.Mi llillslmi-o and Waco occurred. The
hiid-c across zVijuilla ciwk, on the A,iuilhi
mill llillshoi'O i'oad, costing over $4,000, was
dnnolished. All the brid-03 between Wood-
hiiry and (Jleluirno were washed away,
not even a culsert remaining. It was esti-
iimted that during the si.xteen hours lOj
im-he. of water fell. The western portion of
tliu town of Diuni was badly damaged and
t\\o lives were lost, and many albo had a
narrow escape.
.\t Cleburne a considerable number of
Binull dwellings along both the West and
i;a>t liull'alo creeks, were carried down-
'I'licie Bceiiied to have been a "cloud-burst"
northeast of Cleburne, raising these creeks
to an unprecedented height. Several build-
ings, as well as the bridges and a lumber,
yard, were carried down about daylight. This
lldod is supposed to have been augmented by
11 railroad dam above town, collecting a large
then breakinrr. Amonii
iiantity ot water,
the dwellings carried down was the two-story
u..Mden,vof Mr. T. 1-. Sander.., the piv--,mt
proprietor of the Kntcr^'rise at C'leburne, who
hud in it a printing oflice. Ho and his family
(there were seven pcirsons altogetlu^r in the
hou.n') had a narrow escajm with their lives.
The women were rescued by being placed two
or three at a time upon the hack uf a horse,
their weight holding the animal down so that
lu' could make ])rogress through the furious
scalers. A house just above them was swo[)t
away, in which all the inmates h)st their
lives. I'or the rescue of the survivors great
credit is due to the heroic efforts of
Messi's. C. K. Dill, Thomas Childress and
Joseph Churehill. Afterward Mr. Dill was
prescuitetl by the citizens with a gold medal,
costing about $U)0, as a token of his bravery.
On the East Jiuiralo creek buildings, wag-
ons and machinery could be seen coming
down until nine o'clock. The railroad
bridges on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fd
railroatl near Cleburne, on a level with
twelve-loot embankment, were all w'aslied
away. The oldest citizens at Cleburne say
that the water was five feet higher than ever
before known.
(^f course the crops were badly damaged
everywhere. Fencing and tanks in the low
grounds wei'O carried aw;iy, but after all
some good incidentally resulted to the farm-
ers from this great devastation.
1888. — Wet in winter and spring; tem-
jrature normal.
1881).— In January had a fearful norther
-rain, freeze, sleet, wdiich lasted over two
eeks. It w-as a very wet winter.
ISyO.— Cold and dry; free/.e 28th Keb-
11 th
riiary; killed oats and very n.-
wheat; wet in spring.
18'Jl. — Cold and light rains in winter first
part of year; dry in spring and summer;
more than ordinary hot; "norther" August
20; frost 21. Spring cold and backward,
so much so that it was a common saying,
"Did you ever see the likeT' In August,
about the 2!)th, there was a norther and some
frost in ])laces on low ground, though the
summer ha<l been one of unusual heat, owing
■ . -.1 " i; (10 ,,')"''-(iV;- -xiii lentil >■;' o^t
■/ ib. .. ) .»!i ; ,rj
^■i .. • ^ ..!/
(d T.j
niSTOItV OF JOUN.^ON
to tlic eiihiincss uF the atmosphere and the
wind generally IVoni tlie east, sometimes
from the iioith. i\'o wind Ijut a Bouth wind
si'i-ms to allay the heat.
i'j;Aii;iii FiKi:s.
The most exciting and fearful scenes of
early days on the frontier were tho&e when
the prairies were on tire. It being generally
very dry iluriny the summer, the gi'ass dried
II]) as though il h;ul been mown, and was ex-
cellent foraye fcr stock. They kejit fat on it
when they could yet plenty of water, which
was obtained by digging lioles in the ground
in the beds of the creeks alter tliey dried up.
Sonii'times the water had to be di-awn for
them, which was done by turns by tlie
settlei's, or some one was hired by the com-
munity U> attend to the mattcj-. iMres w*)uld
break out from camp tires of tiuu elers, or was
started by smokers emjitying their pipes, and
occasionally some reckless felh.w would set
fire to the yrass to see it burn. The wind
was generally strong at that season of the
year, so htivng that there were but few days
juhi
und.rella. Ami when tin
tire got headway, so fearful was its iiKireli
lliat it was dlllieuU to keep out ..f its way. It
leaped branches and creeks, and to save one's
home and the i-aiige for ins stock about the
only remedy was to "fire against it," as it
was termed, wliich had to be done in time.
The fact was accomplished by using plows,
wet blankets, etc., and after it was headed in
this way the next tiling was to drive the stock
out of the ring of fire, wdiich was fearful and
hazardous, for the (lames would be eight and
t.Mi b'Ct hi^h if the wind was not strong
enough to keep them closer to the groun<l,
and fifty feet or more from rear to front. /
The fire roared like low, ruml.lin.r thunder,
weeds and yrass stems whirling in the air,
rabbits and rats passing, and birds screaming
in the air; birds of prey, as thick as buzzai'ds
over a carcass, taking advantage of the
terriblo situation to catch tlieir prey and
seeming to add constei-nation to the scene;
cows lowing, horses neighing and running
helter-.-kelter. Amid this excitement men
well inounteil woidd enter the arena, equipped
with spurs and whip, and by hallooing and
snapping their whips would get the stock on
run at lull s
peed, an
d crowd the rear ones
on the fnmt su that when they struck the tire
tlie front ones could not stop, but would be
pushed tlir.uigh the fire, and the rear ones
and men followed all together at a fast speed:
the llames would be jiressed to the ground by
the lierd and the air put in imjtioii by the
men. iUit whilst it could be an<l wa» done,
yet amid such a scene the men would tremble,
fur it seemed that not only the tire but all
nature joined in the carnival of destruction.
WII.D A.NIMAl.S, ETO.
Jn primeval times vast herds of animals
roamed at will over the prairies, ruminating
upon the luxuriant and succulent grasses,
both wild and domesticated. Buifalo, cattle,
deer and antelope were all fat and sleek as
though kept in the stalls of some breeder of
fine stock, and when they roamed, cither in
play or from fright, it looked as if the whole
surface of the eartli was moving, the veiy
ground seeming to tremble with their tnsid,
the sound (d- their feet Indntr as the sound of
.1.' -.^r
tiif.'i ^ri-"l!ji(l y;<i '■ ■ ' ,'jiil'' ''I'-' -'i'ii5 lit
■,;Jt') •11-V: allj liy/irl i.lUJ :b'.' I lI'U I- !!|i
■t;t 'kov/ ■111'* tlOt' 'i " ■ "■■■ ■■• '(!■
'1. > >,■
i; . l>.\i 7a);;: , J-.- . jllJ M ^l':..| ,|; ,ii
mn UILL COUNTIES.
'•iniuiy liorsfS niiiniiig to battle," while the
^ -t of hoi-M'S and tlie grunt of cattle and
l.iillitlu foniied a combination of sounds that
wrrc nwtaltL.Hctlierin harmony, nor calculated
lu iii.-.]iii-u coui'age either in man or beast, for
but few hordes woul.J stand in their iiathway,
(Sjifciully of the buli'alu; and it wa,-, well,
for the bison of the plains never turned his
ciiur.io fur anything, aniniate or inanimate,
u\ur en- through which ho could jiass,
nrither branch nor creek. In illustration of
tiu'ir habits we will give an instance. A
ln id of buifalo was discovered in a valley
i.rar a creek, and a number of men deter-
mined to have aciiaseand kill some of them ;
ru they went out, some taking positions at
the upper end of the valley, while otiiers
i.mged themselves on each side; still others
which they did. The buifalo lied up the
^.dley and the men in the rear b.llowing.
When they came to the men stationed at
the iqiper end (if the valley, in tlie path they
.uppe.scd the buifalo woidd take, but which
iliry did not, they found one of the watchers
riltiiig on tlie ground at tlie root of a tree,
uilh arms and legs around the tree, who
a,-ke.i a. they came uj. whetlier the buifalo
had gone, and if they had, that he would
cnine (loicnf Pretty badly scared, when h(^
could not tell whether he was up tlie tree or
notl The laugh was on the man for many
yiius alterward, an'l he was frequently asked
t<. go hulfalodmnting!
(Ill another occasion a party of men went
(Jilt on a buifalo linnt, and, coming upon a
large lierd, were making preparations for the
slaughter; bnt the animals, scenting their
enemy, stampeded. One man happened to bo
in their pathway, and as his horse would not
stand before them, he ran olf. There was a
medium-sized liranch in front of the lleeing
horseman, and for thhs he made, hoping to
cross and run up stream before the buifalo
reached it; but in going down the bank tho
horse fell and the rider tumbled olf. JJeforo
he could recover, the frightened herd came
dashing toward where he lay, and he expected
every moment to be trampled to death by a
thousand hoofs; but the bnlfalo, as is their
custom, jump all small streams. This they
did, and the man lay secure as the entire
herd jiaosed over him in the air. One fail-
are of the beasts to make the leap would
have been instant death, lie trie.l to pray,
but could ikK think of anything to say, lie
was so ba<lly scared.
.Viiother source of ainuseimuit practiced by
the early settlcia was the catching of mus-
tangs. There were three methods: The first
was to ambush them, being well mounted and
eijuipped witii a good lariat made of raw-
hide or horse-hair, and then dash upon them,
throwing the noose of the rojie over their
heads, or undi'r a foot; but this metliod, ex-
cept to the best experts with the lasso, rarely
resulted in anything better than the catching
of a colt or some old, worn-down animal.
Occasionally a stallion was caught, as he
clung to the rear of the troop and acted as
herder or driver. IJut the lassoist often paid
dearly for his catch, and was glad enough to
get away even with the loss of his lariat.
Another method was for a number of men
!<,->« '.'■■h . ; •(•>:. I-. /I
.1; ^ .
.■•IJV; -.il 1.0 I
.■no 'ii-;-' alll liVri/i . LlIJ! .ij'.: r !ln'i I/- I'rn
'lit jWj ji-;M'^' ';-'i'' r •,!■/■ ■ ■■' , ;: -:. i;J n
ov) 'ii.j.v Jil-I ty>1> '■ ■' ''■■■■■) ; UI-
:v :. !), ci ,v(l..,l 'V''')^' ' "■*' I ■-'l.-ii' •'''•> ■ ''"
■■i: - •( i.ij -jaj::; ;J'..'' • ..-iIj .. ^i ■,"[ •■ f> Jii
, ,.. ,:., .'J ,ji I: ll 1>1,,- •,.' -.Hh'MloH
•..1 _,r. :• vi -..- ... ■- ,l>iJ., ,cii-lt
/•! 1.1, I, •■•, • (1. j; ; ■ . ■ .'Kf
\ND UILL COUNTIES.
'•luiuiy liorses riiiiiiiiig to battle," while the
h -t of liur.-^i'S ami the grunt of cattle and
l.iiir;ilu formed a combination of sounds that
urrc luit alttiH-ether in harmony, nor calculated
l/ul few liorKC.i would stand in their iiathway,
e-jicciully of the buli'alu; and it was well,
for the bison of the plains never tnrneil his
cnurat^ fur anything, animate or inanimate,
over or through which ho could pass,
iii'ithcr branch nor creek. In illustration of
tlu:ir habits we will give an instance. A
Ik id of bulfalo was discovered in a valley
iiiir a creek, and a number of men deter-
mined to have a chase and kill some of them;
ru they went out, some taking positions at
the upper end of the valley, while otiiers
r.n.ged themselves on each side; still others
uiiit below to bring on the engagement,
which they did. The bulfalo lied up the
^.dley and the men in the rear following.
When they came to the men stationed at
the ui.per end of the valley, in the jtath they
BUiipesed the bulhdu would take, but which
they did not, they found one of the watchers
Mtting on tlie ground at tlie root of a tree,
uith arms and legs around the tree, who
a>kcd a^ they came uj> wbetlier the bulbdo
had gone, and if they had, that he would
ci'iiie (luwnf Pretty badly scared, when he
could not tell whether he was up tlie tree or
iicUl The laugh was on the man for many
yiiiis alterward, and he was frequently asked
to go bulfalo hunting!
(In another occasion a party of men went
(Hit on a bulfalo hunt, and, coming upon a
large herd, were making preparations fo]' the
slaughter; but the animals, scenting their
enemy, stampeded. One man happened to be
in their pathway, and as his horse would not
stand before them, he lan olf. There was a
medium-si/.ed branch in front of the lleeing
horseman, and for this he made, hoping to
cross and run up stream befiire the bulfalo
reache<l it; but in going down the liank tho
horse fell and the rider tumbled olf. JJeforo
he could recovei', the frightened herd came
dashing toward where he lay, and he expected
evei-y moment to be tranij)led to death by a
thousand hoofs; but the bniralo, as is their
custom, jump all small streams. This they
did, and the man lay secure as the entire
lierd parsed over him in the air. One fail-
ure of the beasts to make tho leap would
have been instant death. Jle triecl to {)ray,
but could not think of anything to say, he
was so badly scared.
.Vuothei- source of amusennHit practiced by
the early settlers was the catching of mus-
tangs. There were three methods: The lirst
was to ambush tln;m, beitig well mounted and
eipiip[)c'd witii a good lariat made of raw-
hi<le or horse-hair, and then dash upon them,
throwing the noose of the ro])e over their
heads, or under a toot; but this metliod, e.K-
ci^pt to the best experts with the lasso, rarely
resulted in anything better than the catching
of a colt or some old, worn-down animal.
Occasionally a stallion was caught, as lie
clung to the rear of the troop and acted as
herder or driver. IJut the lassoist often paid
dearly for his catch, and was glad enough to
get away even with the loss of his lariat.
Another method was for a number of men
(I)ni !. ,.•. «■
t •. . ; |in f-i lU'l
M;-; ., •,,r,i,..:,b
, " ' '■ '; i>.»*ih(ii|
AND UILL COUNTIES.
«i|i. a btick ami tlicii get the stick away l.e-
(..ro the hog could sti'ike it with his tusks.
Olhur auiiiials wore and nii.-ht well be afraid
of thnn.
\\'ild turkey also were aluindant in the
INDIANS.
.1. W. AViiharger, in his lai-oe work en-
1 1 tied " Indian J )e])redations in Texas,"
fiiiiiiierutes about 240 I'aids, many of them
ill the region near Johnson and Hill eounties,
but not one of them ever tonchetl this terri-
Iniy. A\'ithin the bounds of these two
.■..unties the Indians never had, within the
iii.iiii.iry of the white man, any |iermaiient
\illa^;es. The Caddos, a weak tribe, had a
Mn;di village in Hill county, and the Waco
ludiiuisun.'C had a camp at l-'dm Hill on the
llr:i/.os river. This region was simply an
ill the vicinity north and ^vest. There was
ih.thiiig remarkable in the habits an.l customs
,.r Ihe.-e Indians other than what is familiar
to Texans. Most of them were clad in buck-
.-kins and buifalo robes. Probably the best-
known tribes visiting this section of Texas
uiTc the Shaw nees. Iron eyes, Tehuaeanas,
Toiikawas, Kickajioos, I]edais and Anadarcoes,
iiesides the Caddoes and Wacoes already men-
tioned. They were all friendly. Occasionally
a roving band of Cherokees and O.imaiiches
iiiTived here, the latter being well-known as
hostile.
To huppresK Indian invasi.^ns the (iovern-
inent of the United States built and sustained
Forts Worth and (iraham,the latter bein-on
the east side of the IJra^os river on the west-
ern border of Hill county, erected probably ^
between 1810 and 1850. The Indians invad-
ing this section always had liorses and "uns,
and they came generally for the purpose of
stealing horses, etc., during the night time.
They were gradually driven out of the coun-
try by the United States forces.
The old "Santa Fe trail," portions of which
are yet visible, ran through Johnson county,
north of Caddo Peak and out toward IJon-
nard's Peak on the Jirazos, and probably
on to the Dulfaii mountain in Erath county
or to Comanche Peak.
There is a tradition that a band of Mexicans
at one time were carrying a <]uantity of
money on the gulf, when pirates were jxirsu-
iiig them, and to elude them they started
from Louisiana by Ian, I westward through
Texas, ha\ing horses on each side of them.
The robbers linally overtook them hero in
Johnson county ur near it and killed them
all, but did not obtain .their money. The.
story goes that it was buried at some point
between the Cross Timbers and the lirazos
river. Messrs. VI. II. Adair, the present
county surveyor, and Vx. 11. Edgar, who set-
tled on Noland's river, near the Three Porks,
in 1851, both tlreamed twice concerning the
locality of this buried treasure, and the points
where they respectively located it were not
over 200 yards apart! Many searches have
been made for this money, but up to this
time in vain, as far as the public knows. It
is but natural to presume th:it if any one
shoul.l tind at
would ever aft
luantity ,,r money in secret he
erwani keep it to himself, ami
IIISTOJIY OF JOHNSON
the public UL-ver know whetliLT the tl•eil:^ul■e
lunl lieen foiiini or not.
Cohmolti II. J. Chambers aiidThoiiia.sSinitli,
with others, were in 18il surveying in tlie
iieigiiburhooil of Alvarndo wlien, one c\eniiig
as tliey were about to cainp, tlu^y discovered
a band of Indiaus on a higli liill on the prairie
a mile and a iialf distant. Tlie campers were
consideiably agitated in regard to tlieir safety
'J'he Indians gave a sign supposed to be friendly,
(lulonel Smith, a noted lu.lian lighter, sug-
getted tliat one of tlie party be appointed
to go out ami meet the savages; and he being
ap]>ointed went out and met a messenger from
them and soon returned with the information
that they were friendly Indians. This of
course was only a scare, but it was about as
serious as any Indian e.xperience wc can learn
of in this region, e.xci'pt the folhjwing in-
stance, related by a writer in the Galoestuii
iW«'6- of October 1, 1879:
"Twenty years ago I was introduced into
the wil.lerness where Cleburne now stands,
and was introduced in a very lively manner,
being eha.-ed through that section by old
Jobo Maria's band of semi-civilized In. Hans,
all of N^hnui were slone-bliiul druulc. I was
then • green from the States,' had a to|i buggy
— ])Ossibly the only one in the State at that
time — and undertook to [lass through tliis
wilderness accomj)anied only by a negro boy.
The buggy horse was covered with a brilliant
red Hy-net, which color was the most fascinat-
ing to the savage eye. Jose Maria and his vil-
lainous-looking followers canght sight of it
from an eminence in the rear of us, from
which wo had but a half hour l)efore tle-
■nded.
nappy
in the
•f that w(
traveling through peaceful pastures and that ''
the red man was not freipient in these jjarts.
lie and bis forty or iiify braves u.ade for us,
and the lirst I knew of it was announced by
the fact that my negro boy, who generally
lagged behind, darted past me with his face
as white as alabaster and the j)icture of utter
goneness, and was speechless. Before 1 knew
the real cause I tried to rally him, thinking
he had suddenly turned crazy. His oidy re-
tinif movement tif his arm
spouse was ;
toward tlie
of us. At this I turne.l
head rearward and I — well, I felt my heart
sinking within, experiencing sensations simi-
lar to those of a greenhorn on taking his tirst
raw oyster. There is no other way of telling
what I felt or what 1 thought when the dis-
tance closed faster and fastei- between those
bloody -Injuns' and ine, — not us, for the
negro Hew before me like the wind.
'•To cut this story short I will state that I
came to the sage conclusion that there would
be no use trying to get away from the red
devils by running any farther than I had
(about a mile); .o I called a halt and began
to c(dlect any raises, which were much in
ik'imI of ' mobilization.' In a few minutes I
was completely surrounded by as ugly a pack
of human hounds as ever existed anywhere.
Excepting the aboriginal clout, the Indians
were all naked. Tlieii' faces were daubed
over with red and yellow ochi-e, with huge
brass rings pendent from their ears and noses,
huig, black, coarse hair, parted in the middle
and banging unkem]it about their shoulders
and backs, and idl armed with rilles and bows
/ .1 'Ml .„.i. •.II i -.1! "'■ -..:•.■.■..(. ii-,i ,., ,/v>.,-,,,.,;;;.,., lU;,.-
.-o- '
T.; nay O/I'l'
■3:'' ■ 'C'li Ji(;;.i'. : « (-■;■(
1.: 1 V.
!i i.il
AND IIILL COUNTIES.
iiml arruws. On l.ieiiig surrounded I was
hours, and at the conclusion of the jamboree
rMMTiiig witli fear like an aspeu leaf, but
insisted on my presenting old Jojo with the
uliiH..-,t ln^ta^tly I felt relieved when I dis-
red tly-net. At this I shrugged my shoulders,
fu\ere<l the Indiana riveting their eyes on the
a la Frenchman, as though I were loth to pait
nd tly-net; and, sunuiioninir courai^e enough
with the lly-net; yet in li-uth 1 would have
to f|ieak, 1 .-alnted them, in Spanish, with
given thein horse and buggy and Hy-net, —
•(i(.od nioniini;.' At this old Jose responded
and the negro boy if he had not run away, —
in a deep, guttural tone, ' Ves.'
to get clear of them. However, I gave to
■• Keealling the laet that 1 Inid two bottles
Jose; the ily-net, and thanking me he said,
of \vhi,-ky in the buggy 1 njade haste to haul
' You tink mo wild Jnjun and you run like
liicni out, and, holding them Ujj with the
de devil. Lie good friend. Live at trading-
iruiark, ' tiood whisky,' I drew their atten-
house wid Charlie JJarnard.' And then the
tion from the lly-net. Handing one of the
whole pack of them broke into an excruci-
l/wltle.-, to Jo.-e and the other to another one
ating howl, which they meant for laughimr;
.if thd c<«</v crew, I reined up my horse to
and for the first time the fact dawneiJ U|)oij
niovi^ on, when the old chief stopped me, as
me that I was 'sold' by a drunken party of
!u; ^aid, 'to driidv and dance to my good
friendly Indians!"
liealth.' 1 said to them, ' All right,' and, 'On
This Charles Barnard, who married a
with the dance.' Those infernal I'ascals kept
Mexican lady, is still living, on the Brazos,
uio waiting in the big open prairie two moi'tal
near the western border of Johnson county
■1''
,4Wl5 . !l V
[^a. O' •.' 'W c ..Mti, 'ii r.> >4 ' ,li.)/j jil
... . • > >.! : ' • ■■ ..I. i..li ilnv/
muTuny ok joiinsun
JOHNSOiN COUNTY.
KAKLY SETfLKKS.
fllE tirst settler of Johnsuii county was
Saimiel Jfyei's, wliose sketch is given
"^ elsewhere in tiiis volume.
As westward our empire lias ever taken its
way, the eastern part of Johnson county was
first settled. S. .). Chapman wrote at (irand
View, July 22, 1870, the following reminis-
cences concerning the early settlement of the
southeastern portion of the county:
" The tirst settlements in this precinct \vero
made in 1S52, hy D. Smith and W. Meadows,
six milesa little north of east of (irand View,
on Chandlers' creek. IJuring the next year or'
two L. Goen, J. S. Morrow, Philip Walker, T.
Sniilh, Iho Kennards, Kims, Whilmire, Kirt-
1 perh
,ps
Others came in aud hegan to form settlements.
In 1856 it is believed there were not to ex-
ceed twenty families, all told, in the limits
of (^rand View precinct, and not a farm worth
the name.
" Our hi-st settlers were generally stock-
raisor.'^. In 18()0 it is helicved that ],r)()0
acres would co\er the entire amount of land
in cidtivation, and perhaps the same amount
will approximate the acreage actually in cul-
tivation in 1866, from the fact that the war
arrested all improvements for nearly six years.
Then, if my figures are correct, there was not
much over 1,500 acres in cultivation ten
years ago in this precinct.
" A partial report of the agricultural com-
mittee of the Grand View Grange will show
what has been done within the last ten years,
in the west portion of the precinct: 59 farms,
averaging 87 acres tothe farm, ranging from
20 to 346 acres, devoted to the following
crops: corn, 2,205 acres; cotton, 1,805 acres;
wheat, 372 acres; oats, 303 acres; barley, 12
acres; rye, 3 acres; millet, 23 acres; sorghum,
60 acres; sweet potatoes, 71 acres; corntield
|ieah, separate from other crops, 20 acres;
peanuts. 1 acre; Irish potatoes, garden vege-
tables, etc., over 100 acres; grand total 5,134
acres. With few exceptions the crops are
now well cultivated and were never finer."
J. It. J\IcKinsey wrote at (Jaddo, in 1870,
to the Cleburne Chronicle, the foUowiii"-
items:
" During the month of J\Iay, 1853, I
visited the northern j)ortion of this county, it
being the territoi-y of Ellis county. Having
TiTJiy) /'OH;/ Ho I
7l,:iii;) Mil" "io ilC'i.'i'ii, r'l-J.'r.jiMiljUMa
AND HILL (JOUNTIKS.
-,.,„. u]. tlu' (M.-ar fork df Trinity river a
f. -.v niilrs :i!,ove Fort Wortli in Tarrant
(•.,imly, ] ill, Ml turiieil across toward C^aililo
]«;ik. \'i'iy Il'w hcHises were to he seen, tiie
r.jiiMlry iiaving a wild, romantic and wilder-
lie^o-liku ajipearance. Antelope, dei'r, wolves
uud inu-laiiLi: jMjnies were the most to interest
line a,- he passed tVoni one section to anothei-.
•• 1 luund a few settlers on Village creek,
Home of wlioni had been livino; there twelve
iiu.nths er mure. No imin-ovemenls had
l.ceii made- wortli nienti(jnin_i,'. 1 was at this
time st<.|i)/ing teinj)orarily in Dallas county,
and uus eiit on this trip to select me a place
f..r a |.eiinanent home. The country looking
.,> lenc^ly an.l wilderness-like, and I being a
Intal stranger to it and to the few people I
nut, I became discouraged, went back to J)al-
1.1- ci/unty and contented myself with buying
11 ^nlall tiact of land there. Not being satis-
li.d at length with my situation, I.])nrchased
a I'ilei>- colony roadright certificate in view
"f g"ing West to select a piece of land and
l.Tuting upon it. Meeting with William
l'..dch, wh., re.-ided at what is now Alvarado,
and he learning my desire to get a new situ-
ation, he give me a strong .solicitation to visit
hi,. MTtion of the country and select a settle-
nirnt there.
■■In the month of January or Kebruary,
l^^)!, I did as he requeste-l. He was j)er-
fretly delighted with that section of the
cnunlry. Messrs. J3alcli and James and J.
ilobinson were about all the settlers at or
ne:ir tlu^ .site of the present Alvarado. (Jolo-
nel Samuel Myers resided some three miles
north of Mr. Dalch; and in parsing from one
of their residences to tiie other but one house
intervened, that of David Myers.
" Messrs. Balch and Myers ajjpeared anx-
ious that I should get a location near tliein.
They rode with me, pointing out such tracts
as they believed were vacant lands, and I left
my certiticate with them, with instructions
where to have it lai.l when the district sur-
veyor came again into tlndr neighborliood.
" About this time nnndi interest began to
\m< taken in regard to the vacant domain of
Texas, and tiie sui'veyors and wily landsharks
took a deejier interest in their own welfare
than they did for others, ami I failed to get
my certificate located on any of that rich
domain. I am not to be understood as cen-
suring either Mr. Ikdch or Mr. Myers as
being the cause of my failure.
" Ijeing still dissatisfied with my location
in Dallas county, I set out in company with
one of my neighbors to look still higher up
the Clear fork than I did during the first
trip. CJoiiig up to a point opposite the head
of Long creek, in what is now Parker county,
I and my companion returned south, crossing
the divide bJtween Clear fork and the 15ra-
zos river, continuing my course south, skirt-
ing the timbers on the creeks running into
the J'razos, passing Long creek, and ari'iving
at or near what is now known as Kuckor's
creek. Then night came on aiul wo were
C(jmpelled to camp out. We were not pre-
pared for this, as we e.\)»ected to find some
one living out there from whom we could
beg a night's lodging. Not so, for the country
was wild, dreary and desolate. We spent a
very uncomlorl.able night under the shelter
. ,.. .■•)•..!
<!r t,;;.,T
..I I .1..'t
' ' .: 'i'.li; iii To ■ !- .ill IJ'Xl
nrsTOiiY OF JoriNsns
of u lonely ])ost-oak stainlhio- near what i:
now the residence of Mrs. Ilolfunl, danjj,litei
(,f tlie lamented David Hroekett. I was a
that 1.
lit a few years aj.
ni/.ed the tn^e under which we had bivonafked
fi'uni two letters that 1 had inscribed npon it
witli luy pocket-knife when 1 arose from my
wet cuuch early in the morning'. It had
rained during the greater jiart of the night,
and still continued to i-ain down almost in
ton-ents. We felt ourselves in a peculiar
situation, in a strange country, and knew not
where to get shelter or refreshments. Xota
foot-print of a white man could we discover
save one, — a log cabin which had been re-
cently raised to the 6([uare; but no one was
about or nercr it. This was afterward occu-
pied by John Parker. At this time there
were no settlements on the l]razos higher up
than Charles liarnard's, in Johnson county.
" AVe left our camp in gloomy dismay. We
renicmbei'ed cros^ing a road or trail the
evening before, and we thought if wo could
find it either end of it would take us to some
place. The rain still canje ihjwn upon us,
hut we jogged along on the trail, without
knowing wlu-r.i it would lead us to or the
direction we were traveling. .Ml on a sudden
we came in view of a housi^ in a low valley
near a branch or creek. It was the most
gloomy and desolate looking place I ever saw.
Two very large leopard cats near by seemed
indilfei
bok
if they were masters of the situation. I l)e-
camo very nnndi dishc'ai'lened when i dis(;ov-
ered the building to bo an old waste caljin.
It was known to me aftei'wai-d as a station
house for soldiers on the Belknap trail lead-
ing from Belknap to Fort trraham, and the
creek ,,r bran.-h is called 'Station liranch ' t<.
this ,lay.
" Wo ])asseil the station house ami con-
tinned on the trail, the rain still spattering
down upon us. It was dark, gloomy and
foggy. We thought our situation a hard one.
After a long time it began to clear. The
rain ceasing and the fog disajjpearing, we dis-
covered Caddo peak and the Brushy mounds.
We turned oil' abruptly from the trail and
made directly for the jjcak. AVlien we first
discovered it we were about opposite the
Sugar Loaf on George's creek. Noland's
i-iver lay between us and the peak, and when
we came to it it was booming full. We had
traveled up it for some distance in order to
Hnd a suitable crossing, and crossed over just
above the Cottonwood grove near where
'Sipiire ivlgar now lives. We hastened on in
the direction of the ])eak and soon discovered
a newly built house. AVe quickened our ]iace
and soon ai-rived at the house seen in the
distance. We iniiuired of the good lady if
we could get something to eat, and wei'e an-
swered as the weary traveler hives to bo. We
alighted, rested a few moments and then sat
down and ].artookof a meal that a king, with
as keen an ajijietite as ours, would not .have
th
'•After <lining 1 took a good look
country that lay in full view. We were then
at the place afterward known as (iathings
i'oint. 1 ih.Might tlnui, a= I think now, that
from this point a man can gt't as lovely a
view of lainlsrapo as can be seen almost any-
,.1.1. »..|) , -■■ ,• r, 1,
AND HILL COUNTTES.
wliiTi' ill tliu \\orl(l. Tliat view won my
i,ir.rli..iis to Jolm^oii comity, uiid I'l-oiii that
liihf .ui iiiilil iKiw 111}- interests in tin- jiros-
p,nl_v aii.l wdlan,' nf lliis roiinty liavr Ihhmi
ciili.tf.l and nnaliatud.
•■ Tlii.s tecoiul trip \\'as made in tlie month
(if May, 1854. I soon made arrangements
and had my certificate located and a house
.ricted,— the first house built west of liock
creek in this neigliborliood. I moveil my
family from Dallas to this county in Septein-
lier following. There were then only two or
three houses on the Fort Worth and Port
(irahani road between Fort Worth and liuf-
falo creek."
The following items are from the memory
of Major F. M. Heath, of Cleburne:
On December 21, 1852, when he settled in
the county, there was nothing like a town in
the county. The first postoliice established
ill the counly was at the residence of David
.Mitchell, about three and one-half miles east
of the present site of Alvarado.
Alvarado, the lirst town, was laid out in the
winter uf lS.53-'54, by AVilliam lialcli and
.hmies 1). Janes. The name was sugn;este.l
by .\. 11. Oustott, afterward the lir.^t sherilV
of the county, in nicm.u-y ot a Mexican town
of that name. The lirst store in the new
town was built by Stephen D. IJri-bt and
V. I.. Kirtley, they being the lirst merchants.
They bought their goods in lloustun and
hauled them to the county by ox teams.
They billed not long afterward and Major
Heath was their assignee. An inventory of
I heir elbcts is given among the early records
of the county. 'I"he second meivh.Liit in the
jdaee was James D. Janes, who began busi-
in the winter of lS53-'5i also. As soon as
the town of Alvarado was located, the post-
oliice was moved from .Mr. .Mitchell's resi-
dence to it, and afterward continued there.
The following named persons, each the
head of a family, resided in the county when
Major Heath settled here: Samuel Myers,
David Mitchell, Abraham Futliey, James
Evans, AV^illiam Carter, James Coldiron, A.
H. Oustott, William IJalcli, John Jklch, V,.
J. Stocks, W. L. Combes, James IJillingsley,
Samuel lJillini;sley, Jonathan Cillingsley, W.
C. Billing.sley, William Billingsley, Nathan
BiUingsley, John Billingsley, John li. J]il-
lingsley, Milton Stout, David Myers, J. J.
Mills, ami S. J:. Jv'irkhain.
The first religions exercises were held at
old Grand View, wdiich was then situated on
the prairie some distance from the ]. resent
town of that name. This town was first laid
out by F. L. Ivirtley and has been twice
moved: first, from the prairie where started
to tlio edge of the cross timbers, and thence
to where it now stands on tiio completion of
the ilissouri, Kansas & Te.xas railway
through the country.
Other items, from Maj.)r Heath, are ap-
priately incorporated elsewhere in this vol-
um(\
Of the fcu-egoing jiioneers referred to, V.
L. Kirtley died October U, 187'J; Jeremiah
Fasterwood, October 24, 187'J, and Mr. J.
M. AIcKinsey in December, 1891. Mr.
Fasterwood, a native of Butler county,
(ieorgia, was born iMay 1, 1803. At the age
of lifteeii years he emigrated with his father.
'AV'/rv-j \..V~
;., ,,/l-^t. t.t
.1 ■
.07 iffi;in. I
72
Siineuii Easterwood, to Alaliuiiia, and tlieiicu
ill sueeussion to (iilisoii (.■uiiiity, TL-iiiR'8sc>e;
Missisbijipi, \vliL'rc lie rcsidei] nine years; and
finally to 'I'exas, in 1852, suttliii<,r i,, Juhnson
county tlie following year, lie assisted in
tile organization of the cnunty and became
its first county clerk. Later he was elected
county treasurer, in which capacity he served
aliout five years. He was onJained to preach
by r.ishop McKendree, of the Methodist
Episcopal Oliurch, in 1833, and afterward was
ah\ays a consistent and honored Christian
G. 11. Edgar, as before noticed, settled on
Noland's river, near the Three Forks, in 1851.
(t. AV. Freeland located in the western part
of the county.
G. K. and George Dillard, now both de-
ceased, were the oldest settlers in the nortli-
west ])art of the county.
John Sykes located on Falls ci'eek, in 1852,
where he had to wait three or four years be-
fore he could p;et his land surveyed.
15. S. An-lin, .settling; also on Falls creek,
in 185-1 or liS55, now lives in Granbury.
Major E. M. Heath, vice-jire.-ident of tiie
First National I lank of (Meburne, settled
iiisroiir OF JOHNSON
within tl
jiresi
ts of Johnson county
December 21, 1852, taking up his residence
near the site of Alvaiado. j\t that lime
there were only t wt'iity-IVuir fainilirs in the
county, the settlements being conlined to the
eastern edge of the Cross Timbers. There
was nothing like a town in the county, and
only one post otlice, which was kept at the
residence of David Mitchell, about three and
df miles east of th
pta.
where Alva
rado now stands. The settlers then went to
Waxahachie, in Ellis county, an. 1 to Dallas
and Lancaster, Dallas county, for such stoi'e
sn]i[ilies as they were; able to Imy; lur bread-
stull's they went both to Dallas an,l Collin
counties. The county was then attached for
judicial and other purposes to Navarro county,
and later for a short time to Hill and Ellis
counties. The territory was in the old Kob-
ortson Land District, and the land otiice was
located at old Fr.anklin, the county seat, to
which place the settlers went to file their
claims. There was but little litigation then,
the settlers being mostly concerned in making
settlements and establishing themselves in
their new homes.
By the winter of 1S53-'5L the actual set-
tlers had increased to about 100 families, and
with this increase in the population the ques-
tion of separate county organization began
to be agitated. A meeting was held that
winter near Alvarado, possilily at one of the
two stoi-cs whi(di then constituted the town,
and an organization elfected; Mr. Heath was
appointed seci-etary of the meeting, and active
steps were taken to ha\-e the county erected
into a separate jurisdiction. Mr. Heath was
directed to draw up a petition to the Legisla-
ture, which he did, asking that a county be
organized, the boundaries of which were .set
forth, but tlie name of which was not sug-
gested. This petition was jireseuted to the
j.-ople, Mr. Heath doing most of the can-
vassing, and was signed by all the hona-Jide
settlers of the county, at that time number-
ing 107. (Maj.u- Heath is able to recall the
names of 103 of the ,-,i^uer.>, and has
?4S-^
1^
K^''
17
O
■;:
~otC~'
"Vt- \A,,.v> '^^
AND HILL CQUNTIKS.
kiu.lly runii.slir,! tlu' list to the -encial his-
l.riui.) Til.' pctiti.Mi was luaikMl l,y liiin to
iIh' llun. .lelf. Wcatheifonl, llepreMMitativi-,
ll„-i, iv-i.liiin; in Dallas ciimty, in wlu.x; .lis-
..I l._\ an ap|,n,i.riat,. Irtti
lurth
th.t wishes of the citizens. Majur Heath
ul>o wmte to General N. II. Darnell, vvli...
u..> 111..,, a re.si.lent of DaUas eonnty, uskino;
Li> M-,-\-ices in behalf of the m-w o,',i,^a„iza-
linii. a... it lay in his district as Senator.
.M..j.,r Heath's na„,e was s„--,...te.l hy these
-,i,ll,-ni..„ to the L.Jgislatiiie in eonneetioii
with the ,noveiiiei,t, an. I he reeeivcl the ap-
l.ui,it,i,e,it as Con,inissioiier to oiga,iizi' the
ciinly. After receiving his eo,,,i„is.sioi, he
«.„t to Waxaha.'hie, whce he was sworn
,.. iMf.H-e Justice E. xM. J!i-ack, receiving in-
^Ill..•tio,lS in regard to fntiiie |)i-,oceedi,igs.
The cial.ling act l,a,l heen jia^s.^l hy tho
l.,gi=lat,i,-e that winter. lS53-'5i. The
ulii.-U of the ne^c local goven,nie,it were
.-I...,; tet ill motion and things movfd alo,,g
,,uiLtly and satisfactorily. .Major Heath was
l„.t fleeted one of the ollice,-s of the new
c..iii.ty in the heginning, hut later on was
r.dl.-d lo lh,'dheha,-ge ,,f pnhlic .Inly.' .\1-
ih.M.uh !..■ ga\e a g,eal .leal ..f all,M,lioi, I..
tl„. lM,.,i,ie.-.s i.ertaining to the ge,,e,al wel-
f.„e, he .lid nut neglect his private interests.
He ha.l conie int., the oiinty t., niake a
hu,ne lor him. elf an.l family, and ma.le a
tLlIlei.icnl near Alva,-ad.,, in the easte,-,, part
of Ihe county. A year later he took up his
,.■ id.mce on Turkey C'eek, the locality since
known a., the Lee's Academy i,eigl,l,orho.,.l.
II,. took upa headright there ami engage.l in I
rar„,i„g and st..ck-i'aising on a small .scale
until ISo'd. Having keen eh^etcl to tho
ofHc of Asse..^sor an.l Tax Collector shortly
after tho c.mnty was m'gauizcl, an.l the
c,M,„tv ^,.at havin.r l..u:„ nMn..v,..l to liuchan-
side.l thei-e until the .)pcning of the wa,-.
He citei-ed the (Ujiifclerate service in
April, 1SG2, volunteering in Claptain H. Cr.
liruce's company, Twentieth Texas Cavalry.
His reginient was assig,,ed to duty in the
territory west of ti,e iMississi]ipi, a,,. I he went
at once t.i the front, j. lining the armies ope,'-
ati,,g in the 'J'ransiHssissippi region. He
was in a nu,nlicr of mi,, or engagements, tho
most imi.ortant being the battle of Elk
C-eek, in the H,dia„ Territory. His com-
pany entered with 152 me,,, a,,d ca,ne out
with forty-two; Major Heath was captured,
as was also his Captain. He \\'as taken
North and transrer,vd fr.Jin prison to prison
until he ha.l been within the walls of seven,
and finally was hehl at Johnson's Island,
Lake Erie, for a period of sixteen months.
In Eebruai-y, IStjo, he was sent on exchange,
an.l Aj),-il 9 of the sa,ne year, the day upon
whi.di L.-e siinvn.lc-e.l, h.. ,vacl,e.l the Con-
fclcate lines an.l r.'c.dvod a leave of absence
from CuMieral Iv Kirby Smith for thirty
days. Althougli the news of the airrendcr
was ubi-oad in the land, the ^Lljur nevor re-
laxe.l his eilorts t.j reach his comman.l, a,i.l
hehl l,i,nself a willi,ig scrva,it t.) the cai,>e
he had e=po,i.-o.l as h.,ig a., tl,e,e was a .luty
to b.' perh.rnu'd.
The docu,nents supplie.l ^Lajor Heath
when he was gi-ante.l a furlou-h are still in
ul u,,,:i
rrr .>■.,! :,.
;U,lU:,f >:.:.: l^,! ,li
lIISTOnr OK JOHNSON
liis possession, and following is a coj)y uf
them:
"Headquarters Trans-Mississippi Dep't,
"SiiiiKVKruiiT, La., April 14, 1805.
"Special Order A'o. 89.
" I-ea\ e of absence for tliirty days is granted
the following e.xchanged prisoners, and they
will report to their proper commanders with-
ont delay. ('Quartermasters will furnish trans-
])ortation.
"Lieutenant E. M. Heath, Twentieth Texas
Cavalry.
"Ey command of E. KnufY S.Mrnr.
" P. D. Seeds, Major, Act. Asst. Adjt. Gen."
(First indorsement:)
"Transportation furnished in kind from
Slireveport, Louisiana, to Rusk, Texas.
"T. K. IIicAiiu, Major, S T. Q. M."
(Second indorsement:)
"Transportation in kind furnished from
liusk to Waco, Texas.
'•WiLLi.Mi G.TnoMAs, Capt. and A.Q.M."
"Headquarters Trans-Mississippi Dep't.
" SuKLVEi'OKT, La., April l-t, 1805.
"The within leave of absence is extended
until Iho l.-t day ,.f June, LS05, at which
time l,icut(;nant \\. iL Heath will rejoin his
command. By command of
"General E. Kiituv Sjuth.
('J. F. Helton, Adjt. Gen."
"Transj)ortation OHice,
t' Dallas, Texas, May I'J, 1805.
('Application for transportation to com-
mand has been made to mo by Lieutenant
ilcalli. I have no tranh|)oit:tli(jn but wiiat
is now required for transfer of troops under
my chai-ge, and do not consider it my duty
to furnish it only by or upon application of
Post (,)uartermaster to whom I am furnish-
ing transportation. L K. Ka.nnady,
"Capt. and L P. Transpt."
Post Quartermaster's Office,
" Dallas, May 19, 1SG5.
It
mpossible to
prov
\Q necessary
transportation to Lieutenant Heath at this
time, on account of urgent demands on this
office for transpoi-tation for sub-supplies to
Marshall. F. A. Keotou,
"Major and Q. M."
Major Heath entered the service as a
private; he immediately becanm Lieutenant
of his company, and later Sergeant; he acted
as Adjutant a greater portion of the time,
and ^vas serving in tliis capacity when he
was captured. He returned home the latter
])art of April, 1805, when he b(;ea:i.e thor-
oughly satisfied that the war was ended. He
traded a small piece of property, which he
owned in Buchanan, for a farm, removed to
this and took up the jiursiiit (jf agriculture.
Li ISOO he was elected Sheritf of J dmson
county and tilled that office \intil April 19,
1809, when he was ren)oved under recon-
struction measures. He could not take the
ironclad oath required by act of Congress.
He continued to reside on his farm until
1877, when he moved to Cleburne, and
shortly afterward, in connection with his
brother, Oliver S. Heath, opened a real-estate
office, whicdi he conducted a number of years.
In 1881 he and his bnjthcr and C. W. Mertz
V *»•-■•• -\(,v ■*,>
lo ■!,j!sii': • ■■■'• !wni
i" Lit'! (I'or- -aaiii q ^^iil
^/^ -iPiriT -cJ-ii,; j-biwi)
,,:■; .• , 1 ;:• I ...jV
v.-i J i)r II
AND UILL aOUNTllCS.
r.mi.l.nl llu,' .loliiusoii C\,unty I'.Huk. (Soo
iici-.Miiit oi l):iiiks ill general liiBlory.) 'I'liis
lank was sii.H'ceiiuil hy tlio First National
n.iiik, of which Miijur lleuth hecaiiic vicu-
picMMiMit, and contiiiiios to till that ivsponsi-
M.' iiiisiliuii to the present tiiiio. lie lias
Lien an important factor in thia institution,
uwning coiiaiderablu stock aiul being one of
the toreniust men in shaping its atfairs. In
iiiMition to his interest in the bank he owns
piMperty in the city of Cleburne and some
valuable farm land in Johnson county. Of
recent years he has devoted him>elf wholly
to his private interests, not having held any
|>ul>licollice, excejjt that of town Councilman,
riiicc he gave uj) the Sherilf's otlice in ISOU.
lie is now a member of the Council and is
un active worker. He is not a seeker after
jiublic ollice, but when called to a jiosition
of trii.st by his fellow-citizens he responds
cheerfully an.l brings to the discharge of his
dutic.that ability and judgment which has
marked the tnuK-action of his individual
•Major Heath was boi-n in Fountain county,
Indiana, October 0, 1S8U, and was but si.\
Nraisold when his parent, renu.ved Irom llie
llooMcr Slate to Iowa, then lllack Hawk pur-
chase, and settled near the present site of
.Mt. I'lea..ant. lie was reare.i in that vicin-
ity, and resided there until 1.S52, when he
came to Texas and settled in Johnson county.
He grew up on a tarni, and has all his life
been ideutilied with agriculture. He has
lived in this county about forty years, and is
one of the oldest inhabitants; he has passed
through many vicissitudes and |irivations,
and lias bravely carried the burden of toil
and respcjiisibility wdiicli marks the progress
of civilization on the frontier. He naturally
feels that warmth of alfection for his adopte<l
home that the parent clierishes for the child
wIkhii lie has watched develop from helpless
infancy to rugged manhood. The Major's
parents also came to this county, and their
remains are interred within its borders.
Lambeth Heath, his father, will be re-
membered by many of the older citizens of
the county. He settled here some time in
the '50s, coming from Iowa. He was a pio-
neer in the best sense of that term, spending
his entire life on the frontier, whither he
carried the arts and industries of the most
jirogiessive age the world has yet seen. He
was a native of North Carolina, and removed
to Indiana at an early day when a young
man; there he was married, and later went
to Iowa, and thence to Te.xas. Ho died in
John.Mui county in 1880, at the age of eiglity-
Fambeth Heath's
was
tnrei: y.
named iNancy Johnson; she was a daughter
of Archibald Johnson, an early settler of
Tenne.-.see, and in that State she was born
and partly reared. Her parents wiire also
pioneers of Indiana, and there she met and
married the father of Major Heath. Sho
died in Johnson county, in 1871, at the age
of seventy years. Major Heath had two
brothers and three sisters wdio came to Texas
after he took up bis residence in the State:
Archibald Johnson, wdio is now in the western
part of the State; I^frs. J. N. Holland, now
resident of 'I'horp's Springs, Hood county,
Te.xas; Mrs. S. J'l llowertcjn, who died at
(i .;,! ■.• ,:■.)
■r'.'li.-iiUtt i-r> 1 .iJiiuu ■, '1 '■•;' tiji.ii;:'': 1 '
IK.r, ,1; -.,.1 . .i ,1 ,1.. : ■■,,.•.; ■>■ --n-l y. . 'I
1 .'^l id* ,1j.i : t.iil ,1, ..■/?! ilSsdti j;.1
.0 :,:! ;!ii,;.l ,
■,;,:-. ..'J <n (irj.]..-:.}
. . .■! ■'• ■-11 U| ^M, l-t
■Id ;q...,-..i.iikK..!.,,.|
[ I ^1 i : i; ].:i.< ( t-llJ ^.0 •l^•■l;ll iMi
n<,li
lIlSTOIiY OF JOHNSON
IVIaiisfii'I.l, Turraiit county; JMrs. S. N. Har-
aihocate of temperance reform, and durirg
ris, will) (liccl at Alvarado, Joliiisoii county;
the great tight ovei' the Prohibition 4ue.-~tion
ami ( )li\ cr S., wliu ^^■a^ lor many } I'ars a citi-
in this State a few years ago he led the Pro-
zen of that Cdunty; liu .lied in Clcluirnu, in
hibition foi-ces in Johnson county and did
Dcccnihcr, 1S87.
elfectise work in the cause. He is an en
Major Ilcalli was married iicai- Aft. Pleas-
tliusiastie supporter of the free-school sys-
ant, Juwa, January *J, 18-1'J, to Miss Mary
tem, and has done the part of a good citizen
Sluiw, a daughter of Milo C. and Elizahetli
in promoting this most important institution
Shaw; her father was a native of ]\[issi3sip[)i
in his county. He is a man of singularly
and an early settler of Illinois, while the
temperate habits and is possessed of a line
mother was horn in Virij;inia; they were
j)hysi(jue in conS(^qnence; lie is six feet one
married in Tennessee and renio\ed thence to
and a half inches in height, and is straight
Illinois. Mrs. Heath \\-as born near De-
as an arrow; he has a clear, blue eye, a fresh
catur, Illinois, and she was only a uirl when
complexion, and a step as elastic as in youth.
her parents removed to Iowa and settled
He is well informed upon all the topics of
near Mt. Pleasant; there her n)other died in
the day, and is an encyclopedia of informa-
1802, and her father in 180-1.
tion upon the history of Johnson county.
J\Iajor and Mrs. Heath are the parents of
Since coming to the county he has occujjied
the following named children: (Jliester L.,
a position peculiarly his own, one that will
wdio is now the cashier of the First National
be left vacant when lie passes from the scenes
Bank of Cleburne, a full sketch of wdiom is
of which he has so long been a part. That
found on another jjage of this volume; El-
Johnson county realizes her indebtedness to
bert N., an invalid at home; ]':ila, one of the
Major Heath is clearly shown by tlie high
teachers in the jiublic schools of ('lebui'ue;
regard in which he is held by all classes of
Myra E., wife of Prof. J. W. Mahan, princi-
citizens.
pal of IMahan's Commercial (\)lleoes at Sher-
Of Colonel 1!. J. Chambers, Philip Walker
man and Corpus Christi, Texas; Delia, widow
and other pioneers, sketches are given at
of H. C. Allen; Pet, who is at home with
length I'lsewhere iii this vuliinie. See index.
lier parents; and Lee Davis, a resident of
Joseph Shaw, '• Uncle Joe," was born in
Cleburne. The father, mother and children.
Orange ccuinty. North Carolina, August ](),
with one exception, are nienibei'S of the
1798. In 1845 he moved to Cibson county.
Christian Church. The ]\Iajor's iiarents were
Tennessee, as poor as North Carolina emi-
members of the same church, but Mi's.
grants generally are. December 23, 1854,
Heath's people were Presbyterians.
he arrived here in Johnson cou::ty, \vith his
Major Heath is a member id' the Masonic
I'amily, jiilching his tent near Ibichanaii. He
fraternity, belonoinrr to the I'.lue Podge,
stopped hei'e, however, because hi^ ran out of
Chapter and ('ommandry. He is a slron"
means to cari-y him further. In 1857 he
y -■-"> -n ■■■ jHi :ir;- -... . , ! ' :
yj.ii;
V t i.iM .. vi, .:-i «-i u:
AND niLL COUNTIKS.
^^.^. rlirtcl Sl,ci-iir, to fill tllC unu.xpircd
I, rill ..r Charles Culsluii. The cuiuity seat
u.i- thru al i'.uchaiian. In Aui^iist, 1S5S,
Mt thu -riuial L'h.eliwn, lie Was re-eleeled to
the raiiieotiice, lor the full term of two years,
an. I uab aoaiii re-elected in IHt^O, after
uhh'h time lie lieM no oliice. In his [lolilics
he uas an old Henry (May Whig, and after
iii- ]i:iity died he joined the Deniucratie.
He amas=ed a bnuo little fortune, hy his
erty. His town lots yielded a handsome
iii.,nthly revenue. He eontinued to reside in
(■|.-lpurne, eonduetiiig a hotel and saloon at
the northwe-^t corner of the public sijnare,
boiith from the Clehurne House, and also en-
^'a;^'ed in brokerage and lending money, until
jii. death, abaiit 1S82, when he left a widow
and children.
CnliMiel John Schatl'er, who may be con-
ridrivd one of the godfathers of Cleburno,
w.ia hiu-n in Kicliniond county, Georgia,
.March rj, 1S13; and at the age of thirteen
was taken by his parents, in change of resi-
dence, to Augusta, where his father, James
S. Schalfer, was elected to a high and responsi-
ble i.iruv in Ihecily government.
In 1831 the family removed to Dallas
county, Alabama, where they engaged in
fanning, and wdiere young Schalfer married
Miss Cynthia Harris, in 1887.
February 15, 18^(1, he arrived with his
family at Bonhain, Fannin county, Texas,
where he resumed his occupation as planter,
lie resided in the village of I'.nuham, Imw-
biisincbb. In conneclioii with Joseph A.
(dark, later of Thorp's Springs, he published
the W, stern A/yiis, a popular paper. in
1858 he moved to Parker county. On the
lireakiiig (lul of the war between tlie Slates,
in l.sr,-.i, he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of
a frontier regiment. At the e.vpiration oi:
hteen months' Be:
ro gave up
his sword for the plowshare. In 180(5 he
settled in Johnson county, near wliere Cle-
burne now stands. The ne.Kt year he and his
old tVieiid, Jo (^lark, erected the first grist
and saw mill at or near Cleburne.
In recalling the nieinoides of the olden
time, as we have been obliged to do in re-
citing the foregoing reminiscences of pioneer
citizens and jjrimitive scenes, we experience
that sad, sweet pleasure which it is the cen-
tral province of all history to inculcate. Let
ns turn our eyes and thoughts back to the
log-cabin days of a third of a century ago,
and I'ontrast those homes with the comfort-
able dwellings of to-day. Let us enter. In-
stinctively the head is uncovered in token of
reverence to this relic of ancestral beginnings,
early struggles and final triumphs. To the
left is the dee[i, wide fire-place, in whose
sit by the lire, ami u[i through the chimney
may count the stars, while ghostly stories of
witches and giants, and still more thrilling
stories of Indians and wild beasts, are whis-
peringly told and shudderingly heard. Ou
the great crane hangs the oKl tea-kettle and
the great iron jwt. The huge shovel and
the gre:it andirons patiently wait for the
huL'e back-lo- Over the fire-place hangs
■8.-I'., Is ,.y
Hr. . ,1,
.1 ' i .r.-y> (ill' >:', :;.'! io:! "I
■ •-'■ l:;i.'.i'' -;!l'-iiy, -J"IJ-A I'l;-: ,''liii.ljil
III^TOUY OF J Oil X SON
tlie ti-usty ritli'. To tin- li^lit of the iirc-
phiw stiuuis the spiiiniiig-whed, while in tlie
farther eii.l of tlie ruoiii is seen tiie oitl-
faohioiied luoin. Strings of (ii^ino; apples
and poles of drying ]Minipkiii are (ts'erhead.
Opposite the door throiigii wliieh yon enter
stands a hnge deal table; by its side the
dresser, wliose pewter plates and '• shining
delf" cateli and reflect tlie tii-e-place Haines
as shields of armies do the sunsliine. From
the corner of its shelves coyly pee[) out the
i-elicsof former china. In a cnrtaiiied corner
and liid from casual sight we lind the moth-
er's lied, and under it the ti'undle-hed, while
near them a ladder indicates the loft where
the older children sleep. To the left of the
tire-place and in the corner opposite the
spinning-wheel is the mother's work-stand.
Upon it lies the Hilile, evidently iiiiich used,
its family record telling of parents and
friends a long way otf, and telling, too, of
children
"Scattered like roses in bloom,
Some at the bridal, some at the tomb."
Her Spectacles, as if just used, are inserted
between the leaves of the Uible, and tell of
her purpose to return to its comforts when
cures permit and duty is done. A stool, a
bench, well notched and whittled and carved,
and a few chairs, complete the furniture of
tbe room, and all stand on a coarse but well-
■ scoured floor.
Let us for a moment watch the city visit-
ors to this humble cabin. The city bride, in-
nocent but thoughtless, and ignorant of labor
and care, asks her city-bred hiisbaiMJ, " I'ray,
what savao-es set th
>r lloi,
know." Hut see the pair upon whmn age
sits " frosty but kindly." First, as they enter,
they give a rapid glance about the cabin
home, and then a mutual glance of eye to
eye. Why do tears start and till their eyes?
Why do lips quiver? There are many who
know why; but who that has not learned in
the school of experience all these symbols of
trials and privations, of loneliness and dan-
ger, can comprehend the story that they tell
to the pioneer? AVithin this chinked and
mud-daubed cabin we reail the Wvai [jages of
our hist(_iry, and as we retire to its low door-
way, and note the heavy, battened door, its
wooden hinges and its welcoming latch-
string, is it sti-aiige that the scenes without
should seem to be but a dream? But the
cabin and the palace, stamling side by side
in vivid contrast, tell their own story of this
people's progress. They are a history and a
prophecy in one.
OKOANIZATION.
When the "fullness of time" appeared to
liave arrived, 107 voters signed a jietition for
the formation of Johnson county, h'ollow-
iiig are tlie names of all but foiii-, wdiose
names cannot be recalled:
Sam ]\Iyers, James Billingsley,
Sam Jjillingsley,
Jonathan BiUingsley,
John R. BiUingsley,
Robert iM. BiUingsley,
John BiUingsley,
Christopli'r BiUingsley,
William C;.BillingsJcy,
A. Futhey,
AVilliaiu Carter,
James Evans,
William Balch,
John Balch,
James Coldiron,
A. II. Onstott,
C. 11. ilnrst,
Nathan i:illin.r,.|
K-1'7.
essinLT Ills liinorance, lie
he Implies, '•! do not | David Mitchell, KIbert BiUingsley,
-'■;':.■•' -Via
,/•>!.
:,,n.«,.i
AND IIILL COUNTIES.
(;«■.. i-u W. (^iiick,
J. M. S. JHllinjrsloy,
J. S. Foster, W. T. AVise, •
,1. (;. Qaiok,
William l]illin_-sley,
W. L. Siegler, J. M. Tatnm,
.(■l.Miiculiiic M^vrs,
A. Jackson P.radley,
D. D. Myers, Jesse Billingsley,
~\», W. Cauls,
y. ]!. Kirkham,
John Uobinson, AV. W. Trnitt,
K. M. llfutli,
T. J. Mills,
G. AV. Anstiii.
K. i;. Kay,
William iMills,
Accordingly, Johnson county was created
W. Ci. Kay,
J. D. Myers,
by act of the Fifth Legislature, passed Feb-
T. ,1. Furris,
Joab Watson,
ruary 13, 1854, as follows:
J.J. Mills,
Mat. Graham,
"Section 1. — Do it enacted," etc., "that all
i;«-iijainiii IJrowii,
Jesse Duuf^rlas,
that portion of territory lying w^est of Ellis
(1. K. SIkiiiikiii,
F. L. Kirtley,
county and north of Hill county, south of
W. K. Shannon,
S. I). ISright,
Tarrant county, beginning at the northwest
William Goen,
B. J. Stacks,
corner of F]llis county on the scjuth bound-
W. y. Qiiinn,
Tom McMiiian,
ary of Tarrant county; thenco running due
T.J. (,)ninn,
Thomas L. Wilshire,
west, passing tlie southwest corner of Tar-
Quinn,
Josiah Wilshire,
rant county and continuing due west to the
Thomas llailuy.
J. Easterwood,
bank of the ISrazos river, thence continuiug
Jainu. llailoy,
AViley Junes,
due west ten miles; thence south, thirty de-
Allen llailey,
L. W. Jones,
grees east, to Bosque county; thence north,
T.J. Klythe,
0. 11. Jones,
si.xty degrees east, to the west bank of the
J. 1,. Klytho,
J. II. Jones,
lirazos river; thence down the same with its
William OW'eal,
IL r. Covington,
meanders to the northwest corner of Hill
J. W. OVN'cal,
J. IJ. Willeford,
county; thence north, seventy-live degrees
W. (). Menefee,
Charles Neely,
east, to the northeast corner of Hill county,
John Stephens,
John Robinson,
on the southwest boundary line of Ellis
l.uwis Tanxy,
Jonathan l]nrk,
county; thence north, thirty degrees west, to
James Ma.^key,
(i. 11. Siuler,
a point directly west of the southwest corner
J. K. .McKinsuy,
William Combes,
of Dallas county, to the place of beginning,
A. G. Johnston,
Zur Combes,
— shall be and the same is hereby created a
1). K. Jackson,
Zerah Comixes,
separate county, and called the county of
KadlorJ Ellis,
John Fox,
Johnson."
0. Wise,
G. W. Meadow,
AVhile on the subject of county boundary-
J . M. Toler,
Simeon Odoin,
lines let us proceed:
Zopher Foster,
A. D. Kennard,
On the (ith of November, 1866, an act to
T. iV. Ilnnter,
J. S. Morrow,
deliiu) the boundary lines of Palo Pinto,
John Ilnnter, Sr.,
I'. \Valker,
J<jlinson and iuatli counties was passed, sec-
John lIiHiter, Jr.,
Lewis Goen,
tion 'ii of which affects Johnson county as
\^,)\.\r\
. i.O.HU .'■
'.:J1 •)
■:-..;t I. .T
...
..'•.V. .L.I.
.' ,-■,,.. iCV/
'
r
„;,r(!;l ;.. T
.-/:H ,t ,1.
:''■' ' :iiiV/
. •'' V ■ // !.
.,,.1:
,::i
•(fi ,•;
■ — ,1/ ,ulut,
,!, ,
•Jlil.i! .i.iol
llLiTOUY UF JUIINHON
loUuws: "That tlic ruunty .,f Jolinson .ball
term, and was accordin|^ly ludd .March 20,
lu'iraftiT liu hijuiHl(.'(i as rulluw.: I'.eginiiiiig
following. The returns .-howed that the prop-
on tlu- northeast bank of tko IJrazos river, at
o.-^ition was cariied by a majority of twenty.
the ii|,[)er eoi'iier of a S2l)-aere survey in the
Thi.- territory ib described as follows: -lie-
name ol' J. Lyon, which is also the lowei'
ginning at the soutkeaft corner of the Will-
Corner of A. l-'arcjuhar's 320 aere survey;
iam Kinsey 320-acre survey, lying north of
thence due north to the interfeetion of the
and adjoining Kimball's bend on the lirazos
south line of I'arker county; thi-nce east
river; thence with said AVilliani Kinsey's east
with the south line of Tarker an.l Tarrant
boundai'y line north, thirty degrees we.-t, to
counties to the present north corner of John^
the Hill and Johnson county line; thence in
son county; tlience southeast with the west
a westerly direction with said county line to
line of Ellis county to the north corner of
the ]]v:r/j)> river, to the noi tliwest corner of
IJill county; thence south to the north cor-
Jlill county; thence down the- !!i-azos river
ner of Hill county" [seems tautulnoical ;
with its meandei-s with the Hill county line
"thence westward with the noi'th line of Hill
to the lower corner of the .-aid William Kin-
county to the iJrazos river; thence following
sey's survey; theiict^ north, si.xty degrees east.
the meanderiiigs of the Mrazos river to the
witk the said William Kiusey's survey to the
Ijjaee of heginning."
place of beginning."
'•Se( riox L — That the county judou he
The abo\'e de.-^ci-ibed tei'ritoi'y contains 5,-
uutkorized to appoint comniis-^ionei's to locate
321: acres, and embr;iccs the following sur-
the houndaiics of said county as contem-
veys: jMark U. Kidley, 500 acres; A. J. (iil-
plated hy this act."
bert, -100 acres; Thonuis Lai'rison, (510 acres;
Jlarch 2."5, 1S71, the eastern boundary line
H. 1'. Moses, 230 acres; 0. D. llid.erts, 040
was changed as follows: "lie it enacteil,"
acres; J. Ch'ouch, 320 acres; L. N. West, 320
etc., "that that part of Ellis county West of a
acres; Thomas liussell, 1,47-1: acres; M. A.
liiu^ beginning at the southeast coi'iier of
J,Jnisoii, ISO acres; li. S. Jenkins, 320 acres;
Johnson county, runnings thence ihu-th to the
an.l William K'insey, 320 acres; total, 5.321
southern boundary of Tarrant county, be
acres.
and the same is hereby annexed to Jtdmson
The present boundary line of Johnson
county."
county, according to Art. 822 of the Revised
The j)etition asking the (Commissioners'
Statutes of 1871), stands as follows: "P.e-
Cijurt (d' Hill county to order an election for
giniung at the mu'tkeast corner of Hood
the pui-poto of determiinng whethei- a [lortion
count\-, thence south with the east line of
of the territory of .said county shoul.l be de-
said county and the county of Somervell to
tached fi'om Hill and attache.l to Johnson
the upper corner of J. Lyon's 320-acre sur-
county, was pi-esented at tlu; l'"ebruaiy (ISSI)j
vey on the r,ra/.os river; thence with the
term. An election was ordere<l at 1 he ,-ame
llra/.o.s to the norl hwe^-t corner .d' Hill county;
h '' ■■ ' ,!.r I V'
AND UILL COUNTIEtS.
tl.nir.. Willi Ihu Hill coinity line north,
vai-as wide wdiicli does not belomr to liei-.
.-. wiitv live derives cast, to tliu wot line of
'J'his is the land in dispute, and lias been
Klli^ i-uiiuty (=iii(l point lies south, thirty de-
for some time. The surveyor has recently
^(■•■f.i e.i.-t, twenty-two niile.s from the west
written to Judge Adams f.icts and figures in
.win.-r c.l' Ellis cannty, as estalili.-^linlJanuury
regard to it, wdiicdi it is more than probable
-'^, l^oDj; iheneedue north to the .south line
will convince the proper authorities that
nf 'I'airant county, thence west to the place
Johnson county's claim is correct. Johnson
.■t hrainning."
county, embracing G87 square miles in its
'Ihuo Johnson county was originally cre-
area, is located a little northeast of the geo-
iiti'd (jut of Navarro (principally) and Mc-
graphical center of the State of Te.\as, and is
Lennan counties, and at lirot included Iluod
bounded on the north by Tarrant and Parker
iiiid Swiner\ell Counties, and since then a
counties, on the west by llood, on the south
.Mriii-r waa taken from Ellis county, and a
Ijy IJosqne and Hill, and on the east by Ellis
fuiall tract from Hill.
county.
'Ihrre still remains a dispute concerning a
During the Centennial occasion of 187(j,
iiair mile strip runiung quite acro.-s on tlie
J. It. McKinsoy published the following his-
iiuith side of the county. 'I'he (piestion is a
torical items:
.MiUM'W hat complicateil one. I!y bpecial act of
"'i'ho county was created by the l''ifth
the lei,'islature, Dallas county's imrth line was
Legislature of Te.xas on the 13tli day of Feb-
made the south line of the old I'^anuiu district
ruary, 1>.54:, and the county otHcers were
iir im what is known as the "Orr line." Dallas
elected on the 7th day of August following.
ciuinty's nurthwcst corner is admitted. l''rom
David Mitchell was chosen the tirst chief
that point the Dallas county we-t line is to
justice: Jeremiah Easterwood, county clerk;
cM.iid due South thirty miles, hut in run-
J. Roberson, treasurer; A. II. Onstott, slier-
ning it the sur\-eyor did not run strain-lit but
ilY; F. L. Kirtley, assessor and collector; A.
cut otf a cousiileralile amount of Tarrant
D. Kennard, Christopher J'illingsley, Carr
counly and gave it to Dall.is. 'I'arrant ob-
AVise and William O'lXeal, county commis-
jected to this and a conipnmiise was elfecleil
sioners.
hy allowing Dallas county to keeji Tarrant's
"The entire vote cast at this election was
tcrritury, and i-uniiing SOH varas south, far-
less than 120.
ther tliaii authorized, thci-uby going 801^
"The next thing in order was the selection
\ai-as into I'^llis county. Now, Johnson
of a county seat. Four jilaces were put in
county's north line is to extend thirty
nomination, — William O'Neal's, Stephens',
mile^ due west from the northwest C(;rner
I'atton tV' Tarrant's and Kobinson's. The
of r;ilis, which is «()li varas farther south
election, held January 18, LS55, resulted in
than it f-ln)iild be, thereby giving 'I'arrant
no majority for either jilace. A second olec-
a blrip ab.mt liiirty miles long and ,^01J
tii^n wah ordered August 1(1 lolluwing, when
umrouY OF johnson
the following iiamcil jihioes \vt_TC in noniiiiu-
tiou: AN^illiam O'Nears and llun.lursun &
Ciiainhei-s'. The vote stood: O'Neal's, Ifil;
IIendei>on iV ('hainl.ei-H', 5'J. O'Xeal's do-
nation was .leclared elected; and the legisla-
ture having jirovionsly named the county
seat "Wardville, in honor of a Texas veteran
of the name of Ward, tins name was accord-
ingly attached to this first county seat of
Johnson county. O'Neal's, or Wardville,
was situated on the west hank of Noland's
river five miles west of Cleljurne.
"J>i88en8ion8 soon arose ahout the county
seat being outside the constitutional limits,
and this supposition was ascertained to be
true. A removal becoming then necessary,
an election was ordered to he held Septem-
ber 8, 1856, and this time the places put in
nomination were Wardville, Hailey's and
Manley's. No one of these places having re-
ceived a majority of tlie votes polled, it was
declared no election. It was tlien ordered
by tlie chief justice that another election be
held 0>'tober -t, following, for the purpose of
relocating the county seat of Johnson
county. For this election the following
plu..e"w..re phuvd in non,ina,ion: Hailey'.
and Manley's. The former received 151
votes and the latter 47. Bailey's was accor-
dinifly declared to be the county seat.
"It being the duty of the county court to
give the place ciiosen a name, it was atrreed
to call it ijuchauan, in honor of James
Buchanan, then president of the United States.
'>This put a quietus upon county troubles
for a time, and the new county seat bid fair
to make a sprij^rhtly and jdeasant county
town. This jioint is live niilcB northwe.-t of
where Clebuiiie now is.
" At a session of tho legislature a ])etition
was presented from dilferiiiit parts of the
county, praying that u portion of the west
end of Joimsoii county be cut oiF, in order
that a new county might bo created, taking
along with tiio section thus cut off a part of
Erath, I'osque and Palo Pinto counties, and
forming what is now Hood county. This
being accomplislied, it 02)ened up afresh the
question of the removal of the county seat of
Johnson county. Accordingly, an election
was ordered for March 23, 18G7, when the
following places were nominated: Buchanan,
Camp Henderson (now Cleburne), Sanders'
and llollingsworth. Camp Henderson, being
elected by an overwhelming majority, was
declared the county seat of Johnson county.
" From that time on the population and
prosj)erity of the county was much more rapid
than at any previous period. It must be ap-
parent to all that so many removals of the
county seat retarded tho progress of the
county. Had Camj) Henderson been chosen
at the start, the pojmlatiou and prosperity of
the eomniunity would ho far in advance of
•■Tile county was settled up rather slowly
for several years, for drouths were common
then, and one summer generally satisfied a
new-comer, e8j)ecially if he were from Arkan-
sas. Since the war very few sections of coun-
try have been settled up more rapidly tiian
JohiiEon county."
After reciting the foregoing facts in the
Centennial year, 1870, Mr. McKinsey fell
('"•■■■
frj.l ) .i i'j.:.j. o
, -,■>.. -A. I
It] .■..;' )vi3
•:il ..:..:-Ma
AND UILL COUNTIES.
tliii^: -OvL-i' twenty ^'oars ago wo liml broad
arrca HjuL'ad out bt'tbro iisc>f rich, iiiululating
laii.U, hut few occupants and isniall lields;
II. iw, many of these rich, broail acres are en-
cdo.-ed in hirire tields, well-cultivated and
unde
:avy- laden crops or wne;
heat,
uatr-, hay and cotton. Over twenty years ago
few hoiises were to be seen in the distance
bi'foie yon; now they can be seen in abun-
dance looking east, west, north or soutli.
Over twenty years ago most settlers were
contented to follow after a few head of stock
1111. 1 but little elfort was made to till the
I'l-oiiiid; now nearly all are actively engaged,
ht'i'iiig who can excel in the raising of rich
pri»hicts on their land. Then very few iiouses
in the county could be regarded as respect-
able domiciles; now many line and costly
iiiaiisions are reared, of bricic, wood and stone.
'I'licii the site of the present Cleburne was a
howling wilderness, wild Indians camping
and hunting all over it and around it; now
bcliold a beautiful city! Then our country
was blessed with honest, peaceable citizens,
while horse-thieves, robbers and highwaymen
Wire aliiRist unknown; now the country is
Hooded with criminal classes, — so much so,
indeed, that it is hazardous for a man to
travel from one county into another without
being attacked, especially if it be known that
lie has money," etc., etc. The writer proceeds
to draw many contrasts between primitive and
nioilern times, with the coloring highly in
favor of the former in respect to morals and
poliliial government. We can conscientiously
comment on Mr. Mcivinsey's relh^itioiiH upon
the morals of the community thus: In
the earliest times there was i)ut little jirop-
erty and no money here to tempt thieves,
robbers and swindlers to this section of the
country, and not enougli voters to support
demagogues; Imt, after all, there was some
deviltry in pioneer times, and after the war
(up to the date of his writing), a great deal
more than now exists; and Johnson county,
on the whole, is better than the average.
ORIGIN OF TillO NAME OF THIS COUNTY.
This county was nameil in honor of Colonel
M. T. Johnson, who was born in the State of
Georgia and emigrated to the northern part
of the State of Alabama, where he represented
his county in the State legislature one or
more terms. In 1S42 he removed from Ala-
bama to Texas, settling in Shelby county.
Colonel Johnson was a " liegulator" in the
famous war of 184:2-'44, in Shelby county,
between the " liegulators" and " Moderators."
One prime cause of this war was the conduct
of one Charles W. Jackson, master and owner
of a Red river steamer running between New
Orleans and Slireveport, Louisiana, who, after
some lighting and bloodshed at Slireveport
took refuge in Slielbyville, ran for Congress,
was beaten, and then, after exposing some
fraudulent headrights, was notified to leave
the country or he would be killed. After
some skirmishing between parties, in which
several were killed on both sides, war was
formally declared and the Regulators and
Mo<lerators met in battles at tlie Cowpens and
the Church. The first was a drawn battle
between sixty-two liegulators and 225
li .null ^Ji::;: ^.
lll!)i'
3;-,.; hi)! J I
"•''''-I
IIlSTOliY OF JOHNSON
]\IuilLTat(jr6, ill wliiuli sfvural wltc wuiiuilcd
of the same. This regiment served through
aiRl one killeil. The battle of the Cliurch
the remainder of the war with Mexico, with
resulted in the defeat of the 2:25 Mod-
distinguished lienor on many battle-fields.
erators l.y iiOO lu'o-uhitur.s, with the loss of
and was linally discharged in 1848.
four killed and .-e\-en wounded; and immedi-
In 1851 Colonel Johnson and General
ately after this the parties were dispersed by
Tom J. Kuek were emjJoyed by the Southern
the State mlliiia undororders from President
I'acilic Kailroad Company to survey the route
Jlou.-^ton. iSonu' of the pai'ties were ai'rested,
of that railroad west of Fort AVorth. Ac-
but they were never tried, and the yreat war
cordingly, the survey was made for a distance
botwe'on the I'nited States and Mexieo Boon
of 20lj miles, after which (leneral Rusk went
coming on the above parties shook hands and
to Washington city as a Texas Senator, and
beeauie friends in that struggle.
Colonel Johnson remained in the service of
In 1841 Colonel Johnson was a representa-
the Pacific Railway Company for several
tive of his (Shelby) county in the State leg-
years alterwanl.
islature, and served witli distinction.
As will doubtless be inferred by the reader,
Upon the breaking out of hostilities be-
Colonel Johnson was a very brilliant man.
tween the United States antl Mexico, in
lacking neither education norc<»iimon sense;
1811), Colonel ,Iohns(jn raised a company of
and hence it was that his s[)lendid abilities
minute men, mounted volunteers, and soon
were tre(|uently brought into re(juisition into
afterward he and his men weie on iMe.xiean
some li.'ld or other of usefulness, lie was a
b<iil,whei-e they remained with(ieneral /acli-
good sjieaker, and his brusque style of oratoi'y
ary Taylor until after the battle of Monterey,
made him at home with his audience, what-
in which nienujrable engug-ement, lasting
ever might have lieen his tojjic. He was as
thiee <lays, he and his men participated.
generous as he was bravt>, and a bitter
After the surrender of the city of Monterey
neighbor could not be found. Hi; was of an
Cajitai!! Johnson's company was discharged.
impidsivc nature and lond of adventure.
Kelurning to Texas Captain .1 olmson was
With the Indians on the Texas trontier lie
commissioned by (uivernor I'iuckney Hen-
had much to do, both as friend and foe, and
derson to raise a conijiany of cavalry, oi-
in eitl.ier relation he always seemed ecjually
" rangers," as they were known in Texas, for
poised. He would as soon range the frontier
frontier defense. The company was soon
in search of the hostile Comanches as to sit
ruiseil, but Ijelore it entered the field of ac-
down to eat a meal, and frequently he was
tivity the (Tovernnient authorized its aug-
compelled to range in onler to get something
mentation to a full regiment. AVhen tin's
to eat.
became known Texans Ih.cked t., J,,hn,s.,n's
In 1852, and for several yi-ars afterward,
standard witlujut delay. The I'cgiment was
his name was freciuently mentioned with the
,. nice of State (Jipvernor. but his bJluwItur
:l.j, ..:i; ;...:*. ■!-
.1, , t,l(t.7h..M,.'. -v
: ■ ,^)T>-; I, nV' 1
.iv-/;,i...'. If.,: .!■ ' '
1)1 t ,i '.ii T'-." 1 'I- '.'. ,'..1. :,'
;^.:n.r.o!..M,l...,l>:,.i,u;.uK,
AND nil.L COVNTIKS.
tliouij;li large and lii,i;lily respectable, were
h.iMtid chiefly iu North Texas, which portiun
,,t llic State ill thdso days was e|,arscly piqui-
l;il,(l aii.l without the political strcn-tli that
it now coiniiiamis, and they wcri> tlicrctore
iinahlc to bcciu-e his iioinination. In ISl'iO
lie was again commissioned to raise a regi-
nicnt of rangers for frontiei- distense. He
raised the re(jiiired qi;ota of nu.Mi and made
^cvcral expeditions into the Indian conntry,
uitli more or less success.
At the commencement of the late civil
war Colonel Johnson was not in accord with
the Ecceders; but when war became in-
cvitahle, he, like General Lee, Governor
Throckmorton and other o-i-eat men of that
period, gave i
adhesion to the land of
nativity and oH'ered his services to the Con-
federate! Government. Ujxm rcK'civing as-
surance from President J ell'erson Davis that
he would lie commissioned a brigadier gen-
eial in the Confederate service if he succeede<l
in rai>iiig a brigade of Texans, he raised that
number, and accompanied his men to l.ittU^
Kock, Arkansas, the point of rendezvous,
from which place he re])orted to I'rosideiit
Davis, at KiehnuHul, Virginia, and in due
c(jur.-e of time he was -snrprisiM and deeply
niortiiied wlien the intellig.ui.'e camo that the
Trc-idcnt had changed liis mind; but, gener-
ous and selfsacrih'cing as he always was, ho
tui-ned over the C(.iinmand without ;t murmur,
at tlu' same time counseling his men to go
into the service ami battle bji- their homes
and the 8outh.
After this (Colonel Joimson did not par-
ticipate in the war but remained at home on
Jiis farm, where he madehimself useful to
his neighbors by his wise counsel and deeds.
Of his alumdance he gave liberally to sol-
diers' families,-in<lced,noone .sulb^red long
where Colonel dohnson could hear of his case.
After the war ho was elected to the State
legislature, the first after the so-called re-
construction. A. J. Hamilton was Govern-
or at the time, with whom Colonel Johnson
was very intimate, and it is thought, there-
fore, that Tarrant county was fortunate in
having (.'olonel Johnson as its representative
in the legislature at that critical juncture in
the State's alfairs. Soon af'tei- the adjourn-
ment of this legislature the colonel died and
was buric<l at liis old home near Johnson's
Station, Tarrant county, Texas.
KAKI.Y SUltVtiYS AND SL'KVEVOKS.
The surveyor's first report on the boundary
of Johnson county is given on page 320,
Book A, of the Minutes of the Commission-
ers' Court; the report concerning the bound-
ary ])etwcen Johns.m and Hood, i.age 303
of the same book; and that concerning the
line between Johnson and Ellis on page 379.
A survey was made concerning the boundary
between Johnson and Hill, but the report is
not on record here.
The northern ludf of ,J(dinson county was
originally in the Peters colony, which ex-
tended westward on through Hood. The
eastern boundary of Peters colony was three
miles west of the present eastern boundary
of Dallas county. Titles to land in this
northern st-ction have always been more set-
tled than in the southern, from tlu^ other
.;J: ■:'. ,. M .■•no;. -lA
r;i ;. I .J M'^i I
:!. '....M.lc'
UlsToUY UF .7(il/\:
colon}', as tliu former was N-acatcd liy ao;rouinuiit
witli tlie State sooner than the latter. The
Memphis .V. Kl Paso railn.ail reservation was
jilaeed u|)on it, ami the company linally agreed
to yield all their claim in tlie Peters colony
it' they were allowed to run a twelve-mile
belt through the State; and that line is now
established, embracing Weatherford.
Land litigation in Johnson county ceased
sooner than in most surronnding counties,
and hence this region has had an eaidier and
better advantage for development. There is
not a Mexican " league " title in the county.
The title is all direct from the sovereigihty of
the State.
Johnson county has within its own ter-
ritory four leaiTues of school laui
d th
sections of school land for Ellis county, a
tract for Jackson county, and alj(nit tweuty-
fivo sections belonging to the general State
8cho(^l fund. The school lands of Johnson
and Jackson counties lie in the western sub-
di\'ision of Johnson county, and comprise
eight leagues, or 35,424: acres, as rich as any
in Texas.
Of the original surveyors in this region,
Cl
A Joseph PI
ed
Nh
the Tehuacana Hills; Colonel P. J. Chambers
still living, at Cleburne; and besides these
there were Colonels J.imes E. Patton and i).
11. Mitchell, Richard Ptll, — Jenkins, Ceorge
M. Pierce, G. II. Cunnirghain, Warren Doug-
las, S. G. Grahain, etc. All these did survey-
ing here before Johnson county was i'orined,
Pierce doing most of the work on the ground
now embraced in the county. Seveial parties
of surveyors were killed by Indians.
It is related of (Lionel I'hilpot that he
had an old .sorrel horse named " Puck,"
which he caused to ste|>(df a piece of land as
well as the average chain-carrier! and of Col-
onel Patton that he would step otf ground
with a rawhide hobble! It is indeed a singu-
lar fact that the work of the early surveyors
is renuirkably correct, considering their crude
metliods of surveying.
Colonel Parzillai J. Chambers, one of the
pioneers of Johnson county, and father of the
city of Cleburne, is a most highly esteemed
d worth
y o
f th.
space
wh
citizet
been accorded him in this record of the lives
of those men who made the first settioments
in the Lone Star State. He is a son of Walker
and Talitha Cumi (Mothershead) Chambers,
the former a native of Virginia and the latter
of Kentucky, The father when a young man
removed to Kentucky, where he married and
made his home; he was a farmer, was fairly
prosperous in this avocation, and lived to a
good old age; he died in Owen county, Ken-
tucky, in 1870. His wife was the daughter
of an okl Revolutionary soldier who settled
in Kentucky, after seven years of service in
the war for imlependenco; she died in her
native State in liS77, also well advanced in
years. Their children were named as follows:
Moses, who died young; Uriel, wlio went to
Indiana after growing up, and settled near
Indianapolis, wliere he died a few years ago,
leaving a family; Parzillai J., the subject of
this notice; Creatli Pasconi. now residing in
Navarro county; Ruth, who became the wife
of C. S. Eorsee; Prances, who married Dr. J.
P.. Vallandinghain; Ruth and Frances are
both deceased.
'■ ■■"!'• ""-"'M
■rr<'' ... 'I
■ i- .<^j.'i;c'' liJo,
1 .. '
■;S...t(.
i,Hi!, .:!
:| .....■:). .
d' .1 •■.Hi I.K),l;i8
,1. O'l .v.)L'
;:.n J ,,■.;„/. iri.
,,I. T. \u ..»,-: ii.,
^■i . iit.r;:
: ■ ■ ■.( ,,y.A Jj;.fy
..i:y.j£ ill
1. . f-M.. „.'( ]<}
..,.-,:
■ .:.■...• -.oi'u.lJ
ri- ■ i;r,L. 'i'
:,i 111 ^;'il■ ;; :iii-
1 ..a;,', >.':
-■' 'r. ■
■ h -/, .-^i w
^^^^^ .-.
^^or^i^i.
Ai>2<:f/
S-i^:'^
% -s;
... r.V^^^-^^^^-
\N1) lUlA. COUNTlKt-
81
Miiizillai .1. Oliiuiilioi-H was liuni ii. Mclit-
j^omory county, Koiitacky, Deeoinbui- 5, 1S17,
uii'l lived thei-c until tlie ii^'e of twenty yc;ir».
ill 1^37 \\v. .iirrrc.i himHrir as a volunlrcr in
the TcMirt Kcvoliition, an.! joint;(i a iTniincnt
ftt l.oiiisviilu, Kentucky, wiiicli was laised hy
liid uncle, Colonel T. J. Chambers; he re-
ceive 1 a commission as captain of whi'jh lie
made use in raising i-ecruits, but never had
cliarj,'e of a company, his service being on his
iiiiele's ((ieneral T. J. Chambers) staff. AVhen
the regiment reached Texas, the battle of San
Jacinto had been fought, and the independence
of Texas won.
Colonel Chambers detei-mined. liowever, to
make the R.
puw
ic his home
Ilav
•uig
studied surveying in Kentucky and become
(piite luolicieiit, he oilereil liis services to the
new settlers in locating their claims, and soon
worked up a prolitable business in this line.
For two years he was in the southern part of
the State; in 1S30 ho lemoved to the section
then known as the old Robertson land dis-
trict, which embraced all the territory between
the lirazos and the Trinity rivoi's; the land
oliice was at the old town of Franklin, which
ib now Iho county .-eat of Robert^(in eoiinty
years he was engaged in surveying in this
district, and during that time located many
thousands of acres of land, lie experienced
innumerable hardshi[)S, and had many adven-
tures among the Indians, exhibiting that
courage, daring and skill in wdiich Texans
have 6ur[)rised the world.
It was in tiie capacity of surveyor that he
lir.-.t came to John^on county in IS 17, .seven
years before the county was organized and at a
time wlien there were no actual wliite settlers
witiiin its present limits. Ho was a deputy
of the Rol
Faiid District in
which .lohnson county was tlu^n situated.
Wq. was busily occupied laying cortilieates and
running out public lands until 1855, aiui
December 20 of that year he took up his per-
manent resi<lence here, having acquired a title
to considerable lantl in this vicinity. He
settled in what now constitutes the lower
part of Clebui-ne, and resided there until after
the death of his wife. In April, 1857, he left
the county and did not resume his residence
here until the fall of 18(J5, since which time
Cleburne has been his lionie. I']ven in 18G5
the county was not thickly settled, and the
county seat, which was then at Buchanan was
only a straggling village. Colonel Chambei's,
acting as agont of Colonel W. I<\ Henderson
and for himself, olfered 100 acres, sixty for
the colonel and forty for himself, as a town
site for a new county seat, which was
accepted. (See account elsewhere in this
work.) The jilace was then known as Camp
Henderson, but was soon named Cleburne, in
honor of (ieneral Patrick t^leburno, of Con-
fedeiate fame. The county seat was moved
in lStJ7, Colonel Chambers being one of the
commissioners appointed to locate it. lie
aided in planning the town and assisted in
surveying it and laying ofl' into lots, and since
that time he has been untiring in his etibrts
for the welfare of the place, and has aided
every enterprise that has been projected for
its benetit.
lie has been an active business man, and at
;.',„ fti.'
;'cl- ,,<U'i.uj^\ ,-,.,;
.Mii '.III
:w ■j'jill'.
•T i: d;
!.;■;.-' ..,:^ I...,.,-,,,,,.. ...Villi
yutifi',i:'> ti:.' I'i if, ■■ t(
■ ■ .III!'. ' •■• •■ iliO J'.ii!
Jll<TOi:r OF JvJf_\.i:<,X
>rgf
juuiity. IIl- uiiee lieM title to -l.UnO
aigr part of wliich l.o m,I,1 f,,r litt:
wa^ tliL- largfst laii.l-Iiul.ler in the | of lier marriage, Ifavirjg no eliild. InLs54tlie
a I tViloiiel niarrie.l .Miss Kniina .Montgoinen-, a
native nf Tennessee, wliose jiarents emigratei]
t,, 'J'exas in IMIS; tlii. Luly also .lir,l shortly
after niarria-e, leaving one ehihl, whieh die.l
fiuoii, in infancy. In .Johnson connty in ISfU,
Colonel Chambers married Harriet A. Ivil-
longh, a danf^jjterof Isaac Killoiigh, who was
a native of 'lennessee; the mother was horn
in the same Stale; by this marriage there
have been three children: Mary, the wife of
William Toindexter, attorney at law, of Cle-
biirne, of whom an extended notice will be
fonnd elsewhere in this volnme; Pat Cle-
burne, assistant cashier of tlie First National
Bank of Cleliurne; and Isabella, residing with
her parents. The Colonel is a member of
the xMasonic, fraternity, belonging to the blue
niLnls in Chbunie. He now ..wns between
0,1)01) anil t;,U0O acres, the nio-t of which lies
in Johnson connty and abuiit 1,500 acres in
the immediate vicinity of Clebiuiie.
He has been actively interesli-il in ])olitics,
bnt has never held public oilice except local
])ositions, as District Surveyor, Alderman, etc.
He was in an early day Deputy Surveyor and
aftervv-ards Surveyor of the liobertson Land
District, which fact was mentioned in the first
part of this article. In 1876 he was a candid-
ate for the Vice-Presidency of the United
States on tlie Greenback ticket with General
J. 1). Weaver, of Iowa. For some years h^
has been out of politics. He is a man well-
posted on the current tojiics, is an original
thinker, and fearless in the expression of bis
opinions. In former years he was interested
in the mercantile business and banking in
Cleburne, but dropped the latter entei-prise
long ago, and has owned no stock nor liad any
connection with such an institution. He is
tbo ownership and control of any of the
national or conmiou propei'ties of tlie people
to be used for private benelit, on general prin-
ciples.
(!olonel Chambers has been married three
times: lirst, in Limestone county, T(!Xas, in
1852, he was united to Mis., Su^an AVood, a
daughter of J. li. Wood, a native of Missis-
sijipi; she was born in that Slate, and died in
lodge, the chaiit
iiidi
also
ber of the Christian Church
TUE I'UIiLIC 1{ELX)K1)S.
Johnson county has been fortunate in j)re-
nibli
jrds fro I
^prin.;li..ld,
fire or otherwise, tin- most counties have in
some way, especially by lire, lost more or less
of their recoids.
December 17, 1857, the Legislature au-
thorized and re.piired the clerk of the county
court of Johnson county to transcribe into a
well-bound book, to be provided by said
county court for that purpose, " Record
Locdv A," and " Records of Deeds, Ponds,"
etc., etc., of Johnson county; and enacted
that when said records shall have been so
transcribeil, and examine.l and apjinjv.Ml by
said county court, lh,:y shall liave all the
J ,vn.,i,;) I n:
,V'. ■!&■:
100' ;
■{"■■■•,
AND HILL COUNTIES.
I'.irco and elfoct in law and e.jnity that the
,.,i,-iiials inioht „!■ rould havo, an.l all e.ipics
I..kr,i fn.ni thcin shall l.e a,i vali.l an.l have
thr .-am,' -ra.le of evi.JniCL- as if taken fn.in
the uri-inals.
I'lMllA-nO COLIIJT.
Tlio lii-st iniiiiitL-s of the probate record
uill he iiitere.-tinn;, and we tluu'efore (|U.ite
llie lii',-,1 jla^eor two, with a suhstaiitial report
" At a Prubate Court began and lield at
Alvarado this 2Sth day of Auj-ust, 1851, at
Jwliii Waddell's eonnting-rooni (there being
no i-oiirthonse), present the pre.-iding, the
llonurable David Mitchell, Chief Jnstice;
J. i:a^terwood, Clerk of the Court. Called
by A. il.Onstutt, SiieritK
•• Now, on this day i'\ L. k'irtley an.l
Kli/.al.cth Uobinson tile.l their petition j)ray-
iiig r.)r Ictte'S of a.lininistnUion on the ins-
tate of James .\[. Uobinson, deceased. Ur-
deicl by the court that the (Jlerk put up the
a.lvcrtis,_Mn,.nt,-, rcpiire.! by law, n..l ifyin- all
it any, why letters shoul.l i;.)t be granted.
••Or.l.iv.l that the C.Mirt a.l_j..urn until
c.nirt in course. Davi.l .Mitch.di, Chief ,1 us-
ti.-e,I. C."
u paragrap
like
the session, th
pro-
•• Now, on this day, came F. L. Kirtley and
Klizabcth A. Uobertson [> Uobinson' of the
preceding session] and applied for letters of
a.lniinistration on tiio estate of James M.
Robertson, .h'.'ea-^ed, who, after makiu'r the
necessary atii.lavit, j^iving bond for l?2,r)00,
were appoint.M|, an.l letters grant.'.l.
"Onlere.l by the Court that John Fox,
Ua.lh.r.l Kllis an.l Sim|..,ni Oadham [el-e-
where spelle.l O.l.nn, O.lem, etc.] be and they
are hereby app.tinte.l appraisers to appraise
the estate of James iM. Uobinson, deceased,
and that they pr.iceed to appi-aise sai.l estate
on Thnrs.lay, the ."jth day of October next, at
the hit.; residen.x' of the deceased.
'■Ordere.l that Court adjourn nntil court
in course. J)avid Mitchell, Chief Justice
Ct."
October 30, 185-1: " On this day person-
ally appeared George Parsons before David
Mitchell, Chief Justice of Jolinson county,
uirv to 1)6 ha.
.luiry
r Naiii^.y
pable of takin^r [ejiarge
lerself; whereupon the
praying fo:
Murry, re[i
"'1 "■• ■"-
the Sheritr, to wit: F. L. Ivirtloy, as foreman;
C. Hilling.ley, \l. M. Hillingsley, James ]5il-
lingsley, J. U. liillingsleY, AVilliam IJalch,
Joseph Farber, J. 1 ). James, John Uober.son,
William U..bei-s<m, W. J. Wright and E. U.
Uay, — wliereup.m, being sw.ii'u and hearing
the evidence, after I'etiring they returned,
giving the loll. .win- ver.lict: • That slie was
not of s..un.l min.l' It was then ordered by
the Court that (ieorge Parsons a.lvertise that
Nancy Muriy be let to the lowest bidder for
the maintenance at the ne.xt regular term of
the Probat- C.)urt.
" It was or.iered also by the Court that
Frances E. Murry appear at the next regular
of the Probate Court and chouse lier own
iruar.iian: onleietl also that a 'Miardian be an-
.T...M U<\:.
,t-,.
'\i io :3JV
:■( : • ,i::;
-IB .
■:P.(\'-''
'.■'■\
ill, / 'I . ■'.[- 1 i<. JUJ .(■.■Klli.ll. Mt)J (ill
1; • J ,11,.!: ^J/; I..; n .j|..«-v...|.kI
, .,. .! ..(,i '!.. /I •'■■ . i' :<--Wt;.'J-:,-' ,1,
.,i .ij'M)..Mi:l
■u, ihI.,i .r
niSTOUY OF JOHNSON
jHiinted at the next regular tei'in of Probate
Court lor Jeremiah T. Murry, and tliat the
(Viunty Clerk -ive the h-r:,! ,„,tiees.
•'Verdiet ol' thr al.jve nained jury: 'We,
the jury, timl from the tettiiiu)iiy given, that
Nauey Mniiy is not Cdinjieteiit to support
herself, and attend to her own business, or to
choose her uwn guardian. !•'. L. Kirtley,
Foreman.' Oj-dered by the Court that George
I'arsons be and he is hei'eby appointed guar-
dian of Nancy Murry; whereupon ho took
and subscribed the following oath." The
oath is of record.
July 30, 1855, the Court '-ordered that
John W. O'Neal be iined ^10 f.ir contempt'
of the Court, in depriving the C'ourt the
privilege of holding its regular tei-m by es-
tablishing a grocery in the courthouse!"
During the next month I\Ir. O'Neal peti-
tioned tlie Court to omit the line, but in vain.
The records do not show wiiether John ever
paid that little bill; and indeed, it is not
known whether or not the W(^rd •• e.iui-thouse"
was inserted in the above record foi- the Dur-
curNTV (X)in;T.
I'rom liook A ,d- Ihe n.c,,rdol' the County
Court we glean the following facts:
August 21, 185-4, the (Jounty Court was
called for the second time, at the house of one
Edward Cox, there being no county seat,
when the following otiicers answeied to their
names: David iMitchell, pre.-iding Justice;
C. liillingsley, W. O'Neal, A. D. Kmnard,
county Commissioners; J. Eastcrwoud, county
Clerk, au.l A. II. Onstott, Sherilf. This
meeting was held undei- a post-oak tree, on
the premises of Mr. Cox, in the southern
edge of what is now Chduirne. It was or-
dered that the credentials .,f K. M. Heath,
appointed special Commi.-,sioner l,y the Chief
Justice of J'^Uis county to open elections for
Johnson county aiul to receive and open, give
a certificate [to] ;ind qualify the Chief Justice
elect, I which shall be] recorded and filed, the
same being a|ij)ruved by the court. This
duty he immediately i)roceeded to execute.
In addition to the otlicei's above named,
there were F. L. Kirtley, Assessor; J. 11.
Waddle jspelled "Waddell" elsewhere], Dis-
trict Clerk; E. M. Heath, Justice of the
Peace for Precinct No. 1; F. L. Kirtley, Jus-
tice of Precinct No. 2; and W. O. Menifee,
or Menefee, Justice of Precinct No. 3; and
W. L. Combes, Constable of Precinct No. 1.
The boundaries of each precinct were de-
fined and presiding otiicers of the same were
appointed as. follows: \Y . Balch, No. 1; F.
1.. Kirtley, No. 2; W. O'Neal, Xo. 3; S. 1!.
Kirkham, No. 4; and Charles Parnard, No.
5. Subsequently it was ordered that Pre-
cinct No. 5 be discontinued and attached to
Precincts No. 3 and 4; and. the county was
also divided into school districts, numbering
ten in all.
Court i,djourneil Tuesday, August 22, and
met again in special term at Alvaradu, Au-
gust 28, 1854, " at John Waddle's countirg-
loom." At this term the Chief Justice was
allowed lifty cents for all bonds taken and in-
eluding oaths extra of certificates; and tlie
county Clerk was allowed lifty cents each for
recording the same, and lifty rents for i-ecord-
i h, W I.' , •■f:.
•i
!■!-. Iv. ;!
T I •- :■■ ■(.
ll !'■:,. , . ■ !l
i) iJi : J J. hah
AND HILL COUNTIES.
11.;: r:irh txTl ilicutu aiid oatli. ("uurt tliun
a.lj.-urii.'il until •• court in c(jur.-,e." Signcil,
|),>vi.l Miuhcll, C. J.
The next tonn of tlie court, NovLMiil.ur 20,
l^:>l. w;,> held at Alvarado, in Waddle'8
count in^f room, when a contract was author-
i/.- I with the lowest bidder for the inaiiiteii-
iincc oi Nancy Muri'}', non coinjios mentis.
At ihi.-, term also the court made allowance
lo A. II. Onstott, SheriU'of Joiin.-.on county,
of slO for the preceding (imirter, an<i ,1.
lliMcruuod jio fur liis services during the
In Kehruary, 1S55, tlie next term of the
o.iiuiy court was held at the house of I'\ J.
IMWhe, "there beino no courthouse." Tlie
election returns were examined and the fol-
lowing oentlenicn were declared duly elected
.cliooi tru.-tees: David Mitchell, A. Kutliey.
Henry .lones, A. iM. Wilson, .Smith ,J . I'er-
kui^, K. J,. Mit.diell and Cieoroe Mitchell. A
jjuhlic road was ordered to he viewed out be-
tween Wardville and Millord in Kllis county;
af-.i r..ad. to Fort (iraham ami Alvarado. It
wu:, ordered that IJ. F. IJawkins, County
Clerk of Ellis county, be allowed .s2 for his
^cr.icl•s in makino; out a ccrtilied cojiy of the
l.i\ list for this ^.loluKson) county. It was
al.M. or.lered that a levy of half the amount
of State ta.x bo made on all taxable ])ruiierty
for ouiity purpose.s, and a poll tax of tweiity-
tive cent J, also for County purposes. 'The
c.ibc of Nancy ]\[urry was again let to the low-
est bidder. The Chief Justice was allowed
at this term J^T.oO for his services the past
quarter. It seems that this case ha. I soirie
features recognizable by this court, and some
by the probate court. The court also '-maile
arraiigianents" to build a tem|)(jrary court-
house, sixt(>en feet square. It is said that by
the wonl " arraliocments" it was understood
that a contract or trade was ma.le on a credit
basis, almost any prciduct being receis'able in
payment instead of cash, which was scarce in
those days. William O'lNeal was awarded a
contract foi- the building of this courthouse,
and he agreed to receive pay therefor in town
l.Us situated in Wardville. It was a log
cabin, fourteen feet S(|uaie, covered \vith clap-
boards, which were weighted down with poles.
It had no lioor, only one door and a window.
The logs were .-^o crooked that as Major Ileatli
says, one could easily throw a horse-collar be-
tween them ami never strike top or bottom.
The next term of court was held .March
2G, FSoS, but it is not stated where. At this
term the bond <d' David Fierce, Sheritl', was
received and liled, and lie was installed in
office; and E. .M. Heath was appointed by
the court A^ses^^or and Collector to lill the
vacancy caused by the resignation (jf F. L.
Jvirtley; and Nancy iN[urry was again " let
out to the lowest bidder, an.) David Mitchell
••took her up" at the rate of .•^2 per week,
until further " arrangements" could be made;
afterward, at the same term of court, her
case came up again, and William l>alch was
allowed $25 for keeping her. A Mr. Evans
was allowed ^^15 for her benefit, and a Mrs.
Parsons §2.
The tir.st sale of town lots in Wardville oc-
curred April 20, 1S55, and they brought
from JIU to -SlOO each, the sales ag-
gregating !f;2,34:0. The county of Johnson
■,,1, ,.,i (_»u
.l':- niK.-ii ;■'. -7/ ..' '..I; V.I J '1 p'ir'^ii ,.■••/. /■ ii'.lf •( i:j V. io ....
i. ■ : i, -M! I.,., 1, I .. M ■•., ,i.l -u.- n , r> .:.;•>) hi:
waB the Bcllci- u\' this yvoyv
purcliiiBLTS were A. I ). KriiiiHi.l, .1. M. El-
lictl, -lames L. IJlytlu', .lulin W. O'Neal, W.
II. S. Vei>tillc, AV. S. Suo;o;<, W. II Sliail-
iioi), T. 1). I.oraiice and scvei-al otliers.
At tho August (1855) term David
Myers was allowed ^55 for Iceeping of
Nancy .Alurry; K. M. Heath, ^5 for
writiiio; out tliirty certificates of tlie sale of
town lots foi- Wardville; Cliarles O'Neal, 85
for crying off the lots.
At tlie May (1850) term it was ordered
that a snitahle desk and tahlc he ])Urchased
for the use of the connty clerk's office. James
Torhett's iianio aj)[ieai-s in the minutes of
this session as deputy clerk.
The tir:^t term of the county court held at
the new town of Duchanan was hefiiin vn
Fehruary IG, 1857. Present, Henry Trim-
Lie, Chief Justice, and Commissioners, C.
liillino-sley, J. R. McKinsey, and James
Plemmons. Court was calletl liy C. Coidson,
Sheriff. James II. Torhett was ajipointed
especial commissioner to make titles to town
lots situated in lUichanan; and C. C. Alex-
ander was appointed to transcrihe the rec-
ords necessary to entitle ,Iohn,-on county to
a separate land district.
May liO, 1S57, we tind that Nancy Murry
was bid olf by Sarah Parsons, who ag]-eed to
keep her twehe months for $150, good and
lawful money, — not "arrangements." At this
date G. K. Shannon was Chief Justice of the
connty.
At the February (1858) term it was
ordered that a lio.x hou.-e sixteen feet square
be erected for the use of the district clerk's
in.sTonr of joiinson
Amon.r
office. J. K'. Ilaggerty was tiie hrst ])Ci-son
adjudged a lunatic in the county.
The tii-st county jail w.as erecte.l in the
town of IJnchanan, in 1858, at a cost of !i;795.
This and tho "box house" just referred to
may be considered the tii'st two county build-
ings in Jcjhn^on.
At the February (185'J) term Robert AVif-
tin, a foreigner, came before the court and
upon oath declared his intention to be a nat-
uralized citizen of the Fnited States, being
the iirst case of the kind on record in John-
son county.
In September, ISo'J, the county court or-
dered distributed for ]Mil)lic school |]Urposes
the Slim of !?(578.iJ7, each scholar being al-
lowed the benefit of seven and a half cents
d.av while attendinif school.
At this term Nancy Murry was finally set
adrift to forage for herself, the c^junty court
iiasing revoked all former orders for her
maintenance! Concei-ning her hi.story in
connection with the county Mr. A. J. Byrd
humorously remarked: "Now, if the said
Nancy was a proper<eubject for county con-
sideration, why in that case tho money ex-
i>ended u])on hei' was a wise investment; but
if Nancy was jJaying off on the county, then
in that event she had a royal good time for
five years at the expense of the county!"
In 1800 the county court ordered that a
courthouse be erected, two stories in height,
and be built of wood. Also, that an artesian
well b(^ bored in the town of Puchanan. J.
.1. Ligon, Chief Justice, dissenting from this
view of the (!umuiis.-.ioners, told them that
they had no authority to expeiui the county
nn • '.•■ I) l'.
I ,^.;
|. • .! {•• '■ ,!. I
.>. ■ .. ' I ,..: I>C. .. :lt
ANV HILL COUNTIES.
fiiml.^ for any siicli piirpo.sc, etc., and tlie ]iro.
|Mi,ccl uiitei'iirisc was iu;\ei' oxucutcil.
At a called term of the county court in the
ni.MaliolMune,l>5(ll,llon.J.J. l.ioon, Presid-
iiii^'.Iu>tic(t, was jirescnt,and also llie ("(.niuiiB-
niniiei-ri, 11. (i. Jii-uce, Matthew Graham, A.
.1. I'Vizzell and Mosos Barnes. This meeting
was a slim one, as (rrini-visaged war hegan to
appear like a terrihlo thunder-cloud in the
liiiii/.oii. Accordingly the county court or-
dered that a special election he held in order
to detei-mine whether to suhinit to a tax levy
for providing ai'ms and ammunition for the
common defense. It does not appear from
the record whether the tax was ordered by
the popular vote or not; but it probably was,
as soon afterward a company of troops was
urguui/.ed as the "Johnson (Jouiity Cavalry,"
with W. J. O'lNeal as Captain; ThouuiS
Haley, First Lieutenant; Silas A. Carpenter,
Second Lieutenant; and James lleiner. Third
Lieutenant. The non-Conimissioned ollicers
were E. M. Heath, Thomas L. Wren, Ceorge
S. ILdl, William L. Siegler, James IL Kil-
lough, William (). Menefee, A. D.Anderson
W. Kin,-, James Af. IFowell, Daniel McAnier
and Isaac lUanton.
The liock Creek Guards was the next com-
pany organize<i, which was under the com-
mand of Captain \Y . \l. Shannon, followed in
quick succession by the Alvarado Cavalry,
with J. II. Dunn as Captain; the Stockton
Cavalry, connnanded by C.!aptain John A.
Formwalt; and the (ii'anil View Cavali-y,
commanded by Captain J. S. Mori'ow.
These troops were organized into a battal-
ion of 'dionie guards," but active liostilities
between the Xoi'th and the South soon p>it
an end to the -diome" features of the organiza-
tion, and most of the brave men soon found
their way to the front in advance of the
whole South, as valorous as any company of
eoldii'rs in the army. Of course many of
these never again saw the scenes of their be-
IJlSl'RII-r COURT.
From Look A of tlie District Court record
the foUowi
aken:
The tii'st term was held at old W
iiid (ieorgc W. House. Dr. T. 1). Lorance i which town was the capital^ef the county at
was employed as Surgeon, 'i'lie juix-atcs weie
John \V. Herry, W. P. Austin, James \\.
Dunn, Lewi^, K. Tre/.evant, Jacob 11. Key-
nolds, lien Parnes, William P. Shannon,
Matthew Graham, William E. Kennard,
Cieorge M. Pierce, Sam 11, William A., A.
\V., J. II., and Alexander KiUough, George
W. Stephens, M. W. Clark, William Jones,
the time, and was appointed by proclamation
in aeeordancA' with the act of the Legislature
which perscribeJ the time when the semi-an-
nual term should be held. On the Uth day
of Juno, 185(5, court was declared open for
business by Stephen S. Edney, Sheriff. The
presiding Judge was Hon. Nat. M. Purford,
of the Sixteenth Judicial District. John C.
W. T. De Jarnette, Purwell C,,x, J. P,. : McCoy of Dallas was at the time District At-
Marchbanks, John Haley, 'i'homas J. Nivis.ui, torney, an<l C. C. Alexander the District
lohn Stephens, Jr., W
1D\, Alonzo I (Jlerk.
;l;,-f,:!/
lIItiTUUY UF JOHNSON
At this term of the cuint tin, I'oHuwiiig
inu'd ],er.uii= were July su-urn, aiul served
1 the li]■.-^t ■^ruiid jiii-)- ever iiiiiKiiieled in
,\o.
uunty:
J;inie6 1). .h
lureiiinr
James N. Kvans, Abs:dom Lutt, Klijali Gra-
ham, AVilliam l!oatri-ht, Isham 11. Harris,
John .M. .McMillan, Iveelin Williams, Moses
liarues, (ieorge Chandler, Levi liuatright,
David K. Jackson, William S. OWeal, O. V.
llntche.un and John 0. liarnes.
I'etit jury Xo. 1 comjirised Henry
Sikes, J. II. AVatson, Calvert Junes, John
Hnnter. John K. Lavare, Samuel Myers,
Henry P.oatri^dit, D. 1). Dyer, Z. Combes, A_
C. lloyle and Joseph Farbiir.
The Hrst civil cause considered at this term
was the case of W. T. Wise versus W. L.
Combes and D. Mitchell, a suit tor dann.^res
of some sort not state<l. The case was con-
tinued.
The first case tried was an action for debt,-
in which E. IJaxter and lirother were plain-
tiffs, and James 11. Torbett defendant. The
case was decided in favor of the plaintitl's.
The sittings of the grand jury were brief
but exceedingly active, for the i-ecord shows
that they were disc!iar,-ed June 11, having
beiMi on duty only two days. Their lindings
were as follows: Abram Kell, intiicted for
murder; Scott Kell, mui'der; C. W. Sanson),
mur.ler; F. L. Kirtley and l^armelia Robin-
son, adultery; James Karris, assault and bat-
tery; Andrew J. Miller, assault and battery;
Abram Kell, assault and battery; Scott
Kell, assault and battery; C. W. Sansom, as-
Banlt and battery; Robert Henry Dyer, as-
sault and battery; William Halcli, Jierjury;
David Myers, peijury; Henry Dyer ami Sam
Coodloe, gaming.
The grand jni-ors were paid for their ser-
vices at the. rale of ,S2.25 per diem, and the
petit juroi-s were allowed ^1.50 per day.
This court was in session only three days.
The legal men in attendance were Captain J.
E. Hawkins of Ellis county and Colonel Amzi
J]radshau-, both eminent lawyers and both of
infinitely good humor, as Judge Nat. iM. 15ur-
ford says. They often would perjietrate a
little practical joke on some unsuspecting
wight. .Mr. liynl, in his History of John-
son County, relates the following anecdotes
concerning the»e gentlemen:
When they were on their way from Ellis
county to Wardville, then the county seat of
Johnson county, they came, just before ar-
riving at their destination, to the east bank
of Xoland's river late at night, which was
pitch dark. Hawkins had never been in this
section before, and Eradshaw told him that
he must make preparation for swimminiT the
stream, as pcjssibly it woulil be too deep
somewhere in the channel for fording. With-
out taking the trouble necessary to investi-
ijate the situation. Captain Hawkins dis-
mounted and stripped himself for the i,(assage
of the "deep and lapid stream." Tyinif his
bundle of clothing about his neck and shoul-
ders, he remounted his steed bold and upright
in his saddle, lu the meantime Colonel Jii'ad-
shaw was taking the lead down into the dark-
ness below the river bank, and lustily calling
to Hawkins to come along. The latter fol-
lowed cautiously down the bank and acnjss
tlie bed of the river, which was as dry as a
,:.!.■/
y.r.- :\.-J -l.V,'
AND HILL GOUNTllCS.
u', to lind "lii-ii,!" rolling on the -rass ex-
plM.ling with hiiightor.
On .■iiiothur occasion, when tlu; .listrict
court was in session, and when 'the weather
wa> \^'\-y cold, it is told tjjat Judge Hnrford
had a dillicnlty in kcepin- himself warm
while oecu]>)'ing the bench. The court was
i:cing held in an old rickety, i)ox house, and
the -liluo norther" that was blowing at the
liriie entered the building unrestrained at
cury hole and crevice. Thus situated.
Judge llurford sent out Keelin Williams,
who wa^ waiting on the court as baililf, to
cut some fuel and renew the fiie. The in-
tensity of the cold put a tempcu'ary stop to
all proceedings at the bar and the Judge had
fallen into a do/.e, when uncle Keelin re-en-
tered the temple of justice hurriedly, calling
to the Judge to •■wake uj. ami get out of this
oM barn, for it is all abla/.e and will soon
burn to the ground." Tlie Judge drowsily
opened his eyes at this souiul and taking in
the situation and bis own feelings told uncle
Keelin to -let her burn, and may be we will
all be warmed up." Old K'eelin responded
jiromptiy with, '-as good as wheat, Judge;
she burns."
At the lirst district court held at Cleburne
Hon. A. V>. Norton was the pjresiding judge,
and K. M. Heath sherilf. The court was
held in a one-story frame buih.Ung that had
been moved from 15uehanan, and afterward
used as a grocery store by Poole & Brother.
The lirst courthouses for Johnson county
have just been described. 'J'he lir,-,t in t!le-
burne is noticed in our account of the be-
ginnings of this city. The second here was
a brick structui'e wliei'e the present court-
hou.se now is, and this .-erved until 1S83.
The present beautiful and magnificent struct-
ure was built in 1881-'82, the contract price
being §88,(385; the furniture, etc., including
bell, cost about $i,OUO; other improvements,
about $7,(J0() more. The arrangement, the
architecture, the iinish, etc., of this imposing
structure are all of the most modern style.
The county clerk's otlice is tire-proof.
The bell, connected with clock work, an-
nounces the hours. It is said that .some of
the lads don't like it, as the following inci-
dent will illustrate: Johnny comes home
late at night and eiuleavors to slip quietly to
bed without awakening any oue; but his sis-
ter in a distant room is awakened, and speaks
out. "Johnny, is that you?" "Ya-as." "Well,
what time u' night is it?'' "O, 1 dunno; a
little past ten, I reckon." Jiut before he is
fairly in bed that courthouse bell goes,
•'Whang! whang! whang— ng!" and »tops
at that, announcint,' it to be three o'clock!
was erected in 1875. It is 21x32 feet in
dimensions, and two stories high. The lirst
story, brick and stone, is thirteen feet liigh,
and the second stoiy ten feet high.
THE eoL'NTY I'OOK FARM,
six miles southwest of Cleburne, consists of
■U-1 acres of the linest valley and timber land
in the famous Noland valley. On it are 100
aci-es of timber, — pecan, oak ami elm trees,
(, t^iw;:..i ■%^,-[[-i:M u!
J. ■ . ig .1! ,; .,r; _.' ;;• i.J •r,l.'!.l, ■i:\! .,J
in'. , c^.'V/ >:i' ;•. .1 iii" ,i Jul 7tj(jr|v,li|
].■;;( /..!.;
i^ ■:' •! l'!'iJll y I- IJ )i:( J (i !)!■
. .' y;' ", )- ■ V
'Jli
ui.^T<ji:y (jF ./'jiissux
>\ li.hino; an. I hoating.
\^Xw' of a
0|.[i.'rtui]itv t'
The luiil.liii^ri are all guw
colrllllo(ji(lu^ ifsiilcncu lor the over.<cer, two
li.-u-r- lor [r-oi- [,rr-.ii-, a W.I I .uiian^'ed lios-
|,ilal, a cook-lH.UH' an.l <iinin- room, a Mi.all
jail, ail iiiiiil.Miiriit lioiit-e, l.ani, etc. rtatlu^r
iiuii-u than hair of the ])lace is under cultiva-
tion, and there are o;rapevine3 and other
small frnits, all in irood condition. The
preUli^o.-^ about the house are heaiitifnlly laid
out in walks, etc.
Pei-sons convicted of minor otTenses against
tlic law are sent here to serve out tlieir term.
The farm is said to net the county a neat
sum each year aftor all expenses have lieeii
paid. C. 0. liarnes is the present ellicient
The host method of showing- the sentiment
of the pe(.iple on the ])u!)lie issues of the day
as iiresented fi'om time to tim(\ is a taliiilar
exhihition id' the election returns; hnt in
doin^ this it is not necessary to include every
minor office. However, for the jmrpose of
local reference it is well to present the names
dl the (deeti
e county
As to political ])arties, we may note that
the Hepulilican ]iarty lias iie\er heen iniineri-
cally strone| enoui^ii to make it an ohjeet to
place a full local ticl^et in tlu* tie'd, except
perhaps dui'ing the reconstruction period
after the war, wlien all the Confederates and
their sy mjialhizers were disfranchised by the
governmtuit in ]>owei-. Duidiig that period
K. ,1. Davis was appointed hy the Federal
(...vermnent ],rovi>i,,nal (M,veriior. 'fl.e lie-
I lican party lias always had in tl,e field a
I'residential electoral ticket and a State
ticket.
The (Jreenhack element has been much
strcjiiger, but have not run a full county
ticket 111 Johnson county. The Proliibition-
ists have from time to time chosen some can-
didates from the tickets of the other parties;
and the late Alliance and sub-treasury par-
ties liave undoubtedly inlhienceil nominations
and elections to some extent, although their
jjower at present seems not so great as a few-
years ago.
l'o|)ulai-ly the great Democratic l>arty has
been by far the stroui^'est, and have carried
the day overwhelmingly, and will probably
continue to do so for a long time to come.
The name, the organization and the elements
composing that Jiarty have all a wonderful
vitality, as the leaders from time to tiuie pro-
pose to adhere to the old piinciples wdule
they adopt sucl) new measures from time to
time as the varying circumstances of progress
in their judgn)ent may require. Of coui-se,
as everywhere else, local and transient issues
will sometimes divide the Democratic vt)te so
as to result in the election of an independent
or opposition candidate.
We now pi'oceed to give the vote by yeai's
on the I'resident of the United States, mem-
bers of Congress, State Governor, and all the
county officers, along with votes on Constitu-
tional amendments, etc. Put it is well un-
derstood that thefi-uresdo
ntit l)y any
show the popularity of the respi^ctive candid-
ates; for \ery often a man who is not a can-
I-I -),,■■, . ir.Mi :,,r;vl'
,11 !..
!-t )
, ' Y.I U,
.:.l,:.r.!>.i!.
-•.■Ji.
■^v.xi|i.,..[n,^.-, ;,..!!
n{ •-,
i.t V-
M i-rjl, ij.
li-y.'
.';"■ 1 i llitnii.TiC/V.ii!
H .. e-vrU! I. H
AND HILL CUUNTIES.
.-tuncii beyou'l luiniau k
.I'lThlN IJlClliK.--
Au-iist7, 1854: State Coiiii)trullLT--.laines
1!. Sliaw, 1)7.
Stiito Treasurer — J. IF. Ilayiiioiid, 07.
Attorney Otli Judicial District — J. E.
('r.iveiis, G7; J. AV. Borry, 33; E. 11. Ilar-
ivll, 7.
Di.strict Clerk Juliiisoii county Kay,
■10; .1. II. Waddell, 13.
Dibtrict Surveyor of the " Rober.-^un land "
— (;. II. Cuniiiii-hani, 102; McClel-
lan.l, 11; T, T. Bayly, 1.
(!liicf Justice Juliuson county — Uavid
Mitel, ell, t)7. (Noojipositioii.)
County Glerk—E. Jl. Heath, 20; J. Easter-
woud, 55; L. L. ]]|ytho, 35.
Sheritr— D. I), Myers, 8; A. II. Onstott,
t;tl; AV. T. Harris, 10; J. I). HuMnson, 23.
County Trea.Mirer- J. Koherson, 'Jl. (No
opposition.)
Coroner— W. Batch, 49; S. C. Myers, 5;
K. I!. S.nock, 3.
County C,nuniissi,,nerN C. l;illinosl,.y,
71; A. 1). Kennard, 'J5; C. \Vi^e. 01; W.
O'Neal, U2; J. N. Evans, 2t).
Assessor aiul Collector — E. L. Kirtley, 57;
— Grahani, 57.
Justices of the IVace— E. M. lleath,'^'30;
W. J. AN^ight, SO; AV. L. Coinl.s, 33; AV. O.
M,.n,d'ee, 0; Hudson, U; J. Alorrow,
IC; !'. I,. Kirth^y, 17; J. J. Kease, 21); N.
Hunter, 25.
In the al)ovo election there were four ]ue-
cincts, oising the lolh^ving vote; No. 1,
■48; No. 2, 20; No. 3, 12; No. 4, 29.
The next election was held Septeniher 11,
1854, for school trustees of the respective
districts, from some of which there were no
returns.
Eebruary 19, 1855: Eor County Seat:
Robinson's donation received 98; Stej)hens'
13; Patton & Tarrant's 22.
August 6, 1855, (lovernor: D. C. Uickson,
117; E. M. Pease, 113.
Con-ressnian— P. H. Bell, 182; J. Hun-
cock, G4.
Bepresentativo to Legislature — AV. li.
Sliannon, 159; E. II. Tarrant, 35.
August 18, 1855: Eor County Seat—
AVardville, Itjl; Henderson it Chambers, 59.
Eebruary 1, 185G: District Jiulgo— N. M.
Burford,77;B.AV.Stone,21; Turney,39.
District Attorney— S.J. Goodloe,76; J. AV.
Berry, 33; J. C. McCoy, 7; Sigler, 17.
March 8, 185tK S. S. Edney was elected
shei-ill' to till an unexpired Wrin.
August 4, 1S5(>: Chief Justice— David
Mitchell, 4G; Henry Trimble, 107; AVilliam
O. Menelee, 112.
CMerk of County Court ,1. W. Torbett,
141; J. Easterwoo.1,71; AVilliam Carrett, 120.
Clerk of District Court — C. C. Alexander,
182; Jesse King, 141.
Sherilf — Cluirles (]leston, 150; J. Mc-
lAIillan, 97; M. Barne.s, 82.
County Commissi(.)nei'S - - C. Billingsley,
251; AVilliam O'Neal, 55; Plimmons,
217; McK'insry, 274; Kennanl,
240; Bobcrtd, GO.
.'.Avv.vy. . .\»\v
it »:■ ri' -I.I
:::'> .\-j\ ;•
;irl
..(iill
IIISTOHY OF JOIINHUN
Treasurer — Joliii liobinson, ~'23; yamuel
State Senator — Jell. Weatherford, 111;
Joluison, 97.
Nich Darnell, 142; A. (}. Walker, 04.
AsM'SMM-uiul Cullertor-K. .M . Heath, 197;
Ke|)i'cSL'ntative to Legislature — W. U.
Ira liishup, 21; William Shannon, I'J,
Shannon, 278; John IF Frince, 38.
Mills, 43.
County Commissioners — J. G. llix, 08;
Septemlier 8, 185(): County Seat— Ward-
William Falch, 70; W. J. Matins, 17; A. C.
ville, 20; Jiayiy's (iiailey's) Donation, 05;
Iloyle, 25.
Manley'6, 03.
()etol)er 1, 1857, Sherilf— Joseph Shaw,
Octuijer 4, 1850: County Seat — JJailey's,
GO; James F. AVray, 57.
151; Mauley's, 47.
August 2, 1858: Chi(d' Justice— J. G. Ilix,
Koveniher 4, 1850: I'residential Eleetors at
155; J. J. Figon, 102.
hirge— K. AV. Iniwdeii, 1*; \V. K. Scurry,
County Clerk — A. J. Fierce, 17; James
180; W. E. Jones, 78; Robert E. l>ylor, 78.
11. Torbett, 302.
The lar^rer vote given above was for the
August 2, 1858: District Attorney— J. C.
Democratic candidate; but we tailed to learn
McCoy, 58; A. Fradshaw, 103; J. S. Ilobin-
for wiioni the (jtlier vote was given. The
.<on, 127; J. C. Easton, 15; AV. F. Sugg.., 15.
electors by districts were as folldws:
Sherill— Joseph Shaw, 170; Lem Cham-
A. J. Howe, J)ist. No. 1, 184; A. J. Har-
bers, 150.
rington, Dist. No. 2, 184; J. \\ . Flanagan,
County Surveyor — Cieorge M. Fierce, 77;
Dist. No. 1, 7'J; Thomas AV. i;hike,JJist. No.
Wan-en Douglas, 212.
2, 7y. .
County Treasurer— 11. \\. Walker, 201;
December 13, 1850: H. H. Walker was
G. IF Ma.xey, 04.
elected county treasurer to till a \acaney by
Assessor and Collector— E. M. Heath, 254;
a vote of 38, at which election I'd votes were
W. W. Slack, 02.
],olled for J. (i. Hi.x and 17 for 11. J. Stacks.
County Commissioners — T. J. Dilliard,
February 2, 1857: (Jounty Surveyor — W.
218; W. (). MenelVe, 158; A. McAneir, 40;
Dougla>, 'JS; (1. M. Fierce, 170; E. 1).
I\l. F.arnes, 205; W. C. Manley, 104; C. tlilis-
.Ma.xcy, 13.
son, 48; D. Hull, 05.
At the above election Slejdiene' donation
August 1, 185'J: Governor — Sam Houston,
recei\-ed 08 \otes foi- county seat, and Failoy's
303; IF F. Kunnell, 118.
184.
August G, 1800, Distnct Attorney: J. K.
March 28, 1857: Chief Justice— George
F. Record, 278; 13. C. Dade, 257.
K. Shannon, 102; Isaac li. Vannoy, OS.
Chief Justice— J. J. Ligon, 208; James
August 3, 1857: Governor — 11. li. Run
(F Ilix, 240.
nols, 140; Sam Houston, 203.
County Clerk -James II. Torbett, 235;
Congressman— Guy M. Bryan, 228; E. W.
AV C. Manley, 100; S. 15. KiUough, 140.
Ilowth, 51.
D-n-ict Clerk -.-James Hiner, 257; (F
J .A :,<. .ti;..,i,, (.
'r<:i I it..l....tM» i
(r-v'i-'l 1 Vl7i.;l i'i; , l!!7
:■■(■: . ;'l ':"Si J- 'I .■■■'-..//■
r-- ': , ■ ■ r , ' ," ' ■ •, . I. '
i'l.j. .,» , V ,■ .1'.., .,1, ' ' ,;iti
li.i , ■..: . 1,-,-, ;,,■• .(u
< ,••.. .1.'
AND niLL COUNTIES.
II. M;i\ry, l(;:i; W. (). Mciietuc, 117.
SluTilV Joscpli yiiiiw, 217; J.J. luiorrs,
I'.M; IVnjauiin lianu's, 110.
CuuiUy TivuMiivr--llfiiry II. \ValkL'r,
^Oti; (i. li. Edgar, 17^; Josci.h Kastenvoo.l,
153.
A=;.-es^c.randOollecnr^-E. M. Heath, SOS;
(i. S. Hall, i;il.
Sinvoyor— (!. ]\r. Pierce, 79.
County Ooiiiinissioiiers — j\lattlic\v Gra-
iiain, 150; Moses ISariies, 423; S. K. Davis,
350; II. G. IJruce, 858; AV^ II. S. Verstille,
875; Juhn P. Pailey, 17.
October 1, IHOl): A.J. V\-v/.y.v\\ was elected
(Vnniuisbioner to till :i vacancy cau.-<ed liy the
death uf .Mr. VerbtiUe.
iXoveniher G, 1800: President-^John 0.
Ilrcckenridge, IIG; (opposition), 1.
Diirino; the war the vote of Johnson
county ttood 500 for secession to 50 against^
and fnrnisiied nut less than a thousand men
to the Confederate army.
May 8, 18t)l: District Attorney —Ainzi
ISradshaw, 203; \i. J. .McKinzie, 51; K.
lluuencamp, 22.
August 5, 1801: Governor — Edward Clark,
835; F. It. Luhhock, 185; L. J. Chamhors,
32.
District Judge— J. AV. Ferris, 811; J.J.
Good, 122; E. T. Withers, 13.
State Senator— A. T. 01)en(diain, 318; A.
(i. AValker, 111.
Representative — T. C. Neil, 111; Josejjh
A\^ard, 262; A.J. Pall. 175.
November 6, 1801: at thi.s election 18 elec-
tors, unclassitied, were chosen by the Statt; of
178 votes, for the purpose of choosiiiij; a
President of the (lonfederate States; and for
mcmiier of the Confederate Congress, A. P.
d 45 votes and P. W. Gray,
February 3, 1802: Attorney General— N.
G. Shelly, 02; A. X. Jordan, 0.
County Treasurer — J. Easterwood, 88; G.
P. Edgar, 52; Elijah Graham, 13; J. F.
Stroop, 3.
August 4, 1802: State Senator— J. AV.
Oliver, 125; — Quaid, 14U; J. F. Scurlock,36.
Chief Justice— J. G. AVoodson, 215; J. G.
lli.x, 121; Montgomery, 01.
County Clerk- G. II. Maxey, 202; AV. C.
Manley, 187.
Sherilf— John AV. Moody, 101; J. K.
Nichols, 130; M. T. Pailey, 01.
County Treasurer — J. Easterwood, 230;
G. P. Edgar, 130.
County Commissioners — AV. J. Ma.xey,
114; I. Killongh, 87; C. C. Alexander, 218;
Edelman, 70; \V. L. Pippot,,n, GO; A.
Landers, 105; iM. I'endleton, 171; A. J.
Iliggins, 225; F. L. Kirtley, 70; Kel-
ly, 78.
Surveyor— G. ]\I. Pierce, 188; AV. S.
Quinn. 51.
Collector— J. P. McKinsey, 298; J. M.
Ilerndon, 95.
January 24, 18G3: Pepresentative to Leg-
islature— John II. Prince, 192; (scatter-
i"g). 11-
August 3, 1803: Governor— P. Murrah,
90; T. J. Chambers, 54.
Congressman— P. AV. Gray, 07; A. M.
.;. ,- I: A. :/' A .-i; ..*•;.
i;-' H .7' ;i.!il ,v ..a, i;
Ut
:; '. >. ,■.U^ „ ' ;. :, .^ol/l :.C.} (i-ol
.):■; .....; -.-^ ,■; ... (■ i ,;rri-.i -- ,,;i t , w^ii ^ , , , ,• l: ,7/ ■■ . . it >■ ;.
:• ;. .-•;•■ ,,... = ■■ "' "t> i,- ,_.:i oi ;■ ■/'. ,-. . ■■ : '.i:..i, , ■: f ii
. 7/,' ,u(r,' ■• ■■',;i.^ .ii ..<-.; lo::) -^'f^- ' ,-■;. ,; .■ ■ , ^ ■• ■'■••"-..,.,;.,:, ^ :h,j
.T^J .-/■■ ::7/: ' .Ji:i!-: ^ / .''K 'to ib>..U
il ■• :<tit ,vi)'>o7 .If .;-.il M'l-i;-' '' i'lo'_ i:.>.i;-r,'! ;;, .; ,;i ■ fl.iiovo/
I'! ,..M,;1 .T i/' ;'V'r ,M: -7 I i ,,n.. i,.,,,,.,., .iU-l .:..7i^:a-.J-..M
..,'.] ,— ;!7l 71 ..i ■ .•„..;,^., .!.. >:l li..,^^--,- 'W.! 0(!^ ^'./.^ T[<;'.).,.
V' . (fiftivti
J -;■ .t:- y.l
/.' ■{
: .(■■■.'.I ,o|..!
Ul^TOUY OF JUUy.iOX
Itoi.rc.cntativc to Ix-aMatm.- John II.
Prince, 101; E. I Vndleton, bS; .I.Kni Ilaw-
\i\ni, 15.
IVn.lk'ton and rrincu weir l.utli eleeleil, in
conjiinetiun with I'arker aiul i'Mlis counties.
ConntyConinu^sioners-Ahel Landers, 82.
^rareho, ISIU: Chief J iistice-^C. C. Alex-
ander (to till vacancy), 73; (^. \i. Shannon,
7G; Jonathan I'.nrko, 102.
]\Iay 4, 180 1: AVilliuni R. Shannon re-
ceive.l 72 votes for the ollice of Kepresenta-
tive at the L
ipo.--it]on.
August 1, 180-1: Chief Ju.tice^~J. IJiirke,
247; (i. II. Shannon, 142.
County Clerk— G. II. Alaxey, 353; A.
Monroe, 24.
District Clerk— J. Iliner, 223; C. C. Alex-
ander, 154.
Sheriif— J. S. Walton, 182; J. W. Moody,
187; C. A. Mills, 20; A. II. Onstott, 4.
Assessor and Collector — J. R. McKinsey,
343; II. W. Stephens, 9.
Treasui'er — J. Easterwood, 270; W. L.
Ui].i.eton, 94.
Surveyor— J. W. Turpin, 110; II. II.
Douglas, 133.
County Coinniissicn.ers -C. (iilinore, 13;
Isaac Killou-h, 235; (ieor-e Smart, 20S; K.
F. i;ox, 00; J. L. r.aker, 207; (i. K. I'd-ar,
144; S. 1*. Taylor, 13'J; Thomas Uiehard-
Bon, 124.
June 25,1800: Governor— J. W. Throck-
nioi'ton, Democrat, 555; E. M. I 'ease, Inde-
jiendent Democrat, 25.
Representative -C. L. Jordan, 188; R. V.
Ilendley, 21; W. O. Menefee, 330;-'Al)el
Landers, 347.
County Jnd^re — fames II. Torhett, 205;
J. R. McKinsey, 280; II. V. Tea-uc, 73; 1.
Q. Sewell, 30.
County Clerk— G. II. Maxcy, 352; S. R.
Killouuh, 230.
l)i.-,trict Clerk— James Iliner, 487. (No
opposition.)
Sheriti— J. S. Walton, 188; E. M. Heath,
279; J. M. Shaw, 110.
Assessor and Collector— J. W. S. Morri-
.son, 150; W. C. Ma^ee, 199; William Jack,
159; S. K. Davis, 78.
County Treasurer— J. Easterwood, 403; D.
C. Payne, 100.
Surveyor— W. N. McCamey, 205; W. S.
Quinn, 205.
County Commissioners — M. (iraham, 242;
John Stephens, 40; A. M. Killough, 94; (i.
R. Edw-ar, 90; Joel Iligj^nns, 201; Jacol) Job,
80; John Gentry, 89; W. 1). Grady, 40; V.
S. Anglin, 124; \l. G. Peters, 53.
September 10, 1800, Surveyor— AV. S.
Quinn, 18; ^^\ Douglas, 13.
County Commissioners — S.G. Graham, 22;
C. C. Alexander, 11.
October 15, 1800: United States Coni^n-ess-
man- n. II. Kpper.son, 10-1; Amu Rrad-
shaw, -17.
The smallness of the vote at these elections
is tlue to the fact that most of the citizens
had been disfranchised by the reconstruction
measures of the Federal Government, on ac-
count of their participation in the '• Rebel-
lion;" and, indeed, there is not on record the
report of any election for several years sub-
seijuent to this, except one on the location of
the county scat.
.'> :">; :m ,rv •;.
tM-vf„:.H .,.■
0- ■7:xj;i/: ,11
■ }•■-■■ •.,:,! ; 7
IIISTOHr OF JOHNSON
\ Sliei-iff--.Iol,n 0. Brown. 1,465; T. II.
O. T. riummer, (J-17; S. Tope. 150; :\r. M.
Crar.r, 1.535. i'friliin. 535: (Jenr-e Sliaiuioii. 2 13 : W. li
■')
rJ; (,. 11. Mu.... y. 1.573; W. 1;
'I:-, 1,313.
L. Williams. 1,73s.
Diiirict t'liTk— Julm i;. Ilu.l.-^un, 3,271.
(Xo opi.uMliun.)
C(jinity Ti-faiuror— N. II. Cook, 3,2'JS.
(Xo opposition.)
A.-fssor— I). li. Carniicluu'l, 1,213; Phil.
T. Allin, 4^3; J. IS'. Bri.seoe, 701; \\\ V.
Sparks, 801).
SurveYor--Warren Douglas, 1,0S8; John
K. Kansono, 2,1G0.
Coniinissioners elocteil — Precinct No. 1,
A. J. Itccves; No. 2, S. llnghes; No. 3, J.
A. Paiigh; No. 4, IP IP Precmaii.
March 21, 1S7'J: Por prohibition, G43;
against prohibition, G84.
. November 2, 1880: President— W. S Han-
cock, Democrat, 2,082; J. P. Weaver, Green-
back, 535; J. A. Garlield, Pepublican, 3.
Congressman — Olin Welborn, Democrat,
2,3GG; J. C. Kirby, Greenback, 504.
Governor— O. M. Poberts, Democrat, 2,-
083; W. IP Ilanimau, Greenback, 518 ; E.
J. Davis, Pepublican, 2.
Stale Senator P S. P.iss, J )enn..crat, 2,-
732; C. 1.. Wasson, Greeiil;ack, GI4.
Pepre.-entative to Pegislatare - IP G.
Pruce, 1,704; IP W. Parclay, 001; Moses
Parnes, 7G1.
District Judge— Jo Abbott, 1,5G0; J. M.
Hall, 1,030.
County Judge— W. J. Ewing. 3,395. (No
opfiosition.)
County Attorney— (). T. Pluinmer, 1,550;
M. M. Crane, 1.055.
-Vs^es^o^— AV. P. Scott, 407; D. li. Car-
michael, 818; E. P. Harris, 8G4; W. P.
Sparks, 088; J. N. Priscoe, 2G4.
{!ol lector— J. W. Dalton, 1,G83; Sam
Carutiiers, 170; W. J. Brown, G24; Owen
Brown, 8G4; J. S. AVilshire, 222.
Treasurer— N. IP Cook, 1,242; (). High-
tower, 1.350; V. Gray, 022.
Distiict Clerk— J. P. Hudson, 2,448; C.
P. Heath, 014.
County Clerk — P. E.Adams, 1,818; G. II.
Ma.xey, 708; W. P. AVilliams, OOP
Surveyor— J. li. Ptansone, 2,480; W. S.
Rector, 05G.
At this election Johnson county gave 2,-
453 votes for annexing the community at
Kimliairs Bend, in Hill county, and one
against it,
March 7, 1882: Representative to Pegisla-
tare—Owen Brown, 510; W. IP Graves,
277; William Jack, 23G; J. E. IloUings-
worth, 118.
Novendier 7, 1882, Governor— John Ire-
land, DcuKicrat, 2,475; (P W. Jones, Green-
back, t UP
Congressman— Olin Welborn, 2,450; J. C.
Kirby, G22.
State Senator— W. IP Getzeiulaner, 1,080;
A. M. Douglass, 1,086; S. G. Caly, 103.
Represeiitative to Pegislature — J. P. Mor-
gan, 857; Owen Brown, 2,088.
County Attorney— 0. T. Plunimcr, 2,078;
I. Stone, 4.
Sherill-J. D. Mitchell, 411; J. IP Boyd,
AND niLL COUNTIES.
103
l.lilM); ,1. K. Haley, 925; J. C. Fieeinaii,
iVM't.
(•,.llL'c,t(,r J. \V. Dalton, 2,510; J. E.
(M.M,,, 5S2.
A.M.>ur— Z. Aral.ley, 1,41-t; \). K. Car-
Miieliarl, 744; J. I!. I'restridge, 330; A\^ F.
S,,a,-k., 547.
County Clorlv— F. F. Adams, 2,898; J. E.
(larii-cin 233
District Clerk— rinl. T. Ailin, 1,'JOU; J.
I). Iivin, 153; \l. A. Williamson, 1,008; T.
II. (i race, 34.
Comity Treasurer- (). IJiolitower, 1,17B;
V. Cray, 1,924.
Surveyor— K. II. Adair, 948; F. T. Vick-
er.-, 1,2S5; K. II. Barrows, 801.
Couiuiissioners elected — Precinct No. 1,
A. J. Reeves; No. 2, S. IIuj,rlies; No. 3, J.
A. i;au,-li; No. 4, J. M. Watts.
No\enil>er 4, 1884: I're.-^ident — Crover
Cleveland, Democrat. 3,137; 15. F. Butler,
National (ircenbaek, 189; James G. Blaine,
Kepiil.lican, SO.
Coiif^rressman— Olin Welborn, 3,100; J. C.
1 looker, 7.
(iovcrnor— John Ireland, Democrat, 3,204;
(i, W. Jones, (;reenlm.d<,302; .\. B. Norton,
Kepulilican, 7(;.
l)i.-,triet Judge— J. M. Hall, 3,104; S. C.
Llp-haw, 484; S. II. Lumi)kin, 73.
Bejiresentative to Le^'islature— B. I). Tarl-
t,m, "Floater," 3,450; M. M. Crane, 2,273;
D. C. McCain, 517; S. J. Chapman, 951.
Collector— -J. W. Dalton, 1,397; J. E.
Odom, 125; J. J. Stringer, l,09(i; li. A.
I'oole, 594.
Sheriir J<din II. Boyd, 3,599.
District Clerk— Phil. T. Allin, 3,097.
County Clerk -F. E. A<hun.s, 2,265; W. L.
Williams, 1.507.
Surveyor- -Fred T. Vickers, 3,087.
Treasurer— V. Gray, 2,907; John K. Ran-
soiie, 833.
A.ssessor— Zeb Mobley, 2,378; L. M. Head,
1,388.
County Judge— AV. J. Ewing,992; II. W.
Barclay, 953; B. D. Simpson, 1,258; J. M.
Donaldson, 549.
County Attorney— O. T. Plummer, 1,342;
J. N. English, 2,403.
C'oniniis^ioners elected — Precinct No. 1,
C. L. Cleveland; No. 2, Isaac Vickers; No-
3, R. D. Richardson; No. 4, II. U. Free-
man.
November 2, 1880: Congressman— Jo. Ab-
bott. 1,85(5; J. C. Kearliy, 1,004.
Governor— L. S. Ross, 3,079; E. L. Doho-
ney, 498.
State Senator— A. Reed, 2,138; S. C. Up-
shaw, 1,414.
Representative to Legislature— G. C. Groce,
"Floater," 2,470; J. M. Watts, 714; S.J.
Chapman, 2,801.
County Jud-e-B. D. Simpsor, 1,234; F.
E. Adams, 2,594.
Sherill— J. V. Leatherwood, 1,073; John
II. Boyd, 2,172.
County Clerk— J. II. McCutchen, 1,340;
W. B. Bishop, 2,172.
District Clerk— F. M. Williams, 1,380;
Pliil. T. Allin, 2,424.
County Attorney — i). T. Phinnner, 1,914;
Gcor^'e D. Green, 1,058; W. II. Skelton,
103.
\c .,; ^r:;.....>JdoU
■ 1. .irii:;»
-..i.-.i.li
IIISTOm' OF JOI/N.SOX
County TivasiiiTi- K. M. Hooker, 'MO;
County .Iudge--1'\ E. Adams, 1,278; 1!.
V. (iniy, l,t',(;3; iM. S. Kalil,., 407; C. L.
1). Simpson, 1,477.
Clevrlau.!, U:»2; J. ^f. TLi-u,., -^liD; E. P>.
County Attorr.ey— (). T. Plunimer, 3,631.
(;ra\, 1 [\.
Sheriir -J. V. l.eatherw(,od, l.SlO; J,,hn
Collfutor-W. M.St. ,lul^,,(l(;l;Z^.l.Mul)-
11. Poyd, 2,437.
ley, 1,3'J5; Owen lirown, TSl; J. AV. Dal-
Assessor- L. M. Head, 339; J. 15. Clioru,
ton, 717; 11. II. l!o\, 249.
7(;5; W. M. Russell, 1,15(5.
Assessor— L. M. Head, 2,152; Robert
Collector— Zeb Mobley, 1,440; A. F. John-
Mont^'Oiuery, 404; 0. M. Hudson, 817; W.
eon, 315; S. 1!. Killougb, 732; T. 11. (rrillin,
E. Rogers, 308.
1,721.
Surveyor— J. S. McKinsoy, 3,227.
Treasurer— V. Gray, 2,200; C. L. Cleve-
Commissioners elected — Precinct No. 1,
land, 1,517; John E. Odom, 123; M. S.
N. L. Olardy; No. 2. S. Hughes; No. 3, !!.
Kahle, 3()4.
F. Davis; No. 4, J. W. Currier.
District Clerk — Phil. T. Allin, 1,883; A.
August 4, 1887: A number of amend-
J. (iarrison, (]02; P. P. Stringer, 1,754.
ments to the State Constitution were
County Clerk— W. B. Bishop, 3,424; W.
\oted upon at this election. The vote on
N. Elledge, 793.
State prohibition of the IhjUor tratlie stood,
Commissioners elected — Precinct No. 1,
in Jidmsoii county, 2.127 for it; against it.
N. L. (Mardy; No. 2, S. P. Henderson; No.
2.1(31.
3, William Jack; No. 4, J. \V. Currier.
November G, 1S88: President — Grover
November 4, 1890: Governor— James S.
Cleveland, 1 )cmocrat, 2,'Jt;(i; A, J. Streeter,
Ilo,t;g, 3,01(;; Webster Flanao;an, 81; E.G.
United i.abor, 1,050; C. IJ. Fiskc, Prohibi-
Heath, 02; Gustave Cook, 4.
tion, IIG; Benjamin llari-isun. Republican,
State Senator— M. iM. Crane, 2,(;32; II. W.
115.
Baiclay, 1,014.
Governor- L. S. Ross, 2,!>4'J; Marion
(\>ngressmaii--Jo Aijbott, 2,825; Isaac
Marl in, 1,21)5.
:\I. Darter, (;7.
Ccinui-e.-sman ,lo Abbott, 2,1101; Sam.
Representative to Legislature, 39th Dis-
Evans, 1,302.
trict--David Derden, 2,722; D. C. McCain,
Representative to Pegi^lature — A. J.
929; I. A. Patton, 18.
]5roNvn, 2,400; H. W. P.arelay, 138; John
Re])resentative to Legislature, 30tli Dis-
H. Veateh, 1,482; Sam R. Fro>t, "Floater,"
trict— E. D. Renfro, 2,424; John 11. Veateh,
1,408; Cieorgo W. Pelcher, 1,25'J.
1,324.
District Judge— J. M. Hall, 2,820; H. D.
District Clerk ^John D. Kennard, 280;
Tarlton, 1,145; C. W. Jonlan, 224.
P. P. Stringer, 1,932; Phil. T. Allin, 1,586.
District Attorney— P. B. Ward, 3,159;
County Judge — F. E. Adams, 2,323; G.
W. C. Wear, 047.
W. Humphreys, 1,487.
.L'i ,. 1>1
p ,.,. ,•:,..?/
..i ^-ll.^ VJ.
'. I. ■.
JOl,
AND HILL COUNTIES.
Sl.,Tiir AV. ^\. I'.uttlo, 79,']; 1!. V. Ihivis,
7.;o, il. F. l.oiin;, 527; \\ . A. Sicwiul, 077;
.1 I i;.i-vr,s 1,117.
C.Minlv Atlnrncy-Il. C. (iunlnur, 821;
t' v. Myt'i's, i],001.
CuiiNly Clerk -W. 15. lii^luip, 3,70:5; J. S.
V..ii._'liii, !)().
(',ai,rtpr~Zel) Moblcy, 1,05'J; T. 11. (irif-
liii, l.l^^); ,1. \\\ Dalton, 8s7; T. (J. ilillcr,
:i.i',i.
Tivu-iiivr ~V. (;ray, 1,51)3; C. 1.. Clleve-
l,i,.l. 2.052; J. E. O.lum, 173.
A^^,•^.sul■— W. .M . 1 1 11 sscl 1 , 4'J5 ; R. E. Cro-
/.i.i-, l,0lls; II. J. White, 18; l>. if. Uea.l,
MTi; II, 11. E>tcs, 780; W. E. Watts, 593;
K, 11. Adair, 887; '-Lou"' (A. C.) Scurlock, 7.
Coiniiiissioiierd elected — Precinct No. 1,
.\. I., ('lardy; No. 2, S. P. Henderson; No.
3, Williani Jack; No. 4, N. P. Watts.
\\un\>i 11, 1891, a vote was taken on fonr
ii(i|iu,-,ed aniendnjents to the State (Jonstitu-
i""l
d on a Legislative resolnti.in, allirni-
iie and -iving a majority ayainst
alinijise at the fore-.dn^r table, nnder
en .late, one can readily see who were
1 in otlice at the li.ne.
Possibly this is as appropriate a place as
any to insert a Inunorous biirles(pio of the
manner in which borne oilice-seekers jnish
themselves forward into political p|-ominence,
in the I'orm of an announcement of candidacy
published a few years ago by a citizen of
" A Card to the Voters. — Feller Citizens:
Shoved out by my numerous connections and a
few friends, I am forced to announce myself
a candi.late for the Peo;i.later. \n doinjr this
1 want it under..toMd that 1 don't want the
ollis; nur 1 don't want the munny that's in it;
nur I don't want the honor that is attached
to it; but yew see I am out, an' I don't want
to be left out,— that is, 1 don't want the
otlis, but I don't to be wallupt either.
" iNow, for my politicks: J am op])Osed to
the new (Constitution, and therefore accept the
colonel's sup[)ort. I am also in favor of
dividin' up the counties an' increasin' ollises
until every man in the State can ^\i at least
one otlis; an" therefore I'll -it the support of
all the candidates and all the aspirants; an'
this would elect anybody. Therelore yew see
the hope what is in me; an' considei-in' fur-
ther that as I am actually pusht out not by
my own c(jusent but by my connections an'
friends, I think I am the man for the otliis.
'• Yewrs in the one hope,
PoNO Ik'.NOKV.
"(Iro.d.ed Creek, Te.xas."
'I'he courts ol Texas, when Johnson county
was created, consisted of the supremo coui't,
the district court, the Cfumty court, and
inferior or justices' courts. The several or-
ganized counties of the State weie subdivided
intojmlicial districts, pi-ovibion boin<; made
for the election of a district judge and dis-
trict attorney by the voters of each district.
The judge, attended by the district attorney,
was re.|uired to hold a disti'ict court in eaidi
.rn,i ,v..;-.:i I
/\ , .'..Mi (.,^ !' ,r
I. , > VI : .f-
.,-i(i
I, • )'r)f Mil; .;)!, irj - ,1 •;,) ,(.,
' Vi v
' Jill !•■. •..! , ■,'■ .li ■:■ .-.,,;.', li 1. J'lf»:i:; (.■! ^HJI
I V)j;i' I'l.! ;> J., HI o,.'iia .;- n: lu i'i"ol oi'j iii
JlI.^TOUr OF JOHN.'iON
county somi aiiiiiKilly, at a time and with
juri.Mlirtion ,I..|iiK.l l,y tlu^' law. 'riiu.ounty
cniii'l ciiiMhlr.l u{ a cliirf ju.stirc, will, juris-
(lictiuii ov.T all matters uf pn.l.ale, ami lour
county conimi-ssioners, who with the chief
justice had jurisdiction user all county mat-
ters. They, toij;ether witli a sherill:", district
clei-k and county clerk, were county olHcers
elected liy the people. Each county was
suhdivided also into justices' precincts, each
])recinct having authority to electa justice of
the peace and constable, with limited juris-
diction.
It is impossible for us to give an e.xact
chronological list of the lawyers ]iracticing in
Johnson county, but have succeeded in com-
piling a list almost complete, with a few
reminiscences concei'ning most of tluMii.
l!eforo the war Silas Carpenter, one of the
earliest practitioners of law in Juhnsun county
and a very genero\is man, made a good lecord
here, when he linally entered the army, was
Second Lit'utenant in I'arsons' Uei-inient,
Amzi Hrail
that |)lacc
Twelfth Te.\as Caval:
■y, an.
acted con-
Bum])tion and died betbi'e the war closed.
Saiuuel Cioodloe was ah(i a lawyer in this
county during its earlie.-t peiivid.
(Captain William ,1 . Meal, an early lawyer of-
this county, wliu liad the respect of the pro-
fession, also entered the army, becoming cap-
tain of the lirst company (Company C, Twelfth
Texas (.!avalry) e\er organized in Juhn.--un
county, and was killed in the lirst engagement,
which was at (Jotton Plant, Arkansas.
George M. fierce, the lii-st county sur-
veyor, afterward practiced law, and linally
lost jjis life, also in that "cruel war."
John W. ISrrry, a part
shaw, practiced at liuehanan wlie
was the o.unty seat. 11,: died on ihel'.razos,
and was hurie.l at ibich.anan, le.iiving a wife
and live children. lie was a good lawyer,
having fully half the cases in court there,
although he had an impediment in his
speecli, and was e.xcit.vljle in temper.
Lewis E. Trezevant was a good practitioner
of law before the war, and even brilliant; he
is now |)racticing at C4a]veston.
M. M. Clark, wlio was here in L^T L and
other years about that pei-iod, is now t.ngage 1
in farming and stock-raising near Abileiic,
Texas, lie had been a Confederate soldier
when a boy, was wounde<l, and is still a crip-
ple. Ills practice here was never extensive:
indeed, he was too much devoted to comnier,
cial alfair.s. "Mack," as he was fauiiliarly
called, was a marked character: was bright,
sensible and well educated, fervently devoted
to his fi-iends, and as bittei- against hi^
enemies. "Was once mayor of Clebuine and
clerk of the House of Ke|)resentatives.
Captain AV. Shro
lS7t, etc., was a cap
tween the States, ser
Ueginumt, under G.
was brave and dar
psiiu-e, a lawyer liere in
tail, during the war be-
ving in the First Texas
.•neral Lee in Virginia;
iug. At the battle of
Sliarpsburg he received a dangerous wound
in his left shoidder, which crij)pled him for
life. " Wink " practiced law iiere in Cle-
burne several years, between 1870 and 1880,
iving cast of town. He was a .Methodist in
his religious views and died October 1, 1885,
in the tifty-fourtli year of his age, leaving a
wife and six children.
<^^:i' .'A
I '.Mi:|l-,1. „-,-);,
;-:.. ■■ V. I, ; ■
M ^i'l, ■...!■:.,
■i ' ■<■■ > (•
>^ii -<.i ,1^..!
AND IITLL COUNTIRS.
A. V. Slirupshiro practiced hero for some
time, i]i()Vc(.i West, iiiiil is now deceased.
(Irdi'ge v. AViioten, a yoiinjj; (ieorgian,
ciuiu- ti. tlie county in 1^7^, hut in a few
niMiiths returned to Cottersville, in liis native
,lacl; l),i\i.s, a character, was in ])ractice
lirre a nund.er uf years liurinu; the '7()s, in
|..irtucr^hip witli M. A. Oatisfora while, and
i- miu- in San Jacinto county, Texas, pruhalily
rclired. He was of Irish descent, a son of
.lames Davis, of early Texas fame, was well
educated, imj>idsive, generous, but not studi-
uu. of the law, although he was a successful
..hocate and had every element of an orator.
Within the last few years lie has joined the
church, and is said to be a devoted Christian.
lie was very foudof politics, a fervent Demo-
.r.it.but at one time astonished all his friends
by joining a third party and running for
Congress against Charles Stewart.
!•'. (;. IJeckett, in partnershiii with Uv.
Clacd< t(U- a tinie, was not here h.uig onough
td make an impression.
Amzi r.radshaw, although a reshleut of
W'axahachic, practiced a great deal beb)re the
.lM|in,o,i county bar, and also took a promi-
nent part iu the politics of the district, which
included this county. Not highly educated,
frontier in style and somewhat eccentric, he
was yet a stj-ong man and intellectual, having
many of the elcnuMits of true manhood, and
was very |iopidar. He was not married until
late iu life and he linally died of paralysis, in
I). T. r.ledsoe was a very prominent law-
yer here during tlu^ '7().s, iu partiiiT.hip with
James N. Englisli for a time. W. S. and
Ijenjamin l'\ Hledsoe came to Alvarado in
1807, and to Cleburne in lS(i!J. After the
death of Kenjamin F. Bledsoe, D. T. ami W.S.
fornu'd a partnership, which eoutinued for
several years. W. S. died, and I). T. is now
living at Abilene, Taylor county, Texas,
where he is engaged in the jjractice of law
with Iv. K. Leggett, a former resident of
Johnson county, the firm name is P)ledsoe &.
Leggett, and they have a large ami profitable
jiractice.
it. II. Beall [)racticed in Cleburno two or
tliree years, in partnership with Pluminer cV;
Clack, and then removed to northwestern
Texas, engaging in mercantile busines. lie is
proliably a resident of Fort Worth at preset.
James W. Drown first established himself
here in ISIlC, at linchanan, having read law
with Judge Ferris in Waxahaehie. lie was
a tyj)ical, low-country South-Carolinian, came
from Charleston, that State, was regarded as
a very fine lawyer, and had considerable prac-
tice, although he never took much interest in
criminal law. He stood high as a man, had
various business connections from time to
time, being first a member of the firm of Fer-
ris & Krown, then IJrow.i .\: (Jack) Davis
Chambers & lirown (iu exchange and banking
business), Hrown .»v: (J. iM.) Hall, IJrown,
Hall & Ramsey, llrown, Uimsey & Crane
and lirown it Fisher. About iSSo he moved
to Dallas, where he is said to be doing well.
Here he was the first ci^unty attorney under
the first county-attorney law. He and H. H.
Hem|>hill were the first lawyers to locate at
Cleburne, then the new county se.at.
;viy .V
T . ,• ,l>
77/S/
/'•//-V~.'.V
A. W. he:
:.L r , P;.:..:.:
f Kc-'itiieky,
;:.. ^vi.ere !,e
. >,_..n:r.ry„f
Slut,, .luiin-- the .■Jinlhi.-lr..ti,.n of ( ;, ,v,■rI,ol•
(^.l.(^ who was muv,v.|.m1 l,y K. i;. lIuM.anl
a.- (u.venHjr, an.l tlion I)ci;en-y rcsiH;iKHl ai.d
came to C'lehui'iie to practice law in 1876;
practici'J liert.' for several years, a jiortion of
the time in partnersljip with Tillman Smith,
and then went to Fort Worth, and thence to
Cisco, anil linally t(j Aransas pass, where he
is supposed to be now. lie was a nentleinan
of plain manners, a irood lawyei' and an ex-
cellent man, nniversally respected hy the
bench an.l har. Kx-Governor Wlieeler, who
at one time time had the lara;est jndicial dis-
trict in the Hidted States, is his son-in-law.
Tillman Smith, a North-Can. liidan, just
d t(
■tnersh
A. W. I)e
IJeri-y, came to this county the same year,
ISTD, with Ids partner. I le was licensed to
practice law in Iliilsl.oro, Texas, settled in
Navasota, (riimes county, by which county
he was elected to the lower house of the
Leo-islature; later he was elected to tlie
Senate, wdiicli jiosition he resigned to come
t.iClebnrne. In ISSH he went lo Fort Worth
and b.i-med a partnership with Fields .V
West: the lirni is now Fields, We.-,! .V: Smith.
Mr. Smith i, a good lawyer.
A. A. Clark \vas in Johnson county but a
Hhort time, leaving,' lii're perhaps in FS7S and
going to Albany, Sluudvelford county, Texas,
where he still i-esidi^s and is doiiiy well in his
practice, lie is a line o^entlenniii.
Frank A. Fisher, a native of Illinois, came
from Ottawa, that State, to 'I'rxas, in 187S,
and r.:nai:.ed here in Cleburne in the
pr:^::iee nf the ;.>w a-;J i:i va.-ioi:- other
.:v.i.n.;.;riw!i. n:,r:! I'^^o. v.:. :, •],,: i,,.,ied to
Su.etw.ater, tliis Stat. ■. u line he now lives.
scholarship and a good lawyer, and is now said
to be prosperous.
II. II. Hardin was a young man from east-
ern Texas, practiced here a shoi't time and
moved West, where he is now teaching school.
K. F. Yeagei-, wdio was a member of the bar
of Jcdmson county, after having taught school
a number of years, iilling the chair of Greek
and Latin in two or three institutions, settled
at Alvarado, and afterward entered into the
newspaper business at Waxahachie, in l.SSO,
wdiere lie was quite successful until 1888,
when he died.
J. S. Clayton, who was a memi)er of tlie
Johnson county bar aljout 187'J, was from
Tu]ielo, ]\ri3sisispj)i, and is now engaged as a
merchant in Cleburne.
J. II. Cannon, another law jiractitionei- in
(.•l(-burne, from eastern 'iVwas, was in jiart-
nership here with Wynne, and (iritlin .t Hall,
anil has mo\'ed away.
F. W. Wynne, ju.t referred to, is said to
be dead.
Thomas J. Wyatt and K. li. Hemphill were
]iracticing in partnership here in ISlVJ. The
latter I'eturned to South Carolina, entered
the newspaper business and was linally elected
to Congress from that State. Mr. Wyatt
was afterward in partnership with (i. II.
Jfaxey, and now livens in Decatur, this State,
where he has been Mayor. lie is a good
judae of law.
v (!U-.VC.., .!>.:.! in •..,,,.< .,M
»aji-; It .. :.: 1 ^oiJiJ -i-niwi u;
i> fjuuipi ..lit ?w.!^,;'tt
AND HILL COUNTIK.
Ilfinlricks; it Hendricks woro practicinii;
together iu Gldiiinio iu the eurly '7Us. The
eiacr IIen.lriek8, who wus reH-anled as tlie best
land hiwyer in the district, died here, and the
yuimger died at Fort AVortli.
J. e;. liubliing, practicing here uliuut the
.-anic time, was for ;i while considered the
hest lawyer in the county, hut he noi^dected
went down in his profession; liut lie h^ught
a large tract of land in Los Angeles county,
California, on credit, and sold it out in Miudi
tracts at a great advance in price, thus accu-
mulating great Wealth. He was living there
wlicn last heard from.
James IHner, who practiced law in Ole-
Ixirno, was county judge two or three terms;
wa. also a local preacher in the Methodist
I'lpiscopal Churcli. He moved to (;raid)Ury
when it was struck otf from Johnson county,
and was the county clerk there when he ,iied,
Minic years ago. The jieriud of his residence
here was ahout 1870.
W. 11. (iritlin wa.. here in the early '70s,
afterward went to Austin, and prol.aldy still
further West.
W. F. (;eor,-e and 1'.. D.Simpson have also
been CMehurne lawyers.
TUE J'KESliNT B.VK OF .JOII.N'.suN eOUNTV.
The attorneys at law now practicing in
Juhnson county are: M. M. Crane it W. K.
\l.
isey
W.
ido.xter & S. C. l'adelf(
v.. V. iMyers it W. I). iMcKoy; J. N. Fnglish
it W. J. Fwing; J. A. Stanford it 1!. Clark;
J. M. Hall, .Ir., (ieorge 1). (ireen, (). T.
IMumnirr, 1, 1). D.avis. A . J . Clen.lrn nen. A.
l*. Taylor, W. li. 1< eatherston, M. A. Oatis,
II. P. lirown, J. F. Henry, William H. liled-
soe, P. li. AV^ird and C. Y. Kouns,— all in
Clehurne; 1. A. Patton and Andrew King in
Alvarado; and Hiram C. Gardner in tirand
View. Ko attorjiey's name is intentionally
omitted. Sketches of many of these are
given in the biographical department of this
volume.
Creenberry 11. Ma.xey, who lia.l the earliest
law license in this county (dated February
22, lS-i5. at Glasgow, Kentucky), although
retired from legal practice, may yet bo con-
sidered a member of the Johnson county bar.
This most honored resident and one of the
most etiicient up-lmiklers of the community
during the prime of his life, \vas born in
Tompkinsville, Monroe county, Kentucky,
August 22, i«22, theson of Edward and Jane
Ma.vey,— his father of Virginia stock and his
mother a native of Tennessee, of Irish an-
cestry on hei- motluu-'s side. These parents
were striking e.'iami)les of chivalry and noble
deeds.
As he grew ujiyoung .Maxey was employed
on a farm and in learning the cabinet-nniker's
trade. At the age of twenty two he entered
the law school at (ilasgow, Kentucky, wdiere
he graduate.l at the date of his license al-
ready mentioned. The same year lie moved
to Ija Fayette, Tennessee, where lie lived thir-
teen months, practicing law, wdien he volun-
teered in the Mexican war, in Colonel Caiiip-
bell's First Tennessee Pegiment, whicli body
of men acijuitted themselves as nobly as any
regiment in the world. At the close of the
war Ih- Iwcalcd at D.-irdanellr, A|-kunsas, and
y •<".[■ ■ I . mI//.
1; !■
lUHTUHY OB' JU1IN80N
folluwrd cmI.
.1 It
piucLirc Uvojuars ln„gor.
Thun, ill 1^52, liu wont to CJulitbniia, where
he fulluuol iiMiiin^^tlie first winter, aiul after
tliat eii;^a;4c<l ill ear|ientfriiig and in selling
guoils. His eareerin (.lalit'oriiia was attcmled
with fair suecess, exeepting that he lost a
great deal of money hy bad credits. Leaving
tliat State at San Francisco, iJeceiiiber 1,
ISoJ, he leturned to his ohl home in Ken-
tucky, where he \\-as niari-ied, in February,
1S55. In Sejitumbt-r of tiiat year he came to
J olmsuii county, locating t\\-o and a half miles
north of Jiuchaiian, intending to follow farm-
ing, but was almoot immediately elected
county clerk, when he moved to liuchanan,
Boine at carjieiiterinj^. in An;^ust, 1S(32, ho
was re-electud county clerk and again re-
elected in ISU-t, but the next year he was
"re-constructed" out by Jack Hamilton.
The \ery next yeai-, however, ho was restored
to that ollice by the people for four years;
and this time he coiitin.ied to liold it until
18(JS, when General Keynolds, the military
CuAcrnor, " i-e-constructed " him out again,
.■anting him to bo succcrded by I'eter W.
Wynno.
In 1S73 Major Maxey was elected dis-
trict clerk, which olhce he continued to till
until A]iril, 187C, when the t.tlices were di-
vided by a change in the constitution of the
State, and he was again elected county clerk
for a two-year term. Since that time he has
held no otlice, excepting that of notary pub-
lic, but he resumed the practice of law for a
time.
He has been inili
M the date mentioned he married Fli
beth Walker, daimhter of William ('. AValk
still
iving, young-
<d Tennessee, and
looking, halo and hearty. They have no
children, but brought up a ne[)hew of Mrs.
Maxey, named (ireenberry i[. Walker, who
was killed on the railroad November 5, 1882.
The following little anecdote may be in
place here: In July, 187M, in the case (jf the
State ctrsuti Keynolds and guillaii, the county
attorney olfered in evidence a postal card to
prove the ownership of certain horses alleged
to have been stolen by the defendants. The
owner's name being Dutch, and the letters
ferently fr.mi the same as written in the in-
dictment, the counsel for the defense objected
on the gn;iiiid that the former name was not
iihiii suiuui.'i with the one in the indictment.
The judge remarked that he would like to
know the vuna)i.'i,— lh:i\. these Dutch names
were to him unpronounceable. The {)rose-
cutiiig attorney declared that they were to
him " un.-'])ellable," and the objecting attor-
ney stood mute, 'i'he C'Aro/i/cZfi remarked on
this, " No tribunal outside of Fatherland can
ever adjudicate this (piestion."
THE PlHNOIPAl. CRIMES.
In giving a Ijrief account of the most in-
tere.-'ting events in the history of crime in
Johnson county, no reilectioii is cast ujmjii the
morals of the community, as they are in fact
Al^D IIILI. CUUNTIEt:
■iti.T ili.iii tln' iivorage. Only onu in;ii) eoiu-
lillin^r riiiiiu within tlie bonii.iaries of this
.inity liH,. l.ceii It-ally coiivirkMl of murder
, the liist cle-ree, and executed, namely,
:unuel II. .Myer.
iveu a Utile fiirth^
account ol
liiJllIiKKV OF IIAJOIW HEATH AND UATHY.
The t'ullow'inn; circumstance is so noted
that we must give of it at least u l)ricr' sketch.
J.amiary 20, ISHS, JMajor E. M. llenth, while
.-herilf and deputy assessor ami collector of
Jolmton county, was on his way to Austin,
q.any
with i\Iajor Oathy, cx-collector
and they were rohhed nine miles l.eyond llills-
huru, the former of >;2,80(), State money, and
the hitter of $1,000, |,rivate funds. Four
hiirhwaynien on horseback did the nefarious
joh, ami safely got away. Majors Heath and
Cathy at first saw several men ahead of them,
bcemingly cross the road. As they had n(Aiced
a herd of cattle not far away, they supposed
that the horsemen alieail of them were
droxers. 'I'liey traveled two miles before
overtaking them, and as they came U]) with
them they ob,-,erved that there were four of
those mysterious men in number, mask. ^d with
Mack cloth. One of them shot at Major
Heath when within twenty feet of him, ami
did not miss him very far. One of the others
presented his pistol against the body of Majoi'
Cathy and ordered him to surrender. The
highwaymen then blindfolded the travelers,
led them off separately 300 yards, to a thicket.
.r all llu-ir Si:
ney,
not touching their individual pi-opcrty, ex-
cepting the $1,000 of .Major Oalhy'.-^ im.ney.
They wore then led back to tlie road separ-
ately, still blindfolded, and placed on their
horses. Major Heath was turned toward
Waco, and asked if he could " unblindfold "
himself, to which he replied alllrmatively;
and he was orderetl not to look back, at the
peril of his life, and to travel slowly in the
direction of Waco, — so that he Could not get
back to liillsboro before night; and that if
he attemptetl to return sooner he would bo
killed. Obeying the injunction he traveled
till he came to the third house, about four
miles ahead, before bo found a man, when,
collecting a party of four, he returned to the
spot where the crime had been c.unmitte<l ;
but of course the robbers were gone.
Major Heath supposed that Major Cathy
was killed and made search for him; but on
reachino Hillsboro he found him there.
I5ut thi^ above is not the end of the Btory.
From the Chronicle of April 10, ISGU, we
quote the following account of the se.^uel,
which is far more exciting:
•• Hen Mickerstair, formerly of Titus county,
whose name has become familiar from one
end of the Slate to the other as a desperado,
negro and Feihu-al slayer, and who ])rodncetl
terror wherever he went, and Jo Thompson,
were killed at Alvarado by the citizens April
5, just ])ast. The particulars, which we re-
ceived from an eye-witness, Were these: iiick-
orstaff made his appearance in this county
some limn in i)e.:ember or January, making
his home here and committing sundry dejjie-
ilations. It was charged upon him that he
L.MV.:> ■.■■■u
') ..q.
V. niwli !..!
UISTOIIY UV JOHNSON
was c,niilty uf tlic ruhliory of K. M. Ik-itli,
gray horse, and IWckerstatf riding a mule.
the (lci)\ity tax ii^^scssoi' iiiiil cdllcrfor i>r this
I'aising their hats and making signals to each
couilIj; uC i\)l)hiii;j; in'jj^rno.i and iiitL'iriiptiii^
othei-, as they roile on slowly in the tlirection
the lUriiiiii^ interebl liy rumiiii;^- iie<i;rue3 dfl'
of the Milliken House, looking cautiously to
the laniis where they lia.l heen eiiii)loyeil ; of
the right and left.
threatciiiiif^ the li\es u( some of our hest
" AVlien they got opjiosito liogers' shoe-
citizens, each as Alajor Purdoni, Colonel
shop, on a sudden the tiring opened from the
Uoyl and Hev. Mr. rowell, of Alvarado and
tlotU'S and wiiui(.)ws of Arilliken's and \\>\\ -
its vicinity, for opijosing his course and re-
ell's store houses, which was followed hy a
nionbtratinjj; with liini; of tllreatenin^' the
discharge from e\ery husiness house in town.
grand jury at the late session of the court if
At the Iirst dk-chargo Thouipson was killed.
they attempted to lind a true hill a^raiust him ;
shot through the lieart with a buckshot.
and finally t>f so terrifying judge, solicitor
IJickerstatf fell from liis mule and after lying
and court as to cause its susjjension at the end
on his hack for a few minutes I'ose on his
of the iirst week.
hands and tired three or four times at Mi--
"The citizens of the county deterinined
Powell, who was standing in his storehouse.
that they would not sul.mit to this state of
gun ill hand, the last shot knocking the gun
alVairs and scuttled upon the [ilan of procuring
out (jf his hand. The crowd comim'Ucod
Iron, the judge a hench warrant and appre-
tiring again, with the cry, 'linish him;' -shoot
iiendiug him; hut this the jud-v was afraid
him again,' etc. Several shots were tired.
to grant. JJeing thwarted in this, the citi-
after which he fell on his hack, apparently
zens in the vicinity of Alvarado and other
lifeless. The crowd ajiproached him, but saw
sections of the county entered into an organi-
that he still exhibited signs of life, where-
zation, with the determination to kill him
upon they disarmed him, taking from him
and Thompson at Alvarado on Monday eve-
thre^e si.\-shooters and two Dei-ringers, which
ning, at which place r.ickerstalf had promised
were observe(l to be the same with wiiich M.
to come and gel a harrel of Hour from ihe
M. Heath wasarmed when robbed. Jle now
.-tore of Kohert .Muore. On that e\euing the
became sullicienlly revived to talk a little.
streets were cr^iwded with men who had come
called for Jiobert Moore, and for water, ■mor-
in and secreted their guns in the dilfereut
phine and ^vhisky, which were given to him.
Btore-houses. J]ut little after live o'clock
Uefore Mr. J\Ioore came he told the crowd he
Ijickei'staif and 'J'hompson were seen at some
had $4:5 and a Keniington si.\-6liooter, which
distance approaching the town; tiie sti'eets
he desired to be given to liis wife, asking
were immediately cleared, every man lunning
them not to abuse her and slating tlial she
to his arms and secreting himself in a stoi'e
was a good woman; and lie iK^sired hei-
house. Tliey rode up on the s(puu-c, Thomp-
to go back to her people. He asked why
8011 eight or ten feet in advance, on a sinall
he was shot, and was told that (iathy was
-...I . .. '■]\
•.M .•(i;i<',fi'
1., , M:-.r.i;)
AN J) 11 ILL COUNTIKy
tliu iMiit^o. lie was now suflering intensely.
" On liein^- asked if lie had fuiy confession
t.. make, he leplie.l, Xone; that whoever had
kilKd him had killed a hrave man, and one
that was true to the tioiith; what he regretted
wa,-, they gave him no ehaiiee; hut he came
near getting one of the 'damne.l rascals' any-
how. His voice now grew fainter and in a
few nu.ments he expired. He was literally
Covered with wounds, having several in his
rihs and in dili'erent ])ai'ts of the body, hack
and frunt, in the eye, in the arms and hands,—
not less than twenty-si.x wounds in all!
At the same time sundry events produci-d
a \ery strong suspicion that Major Cathy,
who represented himself as being robbed of
>; 1.0(10 when JMajoi- Heath was robbed, was
himself the leading pai'ty in the robbery, con-
corting the plan and gettino; IheLen.lalf to
execute it. He wa.^ ajiprehended and taken
to Waco. It is rumored that liickerstalf
made this disclosure with reference to Cathy."
In the succeeding number of the C/ironicle
another account \\as published, gising also
other but mostly unimportant ])articulars.
Captain Mills asked i:icker..talf to tell him
who brought this upon him, which he re-
fused to do, saying, -Never; no. never."
Major Cathy was believed by theciti/.ens to
be the man whose luime llickei'stalf refused
to give, for he was seen in his company and
was known to be often at his houBo.
The a/irorude added: " This man Thomp-
son had been a resident of vMvarad.j and vi-
cinity for sonu: two years oi- more, during
which tinii-, in direct vi(jlation of law, he
op(!ned a whisky doggery in Al\ aradoand swore'
he would sell whisky, law or no law. Where-
upon the citizens held a meeting and passed
i'esoluti(.(ns to eid'oi'ce the law, resolving to
spare Jieither time nor money in the emj)loy-
ment of c(junsel to assist them in theenforce-
ment of the law, thei-c being a special act of
the I-egislature prohibiting the sale of li(iuor
in Alvaiado. Ih* for a time resisted, swear-
that he woidd sell whisky in Alvarado at all
hazards, and those opposing it had better lie
low or he would Send them to hell, where he
had sent many a man before.
"Ueing overpowei-ed, he desisted from sell-
ing, but still determined on his revenge; and
about one week before his death he sahl in
the [)resence of our best citizens, 'that Alva-
railo had made him succumb, but now Alva-
rado shoidd yield to him, and, by G , he
would burn the town to ashes and send every
man to hell!" '
ATTlOllC'l' -lO Kon A 1!ANK.
April 21, 1S75, two men made one visit to
Chambers it Ih'own's baidc anil two visits to
'J\ IJ. horance's bank, pretending to sell gold
for currency. Tying their horses about lOU
yards below the iirst-mentioned hank thi'y en-
tered the ollice of that institution. The first
man entering piesented a ten-dollar gold
piece at the desk and the other jiassed for-
ward so as to get a range of tlie safe door,
drawing his jiistol. Mr. llartsough, the
casliier, seeing his suspicious movements,
sprang for his pistol and presented it, crying
out, '•(let out of here! (let out of here!"
The men seemed t(.i bo taken by surprise,
and after snatchiuLr liis i.istol commenced I'e
-■'.-. un -A: .;.>. ■Ml
i,.|, . !>ov..-v.. ^ ^vu^;i,;•.a>
: . ■ ; I ; -.1 nifj j ,:i , ^'i iih 'li .iin-i'l (■mt
! I ■ ■ Si.-. /, 7.' /:.r..''l !-.i'j i- . .' J'l.i
1 CH'^ M ■».. %•< i;li:i ■.: '' ^. ',;-. ;.,!) jA
UlSTonr UK JOHNSON
ti'catiii^ tuwuril liis accoinplicu, walkiiio- haclc
wai-d. Mr. Ilai-tsoiigh incaiitioiibly advaiicei.
ai'iiiui(i the coi'iiLT of tlic I'oiintini/ ilesk am
.Ut..l aU(. liiisscl
A ^llut, was then llre.l \,y one of the rohbere,
wliieli inibbud it.s aim. Mr. Ilartst.ugli tlien
nibhed upuli them, thej' l)eilig near tlic door,
when lie .stunihkHl and fell an;ain.st them, and
all went out together, Mv. llartsoiinh fal-
linj/. Onc^ ol' the rohliers then ordered the
other to kill him, and he then shut with
Letter aim an.l nave Mr. Ilartboujrh a danger-
ous wound, the hall entering the under lip,
passing out in front of the wind-pipe and
lotiinng against the collar-bone.
The desperadoes then retreatt;d to tlieir
horses, and Mr. Ilartsougli, as soon as he
could rise, pursued, tiring upon them. Un-
fortunately his pistol had only three or four
It was afterward ascertained from the post-
master that these robbers had asked for mail
addressed to Coleman and J. II. Martin. In
their endeavor to get away they lost the
mare, being so hard-pressed by the citizens
who had heard the firing. The robbers, as
nniy be seen from the foregoing cii'cumstan-
slanees, obtaineil no numey, being frustrated
f)y the timely ellorts of Mr. ilartsougli.
The rascals who attempted to rob Cham-
bers cV: ilrown's bank were found in .May,
1875, in the southern part of Collin county,
byde[)Uty ISiierill' George Shannon and James
Cope. First they arresteil a man at woi'k in
a curnlield, who.-i: name ostensibly was Spur-
ge''
on and who bor
d a reputation tli.
that they were tcmjited to let him go. Spur-
goon e.Kpressed liimself as perfectly willing
to come to C;ieburne, and said that when he
arriveil here he could satisfy evei-y one that
he about the matter that they were in a
measure olf their guard.
However, they started for Cleburne with
the luisoner. At night Shannon took tlie
lirst watch and Cope the secoiul. Near morn-
ing Spurgeoii found tliat C'ojic was sleeping
and lie .piietly stole out in his night-clothes,
mounted a horse and made his escape. He
rode bare-back tor nine miles, when he
reached the residence of a relative and ex-
changed his horse for a better one, telling
him to say to those sherill's that ho was the
man they wanted, and that if they came up
with him they would get something they
would not want. This was the last ever heard
of Spurgeon.
After his escape, as above described, the
sherifio returned to his old neighborhood and
found that he had sent word to a man named
John 11. Ferguson, who lived some distance
from Spurgeon's, that ho was arrested. Nei-
ther of them could be found again. It was
evident to all, after a little impiiry that Spur-
geon and Ferguson were the men who at-
temj)led to rob the bank. A subsecjuent
communication from Collin county gave the
information that both these men bore a good
reputation, as well as their familien and con-
nections, and that the community were cor-
respondingly surjirised at the denouemonl.
About 187-1 Mr. Fidcoke was murdei'ed
by poison. Two parties were implicated.
t><V'^J.i.r..b ^iiT
;?. ;; 0' l;i ■ '.1.%
■Iv.l.
■T ,:■•;, .11
v>V,. .il7, :-,,iv > : ,.;(!'
i!..r uli.iin wusarrestfd and triL'tl, but li
\ND niLL COUNTIKS.
M.
i\\, ill the eastern part uf tl.
ucciuitted, at the second ur third term of eoiirt. co\iiity, and was soon caiij^ht, as he did not
ited ao;i-e:U dt'al ol'exciteuient. endeavor to make liis escape as briskly as lie
iniglit liave done. Deputy SheriiF Tom (Coul-
ter and a iai-go force of citi/.tuis ti'acked him
to a jjoint eifj;lit miles south of llillsboro,
Nvhere they found him makinir some culfoe
over a camp tire, lie was known to be well
armed, and it was deemed ad\-isable to use
stratagem. It had grown dark, and tho boys
conchuled to play drunk. With loud,niaudlin-
like talking they came up and one said, ''Jjoys,
1 am bound to light my pipe." The others
followed, and while the guilty wretch ^vas
over tho lire witii the new coliee-pot which
he had robbed from his murdered victim, and
unsuspicious of danger, he was covered by
siiot-guiisand pistols in the liandsot'the men
who meant not to be trilled with. He sur-
rendered without a struggle. He was finally
convicted of murder in the lirst degree and
sentenced to tho penitentiary for live years,
but was killed in a I'ailroad wreck before his
time was out.
April 2-1:, 1879, Shed GriUin was killed at
a house of ill-fame just outside of the city
limits of Cleburne, by olKcers Lowry and
Co.x, in the discharge of tlieir duty in at-
tempting to arrest him. Griilin received
seven shot-wounds, proliably any one of them
fatal, and yet ho fought considerably after
having received several of them!
On the morning of the 13th day of July,
in the year of grace ISUl, tho three little
.•bil.lrer, of (i. A. Newlierry were found
murdered in tho back yard of his residence,
a few miles north of CleburncI Mrs. Mary
February 21, LS77, is the date when Mrs.
.Mary A. Hester, living three miles north of
.\lvarado, was shot and kille<l by Samuel II.
Myer.--, aided by an accojnplice, James M.
Iluwdeii. Myers was arrested and tried in
several terms of court and linally sentenced
to be hanged. The j.aiticulars of his career
dui-ing this long period constituted the subject
ui much matter in the newspapers. After his
.-cntence he broke jail and got away trom it
abeut 250 yards, when he was re captui'cd,
amid great excitement of the crowd that was
rapi. My collecting. lie was executed March
r.l, 1880, protecting his innocence to the last,
in the presence of 0,000 or 8,000 people.
This is the only legal execution by hanging
that has ever taken place in Johnson county.
liowden was arrested and on trial took a
changeof venue to Somervell county, wheie the
first jury was eleven (uv ac.piittal and .jiie for
iweiity-live years in the penitentiary; but on
the linal trial the jury stood ten for hanging
jail.
February, 1878, he att
icide
by drinking a cpiart of whisky at one draft,
which he had gradually collected by saving at
one side the small <piantities which the jailer
had brouidithim from timetolime. Thedeser-
tion of his wife bad made him despondent.
IN i;i;lEK.
In the month of July, 1877, 11. ^\. Tharr,
generally known as -'Doc" Than-, killed
,,♦],,_, Mir
'.■null
It ], .-il
IIISTOUY OF JUUNSON
Ne\vl)eiTy, tlic grinidinotlu'r of tlic cliildroii,
and waited and wished that some one more
wa.s cDiivictLMl (if the ci'linc diiriiiir .lauuary
compi^tenl would assume that duty, 1 feared
following;, ami sfiitcncol to iiniiri.-oiiiiieiit
there was not matter enough contaiui'tl in it
I'lir iiinfry-iiine yt'ars! i\ot even a plea of
to make a respectable ai'tiele." And thus be
insanity was pivsenteii in coni-t.
proceeds for a dozen lines or more, i,\lien ho
OlisxT Peri'y Arnokl, an liiuiorcd resident
introduces a su)i]iosition and writes nearly
living about eight miles noi-tli of (!le!iurne,
halt a column before the reader can discover
having been slierilf and eolleetor iVoiu ISC/J
what the topic is.
to 1870, can relate many interesting inci-
dents. He was a remarkably faithful otiieer,
J()IIi\.SUi\ COUNTY IN THE WAR.
never tailing to bring to ti'ial a refugee from
The iii'st company for the last war raised
jii.-tiee, although bribes wei-e ottered him and
in Johnson county was organized immedi-
lie has been .shot at by the tleeing criminals.
ately after secession, on the ground where
Atone time he ari'ested a man named Thomas
Cleburne now stands, on Henderson's land:
O'Conner, who liad C(jmmitted munler in
hence the place was nannnl Camp Henderson.
IJosijue county, captui'ing him on the county
It was organized by General W. 11. Parsons,
lino and turning him o\er to the authoritiea
aid-de-camp to the Covernor. W. J. Neal
of that county. lie broke jail and was at
was elected its (Ja]itain. The second com-
large nineteen years, \vlien iM i-. Ainold again
]>any was soon made nji, and this was com-
arrested him, and ho was tiied ami sentenced
manded by Captain W. U. Shannon; the
for life. During all that peri. mI of nineteen
third by A. J. Frizzell; the fourth by J. A.
years Mr. Arnold held in tin>t the money
Formwalt; the iiftli by 11. (i. Bruce; the
($B20) which he took from the criminal and
si.xth by 11. C. Chil.lre.ss; the seventh by Sam
for which lie gave the examining ju-tice a
CJaruthers; the eighth by — Catliy, and
receipt.
the ninth by H. A. Hart. (.)f the above cap-
William Jack, in writing ujion the trite
tains, yhannon, l-'ormwalt, ('aruthers and Hart
Hubjecl of the w hi])ping po.st, in the Chroni-
ai-e still living. Shannon is now in Califor-
cle for Oct.iber 11, LSTS, in order to rail at-
nia; l''oiniwalt at (iranbury, Hood county;
tention to his ailicle, avoided a ca|itiini or
(Jaruthers at Kimball, on the I^razos, in
any introduction to forewarn his reader what
lleisfjue county; and Hart near (tIcii liose, in
his subject was, commencing thus: -In at-
Somervell c<mnty.
tempting another article on this sufiject. 1
Altogether, during the war, Juhnsou county
shall mime the subject as seldom as possible.
furnished about 1,100 men, — a number ecjual
The woi'd itself has become oti'ensivo to me.
to all the able-bodied men in the county, in-
but the subject seems to grow in imj)ortant;e.
cluding boys and aged men. There was
Although I believe that something ought to
tberefoi-e no chance for (■onscri[)ting fi-om
have been written on the subject at the start.
John.-on ciuinty; and on (^very battlefield of
1 1 ';/
I ,- ' u'.r
■M,!,.;, I'llJ j.ni|„l I il-OOiiJlA
AND Ilfl.l. COUNTIKf-
ii..l(' hill.' was ro]ii'osoiiti'il liy soiiu; nl' lier
lir.iM' t^Miis, ami she was iie\cM- di.-graceil on
aiis u'Kiiiihl. Iluw is tlial fur iiatriotisiii ^
A1..I Iliosr wlio.li.l IM.t on U, tlic l.ltlK'lield
\\y\\- at liome, c<|Ually jiatii(/tic; in raibiiio-
tliu nc-LX'6sary euppliub of lil'u. Witness tlie
au.xictyof tliosc left lioliiiui, and the kindness
i.f Hiuthers in their endeavurs to send fui ward
the t.^sentials and even tlu- eunifurts uf life to
their bons in eamp and on the hat tleiield.
At this point the imagination is impatient
to rast aside and repi-ess the external noise
and rush of material tliin-s, and hover,
ehaiHied, over the motherly signilicance of
eveiy little eonvenicnee and coinlort for-
warded to the son of war, as he goes forth to
distant lands, with the chances against his
e^'er returning alive. And when on the ter-
ril.le hattlefield, or in the tedhuis, lonesome,
malarious camp, he I'eeeives from home a
liottle of preserves or a package of knick-
knacks, done up in clean napkins, as only
feminine liands can do them, can he fix his
mind, even Imt for one moment, upim the
real siiniilicance of these things, which is in-
deed more spiritual than material, without
sh,dding a tear? And the longer the mind
dwells upon it, the longer it wishes t.i dwell
upon it, until it collapses into a vacuity of
thought from sheer exhaustion. Let him
feel these things who can; others cannot be
made to feel them with ever so much
rhetoric. This secret of lile-and-welfare
])reservation, perceived only liy true mothers,
is too sacred even for j>oeti'y, or for \\\n\\i in
I'.VKSOXS lililOADr:.
Most of Johnson county's men in the war
served in I'arsons' I'cgiment or brigade, and
we theivfore give here a somewhat detailed
account of its career.
Parsons' Cavalry JJrigade was formed about
September, 1802, and was composed of the
Twelfth Texas (I'arsons'), Nineteenth Texas
(13nrford's), Twenty-lirst Texas (Carter's),
Morgan's Texas IJattalion, and Ti'att's Bat-
tery.
The following is from the re])ort of the
committee a]ipoiiited to jM-eparo matter for
juiblication, and was read at the fourth re-
union of I'arsons' lirigade, held at Alvarado,
August 1 and 2, 18S3.
"The 11th day of tSeptcmber, ISUl, was
one of immense Tnomont to the county, the
northern jiortion of Ellis county in piarticular,
and all the country adjacent. The companies
formed under the supervision of AV. II. Par-
sons, by authoi-ity of Edward Clark, Govern-
or of the State of Texas, had assembled at
Pi. ickett's Spring for the purpose of organiz-
ing a regiment of eavali'y for the sei'vice of
the State of Texas in the war then imminent
between the States, North and South. Early
in the morning the people began to ])our in
to witness the election of oflicers to perfect
said organization until the entii-e place was
throngeii with men, women and children,
who awaited the coming of the iionr with the
eagerness of a curiosity sharj)ened by the
novelty and magnituile of the occasion. At
the hour of 10 A. M. the bugle sounded, and
t(in companies, compri.sing about 1,200 men.
l-.l, ,•.,,.„, ;,.
7/n(|
■)i7/ .y-il V> ■ ilr ,.. MM:
I ^-JVUJI b(!V
•1 >; ii
insronr of joiijXson
i-tLTS uikI i;,n,a.,l
to pcrlori
iiiarrhcl IVoni their qua
hollow ^.nl:o■e ill (.nl.-i- [
the work ill liaii.l. 'I'liis ,ln,io, th,. uv.aAvA
„t Ihc ,lay (who>e iiaim' is f(,i-.,ttfn) dc-
iiiuii,l>-.l to know their iiomiiiatioiih lir.-t tor
colonel, wlieii the name of I'ar.-uiis wan
calleil liy many \-(iiees, ami soon a [iroud
form on as proud an animal olided into tlie
the liands of tli
tieo. In th
>pen qiaeo ami
a<lu a hrief address to tlio
veiliiiileer.s around him, after which the mar-
shal called for the vote, and W. II. Parsons
waf uiu\niiiiously elected. John \\\ xMullens
wari elected Lieutenant Colonel; E. W.
llogers, Major; John Ilogan was then ap.
pointed Surgeon; Ur. Einhree, Assistant
Surgeon; T. G. A. Willis, (Quartermaster;
Frank Aycrs, Commissary; A. 1!. liurlesou,
Adjutant. Tiiese, with tlie ai)],oiiUment of
Ilcv. J. Fred. Cox to the chajilaincy, com-
pleU.d the oioHui/.ation id' (,no ,d' the l,est
reo;iments that ,e\er wont into the service of
any country. Their subsequent Jiistory vei'i-
worth.
'■The command was mustej-ed into Slate
service for one year, and when tran>ferred to
(Jonfederate service, (Jct.d.er 2N, FSIil, at
(u-ace near llempstea.
for one year. The winter of 18(U-"(52 was
spent in the camp of instruction on Sims'
bayou, about eight miles from Iloir-ton, on
the railroad to Calvestoii, where a oicat deal
of rain fell and the morning foos were almost
e(pial to an average rain, in consequence of
which many sickened ami died. 'I'heir names
the future historian of the brigade will re-
cover frwm the livino or from recr.ls not in
part of tlie sprint- of lSl!2 the Twelfth Texas
Cavalry was ordered to the East, tlie route
beiiio thnnioh tlu; Stale of Arkansas. They
wei'(^ anxious to cross the Mis>issi|,pi, but
were retaint'd uu tliis side. On the 25th day
of May, 1SG2, they were reorganized under
the first conscript act passed by the (Jov-
eriiment of the Confederate States, at which
time a number of officers and men a\'ailing
themselves of the opi.ortunity left tlie Com-
mand and returned home; others were elected
to fill \acancies tlius occurring. Prior to tkis
time a detachment from the regiment, under
command of ^lajor E. W. Rogers, had met
the Federal trooj)S at Searcy Lane, May 17,
18G2, where they wore victorious. Soon after
the reorganization, several regiments, to-wit:
the Twenty-first, Colonel C. W. Carter; the
Nineteenth, Colonel N. M. Purford; the
Seventeenth, Colonel Fitzhugh; , C\)lo-
iiel J. II. Taylor; .Colonel Darnell;
Colonel (iarley's and Pratt's Lattery, reaidied
Arkansas. On the Ttli .lay of July, 1^(12,
the Cotton Plant light took place, under the
command of l!rigadier-( ieiieral liust, in
which several men were killed and wounded.
Shoifly alter this all tlie.-e icgiinents were
dismouuto.l, excepth the Twelfth, Nineteenth
mid Twenty-tirst. We think Morgan's Pat -
lalioii became connected with the brigade
dtout thi^ time, but have to depend more on
memory than any ilata in our possession.
rhe history of the brigade from this time
tvas (piite \ariable. They met the enemy at
t-arioiis jdaces, and constituted always a
Ldieck to any of thcdr advance movements.
Tl'
,Im
: m 'J M'>iji. I .7,' A v.
I
;..,,r ';•! • • 'i ■ . : <:u.-<:n n;. : ' ', -1,4 1,1! l.'.iuTiMi
iri .•, .. )•.,; • • 1 r. ■,.. 'jM 'O ,Hrir,. ■• ' i;:..!'; ,1 ,.,1,,,,
.•' I7 ! .. .:-.!i' U-ii-'-,^h\:ii':.ii: !!■. fiun\ en mo rrru.i
!/i;«; ' . ■:•' \ 3n','!lwit; . '/ ir ,!, . ■.')-'4-.' ^'-.n. iii'iiitiii; tr.fi
i...r',..i) ...iii.;.'/ .j\. A) .T ;M.).y^i.8
, ( ,.1 •, , " ■'■ . ,., , ■,;..!■ .'■] I '-.'i I. •.•.,;(
11. ,1 .i,[v/
AND HILL aOUNTIEh
Siici'ess attciidcil tlicm at L'Angiiille and at
,.lluT ]iuiiits ill thu State of Arl>aii>as. Tliry
ufiv Ini- tlic 111,, St jKirt kept on ,iiit-|M.st duty
and ill Inn, t of the main army. l!ut, to o;ivc
.■veil a hrief sketcli of the l.rigade, based
iijioii the iKiperb at command, wouhj as.-iime
the ap|ieai-aiico of extreme partiality, as only
llio~o of one rciriinent, the Twelfth, have
eume into our pLissesrii.jii, e.xeept that we had
the order book for the brigade and the com-
pany lecortl of Company E and C'-oiiijiany I,
Nineteenth Texas Cavalry. Of the Twelfth
Texas Cavalry we iiad only tolerably complete
rolls of Company F and a few of Companies
A and W. In order to perfect anything like
an ac<airate report or history of tlicbe noble
commands that did signal sei-vice for the
Confederate States :n an attempt to maintain
the con.stitutional principles of States' rights,
it fcems imperative that we should secure
the rolls of all the comiianics in all the regi-
II. cuts and battalions; the deaths, present
piistoilice, occupation and standing of her
men; tiiere should l,e collected the history of
campaigns, incidents of the march, battle and
encampment, all of which go to makt^ up a
complete narrative of the doings of the brig-
ade. To further this end w,- recommend:
1st, That a committee of one be appointed
from each company, who shall at a designated
hour proceed to obtain, from the members
prc-ent, such data as are indicated above or
any other that may by you be thought worthy
of record; ■2d, That a committee of three be
appninte.l by yuu to take charge of said
p:ipei-s, whose business it shall be to draft
from thum and ^ucli other sources as may
become available a comiecied liistorical sketch
of the brigade from the organization of each
regiment to the organization of the brigade
and on to the en. 1 of the struggle.
I Signed I " W. II (iKTZKNOANKK,
'•J. F. (Jox,
" A. M. Decuman,
Committee.^^
" Our regiment was stationed at Cache
river, twcdve miles cast of Des Arc, Arkansas.
About iniilnight, the 1st of August, lf^G2, wo
were aroused from our slumbers by what wo
supposed to he a volley of musketry. Wo
formed line and awaited the coming in of our
pickets, whom we supposed had been fired
upon. At daylight it was evident the alarm
was false, and that a falling tree in the swamp
must have made the rumbling noise taken to
be musketry. We repaired to our quarters
to get breakfast, lea\-ing our horses saddled,
as we had orders to change camps after break-
fast.
" In a short time \ve were again in lino
and then on the march, as we siijiposed, to our
new camps. We had gone some several miles
before we were informed that a scout was the
real object. We traveled all that day (Sat-
urday) until nine o'clock at night, when a
halt was called. We were then ou the banks
of the L'Aiiguillc river, six miles from the
enemy's camp. About 10:30 o'clock, with-
out anything for man or horse to eat, we lay
down. At i o'clock on Sunday mornimr we
were again in our saddles ready to start. We
crossed the river at our camps. The crossing
was bad, and although we were careful, nearly
a fourth of the horses boggc.l and fell with
yu^] \:.
I ,1 ■/(i.iii 'I, ,1 1.) ^;(, .i)i--.ii ,.iii-.
iiisTonv or JOHNSON
\\\v\v ri>lcrs, luit wciiM -ct oiil alUT a stni--
nlo ..!■ tW... AfUT CroSMIlu- tllC jivLT lIlUlC
was iMit a trail tlm.iinl, t],,. woo. Is to travel in.
Wo of collide luarclicl in siii-lo lilc, aiui it
was necessary now to keep the liled well closed.
This, on account of darkness and the ho-^^y
places in thu trail, was \-ery dillicult, and ere
lono; the command became separated and lost.
The lirst comjiany of tlie nniin body Jiad a
])ilot and kept the rio;ht road, but the second
got behind, lost its file-leader, went otf into
aiuither trail, leaving- behind it the lirst Com-
pany in I''ourlh SijUadrou. The second com-
pany of l''ourth Squadron, at same place,
also lust its lile-leader, but happened to take
the rif^ht trail and was followed by the other
comp:
js ill its rear. Afti
lety
the lost fraction touml tlie nuiiii body, then
came to a halt, and lost al^o. Lieutenant
Get/.eiidaner,liavino- just come u|) to the main
body with tlie lost men, was informed of the
trouble about losin^^ the way, and that there
was much nneasiness among the men. Jle
found a man who claimed to be a pilot and
look him to the lu.ad of the column lo show
the way, ridiu- close by his side, with drawn
pistol to nuet any emergency, for thi. pilot
had ollered his services and was not known
to be sent to us by the colonel commamling;
nor.indee.l, was il known that he was a pilot.
It wa.-, feared that he might iM.,-,.-ibly lead thu
command into an ambush. Jn a little while,
however, aiiutlier jiilot who was known, ar-
rived, and all then conlidently moved on
throu-h the darkness along ihe narn.w trail
over bushes and logs, to overtake the a.lvance.
'I'his wa. done about daylneak, ,,n the main
road near Caledonia. <), what joy perva.ii'd
cMir hrarls lo know ih.at all U'as yet safe!
Much ,.r the anxiety caused by the delay in
the march was for the safety of the Fir.t
y<piadron, comiaised of companies A and F,
and Johnson's sjiy company, which compa-
nies, after crossing the river hail been sent
down the stream to take position in rear of
the enemy, to respond to the attack of the
main body in front and to cut oil' tlie retreat
of the eiu'uiy. The attack was to be made
al.out daylight, and if the main body failed
to C(^me the enemy would fall uiion and cut
to pieces this small f..rce in their rear.
'• The main body now being reunited, the
troops were thrown into columns of fours,
and were ordered to cap their guns. The
coinmand then moved forward at a sweeping
gallop. The men, conscious of a coining C(jn-
llict, sat on their horses as only well-trained
troopers can, and the horses with bowed
nec'ks ami distended nostrils were as much
nervcM.! U]) and as eager and as cijiiscious of
the coming conllict as the riders. It was a
grand scene as that column swept down the
broad roadway, dust before coming in view
of the enemy's pickets, the command to walk
was given and the column moved slowly and
deliberately down the roa.l toward the picket
po.t, about three hundred yards from the
duty at the time. He was so eolllideiit that
Ihe approaching column was one of the bat-
talions of his own regiment he did not wake
up his comrades, f.mr in number, but stood
gaping at the column till the advanre was
within twenty yards and their gum brought
'>-j!A. ,V'..'
■r; iMif.v/ ]■ ', ... ,;,,;,- If, nil
i: j.i'f
l...:iMl ,f..-..::1
0« .1..' ■■..■rjll'J
■I:S: L'lll J .Ijr) ill iiVil ,l«iVi-|
,1,. ■.,,: nh y. .■.;)>i'ti!. !dl ll-l!.Mlli
AND lin.L VOUNTIK.
on liiiu. IIo sun-end, 'iva at unee,
,.r his coMira.l.s, on wakin- up aii.l
: tlio luvscuco.iftlM' entMnv, liivd liis
••'I'lie advaiico raised the Texas 3'ell and at
..nee moved on at a ^raUoj, lollinved hy the
main hodj at a eharyu, funning line within a
re.V3ardsor the enemy's eanip. The lirino-
t.. take all of them |,risoiiers, and it is said
,M:.jwi- Eg-leston, eommandin--, so ordered
ill re.-|i(ni.-e to the summon, but owino to the
^e^.Mlll.■, of the stolen lieorroes, of whom they
iiad ahoiit 201), no command could he heard.
The men were driven from their pallets in
almost a nude state, so frreat was their sur-
pri-e. They
ams, howe\er, and
.. They seized tli
tuuklothe trees and h
inrh uf ground. We pa.sed <ui, driving them
from tree to tree ami from log to log, civating
uiihourd.iul.le-harrel shuto;uns fearful havoc
uniniig them, their horses, mules and the ne-
groes. 'I'hey were now struck in the rear hy
the luree tent for that purpo.-e, and the Held
wa^ boun cleared. Never did men light more
de.perat.dy than this ^Viscon^iIl l.attalion.
All e\eept aliuut lifleeii, wlm e,-eaped, were
either ki!le,l or eaplured. We t(,ok ahont
ninety-four iirisoiic'-s, most of them wouii<led,
and killed ahout seventy. 8omr twenty or
more of the wounded could not lie moved and
were left on the li(dd in charge of their tur-
gious. The enemy had ahont 20(1 men; we
uhout liOO. Colonel I'ar.^ons and .Major f^ir-
rarcommandedthem
Colonel Hi
tent to the
Lient.mant-
he .li\i,ion
1 Lieutenant
Keiinon commanded the advance. The regi-
ment moved left in front, and formed into
line with Fifth S.juadron on the right, (lap-
tain M.addo.x commanding; the I'ourth next,
J-it'Utenant Cetzeiidaner comnianding; the
Third next, Cajitain Hawkins comnianding;
the Second next. Lieutenant JMorris. Lieu-
tenants Wright, Ingram and James, com-
manded the com]ianies sent to attack the rear.
We lo.t two men killed — W. T. Wise, of
Kills county, ConijKuiy J']; Montgomery,
of Johnson county, Company C; liarber,
of Company J!, and W. iL AIcTyrc, of Coui-
jtany ]•:, nioi-tally wounded; two others severe-
ly wounded, and some ten slightly wounded.
About lifty negroes were killed and some 230
re-capture(L We took all the baggage, etc.,
that could be transported witln'ase, and burnt
the remainder.
Btroyed was est
The
half
and de-
million
dollars. J. IL iiradley, of Company E, with
some live men left on picket duty at L'An-
giiille, in following the command came across
a S(piad of six of the enemy and capture.land
brought them in.
"The command left the iield about 8 o'clock
in the day and started for Cache river, where
we arrived on Monday noon, having traveled
some lifty-six hours, with not more than five
hours' rest, and without anything to eat for
man or horse. Well done fur the Twelfth
Texas, — otiicers, men and liorjes!
" ()nk oi' 'riiic Tw]':H'"ni."
"August 3, LS(;2."
Theollieersof the Twelfth Keginient Texas
C!avalry were: Field and Ktalf A\ . IL Far-
suns, Culonel ; L. J. Farrar, Major; A. ]].
•r. ;. M !.:^, ;,, .,.A\ I.J
■I' "
1 ■ ^
lUSTdltY OF JUIINSON
V
ha
1677
J. (i
Cirav
I!iirle.-oii, LiLMitfuuiit-Colonrl; W. (
doll, A.ljutaut; JL A. TcTicl, ra],taiii; Frank
Ayres, (V„Hnn>.ary.
Mnn-oMniui.-,M(.m'.l Stall' an.l i'.un.l:- II.
A. llic^htiinilh, ScM-cant-Major; Dan I'ricu,
Orderly Seygtanr; W. A. Calfcc, Chief Hii-
glcr; J. Latiu Oldham, Second Majur Ser-
geant.
Many more particulars are given concern-
ing I'arsons' brigaile, etc., on subsecjiient
pages, in the history of Hill Ci.mnty.
On Decoration Day, ISDO, after one or two
great speeches had been made, at Cleburne,
extollinj^ the pati'iotism of the Confederate
soldiery in general, with no special reference
to what the new and self-sacrificing county
of .luhnson had done, Major M M. Heath,
after rd.taining ])ermi^.Mon, took the stand,
gave in a lew words the principal facts and
ligurcs, and concluded with the re(pU'st that
all those {)resent who had been meiidiers of
the 1,100 that had volunteered from Johnson
county arise and come forward, when just
IS ajiplause. Their names
leath, deremiah Kasterwciod,
r.ud Head, Hay Hart, dohn A. Chitwood,
lien llarnes, (1. 11. iMaxey, A. (.I. Sclirlock,
Henry l^owell, Jack Jones and A. Kivers.
(See under head of Alvarado for the Alvar-
ado Cainpof e.K-Confederate Veterans.)
KAILKOADS.
Jolineon county is now well supplied with
railroads. Among the lirol railroad meet-
ings held ill this county, where actual Ijusi- i W. H. (,
amiu uproai
were: E. .M
ss was transacted, the principal one jier-
ps was that which was held November 12,
,t the conrthotise in Cleburne, of which
Wou.Uon was chairman and W. H.
secretary. .Major E. M. Heath ex-
plained the object of the meeting, and after
due deliberation a committee of five was
appointed, consisting of Colonel I!. J. Cham-
bers, Major E. M. Heath, S. Ji. Allen, Dr.
T. i). Lorance and AV". Poiiule.xter, who re-
ported the following resolutions, which were
adopted:
That a committee of fifteen be appointed to
confer with a committee uf fifteen selected by
the citizens of Dallas county, to de\ise ways
and means for building a railroad from JJallas
to Cleburne by way of Alvarado, and to
investigate the proi)ositioii olfered by the
company known as the J)allas it Cleburne
Narrow Gauge Kailroad Company; said com-
mittee to meet at Dallas November 20, 1877,
at one o'clock i-. si., at the conrtiiouse.
2. That said committee from Johnson
county re|iort to the citizens of ^aid county
at the courthouse in the city of Cleburne on
the 1st day of Dccend.er, ls77, the result of
the proceedings of the convention at J)allas.
8. That the chairman of this committee
appoint the following named gentlemen to
constitute the committee fruin Johnson
county: (ieorge Cotter, I. A. I'atton, S. B.
Allen, N. F. S[mrks, John I'owell, Colonel
Frio, W. S. Queen, A. D. Kennard, E. M.
Heath, N. II. C„uk, i;. J. Chambers, William
Foindexter, H. V, . Ihiice, W. Dou.da. and
' '.r:-yUv.'.[ vi.....,(-iii; !
,ii V/ !;ujf ^ V :;■■■•. -.•■.^ .., ,.;/ .:' I, , .1;
. ■„ / nil- K^ ,: ,..,../ ■.,.:.■•.•::..:. .:.V,:i'' \ , ..
.; V/ i't "i f> '(-in i: ilc. I. :•:.«''' .'■ ' ' ! -'
;i , il'.> .:. .',1 iL-' ^r. : ■ \iuf-ir: . ui:...:j !/ '
:*-».. .j •:'':,nt vrt'lil
AND It I LI. COUNT IKS.
Artirward the rollowiii- were added t.. tlie
od of the pro]Miseil enterprise be bu'gotten.
lilM.v,, oMuinittec,-: (). 1'. Aindd, John T.
This is the case everywhere aii<l in all relations.
I,ri;_di, C'(dnii(.d y. Ewiiio;, B. 1). Siiiii>.soii and
(Jidy the zealous few will carry forward
T. \'. Siiiilli. 'riio^oeL-iitleinen liad authority
any (Mitcu'pri^e to success. It would bo very
to appoint proxi...
tedimis to give in detail all the movements
At the eunvoiitiua aftcrwiird hrld at Dallas
and plans, hopes and fears, exhortations and
it war, fdiiiK] that there was a dill'erence of
expectations whicli afterward dragged their
(.pillion a^ to the manner in wdii(di the road
weary length along for years before railroad
^lloldd he eonstrncted, tlie Dallas men jire-
bnihling actually began. Thus it has lieen in
f.Trin^ the juiiit-stoek plan, while the John-
all communities in the introduction of the
.-i.ii delegates favored donation and refunding.
first railroads. Afterward great trunk lines
in Older to etfect a compromise, ten men
from a distance will often rush thi'ough the
were apjiointed fixim each county to open
county a feeding line to their system without
buliM-ription hooks, with a view of organizing
consulting the ])eople or asking aid, and
us ouoii as $25,000 sliould be i-aised in eaeli
almost unawares. The local papers, in nearly
county. Tlie ten men app)ointed in Jolmson
all their allusions to the progress of early
comity were L. B. Trnelovo, J. .M. Hill,
railroad interests, exhort the people from
.Mo.es i;arnes, ( ). B. Arnold, A. D. Keimaid,
time to time to suh^crihe stock or lioiiatione,
B A. I'atton, John Bowell, S. B. JloUings-
answering the inquii'ies of those who wonder
woith and B. J. Chambers. But, although
why the enterprise does not pi'oceed and giv-
the Juhiisoii county men did their duty.
ing the results of interviews of the principal
nothing much was accompli.-hed under the
railroa<l men of the locality with siimlry otli-
aliove arrangement, the railroad compiaiiies
cers of the company, generally to the elfeCt
iilayiiig hide-and-seek in or<ler to obtain every
that the olliccrs of the eoiiijiany proposing to
ad\antag(.;.
Iniild were " plea.-cd with the route," ■' the pros-
Bi 1S7'J it was determined to oi-gani/.e a
pects," etc., but with no delihite information
,Mock company, willi a capital of ,s:i5,0()0, te.
wdieii llu:y would commence theconstj'uction of
build a narrow-gauge road from Cleburne to
the road or why it was delayed. Bor a long
Dallas by way of Alvarado, and in June of
time the railroad coiii])anies wei-e not jii-otected
that year opened subscription hooks; and
by a law pro\iding the right of way on reason-
nieetiiig. coiitiiiiied to be held to keep up a
able terms, and thus they were left at the
popular interest and to urge the ])eople to
mercy of greedy real -estate owners along the
subscribe.
route who placed their pi'opei'ty at exorbi-
But it is characteristic of liuinan nature
tantly high rates.
not to be enterprising except when e.xcitcd;
The Atchison, Tojieka k Santa Be Com-
and soiui after a rousing meeting was enjoyed
pany extenilcd its line from Bort A\%)rlh
the interest would die down and the meth-
southward thrcMigh J oshua, Clebui-iie and iiio
,■ . I -LIT:.-'*.. I'wi:.. .' 1. :: :i.;i ;A
J .i ...IJ
nlj I 1 ;f<x . ■' ;, ,• rjl ; u /J), !Vf.l (I. I Uli I .■(til,'
,.L-w:.v .11:;! ' 1. .L.' .1 .ij'if .a ,,1 o'jj// 1^)1..:
■..■■V Ji.llJ
1 l.]!:,l.;.j
HISTOUY OF JOHNSON
Vista to 'rcriiplc, clc, in ISMl, aii.l lliis iiiif
llivi^ions of the great Santa ]'"e railroad sys-
was nntiniatcly oxtumlcd to (ialvcstuii. It is
tem, and about 5(10 raili'oad men make their
now called tlu' (ililf, Coloi-a.lo \- Santa l'\!
he.uhjuarters her.', and about ,>?37,500 per
liailn.ad, and is a |.uit ,A wlial is iiow lii-irliy
month is expended in Cleburne. 'I'his
turniLMl the •• .Santa Fc system." The lono
anioiintb annually to nearly half a million dol-
contemplated road from Dallas to (JlelHirnu
lars; and the railroad business is steadily in-
was not Imilt until 1684, and tiien it was
creasing.
coiistiaicted iiy the Chicago, Texas t^c Mexican
AGinCULTUUAL, Etc.
Central llailroad ('onipany, who afterward
•rni-: soil a.n'd rrs fertility.
sold it to the Santa Fc company, when it
Thi^ S(jil of .lohnson county, i^'Colo^Mcally,
became a part of the Santa Fe system.
has already been described. Ai^n'ieulturally
On these roads the citizens of Johnson
it is of three grades, the black-waxy, black-
county raised llieir (piota, amounting' in round
sandy and red-sandy. The liist \ariety pre-
numliers to ahout ^fOO.UOO, and all this was
vails on the prairie or western jiortion of the
purely tlonation, not stock. This includes
County and on the extreme eastern t'diro of
the right of way thn.noh the eoiinty, the
the County, while the other two ]irevail in
depot grounds and 100 acres in (Jleluirne for
the Cross Timbers and bottom land. All
Shops.
these kinds of soil are very ))roductive, and
Ahout ISbl tiie yreat the .Missouri I'acilie
productive, too, of nearly all kinds of ,i,'rain,
Company built their road fiom Fort Worth,
fruit, vegetables and liber. All of Jolinson
by way of IJurleson, Alvai'ado and Grand
county was regarded as only stock country
View, and on througli Jlillsburo to Waco.
np to about 1S70. It was at lirst believed
This is now a part of the Missouri, Ivansas
that it would never be a good agricultural
and Texas sy.tem (if. K. A: T.,— often
section. Wheat was largely grown, but very
cuphoni(jUbly abbreviatetl to •• Katy").
little corn and cotton. Flour was the chief
The branch from Cleburne to 'Weatlierford
article of export, and this was hauled mainly
wa^ buih in ISST, .also by the Sania Fe Com-
to the south and southwestei-n towns, often
pany ; and in ISSS ihe Fort Worth .t liio
us far as San Ant(.inio. It was also taken to
Grande i-oad, through the northwestern part
eastern Texas, and there exchanged for lum-
of the county, was built, with a depot at Cres-
ber. vVs late as 187-1 the prices for unim-
son in this county.
proved land were as low us 5^3 to $8 an acre.
There are now ninety miles of main track
The next year Colonel I. T. Goodwin, of
in Johnson county. The assessment upon
the Rural Fanner, nnuie a tour through the
railroad projU'rty in this county in'lSSS was
State of Texas, and wrote as follows con-
!?707,-150. At Cleburne is a rounddiouse
cerning Johnson county:
with thirteen stalls, and also i-ailroa<l machine-
" Johnfou county is rapidly improving and
shops. Thus Cleburne is the end of four
tilling up with good, substantial citizens.
! vl<. .A
I. /:.-:,..;' lK.>-llii;iJ iVi),-/,)
.1:..; !.'!)
»h ... ,. I.
;•-.... . ^ •;Vmi,,,.mj ,1,,,,.: M:,;mV)
:\MJ IJILL COUNT IE.
Tl.r luwn ol' VMmvnc is ;i iikkI,.! l,cauty. 1
till. I tliut the |K^(>|,lo ..r this srrti.ir, of tlic
St.itc uiu gciioraily H^DUil and successful larin-
iii.iiuy. To illu.-^trate, 1 will oivo an instance
i.\ nuv vWi/AU ul I hat c.Minty, A. 1). Kennani,
whii lives ten miles fnmi Cleburne, becuniing
rich hy tanning: 1>^0 acres of corn, 7,200
l.i;-h.U at 50 cents, 83,(500; seventy acres in
uheat, 1,400 liusliels, $1,400; thirty acres in
..:it.-, 1,200 hushels, 8000; seven -acres in
f.u-huni, 100 o-alluus of syrup per acre, at
7.") t-ents, s525; seventy-live acres in cotton,
one-half bale per acre, at 11 cents, 82,000;
125 beeves solil annually, 82,500; sixty horses
au'l niulos sold annually, at an average of
850, 83,000; seventy-six head of hogs sold
ainiually, 8050; wool sohi annually, 8400;
t.,tal, 814.<J75, as Ihe proceeds of a stock-
farm uf ;iG2 acres.
"It will be seen that in this calculation below
Mr. Kennani buys nu hor.M'S, mules, beef,
mutton, liacon, <^yrnp, meal or Hour. Add
to Ihi.-- the milk, butter, veuetables and poul-
try raised on this farm, one will see that he
li\es in luxury on his own home productions;
and it lakes a .Mualler number of haiuls lo at-
tend to this farm than it d.ie,-, to cultivate
and -at her from ;itJ2 acres of land, one-half
orn and one-half cotton, as is the f;-enei-al
rule in some })arts of Ti-xas.
••Say now that Mr. Kennard uses 84,'J75
worth of orain himself (his meat being
already furinshed), he clears each year 810,-
01)0, le.^s hire of ten or twelve hands, wliich
cost about 82,000, leavi]i_i,' 8^,000 net pi'olit
Colonel (iooclwin proceeds to contrast with
the above the m^. prolits of cotton-raising,
which is scarcely anything. The cottou-
niisers of this section will now (l«'Jl-'y2)
read the above item with considerable em-
phasis, while they can sell their cotton foi*
oidy half the above ])ricc.
The next year, 1S7G, this county in its
agricultural jirotluctions exceeded every other
in this State of the same territorial extent
and po]ndation. That year it ])i-oduced a
surplus of 250,000 bushels of wheat; in
1S74 it had produced a surplus of 50,000
bushels of corn, although a drouth had pre-
vailed.
Johnson county is in the heart of the
grain-gr(jwing region of central Texas. Coi-n
will average, taking a number of years to-
gether, thirty bushels to the acre, wheat
twenty bushel.-., and cotton scai'cely ever falls
If bale. V. M. Ilightower was
the lirsl !o raise buckwheat in the county;
stalks reached a height of live feel.
A JohuMjn county farmer states a few
facts in regard lo some popular errors taught
and believed by nearly all persons who have
either by expeiience or liear,-ay:
"It is believed that when wheat, for in-
stance, is ripe, it must be harvested within u
iidw days, else it is mined or lost to the
fai-nier. My experience is to tlie contrary.
One year, when the wheat became ripe, I
made everything reaily to cut it; had hands
engaged to bind, etc;., and in the evening of
the day before I was to begin took my reaper
to the lield and letted it so there would be
,,...,, .„■■ ,.,
c:i
1 . I... !^ ,A i. , u; :;ili. if.i 1^ :!;.l;,:v
" IK (II ll! 1 «(l
IIIHTOIIY Ob' JOHNSON
IK. delay w liiiKlraiiL-o. That, niyht if bcuaii
a lew other products than coiai and cotton.
to I'aiii, ami pdurcil (lowii lur r-ix wcuks,
namely, jiecans, castor beans, etc.
l'(ji-ty-t\vo day8, lifutiliii; Noah's Hood two
The pecan orchards in Texas are attracting
tiays ill point of tiiiio, lint not in (quantity.
attenlion. in a lew year.-, they will piove a
Thu wlu-at .Mood, and after the rain cvasud J
gi'i^at soui'ce ot income to their owners, and
•cut and tlu-L'.-lu'd ninotcrn and a half bushels
one of the largest is that of Mr. Swinden, in
to thu acre. It is true a great deal was
llrownwood, I'.i-own county. A few years
wasted, hut what I ^aved was line and not
ago he grubbed out (iUO acres of land and
thiina>4ed in tlie leas^t."
planted it in pecans, lie has now 11,000
COTTON.
trt'cs, htJine of them in bearing condition, and
ali'cady paying him twenty per cent, on the
Neither corn lior cotton is much ali'ected
ii; vestment and twenty pel- cent, in the in-
hy the usual ciroulh cd' suininer. In ISUU,
ci'ease<l \alne of the land. In si.x oi' seven
when the drouth was severer than usual, thc^
years J\lr. Swinden expects to realize from all
farmers raised a better crop than they had
his tree^, and e.-timates that, at a bushel a
done in apparently better seasons. This uf
tree, he will have 11 ,000 bushels, which, at
course was dependent upon other lietter con-
$5 per bushel, will be !?uo,000 annual in-
ditions than usually prevail, and some of
come; $5,000 for gathering, hulling and
these conditions are not very apparent. There
pushing, will leave him a net profit of $50,-
were shipped at Cleburne, during tlie fall
000. Of course it recjuii'es time, expense,
and winter, 18'J0-"'J1, 1-1,(JUU bales of cotton.
care and trouble to grow such an orchard,
I-TUIIT.
but what successful industry can be secured
that dot'S not demand all these conditions?
Isaac Kelly was the first man in Johnson
Most of the streams in western Texas are'
county to demonstrate the jiracticability of
lined with a gigantic growth of pecan trees,
i^-rajie-cultui-e, makin<^^ of it a spliMidid in-
but a jiortion ijf the nuts which they bear is
du-lry. !■:. C. Campbell, living two miles
lost in the si reams, and fully iialf the value
from Alvarado, has lu'cn lor many years
of tile crop is lost in the cost of gathering;
a successful fruit-grower and nurseryman,
the nuts, too, are not so large and choice as
demonstrating that one can make a good
those grown by cultivation. Those who are
livelihood by the fornn-r in<lu.-try al(;ne.
looking foi- easy and ]irolital)le farming
As in all other communities, the farmers
should make the pecan industry a study, and
are too much inclined to eonline themselves
the (plickei- they put it in practice ihe more
to one or two sj.ecialties, and the more far-
mon.'y will they make.
.seein',' al-e advising the agiicullui al com
i'ecans planled in the nut d.) belter llian
inunily to adopt a divei'sity. Acconlingly
thos(! transplanted as young li(.es, lor two
thei'e is now a growing sentiment in favor of
obvious reasons: lii'st, no advantage accrue
/.> .-.K'Ay. ■ •■)
■<i':t
AND lllLI. COUNTIES.
\u iliL' tree in liiiviii<r its routs cut off as if it
wi-ic iiuilLTo-oiiiij; ii process of tniiniiig as an
(.nianK'iil.il true; aii.l M'Comlly, in transpluiit-
\u<^ there is no care taken to kce|, tlie tree-
turned toward the same [.oints of tiie eoni-
],;ib:. us it naturally yrew; ami when a tree,
for e.\ani|)le, is turiietl with its north side to
the south in transplantino, the sun injures it
and it heeonies stunted and diseased. In fact
this is an inJLii'j to any tree taken to a new
t-iiiiation.
LIVK-STOC'K.
The followinir account of one of the first
ini|jortatiuns of short-horn cattle from the
North, by S. J. Ciiapniaii, in the Olehui'ne
Chroiii-le of November '21, 1874, gives
many useful hints:
'•Marcli 23, 167-1:, I received a line milcli
cow of the Jersey family, and lier calf, eight
days old, a nnilo. The cow died twenty-two
days afterwanl, with acclimating fever. Her
calf is now over seven months old, and is as
lino an animal as could be desireil, although
he had the advantages v'i a buckling only
twenty-live days, lie is as large as any
eonimon Texas year old past, with smooth,
regular form, proving beyond all contradic-
tion the superiority of the families he sj)i-ang
Irom over our Texas cattle for any and all
practical ])uri)oses.
••With the cow and her calf I received
another male calf, si.x weeks old; and on the
■22d of April 1 i-eceivetl si.\ lieifers and two
ceiveil wei'u from oni^ to se\en months old
when they came to hand, but in such a bad
condition that I thought it would be im|)os-
sible to raise some of them. Notwithstand-
ing their low condition at the time received,
and the exfracjrdinarily hot, dry summer,
they are all alive and in a healthy, thriving
condition at this time, and can be seen any
day on my farm, one mile south of Slubble-
tield. Seven of the ten had the fever during
the Bununer, and recovered with very little
treatment. 'Sly opinion is that they were
too young to suifer so severely in acclimating^
as older cattle; and further, 1 believe the
way I managed them generally greatly as-
sisted them. I fed them on wheat bran and
corn meal for three or four weeks, gradually,
after ten days, decreasing till I quit feeding
them entirely, e.vcept the three youngest. I
kept them every day on the grass, bringing
them water at noon and penning them every
night to date.
"This way I have managed them and be-
lieve I have had better success in keeping
them alive than I coidd have done by any
Other plan. My reason for not feeding them
and pushing them up in llesli was that 1
feared stimulating feed would have a ten-
ilency to increase their disposition to fever.
I coneluded that a living calf was better than
a dead one, although lean and perhaps some-
wdiat cheeked in growth compared with what
thuy would have been had I fed them freely,
as has been the custom of most purchasers of
tine cattle in this State. High, stimulating
f(jod, fed in spring and summer to fresh im-
ported catlle, has licen (me of the main causes
of so much mortality and loss lo the pers(jns
introducing' line cattle into this State, and
',V r \.: . \: y,
■), ■■/■r./i.l 11; fJ!»
if. , -:; n-iv i.rjiL:^) '■ ,jii|.il
A&.r i,-., , ,:.J-t
lltSTOliY OF JOHNSON
not tlie want cif liay or ^M'l'eli ]la^tu^l■s in
labor e\])cnded than under the old ranch sys-
wiiilcr, a.s supiiiisuil hy t;i)iiir. NcitliLT is it
tem of wild grazing, (.-spirially when the in-
ii ])uiMMi.>us plant that tli.'V ^-atlicr with thuir
creased value of land is con.Mderc.l.
fou.l whiic ^i-a/.iiiLS l>iit dimply eiiaiifre v'i
G. W. McClung, in the western part of the
cliinatu, thuir natural tu-j^ani/atiun ov jihybi-
county, has demonstrated the jirolit of bheep-
cal tiaits hcing constitnt.al lor a colder
raising in this section of the Slate. At lirst
climate than ours, their i^loud thicker and
he njade a purchase of oidy sixteen head of
tlieir lle^h and liber perliajis lirnier and less
sheep, but soon afterward he bought more,
pun. IIS, Hence the disposition of Jrcsli im-
until he had athou.,and. and ultimately evm 1,-
ported .lock to lever, and the <;realer liahility
81)0 head, which larler number he has ha.l
uf niatiii'ed cattle than calves. 1 am certain
most of the time until the jirc-cnl. lie is
that all that is neet'ssai-y to stoid; our country
the principal bheep-raiser of Johnson county.
with as good cattle as can he lound anywlieru
and reports it protitable. Jlehasno epidemic
is time and patience, willi a little youd judg-
diseases among his llock to contend with, ex-
ment.
cepting tlnU they were troubled .-ome with the
•' \W' Inive (in Texas) emharked in the line-
scab about ten years ago. The greatest en-
eattle trade without giving the .sul.ject the
emy he has to contend with is the wolf; but
btudy and attention it so richly desei'ves:
animals of tluN species are becoming fewer
hence liea\-y losses have been the result in
almost evei-y year, by thi^ use (jf sti-ychiiie.
nio.-t instances. Jnijjorting line cattle is one
Uogs do but very little liarm.
thiim-, hut the acclimatiiig of them is another.
Hogs also can be raised at a gn-at prolit in
Then let u^ learn hy the ]ia--t and imp)-o\e
this region; and tlie fact that the farmers
npiMi it in futuie, and not he too hasty to
raise fao few here is explained oidy up(,m the
lia\e tiiu lincbt, hut first secure the health of
theory, simply, that it lias not yet become
our stock, and then we can feeil and pamper
customary, like the eoi-n and ccjtton indus-
to suit our taste.
ti-ies. yome of the farmers claim that pork
••That the raisin-- of line ^t.lck in Te.vas
is more clieaply raibcd in sections where it is
will he a success and very prolilal.le to the
tlie custom to raise more corn and where
owner and to the country at lai-ge, 1 think is
labor in (dieaper; and thus they can buy their
beyond a doubt."
pork in exchange for cotton more cheaply
Mr. Chapman's prophecy in the last .sen-
than they can raise it themselves.
tence has proved true. Many farmers ha\e
The same inay be saitl of vegetables, the
profited by hi.-, advice, and also by further in-
present class of farmers "not feeling like
formation gained from othei's, so that iimler
bothering with such small things."
tlie new rcijiini: of raising imported stocic
ii..\oi: ],.\w.
ii])on cultivated ])roducts and in enidosuies
The propriety of a.lopting a law requiring
there is far greater return for the money and
those who l-ai.-;e domestic animals to ki:ep
!; 'U
i v:, ...
l[i.\l V).l.) .:):/>» Ii,(^ . -r/...)!..':. ,j /,
.■:--.,,'' ■ .Vc .,.,,1] ,■.;.,..;!.
i .,.1
:li a,.:,;,, ii =
t.% Ji •« iliiylli. I.'iiii '^.ii.'ji
•, ,,.<.! «-.,H(w y.'Md :.M.iMi
j,'< j'iO -:iV/ i.f'iu
ND HILL
Il.riii williiii ciiclo.iu-cs wa.< dibuussu.! at
j,',r;it length a niiml.ur of yeans ago, with
Miaiiy nice calculations wlirtli(.T liiiaiicially it
woiil.l l.c iiioruprolital.lc to adopt eucli a law.
Duriii- tlicdisciiddioii, L^75-^77, an election
wa. held with reference to the 'dioo law," to
dileruiinc whellier the '^pcn were iniohtier
than the .^w<tr,l,'' as the Chronicle wittily ex-
pi-er-sed it. lint no general fence law has
e.erheen passed.
.V local writer treats of the lollowing pop-
idai- lailacy: The idea is not only entertained
hut detjily rooted, that a fence made of cedar
rails will last forever; but it is not a fact. We
of this i)art of the country made our feiicino
out irf cedar, hauling the rails from eight t.j
twenty miles ami putting them lip in good
shape. Now, in IS'Jl, there is scarcely a
fence left: rails all eaten up and wormiioled.
A I.ee callc.l the '■ cedar hee," which resem-
hlcs the humble-bee, having done the ino.st of
the damage. it lias been, and is almost
e\'erywhere belic:ved, that no insect would
touch the cedar, except possibly to light
u[ion it, and even that was thought unusual;
but a few years ago a worm made hisapjiear-
ancc and built his lion.e over hinr-cdf, after
the pattern of a coat of mail, which he con-
structed from the cedar he had .levotired.
This worm then attacked the shrubbei-y by
eating the foliage during tlie hot, dry weatlier
which killed the plants. Many old ideas
tliiiB perish under the scrutiny of relentless
experience.
Fence-machines are now being introduciHl
lor weaving smooth-wire fence, to take the
place of the dir^agreeable barbed-wire now in
COUNTIES. ViW
vogue. While it is a little more ex]jensivu
some may prefc.- it.
■Illi: WEALTH OF Till'.' CoUNrV.
Jt will be convenient to give the assess-
ment roll for IST'd, as an intermediate mile-
post between the idoneer period and the
present time, by way of comparison :
Land, resident owiiera .<;l ',()-) 075
Lund, ii<«i-re.-,ideiU owners l:j7,tJ48
Town Lois HJ7,070
L;ind Certiflcates iji
^Vlleelcd vehicles 74,715
Macliinery, etc oo,Uia
I\hinuluclurcd arlicles 075
Hordes and mules 290,743
Jacks anil Jennets y^(;.jy
<-'''>'IP 130,Kii8
^'"''■l' 2,78v!
"""1^ 137
H"=^ 37,804
Goods, wares and inereUamlise ItJO.nU
Money .1 12 13
Miscellaneous 3-.'4,7(;4
This was an increase over the jirecedino-
year of $31(),i;(JS and iS3 more polls. The
value of machinery and tools increased
twenty-live per cent; sheep fell oil' about
one-third; hogs, about four [ler cent; and 011
hor.-e.- there was increase of only two per
cent; goods, wares and merchandise increased
thirty per cent; and miscellaneous property
grew one-third. The above valuations foot
up $3,270,058, and it is understood that "as-
sessed valuations" area bout forty per cent,
of the full cash valuation.
The present (1801) assessed valuation of
tlu. county is !SG, 552,537, in the following
itiMiis:
Heal esl.ile, counlry i};;j,:i3 l,8!).j
Iteal eslale,cily 711J,070
■Mlcl.lr, . . ii>
•I ■; ; :' . ■)!
) /•
V -4., ; .n...,i
,ui . Mir.; ,1. J . .H Ml i
;■...••■ J,! !.j ,ir. ;!),,( -jil)
.^c (('!.:!, 1,1 ^t.-.^ .,,!'
.., r:,|.
uiHTnnr OF ,1011 nsdn
Uuniiiges, wiigoiis, etc 77,1)20
the way, that there, as almost every wliere else
Mumifiicturers' louls, etc 47,S35
in the United States there is a certain i>ro-
Horses ami uuiles SlU,o3.")
'
CuUlo 170,rJ7
jiortion of negroes and Chinese. This may
JiuUs ami j.iiu.'ts 12,785
be acnumtcd for, by the fact that these classes
Goods ami iiic] diamlise 204,825
of lal)orers consider that tlieii- services are
Money 40,il44
re(|uired to some e.\tent in every ctunmunity,
MisLellaneous iJioperty 1,;J20,1S4
and accordingly they push themselves every-
With tliu above bhould bu coiupaiTd the
where in order to find employment in the
readiest manner.
I'omi.ATIuN.
In 1«U0 tlio white pupuhitioii of Johnson
L(J(.:UST PLAGUES.
county was 3,774; negro, 513; total, 4,287.
"Grasshopper" raids occurred every two
Tlic total popuhition in 1875 was cstiniateil
or three years in the early period of the set-
at 15,000, and in 187(3, at about 18,000, of
tlement of this region, but none of conse-
whirh Ulebunie had 2,000. According to
(juenee have ajipeared since 1873, excepting
the census of 1880 Cleburne district had
in the spring of 1877. Says a resident:
3,008, besides 1,848 outside of the corpora-
^•\n the fall of the year 1853, in Se])teni-
tion; Alvara.locensu.s district, 8,010; (irand
ber, grasshoppers, grasshojjperSjgrss.shoppers!
View, 2,801; I'leasant I'oint, 1,4112; Caniji
around, above, below, grasshoppers every-
where, and as to numbers, no estimate could
Creek, 1,301; iMarystown, 1,203; Caddo and
Ueat No. 8, 2,055; total, 17,835.
be made; they were simply without apparent
Tlie census of 1800 gives tiie following
numlier. The appearance of their apjiroach
table:
was that of a dark cloud with a reddish
I'UECliNCTS.
tinge, in tlie lujrthwest, which arose irradu-
(JN'bunie U.-J'S
1. Iijcluaiiig Cleburuo 7,7(J0
ally as though they were real clouds. By
2 1 CUi
the time the cloud reached .apparently the
fourth of the distance to tlie zenith, a low,
;! .. 1,521
4. Im'lu.iingAlvanulo .1,587
heavy sound was heard which increased as
Alvariulo 1 54;j
5. lucUuliug Graud View 2_038
they approached, until it sounded like a heavy
Grand View 257
wind. Now and then a hopper would fall
0 1,010
like single drops of rain from a passing low
7 1,400
cloud, increasing in numbers until they
8 y;j,5
amounteil to a sprinkle, and still increasing
till, like a heavy rain, they j)0ured down,
Total for the county 22,313.
As t(i tlio chai-acter of the population by
covering the earth a couple of inches deej) in
nationality, we can say that it is almost ex-
some ]ilaces, and crawling ami liopjiiinr and
clusively American. It is ri'niarkable, by
S(juirniiiig like a mass of mammoth brown
.,|.fi:.i'
^bvUiill
hVLl ;///,/. (JOVNTlKi
rl>i|i|irr,-.. 'I'liL'y pumiced iij)oii all vci^-ctatiuli,
destroyed the gardeiiB; and as it was a drier
uliil.-t thii air us I'ar up as tliueyo could peuu-
season and conseijueiitly [jroduced less vege-
Ir.ilr \va,. lillfd with them, and su thick that
tation, the hoppers were nK)re troublesome
lliry cast a dark reddish sliailc on tho earth.
about the hoiiM.s, cutting clothing and eating
The ^u^ looked as thoiio;h it was enveloped
dry grain. We have not been much troubled
ill a dense smoke, and gave a I'eeble, reihlish
since."
lil^'ht. The eartli, which was covered with a
ANIX'UOTK.
heavy coat of vegetation, green and orowiiio,
A corres))ondent of the (Jleburne Chroni-
iiftci- the arrival of the lio{)pers, about the
cle of April 21, 1809, writes that a womierful
third day, looked as though a tiro had swept
invention had just originated in the brain of
over it, not a spear of anything green was
an old lady in his neighborhood wiiich far
to he seen. The invading host int'ested
outstrij)|)ed the Staltortl cultivator (then just
e\ery house, cutting clothing and even de-
introduced) and all other farming implo-
viuiriiig grains of wheat and corn. ^Ve liad
ments, in the way of giiaiiling corn and cot-
to wait until they passed on before we could
ton against woi-ms and insects. iShe had
huw wheat, the voracious marauders ju-event-
planted a small patch of cotton, and was in
iiig all farming operations. They were of a
great di'ead of the cutton-worm; and, having
dark brown or black color, and had a very
also a maternal regani for her belo\-ed son, —
tlroiig. peculiar od(jr. Hogs and fowls got
not wishing to expose him to the terrible
fat on them, but the fowls, partaking of the
liard>hip of hoeing cotton, — conceived the
came odor, they could not be eaten. The hogs
j)lan of " jihysicking " lier cotton patch. Ac-
were not tested at the time, and by -'hog
cordingly, she called upon a certain ]diysiciau
killing," later on, the odor had disajipeared,
in t'leburne and prociii-ed a supply of vege-
if they had had it at all. The bulk of the
table ])ills and vermifuge. The pills she
hupj.ers left in about two weeks, but vast
planted promisculonsly through the cotton.
nuinbers remained and died or were devoured
adding every now an<l then one tablespoonfiil
by the b>wls and hogs. They dcposit.'d eggs
of vermifuge, 'i'lie old lady was sanguine of
in the ground which hatched out the follow-
success, for the reason that if pills would
ing spring, and the young ones destroyed
purge and remove poison and obno.xious
much vegetation as well as injured some
things from the stoiiiauh tiiey would surely
wheat. Again, in 1S5S, the grasshoppers
have the same elfect in scouring cotton-
made their apjjearanci^, but they were not
lields; and if vermifuge would tlcsti-oy and
m^ar so numerous as in 1S53; also in the
remove worms from dilferent localities it
fall of lSi;7, tiiey vi^ited us, but they were
would surely cause the cotton-worin to slide
not as numeroua as in 185:!. in the fall of
out of the lie-Id like a greased tape- worm!
1873 they came once more, alnm.n a., numer-
in early times liig prairie lires were li'e-
ous a.-, in 18r;;5, and the young iie\l spring
(jiient, doing, however, but little damage, as
rl"' ' ''■■'■ ;'"i-.>
\i U U/J^
tH'A' .'i.jlJii'u-^;.-' iljjii'Xjii 1 'jviuiuq I'll
i^„.l;.. I
l.iyl'.V ,ill-i
Ul.iTuKY OF Juliy.iuN
tlicre was Init littlu j-roperty to destroy.
On Wednesday occurred the •• (ireat Inter-
During tliu intfrmLMli;itr. stage of suttlomuiit,
luitional" menagerie and circus of James A.
iiKir(^ iliiinui,^(^ was done; nowadays sueli lircs
iiailey it Co., which lo<d; out (d' the county
cunnot (n-ciir. A disastrous lire, however,
more dollars than would have been rccpiired
swi-pt (i\ei' the praii'ie we.^t of (Hcliurnis Oc-
to make two such fair-gi-ounds as the county
toher 21, 1'57~>, consuming LMUsideraMe prop-
Iiail at the time; but notwithstanding this
erty. Tlio wind caused it to travel at about
the attendance at the fair was good. The
the I'ate of tW(^ miles pei- hour. The oi'igin
tli.sj)lay cjf fruits and vegetables was bey(jnd
is sup[)osed to liave iieen a eigur dropped hy
the expectations of any one, as the summer
:i tra\eler along the road.
had been so dry and hot. Tlic floral display.
too, exhibited much taste and labor. l\\ fact.
AOKIOUI.TUKAL I AIKS.
the pots and boxes were so arranged that the
During the early 'TOs Johnson county, in
the wake of civilization, wliether good or
bad, inaugurated the system of holding county
agricultural fairs. An association was formed,
which ludd its lirst fair in 1S73. Tin; details
oi' this exhibition we could not obtain.
area occupied apjjeared like a tastefully laid
out flower garden. More n.om was wanted.
The number of entrii'S for the premium
hog was not large, but the animals exhibited
in this dejiartment were good specimens.
'J'he lierkshires outnumbered all others; they
are considered the best class of hogs to be
The second annual fail- was held during
raised in this part of Texas.
the latter part of October, 1874, after a pro
The display of cattle was very satisfactory.
tracted drouth. There was a good average
but it \\as generally ailmitted that the modern
attendance eatdi liay, and n(j accidents or row
shorthorn breeds would be an improvement
occurred. The dis[)hiy of ai'ticles was good
uj)on the old longhorn style.
iind there was quite a lively competition for
On the third day occurred the exhibition
premiums. There were four or five entries
of li(u-ses and mules, which showed great
each in the li.-t (d' preserxes, jellies and cakes.
improvement in cpiality u|ion former times.
showing ihat the ladies were tlisposetl to nuike
altliough the display was not great. On Sat-
the nuitter inlercbting to the lookers-on, even
urday the attendance was a " jierfect jam."
if defeated in the ])remiums. The display in
liverything was pleasant but the dust, wliicli
this department was very good, and the po-
at times was almost beyoiul endurance.
sition of the tasting committee was rather an
The marshals succeeded in keeping good
enviable one.
order during the fair and a general (piiet
There was very little competition for the
prevailed at all times. The Cleburne brass
cotton ])remium or among 1 he grain-prod ncers,
band was on liand promptly every day and
owing probably to the drouth and the con-
discoursed li\ely music. (1. 11. Maxey, the
secpient r.horlness of the ero]).
.si:cretai-y, laboreil indefatigably and success-
i-;; (i'lvXjo-t'/ M'l ,I;(.,.! n;:w '»■'.:■. Lt
■ ;>• .■ .;.■ .li.ii. 111.:.:... >.1, vi-:(jM
■i.n:':..rs ■■il' .--; ,>.
,,0. :i ..:4>V<. ...>' ..m;,( or !w,M(;,,,,.,
AND HILL V()U^"nES.
fully <iuiin^r the wIkiIo week to make tliu fair
I.. it cihly uiiiiHc^^ but t-uiiciinr tu tliu iiii'\ioiib
..M. 'I'll,' lii>t lUiruii thrir nrw gn.uiul^ at
Cl.i.iiMiu tiny lu'Kl in ISTC; lait, allhongli
ll,.' . \liil,itioi.s alrca.ly held were ^oud, yet,
Ini- the want of siilHcieiitly utti-aetive new
fe:iliires, tliosu gi'eat occasiuns beoaii to lie-
i-onie '■ an oKl story," tlie people neglected
them and they went down. More recently,
ho\ve\er, the cause was revised by the " Agri-
riiltural and Fair A6>ociation," who held
cne fair in 18'J0, ui-on their grcjiind;, in the
iiwrthwestern part of Cleljiirne, which they
improved and fenced, but lor the lack of suf-
ficient poj)ular support they .-old the grounds
tu pay their debts, and thus the " fiir" chap-
ter of the history of Johnson county for the
pre.-ent is ended.
I'AKMKKS' 01;GANI/.ATI0.\S.
The I'atrons of Husbandry began to estab-
lish themselves throughout the United States
about ISbb, and with the commencement of
the haid times of IST^-'T'J, they were at the
highest tide. They organized granges in
almostcvery neighborhood in Johnson county.
Ill 1S7^ there were tifteen, and October G,
that year, they oi-gani/.ed a county council.
At \\u> council the following plan of co-
operation was adopted:
1. That the Johnson County Council form
a joint stock association for the transaction
of business.
2. That the capital sto.-k shall be
.lollars, divided inb, shares of !:;5 each.
ii. .\o grange or member shall be allowed
,ital stock.
-1. Each .-tockludder shall have one vote,
which may be voted by proxy.
0. That portion of the council who arc
stockholders shall be the board of directors,
who shall have full control of the business of
the company.
(5. They shall elect a general agent.
7. Said agent shall be a patron of hus-
bandry and a member of some one of the
subordinate granges of this council.
8. lie shall be permitted to select his own
assistants, and as many as shall bo deemed
nece,-sai-y.
'J. He shall give bond and good security
for the faithful discharge of his duty.
10. There shall bean executive committee,
consisting of live patrons, whose duty it shall
be to superintend the business generally, to
rent or purchase a house, to see to the mar-
keting of the goods, etc.
11. Goods shall be sold to patrons at seven
per cent, above cost and carriage.
12. (ioods shall be eohl to those who are
not ])ations at twelve and a half per cent.
abo\'e cost and carriage.
13. The company shall deal strictly on a
cash basis, never buying or selling on credit,
but may exchange goods for produce on such
terms and conditions as the directors may
determine.
14. After the capital stock has been sub-
scribed any patron may become a member by
pacing the sum of 50 cents, but not receive
dividends in money until the full share of
^5 has been paid.
15. The ili\idends accruing u|iou sums
;.,t 'i-n /u..i<;i .1(11 ■,.i,,:. b
'"■■[.
134 IIISTOUY OF JOI/NSON
ti\(.\ :iih1 lliiKs <jro to iiuTcasd (hu t;iini paid
music the ^ran^v was opened in iiuu form hy
lliilil it i-cac:lios j<5.
the ma.-^teraiid a prayer hy the chai)lain ; then
K;. Thu not prolits shall l,o dividca as
for m.ire than an hour I). \l. Clarmiehael
follows: stockholders shall l.oculitlrd to iii-
entertained the audience hy an address on
terost at the rate of ten per cent, of the
the '• K\-ils Arising trom Monopoly, and the
stock paid in. There shall no interest accrue
Kemedy."
exci'iit on pail! stock and from date of pay-
Jiouutifui tahles were afterward served.
ment. The dividend shall he declared only
reminding one of the j^ood old days of yore.
after interest is allowed. The dividtMids shall
Ne.xt, for an hour, the people were aildi'esseil
he declared hy the followin^^ plan: Onedialf
hy I{ev. Thomas (.Taskins, on the '■ Farmers'
to he retained hy the company as an accumu-
Wrongs and the Internal Workings of the
latin-,' fund, and the other half to he divided
( h-der." After this there was a hrief i-eview of
anion^' the stockholders /'/'c I'li^n.
the intentions of the grange hy S. A. Daniels,
17. Agents and their clerks shall receive
of Itusk county. Then the audience was dis-
for their services a stated salary.
missed antl all returned iiome well satistied
Ujider the ahove arrani^enient a few " co-
with the day's entertainments.
opci'ative" stores wore estahlished, one of
July 8, 1875, they had an extraordinary
which was run at Clchurne for ten years, hut
celehrathm at Clehurne, the attendance heing
in course of time ahandoned. IJut in many
over 5,000! Colonel Lang delivered the ad-
other respects the granges continui^d to llour-
ish, as their functions were manifold.
Naturally the grangers have giveii many
puhlic .lemonstrr-tions. The first of the kind
was given at Lee Acaden.y, east of Clchurne,
on the lirst anniversary of the hirth of their
order in this county, Decemher 1, 1S71. That
strong-holds. .\lu,ut half-past U o'clock on
the day mentioned, the audience liegan to
assemhle, antl hy noon there were npwartl of
400 persons on the ground. The local grange,
in connection with visiting mendiers tVom
other granges, met at the house of Uv. lioh-
crts, a short distance from the lodi;e hall, and
marched to the liall under a Ih-ating hanner
\ipon which was inscrihcd the word " Friend-
ship." Alter an approj)riate piece of vocal
dress, a reniarkahly good one. The day passed
oil' without accident or rowdyism, ami every
one went home satistied with the entertain-
ment.
in 1878 they reportc-l that their order in
this county was as strong as ever, and on a
iirmer foundation than evor hefore.
A few gran-es are still living (l8'J2), and
working zealously, and still have a county
council. The State grange has an annual fair
and an experimental farm.
AVithin the last ten or twelve years the
" I'armers' Alliance" movemont has heen
under headway; hut it is said that it is not
now so strong as it was a few years ago. It
is a very secret organization, and we cannot
name many of the leaders. Captain W. A.
llouchin, a voi-y ])o|.ular man, was elected
I'.,;. !■,:(. ;i.'^ :.\ .
:j iMr .v|.„,.,0.IA
![.;,!<■ -v;-.!(.,i;
fj m; ; . i
■:m,';\ ' : n:.V< J'/; -,.
1^ ill ;^i*i i.(w
Y.ii«,
lb.,.//
■_l-'ii'>-i t. 'J•^'lll! IIP I ■ • ..
vfci li.i. ):'. ill tj .1 .i.;i ' ■\:
.1 ii p .1 U ■.' loif-.
..:ii&..< ■ I i._-.M/ !■
.i .(' i.|(;J. Mir '.J'
^-ey^^ /9cu^'Uj ^
m
\&
AND HILL COUNTIRS.
|.'. -i.l.iil lit' tlie lirst alliance in the ccmnly.
Al i.ii..' liuio thfio wero twuiity sojiaratt: al-
1. .n>v. in Joliii.soii county, with a iiiciiilHTship
;.„'..: iv^al in- al.out l.UDO niciiiliLTs. Tiicir
inlliicnce in ])oiitics is vci'y struni^'.
Ao a rijpri;scntati\u i'ai-niur of Julmsou
.uimty, wu give hei-u a bkutcli ol' the folluw-
l!i;.\.iAMiN I'aKiNEs. — This gentleman is a sun
of llenjaniiii Jiarnes, Sr., who was born in
(icoigia in 1S03, passeii his life in that t^tato,
nniMicd thei-e in IbSu. He wasa wealthy and
iiilliiuntial planter, owning a large niiniher of
^hives, and ahout 2,000 acres of land in Craw-
fnid (■oiiiity, hesides saw, llouidng, \voolen and
rice mills. Hefore the war he was estimated
to hi. worth $100,000. In jxditics ho was a
Whig, and later a Democrat. For some time
he was a justice of the peace in (Jrawford
county, and while acting in that capacity he
led liis father's second inari-iao;e cere-
mony. He was an earne.-t Christian man and
nn active inemherof the Methodist Kpisco].al
Church, of wldrh for a numher of years he
was a chiss- leader and btewarii. He was twice
married. In 1S-.20 he wedded Talience Spe.ars,
a nalive of Stewart county, Ceorgia. Hy her
he had ten chil.lren, as follows: Muses, a capi-
tali.-,t of Alvarado, a sketch of wdiom appears
on another page of this work ; Sarah, widow of
llohcrt Vinson, is a resident of Johnson
county; John, deceased, was the founder of
and was a stock-raiser and speculator; Martha,
the fourth-born, has been thrice married; her
lirst husband, Henry llardison, of ll(niston
county, (Jeorgia, died, leaving her with one
chiM, ami her second husband, John Cowart,
of liibb county, (ieorgia, was killed in the
Confederate servii'c; her luesent companion,
W. W. Hardie, is a large projierty owner in
JUirnswick, Cieorgia, where they reside; Pa-
tience, deceased, was the wife of lienjamin
J.iglitfoot, of Johnson county; l]enjamin, the
subject of this sketch; Andrew J. resides
near IJarnesviUe, Johnson county, Texas;
Eli/.a, of Montezuma, Macon county, Geor-
gia, is the widow of John Adams; Komele-
son, who was lirst married to William Adams,
now d(X'.eased, is the wife of James Adams
of Jolin.-,<m county; William and James
Adams were brothers and were from Macon
county, Georgia, the tentli-born died in
infancy. For his second wife ]\Ir. lienjamin
J5arnes, Sr., married Mary Hamilton, by
whom he had seven children: Joseph, a
resident of Houston county, Georgia; Lou,
the widow of Uaiiiel Smith, Macon county,
Georgia; Eugenia, wife of h. Evans, of Ala-
varado, Johnson county, Te.\as; Anna, wife of
Jose[)h Adkins, Crawlord county, (leorgia;
Adin, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church; Elizabeth, who died when young;
the scNenth died in infancy. John liarnrs,
the grandfather of I'.enjamin, Jr., a native of
Georgia, was killed by one of his slaves (who
was hung the same day).
J^eiijamin Barnes, the suliject of this
sketch, was burn in Crawford county, Geor-
gia, in 18;i3, and there worked (.m his father's
plaulalion until he reached his majority.
He then came to Texas and made his home
with his brother Moses for ten years, dnrinc
'1 ,!);.• >'■ ,1! ,U'.0.)).l ■( fllK
It. I :, ,,o. v.ii ir.u: J':;,
III! IV o-'i/:;!;i) t-'ifl n't', ii
|.->.[I.J
') i.*>.i;'I ■;.! I ii i!;-i-ji.t ji'i! j: liJiv/ ./'HI ',:,. .«.ihiii!.i
I
' 41 .i ,-_an.:l,
"■).! .i.
trtiii'^Ll ; v.- n <'■>■-• ii'.-ni'.jl *>> .I'.'.'.lv
1 1 J? ill
13(i
lunronv of juiinson
which tiiiic ho hporuhttcd iii livL'-stodc.
.M;iy 27, iSliri, he iii:inio>l :iiul >vU\vd uu thu
Jiuhinb.Mi Fariii near AlvaraJo, 'J'exas. In
Im;;) lie drove ahuut 1,100 h.'ad ul' eattK< tu
California, and in this hu^iiiess \enture he
l.,6t about Sl0,0()0, and two am! u half jears.
ai-d
service, dry
atlier and failiiicr cr
■ops
party, lie is a iiieinher of tlie Koyal Areli
Masons.
iMr. llarne^, like Ids father and -rand-
father, has heen tu'iee married. in May 27,
lSt)5, lie was joined in wedlock with Mattie
Siyler, daughter of George and Elizabeth
Sigler. She died in 1S(;7. They were the
parents of Oiceru and Mattie. The former
is deceased and the latter is the wile of Jamea
P. t'ielder, a drui^gist of Alvarado. Septem-
ber 27, 1S74, :Mi-. Ilarnes married L. J].
Arterbiiri-y, daughter of Thompson and
Elizabeth Arterbiirry, of Jlonroe county,
Kentucky. This union has been blessed with
live children: Alice, Walter, Lee (deceased),
Eula an.l Willard.
EliUO.VriON.M..
In noting the progi'ess of school education
in Johnson, one should recall the period of
the lirst liegimiings of settlement here, and
the [uogress of immigration sutiicient to sus-
tain schools, and then coiiijiare with these the
statistics of school progress from time to
time in order to see that the class of ])eoplo
locating in Jolinson county is as greatly in-
tere^teil in intellectual progress as any other
community in the State.
During the scli..ul year ending August 31,
1S75, there were seventy teachers employed
in the county, who taught 2,G48 children.
The entire cost for four months was 815,-
ag(^ salary of
liaving caused the price of cattle to fall; there
was no grass and cattle were fed on sage
brush in the monntains; during this time he
was accidentally shot throngh the foot with a
Henry rillc. While holding cattle in the
mountains, one dark night as he was sleeping
with his horse tethered near him, a band of
seven wild Indians cut the rope and stole his
horse, leaving him to herd the cattle on foot.
The most of the cattle he had bougiit on time,
and his liabilities amounted in all to $10,000.
All lie asked of his creditors was time, and,
that being granted, he paid every cent of his
indebtedness. This and other losses ho has
met since coming to Te.vas have amounted to
b^35,000; but, notwithstanding these dillicul-
ties and euibarrassuients, he has risen from a
poor young man without means to a jic-ition
of wealth and intiuence. lie is now the
owner of 1,032 acres of land, well stocked
and nicely improved; and is vice ])resident
and a director of the First iXational I]ank of
Alvarado.
During the war J\[r. lianics enlisted in the
Confederate service, becoming a member of
Company C, Twelfth Te.\as tlavalry. He j O'J'J.'JO, which made tli
went in as a private, and came home a tirst | each te.-icher ,$53.1(2 per month; average
lieutenant; was wouiuleil at -Searcy i.ane, j number <if children taught, 37.7, and the av-
Arkansas, and Yellow bayou, Loui.-,iana. I erage cost per month $1.13. About$5,50U •
I'olilically he alliliates with the Democratic ' of the above sum was paid by the State ap-
•J. \ .! ., 1 i.>i.,ydj
; tJ * ' t • ■ ( J ' ■•,. ,-111 ;...,■ ;) Ufi(
AND HILL GOUNTIKS
|.ro[.riation. The oiie-fourlh of one i>er eei.t.
read when they left sch.,ol that year, 171
tax levie.l \,y Ihe board of school directors
w hite and 1 weiity-ime colored. N iimher who
f..r ihc^ ^cholaslic yeai- eiidiii!,' Aiioust 31,
could n.,t write on entering school, 1,-178
isi:., and onlend t., he collected .liirino; the
white and lifty-eight colored, and could not
.n.iiin- fall, amounted to S l.'.Kjii.Oi;. As
when they l.^n, ;5o2 white and iifty-one col-
ihe ^chold directors ivfused to levy u tax
ored. Number whodid not understand the
to make up the deticit it was advised that no
four fundamental rules of arithmetic when
free schools he reorganized lor the cnsuilio
they entere.l school, 2,482 white and eighty-
)car.
one colored; number who did not understand
The ahove ser\e8 as a 6am[)le of the con-
when they left, 1,4S0 white and sixty-nine
iliict of school interests in Johnson county
colored.
f..r many years. t?ome years, as already im-
Number of pupils who have been instructed
jilied, a special tax was levied to siijiport free
in history, 9GU white and seven colored; in
schools.
algebra, 440 white and one colored; in geome-
To exiiihit the total progress of schools to
try, eighty-two white; in natural philosophy,
date, we select the following figure,, from the
102 white; in physiology, 174 white.
la^t rejioit, 1«S'J-"J0: There are in Johnson
Nundier of white male teachers holding
coii[ity .--eventy-six school districts, 'i'ln'.re
eertitieates, lil'ty-eight, of whom twenty-four
lire seventy-nine white schools taught and
had lirst grade; colored, one. White female
tlirei^ colored. Niimhur of graded schools,
teachers holding cei tilieates, twenty-cught of
four; of high schools, one. The total seating
whtunoiiehad lirst grade. Grand total number
capacity of the school hiiildings is ■4,()<'S2 for
of ti'achers employed, eighty-six white and two
white children, and no for colored. Aver-
colored. Teachers holding diplomas or cer-
age .chool term o.l months f..r white and ii.o
tilicates from Texas normal schools, three.
month.s hir colored. iNumhcr u\ pupils of
Number of hchoolhouses in JcdiiiKon
scholastic age (eight to si.xteen year^) actually
county, forty-one, all of wood, -twenty-four
,1, rolled in >cliool,.l,n:> white and ninety-
good, ,,eveii fiir and ten in •■ b.id " condition.
eight colored. Nun, her of pupils under
Amount ol school funds apportioned to dis-
sclndastic age enrolled, 5(_):3 white and six
tricts, Sl'J,27(j for white schools, and $432.-
c^ilored; iiuniherover scholastic age enrolled,
(54 for colored; per capita, $ 1.10. Value of
■V.rZ. Average daily attendance of ]mpils of
public schoolhoiises and grounds, §15, 03U,
scholaBtie age, 2,415 w hite and seventy-nine
white; none reported for the colored. Value
colored.
of school furnituie and apparatus, $3,000.
Xumher of ])iipils of scliolastic age who
Total amount paid to teachers from the
could not read when they entered .^'hoid dur-
public funds, $20,172.70, white; and $350.-
ing the year rehtrred to, iS^'J-'iJU, S02 white
4t>, colored. Average salaries of tcaidiers —
and thirty colored; mimherwho cmld not
male, white, $51.00 per month, and colored
l-lK-i. -J, ■.,( '
;". V
,:■.. .fi.„ .
■■:w,\
"- '"'^ '''■ t.
, .,i; [,,
" IMTJl i' >l
'•'■ -M"
s.-jO; feiriftle, wMtc, .fl:J.25 uinl colored $30.
Gtiieral average salary of teachers, $48.21.
Averaiic rate of tuition jier iiioiith as per act-
ual atteiulaiice, $1.01 for Nvhite, aud $1.28
for colored. The ahove account does not in-
clude the city of (Jluhnriic. For the city of
Cleburne see undei' that head.
During the scholastic year 1889-'90, there
were nine teachers' institutes held, with an
average attendance of twenty-eight. These
iuhfitutes are well kept up, hy modern, live
teachers.
The puhlic schools of Jtihnson county are
in a liourishing condition, showing unniib-
takable evidences of ini])rovenieiit from year
to year. The course of study in many of
thcni is not contined to the public-school
coureo but embraces .-^till higher branches of
science and literature usually taught in the
high schools and colleges of the older States.
The people have a full appreciation of the
benefits of these schools, and the patronage is
steadily increasing.
Cleliurne, the "City of Koses,"— so named
from the abundance (d' roses cultivated within
its limits, --is beautifully situated on and be-
tween the banks of the two liullalo creeks,
which run clear water a large jjurtion ot the year.
The site is about bOU feet above the level of
the sea. iSurroumling the city on the north
aud west is a range of elevated ground, com-
mencing at the Ch-oss Tiuibeis and forming
the eastern boundary line of the city and
6wee[)S around lirst in a northerly direction
town that nestles Iti the valley of the Buf-
faloes is overlooked by an amphitheater of
hills. The city has a clean, sunny, healtliy
appearance, and most of the residences are
surrounded more or less with beautiful
shade-trees, many of which are native. Drain-
age is easy and perfect. No epidemic has
ever prevailed liere.
'J'lie city of Cleburne is located on the two-
thirds league of C. Chaney; and li. J. Cliarn-
bers and others located, in conflict with it by
mibtake, 1,280 acres under the Ilerron sur-
vey. After it had been a long time in the
courts W. F. Henderson of_ New Orleans ob-
tained possession of it; aud they tinally set-
tled by comprising with the (Jhaney heirs, by
keeping the 1,280 acres and permitting them
to have the cei'tificate, which they located
The dividing line between tlie Chambers
and the Henderson lands ran through what
is now thecenterof Chamliers street at the
southwest corner of the public square, ami
thence straight out to the old Alvarado road
beyond the Anderson lli-others' mill, Cham-
bers having the .southern tract, (i-tO acres.
The site on which Cleburne is situated was
lii'st named Camp Henderson, on account of
its being the place of rendezvous and en-
campment of Johnson county's first volun-
teers to the last war, and it was on Hender-
The county seat was locateil here March
23, 1867, as noted elsewhere, and the plat
was immediately laid out by the surveyor, al-
lowing of I'ourse for a j)ublic sipiaie, with
the bl,,cks. h,ts an.l streets running with the
■:Mc^ .- .i' ^
) I , ,t:v,:^,[oi;,iJ;
.;;ii ;-■ l;» 1..
II, .-,;.. -i..!'. . ■:,'. ''-"i ' ;"l'"i -' ' - ' ' MV/1 :,i,J '' , ,,-iiiK.I .'.ill ififtvS
u-'f . .' h'.'inc' tL'f-.UiJ..'. tu .1 ■;'(;. I'j: I .;>!.''^vi!'l' ■ - j - f ■ajIi;! i; to],;-// i,,vJ .i fr'"! i>-.i;(%
AND nn.L COUNTIES.
canlinal points of tliu comjiass, a half mile
i:n'li way from the 6i]uurc. Since tiiat tiiiio
bcvural aiKlitions have been made to the town
|i!;it. especially West Oleburne, on the west
H.h; of West IJulfalo creek— often called the
-Arkansas Addition."
NAMING TIIK NEW TOWN.
The town of Cleburne, the new county seat
ill ISi;?, was named in honor of- one uf the
hot ine.n and greatest heroes of the last war,
(Inieial '-Pat." Clelmrne; and at this junct-
ure is pruhably the he-t [)lace to relate the
IKLiliciilars of Ihe last fii^ht in which he was
en-a-cd and in which he fell and which ren-
dered him so famous as to become the sub-
jiTt of the naming of a beautiful city.
On the morning of November 2'J, iMG-i,
Cleburne's division crossed Duck river at
Davis" Ford (Tennessee), and by a circuitous
road matched rapidly to Spring Hill. His
divi.Mon was cninpused of tour brigades,—
(i raiibiiry's Texas, Oovan's Arkansas, I^ow-
ry's of Alabama and Mississij^pi troops, and
.Mercer's of Georgia, commanded by General
J. A.Smith. The la=t named brigade was
.lefl at I'l.irence, Alabama, and did not reach
the command until after the battle of Frank-
lin.
it was late in the afterimon of the 2Uth
when Cleburne reached the vicinity of Spring
Hill, a village on the Columbia and Franklin
l.ike, twelve mih'S from Columbia and eleven
from Franklin. The division was the advance
of Hood's army. It approached the village
(ui a road runidng at rioht-angles to the pike.
Upon .•ro.sMng M,.( lut.dieon's creek, a quarter
of a mile from the ])ikc, Chdjurne was or-
dered by General Hood in jjerson for the line
of battle to the left of the road, at the foot of
a hill in a cornfield; then move forward and
take the enemy's h|-eastworks just over tho
brow of the hill, built principally of rails.
Cleburne exei^uted this command rapidly,
and in less than tifteon minutes took the
works and some prisoners. There was not
exceeding a regiment of Federals in the
works, and those that were not captured ran
out to Spring Hill. Cleburne's command
was now in full view of Spring Hill and not
exceeding 300 yard.> from it. His loss in the
charge was four kille<l and forty-live wounded.
'I'he Feilerals had time to tire but one volley
when (iovan's and (iranbury's men were on
the works.
A I'Y'deral battery on the pike then com-
menced shelling the command. Govan's and
Granbury's liriga<les, that were in the charge,
becoming more or less scattered in running
after the retreating F'ederals, Cleburne or-
dered (.ieneral Ciranbury, wdio W'as on the left
of the line, to form his brigade aloii" a fence
running jiarallcl with the pike and about 200
yard,-, from it, so as to be jirepared to move
on the pike, remarking at the time, " 1 will
see Govan." Just then a shell burst forth
and wounded Cleburne's horse, "Ued Pepper,"
in the hip. He reared fnriou.sly for a while.
Mr. Mangum, who relates this account as an
e^e-witne.ss, says: '• 1 remained a moment to
see if the General was hui-t. Upon asking
him I shall never forget his reply and man-
ner, both showing how th'termined li„ was to
take the pike,—' No; go on, Mangum, and
IIISTOJir (IF JOHNSON
tell (Jranlnii-y wliat 1 t,.l.l y.iu.' I clelivoivd
'• Hood tlniscommande.l Cleburne: ' (ien-
the nr.ior, ami (iraiiLniry in a few iniiiiitcs
eral, form your division to the right of the
liail liie hrigaile furnuui aluiii^- tlio k-nw. I
pikis Kdtingyoui' left overlap the same, (ien-
tlif.ii ivtnrii'MJ to (Mrliiinio. in llio nican-
ei-al lii-own will form on llio Icfl, with his
tinn: (iuvaii'd bri-a.U' was lonnrd, an.l tiu'
right overlajiping your left. 1 wish you to
Kuilrral hattiti-y on tlir |,iko had I'l'trcaled.
mo\e on the enemy, (live orders to your
Ati I i-faclioil CUfhuriie, Ct)lunol Jxistwick
men not to lire a gun; tlien press forwai'd and
rodo up with an cirdur trum (iomTal Choat-
shoot tiiem in the backs as they run to their
liaiii, diructiiiiz; (Jielniriie to rLMiiain whcfo he
ijiain line; then charge the enemy's works.
was, and not move iijioii the pike until t'lirtlier
Franklin is tiie key to Nashville, and Nash-
ord(ua. Tins was near sunset. But for the
ville is the key to indeiicnilence.' (ieneral
order delivered by Colonel liostwick, Cle-
(deburne smiled and said, ' (ieneral, 1 will
liurne woukl have heen on the {like and had
take the works, or fail in the elfort.'
the position of Spring Hill in less than ten
" The line of battle was formed on the
niinutes; then there would have heen no bat-
north side of AVinston's ridge, between the
tle of Franklin.
ridge and the town, fully one mile from tlie
" On the morning of tlie memorable 30t!i
Federal works. In a f(!W minutes the com-
of Novend.er, ISOl, after considerable delay,
mand was under a galling fire from the
Hood's army moved toward Franklin. It
enemy's artillery. The men were ord(u-e<l
was afternoon before the army reached Wins-
not to stop to fire but rush upon the enemy's
ton's I'ido^e, a iu^h riilge some two miles
woi'ks. The first line of woi-ksin C'leburne's
south of the town. Thcr(! a council of war
front was easily talcen. This line was some
was lield, an.l General Hood, a-ainst the
two hundred yards in front ol' the main line
jildnini.nt of his b.'St ouneraF, decided to
of breastworks. Fehind this lirst line Cle-
take tlie almost impregnable works around
burne's command halted a few moments pi'e-
Franklin, and, what was even worse, take
paratory to making a charge upon tiic main
them at their strongest jioiiit. Cleburno op-
works.
posed an attack; but was too blunt and frank
"J list at this time I galloped up to Cleburne,
to ha\e influence with Hood, ('lebiirnc con-
who was riding alone immediately behind his
Bidered the removal of Jo.eph K. Johnston
division, about the center. I^reviuus to this
and the ap],ointmentof (ieneral Hood in his
Cleburne had cmlered me to locate one of liis
stead as a disaster to the army, and that it
batteries at a certain point. Soon aftei- I lelt
was exceedingly unwise b.r (ieneral Hood to
on this mission he sent Caj)tai)i S. 1'. Hanley,
accei)t the command un.ler the circum.-tances.
one of his staf]', to hicate the battery and for
(;ieburn(U,a.l too little of the political gen-
nu'. lo i-clurn to him immediately. Upon my
eial about hinj to conceal his views; hence
riding up and asking what lie wanted, he re-
llond had no <r.,od leeling toward him.
reidied, ' It is too late,' and directed me to go
■>^:l\'.
■J !'■ . ::^j . j:j •.'''. ■'■i-'lb ,11. ■' ;/!■;.. ; ,(; l ■■ ?•)(;.
: ,:w7 Aah. I ^^ . ::.- vi:, I :,:!■> ■■ ■ ^ ' |i , ■■(•
.ill
■Sll
■ . • 'llil
.1 ',,■ i.Jl
1) VM .:•
». "M , -.il
AND IHLL OOUNTIKS.
witli (iraiiljiiry'ri liriirailn. Ho tlion tiinieil
wliere iiis body was found tiie next morning.
1,1. Ihii.,' to tlic riglit and f^alloped to (iovan'rt
" Tlie sun was not over half an hour higli
l.ii^.idc. Tlif wholt. lino was thiMi nmiiini,^
when the battle began, and it did not last ex-
lu.i.lly r.-r llio rnoniy's wcji'ks. 'I'liat was llic
ceedino; an h.,iir. Those (d' th,' division lliat
l.i.l timo I uvoi- Kiw Cionoral Clol.urnc alive.
were not killeil reached the enemy's works
•• 'I'lic sjiai'.e liotwoon tiio onuniy'tj tii\st ami
tint were unable to scale tliom, and they re-
niain lines was aliout 200 yards. 'I'lio gronnd
mained in the ditch dug along the breastwork
was lo\'cl, and 1 do not thinj; tlim-o was a tree
until tint Federals retreated, which was about
nr l.u^li between tlioni. Tiio fire and de-
eleven o'clock that night. About twelve
slnictiim were heyond deserii)tion. 1 went uj)
o'clock (-Jeneral Downey had giiarils all over
to the works with (-iranbiii-y's lirig;ide.
town. J\I(Ui were detailed and lights were
Ciranbiiry and (iovaii with their staffs were
procured to hunt for (-ieneral Cleburne; but
on foot. About half way between the first
1 siioii stopped them by being told, by a Con-
unil b(!Cond linea General (ii'anbiiry was
federate solilier who claimed to have been
kdled. 1 wa.-i within ten fec^t of liim, and I
captureil and made his escape, that Ire saw
renieniber well the last words he spoke: 'For-
(Jeneral Cleburne passing througli Franklin a
ward, men; never let it be said that Texans
prisoner. Om^ not in the battle of iM-aiiklin
la^'^ed in the light.' An he spoke tliose
niiglit think it strange that such' a conspicu-
words a ball btruek him in the cheek and
ous character as General CJleburne would be
pa.ised throuoh his brain. Throwing both
killed and his tall not witnessed by any one;
hand.-, to his faee ho sank down on his knees
but the fire was so terrific and the smoke so
and remained in that jiosition until liis body
dense that one c(jiild not ilistinguish an ob-
waa taken off the liuM after the battk'.
ject twenty feet ilistant.
•' jicller scddiers and bra\er men were lu^ver
•' The morning after the battle information
marbhaled than these Te.\ans; and (iraidmry
came to our heaihpiarters that Cieneral Cle-
was in every way worthy to eommanil sueh a
burne's body had been found. I immediately
brigade cd' hrroe.-.. Well may llu; i.one Star
went in search of it and found it laid out on
Slate be proud of every man in that brigade.
the gallery of the McCiavock lirick liouse,
" When I last saw (ieneral (delnirne
with boots, ])ocket-lMi(dv, diary and sword-belt
he was going up to tlie enemy's woi-ks
gone. His face was covered with a lady's
mounted on a brown mare, wdiich was
finely embnddered handkerchief. AV'ho
btiou killed; and while he was in the act
placed the body there I liave never been able
of mounting another iiorse this animal too
to ascertain. The general received but one
was shot dead, by nnuiy bullets. Then
wound, and that was from a minie ball
()lc;liurne rushed on foot to the works. He
through the body. 1 procured tliecoflins for
nnist have been killeil between whei'e his
(ienerals Cleburne and Granbury, and Col-
la,-t horses was killc<l ami tile works, about
onel Young of the T(^ntli Texas carried
i.>il . f. -J
Jli'f , '■ ' ■ ' ' ' ' '■■' • ' '"• •-" ' i '■ . >"- " ■' ■! f
f . i.r.f-yr. -: f,*y,n..,l^
. 1 -J . ,,ji
Hi
iiisTonv OF JonxsoN
tliuir rriiKiins to Culiiiiil.ia for iiitfniieiit.
•• Wliilu tlic ivMWLiiis,.r tl.c.c hrim's lay in
tliu jiailor of Mrs. Mary U. Tolk, Miss
iy>, a hic'cc o|- I'roMilrnt I'ulk.coiu-
l,iilowing lines and placo.l them
udun tiio body of (ionerai CK'hnrni;:
•"l''iiie llu-e well, ilepailed chiefUiiul
Kriii's laml seuUs forth a wail ;
Ami O my cuuiitiy sad laments lliee,
J\aoin
posed
I'abSfcl so late throuyb death's dark vale.
"'ISlow, ye breezes, softly o'er hiiu;
l<'aii his brow with geutlest breath;
l)i.~tiub _\e not the peaceful slumber;
Clubuniesleeiis the sleeii of death.
•"Itest thee, Cleburne I tears uf sadness
Flow from hearts thuu'st nobly won;
Jlemory ne'er will eeaso to cherish
JJeeds (if glory thou hast dcjne.'
" Kiini'i-al rites were perfunned n(^\t day by
Kev. i;i:,lio|, Quintard. After tlie burial in
the CJolnnil.ia cemetery, 1 discovered that
those gallant men were buried in tliat j)ortio]i
of the cemetery known as the 'potter's tieltl,'
between a row of negroes and a row ul' I'etl-
eral soldiers. I felt very indignant, and
so expressed niyself. General Lucius V'vWi,
brother of (Jeneral and llishoji Jjeonida»
Polk, was present and most kindly otlered
nut a lot in the Ashwuud eenielery, .si.x miles
south of Columbia, which -eneroiis offer 1
most thankfully accepted; and accordingly
the bodies were buried in a most beautil'ul
spot. In 1^(;U, at the reijiU'st of many
frieiuls and of the Ladies' ( 'unfederate Me-
nu.rial Association of I'liillips county, Ar-
kansas, Dr. 11. N. ({rant, an old friend of
(ieneral (Meburne, and myself brought the
renniinsfrom Ashwood to Helena, an. 1 buried
them in tlio Confederate btiryinggroimd,
sati.-factorily to (ieneral (Meburne's friends.
Ko monument has ] up to ISbS] ever been
placed over \\\^ ;i;rave, the i>idy marks .allow-
ing the place being the marble bead and foot
stones brought with tlie renuiins from Ash-
wood, where they were jilaccd soon after the
war by the ladies of that neighborhood, witii
tills inscri])tion: ' Major-tieneral 1". K. Cle-
burne, of the Confederate Army, born in the
county of Cork, Ireland; killed at Franklin,
Teniieseee, November 30, LSI) I.'"
lin.iNNiNtiS oi'- riiK -rowN OK it.i;i;t;i;NE.
The lirst house in Cleburne was erected by
Mrs. Josephine 1!. Wren, who owned a farm
boutliwe.st of tlie place. This buil.iing wa.^
a oni'.-story log cabin, on the corner where
the Cleburne House now stands, which she
made a " tavern," or hotel and boarding-
house; but, contrary to the custom of men,
bhe kept no whisky. A full account of this
okl hotel ciuner will be found further on.
The ne.xt two hoiL^es in Clebtirne were
also log c:ibins, on the corner south of the
(Mebnrne House, one built by Mr. llarrell,
and the other by Joseph Shaw. In one of
them a ten j)in alley was l:ept, and in one or
the other whisky was sold.
N. 11. Cook, a native of Tennessee, at tliat
time the county treasurer, and termed the
'•first settler" of Cleburne, built the ne.xt
house, a log structure, on the site of the
present (ilen Lea saloon, at the south wcbt
corner of the public «(juare, for a dry-goods
store. He was the lirst merchant, and some
,;; ■.!..; h
- .1 .N V .j.i/. .>..!•
■■■I. iij'J ■_•;• •/ t,->.ii 1i:.';liiiy ■,-'i»iJ
\A.
11 .)'.■! 0-.
ij Iv. !■'■ •'..■' )'-> !■. .1
.' •■ :; .t<t
AND HILL VUUNTIKS
tiiiiu after conimeiicin^ hiisiiifss he udinitted
a |KiitiUT. lie (lie,! alu.tit sc-vu ur eight
U-ar.> ago. Tiie .second merchant was Lycur-
^r,,.. Wren.
The next Ijnilding.s wore a Binall loji; cahin
creeled hy Joseph .Shaw, where Conijitun's
dru^ btore now is, and a ho.x hou^e for a gen-
eral st(]re, on the corner south of it, by -1. A.
Wilhngham. In the roar of the latter waa a
tuu-Btory house, built for a hotel, and is the
|,re-ent Kentucky House.
Then a one-story house at the southwest
orrner of the public square, where the Johti-
.■i.iii Cminiij Ri.ciijio otiice now i,s, in which
wa.s kejit a dry-goods and clotliinir store, by
Henry and Morris Levi, Hebrews. Next
were cabins east ol thern.
The above were all probably put up the
lirst year. Meanwhile buildings were moved
from old liuchanan to Cleburne, from the old
county seat to the new.
Probably the iie.xt structures were the
courthouse and jail, where the liank of (Me-
buriie now is. The former was a frame, and
the latter was a log buil.ling at the rear of it.
The ne.xt building for business jiurposen
was erected at the northwest corner of the
public S(juare, now occupied by Taylor ik
Oo.'s elothinir store. This was at first a
r,lory-and-a half structure, built by Dr. T. D.
Lorance, iu the early '70s.
lleforc the close of 18G'J it was estimated
that Cleburne had u population (jf about 200;
thi.- was before it was two years old.
'I'he new town was supjilied with water
from a copious si)ring in tlu; bank of West
i'.ulfalo .uvek, owned by " Uncle dee" Shaw.
For the early ra])id progress of Cleburne, u
corri'sjiondc^nt of the (inlveston Nclos, in
1875, gives great credit to "Nat. Q." Hen-
derson, (probably a relative of W. K. Hen-
derson, formerly referred to), then the eilitor
and ])i-oprietor of the Cieorgetown Becurd,
"who (huiated half of the town lots to the
county, and the other half to the Alvarado
Baptist Association for college purposes.
Henderson's well-timed ami libei-al dona-
tions at once gave character to the town, and
it became the point of attraction to emigrants
from all i)arts of the South." The first set-
tlers of Clebui-ne were indeed very courteous
to peojile from all parts of the world.
Daily mail was established between Cle-
burne and the Texas I^acitic railroad No\-ein-
ber 14, 187i.
E\en before the railroads reached Cleburne
it was a place of considerable business, wliile
Fort Worth, Dallas and Waxahachie were all
doing their best to di'aw away trade from it.
There were, in 187<J, not fewer than fifty
wagons arri\ing in town daily, fi-eighted with
cotton, which was talcen freely ljy local buyers
at ruling prices. There was also a brisk
trade in all farm, dairy and ])oultry products.
THE CI.KIiUKNE OF lO-HAY.
(Jleburne is still the geographical center
for a large and rich agricultural area. Un-
like most other jilaces, tlie town can never
outgrow the country. A more favorable spot
rcely be found
th
irt of the
State in which to build up a town. There is
an abundance of timber on the one side, i-ich
i! -aj/i;."i>! ■;_iiii'^i(i»iU(i;i.i'f •i-_'.'1i>
•^■„i!'. -.M, ),.w,y>. ■,.l'l .... .
r: u\r>.u;,.':
,„i,,ri ..:;l , .'-: r . ■" ,'! .Mir<l m.,,i i-..ii (^ ii.,il-jf Imi;. yioU
•...„.. . .... I ..or >/;-..o . .;.; .■.•■:::.... ,.i
li) wii'i'. -r,!.. i I'*'';;: li ■(!;; 1.1 'I'ji.'rllirjiH; « I'^.J '.t-MS IM'J li.i'i
.••,.;.■- .'.I;;!.) t>.:> ^M.-i ■ ..'.vi vfvv ii :!i 'Vii! :ii->r -,i(lf
liiK:'. ' •'iij>f' liJ'". I' .;!..
•l.i^J V/:*.| OliT
c oil' . ; . ;: itirrfl
Ill jiisr,ii:y (
of justice for n V.w^c Cdiiuty, aliimst evn-y
.M|ii:uv nid ,,f wlii.-h is tiil:il)le. To take a
i-api.! nlaiice Iron, tlu; early status to the
,.r the ./„/,/,,v,-/i Cuint;/ A'rr/, ,/', tliat '• ( Me-
liiinie has a |,(.(»iihitioii of iJ.IKK) />unu jdlc
i-.'si.h'iits; 1,()()(),(UK) oalloiis of water |ier
.lay; a railway pay-roll uf .i;85,(U)0 per
irionth; a imstliiig class of people; the eii.l
of lour lailway divisions; ;i ruuud-house with
thirteen stalls; railway niachini^-sliops; a set
of people wh., know a oood thin- when they
t-ce it; a 100 harri'l llniirniill; an ice factory;
class of people; ouud system of watei'-woi'ks;
an electrie-lioht plant; three ward scliool
buildings; a wide-awake people wlio ar.^ wiU-
\\\<^ to assist enterprise; a $35,000 compress;
music; a select school for youny ladies;
eight churcli buildings, and a jieople who are
e\er working lor Cleburne.
"As a business point, C^lebui-ne is \\ithout
a I'ival, by towns of like size, in noi'th Te.\a>.
To substantiate this it is but necessai-y to
refer to the last semi-annual report, sub-
millrd ,luiu: ;iO, l.Sl)l,.d' Ihe amount of busi-
ness handled in the yards of the (iulf, Colo-
rado A; Santa I'e here:
Numljcrofc-ars loaded and emiiliesluiudled. yi.t^oU
t'ais uf ineicliMiidiso liaiulled 2,2^0
(■(..u..i,M.ial l,lLsine.-,s handled, i.j pdUiuls. . . 11,V>1,,-,01I
C.irii|.aiiy maU-naj liamlled, in pounds 71,521,-150
Freiglil loniiai;e lorwarded from Olehunie,
including miscellaneous nieicliandiso,
liv-sU.ck, llonr, I, inn, graiii, liay, hides
and tallow, in pounds 3,^5;;, DUO
Local cotton 4,57a,bOU
i/'' .hillSSihS
"To further substantiate the al)0\-e state-
ment it will be ap]iropriate to state that tlio
bills of exchange drawn (Ui the CMeliurne
baid;s IVu- the year e.uling August 31, IS'Jl,
amount to $5,001,0S-J,1'J. The volume of
business is truly great, ami is rapidly
detinite story than we can otherwise write:
The toniKige of railroad loaded ami empty
cars hamlled at Chdmriie from October, IbUO,
to June, Is'Jl, inclusive, was ll'J,000 cars. Of
these there were ■t.S.Sl cars of horses and
cattle, 31f; cars of sheep .nnd 30 cars of liogs.
'I'otal number of head of live stock shipped,
1111,745, most of this within three months.
This state
does not inch.
;nuie any
of the jiasseiigei- trains handled at this stalion.
The cars of merchamlisc handled and trans-
ferred at the Cdeburne freight depot frou)
October 1, IS'JU. to June 30, IbOl, nuujbered
3,3()'.i. The amount of commercial business
iiamlled at this point durini,' the sanie period
was 18,21(;,!lll poun.ls. Freight received at
Cleburne during that period, :i, 170 ears, or
71,52 L,-15t» pouiuls. Freight forwarded from
January 1, ISDO, io I )ecend.er 31, same year,
1,500,000 pounds, consisting of grain, hay,
(lour, bran, hides, tallow, bones antl bagging,
f.ocal cotton fiu'warded from tlio station prop-
er, 6,135,800 pounds; miscellaneous mer-
chamli.se, live-stock, etc.,' 3,753,-110 pouiuls.
(Vunjiany freight billed and forwarded from
the .-.tatiou proper, 28,134,215 p.mnds.
From Janmiry 1, ISDl, to June 30, follow-
ing: iMeight forwarded in miscellaiu'.ma
merchandise, live stock, tlour, l;ran, etc.,
•{■' '
AM) HILL COUNTIKti.
J,7()3,i*SU pounds; iiin;r:uii, liidesand tallow,
l,lir.U,()0(t |)uunds;eoiii]i:iiiy tVci^rht forwarded
from the btatioii proper, 14,2'j;i,'J',)ti, l.ocal
o.ttoii hirwardod from tho elation prop.'r,
4.70li,S(l() pouiidri. Allliouj^li tlio cotton crop
was iMit an average one, and the .hippinj^
period referred to rather a dnll one for ImsU
nesrf Generally, yet there were ItM.^iH.dOU
pound., of cottcin shipped from Olebni-ne from
September 1, ISUU, to June 'M, IS'Jl. lie-
bides this, of course, there were shipments
from other stations throiigiiout the county.
These facts show that Cleburne is one of
Ihe principal railroad points in the whole
The fart that Cleburne has three llouiishino
banks is another evidence of the Mib,tantial
proS[iei-ity of the place, in keepiiio with the
forc-oiny railroad tioures. The ollieial state-
ment, recently publi.slied show an ai,'gregate
dej.oMt of S-i«.S,:37i;.17, as billow.,: The
National Hank of CTeburue, all demand de-
po.-its, !?:i()(J,«lS.»-i; First National IJank,
time and demand, ,i;107, 1 30.57 ; Farmers A:
Merchants' National Hank, lime and .lenn.n.l,
;?M),!i-J(>.7(J. N<;t only do liiey .show up well
in <leposits, but in cash available for use on
denjand they, taken collectively, appear (^uite
strong, having a total of ,'i;23S,L!C;i. 15, as fol-
lows: National liank of Cleburne, available
casli, !?149,U17.80; Farmers A; .Merchants'
National Itank, ^57,'J02.8L; an. I the First
National Bank, ^Bl.US.ST
IJanki
Cleburne
S. 1'. llollinosworth and his ^on J. E., and
indi'cd they were the first in the county. They
were succeeded by iirown & Chambers (,1. W.
IJrown and Colonel iJ. J. Chambers). Tliiu
this year or ne.vl. In 1^78 W. F. Heard, S.
];. Allen and A. A. Karnes established ii
private bank, in a brick buildini,'on tho corner
of Main and Wards ille streets. Further par-
ticulars ai-e ^Mven a little further on.
The First National IJank of Cleburne had
its orij^in in the Johnson County Hank, a
[)rivate concern, founded in lS8l by C. W.
Alertz, F. M. and (). S. Heath, with a capi-
tal of s:J5,()(IU. It continued as such until
June 7, 1S>>3, when it nationaiizeti, with a
capital of ;i;50,()U0. Tho directors at the
organization were E. M. Heath, Jau^es A.
East,u'wood, A. 1). Kennard, Edward Heyder,
J. 11. Mertz, (). y. Heath and C. W. Mertz,
the oliicers being C. W. Mertz, president;
E. M. Heath, vice president, and O. S.
Heath, cashier. In 1S84 A. I>. Kennard
died, and his |,lace in the boani of directors
was taken by T. W. Ilollingsworth ; in De-
cember, 1S.S7, (). S. Heath died, his place us
cashier being taken by Chester L. Heath; lul-
ward Heyder died in September, ISSLI, and
his place in the board was taken by C. Dick-
.s,ni; Ilnllingsworth resigned, and ],is i>Iace
was taken by J. N. English.
When the bank natioiuilized tho capital
was increa>ed to JfoOjOUO, and in October,
ISSU, the capital was increased to §100,000.
The tot.al sur]dns at his time, Sejitember,
lSl.)l,is§12,00(); total dividen.lsdeclared since
organi/.ation, §70,500. The baid< has declared
a <Iividend of si.\ per cent esery six months
I (j ; ^ .
■■A- V ••( .
a I)-. ' •i-.il.ie;!) <'•)
! 1 r ' .!> I:(u; ,,v;.vi;l t (;>•;.. ■ •',' . , . -, ..,1. „i..l1
i.-v./)., u;,.,|
.I;h I!. ■MfjJ
.1.1 ...fi
•K ,r...' ■! Ij ,:..u
-!■,, . , .:J. -■' .Ih:
.{ 1 ' J.: .
■J J I It
iivji! !■■;,. '/I
i-ji.''. .'.V .' )
IIISTUUY OF JOHNSON
siiiL'U its (;rg;iiiiz:itioii, aiul its uiidiviiiud prof-
its arc $2,012. US. Tlicrc :uv U-luxvu thirty
uiKJ forty 6t(irkiioMers, tiic stork huing licKl
mostly i.y IolmI iiarties.
Tlio National Hank of Clrl.nrne had its
uri;j,iii ill the i)rivati^ hankini,- house; of Heard,
Alien vt ilarnes, called the Hank of Cdehiirne,
which was estal.lishuil in 7\ii^rust, 1S78. The
])ro[irietors wt-re W. F. Heard, now deceased;
8. I!. Allen, of the Karniers .^' Merchants'
National liank of Clchurne'; and A. A. IJarnes,
of (Jlebiirne. The JJank of Cleburne becraii
business with a capital of !?1-3,U00, and con-
tinued to do business on this capital, and
uniler the tirni name already ^iven, until
April, 188;j, when John W. Kloore, then of
Tyler, Smith Co., bonjiht the interest of A.
A. liarnes, the firm b.'coming Heard, Allen
.V Kloore, at which time also the capital was
increased to $GO,OUO. January 21, ISSS,
Mr. Heard died, his interest, however, con-
tinniiiH- iu the bank until December, 188S,
at which dates. K. Moss bought S. 15. Allen's
interest, the firm name being changed to
Heard, Mo.-s & Floore. May 21, 188;», the
bank nationalized, the capital being increased
to $7o,ll0(). S. K. Moss became president;
S. i;. Ailen, who again took a small anuuint
of stock in the concern, became vice-pn^sid-
ent; John \V. Floore, cashier; and W. J.
Kutledge, assistant cashier. The board of
directors were S. E. Moss, .lolin W. Floore,
W. J. Kutledge, F. V. I'.rown, 1!. !.. Durham,
S. 1!. Allen and AV. H. Siratton. Not long
afterward Mr. Allen withdrew his interest,
and tlie vacancy in the board was iilled by
W.J. Hurley, and bis position as vice presi-
dent by !!. L. Durham. This baidv is at the
southeast corner of the ])ublic scpiare.
The best idea of what the bank has done,
and is doing can be obtained from a glance
at the fill lowing figures taken from its regular
reports since it nationalized. July 12, 1889,
its loans were $()3,718.52; profits, $2,210.08;
deposits, $79,335.54. 8epteiuber 30, 1889,
loans, ;?88,498. 13; profits, 63,393.03; deposits,
880,194.12. November 11, 1889,— loans,
$110,(591.98; protits, $8,299.11; deposits,
$125,043.65. February 28, 1890, loans, $87,-
200.29; protits (less expenses), $13,508.38;
deposits, $145,211.64. May 17, lb90, loans,
$108,415.41; ])rotit6, $17,477.58; deposits,
$103,320.09; July 18, 1890, loans, $110,-
153.01; protits, $14,023.88; deposits, $112,-
192.87. October 2, 1890,— loans, $110,-
001.88; profits, $20,137.55; deposits, $190,-
452.81. February 20, 1891,— loans, $98,-
850.00; ],rofits, $24,218.70; deposits, $137,-
885.08. May 14, 1891,— loans, $119,723.81;
protits, $28,828.90; deposits, $135,014.31.
July 9, 1891,— loans, $134,095.99; protits,
$29,077.22; deposits, $140,200.14. The bank's
correspondents are The National I'ank of the
llepublic. N.^w York; The Continental Na-
tional liank, St. Fouis; The Louisiana Na-
tional Hank, New Orleans; The National Ex-
change Hank, The City National and the
American National, Dallas; The State Na-
tional and the First National, Fort Worth;
liall, Hulchings & Co., Galveston; and J. 11.
KayuKuid & Co., Austin.
With the exception of Mr. AIoss, who may
in fact be said to be a citizen of this county.
M : >:■ ^^ . ,.. . r,'.,i''i >< ;':,^^,--' . ■;'■.-',: ■.', .,-j,vm:v :■.;■. .j . .;! ,8
;88 :"05,:;r;ji .(<iue(c--> ^r'^^' -^lumd :( b;.uwi; j -.10- idi. .C.>;,"J-; , l^V'v . i. ,\ir^> .- .,;;-iiil
.--..•• -.;,ji— -'J i'i: ;v ' ..iv! J.^',ui .ci i^; -.,....1. w,^..,;,.^ ._, ),,,.■;,. M
,; • :■" .' . :,,■■■' U -.>],] .--.;,^'. ' , ■<:>[ •).■'■ i/i^.i! 'iu n fu.A. ■ .- -■ :■ . ;
AND IlfLL COUNTIES.
i.f tliu bank ia owned by rt'sidentsof Joliueoii
county. Thu bank owns tliu liaiMlsonic, two-
htory brick buililing w liicli it ocrnjiies, tliis in
it.-cU buinir u so\ircuol' levunuo, ar tiic rusults
iwnn (iHiccK yirld bi.\ |ict cent, on tbu invest-
ment, besides funiisbing banking room true.
Tlie banking part of tiie l)iiiiding is well
furnished, bavin- Hall's tiniedoek sate, liru-
|)ioof vanlts, etc. Tliu board of directors as
now constituted are: S. K. iMoss, John J.
Kloore, l;. L. Durham, W.J. liutledge, W.
11. tjtratton, J. Wesley iSmith and Cooii
WillianiB.
The Farmers A J\[ercl]ants' National Hunk
was establisiied September 1, LS'JO, with a
capital stock of i^lUU,U0O. E. Y. Brown is
]. resident; M. L. Kennard, vice-jiresident ; S.
i:. .\llen, cashier; and AV. A. Jennings, as-
sistant cashier. The directors arc the three
lirst named iiere, with II. S. Wilson, \V. C.
McKarland, K V. Frymier, D.J. IJoatright,
P. J. iNorwood, (). ]'. Arnold, J. M. Milam
and J. 0. Conway. At the close of business
December 2, 1891, this bank had as loans and
discounts, !t;l25,lU5.^(;; Fnite.l States bon.la
and premiums, $2'J,250; cash and sight ex-
change, 1^57,1)02,81 ; undivided profits, $15,-
;i37; circiilalioM, $22,500, and <leposils of
individuals and banks, $80,320. 7(i.
OTiiEi: iNSTrruTiuNs.
The Cleburne Ice and (Vdd-Storage (V.m-
pany waa organized in the summer of 1881,
with S. E. Moss, C. Dickson, I>. F. Frymier
and Cuon Williams as the cliaiter nu.'mbers,
and a capital of $12,500. The factory and
storage rooms are in the eastein |]art of the
city, uea
railroad. Thu factory has
of live tons per day. Thu
building is 34 X 11, two-stories high, and the
ent/iiie and machine room 22 .< 34 feet. The
well is ten feet scjuare and thirty feet deep,
furnished with artesian water from the mains.
Coon Williams is the mana.rer.
The buildings of the Cleburne Found
ry
and Machine Company are 30x50 and
35 X 40, and the propretors are J. C. JNorris
and William Clarkson, of Cleburne, and lie-
riot Clarkson of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The $35,000 cotton compress has already
l)een referred to, as also the rolU'r mills at
the depot, Anderson Hrothers, propi-ietors.
The Cleburne House has had ])robably the
longest ami most varied history of all the
institutions at Cleburne. First a one-story
lo- cabin, built by Mrs. Josephine 15. Wren,
it was afterwaril kept by Joseph Shaw, Kice
Brothers, Major Spaiks, Daniel Taylor, Till-
man F'owler, D. 1). Myers, P. M. (latevvood,
— Goldwire, Thomas 15. Archer, John T.
Feigh in 187'J, -^Thuiston, W. H. Prowii
six years (the longest of all), Mrs. C. M.
IJrown, John Maxey, — JVIerrell, — Keese,
- Evans Ihreeorfour daysonly, Mrs. Wood-
ward, T. A. Scurlock and U. iv. Craft since
May 1, 1888. We are not certain that wc
have all the names of the projjrietors in their
proper chronological ordei-. Sjiarks was twice
propi-ietor. The building, (if course, lias been
enlarged from time to time. Succeeding the
original log cabin was a one-story bi-ick, to
wdiicli additions were made on tlie north side,
and Mr. ]''owdcr put on the. third-atory.
,' -,,;'7(-'! •■•'- HiHUjci ^^.ii.iA
^
•). .11; .. 'U.n,.u
1 II ' .i:-i , !Jl
lII.iTUUY OF JUIINSON
It is worthy of note that the time-honored
businebb men of (Jlebiiriio, T. l.uwreuco, the
jewelc]-, etc., lias been a boanler at the Gle-
buine llou-e for beveiitcen years; and for the
ia-,1 iv,,, yard Uev. Joshua Cook ("Hoono"),
uno ol' the most famous Ininters and gunners
of Anieriea, wlio lias been a copious contribu-
tor to \ariouo sporting journals for niany
years, beino; an authority. His instructive,
clieerful conversation throws naught but sun-
sliine over one's mental sky; is one of the
most res]>ecteil citizen^ of Cleburne.
The Hamilton Hou.se, another two-dollar-
a-day hotel, a neat two-story brick, a few rods
bouth of the southeast corner of the public
s(piare, was erected about l.S7i, by li. J.
Chambers, and the landlonls have been Mr.
rennin-ton, Dr. Hamilton, and since May,
IbS'J, A. Davis. It has twenty-live rooms,
besides three sample rooms, olhce, etc.
I'KIVA'll
to schoo:
genc^ral, Cleburne
has alway.s krpl up with the times, the free-
cchool f-ystem being of moi'e modern growtli.
The most conspicuous early educational in-
Miluliwn of the city was the Cleburne Male
luiil female Inslil ute, fam i liarly referre<l to
as the " liaptist C^oUei^'e," on the gi'oiuid now
ipied by the Central High Sch
bui
ing, on the west bank of West IJulfalo creek
and on Buifalo and Colle-e streets. This
school was established under tln< auspices of
the Alvarado liaptist Association. The first
building was a two-story brick, not subdi-
vided into smaller rooms, and was erected in
18GM, at a cost of about if 12,001). The cur-
riculum, continuing until l^i72, comprised a
thorough collegiate course. Kev. J. li.
Clarke was the first princi]ial, succeeded by
W. 1!. Featherston, with W . J. IJrowne as
vice-principal. The {jatronage at one time
reached a number as high as 250 puj.ils,
some of whom were from other counties.
Ihit in course of time the property relapsed
ndsof H. J. Chan
'g'
nal owner of the ground, and he then donated
the property to the city in 18«2. The old
buildinj^ became dilajiidated and was torn
away to give place to a new one, also a brick
structure, wduch was afterwards burned; and
with the insurance money the present buihl-
ing, a neat and imposing frame structure,
was erected in 18S(J, at a cost of §15,000. It
is now the property of the city, being the
•'Central High Kchool " building, liavin-
ei-ht rooms.
J. K. Kennedy and M. A. Turner had u
school for boys and girls in 1875.
The h-ving yelect School foi- Voung J^adies,
of which I'rufessor I'eytou hving ib principal,
was lirst established by him in 1877, in a
building in the central jioi'tion of the city.
Al lir.-l he limited the number of j)upil8 to
twenty tive; but the patronage unexpectedly
increased, ami at the end of four years, May
13, 1885, he secured n charter from the Legis-
lature, granting the right of conferring the
degree of Magistra Artium ami inlerior de-
giees. The following geiitleiiioii wore named
as trustees: Peyton Irving, A. II. Ycager, A.
W. Dellorry, J. 8. Clayton, liev. C. S. M.
See, Dr. C. C. Francis and Governor T. H.
Wheeler.
H i:
U, (iin A' I
.' , m;-j
•i; :i>,. -jI J,. ■!
::. .,1. ;'!;.!:!. (I.J I fi..
I l:.'.' (v CM' iiolijv
. t . .- ,. I. tr: >,0>1t
AND IIILL COUNTTES.
At Ini-th I'rolVssor Irvincr cniplc.yLMl his
,l;ni.;lil.T as iissi>tuiit, ami uou', with ahoiit
lifty-tivi; pupils, they an: tcaehiiij^' in a uuat
ta„-,.fu|-y lVa.,u< Iniihliiin; in th,. lun-th cd^^a;
,.f Ihc city, in a hcaiitil'til, retiriMl localily.
■I'hcaibtiiictivucharactcristics of thiri school,
,1. set forth l>y the calendar, are: 1, Strictly
u school tor young ladies and misses; 2, it ia
11 bclect school; only the liust pnpils desired;
ij, all teachers of high literary attainments,
iiml trained especially in the art of instruction;
4, students instructed individually, as well
as liy classes; 5, recitations conducted in
writing, as well as orally; t!, all "show" or
"display" scrupulously avoided; thorough
hcholarsliip inculcated and insisted upon; 7,
hi-inonthly roj)orts, showing the exact stand-
ing of the puj)il, in every study pursued by
said pupil, sent to the parent or guardian; 8,
exaiuiuiitions conducted in wi'iting; manu-
scripts carefully valued, an<l sent to parent or
The course of study compinsea the common
Knglish hranches from the lifth reader up to
the classical languages, mental and mitural
philosophy, physiology, astronomy, mechan-
ics, chemistry, botany, zoology, algebra,
geometry, civil government, bookkeeping, a
nornnil clepartment and music.
The degrees are: 1, Graduate of English
and Science; 2, Graduate of the Normal
School; cJ, Kilia Artium, or A. 1!.; and 4,
Magistra Artium, or M. A.
When a man is seeking a honui for lii;
family, the facilities for eilucation are alway;
investigated. Illiteracy no doubt accompanies
the lower stages of society, while culture and
relinemenl are found folhjwing close in the
wake of e.lncational pn.grc.s. Slates vie
with each other in the elh.it to impart infor-
mation to their citizens until the end in view
seems to take more of a civic character than
that broader, deeper knowledge that makes
good citizenship incidental to a perfcctnian-
liood.
Cities and towns are infested with the samo
ambition, and all through this fair Texas
land of ours we find a struggle against ig-
norance btdng maintained, from the little,
uiipri;tentious schoolhouses in the rural dis-
tricts to the grand institution at the State
capital, which has been so munificently en-
dowed by t
of otiier days, lint in
none of these various departments of work
has so much progress been made as in tlio
pul)lic-6chool systems of the larger towns,
and in proof of the assertion attention is
called to our own little city of Cleburne.
In 18S3 the people voted the control of
the public schools to the city council, author-
izing that body to appoint a board of six
trustees. In accordancu with this authority,
the council apjjointed U. A. Toolu, V. Gray,
C. W. Mertz, E. T. Eewis, W. E. Kanisey and
W. C. Smith, who qualified December 14.
18S3, and W. E. Kanisoy was elected sec-
retary. The board advertised in the Galveston
JVewi for a superintendent, and on January
15, 1884, electeil Prof. Erank M. Johnson for
one year at a salary of $1,200 (eight months
at $150 per month). The superintendent
WHS instructed to report for duty March 15,
!'■ ,/.■ Xr . I'lJ't ,111,^1. !-■,,;; .;, ■.Jl,^;:,,l)
.il,..( .:..
\, ,'^MU-UU-\L
■•i ,t
■■)..■... ly,v.
■'i I.: . ,1
iiisroiiY OF JOHNSON
1881, anil the first Monday in April wa.-, des-
As it is. §50 ]ior month here is about the
ignated tor ojiening tlie schools. The follow-
same as §45 elsewhere. The better plan
iliir id the roll of teachers ilurinu; tliu first
would be to employ the superintendent by
se.'^sion, with salaries per month aiincxe.il:
the year and j)ay by the calen<lar month as
Prof. J. M. I-ono, si]5; jMrs. (icorgo, ^50;
now, and employ the teachei-s by the scholastic
Miss Cora Hart, ^50; Miss Ahbie Ciiase,
month. During the administration of i'rof.
§50; Miss Ollie Lcwellen, §50; James U.
l\aulus the following rates of tuition were
Taylor, §50; Mrs. Ci. B. Coll.y, §50; Henry
charged for those over sixteen and under
Smithers (col.), §50. On July 1, 1884, J'rof.
eight years of age §2, §1.50 and §1 jjer month.
W. iM. Kivcrs was elected principal, at a salary
On September 8, 1885, a committee of the
of §100 j)er month, and gave him nine assist-
schijul board was appointed to assist a com-
ants, the remaining salaries licMiig unchanged.
mittee of the aldermen in selecting plans for
On I'Vhruary 15. 1S85, i'rof. Frank M. John
an additi(nial schoolhonse. 'I'wo members
son was rc-electcJ for another year, at the same
of the lioard were a[ipointed to vi:,it the school
salary (§1,200), l)Ut he resigned June 10,
each week, and Mr. E. T. Lewis wao in-
18S5. The hoard fi.xed the salary of supei'in-
structed to see to fitting up a room in the
tendent at §150 }ier month, and ]>i-inci[)ars
city hall for use of the superintendent. The
salary at §100 per month. It W'as further
session was intei'rupted for the space of one
ilecided to employ a superintendent, a princi-
month by the burn: ug of tiie city hall. There
p;d and nine assistant teachers, the minimum
seems to have been no record of the minutes
monthly salary being §50.
of the school board from October IG, 1885, to
On July 20, 1885, Prof. D. A. Paul us was
April 10, 1880, and we are left to infer that
elected superintendent and Prof. W. J.J.
no meetings were hold, It is not likely, how-
Terrell, piincipal. It was further decided
ever, that all the necessary inconveniences of
that all assistant teachers slnjuld heexamined
securing temporary sclioolhouses, etc., were
by the superintendent and |)rincipal, said ex-
o\'erccime without some meetings. The more
amination to take place in the presence of the
correct conclusion would be that the minutes^
board uf trustees. It was during this admin-
if kept, were not recorded. The schools
istration that the board ordered the schools
closed April 30, 1886, having opened Sep-
to be taught by tiie calendar month instead
tember 1, 1885: the session wouhl have been
of the scholastic month, as is custtunai-y in
eight months had the interruption of one
alnnist every other city in the State. Two
month not been caused by fire. Prof. Paulus,
rea»(ins have been given for this action ; either
howe\ei-, claimed his salary for the entire
on account of the good salary then being paid
time, and brought suit against the board,
the superintendent (§150 per month, with
recovering juilgment including costs of
ton or eleven teachers), or it was ad\ocate<l
§110.13.
as a Jinlicy measure by some interested party.
There having been troidde between tlu^
.\v.v. AV» 1/ >'\V.\
'(•.r
; :tn,.i ::
.j.,r.
jsii- .i'^.^ ''I'j ;)i:J ;r)(' :!'■! ji.i
iJ'l'iliT l>q I;. 1.',.:. Oj.>.4 .^i j;^** U' -':...*V ':'■ ■')
■■,■ .-'I ^^l ,N .;..,:l',a'.1 i(V )'.- ,.l, M .;.U
'I Ir -^.fuO iitW JGilr? ,;4l.iuJ I'i t. .Ii'i l
>r/;(!'.> ■■.'.''-\ iiSdl.'L ;0:.>, Mi;l' /I'V/.J vil*'
o • ...■.;. .ig;; .r!;jr;//-..i j.ito H^i/: ,;»^-^
AND HILL COUNTIES.
l.o;ii'(l of trustees and ynpciintendeiit raiilu.s
(■uiiL'urnin^ a scttluiuLMit at lliu bo^inniug of
Ihi.sycar, tliu laard d.'cidcd to coiul.ine tlic
and LdectL-d I'l-of. W. J. ,J. Ti-iiidl as MijuT-
intciident-prineiiKd, and Trof. ,1. 1). (iold-
smitli as assistant principal. It was fiirtlicr
aeivud by all parties that only the actual
liuiu spent in teaching slmuld he coin|ieu-
hated, iVol'. Terrell receiving SlOU per mouth
and I'ror. (ioldM.iith !?75.
In June, ISSO, the hoard decided that all
teachers shouhl here-piired to hold tirst grade
certificates, but tl'.is action was rescinded at
the following meeting.
About this time is the first record C(jncern-
ing the change in the scholastic age; it being
tixed at from seven to eighteen years. The
8e^^ion of schools opened September It), 188t3,
and closed May l(i, 1887~-eight months.
Daring this se.-.>ion a princij)al and eleven
other teachers were employed. A resolution
was al.-o passed recjuiriug the principal to act
as tuaehi'r, which would im|)ly that in the
early hi.story of the schools the superintend-
ent or principal did little or no teaching.
On ,Iune 1, 1S87, it was delermiuod to
,1.
ileud
month, and that the services of twelve teach-
ers would be rctpiired. The supeiintendent
principal should receive ^lUU per month and
theasMbtaiit principal ;?70, each of the, teach-
ers $15. This was a decrease of salary of .i;5
per UKuith in all positions below the priuei-
j.al. i'rofs. Terrell and (ioldsmilh were re-
elected to their former positions, luit I'rof.
Terrell declined to accept and I'rof. !,ong was
clc('tcd in his place. This is the first year
which furnishes a leporc of the condition of
the scho.ds. The schcdastic population was
721, and theassesse.l value <,f ta.xable prop-
erty was j;l,r22,li7-l. 'i'he estimated value
of school property was $23,150. Actually
enrolled in the schools, 728. The cost of
instruction per month based on salaries and
actual attendance, $1.70; base.l on salaries
and total enrollment, 9 1 cents; based on total
expenditure and actual attendance, $2.0(5;
based on total expenditure and enrollment,
$l.(iO(). The entire expense of the eight
months' se.ssion was $0,755.80. On page 7
of this report We find the following: " ^'our
committee to whom was referred the course
of study for the ensuing year, has ailopted a
course ]ire[)ared with reference to complying
with all the requirements for affiliation witii
the Stale irniversity at Austin, so th.at pujiils
who may choose to tlo so, after completing
our prescribed course, niay enter said uni-
versity without re-examination." There is
no reason given wdiy application was not
made for aliiliation before last year, but sucii
had Ijcen the case. Schot)lo opened Septem-
ber 12, 1SS7, and clo.sed May 11, 1888—
eight nmnths. During this year tliere was
some troul)lu with the colored peoj.le. An
application for the transfer of the children of
twenty-nine parents, was tiled with the board.
After considerable discussion, it was finally
agreed to allow the transfer.
On June -1, 1888, Prof. J. N. Long was
re-elected superinteiulent, and I'rof. J. D.
Golds/nilh principal. The salai-ies remained
the same as the preceding year. On Febru-
1.;. -r.u
MM- !
1.1 o ..: lvi.'> ' '.....Ml ;ia),-w:'.v -iilJ
) 1. .rn^J l.iM' .'■■vi;. •>;■>.: tr,,,l, ,,,,],„
;!.)'.■•- •.■>f;.;ti ,j . l.;^»:l; '- . - til:'':..;;- ■ ' A.,V!''i !■ i< > J.. I'i Lilii
,M ..,,,);,,,,,■ .,, ".. :._:..:-u^^, I,:, , ■ r : • ; l! ..'1-'^ !.::-i-.j!. !m,;-. ..!.■.,(•'- I .^. :; I ;; i
1!" •/ 'i .■•;i...... . .o: ;i.iij.iijtui|i •! i' '' ■t''oI ,■''■ v/ii: ' ■ ;i ^,■1;-%, -lil-i': ■'..■ i'ni,;aje
. : -iv.,:;;; ■ I: ,/,
■■)1 iv V,,' ..::^J H
„il'JM...|
.r-i.v-!. iKyiii'T
153
ary 20, ISS!), tl,
HJSTOny OF JOHNSON
(I |i:issc(l A resolution
iicj;;iiiist Htalo uuituriuify of tuxt-l.ouks, ;uid
ro4'u,'stfii lliuii- ru|»i'uscntiaivoa in tlio Lc-oit,-
luturo to oppose tl,e measure.
The imniKil report of the s(-lionls for this
year siiows scliolastie census t(j ha\'u hecn
7lju. We lioiiht the correctness of this, on
account of tlie careless methods tlion in v(jo;iic
in many cities in takinj^ tlie census. Tlie
entire numher enrolled is rejiorted as 802,
hut there may he some dujilicates. The
uvcraoe daily attendance was 453 2-9; value
of city taxable projierty, Sl,2ljo,201 ; received
from city school tax, !ti2,51G.17; received
from State fund, $3,0G-i; tuition collected,
!j;l5().rj(), niakini^' a <fross income of $5,-
imm. In the written report several .sui,'-
gestions are uuule, the most im])ortaiit being
the adoption of the half-day si'ssioii in j)ri.
mary rooms anil the employment of a super-
teacher on full IK
On June 1, 18S9, Prof. Long was I'e-
elected superintendent, ami J\Iiss Mollie Allen
elected j)riiicipal. Before the schools opened
Aliss Allen resigned, and Prof. J. A. Stanford
elected to till vacancy. Dui'ing this year the
poople v., ted an ad.litional tax ,.f one-fuui-lli
of one per ce.it. for school purposes, and
iiuthorized the council to i^siie " schoolhouse
and improvement" bonds to the amount of
$-10,000, also voting the same tax, one-fourth
of one per cent., to pay interest on bonds
and to i>rovide a sinking fund. The schohistic
age was changed this year frinn seven to
eighteen, back to eight to eighteen. On
April 2'J, ISDO, the salaries were changed,
the sujicrintcndent to receive ^P^o por month.
principal >^!K), the t\v.) assistants in the high
school !?70 each, and all others §50. The
gross income for the schools this year(lSS'J-
"JO) was i};n,n8PO;5; total enrollnieiit rep..rt.>d,
918; value of school property, !i;2 1,200; value
of city taxable propcu-ty, $;l, 2-42,700.
Pending the election of superintendent for
the eiisuing year, the whole town was sad-
dened by the death of I'rof. J. N. L.^ng.
Agreeable in his manners, energetic in the
discharge of his duties, honorable in every
action, he was a model Christian gentleman,
one of Nature's noblemen.
June 3, 1800, Prof. S. iM. N. Alarrs, of
Hamilton, Texas, was elected superintendent,
with Prof. J. D.(7ol.lsmith principal. During
the fall |,rivate residences were renteel for
primary schools until the new houses could
be constructed. The schools were finally
located comfortably, January 1, 1801, and
the work of supervision made manifest by
the thorough organization of the grades and
unifying the etforta of the teachers, directing
them along a special line of work.
PitoF. S. M. N. Marks, superintendent of
the (Cleburne public schools, was boi-n in
Fayette county, Virginia (now West Vir-
ginia), January 2, 18(;2, and was reared and
educated in the public schools of that section
of the State. His f.ither and live uncles were
the Confederate
so that hid
sympathies wei-e naturally with the South in
her reorganization and reconstruction, lie
began teaching at the age of sixteen, and
taught three winters in the public schools of
Fayetto and Nicholas counties. At his first
examinati(,n he would have received acertif-
'/ y,
•fLIMM V i.'t'
'• ■'r'"i
0. J.
^.d^L . 9'i . ^yiy^AJU
AND niLL COUNTIES.
i>'ito of the first graae liud it not been
ii:,'aiii-t the jioliey of tlie e\:miiiiei'S to issue
However, llie two si.eeeediiij^r schools were
tiui-ht iliHler lirst-yrade eertiheates. Teaeh-
miitry se
four ami 1
ive liiul
ths
tlie year was not very reuuiiierati\'e, so he
fpent tlie iiiterveiiiiiy smuiiR^rs in working
oil the farm and in the coal mines wliieh
alioiiml in thnt State. A part of his farm
life was as a hired hand, receiving $8 and
j;ll) per month.
In the S[)i-ing of ISSl, at tlie age oi nine-
teen, he came to Texas, locating in Erath
coiiiily. His first school in Texas was taught
on the Uosqiie river, in a little log eahin,
without windows; the doora were made of
clapl.oards, ami the lloor was " xMother
Karth." Eighteen months were spent in the
country schools, when he was called to llico,
llauiiltoii county, as associate principal of
the ILico pulilie school. I'Vom there he went
to Lelianon, Ohio, where lie took his degree
ill iS^f. Having received a unanimous peti-
tion from the people of Hico to return and
asMime control of their schools, he did so and
a^sociat.d with him his classmate, Prof. J. ii.
Keatou, wdio i.- now a i)racticing attorney in
Ciuthrie, Oklahoma.
After one session in Hico, he was called to
Steidienville, the county seat of Eratli county,
and given full control of her schools. This
position he tilh^d satisfactorily three years,
and voluntarily left the town with the hearty
endorsemrnt of hotli the hoard of trustees
and his numerous patrons. While residing
at Stei.henville he was married to .Miss Anna
U. Heslip, of Fayette county. West Virginia,
August IS, 188(;.
The climate of Texas not seeming to agree
with the iiealth of his wife, in the summer of
1888 he returned to West Virginia, with the
intention of giving up teaching. Ho, how-
ever, received an offer to take charge of
Hamilton College, at Hamilton, Texas, which
he accepted, and was in chai-ge of that insti-
tution two years (1888-"J0), during which
time he succeeded in getting it established
on a secure basis.
At the death of Prof. J. N. Long, super-
intendent of the Cleburne public schools, he
was elected to fill tliat jiosition, June 3, 1890.
Ill his new position he has given the best of
satisfaction, and the citizens of Cleburne
speak ill the highest terms of him and his
wiudc. At his request during the fall of
18U1 a committee was sent by the State Uni-
versity to examine the Cleburne High School,
with s, view to the admission of its graduates
into the classes of the luiiversity without ex-
amination, "'i'lie report of the Committoe
was favorable, and the Cleburne High School
is now an auxiliary of the State University.
On May 4, 18"J1, i'rof. xMarrs was re-
elected biijierinteiident for the ensuing year,
and Prof. J. \\. "Wallace was elected princi-
pal. The salaries remained the same as pre-
ceding year, exce[)t the second assistant
princiiial, who now receives ijiGO per month.
In November, upon the a]. plication of the
suj)erintendent, the faculty of the State Uni-
viu-nity sent Dr. \V''alter JAd'ever as a commit-
tee to examine the high school, witli a view
to making it auxiliary, who reported favor-
il :..'... ^ ,,,-1 .mU 't. .>,•
v.. :mh, m. «,<:!, :•, , ,■>, tl- . ' ibU >d »!
HI STORY OF JOHNSON
h1,1v, au.l tlio Clc
The M'l,„oU
10 lliali School now
ir Slato, its -ra'iu;it,'S
tiir Iresliniaii classes
lirau-j; tliuro arc t'oiii
city u
bi.ikli
and one reiitcil, m:ikiiig in all tweiity-oiie
rooms; four i_)t' these rooms are waiting for
occupants, and Clehnrnc invites the man of
l,usii,e.-~s, he he poor or rich, to locate within
lier i.orders, and she will furnish him with
all the convenience^ of a home.
There are four new, well-constructed two-
story tiui
:s, fnrni.hini
twenty
and a lifth huildin- which is rented for the
colored people. Fifteen white and two
colored teachers are employed, and the aver-
age salary |
laid to the former i.-, $51) ].er
month, to the superintendent 1^1,250 per
year, and to the ]irincipal of the hioh school
ItiHlU per year. 'I'lie schools are taught by
calendar months. The tjiiildings, grounds,
furniture and a]i|iaratns are W(^rth §3>i,00U,
and within the last three months three huild-
inos have be.ui erected, at a cost <d' .Sl5,()U0,
tlu'se furni>hino; ample accommodation for
all children now enrolled, and giving four
rooms extra for new pupils a,s the attendance
increases. The enrollment lor the scholastic
year 18'J0 is 701; actuidly enrolled in the
K'diools, 85(); enrolled on the lirst day of last
session, 431; enrolled on the first day of
present session, 550; and the coloi'cd pojiula-
tion, lot. Thesclujold wc^re organi^iMl and
o-raded w\\\\ ele\'en grades, as now consti-
tuted, ill 1S84.
The schools are governed hy a hoard of
trustees, who are appointed l.y the city coun-
cil, seven constituting the hoard, the ^[ayor
of the city being ex ojjlclo chairman. The
terms of ollice last three years, and are so
arranged that one third of the number e.xpire
each year. The property of the schools is
vested in the city council, which has control
of all improvements, and the superintendent,
by virtue of liis ollice, controls, or rather has
charge, of all the buildings and grounds
throughout the entire year. The s.diolastic
enrollment for ISUl so far, yepteinber 10, is
7«1, and will reach 1,000. As to the course,
three years are spent on Latin, and in the
ire taken u
p e.N
ivcly: physiology, philosophy, botany, physi-
cal geography, chemistry, civil government,
jiolitical economy and mental science. The
teachers are selected solely with reference to
(jualitication, and come from the iliil'erent
Status of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas
and Alaljaina. The board of trustees as now
constituted are: (J. W. Mertz, li. F. Clayton,
Knox Thompson, J. L. Cleveland, Dr. J. K.
Keating, 11. S.Wilson and ii. F. Fryinier.
The rcvonue is derived from four diiferent
sources; tirst, from the State; second, from
the county; third, from special city taxation;
fourth, from tuition from jKiy pupils. For
the year IS'Jl the State rtivenue amounts to
$3,528; from the county, $2'J0; from special
ta.xation (city), §S,000, an.l fn^m pupils who
havo iieeii transferred from the county,
.S1'J8.75, there having been 105 transfers so
far tills year. There is ^till a lifth source of
revenue: The school a^e in Texas is from
'^■^.\"^ ■ ■■ r-' >. V'
yJ ^ti.i I'C;-; . (
U (I.l ..I ;.: -
►JfK'dlJ ■■ lf|:ii' (
)!■; i^; ;.J.Ir
:fl :r ..;!(.;■< ■•.li
V- , ,,,1 ,,u ,.01
AND HILL VOUNTIRS.
tern, liiit diu liuanl of trust
n^lilrni. 'I'hit iin-,.i,i(> .Irrivr.l I'roin pupils
ini.l.r ^,.ven un.l ovlt cI-IiLlhii is SlOO. Tliu
lot;il school ivvcmio from all these sourced is
$12,710.73, 'I'liiB entire amount will bo
^|K■llt for the schools, and the total monthly
expenses uiv ahout iJUGU.
At tirst a tax of one fourth of one ])er Ctiit.
was levied annnally upon the property of the
city ad additional support; in 18'JU an aildi-
tional one-fourth of one j)er cent, wiis levied,
and i;Uo as much more to pay interest on the
bunds recently issued tor the erection of three
ward school biiildin|j;s for [irinuiry pujiils.
These buildings were erected in the fall of
1.S90, all frame and on a uniform plan,
liaving four rooms each. The total seating
ca])acity of all the buildings in the city is
a'.out 1,000. \'alue <if school apparatus,
about §100. Numbered' volumes in school
lilu'ary, 500.'
The central school building, already
sketched in a former section of this work,
ha.s a campus of five acres, and each ward
building has one acre. .Ml pupils exce]>ting
the primary are sent to the central building,
which is HOW fairly well tilled.
For the colored children a building is
For the ,scho(d year ISIJO-'UI the B(dudastic
census was 701, and for 1891-'92, 78-1, in-
cluding about 100 colored. In LS90-'91
there were 830 s.diolars actually enrolled (no
re.luphcatiun in this cuunt ), and up to .March,
1892, the number was 920. In 188d the
total enrollment was only 410.
Pupils are
divide.
into (ileven grades, who
ar
■ taught 1
y seven
teen teachers, including
th
1 su|,erinli
ndenl.
The H.pe-r
nlendei
t and county judge are
in
lependent
of each
other, the ciMiuty judge
having juris
lietion
jvtu- country schools, the
su
;>erintende
It over
city affairs.
The Olebu
rue llig
h School in its course of
st
idy was connected
with that of the State
U
livorsity ii
the fall of 1891, so that puj)ils
g'
iduating here can
be admitted to the fresh-
ni
m classes
of that
institution without ex-
an
linatiou.
Of this
department J. E. Wal-
hu
e is the
present
principal, while C. N.
AV
illiams, wl
0 has a
first-grade certificate, is
pr
ncipal (jf the colo
•ed school.
Thus, seei
ig how
great a tax the citizens
of
Cleburne
are iin
losing uj)on themselves
to
• tlie sup]
ort of
free schools, it is con-
sp
cuoiis tha
they a
•e ahead of most cities
in
educatijm
1 work.
'J'he machinei'y is now
al
in hrst-cl
iss worl
ing order, leaving notli-
ing for the scholars
to do but study, uuder
th
e best fac
ilities
of moilern times, and
th
1 teachers
to enj
)y their work with a
k.
^)wledge tl
at circi
mstancos cannot bo any
be
tter.
NKW
SPAPEUS.
The Clebu
■ne Chr
./t/f/c is the oldest living
no
wspaper in
the city, and the most infiiieu-
ti;
1, having
been es
ablishe<l here in 1808,
wi
th Major .
ack Da
vis as editor and proprie-
toi
, and later
with J
. W. Graves and J. \l.
CI
u'ke as edi
tors. Mr. C-iravcis was aftoiward
8U
•eeeded bj
W. F.
Wells for a time, and
ret
urncd Auc
aist 15,
1874. It is now owned
,!•(.<. 1 !:*.. 'n-Mi ;^'
iw.^^U.'L .J!
•I 'i i.i\ I'. (U- [ ::: ':. !.:■(' ill; (Jtfl
IIlaTORV OF JOHNSON
an.l c.litiMl hy Al
,. (;. Scurlork, who ulso
isiiu'^ a tri-u-eckly. Olliiv on tl.u c.m-ult of
NoMl. Main lui.l Wanlvillu ^tiCL'ts, in a coin-
in,Hli,,u.s ono rflury luick l.uildiii^r, oxviiimI l,y
jMr. Scurkirk. In I'dimcclion with tliu papur
is a Wl-U uquippfd tteani job printing ustub-
li.-linient undor tlie tame nianai^-enieiit.
Mr. Scnrloek was born in Newmarket,
Madison county, Akd)ama, in 1847, tlie son
uf James F. and Rebecca (Criner) Scnrloek,
ol' (iernian and Englisli ancestry. His father
was a native of South Cai-olina, and his
motlier of Alabama. His father was a Lieu-
tenant-Colonel of militia diirino- the last war,
and was one of the most ])rnminent men in
his county. He died diiriiijj; the wai', in
Louisiana.
In 1855 the family moved to Te.xas, set-
tling about live miles south of Grand V^iew,
Jolinson county. " Lon " was brought up to
farm life. At the age of fifteen years he eii-
tei-ed I'osipieville College, in McLennan
county, bnt the very next year he entered the
Confederate service, in which he remained a
year, in Company G, Colonel AValler's J>at-
talion, General Tom Green's lirigade, and was
in several engagements.
Keturning home he attended Oakland Col-
lege, in the southern part of Johnson county.
Next lie w as on the farm again for about two
years, and then for a time he was engaged in
mercantile business in (irand View, where he
was justice of the peace for a while; and
finally, in 1878, he came to Clebui
purchased an interest in the Clrburiu
ChroiilrU; subsr<iuently he became th,' soh
out twice, ^the first time in NoviMiiher, 18S8,
when Mr. Scurlock's loss was very heavy.
The building, a two-story i)rick, was entirely
cmsumed. At this time the hie of the
C/z/v/i/e/c' was badly daniaged. The last lire oc-
curred Decen)ber U, iS'Jt), when the loss was
nearly
reat. Th
papi
er, however, was
issued regularly tlirougli this ordeal.
In his social relations i\Ir. Scnrloek is a
Ivnight Templar and a Knight of Pythias.
He is a gentleman of ipiick, lively fancy,
well educated in the political philo.-,ophy of
the country; and he is one of the most ac-
com])lished and useful members o^ the press
fraternity of the State, and is at present vice-
president of the Texas Press Association.
Editorially, therefore, he has a wide and last-
ing inlluence.
He was married in Cleburne A])ril 3, 188-4,
to May Julia, the daughter of Dr. T. D.
Jv-)i'ance (often mentioned elsewhere in this
volume: find his sketch by th'e index), and
his children are: Je.-,ie, P-olyne, Claude,
Alonzo (;., Jr., and Lorancc; the first two
are deceased.
N. F. IHoiiiNS, city editor of the Cle-
burne C/uvnicle, was boi'u in ISOl, at Grand
View, the sou of A. J. and Josephine (Echols)
Higgins. His father was engaged in the
live-stock btisiness, was one of the associate
justices of the county before the war, and
died in September, 1883, at Grand View;
and las mother afterward moved to Cleburne,
f ! where she di
teen to s,
1885. From the
,teen y.
attcnii-
propr
The Chronicle ha„ beei
A,ld Ran College at Thorp's Spring;
.. .' :l-j- ''■'■■■■ i -M 1
11,1. 'I /, r :
,(.:. ■.,••>, -mI-.I
.,1 U:.<Vl..:
.'" hiU
:L,7'' ,...,.1'.,'; " -M.;. .;'.r.,.-.; .u .■!/.■
Ill 'M -A.ja., ),:■ ,v r,
; ■(' ...I'll .;J/. -.'i'. ■ ;:.i.i! ^liliill'inil.
:.>MI ;.'' it) I . I , . I|[;..l.c 'J'b .ji l-il:
; U,inl.-1 :\ -U il'> .,ry/ ,:1 Iv...^
1 O",.;:. [ »!.J I'J '..j;). i,'(_ dO.
r i'ri.,;i:: IJi.
i9^
)
^ 4ln^"'->
a^.^Jt
C^-IL^C^^
ANJ) HILL COUNTIKS.
dill:,' l.u.-incss lit (iniiid View :uid Wliitiiuy.
and-coffee ' stylo is rapidly going into disuse.
NrNtlieeiitfivd the ullice of the CiLdmniu
thanks to our ellicient marshal, who is doimr
T.Lujram and K'liriied the iiriiitiiii,'- trade; in
all in his power to discourage it. Among
ISMi he went iiitu the iilliei^ of the (dehmiio
the new styles We notice the following:
Chrunlrlc ••ind .-.et type lor a yeai-, and tiieii
thumping on the head witli billiard cues,
lHv;anie city editor.
quii'ts and things; 'you're another' and
September 20, 18SS, he married Miss Elu
• you're another' three times; ' turn me loose
May Poole, a native of Olehiiriie and adaiigli-
atid let me get to him,' etc. Gentlemen in
ler uf It. A. I'oole. She died August 12,
want of a first-class tight will remeinlier that
l^S'J. During the same year lie imrehased
they are not rei|uired to pay their money and
and ran the Tri-Wcekly EnUrpi'Ue of Cle-
take their choice, but they have a right to
hiirne for several months, with financial suc-
take their choic.e before they pay. After you
cess. Ilis health failing lie sold the pajier to
have procured your light the marshal will
A. 11. Yeager, and he was sick for several
show you around to the captain's oliice, where
months. Itecovering, he traveled, collecting
every attention will be shown you; and his
debts for a business man, and since then he
honor, who has a complete pi'ice list of all
has been connectcMl witli the 67; /'(^/t/c/c' again.
kinds uf lights, will tell you how much yours
He was elected city secretary April 7, 18U1,
is worth to a cent."
and he is also secretary and manager for
The Weekly Ttlcijiuiii was the second pa-
the Electric-Lighting Company in Cde-
per established in Cleburne, A. J. Eyrd being
biii-ne. lie is a member of the order of
its founder and editor, while W. IL Eyrd
Knights of rythias, and is a very intelligent.
was the business manager. It had four pages.
]iolite and accommodating gentleman.
nine columns to the page, all " home print,"
A.s an e.xanijde of editorial rhet(jric we
and yet the [irice was but s2 a year. The
give the following, from the Cleburne Chroni-
subscipieiit proprietors were, in turn, ilr.
cle of September 5, 187'J, on a stale subject,
Senter, A. 11. \'eager, I'ercy Simonds, A. II.
ihe reporter using commercial hmgnage in a
Veager again,- -who consolidated it with the
new role: -A large and well assorted stock of
Tri- Weekly AV(«6', which lia.l been founded
fights liave been received in this market and
ami run a year by Solomon Lockett, aii'l
are being rapidly disposed of. The prices
formed the JCater^/vise, during the ])rohi-
are about as u.sual, ranging from !?2.50 to
bitioii campaign of 18S7, and devoted to that
$10, trimmings being charged for as exti'as.
cause. This was at first a tri-wcckly, of live
The old reliable, time honored ' knock-down-
columns to the ])age; for a time it was a
and-drag-out ' stylo seems to be rapidly
daily. January 1, IS'JO, it was purchased by
growing in favor. It is very etlieient and
T. ii. Sanders, who now conducts it as a
geiu'rally gi\es satisfaction; the price is
local newspaper, seven columns to the page.
reasonable. The old and barbaroii.-^ ' pistol-
Mr. Saiidius is a native of J.ouisiana, boi-n
VV/iVV'.. \...:\
R> Oil
J'. ■: .:• ■ i ..':■: -"'' !.• ;. • ' o;l ,■'■■ '^.- '".': ^•
158
U I STORY OF JOHNSON
Hi,-, fiitlier
in Miiuleii, in lS(i4, liis fatliiT Knglisli and
his mother native AnieriiMii. At tlie at^e of
ei-ht years he eaine with ih,. family to Texas,
s.^ttliiig in IVirycll cmnty, whrn. ho learned Ii
the printer's tra.le; and since 1S77 he luis
heen a resident uf ( Ueburne, en^'aged in print-
ing and juiirnalism. Attir^t he was employed
here hy Graves & Yeager.
He is married, having a wife and ehild.
He and his wife and live other,, had a narrow
es-jape from drowning in West lintfalo creek
diirini,^ the tiood of 1887, an account of whicli
is given on page t51
The Clelnune Weekly JltdUfin was started
aljoiit August 1, 18811, by the " Bnlletin
rnl)lishlng Company." A. J. liyrd, editor,
and W. H. r.yrd, IniMness manager. It was
then the largest paper in the comity, and the
material of the otiico all new. It had four
pages, with nine columns to tlie Jiage, all
" home pi'int." This paper is now the Ah'a-
rado Bulletin wliich see under a suhsequent
head.
The Cleburne Tribune, pulilished at the
next corner north of the Fir.-l .Vational Hank,
was established in March, 18St!, by Dr. An-
<lrew Young and W. 11. (iraves. It was then
a seven-column folio, independent in politics,
but with a strong symjuithy for the •' I^abor"
element, which has since developed into a
great party. Hi 1S87 it was enlarged to an
eight-column, four-])age papei-, of which size
it still remains, and still with the old sympa-
thies for the rising ])arty. It has always
been published as a weekly.
^H■. (iraves, who is now I he proprietor and j ,.,„
e.litor, was burn in Indiana, January 8, 1820. I ^^s
ler was a native of Mas-achusettB
id o\' English ancestry, and his mother a
Uive of (ienesce county. New 'I'oik, and uf
His bovhoo.l
a tannery, but ever since he was a grown
man ho has been in the jjrinting-otlice as
printer and journalist, except that during
ten years, including the war period, he was
engaged in mercantile business in JHssouri,
of which State lie was a resident from 18;55
to 1870. In 1.S38 he went to Jelferson (lity,
where he was married. "While living in
ilitsouri he was a member of the l.egiblaturo
from 8priiigtield, and Register of the Hnitcd
States Land Otfice during Buchanan's ad-
ministration.
He came to Texas abcnit twenty years ago,
stopping lirst at fort A\\.rtli for awhile, and
for tlie last seventeen years ho has been a
resident of Cleburne. The iirst year here,
near Cleburne, lie followed farming, and then,
in 1873, in partnership with ]j. IJ. Paddock,
purchased the Fort Worth Democrat, wiiicli
is now the Fort Worth Gazette^ the principal
paper of that city. On his return to (Jleburno
he took charge of the Chronicle otKce, be-
longing to his brother, but was stioii after
purchased by himself and Mr. A. II. Yeager,
and was connected with it until ISSl. He
is a Freemason and a member of the Legi(ju
of Honor.
(^ has
■a.luated at Yale Col-
lege in 1872, and is now living in Hartford,
Connecticut, wdiero he is supei'intendent of
the public schools. Another son, the yoiing-
oni-i; and tlieri! are two (hunditers, ono
l,i«LMV. , II
./, i ^T-"' ^ 'V'^' ■
.•,o,,v>r. ?.-,..,. ••('-'•"!
1. '^ii/. .J.UV 1 i.-yi^.,:> .. .,1.
^!V. ,..,^.;,;
AND HILL OUUNTrKS.
\\\\ug iit yt. Louis, Missouri, and tlie other
years parish judge of Avoyelles parish, lie
.•It liKKpundeiicu, buiiiu Stat.'.
descended from one of the original French
'i'hc ,luliiit-on (Jouiity Jl^rU'to, tiiu latest
settlers of Louisiana, an.l married llebecca
\L'nturc ill ( Ilulniriic joiiniaiisiii, was estab-
Leoiihard, of Massachusetts parentage,— old
ii.lu-.l ill the spring of IS'Jl, hy J. A. Tcni-
Tilgriiii stock.
ph'inaii anJ 11. E. Okli'ather, the lirst imniliur
Mr. Laillio was born at the village of Uoeo-
hein^r dated April 3. It has ei^ht payes, live
ville, Avoyelles parish, Louisiana, I'Y-bruary 0,
..■ohiiiiiis to the jiayu. The (dlice is a nice,
1848. In December, 18tJi, he enlisted in
f|Kieiuiis one, in the ^econd story ul tiie brick
the Confederate army, in Captain Joseph A.
huildiiig at tiic southwest corner of the pub-
Leiijamin's company of cavalry, at that time
he s(jiiare, wliere all chisses of job work are
stationed at Natcliitoches, Louisiana, and
weh and promptly executed. The make-up
served as the escort of Major-(ieneral S. L.
of this jiaper is excellent, — that i?, it actually
Buckner. December 11, 18(17, he left his
"excel.i" most other local papers in this part
Louisiana home for Alvarado, Johnson county.
of Texas. Its specialty is the prebciitatiun
Texas, coming across the country on horse-
of facts concerning the advantages of Ole-
back, and reaching Alvarado December 22,
iiuriie and Johnson county, to imluce a good
1807. February 3, 1870, he marrietl Miss
.'hiss of settlers, lioth in the country and in
Mattie M. Criiier, daughter of Granvillu
the town. The young, mllde^t proprietors
deserve a uni\ersai ])atrona^e.
J\[r. Templeman, the city editor, is a
native uf Missouri, in which State he learned
the printer's trade, and has been in com])any
with Mr. Oldhitlier for eight year.. lie is a
man of family. J\Ir. Uldfather, the Imsiness
manager, has liad a life-long experience in
the printing olliee. I'.olli t he-e geiilleiiien
are l)em.,crats, are judicious in the maiiage-
meut of their pajier, and liave an exce]ition-
ally tine inaniU'r of address.
Early in 18'J2 F. 1]. ISaillio, from the Al-
varado IJulletin, purchased a hall' and con-
trolling interest in the licoicw, and is the
editor. Mr. Llaillio is one of a family of ten
children. His father. Judge (iervais llaillio,
was a pnnninent and leading man cd' the par-
ish <,f ilapides, Louisiana, and w^-, lur .deven
Criner, one of the first settler.-, of Johnson
county. From that time until December,
1S87, he lived at (J rand View, Johnson
county, Texas. He lias hud four children:
Sarah liebecca, born September 8, 1871;
Helen Celeste, March 18, 1871; Martha
Evans, February y, 1877; and (iervais Gran-
ville, February 10, 18S1. The latter died
March 1, ISSl.
Leaving his ])arents when only nineteen
years old, an inexjierienced boy, with scarcely
any education, — certainly not more than is
pussessi'd now-a-days by twelve-year-old boys,
— Mr. llaillio's life has been a checkered one.
He worked at anytjjing he could find: has
been a farm hand, a cotton-gin hand, a school-
teacher, a farmer, a commercial tourist, a
merchant, a wagoner, a cow boy, farmer
again, and lastly editor. F.'eliiig early tiie
"■ X^'
.1) ; ..( .;....,■.!
.a r: -.r.' .:m- Ml :/ I- jrjin', uih •- ■;.=■.■ ■■- Jr..,- .U i..,.)!^ .y. ■,;:<!■:. ^4 ;;.in :iw;
,•,;„, O'.'^.-i^.i.luL.-i j.-u-;l/.i. 'J:- ..,1 ':.:;.:-' ■. . ; .- ,,-!: ..' -/v,;,,,,, -■■■,,■ km!" ^.,.01 -.J-:X:-'
..'. :.;: ,,, v,^^...!.. ..:') ..or.,; ,,.■:.-,.. ' ■ -- n- >/' : <;>;'. -r- .i -,..:.->r '«
,-[; . I'l,,:-,!! f.'nr-vIA •jiini-i...| i.ui;..;.:. . ■. ;;-:■■;. /. • , .K.ti; !.-. ■.,;* ■).,
„;[,■,, ,!•.■,. ■'. i:ji.i:'jUiL. /.■,<'i') .". '■^^.\l I'i .;.!); ■/■I'l'iiMM ;... J iii ;1; ,1 ,,-.-i";ll'.. lu i^i i .
(Ti^i'TK^ ■! iiMi-' -V i' <^vll 111""!'' * I"' ' .r>'jJ..J.'!U-(| liies;' . Kit: J! jvuad'
.(i-.lblifl^ !..o; .:-..; ....i vi\ .- /i , ■-' ■- ' I " ! '-' ' "■ \.''^-! r\ ,V^u,.^.!i]ll' '..:-.viji;„
''/ ,L' ■■ 'i iJiri' '■•.'' > , '» i
■ii!';'r.f'. ,-i;' ./)a>i:ino .ij.iii
•.Ill ,::..w'ill'.
iifsTonr OF joiiA'soN
St after liis
him fVoiii attai
ith
')^-
lie woila
liani hy day, and then lay awako at ni^ht
etmlying. Many and many a night, stimu-
lated and cneoiu-aLjed by his nuble wife, he
studied after ii hard day's plowing, until
midnight. During 1885-"S7 he plowed and
hoed and
tnu p;
bed for the Alvarado 7.'«/-
uinity,
eally
itel-
letin, then owned by (I. C. Fabiu, and re-
ceived many handsome eomjiliments for the
^s'ork he did on that paper. In December,
18S7, he moved his family to Clay county,
and was a fai-mer there until his remo\-al to
Alvarado, in Januai-y, ISS'.J.
In January, 1888, he lu.uight a half inter-
est in the JUilletiu, and became its editor.
In ,1 une following he bought the entire plant,
and as sole editor and juoprit'tor conducted
that pajier until February 10, 1892, when he
pui
I'd a half and
llino- interest
he Johnson County Jicview at Cleburne,
nd became its editor.
These main facts and features constitute
lut a nu'ager outline of the iips and downs
• {■ Mr. ISaillio's life. lie has always been
r takino- bu- his ir„i,l..
th.
tural injunction, "Whatsoever thou findest
for thy hands to do, do it with thy might."
lie never assumed any undertaking in liis
life but that lie tried to get as uear as j)Ossi-
ble to the top, as he always tliouglit there
was more room there than at the bottom or
about the center. Whatevei- advancenuuit
he has ma.le he credits to bis noble wife.
J\Ir. Kaillio, in the estimation (,1 the com-
Icctually, and therefore socially; for wo
firmly believe that one cannot be highly in-
t.'lleetual without being "levelheaded,"
social and kindly. Mr. iJaillio's iM.liteness
is cosmopolitan, while bis heart is as larire
as any man's within the circle of our ac-
(juaintance.
The educatiomd depai'tment of the Rcricw
is conducted by tlie present city suj^eriuteiid-
ent of schools, Prof. 8. M. Is'. ]\Iarr.~, who
understands the greatest secret of all journal-
isuj, namely, the necessity of collecting and
publishing news. As a curiosity, in No
vend)er, 18'J1, he submitted to a vote of the
teachei-s of the county a question to ascertain
their opinion of the jHjjiularity of the follow-
ing "desires," — not indicating their own de-
sires, but simply their opinion of mankind
as a class, with the result here given: Lify,
lii; projierty, 7; power, 8; esteem, 7; beauty,
5; knowledge, (i; and perfection, 9. Dr.
liaklwin, in his " Elementai-y Psychology,"
makes the same estimate, e.xcept that he con-
siders the desire for knowledge stronger than
that for beautv.
The present pi-actitioiiers of medicine in
Cleburne are Drs. T. J. and John L. Wag-
ley, J. D. and T. C. Osborne, W. P. Alexan-
der, J. J. Williamson, G. C. Francis, J. R.
Keating, S. A. Grecnwell, Guy D. Compton,
George P>. Colby an<l J. 11. Murphy. We
have not intentionally omitted any nam.>.
pl.y:
s of th(< past probalily the
Drs. ']'. D, Lorance and
,1;,. , _ ! :■' : _-; '..■h ■ '.:,.! ■ '.. m'
..-i va v:.
.^U^.\
' ■• l.i|if.
' •,. .' ' ■>
t. (/i A :.-l.
!-' ■:) !.i'i! :;
-i ■ ^••••I
•7r.''li " , .1.
U\ '!■:■ '"r 'mm -v. itif l;i;i.,if,
,._„(i./.;i .-lA
AND HILL COUNTIES.
AikIil-w V.nino-. Young l.iu.1 l.ecii a l.ravc
iMMilry Colonel in tlie ('onlVdcTatu army and
a niLiiiln'i' of tlio Georgia Legislature, but eo
liitlir was the warfare there against him that
he lied to Texas, a eonnuuiiity of greater
liherality. He was fervently devoted to his
frienils and bitterly hated by his enemies.
Here he founde-l the Cleburno Tribune, in
c.niiiaiiy witli \\. 11. Graves, lie died liere
a few years ago, as the residt of wounds re-
ceived in the war twenty-five years previ-
ously. Dr. Loranee came hei-e before the
war, and died in March, 1S7S. lie did much
for the interests of Clebuiwio.
In Apj-il, 1S76, the Johnson County Medi-
cal Association was organized, willi the fol-
lowing oilicers: L. 11. Gebhart, president;
J. U. Keating, vice-president; T. J. Wagley,
recording secretary; James 1>. Osborne, cor-
responding secretary ; and W. 11. Dill, treas-
urer. J\Ieetings were held twice a month, at
the dental oliice of Dr. W. T. Moore.
Cleburne Lo<hjc, lYo. Jir., F. d; A. JL,
received its cliai'ter June 111, iMi'.l, and the
charier oilicers were: Janu'S lliner, W. M.;
AV. J. Hay, S. W.; ]]. J. Chambers, J. AV.
J. A. Willinghiun is the jiresent Secretary.
The first Masonic building in Cleburne
was erected about 1870, at the southeast cor-
ner of the public square. It was 2G x 70 feet
in dimensions, and two stories high. About
187'J it was burned with all the Masonic
records, so that not many ],articuhirs of the
■arlier lii:.t
With the
isoiiry licK) c
J monej the p
building was erected in the fall of 1881; it
is valued at .sl2,00O. The lodge now owns
stock to the amount of $i,5U0, and has a
cash surplus in the treasury of $G()0. Tlie
annual dues are $2, and the present number
of members is 125.
Cleburne Chapter. No. 100, li. A. M., re-
ceived its cliarter June 15, 1871, and the fol-
lowing Were the charter officers: W. O.
]\tenefee, 11. P.; Andrew Young, K.; and
John Shalfer, S. The iirst meeting under
dispensation was held July 6, 1870, with
L. J. Randall as H. P.; James lliner, K.,
and John Shalfer, S. The first State convo-
cation was held July 5, 1871, when the fol-
lowing oilicers were duly installed, and the
chapter set to work under the charter by
John Matlock, 1). G. 11. P.: W. (). Mcnefee,
II. P.; Andrew Young, K.; John Shaffer,
S.; L. 1). McMillen, C. II.; O. S. Heath,
P. S.; (). P. Arnold, K. A. C; J. A. Chit-
wood, M. 3d v.; Joim Evans, M. 2d V.;
N. E. Iglehart, M. 1st V.; ^\ . J. Hayes,
Treasurer; N. II. Cook, Secretary; and G. P.
Turner, Guard.
The chapter now owns §5,000 stock in the
Masonic building, leaving !c;2,500 owned by
individuals. Present membership, fifty-seven.
Annual dues, §1.20. J. A. Willingham, Secre-
tary.
Cleburne Commandery, No. 12, K. T.,
was organized under dispensation August 5,
1875, and the charter was granted February
15, 1877. The charter members were N. 11.
Cook, V. Gray, AI. Dickson, Jesse M. Hill,
15. I). Simpson, J. C.Prundey, Thomas Law-
rence, (). M. Addison an.l O. P. Arnold, of
'.) .1 V, .:.,■■.
:[:.■„..
< .;. • v .r ■ .: -I. If
::; : -. ...,::>r ' V/ -Ji .1
il.l.V/ .ituvi»j
103
IIISTOHY OF JOHNSON
wlmm hIx arc liviiio-. 'riirrc iirc nuw sixty-
iiig coiiilitioii. TliL' present olliccrs are: W.
J. Uutle.lge, E. f.; Tlioi.iaa J.awreiice, (1. ;
Juhii 11. r.oy.l, C;. Ci.; liev. W. P. i;ru\vn,
i'relate; S. 1!. Allen, Treasurer; (i. II. Maxey,
Uec.nler; J. H. Jones, S. W.; Jim Lan^Hton,
J. W.; 11. S. Wilson, Warden; 1!. 1). Simp-
son, Standard Jiearer; II. F. Long, Sword
IJearer; W. C. Long, Sentinel.
Johnson Lodge, No. ISl, I. O. O. F., was
oi-gani/.ed July S, 1871, by (1 L. Dawson,
1). 1). G. M., with the following ollicers:
Ci. II. Maxey, X. (}.; M. S. Kalile, V. G.;
P.. I). Simpson, Sec.; (i. \\ . Davis, Treas.
iNothing of public interest occurred in the
lii.tory of this lodge until October, 1881,
when it BUsponded from some cause, and lay
dormant until May 17, 1880, when it was re-
instated by II. M. Chipman, D. I). G. M., of
Alvarado Lodf^e, and the followint( ollicers
were elected: A. W. Moody, i\.(;.; Dr. T. J.
Wa-ley, y. G.; T. L. Towusend, Sec; B. D.
Simpson, Treas.
On March 11, ISSt), on account of some
bad material in the lodge, a motion was made
to surren.ler the charter, and c-arried. May
18 loilowing the lodge was resuscitated hy
D. D. (i. M., J. V. .Mimms, with I'. J. iNor-
wood, X. (i.; Nicli. Hanson, V G.; W. M.
Thompson, L. S. X. G; J. 11. Keitli, R. S.
N.(i.; John (Mark, U. S. V.G.; (i.\^ Ilalla-
baugh, O.CL; Thomas I'oulware, I.(i.; J W .
Uiley, Ghap.; W. W. Murdock and J. M. ISal-
Icn, S. S.; G. \l. Schmalt/., Treas.; J. \\\
Norwood, Sec; 1*. J. Norwood, Uejiorter to
(Jrand Lod.rc
Since the above date the lod-e has run
smoothly, having now ii working force of
fifty-eight members. It meets every Mon-
day night. The ]. resent oilicers are: J. M.
Flitch, N.t;.; William Lockett, V. (4. ; (ireen
Whittenbury, Treas.; W. A. Dillard, Senti-
nel; and 1'. J. Norwood, Keporter to Grand
Lodge.
OUi^c Lodiju, No. 31, K. of 7'., was or-
ganized March U, 1882, by District Deputy
and Past Grand Chancellor Max Elser, of
Fort Worth. The first ofHcers wore: T.Law-
rence, C. G.; J. D. Osborne, V. 0.; II. W.
Patton, Prelate; J. A. Lindgren, Sec The
lodge has increased in membershij. from
twenty-two to 113. The present oilicers are:
II. V. Prown, C. G.; John Floore, V. (.,
Sam Kamscy, Pi-elato; J. Ii. Uansouo, Jj-.,
K. of P. & S.; I. Frenkel, M. of F. ; J. M.
ICller, M. of Fl; IL Hall, M. at A. Succeed-
ing Mr. Osborne, W. 11. Pattoii-was the next
Chancellor Commander; then W. B. Shaw,
J. R. Keating, Louis Moses, B. L. Hodge,
J. A. Lindgren, J. A. Styron, Sam Straus,
S. D. Mobley, It. E. Alexander, B. L. Hig-
gins, C. V. Myers and II. P. Brown. The
lodge meets on alternate AVednesdays, finan-
cially is in a strong condition, and it is
accumulating a fund foi' the erection of a
buil.ling.
Chburne Lodge, No. 1,095, !{. of IL, was
orgaid/ed May 2'J, 1878, with a membership
often. The first oilicers were: J. M. Gritlin,
Past Dictator; L. H. Gebhard, Dictator; B.
J. French, Assistant Dictator; J. A. Lind-
gi-en, Ileportt'r; T. Lawrence, Financial Ue-
jiorter; Max Lasky, (iiiide; M. Morris, Guard-
'yi.j\, ^lo \:vny\A
mil •.. '. o; ii'i. pi! ■ . I ,, -t'uSr. ■■■ill
■ I'.cf I' )' ij .1? f i '.:^I'(.| oil
,■■■;■,;• :.:■ ■/ ^< _:.. ' r!!!;-//- ; ;) /.h; .■.■■■; ' ,:r,,>..;' -i _7 r>'
: ■' •■ l....;i II ,..!rl.
'- '<.
!Of.'}j.
■,:,.r.,;: I . !/ •:! :
'•' .'(''
1,: ;...rp.;fn [..,,i1
.■; .1. ,.!;■ .:> .t: .<!
:(■■;: .;; .:• : > -. . ^m
AND mi J. COUNTIES.
i.m; mihI 1. Stciic, Sfufinrl. I'.r.si.lcs tliu.sc,
and fur sick benelits; $100 is allowed for a
T. \\. Shuw was als,, ,-i .•li;utcr innnhLT.
monument foi- every sovereign who dies.
.\lr.-->r.>. LiiidgMM] and l.awrencu aru now tlie
There are at present about thirt-se\'eiiy active
mil)' iiiriiil)L'i-s of tlie above list.
members. Tiiis society is vei-y tlirilty for a
Siiur the dato of their organization lliey
young lodge, and is substantially growin-;.
luvr initiated loij lueiiiheivs, and admitted \>y
It meets monthly. The present officers are:
eard tiiirty-two, wliile twenty-six liuve with-
A\^ Oliver, C. C; W. M. Dillard, V. L.; J.
drawn; thirty-six mendiertj have been sus-
11. Bowman, llaidver; J. E. I'itts, Clerk;
pended, an.! seven iiave died. Tiie total
Managers— C. C. IJyers, W. Eilgoe and John
nienibersliip at present is therefore seveiity-
Kamsey.
eix. This lodge has paiil into the widow
Jilethean VhapUr, 0. Z. ^V. 6'., Avas or-
an.i orphan fun<i S18,r28.'JU, and there have
ganized in the spring of 18'J1, with the fol-
been drawn fi'oni tlio fund $1-1,000. The
lowing ollieers; J. L. liushong, i'resi<lent;
present ollieers .iire: J. K. K'eatinjr, ]>. ; \\ .
Miss i.alla Suratt, Vice-1'i'esident ; Walter
v. Ih-owne, V. 1).; ,). .M . Chnver, A. L).; J.
r.aird, Secretary; ifiss iielie ('hambers. Cor-
A. l.indgren, M: James 1). Osborne, V. K. ;
responding Secretary; and Miss lierta Hall,
N, L. i'oole, T.; ]'. J. Norwood, K. 11.; W.
Treasurer. This society is ])Ui-ely educa-
(Markson, C. ; 1. Krenkel, Cardinal; K. M.
tional.
.Mlard, S.
Idiere have been, naturally, many othc^r
i'Ubujiie fj'thje, J.eyidH of Honor, wd^
small S(.)cieties organizt^l in Clebui-ne, social,
established in IS.Sl, with the followini,^ char-
iriusical, etc., most of which have had but a
ter members: AV. 11. Graves, Dill, 0.
transient existence.
Diekson and wife, 1!. L. Durham, W. F.
Kamsey and W.O.Smith. Mr. ^Sniith was
CHURCHES.
the tirst Commander, and J\lr. (Jra\-eB is
II et/iO(/is7n.— The first Methodist minister
the present incumbent; T. U. Osborne, Sec.
preaching in Johnson county, was Simeon
This loilgi^ meets twice a month. It has
Odcm (or Odtun), who held a meeting not far
received for benetits a total of $10,000.
from (ii'an<l View, in the southeastern part
Three members have died.
of the county. lie was a goo<l man and had
Cross TUiibci's Cain2'>, No. Ii, Modern
a \'ast inlluence. The next was "Uncle"
Woodmen of the World, was organized April
Jeremiah Easterwood, a one-legged man, who
y, 1891, with W. 11. Wilson, (V)uncil Com-
came in ]853; he was a practical and eflicient
maiulcr; J. (]. Morton, Vice-Lieutenant; W.
worker. Methodism was established at Cle-
T. niakeney, Haid<er; T. J. W\i;ley, Clerk ;
burne early in the '70s.
K. 1!. Craft, Escort; A. C. Scnrlock, Watch-
First thei-e was a union Sunday-school in
man; and U. K. Craft, Sentry.
llie old college building, witli fifteen or
This society insures for $oOO to $8,000,
twenty memljcrs, including ollieers and teach-
t'--
L.<;.: i •■!■ •;■
"" -c
u,h ;.■
> ./: -J > -■■ ,'•:- / . :i/- <■'/:.) V.,- ■ - ■
-i. . -j:'. Jli./ ,l*.'-.l ■!
Ill , .t/S\.:^;I,ir i j ."ni lu, Ujio t ,in
7' ■ 1! .' .
,1. 1 1^ 'i
■ . . ; J ./:
,■;-■,: .r I
.-.Hl:,,i
-nlT
104
111 STORY OF JOHNSON
er.s. Thu i-uliool was al't.Tward transferred to
tlie residence of '\\v. -Mahrv, next to a private
iiousc immediately across the street, next to
tlie old courlhouse, tinui to an old store-room
on ti.e south side of the s.juare, and linally
to the church huildino- before it was lini^lled,
)lli
'g^
were lixed up for seats
whei
This churcli had heeii erected as far as the
joists ahout l67t), and for the lack of funds
speiided. About two years after-
work wat
ward it was covered, but as yet no floor was
laid. The society of course, had been ori:;an-
ized some time prior to this.
Tlio first pastor, or about the first, was Kev.
J. P. Mussett, wlio was succeeded by I. N.
Keeves, IL 11. II. Burnett (now a travelinir
cvanoelist whose reputation extends beyond
the boundaries of tlie Stale), J. W. Campbell
(afterward editor of the Ttxas Ohristiuit,
Advucatc), A. C-iaskill, W. L. i^elms, four
children and ollicers can be counted as meet-
ing at this Sunday-school. There are twenty-
live ollicers and teachers. A. W. P.aird is
su])erinteiident. Iv I!. Black has been secre-
tary fur the last seven years.
The church building, which is on South
Main sti-eet, is a franu^ costing abouc ."i^O.OOO,
and seating about 5U0.
i;e.i<le.., there are two colored Methodist
churches in Cleburne, whose mend.er.-,hip is
light. One is the African Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and the other the Colored Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, South.
Freahijterlunisin, old-school, was first in-
troduced into Johnson county at Alvarado in
l!^74. Eor an account of it, see under heail
of Alvarado, further on.
Ten members, in dilfi-rent parts of the
county, drew up a petition for the organiza-
tion of a Eresbyterian churcli under the care
years, S. J. Franks, two years, D. II. Dickey j of the Central Presbytery of T(
one year, A. I'. Taylor two years, J. II. Col-
lard two years', T. \X. Eogers, one year, and
J. S. Chapman, the present pastor, since
December, IS'JI. He is a native S..uth
Carolinian, but recently from Los Angeles,
Calilornia.
The present membership of the church is
said to be 4oU. There are four lo
:al preacl.
ers, namely: A. E. Taylor, li. IE Adair, IE
C. Ellis and S. B. Walker. The stewards are
Dr. AV. P. Alexander, James Eangston, A.W.
Baird, Dr. J. J. Williamson, John M. Clower
and A. P. Taylor. Ed. J\I. Allard is class-leader,
in the Sunday-scho.d are twenty. one .dasses,
with an average attendance of 150 to lOO;
there are 175 on the roll, so that about 200
The
• and
petition was forwarded to the modi
Secretary, liev. S. A. King, at whose sugges-
tion it was ])resente.l to another mini.-,ter to
secure his signature; but it was tleemed un-
necessary to call a meeting. It would be
dillicult to obtain a (piornm. These views
were communicated to the chairman of the
committee on sustentation; and he, with Revs.
W. S. Johnson and S. A. King, was ap-
pointed a committee to organize the church.
Notice was therefore given that services would
be held in Cleburne Friday to Sunday, Au-
gust 20 to 22, 1875, to conclude with the
organization of a Presbyterian church. The
services were held lirst at the Metln.disl
church and then at the courthouse. Eev; W.
i. *lll ,.■-1.. ,(■
HT ,: -U, .y, ' r;'l !.,v-.;j .
■. ■,; ii. ^v.^.'i // T , v;,v .:.: \.;cA
.' .l,...l'
AND HILL COUNTIES.
S. .Ii^lin.-uji was tlie ininistci'. After scTinon
..I, Siin.l.o- the doetriiiLS and loriiis ol' </ov-
.nin.rnt of tlie I'lvshyturiaii clinrcli wure
In. Ily >lalc',l, an.l tlic rulluwiiijr pern.ns jnv-
.. nl,-.l llirm.L'lvf, as .K'.iruus of urgaiii/.iii^r :
U'. II. (Iiavcs, Mrs. M. J., (iraves, M.S.
K.ililc (tl,o only lueiiibor liere iuav), U. A.
.Mr.Xcilly an.l his wife J.. A., J. J). Wilson,
i;.-na liarnes, AVilliain F. George and his
uif,. M. II. .Messrs. (iraves and JleNeilly
\MTu the lirst elders; and the first .leaeons
unv .M. S. Kaiile and ,]. \). Wilson. From
liic date of oiganization to the present time,
the el.lers have been W. II. (iraves, K. A.
.Me.Xeilly, W. 0. Ale.xander, .M. «. Kahle,
IVylou Irving, J. iM. Lewis, AV. II. Wilson,
W. M. iiivers, A. Irvine, S. C. Anderson,—
all .if whom liavc; .lied oi- moved away e.\ce|>t
.Me.us. IiA in- an.l Kahle. The deaeons have
heen, M. S. Kahle, J. I). Wilson, F. E.
.\.h,ms, 1). U. Garrison,.!. J. Wilson, U.-hert
Craig, .1. W. l.aniljanl, ^-all of wiioni are
.lL■cea^ed or rem.jved away I'.xcejjting Messrs.
.\dauib, Craig and Lanibanl. The present
menibershij) is about iifty-live. April 1(1,
Is7G, the I'resbytery ordered the eonsolida-
li.,n of the Alvara.lo and (Jleburne ehurelies.
Alioiit a year after the organi/.ati.)n of the
cluireh, when there were but eight or ten
members, and they had no ministei-, they
look a \ote with reference to ditbolving, and
they all voted lor the pr.ipcsition except Mrs.
(ieorge, an.l she won the victory, holding
the churcii together. Il is now in a good,
healtiiy condition, having a neat house of
worship, well furnishe.l, GO x 3 1 feet, an.l
situated on north Main street, with a pai-son-
age in the lear. The congregation is out of
.lebt.
The ministers have been lievs. W. S.
J.din>on, sn{.j)]y, ()ctob..r, LS75, t.. October,
1«70; he is now .lecease.l; 8. A. Doak, sujn
]dy, November, 1877, to May, 1878; T. J.
Stone, supply, from May, 1S78, to September,
1881; C. S. M. See, pastor, -lanuary 1, 1882,
to February, 18sG; S. W. Irvin, supply, De-
cember 1, 1S8G, to January 1, 1889; and
since February, 188'J, Kev. J. M. Cochran,
who is one of the most evangelical of all the
ministers the church has had here. IIo
has Ijcen a resident of Texas for iifty-three
years. Uev. ilr. See is one of the best
scholars in the rresbyterian church in this
State.
Vuiiihcrhind J',;..slH/(c,l<iHi.s,n.~~Thc first
ministers of this denomination who organized
churches in Johnson county, wei'e two
brothers name.l P.obert an.l Finis E.King,
from I'^llis cmnty, aljout 1853, commencing
in Alvarado. The latter was it man of over
average size physically, of more than ordinary
intelle.'t, of decision, energy and vim, but of
a mild, conservative and affable disposition,
of warm and lively allection; and though of
little education in a technical sense, lie was by
no means an ignorant man. He was an at-
tractive and etiicient preacher. He finally
fell a victim to the fearful epi.lemic, the Uu.x,
that ravaged his neighborhood in 1859. His
brother Robert is also deceased.
The first Cumiterland Pi-esiiyterian minis-
ter who .vettle.l in this county, was Thomas
\j. Wilbhire, a good man. His son J.jsiah
soon afterward, also became a j)reaclier, and
;i ■-■ ■■•
i:\l. /llHlLiUl 'ili f : : J. i-.l.i..
.1 1 ,-.i/ .-...;- il
■M-.i; j
1 •> .,-(.
.'■ . ,.-'f,. ■;■. -V.I ,, -i; ,;»v/j
■ .. . I;, •:. / ,.!; r, ,.,i!
■::■ n:t< ■■■-,.:• , V /' ■l-.-.i-il'.
n 01 i.'Jf /'r:-: f.rii ..■•i.iJniJui
)|.v'-/ ...if? .,,,,• ..l':! ;...itt ,'n|')0'i.)
y.! .. ; ,!>
IITSTOUY OF JOHNSON
contiiuiL'd in tlio ministry until his duatli two
■ ur tln-ueyeursago. The last mentioned was
pi-ol.aMy the lir^t minister of this .lenomina-
tion who preached in Clelnnne; but pos^ihly
it was Kev. Danh.l (i. Molloy, recently of
Alvarado and now of (Jvilla, I'^llis eunnty.
This gentleman came from Arkansas, where
his father was a minister of some note, hav-
ing- fonr sons in the ministry. lie was edu-
cated at CanehiU Colleo-e, Arkansas, and I'ose
to a high standard of literary attainment.
Mild and pleasant in manner and Ihient in
speeeli, lie clothes his ideas in heantifnl lan-
guage, and is able toe.\iiibit a high degree of
oratory; and as a theologian he has luit few
sujieriors.
I'rior to 1S70 JJenjamin Austin, a supply,
wah jireaching here in Olidiuriie, al'ter the
cluucli had been organized. The ne.xt was
AVilliani Groves, who was pastor for about a
year; and then John Collier, a year and a
half probably; ^V . I). Wear; I. S. Davenport,
about two years; W. C. liushing, two years;
S. K. Kennon, three years; F. M.Gilliam,
four years; Jacob Hodges, two years; W. C.
lau-hing, two and three lourlhs yeai-,; and
linally Kobrrt 1). Wear, since ( )ctober, 18'JI.
(U- llu-e, i.iob.d.iy .Mr. Ciilliam made the
most nuirked impression, being vei-y popidar
and etlieient.
In Clebnrne the; first services were proba-
bly held at the courthouse, then the Haplist
College, and then the courthouse again until
the present church was built. In 1870 there
wer(^ al>out fifty meuibers. In Augu.-,t, ISTiJ,
the church was organize.! the second time,
wilh about i;i() nuMiiljcrs.
The present house of worship, 3(5 .\ (JO, and
seating about 250, was dedicated January 29,
1«7(;, by i;ev. Daniel G. Molloy, of Ellis
eounty. 'J'he bnibling is at the corner of
iirown ami Anglin streets.
Tlie yunday-school iias an average attend-
ance of about seventy-live; there are 110
names on the roll, in nine classes. It is a
live, active school. J. C. Foster is superin-
tendent.
The Trinitij Comjregatwnal Church was
organized in 18S4, by liev. II. C. Todd, from
Wisconsin, whorenuuned as pastor for a year
and was succeeded by Kev. J. A. Dobson,
now deceased, John C. Calnon several years,
aiul finally by the present pastor, Kev. D. K.
Francis, from Ellis county.
The chui-ch editice was erected in 188(5, ac
a cost of about $5,000, including lot, and will
beat about 225. It is the most finely fur-
nished church in the city. A comfortable
jnirsonage stands at the rear of the church.
Theie are now about forty members, and
the deacons are W. II. Graves and C. W.
.Afertz.
The ( 'lehuvnc Baptist Con,jrfijution.~n\(i
first meetings of this denomination in Clo-
imrne were held in the college building,
which, although the school therein was under
Kaptist auspices, was used by all denomina-
tions for a number of years. fiev. \V". A.
Mas.m as.sisted in the formation of this
chureii. He afterward entered mercantile
business in Montague county, where he is
jnobably still living, and is still a minister.
lie was for two years agent IV.rthe Ministers'
Kelief Hoard of the State .d' 'lexas. In the
;, vv,^, "»• (iT
I' 1) / .1.1 (flu lir.101
iND IIir.L COUNTIES
|i:i.-.tiii;itc liuro liu was tiiiccecdetl liy licv. J.
l:. Claik.s wl,o l(H.k charge of 1m, ill llic in-
^Iilllto (rollege) and tliu cliiircli until alioiit
l^S-2, ulic;i ho was succ.'lmI.mI l.y Kcv. W. 1 ».
nrvcily, uhu is now in Aiisliii, pnarhing in
tinirdifs in that vicinity; hu was here tour
J cars, and then succeeded by Kev. W. A.
Sinims, probably abont three years, closing
his pastoral work here in ISS'J; then A. M.
Siinins live years, ami since May, l^DO, Rev.
('. 1). (.'anii.bell. 'J'here was no jKistor lor
.-ix months, from January 1, Lb'JU, to July
following. The greatest increase of nieni-
iH.rship took place under Kev. J. li. Clarke,
the miinbcr reaching 212. W. A. Sinuns is
now in charge of a Ilaptist ehui'ch in Dallas.
The present number of members is 2UU
and the oliicers of the church are: elder, C.
O.Campbell; deacons,,]. S. Clayton,!!. F.
Clayton. V. (iray, Dr. A. ].. Smith and E.G.
(Jhiles. Average attendance at Sunday-school
about 110, besides fifteen oliicers and teachers.
,1. S. Clayton is su])ei intendent.
The church edilice, brick, and seating 350,
was erected about 1875, at a co,-,t ot !^2,500,
the lot being donated.
The I'hiircli of U,c llohj V,tiitfvdci\ I'rot-
i's/unt A^/.s.vyw/, was lir.-t org.ni/.rd in Cle-
burne in the fall of 1871, by Kev. .Nash. In
1872 or 1678 the church was built, the first
that was completed in Cleburne, the Aleth-
o.lists having commeiu'ed one previously,
which was not yet linished. This e.lilice is on
llemlerson street, corner of Kobertsun. The
membership has grown from twenty to up-
ward of lifty. Kev. \V. ]'. l!rou-n from
Louisiana is ll
.1 rector, sine March
18'Jl. A ladies' guihl exists in connectiou
with this church.
T'he Ciithnllc Church maintains a congre-
gation of nlxjut twenly-li\e families in (Je-
railroad, which was erected live years ago, at
a cost of about Sl,>s50, including lot. They
also have a Sunday-school. Kev. Murphy,
the fii-st to read mass in Cleburne, establb^hed
the congregation and built the church. He
has been succeeded by Kevs. Lee, IJrannan
(troni WeatberforJ, who resided here), and by
the present jjastor since the autumn of 1891,
liev. Colley, now living in Dallas.
The Christian Church.—'Wa first minister
of this denomination here was Elder John
Whitmire, as early as 185G, who located at
(iraud View, organized a church there,
preached at three or four different points, and
died in Cleburne, some time since the war.
lie lia<l considerable ability and was a good
Christian man. The first evangelist was
Elder L. J. Sweet, who came from Dallas
county and preached at several points, about
1857-'58, establishing several churches.
This denomination began to grow more
rapidly after the war. The church in Cle-
bui'ue, the first (U'gani/.ed after the wai-, was
organized by Elder 11 E. Hall, from Ken-
tucky. J. (i. llix was one of the elders of
the lirst congregation. This was pr(jbably
about 181)7 or '(;8, when there were al>out
thirty members. Scrvicee were iirst held in
the courthouse and then in the Kaptist col-
lege. Preaching was kept up for a number
of years, by Elder Kantan, wduj was lai-gcly
instrunuuital in building the present house of
ih I .1- , ..^ :i f/; :: v. J ,lj „( 1., ',y....l^ .!,«.
I.mC . i .V>\)r ' -jViN, '..',,. J yilT .111;!.: I III.'- il;/ii;ui .'i.li ii.(;( ( ..^ ,, ^ ..i.,--
,-ji:ii.:/ i: fill'.,,- I'imIii |m /I I ;.;; '* •'■' -'''i t' '■••1'' '"!'- •-■ • !'li il^"' ■ ,-■''.''1
, ,1. •! ^ ! v. .,i''l,'. 1(1. .;i .'.-M-. : ■ ;; M.I ,l....l .:l'l-l,/ I (> •. V I cj , 1(1 ,< , (.I'l U . ,1 1
'■y-;:i aj;-'/ ,i ,:(.|v
i,l->1i:„
Uui^^ rf-.-i ..It ;.•.;. ... : .J
Hi.- , ,VJ.;K O'l^l ■ I.
i)'..|.l .v.. 1,;... jj'i't
,1 q,-
IIISTVUY OF JOHNSON
\voi-shi|i, wliic'li is ill "\V(.\~t Cleburne, lie
in the .-outhwest pai't of the town, but it was
was a mi.ly deliater, and died some ycard
sold. .Mr. Kilgore was a strong doctrinal
siiiee, ill I'ai'ker euunty. lie was succeeded
man, and iMibli.-hcd the main arguments in
liy (ieurn;e A. Karris IV,r a yea.-, now uf Abi-
favor of the Sabbatarianism of hi.^ church in
leiu', Texas, lie did uuod service, putting
a very alile, succinct form, in the C'lebiirne
the, cliurch on a guod liatis, wliicli has ever
VhrunicU.
since been preserved. Then Elder Clark,
now of Add Jiaii University at. Thorp's
MISCEI.L-.^N'KOUS KEMGIOLTS M..\TTEIi.S.
Sj)i-ini;s, preached here frequently. Next,
Public theological debates were far more
elder J. 1'. Gnibbs, who, duiin^' the prohi-
common in former times than at the present
bilion fight uf 18S7 in this county, couhl not
period. The first debate in Cleburne was
j(jiii the prohibitionists, publishing his argu-
held in August, 1«75, in the Baptist Col-
ments in the C/ironiclc, and was severely crit-
lege, between Uev. Price, ]\[ethodist, and
icised by some of the members, and resigned
Dr. Caskey, Christian, the latter taking tlie
on that account. lie now lives in Texarkana.
place of Uev. 11. D. Pantau, the original
Various other jireacliers were here occasion-
man on his side concerned in the challenge.
ally until Elder 11. 11. Whitlock came in the
Previous to tliis debate, and after the clial-
spring of 1890.
lenge had been made and accepted, a series of
There are at present about 100 members.
scathing newspaper articles were jjublished
and a Sunday-S(diool of about 100 pujiils,
in the Cleburne Chronide upon the utility
about two thirils of whom aiv in regular at-
of jjiiblic theological debates and upon the
tendance. C. L. Heath is the superintendent.
relative situation of the contestants, from
and also one of the local elders, the others
which the public probably learned many
lieing Hiviwu Douglas, W. _M. Reaves and 11.
les>ons of mo<h>ty.
11. Whitlock.
Price allii-ined the following prijpositions:
The church cdilice, a neat frame, was built
That the ycriptures leach that faith is tlie
about 187.^,at a co.-t id' about !?:2,00(). The
only condition of pardon to the tinner; and
members taking the lead in the building of
that in conversion the Holy Spirit ojierates
this house of worship were E. Jl. llealh, I!.
directly upon the siniu^r's heart independ-
.). Chambers, N. 11. Cook and T. J. Jelfries,
ently of the word of Cod. Dr. Caskey
who was for some time an elder here. 'The
aflii'ined that baptism, prece<led by faith and
church has a seating capacity for (;00 or more,
repentance, is for the remission of past sins,
ano it is tinely linished.
— while each, respectively, of course, denied
The Scocnth- Diiij AJreatiats organii^ed a
what the other aflirmed.
small church in Clebuiiie abuiit 1877, under
The debate was iield for six day,., in the
the ministrations of Mr. ivilgen'e, but it went
liajitist lnstitut(t, which was (U'owded witli
<luwn. They built a small li,.use of Worship
eager listeners from all j)arts (d' the county.
.) ; I/. I. ■ -r ,•'. ,1 n I'.'l hiMK'' .:
: ::y, . .r ,1., :''-. ■;) i ,:/■■' ^ l^i-/ I', v; ,((
V<l(ii,!'i. Ml .' . ' • ,Ji!ijici/ 1!: l.i;>ii .,iv,. -li) ,Miu.i«ii;';j .1 )./a'.ii.:ivJiiio!q uv.i if'.'i'i
rt- ■.•■:',. :\. ,:.->•■! ' :.' ' ij'.^v.'loil , '^^/ii j -j;j/^ ^i-e^i.ti Hj;' .' t, | :< 3 Vy i A-( .\' ,) O;! ' il ' - ' CI :)rn
^i-lo 'ill! ■-!•■." .■ : ;. .v':>' "lo .i^iwU j .);.li.., :.r- .■) ;:» S-v]: ■,;>.ii ;.,II . ii:ii r.j/; ).t lij Ifo
■!'•.., ilJ 'r= L,)... .:.. I.'- ail :io »ir • ;, - ..i j. "w 5:'.i>-' jj.vm; -.i.iiJo ^ ?.M'ijr/
. M'.'' >k' ■: I , : ..*:'. -''M '.it ■ : ■":' i \ \ A. • ■ , ;,• ■',.'■■':' .\'ff '; .if -11 :'i>i iiJ;;.. ■( I'l;
..,!'!'
, ,■ .. ;■ :1 ./ .■■! 1..:,. ..;.!;:! ;,
AND HILL GOVNTIES.
DiiriiiL,^ tlic sixtli and lust ihiy of the (.leluite
Iho Chronlde said: -The ladies seem to be
„,t the le;
u-tofthe.hiilvaudi
part o
ur^'e thein on to lliyhts of burning ehx^uence.
'I'lie exercises are opened eacli niorniiig with
prayer, and tiien the battle begins, arms on
annul- chisliing and missiles of logical light-
ning cleave the air. Now ami then, as a
goud point is made by either ]iarty, an un-
friends of the lucky cliampion, while the
other ^ide jilainly say by their countenances,
■ We see nothing to laugh at.'
"The dispute has been conducted in a most
courteous and gentlemanly manner, each con-
tt'itant bearing himself in a manner be-
coming a Christian minister; but the intel-
lecuiai chai'acter of the two njen is widely
dilferent. iJotli are able and both are earnest
advocates of the cause they espouse, but here
the parallel ends. Mr. Price is scarcely above
inedi\im stature, well built and nf very dark
comple.vion, has a large, shapely head, a dark,
coidident eye. and a general bearing that in-
dicates coolness in the midst of action and
unrelenting endeavor in fcdh.wing U|. what
he believes to be the tnilh. Dr. Caskey is
tall, above the multitude, rather awkward
and uncouth in manner, but withal having
such a spice of originality about him as
makes this defect of grace becoming. His
head is small and narrow across the forehead,
his eyes keen and piercing, flashing about the
room like vivid streams of electricity. His
manner on the stand is that of a surgeon who
picks and lays bai-e to the eye the muscles
and veins and sinews and ligaments of the
dissecting room."
The debate between Price, ]\Iethodist, and
Jirown, liaptist, on infant Ijaptism and "cluee
communion," took place at Cleburne in June
and July, 1877, when the respective subjects
were thoroughly treated.
It' listeners to these debates would only
use paper and pencil and be faithful in taking
notes of every jioint, they would profit
greatly without being harmed; and one of
the UKjst important residts of studying both
sides of (U'cry (piestion is liberality of spirit.
I'^veii if one is not by such means convei'ted
to the otlier side, he learns many useful
things by the way, and has an intelligent
view of the doctrines in question.
In 1880 there was an amusing row among
the colored church members, of wdiich the
Chronicle of June IG, that year, gives the
following account:
'•Parson. Wilburn is the popular shepherd
of the colored I5apti.-:.t congregation of this
city, f.ast Sunday was a day set apart for
administering the ordinance of baptism to a
number of new converts. A large congre-
gation ..f the brethren assembled on the
banks of East Uulfalo, under the breezy shade
of the tall, leafy elms, to witness the cere-
mony of immersion. There is also a Metli-
odist congregation of coloi'ed fiilks in the
town. A nuniber of these were also on hand
to see what was to be seen.
"All being ready, the jiarson led the sub-
jects down into the water and 'buried them
in baj)tism" according to the rites of his
churcli. One was a tall woman. When she
.' -. \'VV "'-■<•:) .' .\\ '\r ■
r. -:;. r.M- ,. ;,...; r''>- ■ [,.... . .-./ 1—. ' '. I ... .; l.> '/.'A, Jcl:! Lr:. ■Ay/.., Oil' iinru'U
.1- (m,. .:',,., ;-., M- ;•.. ;-;:-|„:; ■■:■:'<■. ^. c < ■•■'■A- Oii! ::< i- ^-.ik^- r-Mi' iml' .••■j:r,
II '■ -fjl'lmlll li: ihllLUII;' '''I'-r.
■■ .. ' , , ?:, i.r .Mil e'rh;.!.
: ;ir :
i;ii. '-/ 'i ■
:.::
..(.,.
■A\ ■ .fil"-
n-M '!
' "i 'f
"•;,. to ■
HISTOUY OF JOHNSON
cunu'Outcif the watur sliu luupcd and si
ipped
Then she rund and took him by the collar
for joy. Ni)\v, the liank was sti-eji a
id the
and hit him in the mouf.'
water dt-ep, and fur fear of an accident
it is
"A fist debate was threatening between the
fini)n(»ed, tlie ])ai>oii drew his ai'ni t
i.htly
ri\al congregations, when Cajitain I'lumnier
about the sister and lieid her fast. Th
us she
came up and prevai-led on the crowtl to dis-
stood wliile ever and anon he wonlil c
xhort.
perse. The case was before I'Jsquire liishop,
'Siiii];, bretliren, and don't be exciteil.'
where Ann, the parson's wife," was lined for
"Ann, tlie parson's wife, was jircsei
It and
assault. The jiarson himself was tried by a
was not pleased witii the situation.
She
jiiryd an acijuitted."
ground lier teeth and looked towar(
that
Methodist squad. There stood Ike W
^eldon
CLEIIUUNE COKroltATION.
with liis mouth like a cave and his li])s
work-
ing like elephant's ears. At this sigl
t her
Thelirst act of the legislature establishing^
wrath was no lonjj;er to l>e imprisoned \
vi,„i,.
the "Corporation of the Town of (Jhdnirne"
her bursting bosom. ]''ire blazed from lior
was appi-oved ]\Iay 3, 1S71. Under this
eye, and burning, blisterini,' woi'ds
were
reytine the town organized, with Mr. Cun-
iieaped upon tlie luckless Ike. The l>ai
lyini,'
ningham as mayor; but his name does not
of words became boisterous, and whe
1 Ike
ajjpear in the minutes now pi-cserved. The
yelled to one of his Methodist sisters
n the
lirst t'utry in tliis recorti isdatinl in 1874:, and
I'iaptist company by way of supreme
lisult.
i-eads as follows:
'Tho't you was better raised than to be
down
"He it remembered that on the Iftth^lay
dar with dal Irash, lA/.a Oaks,' the p;
rson's
of No\ ember, 1874, the mayor and aldermen
wife could stand it no longer. She ma
le for
elect for the town of (deburne, Johnson
Ike like a brood hen for a small doy.
She
county, Texas, met and were didy <|Ualilied by
collared him and boxed his jaw feel
ingly.
his honor, 1!. P. Lynch, ex- Mayor of said
AVhile slie was yet hohling him the ]
arson
town.
released iii,-, char-e to bill into the cr
■ek if
M. M. Ci.ACK, Maijor.
she wanted to. With body bent he (
betw.'cn Ids wile and Ike, who at tlu
ashed
self-
T. l''nWI.IOK,
J. A. Wll.LINOU.VM, 1
Tm).M.\s L.\wici;ni;k, I AULruieii.
L. K. Lrxa;, \
same moment went sprawling to the gi
ound.
A witness state<l, 'Ike fell over; do-no
what
" Ja^mics p. Aikin, Marslial."
made him fall ou'f 'less he seared. [
never
" ^Vhereupon the board proceeded to trans-
touched the nigyia' myself. lie m
ide a
act the following business, to wit: To elect
'stui'bment witii his mouf, turned imuu
1 and
,1. A. Willingham treasurer, and J. 1!. Hud-
pushed out Ilia coat-tail like a jica fowl
hoi..t-
son secretary, id' said ttiwn; and on motion
in- its tail. Then Ann called out.
"Mr.
S. N. Claik, T. I'uwler and 1.. V. Legg
Wilburu, ynu hear ,iat man call me ti
ash?"
wore appointed a,- a committee to draft a
r.'M '.XIV I H-,'. •>/!» ^.. :ir.V
I ■ ..! jiiilil.'U .i<i'r '• / fin'ri 9(ia
•rt" 'J ;• IV
,T !i
'( li'M
UiV/
y\NI) in [J. COUNTIES
coJt! of by-l;i\vs :uid orclinances J'nr the gov-
iTiiiiu'iit of eaid curjioraliuii.
" The hoard then a.ljuiirued to meet on
Friday iiiaht, the 2i)th iubt.
•• Approved, M. M. Clack, Mayor.
John JJ. Hudson, Secretdry.
" At a eaUod meeting of tlie city council,
lii'ld Thursday evenings December 17, lb7-l,
liieru wrre present AI. M. Chick, Mayor; IS.
N. Chu-k, T. Fowler, T. Lawrence and F. F.
l.eg^^r, Aldermen; James Aikin, Marshal;
and John B. Hudson, Secretary. The follow-
iuf^ proceedings wei'ehad:
" 1. Keceiving and accepting the resigna-
tion of J. A. Willingham.
'• 2. Account of J. Pi. Clarke, for survey-
ing and establishing the lines of tlio incor-
urate limits of th
3 city
1872. was
).iesented for jjayuient; and upon motion and
second, S. N. Clark was ajipointed to wait
ujion the ex-mayor and aldermen and incpiire
a= to the nature of the contract and the
validity of said account, and to re[,ort at the
next meeting."
Section 23 of the code of city onlinanci.-s
was so moditied as to jirovide that the clause
shall not be so construe.) as to lc\y an addi-
" lie it ordained that the mayor bring to
immediate trial all oifenders of that section
of the city ordinance which ]irovides for the
closing of saloons and billiard playing on
Sundays, and if necessary to employ counsel
to prosecuti' the same.
'• Be it further ordained that the regular
monthly meeting of the city counril .hall be
on the second Tuesday evening of each
month. Adjoui-ned."
At th(^ next meeting of the council, tlio
account of J. li. Clarke wa.^ rejectcil. Thomas
Lawrence was elected city treasui-er to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr.
Willinghain. At a second meeting, u])on
reconsideration of the account of Mr. Clarke,
he ajjpeared and "defended tlie validity of
his acc(junt with forcible eloquence;" but no
definite action was taken. At the next
meeting it was "postponed indi'finitely."
S. Nance was granted exclusive use of the
streets around the {uihlic square for the term
of three years, that he may erect and use
puhlic scales.
March 31, 1S75, the marshal was author-
ized to set up hitching-posts around the
" court 8(puu-e."
October 12, 1875, the mayor approved of
the act of the legislature passed March 15
previously, " in lieu of their charter for the
government of tlu^ city of Cleburne;" but
soon after the officers commenced work the
citizens ciiticised them, and they, becoming
•y
lu raged.
ised to meet and
transact business; so that by February, 187(),
the corporation was finally dissolved. I'ub,
lie mattei-s then lay quiet for a short time,
the oidy article appearing in the city papers
on tlic subject being an amusing sqiiih in
May following, in favor of reviving the cor-
poration, on a mode.-5t .scale, nuji-e for the
repi'ession i)f " rip-roarious human beings "
than for anything else. In a few weeks a
vote was taken resulting in favor of re-
•r, -jhA ..111 '
1J.1
;y^.l
ii>—- ( ■;!"
.,,1 Ujt ■.:., ::.■;. M ■■,:!
ai\'.u-"Uini
ll^ I, ,'!'•' T '! ■ ll I:
172
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
t)r^:iiii/.;iti(in, electing J. I\I. Odcll, iiiuyor,
W. II. ISroNvn, inai-shul, T. A. Scurloclc,
assessor iiiul collector, N. 11. (look, treasurer,
ati.l W. F. (ieor-e, secretary. Since that
time the corporation has licen run regularly,
anil with u degree of satisfaction as great
at least as the average of city governments.
Kecently a canvass was .ordered and made
of tliu teriitory embraced in the one-fourth
mile circuit from the corporation line, to
secure the signatures of tliose who desire the
corp
)rate limits extended tliat distanct
sidting in a majority of about si.x to one
petitioners in favor of the extension.
Under the direction of the city government
the streets of Cleburne have been graveled
and nicely niacadauiized.
The two principal city ofticers from the
beginning to the j>resent time liave been:
MAYOR. SlCniET.MiY.
M. M. Clack 1S74 John B. Hudson. .. 1874
B.D. Simpson ...1875 S.N. Cliirk 1875
J. M. Oilell l.'57(J-7 W. F. Georgo 1870
W. N. lloJgo 1878-81 W, F. Wells 1877
J. M.Odell 1881-0 M. M. Crime 1878
J. L. Gillum lSSG-8 James A. Grahiim.. 1870-80
J. II. Vosburg... 1888-9 II. W. Palton 1882
B. F. Fry mier.... 1880-02 W. N. Hodge and
I'ation isaa
W IL IW.iVfS 188J-9
I.fe .Shaw 1880-91
N. F. Higgins 1801-2
W. 11. (iraves, being secretary 2»'^> tetii.
most of the time iluri
it of the
lS77-'79,
rinif that
signed II
period.
The other city olKcers at present are: J. 11.
Keith, marshal; W. D. McCoy, attorney;
J. .M. Clower, treasurer; J. M. Kller, acse.s.sor
an.] collector; aldermen— E. M. Heath, 1'. J.
Norwood, E. !!. St(..neBipher, S. C. Lockett,
J. J. Williauhson and J. C. Conway.
'i'here liave bei-n no great ctmllagrations in
Cleburne, but still a number of rather " de-
Btrui:ti\e" lires. The first lire occurred May
9, 1S81, when four business houses were de-
stroyed, intlicting a loss of 85,000. The
J\Iasonic hall, a two-story frame, owned by
(i. 11. Ma.\ey,and two one-story frames owned
liy L. M. Guggenheim were destroyed. The
lower story of the Masonic block was oc-
cupied jointly by N. II. Cook, Mack Wil-
son, and Pierson's millinery estaVdisliment, a
branch of the Dallas store. Nearly all the
merchandise owned by these parties was saved.
The fire originated in the rear end of the
grange store, conducted by Ransono & Co.,
ami was lii'St discovered between two and
three o'clock in the morning. Miss Camille
P.yrd gave the first alarm, and W. G. Dodson,
a cotton-buyer who slejjt in the Masonic
building, was the first to reach the fire and
3l to leave it.
January 17, 1880, a fire burned out T. W.
Guggenheim, Conway Eros., AV. 11. Byrd,
etc.. the total loss being about 821,000, with
some iiisiii'ance.
The Cleburne fire department, volunteer,
organized many years ago, is now paid 8200
a year. They have a hook and ladder truck,
a hose carriage and chemical fire-engine which
has a double tank, costing $1,800. The de-
partment also has a hose house. J. A. Lind-
gren is chief of tlie department.
As to water su]iply, a.s h.is ali-eady been
noted, the citi/.ens were at lirst furni.'.hed from
a >M-and soriu'' in the bank of the creek. As
.. ' ■ ' i:i i.j K ii,. ii:.- 1. ui;.. ! !:
n^: ,>! .17
.'•1 V/ i ,ij
AND lllLL COUNTIES.
llm |)ij|iul;itioii increased, liowever, they bo-
^';iM tu li;iiil w;iter Trum other B])i'in^s uinl
trciiii iNcihiiid i-iver. Fur six years tlie
ield u|-
d little Bi)r
don
the ISuilalu Wiis run intu a cistern, whence it
\v:i= piiniped into a reservoir. This was ex-
pensive. Then they began to dig wells, which
although furnishing gcjod water were also ex-
iiiuisiw, on account of the hardness of the
ruck ^\liich they had to penetrate, especially
ah)ng a strij) in the central and western poi'-
tions of the town.
Mot until the autumn of 1891 was a satis-
factory system of water supply established,
and that was by the drilling of four artesian
wells, by S. W. J.ovelady, about 1,0U() feet
deep, on IJenderson street neai- the creek;
and these now yield water enough for a city
several times larger than Cleburne; and it is
good water. i\i jiresent oidy one well is
drawn from. The water is sold at a certain
rate per hydrant, or ten cents per 1,000 gallons
where 3,000 gidloiis or tJiore are used per day.
For residences only $G a year is paid. The
city, of course, has made special arrangements
for the use of this water supjjly in case of
tire.
Vw an account of the strata gone through
in the digging of these wells, see page 5u.
Tiie city of Cleburne has never been
lighted by gas, although a gas factory was
partially constructed about 1887; but it is
now beautifidly lighted by electricity. A
stock company, having its headquarters in
Fort Worth, .■stablished a ])lant herein 1SS8,
at an expense of $15,000 to .^20,000. The
the water-woilc^, alreadi
described. JMax I'^lserof i''ort Worth is vice-
president and general manager, while for the
city of (didjurne N. V. Higgins is secretary
and local manager. The Thompson-Houston
incandescent system of electric lighting was
first put in, but a better system was finally
adojited. The dynamo is capable of supplying
500 sixteen-candle-power lamps. At present
the city uses thirty twenty-five-candle-power
lamps.
The Cleburne cemetery, a mile east of
town, was started on a donation of five acres
by Jei'einiiih Easterwood in 1870, ami soon
afterward by a donation of ten acres liy 13. J.
Chambers; the cemetery company in ISbO,
purchased twenty acres more of Mr. Cham-
bers. The cemetery is laid off in four-foot
lots, and these are arranged in blocks, with
the wagon -ways forty feet wide. The present
Cleburne Cemetery Association was chartei-ed
in IS'JO.
ALVAIiADO.
"Alvaiadu, fiiir tonight,
Biitlied in streams of silver light!
Stiirs uud moou from out the sky
GiKiid her with a loving eye.
"CiiK-eu of cities in the West,—
Not the largest, but the best, —
lu my heart, in clouds of gold,
I yoiu- memory will infold."
(The above ajiiirupriato linos wore coniposed by a
young lady of Alvarado whoso name was
lished.;
Alvarado i
-ub-
latitude 32i° north, and
longitude 22° west of Washington. Its alti-
tude above sea level is 900 to 1,000 feet.
The earliest settler at this point Was Will-
iam ISalch, in 1^551. Almost immediately
upon locating liere, he, in conil)any with
.>w„;i .,;..;..,.
..q
ov i,ti-\.ii;.l":'i :V.: !_■ ■ 0 »:, /S ...I:, y
„..v i.,.-i ■;. ,;i;;;ti,;, .,..j ,.;,,u j^,..i
"•J ■iq>r.l<: 1:. -/TV. 'l-.> i/.-/i. (« V ( iV.hI
■' i-il ■■u ::<j''.' .'■ ...ii; I'i ■■•■■■>■ ) 'i.' L>ii/\
! ;/-v- X'-.^-.vAl r.o ,,, ,b
/ ■ r^' ; / I,
II.'' -u-) .1;ir, ,1.
j- ;. ... ol.iirij;.,
■f ■•,ri,.i . o >bo)„
174
lUSTOUY OF JOHNSON
(!. II. SigkT, lu.-;ui tliu nuclriiBof a town on
liis Ihii.1, la^in-ctftlie ],lat in lialf-arru Iwts.
'■J'hfse \wvv \>u\ (iir at |.ulillc sale ul nl.out
$10 L-acli.
ikvA
)y tlic! proprietors
:• tlio iiew' town.
'I'hc citizens
to aH;reo \\\>un
Mr. lialcli liiinself siin;gfstc'(l Pittsburg, ami
Ur. A. II. Onstutt, tiien slifrilf, siij_rj;ustc;d
AlvanuJo, aftur a town of that name in old
Mexico, l'a\'oiably spoken of in Pi'escott's
History of that country. lie had been in the
Mexican wai- and participated in a light at
that place. The vote of the settlers resulted
in favor of .Mr. Onstott's selection.
Othei-s settlino- there and in the vicinity
about that time were F. L. Ivirtley, Daniel
I'ayne, T. ,Ielf. I'ayne, John (Jilniere, Mr.
Droinloy, Jonathan liurke, (iranvillu Slian-
non, Robert Tan.ly, S. J). \W\y^\^\, etc. Jiright
is said to have been the pioneer mei'diant of
the j)lace. Vei'y soon aftei- his venture the
I'ayne brothers established tlicmselves there
also in a general mercantile Ijusiness.
William I'. Grillin located in the neighbor-
hood of Alvarado in iSlOf, and L. ii. lilair
and son, Thomas AV., came in lS50.
On account of the surrounding country
being appropriated mo.tly by stockmen in^
stead of agi-ieultui-ist.-, the town did not
grow as rapidly for a number of years as at
lirst expected.
At this point it may be well to relate a
iund)er of scatter
iscences, pub
lished by William Jack in tlie Ihilhtbi of
January 10 and iiO, LSUl:
'• December 17, 1802, 1 drove into Alvara-
do. There were with me tW(, other familie.-.
W. M. Wilhite and Samuel Miller; there
were thirty-three of us altogether. Of that
number there are still living twcnty-eiglit.
This is a testimonial to the general heallh-
fulness of the country.
" In crossing Cedar hill in Dallas county
we could see no signs of civilization, and
thought we had gone too far, but found a
few settlers on Mountain creek. On reach-
ing Alvarado we found a few families of
women and children and some old men, the
young nnui all being in the army. We do
not suppose, there were over 800 men in
Jcihnson (Mjuiity. There was only one Ma-
sonic lodge we.-t of Waxahachie, and that
was at (irand View. Our meetings wt-ru at-
tended by parlies from llillslxu'o, Acton and
Kock creek, in Tarrant county.
" AVe Avere kindly i'ecei\ed by the peo|ile
liere, but there wei'e no supplies in the coun
try for our teams or ourselves, except beef,
which was abundant and as tine as 1 ever
saw, and at fair prices. Corn and wheat
wei'e very scarce. A\'e wete told that we
could not make a living here by farming, and
that there was corn for tale some seventy-five
miles down the Trinity river, near Wildcat
bluff. Miller an, nVilhite had horse teams.
and went there for
I turned out my
cattle to shift for themselves, and went to
making i-ails for corn, and then went to
making looms and wheels for soldiers' fami-
lies, and by economy ami perseverani_-e suc-
ceeded in securing a sutHciency of such as
the country alforded, which was beef, bread
and barley colfee. Since that tinn^, I have
seen more corn ami wheat in JtJinson county
iM; .,- K.;) :■• i.-r.t.
i., ■,-/■• K.,.-';
0..7 ,: !l. .■.■,(
1/ lu o...n;
iliint' r,<ji - . 1,
II,, . ' ■ ■ \,
AND UILL CUUNTIES.
tli:iii I ever >s:iw ill any county, and as tine hogs
-or the few families and boiue of the old
111, -11 ill and around Alvarado when I tirst
I'Hine liei-e, most iiave died or moved away.
The deceased are William lialcli, (ieorge Sig-
ler, (iranville Shannon, t!olonel !Sam Myers,
Joel Hi-gins, r.lacklmrn ISlair, Lewis Rich-
unlaoii, Joel Combes and Simpson Head.
Tliese are Still living hero: Major N. F.
Sjiarks, Moses JJarnes, Thomas Jiieluirdson,
Judge J. G. Woodson and John G. Mitchell;
and the changes in the country are equal to
the changes in population, which is more
than ten to one. There was hut one res|ject-
uhle residence in the county, to my knowd-
edge, and that was Alei'edith Hart's house, on
the Mustang, and only two church buildings,
uiie at (;rand View and one at Alvarado; and
tliey were used by all denominations for pub-
lic services and also for schoulhoii^es. There
were several sorry log-cabin schoolhouses and
liriish arbors where jteojile met to worship.
Now there are respectable frame school-
houses in every neighborhood in the couiityj
and the church buildings 1 am not able to
numlier. In the county tlu're are probably
tweiity-lhri'c or twenty-four DajU i^t churches
and others in like proportion, all very re-
spectable chundi edifices, and many of them
are maguihceiit.
"At that time one coiihl go almost in a
straight line to any place, but now we are
iway», the country
being aim, ist entirely encloM'd eil li,-r as farms
or as pastures. No Cotton was grown here
in I hose .lays.'-
In 187G there were three or four doz,;ii
families residing at Alvarado. There were
eight dry-goods stores, two groceries, two
drug stores, two blacksmith shops, a saloou
or two, and occasionally a saddle and harness
shoj); but the great institution of the place
was the Masonic school. In 1871) business
houses bounded the public square, besides
others in the vicinity. The population grew
to 100 ill 187G, and B50 in 1.^7^.
About 1870 the outlaws, Hickerstaif and
Thompson, met their violent death (see page
HI) here at Alvarado, and the lynching luid a
good etlect. Such a proceeding has been
common elsewhere, in almost every com-
iiuinity. The most extensive of the kind
that has ever taken place in America was in
San Francisco, California, in 1856, when
several thousand citizens systematically and
closely organized themselves into a "vigi-
lance committee" and ran the city, as it
were, by military power until they had hung
a few murderers and scared away nearly all
Otlier criminals, thus [lurifying the place far
more thoroughly and (juickly than the courts
would have dune.
AVhile speaking of criminal matters we
may here add the item that James (Jollins, a
horse-tiiief, fleeing from Fannin county, was
caught near Alvarado in May, 1875, and shot
and killeil liy the otllcers in his attempt to
escape. The ullicers, Cope and Lewis, were
obligeil to sho,)t or be shut, as the fugitive
reached .lown into his sa,l, lie-bags after a
pistol in order to lire upon them. He was a
,•,.-,
Il:il ..
ilj^iin)8
.;{.'■:<, y',
lid V.(J ■•:■ U)
UI:iTOUY OF JoUysON
Cuming duuii tu ilif pru-j.L-rity ,,( Uiore ' \\m.v ullirt-, e.-t:,Lli.-:lii;rJ ii, IS'iV:, of wliicli
] orrs ;it Alvarado diirhi^' tiie \i..ir I'lKiiiii: l>-^j.
Ai;gu;t 31, 1-552, wtre l.UUO l-ales of cotton, I J. K. Trulo\-e, dry ,i,'uoda and clotliing.
in.Onu j,ound= of wool anJ tlirec car-load, of ' Col. tun. Kelfey A: Tu.. confc-eiionL-rics.
:--^^ ■'-■■' i':. ::>:=. Ti.-: i-iic^ ct hi.y^rt.A iJuand. d: iluurc, fiirLJinrt aud cotiin^.
art.'cle- ■,'.c:'_-: drj- wood.-, c!o:Lir.cr. Latr ar.d :' Weili. ia.'x'O i- Co. and raeirie K.xpress
t,.j ;. iT.d mi.Iiiierj, .^150,000; groceries, con- ollicc--
fftiun-, l'ag_'ing aud tie,-, slUO.OOO; liquor.-,
1„ cr and tol.a,;co5, ,$04,000; ice, ,sl,4uO; wood-
work, lumber, etc., §50,000; drugs, paint,
oils, etc., §35,000; liardwai-e, agricultural
impleuient.s, wagon.s, etc., §75,000.
Alvarado is in the center uf one of the
Ixv-t farming districts in Te.^a^.
To show the advance that Alvarado has
made, we wish now to take a glance around
the public square, commencing at the noi'tli-
east corner and going we.-t:
First National Bunk, chartered Alarch 10,
1^5^57. See further on.
M. L. i'ankey, manager of the Alvarado
branch of the lumber business of O. T. Lyon
it Son, of Sherman, Te.xas, since 1881: carry
§20,000 in stuck; yanls centrally h.cated be-
tween old and new towns.
Major II. U. dune.s grocer since 18S3.
C. A. (ianliner, dry goods.
J. C. Smyth, hardware, linware, stoves, etc.
W. A. Prestridge & Co., drugs and books.
A. F. Sonntag, dentist.
J. r. Fielder, drugs.
Trulovo & Trulove, watches and jewelry.
W. Mayfieid, grocer. In the second story,
the Bulletin office, an account of which is
given furthei- on; (i. (!. Fahm, insurance
agent; Andrew King, lawyer; central tele-
J. L. I'oif A: Co., notion^.
Kobt-rt.- IJi-os., second-hand furniture.
II. A. Austin, photograph gallery.
C. II. Park, hardware, stoves and tinware.
I. A. I'atton, lawyer.
Turning south on west side:
Nurman .V: IJrickey, drugs aud books.
J. I'. Keynolds, dry goods and groceries.
A. D. Deam, saddle and harness.
K.J. Kui'k, confectionery.
\i. S. Holmes, grocer.
J. W. Staik, jewelry, watches, clocks, etc.
Oakes iV Harrison, lire insurance.
K. T. Duncan, grocer.
AV. G. IJelden, dry gouils.
Mrs. M. Iv. Evans, millinery and dress-
making.
J. 0. Weaver it Son, drugs.
W. M. St. John, dentist.
Turning east:
CJ. ^V. Cotter, postmaster.
I'orter IJros., grocers.
E. A. Shultz, livei-y.
Wright A: Sun, a large blacksmith shop.
Tui-ning north:
Chai-les Simmons, livery.
It. I'. Sansom, feed store and wagon yard,
i'owell Dros., blacksmith and wood shop.
East of the S(piar(i, two hotels, — the
>■:,!, \'.
.T n L .-j-l -■. J ■^:.il n-V
f I ,1^ s
iiul ,).
ANV LULL COUNTIKS.
S|.urk^ ll.aiio and the OouuiKircial Hotel.
The First iNutiunril IJaiik was urgaiiizcl in
1S>(), i.y lien lianu'S ami C. II. Park. In
l^i-'Sl l!ariu!3 was succeeded by L. 15. Ti'uluve.
Se.' bkctcli ofL. 13. Trulove a little further un.
The present uilicers are: AI. tsanBom, presi-
dent; lien IJarnes, vice-president; and J. 11.
I'o.^ej, cashier. Present surplus, §8,000.
The Alvarado Bank, in connection with a
ilrj-^uods btore near tlie northeast corner of
the ])iililic scjuare, was also started alxjut
INSO, by G. W. Cotter, Moses liarnea and
C. II. Park. •
Two lines of railroad cross at Alvarado, —
the (iulf, Colorado & Santa Fe and the
Missouri, Kan.sas As Te
itial. of which are M., K. .t T., often abl.re-
vialcd to the fancy name of '-R'aty"). A
sliort sketch of all the railroads in the county
it, ^'iven on pages 122 to 121, but we may adil
here a miscellaneous item of interest, oc-
curring near Alvarado, illustrating one of
the dilticulties of railroad-building not often
thought of In ISSl a special commission
\sas appointed by the county judge to adjust
the differences between certain citizens in the
neighborhood of Alvarado ami what was tliea
called the iMissouri Pacilie Kailroad Com-
pany. The witnesses for each party ga\ e
testimony according to the parties summon-
ing them, one class that the damages were
considerable, and the other that they were
none at all! This was as to the right of way
(jver about six acres oi i\Ir. IJaker's land and
the lands of Head A: Wilburn. It was really
amusing to see the vast ditl'erence of ojiinion.
Coinprumiscs were finally effected.
Daily trains commenced running on the
Alissouri Pacific (now Gulf, Colorado & Santa
Fe) at Alvarado August 8, 1881. There are
now about 200 railroad men belonging to the
" Katy " system employed at Alvarado, whose
total monthly salary is about $13,000.
The Alvarado Bulletin is a transfer from
Cleburne of the Bulletin that was started
there August 4, 1880. About eight months
after its establishment it was removed to Al-
varado, the first issue here being April 15,
1881. G. C. Fahm was editor for nine years.
The latter, early in 1889, sold out to F. B.
liaiUio, an intellectual and social gentleman,
but bought it back early in the present year
(1802). Mr. Baillio's first issue was dated
January -4, 1880. Mr. Fahm is a very polite,
modest and accommodating gentleman, and
well understands how to keep uji a live and
progressis'o paper, iu keeping with the de-
mands of the times. The Bulletin has ever
been one of the most potent instrumentali-
ties in the advancement of Alvarado. The
pajier is a nine column folio, all "home
print."
(tkovek C. Fahm, one of the early news-
paper men of his section, was born in South
Carolina, in 1840, a son of George W. Fahm,
a ri<:e planter of South (Carolina. The latter
subsequently moved to Georgia, wdiere he was
engaged in the mercantile business. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, John J.
Fahm, was a soldier iu the war of 1812, and
was Major of the regiment in which he
served. The mother of o\ir subject, Sarah L.
(Coe) Fahm, was a native of Newark, New
Jersey, ami a daughter of Dr. (irover (/oe, a
o.'.i .: ;... , , . :. ■ I - !■ '■■■ '■ . : '! ■• ,.v ■.^,.;. '; Ml In- ■:,..! ■>] ■,;h,..;^
r;. . ..iT .!•" •■•../■/ f.' ■,.«•../ -«,■•;',.; .., :^ ! . ;I .:_j ;;,.•,-::::! , -.il y>l ,r--i
.0 (■' ,f.I: Jir ■, >i; V 'ilfl .(vi .1.1 ■■ ..M-i .n'ofeiwa .V. . -i-'.i b-i •':)iiio JMCe.Mi: L.i(T
,., ,.'._. AMci I "I; .i.
■|. • ': -. .1;
,| ,.,..;.>
n^
IIISTOUY OF JOlIiysoN
native vi Knuluu,!. (i. W. Kalnu was ;
pi\i.-j)ei-uiis planter aiul inercliaiil at tin
I. real; in;,' oiil of the late war, huL after tin
lirin^' at, I'.nl Sinnter l,e j(,ine.| tiie 'I'wenty.
,-i.\tli (ie.jr;_'ia Jnfantrv a- a j.rivate. hn>\ wa-
p...,,-^-. i:.^,.. ..,.;., 0;;..,...,.i;,art.-,i
pte,l n, ,
jiiirriljf-r tit liHttlc- in Ldiiir.iana
an.l 'i'enner.ee. Mr. and Mr.. Falini had
thirteen ehildren, only i-ix of whom lived to
l)o ^q-own, vi/..: Frances, widow of E. Suni-
nierall, of (Jeurf^ia; George E., engaged in
railroading in (Georgia; ]iosa, wife of Alfred
Green; Eliza, widow of G. xMeMitehell; Gro-
ver, our suhject; Benjamin A., of Georgia.
The father died in i>iHJ, and the mother in
G rover C. I'^aiim received his education in
Georgia, and at the age of litfcen year.s he
entered Gompaiiy Iv, Twenty-sixth (Jeorgia
Infantry, hut was tiansferred to the Twenty-
second J5attalion of (ieorgia, and attached to
General Joseph E. Johnston'H army. He
participated in the meniorahle liattles of
Ohickamaiiga, Oidusta, in the siege of Sa-
vannah, was at James' Island during the
siege and surrender of Charleston, Branch-
vllleand Dingle's Mills,wherehelost his right
leg, and was also shot through the arm. He
was in the hands of the enemy a few hours,
and this occurred April 'J, 1S05, the .lay of
General Fee's surrender. Al'ter ten months
Mr. Fahm ha.l recovered Bulliciently as to he
able to go ou crutches, and he attended school
for some time, and then iMigagc^d in the
journeyman some time. In I^IO he came
;ating in the southwestern part,
t(; T.
where he remained until 1S8(), and in that
ye'.r he hought a one-half interest in a paper
in Glelmriie. In the springof lH>ii he came
to this city and estahlished the Alvara<h.
B.d',t:n. wljich l.e cndueted -ucce-. fully
iw.tii l'.-:,}, '^'.A tf,*;n -.old to K F. iiaiuio;
but in February, 1S92, he bought back the
pa|)er. This paper has enjoyed from the
start a very large patronage, and under the
able management of Mi'. Fahm it is a power.
The paper is and has been a welcome visitor
to many liresides in this and adjoining coun-
ties, being Democratic in its principles. Mi-.
Faiim is also engaged in fire insurance. In
1888 he was elected Grand Seci'Ctary of the
Grand Fodgc of F O. O. F., and the duties
of this olKee were sucli that ho could not at-
tend to bt)th his editorial work and till his
])osition at the same time, and accordingly,
in 1^89, he sold the paper, as before stated.
He is also a member of the order of Knights
of J'ythiab, Alvarado Fodge, No. 128.
]\Ir. Falun was marrio.l in 18G8, to Miss
E. E. Fi-azer, a native of Georgia, and a
daughter of (ieorge K. Fi'azer, a native of
South Carolina. Mr. and iMrs. Fahm have
ha.l ^ev.■^ cliil.lren, namely: Fou, deceased ;
John F., of Alvarado; (irover W., Fenjamin
C. and Faura A., at home. The parents are
members of the Methodist Church.
A go.al index to the intelligent character
of a ptmple is the amount of post-oilice busi-
ness transacteti among them. The post-otiice
moiu^y-order business of Alvarado averages
about $:2(],U()0a year. During the year 18U1
the ],..stniaster here issue.l !i^l7,lll0. Fi in
^TJi,
JT;n'i',J«(j j,l/.l yii
( vvr ,
<i v|, . .■id'iLli/ . II..',! ■
nl .-j.'-.rii^'iii.-.ni :j|!l ": t' -'iiyiio I'llu li 'lu
i_ .li u.-f, ,,^ .-1 .l.i .1 vy<rAu,A Uu
-SV. ■■".■' u.yj ,.'! r.:i' Jo.::. , : ■ ,/ ;,:;,, .Mi
Si.l !l .! ■:-. ■ ■ ■' ;,.; .,.' ■:■, .'.t I, Mill .1! |.
.I'i:-' ".'I' hi. Ill
n. :,:: .M
r><rvA,.y
AND HI LI. COUNTIhJti.
170
nvriiit.-, tor bt:un|)>, etc., wltl ,'^2,523.liO.
'I'liu i-itizoiis ul' Alviiradu iiitiiul buoii to
Iniv,. Mii artrMun well.
Th,
ly IS OI'UWI
lilk-d \vi
lichC clas.s of jieuj-lu. Ill 18,^U the i)Ojilllatiou
\vu.. 350; in IS.^2, 1,500; ami aecording tu
the eeiirius of IS'JO it had l,54;i, wiiieh
numher, liowever, falls far short of the aetual
iiuinher in the city and its suburbs; there
are, in fact, about 2,000 inluibitants in tlie
plaee.
The assessed vahiatioii of property within
the eorporatu limits in 1880 was §125,000,
and in ISUO over St300,00O. In ISS'J the
value of ovari suo mercantile transactions of
the town amoiuitt-d to tiie followini^': dry-
broods, $270,000; groceries, $250,000; hard-
ware, !?150,000; agricultural implements,
$;!0(),000; furnitnre ,>?20,()00 (considerably
luore now); and produce .^5,000. During
the .sime year there were liought and .sold by
the merchants of the place, 8,500 Ijales of
cotton, 2,800 pounds of wool, 800 tons of
cottonseed, 300,000 bushels of corn, 75,000
bushels of wheat, 1,000 head of live-stock,
and misccllaneuus products to tin' auKitint of
;s:J0O,OI)O. These estimates .-erve to illus-
trate the fact that the country around Alva-
rado is one of the richest and most productive
on this ■rloiie, and that the town presents the
mo.-.t invitini^r |i,.K| f,,,. the most unlimitc'd
investments.
Tlie lawyers practicing in Alvarado are I.
A. I'atton, Andrew Kin-an.l \\. Il.Skelton.
The phyHciansare: John Duke, Simonds,
O. S. I'arlow, J. A. i:u^sell, \'..(\. I'restrid-e,
(!. A. Shull/., (]. V. llud.son, II. {). Purdom.
D. N. Shropshire anil J. C. Weaver. The
last mentioned, however, has virtually retired
from piactice. lie is tho oldest living busi-
ness man in Alvarado, the second oldest being
J. W. Stark, and the third U. K. Jones.
In times past A. II. Veager atid Paul C.
Hudson were lawyers here; Hudson e.lited
the BuUctiii for a time and tinally died, in
Alvarado. Some of the most prominent ])hy-
sicians of the past were Drs. V,. Atchley,
Smith, Fiel.ler and L. I!. Allen,
all of whom are now dead. Allen was killed
December 31, 1885. W. M. St. John and A.
V. Sonntag are the dentists.
Dr. J. W. I5owers is practicing at Venus,
C. E. liussell, at I'hilpot League, II. W. (Jul-
pepper and 1). N. Shropshire, at IJarnesville.
In the autumn of 1878 the Alvarado .Mu-
tual Pi'otection Association was organized,
whose object was the '• maintenance and en-
forcement of all laws constitutionally enacted
until repealed or shall be declared null and
void by competent judicial authority."
The Alvarado lioanl of Trade was organ-
ized May 23, 18'J0. The following pajier,
with the signatures, was distribute.! ; '-We,
the under.-igned, business men of .Mvarado,
feeling the necessity of tirganizing a jirogres-
sive committee or board of trade to further
the iiitiM-ests and business enterprises of our
city, hereby agree to go into said organiza-
tion, for the jiiirjiose of doing all in our
power to build up and promote said enter-
jjrisesand watch all opportunities to impi-ove
our city." Signed by K. jl. IJaillio, ( ; . (j.
Kahm, and about lifty others.
H :-{ -W nu,. J,
"-^^i"" '""■'
N :j III''.' ' 1 dm'.' ;
v.;?,l :.i!T
lUSTQHY OF JUHN80N
!1. 1S<)1. the l.u.-iiK-s men .,f Al- I liiiiiM-lf clu~fly to .-tiuiy. aii.l i-- now nco,^r.
: .i: :;.o vi'^.t- ^ f i;.v.;:.i~ .V M . ro. , iii.kJ a^ ..lu- ^ i" [iu- (.v-c jiv'>[t\i men in lii^
\y.~'\:i br.U(.;li uf tl„: - .M • n-huiit.v j coiiii t v. Jle b,.-an life for liiin-t-lf a» a
Af.'i:n'-y (,f r.'lii'M:^'-, Illin',;.-/' for j turiinT at tliu age of niiit-teen year::, and one
1 ,,r..i.J.
:/.^;.. J. C.
vice-|,ri-M.lL-/,t; M. J,. I'ankey, secretary; F.
IJ. nailHo, treasurer; executive board— M.
V. liain, J. A\^ (Barrett, li. S. Holmes, J. l\
KeynoliLs J. II. Costolo, (i. W. Cotter and
J. C). (iolding. Eleven lirnis signed the
agreenjent. The pai'ent organization is an
assoeiatioii incorporated uniler the laws of
Illinois, to transact business anywhere in the
United States.
Lk.mi EL 1j. Tkilonk, president of the bank
of Cottei-, Ti'ulove A: Co., and one of the most
prominent farmers of Johnson county, was
born in Alabama, in 1S23, a son of William
and iMaliuda (Bird) Trulove, natives of South
Carolina and Tennessee respectively. The
parents removed to Alabama in an early day,
while the Indians were still in that section.
d «he
father was enuai/ed in l:i
Mr. and Mrs. Trulove reared a family of
three iioys and four girls, namely: Lemuel
l:., our ^ubject; Margaret, wife of iieulvn
Vaughan, of I'alu I'into county; Klizabetli,
widow uf J. O. Kobin.^on, and a r.'sident of
this county; Calledonia, wife of C. Al. Bess,
of Joimson county; J. 11., also of Johnson
county; Victoria, deceased, was the wife of
"VV. \l. Bounds; and John, wdio -lied in the
Confederate army in the late war.
Lemuel Trulove received a limited e<luca-
tion, attending school only seven months, but
cincc ari'iving al man's c.-.tale hao ajijdied
yc-^r hr-;re;.g.:^.^ J in tL- r;j.;r.ja:.ti!e biuine^s,
and aJ-.o in tr.iding in =tock, etc. At the
breaking out of the late war he \va6 worth
about Si;U,0O0, but at its close liad only about
one-tifth iA that, and he engaged in farm-
ing, with free negro labor. In lS70hecame
from Alabama to this State with wagons,
requiring .^i.\ weeks to make the trip, and
lan.led in Dallas county, June 10, 1S70. A
few months later Mr. Trubve bought part of
his present farm, (]()t) acres, paying from %?>
to !?i per acre, and he now has over 2,000
aci-es under a line state of cultivation, lie
has a handsome residence, and all the neces-
sary outbuildings to be found on a well
regulated farm ; he also owns an interest in
two ginning plants. In 18S3 he engaged in
the banking business, under the firm name of
Cotter, Trulove & Co., and does a general
baiddng business.
Mr. Trulove was married in 1852, in Ala-
bama, to Miss Anna B. Spears, a daughter of
John and Kditli (A tkins) Spears, natives of
North Carolina, and early settlers of Alabama.
Mr. and Mrs. Trulove have had eight children,
— Alice, who died in this county at the age
of nineteen years; Jauniata, deceased; K. S.,
of Johnson county; L.E.,Otis, Ilalley, Alice
and one deceased in infancy. Mr. Ti-nlove is
a member of the A. F. k, A. M., and of Al-
\arado l.o.lge, Xn. 1:52, B. \. M., an.i Mrs.
Tridove belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
M,: -•; ■...I- Uy.i [■': ;!vi.:'W
■,>d ,<.uU.
^ :. •', 1 7
1'. 1700
!.,,<. k
.1/ !o. .-.l
.NmM ..;■!. I/" /. .• Ill y ,':}■■' . ■•vr,.
:■>*! 'id ill' J !i .Jioi.i
^^Z
IND IIII.L COUNTrEh
Alvaridowus first inc(_.r|Hii'attMl liyaii act of
the Irgislatm-c ill 1S78, an.l a.s a cily June 1,
1SH5. At tiiefii^t election for iiiniiici])al olli-
ciTH J. II. Wright was chosen inayorand James
ISt. John, niarslial. Under tiie auspices of the
corporation, a tine two-story frame city liall
Iniildiny graces tlie middle of the public
.-(juare; ajid recently the city has issued bonds
to the extent of $8,000 for street improve-
ments and sewers, — although tjiese are
scarcely needed on such a clean, diy hill as
that upon which the city is situated.
Prof. I. A. I'atton has recently compiled and
juiblished with great care a neat pamphlet
of 103 lai-ge octavo pages, entitled, "Revised
Ordinances of the City of Alvarado, and Rules
of Order of the Oity Council." The code of
laws of this city is not infeii(jr to any in the
State.
The present city olHcers are: J. A. Russell,
mayor; J. W. Stark, secretary; W. O. Polf,
marshal: 1. A. Fatton, city attorney; alder-
men from the first ward, A. I). Oakes and J.
B. Poindexter; second Avard, T. W. Harrison,
mayor pro t,-w. and (i. (i. Colding; third
ward, W, F. Moore an.l (i. C. Kahm.
In respect to education in Alvarado, by
far the most conspicuous figure is the old
Masonic Institute, on "College Hill" west of
:own,--the hill leing named after the insti-
tute.
Alter the community had years ago suf-
fered seriously for a long time from the dis-
advanta.res o\ rei.eatrd faihiic to sccuro a
permanent scho(jl, many cf the citizens con-
cluded that the Kreema.sons, being an or-
ganization of considerable strength at this
place, and n■pre^enting almost all pha.ses of
public oi)inion on all the (juestions of the day,
religious and i)olitical, were the most emin-
ently qualified to unite the discordant ele-
ments of a community in the interest of edu-
cation; and with this view the trustees of the
Masonic lubtitute were solicited to take
charge of the school here. A mass meeting
of the citizens was accordingly held, which
resolved to place the school interests of Al-
varado under their contrtJ, and ])ledged them-
selves to give them their united support, no
Mason voting. A rebolution was signed also
by a large number of citizens who were not
Masons.
The trustees, feeling then that they had
suflicient authority to proceed, and having
secured legal authority to control the school
property by means of a lease for twenty-five
years, took charge of the school. They o.y-
pended over 61,000 of their lodge fuiul.s, and
many memliers also gave liberally of their
individual means, even involving themselves
in debt for the purpose, in order that a per-
manent good school be established and nuiin-
tained. Se\'en acres of laml were doiuited by
L. P. Trulove, John Pyle, A. J. Prown and
J.J. Ramsey.
Meanwhile, in 1875, Prof. I. A. Patton,
who was teaching in Crimes county, was so-
licited to come and take charge of the school
under the new arrangement. Conijilying, he
commenced teaching in the old union cliurch
in September of that year. The Institute.
■■■\n ..'.m; u.-r.-u.-
■tdJ- -1 , ..i; !i!
?■ !!1.| ■.•,:■ ,...;•:•. ft (I-
.; vri'u •■[ V).:.
I
H ■■ •.:■;..; -/;:;■;.. I
11 -:■ Til,'.*
insTonr of joiinson
buikliim was comiiletL'd
iR.xt year,
story frame, 30x70, and cost, iiieludiiii;-
fiiriiishiiios, etc., !;;t,()00, or iiK.re. Tliu pill,-
lie pulse was still in I'avor of the i\;juiic
^re their
le school
I'ss.ir had
itil 187S.
J„,,te,|
a
id eontinued to
ipiHirt
''roiii the hei^iiin
an a t
eci
led success. The
ireo as
sist
lilts and taught th
ly increased
At length
tl
'I'he school had forty boarding pupils from
adjoiiiintr sections of tlic country. The insti-
tution had a normal and evi'u a law depart-
ment. It was eiitii-ely an independent
school, receiving no funds from the public
treasury. In time, with a small ajipropria-
tioii from tlu^ public funds, a free school was
added, and the institution finally irrew wholly
into a free or public school.
The school opened with only si.xtcen schol-
ars, but during the year 1(38 jiupils were in
attendance, and this was o;radt
with the increase of populatio
the Masonic lodge sold the building to jiri-
vate ])arties.
Profs. Fuller and Posey, who had been as-
sistants, succeeded Prof, i'attoii, and follow-
ing them was Uov. ,1. U. Olarkc from (Me-
iMirnc.
In ISC.'J there was an '^Alvarado College,"
with Kev. John Collier as |)re.-ident, assisted
by foui- teachers. During the year ISDO a
\'ote was taken on the proposition that the
city take control of the jiublic schools within
its limits, with a majority against it
The city now has as good a systemof scliools,
and as good school patrons, as any in the
.State.
AI>;,r,i,Jn L<>,hje, Xo. .il',, F. t& A. M.,
was cstabli.shcd in LSli'.J, and the lirst ollicers
were A. J. Chambers, W. M.; J. C. AVeaver,
S. AV.; and Joel Higgins, J. W. There are
now r,r.i iiiemlH!rs, and the jiresent ollicers
are A. V. Weaver, W. M.; R. A. Claunch,
S. W.; T. S. Armstrong, J. W.; W. K.
Pounds, Secretary; \V . \i. Norman, Treasurer;
V. L. Lamothe, Tiler. Preceding Mr. Weaver,
W. M. St. John was W. M., who is now dis-
trict dejiuty.
Alva,-u,lo C/nipier, No. 132, R. A. M.,
was established in 1875, the first ollicers be-
ing, P.en P>arnes, II. P.; II. C. Penfro, E. X.;
and J. C. AVoodson, E. S. The present offi-
cers are, A7. M. St. Joim, II. P.;AV. A. Ilouch-
in, E. K.; John Duke, S. ; A. Y. AVeuver,
Secretary; and E. AV. Carter, Treasurer.
The present Masonic buikling, on the
north side of tlie square, is a two-story brick
erected about 1881. The blue lodge first
met at the union church building, in the
second story, then at the old Masonic Insti-
tute, now kn iwii as the high-school building,
and next in their present structure.
Alranulo Lud,je, No. JSl, I. O. O. F .,
was organized May 18, 1881, by district
deputy M. S. Kahle of Cleburne. First of-
ficers: A. Y. AVeaver, N. G.; W. C. AVright,
V. G.; K. M. Chapman, Secretary, and P. P.
Smith, Treasurer. There were probably
about seven or eight members, but now there
aie about ninety-five, and the present ofhcers
are: P. i\. Prestridge, N. G.; \^ L. La-
mothe, \^ G.; J. M. Pettis, Secretary; W. C.
.,i\'V y .ri' -lOjKl.'.tj;
-fflv ■■ TV- ■ M,T
:v I ;.;:,o-. lAulJ
,,; ' ill ,. / , >f,.Vi ' ir, -itvl-
i, ,. '/i .1)
>! X;.
d ■■•■r.
■.':V
AND HILL COUNTIES.
\Vi i-i.t, 'I'jvasiirer. This lodge owns a build-
in.' ..II the north side of I'oinduxlrr stioc^t, a
hrirk, well
M>"J'l
,ed lus II lodue
til.' uiiijilili.'d wi.rk of thu .IfgrcH-,..
\\:J,(l Ijnhje, No. till, DaiKjhtcrs oj Rc-
Inkiili, was organized in l>i8(). Thoru are
n.iw lii'ly uieinburs, and the olHccrs arc: Mrs.
(io.r;^'.' liristley, N. (_;.; Mrs. A. 1). Doain,
V. (;.; Mrs. Sallie I5ailli,>, S.x'rctary ; and
.Mrs. V. L. Lainotlie, Treasurer. This lodge
i.- ill a strong, healthy condition.
Alcavado Lodge, ±Mo. US, K. of P., was
.irgaiiized August 13, ISOO, hy district
deputy J. A. Lindgren uf (Uelmrne, with
the following otlicers: M. Sansoin, i'. C;
11. Voss, C. C; F. B. IJaillio. V. C; W. B.
Norman, K. of 11. and S. ; Charles Voss, if.
..f K.; N. V. Sparks, M. of F.; 11. M. Chap-
man, I'relate, — and twenty-seven uieiiihers.
The meinliership now is thirty-si.v, and the
..lii.'er.-: F. B. Baillio, P. C; (J. C. Falun, C.
C.; (ie.irge ISristley, V. C; 11. T. Campbell,
I'relate; J. W. Stark, K. of W. and S. ; W. F.
Werkheiser, M. t.f F. ; 11. T. Dun.'an, M. of
F. The lodge meets every week, at U.ld
Fellows' hall.
AUutrado Lodye, No. 1,50.;, K. of II.,
wa^ established March 111, 1«7U, with ten
members. The tlrst oiKeers were: D. J.
Daley, I).; C. M. Burks, V. D.; 1. A. I'atton,
1'. D.; G. W. Cotter, A. 1).; N. Davis, li. ;
A. V. Adair, Treasurer; F. M. Davis, G.; A.
M. Morgan, F. U.; J. F.. Johnson, Guardian;
W. U. Stockton, Chaplain; an.l II. J.
Smith, Medical F.xaniiner an.l Sentinel. There
have been two deaths in this lodge. Bcgu-
lar meeting, tii-.-t and third We.liiesdays of
each month, in the Opera Ilou.se. K. J.
Brown is now dictator, ami J. \\. Stark
repnrter.
Uanuhc Ludy,; No. 1,(IS0, I{. and L. of
II., wasorganize.l J iily 2«, 1«85, by 1 )ej)uty 1).
C. B. Connely, of Austin, Te.xas. The fol-
lowing woi'o the lirst ollicers: W. M. St. John,
P. P.; A. M. Morgan, P.; Mrs. Mary L.
Boss, V. P.; T. F. Norman, Financial Secre-
tary; G. AV. Carter, Treasurer; Dr. C. A.
Schultz, iMedical F.xaniiner. The lodge has
increase.l from eighteen to I'orty-si.K members.
The iire:,ent ollicers ai'e: Dr. B. G. Pres-
tridge. P.; Mrs. Mary L. iioss, V. P. ; AV. M.
St. John, Financial Secretary; and J. E. Stil-
well, Treasurer. The lodge meets the first
and third Thursday nights in each month, at
the city hall. It has paid death claims to
the amount of !t;L2,()()0, and is linaneially a
substantial institution.
Council Noland, Kniyhts of the Golden
Utile, was organized in Alvarado, March 16,
1S81, with a membership of twenty-seven.
First ollicers: Judge AV. F. Ewing, P. C.;
Culonel W. C. Smith, C; J. D. Osborne, V.
C. and Med. Ex.; Rev. Oscai llightower. Prel-
ate; V. M. llightower, M. at A.; Thomas
A. Scurlock, Secretary; AV. B. Bishop, Treas-
urer; J. II. Vosburg, Herald; D. K. Moody,
Janitoi-. The regular meetings, every alter-
nate Friday night.
Alrarado Cainj, of Ex-Confederate Vet-
erans.— December 21, 1889, a goodly crowd
of those who wore the gray met at the opera
liou^-e for the piirjjo.se of forming a camp.
The hou.<e was called to order by Hon. J. C.
Biannoii, who stated the object of the meet-.
\ '-.V'.
.,.; -.T/O t-^i"-'' -/uii .Vld-'/U'V .hP.ii^
■wv^,,i. ■■ ■.! ';. .'...V i 'm;: ,j. ... -..I)
<ui
:■> .1 •■•-I
•I, ■: aiiT :-r
,:!'Ji,iJit->ili
<> .U .il ,.•'
- ;"/ .1'
Bju.i-ir ;./. i' -i' ;i^v/,.fr :• r / ■■■Hi: ..; \. ."i ,..v ,. *:/ ,:,^^wA >a^„\!>.,\:.
..,,;:« .,..Hv^ ^^1.1 r ■v.Ur.r: ,i ■■ ■">: ■. I;.''.'' -!..'i M ;' : ' I ,■( j'j.n
:.!::.., ,..:'■' : ,;■.- ! ■■.■■'.' ;..': .A , , J : ' /' , Li ;,^J ^*
,'! ,,„■,■.-.: . -A '\'- .', ..' . • V---.' Vi -:-A.-.' ■ K .'i ;.^-i"...r/r /...i.A .7 ./
f? .y'- -;. I-
IHSTORY OF JOHNSON
ill- (V.loiiel (\. C. F:iliiii was elected
chairiiKui, and F. !). ISaillio, secretary. A
ciiMiiiiiltee (111 |ieriiiaiioiit or_;aiiizati()ii was
Alberl, E. T
Albfrl, 11. S
Albert, J. II
Ander.son, G. W...
...0,
■ F,
. K',
10
1
10
17
Vu.
Va.
Va. Cav.
apiHHhted, consisting yf J. I). Grillin, 1. A.
Bast, N. W
18
Te.v. Cav.
Patton, W. A. lloucliiii, Jesse M. Hill and
Biannon, J. C
Goriug's Miss. Baltal.
Brown, A. J
..E,
32
Tenn.
Barnes, Ben
...C,
12
Tex.
AVhile tills cuininittee were out, engaged
Brady, G. W
..A,
Ul
Ala. Inf.
in consultation, I'oloncl T. G. Miller enter-
tained the house with a feeling address. The
Best, CM
Blair, ,S. J
Bounds, W.K
. . . B,
..D,
9
7
Ala. Inf.
Teun. Cav.
Ashcrafi'sMisa.
coniinittc^e then made the following report:
Baillio, F. B
Buckner's Escort, La.
That this organization be known as the Alvu-
Brand, D. P. Jl . .
..11,
noddy's Cav.
rado Cainp of Ex-Coiifedcrate Veterans; and
that its otiicers shall consist of a commander,
vice-commander, quartermaster, adjutant and
Brundaj^e.W. E...
Blackwell, ...
Bledsoe, J. S
Brown, M. A
...A,
..A,
44
11
33
tiO
Ark.
Ala.
Teun.
Aln.
chaplain. For commander they recommended
Boyd, M. E
. . . F,
2S
Ga. luf.
AV. 11. Bounds; vice commander, G. C. Falun;
qiiar-termaster, J. B. (Trillin; adjutant, F. B.
Jiaillio; chaplain, Kev. T. G. iAfiller.
Cbamldee, K. J....
Collins, J. L
Cbumch, A.J
Clauucli.R. A
...C,
...I),
5
11
11
Ala.
War Ship Alabama.
Tex. Inf.
Tex. Inf.
'I'hoy further recommeiided that a com-
mittee of live be appointed on constitution and
t::imi)bi<ll, B. C...
Culberson, W. A...
Clales, ,J. J
Transp. Depl , Dallas.
<J Ga.
Felersburg (Va.) Art.
by laws, and report at the ne.xt meeting. The
Corson, J
..11,
11
Ala. luf
chairman appointed J. D. (TritHii, I. A.
Curler,
...C,
10
Ark.
Patton, Jes.se M. Hill, W. A. Houchin and
F. B. Baillio.
Cham]. ion, J. M. .
Davis, Harrison...
Davis, William ...
..K,
2
5
Miss.
Ga. Battery.
Tex.
At this point Colonel J. L. Morgan, the
Davis, B.F
2
Ga. Stale Troops.
eagle oiator (..f Johnson county, in response
to reipicst, made a llamiiig speech, such as is
Easlerwood, James
English, W. U
Evans, L. S
A.
...C,
S
Borders Tex.
Ga. Cav.
seldom surpassed in logic and eloquence;
Esles, 11. 11
...D,
5
Ga.
every one felt disappointed at the brevity of
F'iPl'O.J.T
2(j
Ala.
liis address.
After resolving to assist in the formation
Forleubuiy, 11. F..
Fubm, G. C
Gibson, J. II
. . .A,
. . . B,
8
Ark.
Ga. Bal. Art.
Ga. Bat.
of a camp at Cleburne, the meeting adjourned
Grillin, J. D
Koddy's Scouts.
to January 2, follo\\ing.
Gabrielle, B. F. . . .
...F,
lo
Ala.
Following is the present roll of members:
Gill, y. S
Grissom, 11, B....
...I,
...11,
4
Teun.
Miss. Cav.
N.\ME. Co. Uku. State, Etc.
Gruhum, W. M...
...B,
1
Teun.
Adams, .1.3 B, ^2 Ga Hal'-.!
Giagg, 0. F
Ala.
.); .■.■-! _,■• y..:j u''.\'
H.... ;;
■ I J ' -n-'
'' ' '"■"^ i
Jiii'»f.( 'i' iltn . .j-,'i'i.| ;.:>!l di -^ri I v/t'i ;<>''!
/^
AND HILL VOUNTIKS.
ll..rri.on, T. W....
14
Ten.) Cuv.
Wliilted, W. D I, 40 Ala.
il.iu, hill. W. A
..A,
'i
.Mo B.il.
\\'rMlpcrry, Allicrl ... 10 Ga.
Mill, J. M
..C,
1
Tejiii C'uv.
Walker, II. C Miss.
Mil. Intl., \V. 11....
...I,
4
Tenii. Cav.
Watson, W.C I), 19 Tex.
llM, lil=ull, t'. J
.11,
03
Tenn.
Wright, J. II 11, 4 Ala. Cav.
Hill, 11. F
-.1,
2lj
Tex.
Young, J. E 11, 4 Ala.
Il..lcnmb,ll. P....
Uiilloi), J. K. P ...
lloiu-.i, S. i\
J..HCS, A. T
J.i.k, WMl
. . F,
..A,
..G,
..G,
39
4
7
Ala.
Teun. Ciiv.
XI organ '6 Cav.
Te.x.
Te.x. Slate Tr.
01.3.
Tlie pi-eseiit otHeef.s of the camp are: W.
A. Culberson, Captain; Jesse M. Hill, First
i.ieiiteiiant; \\\ A. llouchiii, Second J.ieu-
tenant; K. 1!. liaillio, Adjutant; J. D. Grillin,
J..rir,, 11. K
Johns, N. 11
Kill.mgli, S. B. ...
■i
12
Va. Howitzers
Ala.
Tex. Cav.
(Quartermaster; C. ].. 11 utcliison. Vidette.
Kev. W. C. C'l'awford, tlic only survivor of
K.iighl, L. S
. .G,
1
Tex. Cav.
the signers of the Te.xas declaration of inde-
l.il.-,,,I
.M..nin, G. F
.Mnuro,P;ilrick
.MiIUt, T. G., Ll. CV
.11,
■H,
20
43
41
.S. C. Uifles.
Ala.
Miss. luf.
Tenu.
pendence, is now livinj; with his daughter,
Mrs. Kounce, two miles south of Alvarado.
lie is now ahout eighty-eight years of age, a
M.-rgmi, W. P
Cleburne's Ekl
ort.
zealous Methodist. That declaration of in-
.Mclze, Jue
. .D,
J)
ID
3(j
Terry's Tex. K
Tex. Cav.
Tappan's Ark.
Ala.
ingers.
Brig.
dependence, the reader will recollect, was
made in 1830, at Washington, on the Eraz(j3.
.Ma ■king, J. W
-Norninn, L
O.r, lieuljeii (colore
Jksse i\[. IIii.L. — When one would go in
Oeluu,, w. n
..F,
12
Tex. Cav.
search of patiiotism, patriotism of that in-
Oliver, J, H
>'-y.J. K
PoUunl, 1). P
. .15,
■ K,
..P.,
CO
39
Ga.
Ala.
Ala.
tensity that would sacrifice not only fortune
and exery jirosjject of material success, but
P..uell, J.M
..A,
Steed's Baiter
life itself, let him come to tho South, the
Piilto,,, I. A., 1st Lt
..B,
1
Tex.
scene of the late Confederate CJovernment.
I'c.rler, 11. L
Powell, B. F
Purler, K. K
liive.s, A .. .
. .F,
■A,
. .B.
12
20
17
Xliss.
Xliss.
Ga.
Terr.'ll'.s Tex.
It has been wisely remarked that little credit
would be due the .\orth if an army of cowards
only had Ihtu vamiuisluMi, and jierhaps no
Ilogeis, K 11
.11,
lU
Ala.
one realizes the metal of his Southern lirother
Kllb.sell, 11
..I),
9
4
Grilliii's Tex. Baltery
Ark.
Tenn.
Ari.
better than does the man who fought in the
irnioii rankh. Among the many citizens of
the South who were loyal to their convictions
UeynoKl.s i:. T
Uulleilge, U. U
Slrong, W. F
Smilli.T. C
.0,
30
Ala.
in the face of the lujrrors of war, was Je^se
Sandliii, A. W
Sleplyi.s, W. 1)....
l3lirop=ljire, 1). N...
Spurks, S. J
Tliomi)bon, E
• ■ (-',
.K,
..I,
1
12
1
Alisa.
Tex.
Tex. Cav.
Tex.l.'g'M.Uo.
Miss. Cav.
b'Brig.
JM. Hill, whose hi.-^tory is outlined briefly as
follows: He was born in McMinii county,
Tennessee, January 15, 1839, ami is a son of
James and Elizabeth (Maytield) Hill, natives
of South Carolina; both the father and mother
Tl,om|).oi,, A. U....
..(.',
Coljb's I.,-gion
'; .7/ ■■ - ■' !l ' .'.■) . .■.■/> ;; VM ... ,':;i.il
. jt).-p7i ,^■^^■■': .'■■ j ■ li „;4 o / .. /•. .W ,i'.|i i» II
. ■ ') ' ■•. ..,,,,'./ ... . ,„vr [ ,'J , , , ., l« !. .i{,:i
/I . • .■''/ .;■ ■ V , ,. : ,„,!■ .- I . ii ■// ,1 ..-..111
y . . - ,i I. ,,. .-. .ov ;,v .1 . . ■■; )( .'..„
ij, : . ...,s j'''<::- ,». * ■■'' ' -^•^' *• ' .. 'i ,;i .1. ...iiliull
'' ..[ ""' , ' v:!Ui'>;k,,or w ,v.» /;.;-,,, Ml...!
>--.''; \ ,.j ■.. .;, «,„..;,
■::' ; T. j,„ i.L,o}\U^'^ ,!t.': .......r. I , ,, .., r .,,.,^ ,.,t .i •./ ,j..u
.-■■■ :. i' ./ '...li.-l
.> ,'" ••■/w
a '"'V' I ,8>iiijw'; d
.Vn es,V J. .It
/, Ll -illl.'
in STORY OF JOHNSON
caiiic to 'IV'iiiK'ssoe in fiirly liTc, tlii-ir families
then went to ^[cMinll C(jiinty, gathering I'C-
iciiMiviiin; I,, McMinii roiiiily aluMit tlir yiar
cruits and deserters, biMiig reunited at the
1810. The iiiatenial irraiulfatlier uf Jesse
battle of INHssionary liidgu only to be cut in
,M. Hill was ,lr.-.M; Mayliel.l; his lather was a
two by the enemy. Mr. Hill next went with
boMiei- in the Kcvuliiti(;nary war, aii<l par-
a portion of his coniiiany to Coueral l,ong-
ticijiateil in sunie uf the noted eiioageuientrf
street, ami his lir=l engagement after the
uf that btnif^gle. James Hill was a farmer
Company was dismounted was at Mew Hope
l.y (jceupatioii; he was not spared to oive to
Church; thetir.-,t important engagement after
liib son that gnidanee and directit)n which
this was at Martinsburg, wdiere some -lOO or
only a parent's love siigo;ests, his death oc-
500 Federals wei-e captured; thence the com-
eiiridng wdieii his only ehild was hetween
pany went to Maryland and particij.ated in
thi-ee and four }cai-s old; the mother pa>bed
the .struggle at Fre.lericksburg, going after-
from this life ten years later, so that in eliild-
ward to a point within three miles of the
hood .Mr. Hill was thrown upon his own re-
city of Washington ami cajjturing the outer
sources. He I'eceived a supiaior education
works; they then fell back, ero6.-,ed the Poto-
for tliat ilay, and at the ai^e v[ ei;;hteen years
mac river at J>eesburg; then followed the en-
apprenticed himself to a hrick-maker; he
gagement on the Washington and Winches-
had ju.-,t liuished his term of hcrvice in this
ter pike, thus ending a march of 600 miles.
capacity when the memorahle year of 18G1
interrupted with numerous skirmishes. After
dawneil upon the world.
the siege of Vieksburg lie was made Third
Kes})onding to the call, he enlisted in Com-
J.ieutenant, and was promoted to the place of
pany C, First Tennessee Ca\alry, Vauohan's
First Lieutenant, and finally became Captain,
lirioade. This (-(Muiiany fust ^ei'N ed on escort
although his commission did not reach him
duty as couriers and j^i'iards, was in sevei'ul
until after the surrender. This was a just
s.nall .-kirmi-^hes and j)articipatcd iu the l.iit-
recognition of his merit, but Mr. Hill was
tle at Uock Castle, Kentucky, under (ieneral
willing that hostilities should cease wilh the
Zolli.oll'or; the company then iituineil to
new title untried. i)uring (ieneral Karly's
Cund.crland Cap and joiiu'd Ceneral l!rau|r
raid Mr. Hill commanded a company, for at
on his laid through Kentucky, returning to
New Hope Church a great many olliccrs were
Teniiesst'e and remaiiiino at ]\[urfree:,ljoro
killed and captured, and from this cause Mr.
until ordered to Vicksburg; here Mr. Hill
Hill was senior ollicer, and really tilled the
participated in tiie siege, was taken ])risoner
position of Captain during a long period of
and parole.l July 7, lS(;:j, and exchanged
till', war. He was in the battle of Winches-
Septemher 12, IbCiS. Company C then joined
ter and then at I'lsher's Hill, where he was
Cieneral liragg immediately after the battle
wounded in his left shoulder; he did not
of CliickaiiKuiga, Tennessee, continuing with
stop for treatment, though his arm^'as dis-
him some lime; a portion of the company
abled ; after the battle he remained at a farm
- ''-;1.''^'
■^h :'.',l'h.AU' \' •-. ■ ■: fill 'Ui--. '• UW\
AND HILL COUNT IKS.
liousc fur tun ur twlve days, an.l thuu iiklU;
liib way to (u'luTal Ivirly'.^ liL'ail<iuaiit.'i>, only
to lih.l hid coiuiuiUKi liad l.ccn soul into Tcn^
|,asb an
tion IVoiii (uMUTul Karly t,. ilristol, Virginia,
uli.Tc Lis coinpany was rojoinod. After tliis
a fi'U- minor battles were fought, and tiieii
tame news of Lee's tiirreiider; the division
moved over into North C!arolina, tiiencu to
Wa>hington, (ieorgia, and there disbanded.
Aftei- the ileclaratioii of peace jMr. Hill
made his way directly to Texas, locating in
Hill county, wiiere lie remained ei^diteen
months. His lirst oecnpati(jii was gathi-ring
up horses and cattle, and then he Beeured a
contiact for hiyiiig brick at Waco, tints fuming
ijacl< to the vocation of his early youth, lie
carrieii on this trade until 1S72, when ho
came to this county and settled where he now
resides, purchasing 550 acres of land in
L^73, and began making improvements; ho
lias added to this tract until he now owns DOU
acres, all of which is un.ler cultivation ex-
cepting 150 acres, which are in pasture, lie
makes a specialty of raising tine mules for
the market, and is the owner of sonje thor-
oughbred hordes which mi-ht aron.e the envy
of a Kentucky breeder. He has contributeil
very materially to the development of tiiis
business in the county, and is able to exhibit
some of the finest specimens of hoi'ses and
mides in the county.
]\Ir. Hill was lirst married in September,
1870, to Miss Fannie A. liarnes, a daughter
of A. J. Harnes (see sketch of Mo^es Barnes).
Mrs. Hill died in the year 1872. In 1875
Mr. Hill was united to Miss Maggie Atchley,
a daughter of Dr. ("alvin Atchley, of this
county; he settled here in ISC.S, and tiled in
188-2. To Mr. and Mrs. Hill were born
three children: Willie, .Mattie, who died at
the age of two years, and iiettie. The mother
of tliese children died in 1883. In February,
1881), Mr. Hill was married to Miss ilenni-
one ]!ai-i-ett, of Anderson county, Texas, a
daughter of John and Mary l!arrett. Of this
uruon four children have been born, only one
of whom is living— Jessie. Mrs. Hill is a
worthy mendier of the ISaptist chureli.
Mr. Hill has for many years been associ-
ated with the Ma.-onic fraternity; he is also
a demitted member of the 1. O. O. F. of
Alvarado.
In lSi;3 there were four church denomi-
nations in Alvai-ado, all worshijiing in the •
" union" building on ground deeded for the
pur])ose by William JJalch. It was a good
two-story frame structure, the Masimic fra-
ternity owning the upper story, while tiie
lower story was used for both church and
school pur|ioses. Each denomination h.'ul its
Sunday, ami the (ifth Sunday of the month,
when there was one, was the property of the
" world, the flesh and ^he devil," as the
worldly men)ber of the board of trustees ta-
cetiousiy worded it. The building was con-
trolled by a board of trustees, one fi-om each
denomination and one outsider. The first
membei- from the "outside wqrld " was Joel
Higgins, and the second Dr. A. Y. Weaver.
It was finally sold, torn down and taken
away.
hi;.! 'v;.,in.f<- ■■,![ 1-„|' :.i
,<I, |ni.. , _.
M';'"; '• wi >'- I -. I' o ■..■ . ■■:■ .:-; iji J.n.i ,j..; .>;'!! mII
•■' . Miiiiv, I 1,: li(>i-j( ■ . ,,.,: .'1 .i-l..,-.r' /:i-il).i'vi M I.J
iV/ -:..'i:.- ' ;, ., , ^ . • ■:, , , ,,: ,.,,,, -^ „■} .,,1' iy ,.,|i, ■
IIISTOlty OF JOHN.^ON
M.thoj;s,u.--A\vs-. W. (;. \\-.i\ was a.iunig
of the Presbytery of Cctral Texas, held in
tilt; first iiiiiiistcl's ul' tin's (iLMioiniiiuliun liuro,
Waxahachie, .May 30, 1874, upon apjilication
aiMl son,, aClc- his work was l,cu„„ in ihis
a C(Ui,i,iitlee was appoi,itrd to orgai,i/(! a
,-,m,„,„„ity a sorirly was or^a,, i/.,.l. licv.
Pic.byter,a,, ,diurch at Alv:i,-ado, '■ ifM„- way
iM,-SI,a,ii, was another pioneer Meliio-list
be deal'." The committee consisted of Ke\'S.
])i-i-aehor in tliib viei,,ity, and s,,bse(|nently
J. A. Walker, J. A. Smiley and W. C. John-
1 )r. Stockton.
son, with Illder 1. N. Pule, now at Ilillsboro.
Tlie Metliodists built a house of worship of
April 2i the lirst memliers organizing were
their own in 18S0-'Sl: size 3-^ x 00 feet. It
A. B. and John E. Painter, W. C Alexander,
was h,ii-neel in ISSti, tiie lire heing oecasioned
Miss Elizabeth 1). Alexander, Mrs. M. E.
hy the explosion of u laniji nnder a cotton
Alexander (wife of W. C), Mi.ss E. R. Paint-
covering cif an arhor atidition just as the
er, Mrs. M. Paintei', Mrs. P. E. Gamble, Mrs.
congregation was gathering for the e\eniiig
P. J. Walker (wife of J. A.), and Miss Jennie
service. The present edilice, south of the
Hasty. Elders, A. P.. I'ainter and W. C.
southwest corner of the public scjuai-e, was
Alexander; and Deacon, John E. Painter.
erected in 18S7, at a cost of ,s(i,7.jO. It is
Piev. J. A. Walker was engaged to preach
b^ far the finest chui'di building in Johnson
every Hfth Sunday, that being the only day
county. It will seat about 500.
in which the houst: of worshiji coidd be se-
The present number eif ineiubers is about
cured.
220, of whom the class-leader is U. I'. San-
May 30, following, a session was iield in
son!. There are seven stewards, — 1. A. Pat-
which A. P. Painter's name was dropped from
ton, T. AV. Harrison, K. P. Sansom, B. M.
the roll, he having joined the Paptist church;
Sansom, D.J. llowai'd, (i. W. Skinner and
and E. C. and E. CJampbell were received as
Dr. 11. ('. l',„dom. (i. (!. I'ahm is superin-
memlH'rs. August 28, A. P. Painter rcturi,ed
tendent of the Sunday-school, whhdi has an
to the fold, expressing regret at having left
average atteudance of about eighty. In e;:n-
it. Mi-s. Sarah Lilly was received asa mem-
ncclioi, will, the ehuich ,. al.o a ladie.-,' aid
ber.
society, which has done a g,-eaL deal of good
Very soon, however, this church was trans-
work. Pastors — lievs. Ilobertsoi,, Johnson,
ferred to Cleburne. See undei- that head for
L. Pauntz, W. II. LeFevre, J. M. P.arcus, 0.
a continuation of its history.
S. McC^arver, T. S. Armstrong, etc. J. M.
Cuinhcrlaiid Pi'enhijturlun Church. — liev.
Armstroi,g is the present ii,cumbent. Le-
Wear (or AVeir) was one of the lirst ministers
Pevre, who was liere when the j,i-e.-ent church
of this dei,oniination at Alvarado :ind \ iciiiity,
wa.- built, had also the greatest re\i\al, when
continuing for a ,,unibri- of yeai-s; also Joseph
over 100 j,,ined the church.
Wil.-^hire. About the close of the war, or
/'/r.sl^i/hi/inii'.sin wa.-, inti-od,iced into this
imn,...liately alU^r, a congregatioi, was Organ-
county at Alvarado, as f,,]l.,w>: At a meeting
ized at tl, is pl.aci!, with about thirty members-
■'- »■ '^'•' ! ' '
AL .Ad'^u'^.-.V
•A ;. ''.:U
7 .:i 7/./,;; .^r,.,A„v,.,\(.
lot . ..■ ■;.■
■,^1-r •! ■■]
-'li
:'J» ,;• .■ .:i. ., c
iJ-.di; ^ .t
AND UILL COUNTIES.
li.o riilih- cl(lui-6 woro Joel llifi'-iiis, Mr.
>;u-l-ra.b. Tlioinad I'oindcxtcr uiul William
K.uii-ry. 'i'lit'y li;ul services ill the union
lM,iMin^ alreiuly cleseriluMl, until llu- present
..hlire was ereele.l, aliuut ISS.S, costing aliout
f-', (1(111, the lul being donated. It is situated
.-.luihcaat ul' the Sijuare. There are iiowahout
tnrtv li\c niciubei's; there have been as nuiny
1... ninety-nine. Present rulincr elders: J)r.
('. I'. Hudson, — Woods, W. M. St. John,
.lanic.-. Sr. John, Peyton Canipbell, E. Y.
.\d:ur. Present pastor, \l. ].. JIcElree, ])re-
ccdcd by W. (;. Knshino;, Daniel G. Molloy,
I. S. l»a\enport, J. P. (-{roves, John Collier
and another. Pevs. McElree and Davenjwrt
have served each at two dillerent periods,
ilev. J. P. (iroves and W. 1). Wear did the
niiisl paatui'al work here. Sujierintendeiit of
uf the Snnday-schoiJ, Dr. C. A. Sehnltz; as-
Bi^tallt superintendent, \X . iM. St. John.
I'nijitist Church.— Thii creditor the lirst
(irgauization of a Paptist church in Alvarado
is duo to Kev. W. (}. Cfenti-y, at the old
scliuolhouse (jr '• union church" and school
building, October 0, 18(51, and he was the
pastor for a time. \\. P. Senter was pastor
PSi;;i '7;i, bdlowed by J. JL Kelly, 11. O.
Penfro, J. P. Clarke, LS77-'.S(i, J. W. Capps
a year, A. M. Julmsun six months, and P. S.
Kniii;ht, the jiresent incumbent, during the
la^t two years. At present there are 170
members or more. This is the strongest
church in the " Alvarado Paptist Associa-
tion," comprisinir about thirty cliurches.
The present deacons are J. Af. Prestridge,
William Jack, S. A. Pryant, S. IP Walker,
Daniel A. Clayton, W. P. .\P.e-. M.^ssrs.
Prestridge and Jack are the oldest members:
the former is now clerk (it the church. Mr.
Pryant is also superintendent of the Suiulay-
.scho,.l.
The present house of worship, brick, -10 x 00
feet, was erected between lfci74aiid 1878, and
is now valued at §1,000. It is located a little
south of west from the public 8(j^uare.
The primitive IJaptists have a few small
churches in the eastern part of Johnson
county. Pev. T. G. Miller, from Tennessee,
now deceased, preached several times in Al-
varado, some years ago. This denomination
now has an organized church near Rock Tank,
ten miles south of Cleburne, where A. C.
Spears is a deacon. The preachers there are
Pevs. John Perry and — Shipman. Another
church, called A[ount APjriah, exists at Pe
(irande schoolhouse, aljout ten miles north of
Alvarado. Pen Davis is one of the ileacont;.
The Christian Church has about thirty
members in Alvarado. At a former period
there has been a greater number. For the
last year the pastor has been Elder J. J. Hall,
residing at Cedar Hill, Dallas county. The
local elders are W. \l. Pounds and Mr. Wor-
ley. Peligious services the third Saturday
and Sunday of each month, at the South Al-
vara<l., schoolhouse.
^Vhile on religious subjects we may incor-
porate by the way some examples of cjueer
theological ([uestions debated in Alvarado
during the first week of Deconiber, 187ii, be-
tween Dr. C^askey of the " Christian" church
and P(!V. Sledge of the Paptist church. Their
|,ropositi(,ns wi're: I. ^-Tlie Scriptures te?idi
that bajitism is one of the pre-recjuisit'es to
V>',/0 . ,V \ .'A 'A/'
'■ ; -l:^ , M-n l\ ■„,|. ,„-.v. ,.iiM ;:uih.
•-(> :.i.,-.' ., I j,l
niSIUliY OF JOHNSON
the remi^^i^,Ml of sill^ to the jieiiitciit believer. | were ahout tiventv barrels ul' uil in the biiihi-
(\i-ke_v :uli;:ue,l, SleJge >IenieJ. C. -The ' uuj.. whioh ^o>ln eau-ht tire, a.i.lin- fxree to
ilrea.iy lur-e bla^e. lour engines in the
Scripture.-, teaeh that -Mi^rionarj Inijitijt
ehiirches are the only visible rhnrehes of God
on eai'th. Pledge ailirnied, Caskey denied.
3. — The Scriptures teach that the church to
which .Mr. Caskey belongs, called by him and
)ii> brethren tlie "Christian" .■hnrch, and by
establishment were destroyed. Tlie fire origi-
nated in the oil room, Ijut how is not known.
Joseph E. l^restriilge, a higlily respected
citizen, was killed by a runaway mule team
in the fall of 1^5.1.
J..J..Skdge the '-Campbellite S.eiety," is I Abuiit the niiddh: of .May, 1S75, a wind.
entitled to the name '• Clii-istian'' according
to the Scriptures. Caskey atlirmed. Sledge
denied. 4.- Ill order to be saved sinners
mn.-t be burn .d' the spirit, rejRiit and believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sledge afhnned,
Caskey denied. 5.— All true saints will be
linally and completely saved in iieaven. Sledge
allirm.'d, Caskey denied.
O.ISUALl'IKS.
The iirst fatal fire in Alvarado occurred
July 21), 1681, when the store of \V. A. To-
land lV: Co. was consumed, with its entire
stuck of merchandise. Origin of the tire
unknown. The building belonged to J)r.
Koss; total loss about !?o,()U0.
Six business houses were tiestroyed by tire
December 21, 1SS2; luss $2(;,5(ll).
A lire cmiipany was orgaiu/.ed in the city
in January, 1885.
October 31, 1885, about midnight, the
residences of li. S. Dowdy, L. D. Mercer ami
another family, in tlu^ suuthern poi-tiun (d"
the city, were burneti, during a high wind.
The tire was supposed to be set by tramps.
November 5, same year, the u.nnddiuuse
of the Missouri Pacilic Kailroa<l at this jjlace
was burned, with a loss of ,*;1()0,()UU. There
accouijianieiJ with some rain, was ba\aire
enough to tear down fences, unroof houses,
etc., in this vicinity.
-Ma
1885, while tlie justices' court
was in session in the city liall, the building
was struck by lightning and several were
thrown to the Hour, considerably stunned.
Some of the timbers were splintereii. A
telephone wire and connection seemed to have
saved tho building. Oidy twelve or fifteen
persons were present. The next day about
seven o'clock in the evening considerable
damage was done by the wind. The Method-
ist church was so torn ujj that it could not
be repaireil, and Inisiness houses, etc., were
damaged to a considerable extent, the total
loss being estimated at !til:,575.
in 188(5 Mr. an.l Mrs. Thomas Lightfoot,
near Alvarado, h:id a little boy who at one
time wandered away; and the mother, after
looking about the house for some time with-
out finding him, became alarmed and imme-
diately began to search out of doors. In
looking about she discovered the little one
some distance from the liouse near the field
fence. She at unce hastened toward him, and
as she made near aj.proach she discovercll her
buy playing with a chicken snake's tail.
■•:j . 'lij.iii
l,p. V- »,.!>•,, Ml. .:.Mi
AND IIILL COUNTIES.
fl,.- with :,n-e;it |)resciK-e of iiiind calmly told
the rlul.l to '-throw the old stick away and
;;o with her to the house." He did as re-
,,iie,-ted. tjhe tlieii called her liu^baiid from
the Held, who shot the snake.
In last; there was a strike on the Mis-
,-(/iiri, Kansas A; Texas Railroad, t'roiii Kansas
down throiii^h Texas. JS'o \'iolence was ctnn-
ndtt.-il here. Captain A. J. lirown, at the
head of the Alvarailo Guards, was promptly
on hand at the sheriir's hiddin- and pre-
vcntc.l all troidde. After ahont three weeks
the ^triker^ wt'ro ord.'red hack on the .dd
terms hy their resDective societ'
.pec
II sol: I, I,
The iieoi)Ki of Alvarailo and vicinity have
not been l.ehind the rest of the jjatriots of
the land of iJrother Jonathan in the matter
of Foiirth-of July celebrations, as tliey have
hail several maoniticeiit ones. At the cele-
bration of July 4, 1S85, on OoUe-e Hill, the
principal addresses were delivered by Prof. I.
A. I'atton and Jiid<re J.(i. Woo.lson, the
Declaration of Independence wa.. read by
(\,l,.nel (;. C;. Fahm, then a orcat dinner was
enjoyed, after which various amusements oc
cii])ied the attention tii' the multitude. There
was a procession, a shaved and greased pig
turned loose to be caught, a fat men's foot-
race, other foot-races, heavy-wcij,dit sliiy
match with hard gloves, bran dance, tourna-
ment gander-j)ulling, croquet, swings, etc.,
aiul at night a nautical and temperance drama
at the opera-house, by the Alvarado Amateur
Troup, with cdeven actors, the manai^'er being
Colonel Falun. Large attendance. In the
amusements M. Sansom and AV. F. Bachman
won tlie prizes. It is estimated that about
1,5U() people were present. Glory en(.iugh
July 4, 18'J0, there was a grand celebration
at the park; W. 11. Jjouiids, master of cere-
moiiies. The Stubbletield Cornet Band fur-
nislied the music, and Prof. I. A. Patton
delivered the address of welcome, niaking a
number of important and interesting etato-
ujents. M. J\I. Crane, candidate for State
Senator, an.l William Poindexter, .lelivered
the a.Mress.'s of the day. The number iu
attendance at this celebration was estimated
at over 3,000, and no scirious accident occur-
As an example of the editorial rhetoric of
an Alvarado local corresjiondent of the Cle-
burne Chi-unide, we quote the following from
tho issue of June 26, 1875:
" The wliirligig of time brings its revenges.
iVot long since Uncle Sam found it necessary
to cliastise st)ine of his naughty boys. Now
they have had the exquisite revenge of a big
laugh at Pncle SamV expense. The old gen-
dignilied sidky in which to transport tho
mails. On Friday morning the vehicle drove
up, e.xidting in all the ])ride, pomp and cir-
cumstance of otlicial position, and yet Uncle
Sam was not happy. Ho sighed for a steed
wdiose strength was great, ami that would
paw the valley aiul swallow the ground.
Alvai-ado had the man wdio could not see
unmoved the laughing de.-,ire of the old
IJiude. He had a horse whose neck was'
1 :•!!,•! '-.f
.■'.: ..,( ■■^: A
■ i,,,. 1.-.
•i:, ;) 1.1.
.?(jy/' ;
., ,;,..■. / .; . . . >;.i.
.0 ■ ■ ^1 ■■' i i./'riK,..!
il;.-( ,'> :> : o<.!o:>
■■tj;.l ,'i:iv ihh
193
iiing. Til
j\cli;illi;u
thuiulcr iind liis IVrt will
- Moblc ' uiiimal \v;i8 oil
tlic I. Mil and liuiigry C
U I STORY OF JOHNSON
lidi
,cn
iiK'iit pony. IJiick) ISaiu was liajijjy again.
Tlie now stucd was inducted into liarness and
liuiind to tlio sacred car. t'rack yoes the
wliip and round >^o tlie wheels. ^Vith a ho{i,
skip and jniiip the horse proceeds. Uncle
Sam, ill the person of a post boy, cries ' AVo,
wo.' Horse ii;ives a jjliuif^e and Uncle Sam's
mail bag rolls down and out. Horse shies to
the left and post boy to the right, taking a
recumbent position on tlie ground. Horse
tries his speed for fifty yards, then looks
liack to :^ee what is the matter. One wheel
of the ear becomes too ]iroud to walk the
ground and whirls in the /lir, on an a.xle
elevated to an angle of forly-five degrees;
then a tumble, and the noble steed leaves but
u wreck behind. Alvarado has a glorious
life."
St)UTI£ ALVAKADO.
This is the •• new town " created by the ad-
vent of the Missouri, Kansas iV Te.xas rail-
road in 1881, joining south of old Alvarado,
beautifully situated upon an undulating in-
cline leading westerly down to the depot.
The principal places of business are, com-
mencing at a certain corner and going round:
(;. T). Doinar, saloon; Duke & Siinoiuls, drugs
and books; in the second story. Hotel Mere-
1, Seal
&C
o.,gr,
Oostolo At Co., dry goods; B. V. IJain, gro-
cer; on the opjiosite side of the street: Gold-
ing Dros., grocers; J. J. (iolding, hardware
and agricultural imjilements; E. ilearn, boots
and shoes; A. J. k'latt, hotel, sometimes
called the •• llarnes House." There is also a
cotton gill in the place, owned by Kugers iV
Leeson.
The South Alvarado school building is a
one-story frame, divided into three rooms,
the primary department being in an addition
recently built. About 250 scholars are in
attendance; last year there were enrolled
217. There are three teachers, of whom W.
A. Culberson is the jiriiicipal.
(iUAND VIEW.
AVe ]iriut this name as two words simply
for the reason that the Post UHice Dejiart-
nient does so, not pretending to say which
tbrm
u-rect.
Grand \'^iew was so named from the mag-
nificent view of the beautiful landscajie in all
directions that one could take from an emi-
nence centrally located in the old town. The
beginning of the town of (irand A^iew may
be placed in the year 18(i(). Previous to
that date there was a general country store
out in the praii'ie something over half a mile
from the Chambers creek timber. This was
kept by ^[r. J. F. Scurlock, who was also
istmaster for
jttlenient. About one
mile west of this, also on the prairie, was
another store kept by Mr. S. 11. Kicliards.
A few scattered farm luuises on tlie jirairie
and eilge of the timber at inter\als of a mile
or more comprised all that there was of the
settlement of tiraiid View at that lime.
The tirst mill erected in Johnson county
1 '.>vlr.' )>,■
•../.' '.JT ,iV -4.'- : ...M.Ii.,. .'■ <J ■-•n-M , ,;; V ,
. I
'1 n- ■ 1, v^lh; 0 ;c,>7. t/lin : -1 .,
yy-f . ' .O.J ■.■!• ,r'
■ !, .. •■ ,■■',;.; I : ij
,1, L ;.r....^ ...K. ;v,:
AND UILL COUNTIES.
w:i.s lliu oiiu uwiicil liy Jolm W. Wiv^thruuk,
in l^tJO, iifiir (ii-aiid Yiuw, 8iiiee knuwii ;is
StiiM.ldiuhi's mills. F. I.. Kirtley U'lis tlu'
i.rigiiiia [)io]iriel(ir of tlio huid on wliich
(iruiiil View now stunds. IJu sold to Mr.
Sciii'lock, to whom beloni^s mtist of tlio honor
of founding the now town, although Jot J.
Smith actually built the first house here.
'I'lii! writer reinemhors him as hoing oi the
IriiL' material from which pioneers are made,
lie was a man of sterling lionesty and in-
tegrity, of indomitable energy, and a warm
and generous fi'iend. lie had long conceived
the jiiojcct, and accordingly in the fall of the
ye.ir above mentioned he took the initial step
by donating land for a new Methodist church
and Ma:,onic hall, and actively engaging in
the raising of funds necessary for the ei-ec-
tion of the building. In this he was liberally
BUjipoiteil by his neighbors, and by tlie win
ter of 1800 the liouse was eoinjileted and
ready for use. Around this new building as
a nucleus soon gathered the comjionent parts
time the infant settlement met with a loss in
the death of its earliest friend.
Mr. S.uulock u.'vcr lived t,, m'c ibe full
reali^iation of his hopes. yVbout the com-
mencement of hostilities between the iS'orth
and the South, he with two of his neighbors,
.Mr. Lewis Goen and Captain Morrow, while
taking a drove of beeves to Southei-n
Louisiana, were captured by the Fedei-als.
d'hcy were soon liberated, but not until they
had all contracted a di.-ea.-^e con.mon in that
locality. Mr. (ioen and CJaptain .^Lu■^,w re-
covered and returned home, but .M r. Scurlnck
and a young son whom he had taken witii liirn
succumbed to its iniluence and found graves
on the iMississippi, far from home and friends.
There was but one important lawsuit that
ever went u[) from the vicinity of Cirand
View until after the war. Air. Scurlock
established a system of arbitration among
neighbors, and it was frecpiently mentioned
that he and others were "starving out the
lawyers in the county ;" and the lawsuit re-
feri-ed to, after it was prLisecuted a number
of years, was finally settled by arbitration
in a few minutes, on the sijot where Grand
V^iew is now situated.
The town was platted by i-epresentatives of
the Scurlock estate.
Other early settlers in the neighborhood
of Grand View were Crincr, Walker
Meadows, William Kennard, Drew Kennard,
Samuel I)a\is, John S. Morrow, Samuel J.
Chapman, A. E. Jones, Joseph Watts, Dr.
L. II. Gebhard and S. P. Ilollingswortli.
The first church in tlie settlement was on
tlie edge of the tindier, not far from where
the new one was erected. It was a log build-
ing, belonging to the iiaplists, but used in
eomm.Mi by .-dl d.mominat ions. It had the
old-time puncheon llo,,r and batten door, and
itive descrii)tioi
t
was also a school. Here the young ideas of
that early time were taught the rudiments of
an English education, assisted at times by the
gentle stimulus of black jack and broom
wee.l. ller(^ als<.. the first Masonic lodge of
Johnson couiity held its lir.^t meeting under
dispensation. Tbi,-. Was in December, ISCO. *
'J'his historic building with all its time-
-&■ uvo vuiiuA A ;l .wil;!'! a'hloitul.M;-;-
I'/ulv IS.- |.i!<;l (,,li 'l<.v •it):;-.i-t(]</ii) i.:i::-iH
.Sij o./ lA'vc •,!( >J..;j'^. •wt-i '.■•uV liiun:
:. J.M. il:r....il.i^ ys-M ■vt.il -^jlj viijiun,;,! V.
.i.i'j:1 ':-.;ru I. il u'.i iImiJ v:ii;(il-i, illjin^
.■■;! •"
..,'.!.'''
,. .^^' !>:
.•^^„;:.u.,h.^j
.■iJ>'i
..:„.,...
1 . ,i;i:i:.ii;'. oi'j
,',-.Jt.--
i...'i.r 1,!: „unJ
..,
,,,,! -:,.)
i > ;,...;..:..).i'ri
111.HTUUY OF JUIlNiiON
Iioiioivd associations uliiii,Mn^' to it, is no | Tiio tir.-t (lriio;s sold in tliu place were by
ill '-to do it rcveriMice." Dr. (iubliard an.] two of tlio Files lirothcre,
iiiidLT the stylo of .1. (). Files ik, C)o. Ainonu
otliers that followed tlieni wore W. ]\IcFarlili,
x\ '^vv.ii cliaiij^u in comfort and convenience
111 taken place when the chnrcli meniljcrs
Alasons took possession
afterward J. liussev, L.
larlers. It was a two-story building, the H. Goldiard eV Co., IlarwoOd & U. Kami.
lower bciny used tor church purposes, the
upper by the Masons. The schoul was also
jiel.l in the lower room. For a number of
years this was the only church building in
the village, but at last, in 1875, the Ijaptists
er.'Ct.Ml a handsome building lur themselves.
'Jhe school was taught in the Alethodist
church until the year 1881, when a new and
commodious academy was built. One stormy
Saturday night this house was blown down,
but it was sp('i;dily i-ebuilt in a more compact
and durablo furm, and remained the school of
the town until some time aftei- the town was
removed to the railroad.
■I'niC FIKST onni'KRIKS ANU MtV uouoa
sold in the new town were by John (J. Gib-
son, now of Ellis county. These were kept
in the same storehouse that bad L)een used
by J. F. Scurlock and afterward moved to
tlic village. Mr. (iibson was loll.Aved by
the lirms of Moore .V Wade, F. M. Fool and
Davis A; Scurloek. These were about the
earliest in that line of business. Some time
after, when the eai-lior mercluints iiad gone
out of business they were succeeded by
others, among wiiom may be mentioned En-
gihuan & Adair, afterward F. L. Engilman,
F. J.i'enn, T. D. Farris.J. E. IFdlingswnrth,
who was succeeded by Wellbm-n .V, William-
son, and (i. W. llayden.
In groceries alone were tiie names eif I>ail-
lio .^: lioyd, Noali e<c Allen, F.oyd cV: Davis,
T. F. Fenn, A. T. Frewer and F. N. Hill.
Mr. McAdams kept an undertaker and
wood sliop, and J. iM. Aker and F. F. Chick
were the blacksmiths of the village.
DESOLATE TIJIICS.
Such is a crude stiitement of the condition
of ailairs in (irand View just before its trans-
lation to a new site, but of this more anon.
In the meantime the suri-ouinling country
had nut failed to keep jiace with the town in
growth and improvement. The first settlers
Were a mere hand fid in nnndjer. Tlie writer
recalls the names of Fhilip AValker, William
Howard, Oranville Criner, S. F. Davis, W.
8. Qninn, F. C. (^uinn, J. C. Fames, Dr.
Taliaferro, Fewis (ioen, John Whitmire, bo-
sides J. F. Scurlock and S. IF Kichards, be-
foi-e mentionetl. These were about all or
nearly all to be found within an area of
several miles. At that time those men,
though generally well to do, were of necessity
Compelled to ])Ut up with the privations and
inconveniences of a new country. They lived
mostly in log cabins, very often one rooui
sheltering a good-sized family. Fut we must
mention one jieculiarity about these cabins.
Snndl and ciowded as they often were, none %
were ever too full to adnnt a beni<dited stran-
,v.y-iV.v."V '*.'■' -vt'-'UfAW.
i«t
'A ../! j:, H,!;''l. ' i~^. !■■ vli;^ ill'' -i-'jIm-w ! •'.'■•11 iMj/.io'j 'Hir JiiilniOL) iii i,;^r ,• ^1.
.'.■Mi
: , r ....; .; .■.(!, 1./. .M :.<
1 .. l'i>V\ .'■ v.ijl f-.l':!
;iii/ ■•,;'»
,V3tl,i
I . I ; ;
AND IIH.L COUNT/US.
j;. r. lit: was siiru wliorevur he went to meet
with a wanii recfption, u good, liomulike iiiual,
nihl u lir.l art coiarortahlo ha ciiv.iinistaiices
uwul.l allow. The e;ipauity of thu^u cahiiis
wii^ woiideifiil. la illustraticjii of this it is
hai.l that a certain doctor, heiiig overtaken in
his travel hy nio;iit comini; on, was impelled
to iibk thelter of a jjronunent citizen, and as
II matter id' course was taken in and furnished
wiih ludgino. The I'ooni he slept in was oc-
(•ii|iied hy two families, comprisinir some ten
or twelve individuals, five or six young giids
Uiiig among the nuniher. Unperceived by
the doctor tlio girls had made down their
palettes and slipped under one or other of the
heds that night. 'J'he next morning the doc-
tor was sitting by the lire wdien he noticed
one of the girls coming out from under a
bed, then another, and another, and still an-
other. iStruck with woiuler, the doctor ex-
claimed, "(food (iodl aro the gals never going
10 quit coming out from under the beds?"
The comforts and conveniences of life
were scarce and high in those days. Goods
Were brought from lloUbton, a distance of
over 200 miles, by means of ox teams, the
time employed on t'iie round tiij) being some
live or six weeks. The prairies, with the ex-
ception of one or two roails from town to
town, was almost a trackless wilderness. The
traveler might take his course and keep it
with but li(tle impediment, guided by the
sun in the day-time, at night by the wind
and by the stars. All of this had been won-
deifully altered at the time the new eia of
(irand View had set in, and our sketch now
brings us to that ])oint.
was inaugurated by the paseago of the
Missouri, Kansas .t Texas railway through
the country. Unfortunately for the village
the track missed it neai'ly a mile, and bo in
the opinion of most of the inhaljitants tiie
town must be moved. Accordingly, in 1883,
the move began. This continued until nearly
all the stores and dwelling-houses had been
moved to the new site, and the days of old
Grand View were over. Among the last
buildings to be removed were the churches
and academy, but tinally they had to go the
way of the rest. The Masonic fraternity p\ir-
chased from the Metlunlist church their share
in the building they occupied jointly, and
moved their building to a location they now
occupy. (Wo had Ibrgotten to state that in the
year 18G7 the first Uoyal Arch Chapter of
JMasons in Johnson county was ojiened in this
building.) The Metliodists built for them-
selves a new cliuich in the new town. The
Jiaptists iiio\'ed their house, and still occupy
it as a place of worship.
The academy remained in the old town
some time, but was tinally torn down and
went toward the building of a line institute
of learning in new Grand View. This, pre-
sided over by I'rof. (iarrison, a scholarly and
competent gentleman, wdio is assisted by an
accomplished corps of teachers, is now one
of the best institutions of learning in the
country.
As inighl have been exjiecled from the
sudden tearing u]) of a village and setting
it down somewhere else, considei'able time
V;MU
!(J!il( !>^r
v.j'.h i.:-.:.ii t.lw..i f.i:t :lh;^ aJ! -o:..'-!. u.lJ
J nil'; 1 ■.',.) b'JiI"'!^
■ "'"''1
;( r,. \r
..;^!'i;.-( ■_..»: .. i J) I'll :,,' <c.ii'-' ;Ti:' ■-f'Y'' ';iii'*!i^ «■•■'' Mai
li-t//) .('.jliL 0 j .,i(,' ;:il-i : ■;;■. .O'iJOiIB I'll,; ^■t■>l{:■ iV,i: >:'.il'l ,!'->ii
f,u(:.)-.l..a,M!i,'
'!""-'"
:■' ,1'V/OJ
til i(ji'«
».;/■ .'ii / .1.1. :-|i)
ij!i!l ./) ■■ill a\iiiM\
HISTORY OF J0UN80N
ah
p.r.l W
f.,iv it .
„1,
St; ami ihc rupUirc^ ol'
a Howly tnu,.|.lunto.l
hli,,ck and ^cncl iVnlli itti new motb, b,, tlio new
(irand V'iru", lopjicd of Homo of its fair ]>ro-
iiortioiia liy I'einoval, remained foi' some time
without any great visible impruveniunt. The
new second (rrowtli has, however, been well
bct^iin and promises to be more hardy and
'g^
)us than the first. Of course in the in-
terval between the inception of business in
its new qnai'ters and the present time, some
change in buBiness matters necessarily oc-
curred. fcSome dropped out and others took
their places.
It is with the present we have now to do.
The list of pul^lic buildings was increased in
the year 1890 by the addition of a bank
styled the First National liank of Grand
View, with a capital of !?50,0()0. It has for
its ollicers AV. (i. Davis as president, and T.
E. Pittman as casliier. It has been doing a
very fair liusiness. In ISOI the members of
the Christian church erected a buihling for
church purposes, making the third church for
(irand Vi.^w, bein- a very fair showing, for
the pc.ple of a small (own.
Shortly after the removal Mr. ,J. (J. Deii-
tnan commenced the publication of a weekly
newspaper, which he styled the Grand View
Senthud. About a year after this ho sold
out to Mr. G. AV. Humphreys, who retained
it about two years, and at the close of 1888
turned it over to Mr. O. R Dornblaser, the
l.re.,.nl editor and proprietor. The paper
n.e( will. -o,,d Hucce.ss from the lir.^t, and has
dly b(
prin
]pa
.'bants of the town are
an,scy, dry go.ds, gro-
W
A 11;
voei
The
Messrs. Walton
ceries an<l banh
goods and groceries; Hill ^ Head, djy goods
and groceries; lioss & Co., hardware; Savage
A:(iebhard and John AV. Itoss, drugs; J. A.
Hill, furniture and musical instruments; A.
J. Sewell, groceries. There are also two
blacksmith shops, conducted by Messrs. Aker
and Miles; a tin sliop, by Otho Miles; several
saloons, livery stables, etc. i'.iisiness during
the past seasiin seems to have Ijeen good,
though not so thriving as it might have been,
owing to the low price of cotton. Some idea
of the amount done may be ari-ived at from
the fact of nearly 7,000 bales of the tieecy
staple having been handled here this season.
AVith regard to the growth of the surround-
ing country, this may be said: It continues
to keep i)ace with that of the town. It is
now almost a solid farm. No more can the
weary traveler sight a place several miles oil
and go direct to it. He must follow a road
or lane between adjoining farms. The old
log cabins arc things of the past. Neat and
combjrtable, and in some instances even costly
residences have taken their place, and evi-
dences of growing wealth and retineuient
greet us within their walls. No more do we
see the long o.\ teams di'awing wagons loaded
with freight from the far-otf South. The
iron hoi-se now brings oui- supplies nearly to
uir vei-y doors. The old residents of over
thirty years ago are nearly all gone. 'I'lTSy
have joined the silent tln-ong who lie in the
'ul .,-,::)i,.;;.:. ,;-,; ''
:) ■ Ll- lu . l-.K],, rb (■.■■ .'i 1.,'
,1 . ■ . ' -ll
v>,-. ,, ,r: vl V. V ■..,;■.}
'J ; .1/. . :■/,. T,-^ ,;j -i^iL. yi.i /iiy
.-^/
\^
^%
g W"^
i.e
ANV HILL COUNTIES.
oit) of the tload, close to where tliat ohl loi,'
vhiiieli once btoud. To eiiiiineiate the liviiij^f
w„i.M he heyoiiil the limits of ;i .short arti-
,■!.■ like Ihhs. 'rii.Mr iianie is t-ist hecouiin>,'
••h't^noii."
The town waa iiicorjjorated in Alay of
Ihyi. It has a mayor (J\lr. T. E. rittiiian)
ami a hoard of fi\'e aldermen. II. C. Gardner
luid S. J. Lancaster are lawyers here.
And in this connection it mi^ht he well to
name the practicing ]d>ysiciaiis. They are
Dr. J. II. OTIara and ])rs. C. .M. .^ W . M.
Vatcr. The early jjhysicians of the old town
wcreDrs. Hamilton and Gebhart, who were af-
terward joined by Drs. Ohanibersand Ilayden.
There are two hotels in (iraiul View. The
proprietors are Mrs. Vickers and Mi'S. JIarr.
Theii- honees are well kept and are well
piiti-oiu/.ed.
Perhaps this is as good a place as any to
insert a bio-raphical sketch of one of John-
son county's most pronjinent pioneers, who
located in the eastern j)art of the county.
I'nii.ii' AVai.ickk, one of the oldest settlers
of the eastern |)art of Johnson county, Texas,
was born in Chester district, South Carolina,
in IMo, to James and Martha (Tellonl)
Walker, the former of whom was of Irish
ilescent, and was also born in ('hester dis-
trict. He was a tiller of the soil, which oc-
cupation his lather, Philip Walker, also
followed. About 1821 James Walker re^
moved with his family to Madison county,
Alabama, and two years later to Jackson
county, two or three years were then spent in
Pickens county, six years in Chickasaw
county, Mississippi, and one year later, in
Shelby county, the parents were called from
lite, both dying in lS-15.
In 1881, Philip AValker left home and for
ne y(
(hri
place, then came to Te.xas in the spring of
1835, and the subsequent two or three years
were sj)ent in the lumber business. Une sum-
mer was then spent at lielgrade on the Sabine
river; but while at St. Augustine the war
came on, and in 183tj he enlisted for the
jNIe.xican service under Captain William
Katclilfe, and started for Houston, but upon
reaching the iXeuces river they were sent back
in double (juick time to meet the Mexicans at
iN'atchitoches, but no battle was fought and
they soon moved onward. After three months,
active service, he received his discliarge, in
July, but very shortly afterward was taken
ill and returned to St. Augustine, where ho
remained for two years, durin^^vhich time ho
did but little work, owing to impaired health.
In 183'J, he lemoved to Shelby county and
purchased a headright of 1,100 acres, upon
which he at once began to make improve-
ments, with the aid of two hired men. The
country was in its primitive state at that time
and j)rovisiuns wel'e very e.xpen.-ive, meal
costing ^1 per bushel, and salt 37 cents a
pound. All expedients were resorted to for
economy's sake, but the first yeai' of his resi-
dence iiere he raised some corn, potatoes,
pumpkins, peas, etc., and also erected him a
j)ole cabin twelve feet sipuire, and considered
himself (piite well olf, considering the fact that ^
wild game couldbe easily killed. In 18-1-1 his
parent.scame to the locality in which heresided,
and there made their homes for one year.
■I ■ :H'0-'i'^' '■■ .:r\ '
I ,,.7/ ■ :-ii'l
.,.>..-.:..,„l, b
i'o.j ■ ■• ■ .,,,.,,. „ ,„: ,.,.:., ;.,.„ !.,,.: ,,.;y,^;.l,
:.... ■ , • .i- .i, ..i^' : ^ ■;■; .; >/. " '.i .J.ili
.'..; : ■:■! y \i>'!/ ,...,. :L. :v-j ,r...i/, !.->V/u!lu1
... .' I I'M ;. .:.}.. I ^ii'i; U'/J 'inn ,iUllK.lii!A
>).'. ' ': . : ..- -J) -■;:.-,7 .r, ,^ .,fy:;!^ vt ov/,) ,7liU!w..
IIlsrOUY OF JOHNSON
In 1845, riiilip Walker wa. niarrie.l to
Kli/,al,etl., .laughter uf Jul. aud Klizalietli
(Lan.lruin) (Jooper of Tennessee, and their
union resulted in the hirtli oC the following
cdiildren: Martha Ann, wife of John C.
Loekett, but both are dead, three children
surviving them; Solon S. is a farmer and
stoeknian of Stephens eouiity, and is married
to Clemenee Hill, by whom lie has seven
chihlren; Sarah Jane is the wife of AViUiam
A. Clack, a preacher, farmer and blacksmith
of Stephens county, and is the mother of
three children; James 11., a farmer and
school teacher of I'lsher county, married J.
Gathen and has four children ; and J. EtHe F.
marrie.l Dr. James Dodson, a iiracticing
jihysician of JN'ewlierry, and has one child.
In 1.S55, Mr. Walker came to Johnson
county, purchased his jire.-icnt t'arin, and
although he at first resided in a little loi,'
cabin he in 185U erected lii= pre.-.ent s\ibstan-
tial rcbidenee, hauling the lund)er fi'om
Cherokee ccMUity. His farm then consisted
of ;J2l) ac^^^s, but he now has between (JUU
and TOO acres and 350 un.ler cultivation.
Although he devoted the most of his alten-
tion to raising stork until the opening of the
war, he has also raised cotton, corn, oats,
millet, etc. I )uring the civil war he furnished
many horses to the Confederate army, also a
large amount of beef, blankets, shoes, guns,
etc. During this time ho remaineil at lionie
to care for the families whose natural pro-
tectors had gone to the front, but he was later
called upon to shoulder arn,,. in defending
the ]u>mes of the settlers from the dej.reda-
tions (jf the Indians, who had become hostile.
The first Mrs. Walker died in 1867, at ihe
age of foi'ty years, a member of the Cuml)er-
laiid I'resbyterian Church, and in Noxenibor,
1874:, he was inari'ied to Eleanor laney, a
uative of North Carolina and widow of Squire
Ste|)liens, but has no children by his second
wife.
He is a Democrat, a member of the A. F.
& A. M., of which order he has been a mem-
bei- for the j)ast thii-ty years, and in the sup-
port of worthy enterprises lias shown himself
to be a liberal patron. He saw his first
railroad train in 1855, at Decatur, Alabama.
J\Ir. Walker's early life was marked by
many adventures of great interest, but space
forbi.ls a detailed mention of them: sulHce it
to say that he has seen the ups an(J downs of
life, and although starting out in life for him-
self with little means he now has a comfort-
able competency for his declining years. He
is one of the very earliest settlers of the
country and can well remember the time
when the now well tilled fields were covered
with bulfalo, deer, wild horses, etc.
OTHER I'OINTS.
While (Jrand View and Alvarado are
probably the oldest towns in the county, per-
liaj)s we may count Wardville, the first county
seat, the third in order. The principal pro-
moters of this place were W. H. S. Yerstille,
its first merchant, Dv. T. D. Lorance, its first
physician, and John W. O'Neal, its first hotel-
keeper. No vestige of the village now re- \
'i'he ne.xt in oi'der of age was the next county
seat, Kuchanan, (wc. miles northwest of (Jle-
...I ■.■ ■ ;:^'i •
i' ryi .-
-W )v'
.; •,
IT :
M^'l'io TJ.J.M
H j; ,r :
■1 VI ■
*! ■•
■ '.-!'- 1
. >■- .1,' I'M: , :
, .-^ lu;
v.Yd
j-i*'
iiCl-.i
1 > ■ l.o::{ -.1 ■
1 !•!.'■((;
r-.t 1
. .. >::ivv f..,i,
..,lrr,,'»
' (/
V...
••;f.U J
: ^<J .:.;Mi.
..111 iK
; ^..i
...
'■■'■'
i i: til- /'y«r-rir.t.'l,' I'.': •.■.';•.;' i; , . i.l)
,'\H' i'o"! ji.) 1 I liliiii aiU lit hvJlii;-,vi ;ioJiii(
':''•'!
.-. ■' ,|...\ ■.,': u,') ;,(|).; oi
\i \.. v,(, ;(! i*i!j
AHiD HILL COUNriES.
lniriK', whoru nothing now remains. Mrs.
Aii^nifta Iluylrr now occujjift; tlio Ion cabin
uhich wastiicorijrinalconi-tliouscat lliat placi;.
r.iililo (irove ia bituatLMl on an eminence
lliat ovL-rloL,ks tlif enrroimdiny coinitry for
Miiles away. It is locatud on both si.les of
tiiu iiigiiway from Clcimrne to ]''ort AVortli,
niiio miles troni Clobnrne, and in the center
of a large and well cnltivated district. The
village was started by the erection of a store
there by Major E. M. Heath in the early part
of ISb'J. Morth and west of it is an open
jirairie, and on the ea.-,t and .-,011 th are the
Cross Timbers. The soil is generally of the
black sandy variety. On the >• break.->" t,he
limestone rock crops out in full view. The
place deri\es its name Irom the mount close
by called Caddo I'eak, and this was named
after a tribe of Indians who u^ed to live in
this region. The peak is estinmted to be 850
teet aboV(; the le\el of the surrounding eoun-
ti'y. This place was long the seat of an
academy e.-tabli^lled and conducted by J. li.
Kinscy (or Ivenziej, a pioneer of this section,
whoalsoowned ;i saw and tlouring mill here.
Other i)romincnt business men of the pa^t
was II. 1). (ioodloe, nick-named -Our llar-
pei" by the buy.-, of Colonel l'a|■bon^' regi-
ment, ile was a sj)rightly and active soldier,
and a member of tlie brigade stalf. In 187(3
the place consisted of one general store, one
blacksmith and wood shop, three doctors and
two or thi-ee resident families.
The academy building referred to was also
a ))hice for religidiis and secret-society meet-
ings, but it is now only a public-school
buildin-
The postoflice was named Caddo (irove
instead of Caddo Peak, because there was
another Cadtlo I'eak in the State.
itut since tlu' establishment of the railroa<l
town Jiisbmi, near by, there i.-, vei'y little left
at old Caddo Grove, — not even the postoflice.
Marystown, a " paragon of loveliness," was
first christened Maryville; but when it was
aftei-ward known that there was another
Mary\ille in the State, this name had to be
changed; and the pi-esent name was given to
it by Thomas \V. llollingsworth, in honor of
his wife, wlujse name was Alary. Althono-h
he did not own tho site of the village he
erected a Ihun-ing-mill there, and the village
grew toward it. The mill conjnu-nceil busi-
ness for the ])nblic in October, iSti'J.
In 1S7<J it had two chnrclies and a good
school, two stores and a drug stoie, etc., and
the population was about lUU. 'I'he jjlace
has always borne a good reputation as a
jjeaceablo, industrious community. It is
situated in the mid.st of a densely timbered
tract of land, from which either east or west
the prairie is at least live miles distant.
liev. J. S. Wilshire, Cumberland Tresby-
terian, was perhaps the first settler in that
part of -lohn.-on county, having opened a
farm there in 1858. lie raised a family of
seven children.
The water in this vicinity is abnndaiit,
althongli somewhat impregnated with iron
snlphate; but it is said to be very healthy, for
both man and beast.
At this point there are now one gencial
store, kept by T. "W. llollingsworth; a llour-
ing-mill kept by W. Del arnett, with a thirty-
' ,jj.i1c. ij :i J. II
;M.--!.i ... 1 • ■ iJv
; -i(:
I '.K' : ,•'.-. <.'j'',', Mvjl'l .olfi.i ')liiu
(i;. u ■.! M_. ... ;; m a v-i:I r;
,i,IT
•2m
live-;
Cultd
insTOIiV OF JOUNSON
orsu-powor eni^iiie, witli ;i I'dni-inill itiid
, Kin alt:irliin.'iit; un.l thorc is a -(uul
■ sc'liool. i;,it., being only ouii mile
iVdiii Egiiii, u niilru;i<l Ktatioii ami postoflicc,
it caiiiK.t grow as a villas,..
I5iirlesi.ii is a game little town of about 150
iiilialntantd, situated in a rich portion of
Johnson county, on the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas Railroad, fourteen miles north of Alva-
lado and fourteen south of P'ort Wortli, and
started in 1882. It was named after Doctor
Burleson, a distinguislied Baptist minister
and successful educator, whose pupils are
found in every j)art of the State. But ac-
ccording to another account it was named in
huunr of General Edward Burleson, an early
Indian tighter and Texas patriot in the wars
with the Mexicans. IJornin North Carolina,
he came to Texas in 1831, and soon became
noted as a successful li-jiter of the Indians,
with wli
rtici
itcd
had
-ngairements
He
lie linal battle of San J
nde|)endence to Texai
par
which secured
died December 2G, 1851, whil
tlu! Senate tlien in session, on
ito,
a member of
of the most
-N"
;ted citizens of th
Lone Star State.
IS started by M.
.lom^s.
highly
The lir.st b
l!ui|ry,i,i,d the lirnt selllcrs Were ,1
Dr. llmrles I'icUclt, Dr. James Olive, T. 11.
(ioodloe, K.J. Boothe, James Lowe, William
Williams. The tirst dry-goods merchants
were P. IL Goodloe and William Williams.
There are now in the place three dry-goods
and grocei-y houses, one drug store and one
grocery house. Thei-e are also two wood and
blacks
place.
ith sir
No whiskey is sold in the
Soon after the town was started, a Baptist
Ohurrh was founded, I
and Cumberland B
There i.- (piite a tlouri.-
sia.stic Ma>ons, who 1
lowed by iMelhodist
ibyterian churches,
ug l(jdg.^ of enthu-
,'e just completed a
large lodge room. In the year 1885, in con-
nection with Crowley, Burleson erected a fine
college building, a mile oui. Last fall tliey
built a fine $2,500 college building, within
the town limits, in which a splendid school is
being taught by Rev. R. L. McElree and
wife. Over 100 pupils have heen enrolled.
Burleson is the center of a tine wheat-growing
region, and does a vast amount of business.
Dr. James Bickett is the most prominent
physician oi Burleson.
Pleasant Point is situated on the " ragged
edge" of the black waxy prairie regions lying
east of the Cross Timbers about sixteen miles
northeast of CMeburne. This village was
founded iir 1875 by Mr. Russell, when a
storehouse and mill were erected. Soon
afterward a postotKce was established there,
and the number of dwellings increased with
the rapid growth of the surrounding country,
Ru.ssell ami Ballard were the pioneer mer-
chants of the village. Dr. Wilkes st
drug store, and B. N. B.oss
187'J theri< wer-e also two blacksmith shops
and a church building.
Suri-oirnding this point, noith, east and
south, the land is of the same quality, a black,
waxy loam, unsurpassed in richness. It is a
tract eight to ten miles wide, reaching from
the Cross Timbers on the west to the county
line on the east. Although the well water
in this rcirion lias some mineral substances it
1 a
ocery. In
., , :; j: ,lJ^vilJl^ Hl--"J i.v/u'' '.'(ll VjiU: H. .>>> I 'ull.-; I.'ii:i ■:\..-. r. :<;i',V /.Uli-iij ; ■ .C" ■ ■...•.,, i!-'jvH
. M:Vt\j^J.- ■; 1 iinidltxillill'.) l)il« j fiiilil j:n. -fllUl Vfli-Jll ,h'' '111!
i '.jiiiif .ii'ioif I. jjiuji ni u-ijilT ! (■)'il[..!r,rij |,;ii; tHj\)ittH hiujiiiin Jt ,'-;:;^^ iMO'i'l
• ;li ,ruoi.> '"J J,;.yii. 1. IWM.J aljjll •jtui;^ C «i i( li'il'iwtl
ai looiLji bll'iir^i'ih :; ij-)fiiv/ lU ,<jniTiii i: ,vo3 ^ji;.' ; i,;-.A: ,/!.i'..7/ n^'f ti,. /iiotia nwyttic: uun uli/t
:.!', ■r.-i''?jU .[ .il ■•' ■,;' I:';.'..! r;il(;>.l t ''O;'.",' j ■•OJ'.ji h'.MMfii-I «>^»/ il .;-8<jI ill IloJ-jjlJ?
,;.'T.n-UVKl.V jjil 1 '.-w.-.Ol'ilU I :ri,i .li'jl'i] -Ml[-./ /.'-OK.ililv,. wllorlOv .'..-. [.(tfe
. "Im ^a^JOii. 1 J'^W' ii t:.."!j bin; .iHU-:- o^ !nl! .f.na ;iilj Ic i-u;,) yit.'!> isi l:\r.u1
'>l .ieiMii jilJ *; );.■'■ '•. .rA | ai bo iimi . sv/ Ji Inuo.-.itifi t ■ _ 'iOjy
, ■ • -idj i:o i.iiJ/!f?lifc - ' I T'.v .m'< ;,f 'on)«q t-BX'/r 1 :l>nl
:'5ri., tfi>>'« *«i»ililuTciciO;i.) ll'.' ;■■ I ^' '; , . : J , ji' ■• yu.'. Ii/u< ,,1<;81 111 .r;, y.M'l v.ii UaliJ ull
ti li'ji'// jibi^iivl .-lUt '^(J 5T8I :•; hsbnoot i wH .et/jai,..;^. -, ■. ,■' r-; L...; f ;:■.■'" ihiw
iM'^ .bftVi.o ;ni)V llitii Imiji o-noil tn.M ' ..jJiiiMi'. 'Ui^!
,-,-jii ■'«•) to 'iJ'woMxj bw|'.-. u»}' :'-()iii »'M ^') '1110 ,(fii'f; '^ /;; (H;)f) uJ«iii<8 'jifl
-;.ui! It.. .,•:(; vii !ji!',' !.i,i;.ih.;.' ;.:,.: I{'y?t.-.iij.' i . jjj'!>j uMc'.'.'i. i.', [ iiili li' ..jiv.'^i'i r twJOTn ; /i /iilynf
« ;r,T|,.^, ;:,.J!tV|' ii; jv,!';, .Ij ;. jPm;.,., j 1/ ,,( 1 .... •,,,;■■/.,.,:.•!( :;-.i:;*i .J ..--.i! c;i!T
,(1 . :.. . n.ft > .:l >);t4; ,1,1 i^- :iu>U. h ..,o i, ,!..!, vi. v.- i.,,,)).^ U-|ll ..Ij ii.l.i y*li.iU
Vfvf.SIiJ.' ,:••! ,!■>'• It:' I .;.:,!!i'^^ ■:"■"! ^-.fnil ,o.Ho»'i l.*^ ....-ILooO
;.:«J?.-> .'l; , .i'liii.; .; i' :,:;i!uitioi i'^' , .,i .;. :i ri . ,;i riiOOJi-'Cllj Ulh jA'l' ,ii.u:ili(V/
.^•,aJ M ,.;;,|.;.i;, 'Mi ,. -r.i \., 5i t. , u ■-!: ,i!n;:.o I :, •■ lUi ^/ , i-IIIiV/ 1m. i: ^>.lL-oO .11 ,n rcr//
,'■ ,) 1 --I '..,;• 1 I.; ',;K.|i!i-.ii(! ,iiir..,'i '/■■;»:?/ ; hlH.n-x, i ■'•> •^■>'u\> .'jkI'.j y.if in ''/■■'•i 'j'tii oiHii'l"
i.c>-.l ;^':i:L ■' ■'. . U-v .v •! )ti l<.-: ■<< .; '■••^f- '-/JilJ «»iic U'!/, 'rui,; jjJ-i!. Mit^ji , ."'.iO^' :.•••>"■' i; ^:ii!
j,'Mv. -r.l . ; 1.-.W j<l; .,,. ^-v,.iu.:T ...•;:■! •I'l , l,.lO Ik.., „- ■ w, j <-^!,: .,-1 •.•■■vlT .^..ijuil ■/•. . .' -
V 1/ ,/ i(v ^ ..!l •l,:,-l!' '. -1>::-' -lij :)0 ^Ulil | ^,m1i n M.lw. ■ i y>^8i.i /- ../ Mj..:;^ !!>i(ir
XD HILL COrSTIEi
it tu'IlliiT iiiijKilatalile nor umvli.ileMiiUL'. j Joshua, on ilie Fort \Vorth Uailroinl, sewn
S:.iii.liii>:; ill tVont of Pleasant Point on the i miles north of Cleburne, is a lively, growing,
l,u>;e tinii.er lireak and looking ea^t\vanl, the j railroad village of nearly 100 liwelling houses,
.lMM]ie presented to the view is highly i and a population of nearly 300. The plat
was surveyed and reeorded in 1880. It is a
mile or so from the Timbers. Here there are
six general stores, one drug stui'C, one hotel
(ke|,t by 11. II. Paisons), and several neat
chureii buildiiig.s. The three strongest ehureli
societies hero are the Missionary P.aptist,
]\Iethodist and Cunilieriaiid i'resbyterian.
The Paptists put up the tirbt churcli build-
ing, and it has lieen used by all denomina-
tions. The Methodists have als(j a parsonage.
Kev. C. W. Perry, Cumberland Presbyterian,
resides here and has been a resident of this
vicinity for many years. The Primitive
Paptists and the Christians also have organ-
ized churches here; and there is one good
public-scliool building.
The nlace has met with no irreat reverses
|iictmesipie and ln-autiful, with a background
(.fCcihir mountains lying far away in Ellis
.-nunty.
(iatiiings' Point, about a mile south of
Caddo (ircive, is the identical spot on which
the liist house was erected in that ]Kirtof the
cnuuty. It was a very rude structure, which
wa- .-(ion superseded by a better one.
ilibb:ird's Point, another noted locality,
lies about five miles north of Gathings' Point,
and was the tirst place in this ])oi'tion of the
cniinty wiiere nierchandi>e was .-uld. llib-
baid was a [''reiichman, an active and enter-
but both he an.l h
faded away many years ago.
Poth the above points are points of timber
that extend out into the prairie eastward, and
theiefore from point to point the timber tract
here is crescent-shaped, giving rise to the
name of Ilalf-Moon Prairie, intervening.
This is a rich, waxy land, all in cidtivation.
Overlooking this rural crescent, Caddo Peak
rises grandly up in the forest background.
Prom this .-ection some of the water-cour.-es
i\i.>w into the Trinity and some into the Jira-
iios river. At the base of Caddo Peak, on
puice
by tire or otherwise, excepting that one gen-
eral store has been burned. The tirst settlers
here were Dr. I). P. Mcilillan, who estab-
lished the first store and i.ostotHce; Rev. T. W.
Perry, wdio preached at tirst in the depot,
before any chinch building was erected, and
Captain W. L. West, who has been post-
master here since about 1881. J. M- Towne.s
is the physician here.
the south bid.-, Pulfalo and Village creeks Improved land at a little distance from
take their rise. Pulfalo creek meanders i town is $15 to $20 an acre; unimproved,
southward, runs thn.ugh Cleburne, and emp- $10. The soil is somewhat sandy,
ties into Xoland river a few miles below; Hopewell is a point live miles north-
and Villager creek courses from the park ! east of Cleburne, wdiere there are a church
northeasterly until it reaches the Trinity and burying ground, the land for which was
ri\cr. ' donated by (J. Perry Arnold, after which
jliJ.'JiJ !■>!« ■1(11--.
:.T,.h.O,
l.ilJ ,:•,!..
! ,.!.. I
'n bum j".v.j'!(-)(i'! ! ^-.iH-ri-. t.i.Kl(i7 L,u .iLiihiU ..'.Ijij- ilJuod - '
JIISTOIir OF JOHNSON
tlic |.hiro was i\
ilaiiiLVMillc, in I
unci rerryviUo.
toni |)art uC tlio
county, was starU-d about 18G(], durivhii^f its
naniu IVoni tliu JIanio.s family, who were tlie
lii>t .selllers uii what is known as the Harnes'
League of l.und, but it was named more par-
ticuhirly in honor of the hite .lohu Barnes.
The town bite is located on and near the west
boundary line of the (ialen Hodge survey of
land, and within a quarter of a mile of the
north fork of Chambers' ereek, a tributary to
the Trinity river. It nestles closely to the
woodlands alon.i,' botli banks of the creek,
and on the Wa.xahachie and Cleburne stage
road. It is a picturesque sjiot. Theground.s
for the town site were originally the property
of .Mrs. P. A. J'arnes, widow of John JJarnes,
or "Jack ''. Barnes, as lie was more familiarly
known. In 1879 there was one general
fctoi'e there, one drug stoie (selling no meili-
waiehouse. The farming land in the \icinity
ib lirat-class. The Shropshire family has also
been noted in this vicinity.
Lee Academy is a noted point on tlie rail-
road between Cleburne and Alvarado, si.x
miles east (d' Cleburne. The grangers have
jn-obably maintained their strength better
here than at any other point in the county.
Uuel is the postofUce.
Cuba is a point about seven miles southeast
of Cleburne, on the road to Grand View,
having a store, postotiice, and church and
schoolhouse. Ten or twelve yeai's aero a
drug atore endeavored to maintain itself
(iodlcy, the lij-st station on the railroad to
Wealherford and ten and a fourth miles from
Cleliurne, an<l on Noland rivei-, is a creature
of till' railroad, nuide in iSSl), and named
after K. I!, (iodley, now of Dallas, who owns
the land and dojiated eight acres for the es-
tablishment of a town. Ilei-e there are now
two stores, owned respectively by W. II.
(Jritlith and J. II. liowen, a postotiice and
seven or eight dwelling houses. A tine coun-
try surrounds this place, and the water of tlie
well is comparati\ely soft and is of iirst-rate
quality.
Cresson, in the extreme northwestern cor-
ner of the county, lying even half in Hood
County, and twenty miles from Cleburne on
the railroad to Weatherford, is another rail-
road town, having the advantage of the Fort
AVorth it Uio Grande railroad crossing here,
which was built in lb82. The place was
named by some of the otiicers of the rail-
I'oad. The jjrebent population is about
oUU, and the place will continue to grow
foi- a long time to come, on account of its
remoteness from other large placets. It now
has si.x stores, postotiice, etc., and a school
building, ei'ected in IHOU, where two teachers
are employed; but as yet there is no church
edifice. F. O. Fidler is the present post-
master, who also keeps a lumber yard there,
and A. G. liobo keej.s the hotel.
The land iu this vicinity is very line, and
grain is the princijial crop. Water is plenti-
ful and of good (piality.
Rio Vista, about eight miles south of Cle-
burne, on the iSanta Fe road, is an initial vil-
ViV\v/.. 'A'./ .V.iV'.
iinvj II ;; /
"' ''- •' ■ ' .' liii'iyi'J ' :,,,, .,.|,.:r.,i^ .-tOi^i .i;l..u;> i),))i.lrt .';,7' ,yyn,...:i
ylou^j. a
■IL'l
:IH , .■ -(;7 ;,:.4t
■V^'-
Mr; '■/
•m() I
vtow.' w,;, , /ti, /,'
:,.i; 1.
■"."■1 > •■-■ J . ,.,; /i ., I • i- '^ i ■ i- '■ ■■^::..< V^i^.^.TI
.■■i ■■-■^■■■1 • I - , .,, ,:: ' ...I ., ;:.,!■: ■;> . in iu.:\J ;ny,l
•■'■'•' ••' ■■^- i • .t..i*t.t'...i -!) ^i fyiiU
AND HILL COUNTTES.
!:.-,• .-tartrd ahuut. 1S83, iiu s
l.iiH],.lMiu,tLMl hy W. 11. Ill
J,,ot
«u~r..laKlislui.lliL.re two yrar. alt.T tlio rail-
r>.;.,l wa-, l.uilt. (;(ili,.i.U.Tahlc' Hidr track has
rtrrntlv liLun nut in and a laimj i.ublic well
llcsides the btatii.ii In
dry ji;iiuds storu and a jMj.stolIicu, and three or
hnir families reside there. Nolaiid river is
(inu mile west, and the tiintjer two miles east.
At Kiisfiia Kiioli, six miles east of Uio
\'i.-ta, are a store and postotiice. Kock Tank
is the name of a sclioolliouse sitnated on the
(;lehuriie and Gi'and View waj^on road about
fiHir miles west of Graml View.
MISCELLANEOUS.
CENl'KNNIAT..
The centennial year, LS7(;, was didy cele-
brated by the citizens of Johnson county, on
the -Ith day of July. The day was brij^ht
and ph^asant, not beinj,' unreasonalily hot, but
a tew light showers fell at inters als, at (Me-
burne. There was no processicjn, no display
of tirewoi'ks, no outburst of enthusiasm, and
there was a strong sentinienl pi-evadintr the
community that seemed to be in favor of an
iiuop
ite but undemonstrati
of the day. The memorial exercises consisted
of addresses by some of the leading citizens.
At two o'clock a lai'ge company had assem-
bled in the courthouse. Judge liarelay as-
cended the rostrum and said there was a time
when this was a day of rejoicing all over the
land, wdien CNcry town, city and hamlet and
villa-e of this country had its Fourth-of-J uly
lebration; but a j
Iter feelin-s had
dand brought
discord betwi'en tiie sections, and dampened
the ai'dor for the day; and that its (jl)servaiice
had beconu- almost obsolete in the South.
This, said the speaker, was not ri-iit; for the
feelings that j.rompted the immortal Declara-
tion of Imlejicndenee were common to the
men of all times, and the jiriiicif)les there
enunciated were the common property of
maidvind. Our forefathers had gloriously
won their treeilom under that declaration, had
submitted it to us, and wo are entitled to claim
those immortal men as pai-t of our American
persiitinel, and share the honors that patriot-
ism has united with Indejiendence Day.
Tlie Judge then read the Declaration of
Independence and pronouncinl once more the
immortal names of those who stood S[)onsor
at our country's bii'th.
W . Poindexter was then introduced, who
deli\ered a brief but comjirchensive address.
lie said that some claimed that we of the
South had no part nor lot in the day; this
Th
'y
ihati-
cally ours. On the -ttli of July, 100 years
ago, the colonies were declared to be free and
independent States. This indejtendence was
attei-ward recognized by the Constitution;
and the States, according to the spirit of that
institution, had never ceased to be fi-ee. The
South hail ne\er departed from the Constitu-
tion, had always loved it and stood by its re-
ipiirements, and had ever revered the grand
and eternal j)rinciples embotlied in the Dec-
laration of Independence. The South, even
in secession, did not abandon the |)rinciples,
but seceded that they might be the better
maintained. The opponiMits of the Si)Uth
0,1. „,| irij,:, I , -1. ■•.•,:,.!;; ^^ U,,.i iiiH- -vi.l'l T ■,■ ::> Au-i ■,\r,;:'jl,].-u [) .ilu^ <rr„ U.^
... ;. ' .; ' • i'jji'l-n..': .:i(- ■ ;^!.^- <<■ .J'^' .;.:r ...': ;u'hi:i; ■;:!: .iiir ,J;v-iV/- :..(i ill Uilii.
■ , i ,;..:■ ! .;,f'-i)! .. ilj -l.lf / I. I.; 'V^i; lij:!: l.n»/ :',, I.iIbi-,; ;'',!(i,- ^^ l.i:/l r.'HP.il'A if.
vl> ihJ. •Jill
,l;l.',i;',l.( 1.(111
■■■' ■■^■■•■■- ■{'.:;"!!: ->
.,' ■.,:;■ .71;!, -.ill 1.1
.■ ,;■■■ '■'■■ '.'III iA
.; ;r./:J .';ilv; ,(,,,^1
■y.A -i-.Di.i
UOI IIISTOKY 01
' JdllNSON
loft tlu! Cldiislitutioii, liiit now, wli.'ii the
caused his lieart to throh with patriotic emo-
Cijiniliy is uiiiird, \\<' uui^lit to ;_a\L: it the
jj;loi'y wliich tliid day foiuniriiiui-alcs liccause
tions. The meetings of to-day would revive
the love of country. The moul h- hells of lib-
tlio.M' who ciiico .-.aw lit to .i|ijio,-r itM ijianriphis
erty were ringing out Irom all over the land
now ah'^o unite in its eeleln'ation.
and calling the pco|)lc hack to the princi[)les
AVe have inucli cause to rejoice; we are in
of the Jievolution. Streams of patriotism
fact tlie freest people under the sun, the only
were llowing out from Faneuil Hall mingling
nation where tlie people are the sovereigns.
with the feelings of the nation and intensify-
We may have heen wron^ in the past, hut for
ing the love and jn-ide of the citizens fcu- the
the future let us all stand united under the
]u-inci]>les upon which the government is
same laws. Our jirubpi^ct for the futuru is
foundeil, and the institutions and laws that
glorious, and Texas has all to i^'aiji. We have
have Un- a huiidi-ed years offered freedom to
been oppressed, hut that was vwv misfortune.
the human race.
The day of oppression is ended, and to our
A\'illiam liamsey, in a few well chosen
State is open the widest career of jji'ospurity
woi-.ls, referred to tlm fact that every part of
and greatness under the new order of things.
an immense country was iit that moment
Colonel Amzi liradshaw followed with an
eelebi'ating the day, that the land was swelling
excelli^nt aildress, all good sense and sound
with one immense thrcdi u'i jjatriotic senti-
logic, and his words well and carefully uttered.
ment. He recounted the one hundred years
His leading idea was the system of principles
of progress, and spoke of the native American
commemorated hy the celehi-ation of Inde-
'• push" that had hurried the country to the
pen.lence Day. I'rinciple was everything,
liont raid; of National, eommei'cial and pro-
and the political philosophy enunciated \>y
duct i\e greatness.
Jelfersoii would he the right one while rivers
Judge I'rendergast closed the exercises hy
mm and mountains raise their jieaks to the
saying tliat he had a presentiment that the
clouds. Concluding, he said that all can
])atriotisni ai-oused hy the uni\'ei-sal celebra-
unilr in piincijilc. I.rl the news go forth
tion of the day would continue to grow and
that Texas points to her many liattle-lields to
intiuk-ily and widen until finally the corrupt
show her work of liherty. Her heroism en-
party no\vin power would be overthrown and
titles her to a home in the Union and her
honest and good government would once njoie
constancy and loyalty to the principles of
assume sway.
177G make it her privilege and hei- gloi-y to
Thus ended the celebration, with the sedate
celehrate this, the one hundreth anniversary
and the undemonstrative, although the "boys"
of American indejiendence.
lired a salute of one hundred anvils to the
S. C. IVlelford next delivered a short ad-
dress, saying that the glorious deeds of the
paiting day.
orni'Ut t:ixi':i:i;.s-i'ioNS.
past recounted insjiired his thoughts an<l
In the vicinity ol' L(ine Prairie schoolhouse
iiU';ii.. > 'iili ;i
rfi; 1,, -' ...: .h
>.i ! i :.-r.. 'J';. ,S' ,(j; 0l rj:.i;j,j
X«i !W :jr' l:r ^i/'il=>l'i
.1 il-j r ..ih .1 '1: V . I. ihl. II
ytlii" ■•- buv; iii;:.. i>;ij )-:ui ,VMb -dj;.}!!' . :tiii'M, ' !■ ''
V W, ■ -I'/' r,.J) Ic ' ,S)'i^i'_Cl(1<[0 ll'3'J-l
'■ ;-■-. ' .. q... V- v'''-:'<iT
[ I ■■•;)• lO ! .. ,.v,.;) (!■:;■, hi y.h;7?
1 >!•! ) V, V. ) f-i -i i:i ■SI ' ■:■>■:• r,';i-_! I. Ill;
li -J.', i'. li.i "ir. ri., 1, 1 )■■ Mi':.] 1
i^.iri , .v!
'"■'i
AND HILL COUNTIEH.
1205
tliu oili/.nis, p:irliciil;irly tliu i^n-iii^^aM-ti, cclc-
l.nitol tlio ccntviiniul aiiiiivcivary in good uM
F,,ui-lli-(_.f-Jiily style. Ahuiit (iOI.) weru in
,iII,.n,l;ineo. The l.one I'rairie (inuiae ;ij)-
inarclied to the arbur and bcated thiunselves
iiruiiiid the speaker's stand. Tlie Dechiration
of Indepemlence was read and ilev. Mr.
(ia^kins delivered a lialf hour addres.^ directed
i^pecially to the farmers and grangers, giv-
ing a brief hit-tory of the original grange
Miiivenient and answering some of the objec-
tions urged against it. His remarks in
relation to the practical workings (jf the co-
iiperative plan of the organization were plain
and convincing, lie allude.l to the large
profits nia.leon farming implements and ma-
chinery by the present system of middlemen,
etc. (JombinationB ha\e lieeii entered into
in all ages to make money ontof the fanners;
now, through the grange nio\ement, farmers
were enabled to combine, do away with the
middle-men and save at least a part of the
laige profits heretofore made. He concluded
by saying that the farmers intended to reform
the government as well as to make reforms at
home.
Dr. .\n.lrew Young then made a brief but
good Fourlh-of-July speech. After naming
the usual references to the Declaration of
Independence and patriotism, he concluded
by saying that both North and South elforts
wei-e being made to bring about a reunion
of sentiment and feeling, lie was happy to
say the result was about to b(^ consummated;
that we were again to be one people with one
omiU(_>n interest, only vieing with ea(di other
as to which shall ln^st 8Ui)port and maintain
tlic integrity of our national honor.
Followinf Dr. Young's adilress a sumptu-
ous dinner was served.
The Fourth of July, 1877, was humor-
ously described in the Chrunicle as '• ushered
in at midnight by anvil tiring, distui'bing the
peace of the slumbering public, then break-
fast, a hot day, murder trial at the courthouse,
debate on infant baptism at the College, sup-
per, etc! "
The Fourth of July of 1891 was celebrated
in Cleburne l)y at least 5,000 people, by a
grand barbecue, and addresses by 11. P.
l^rown, William Poindcxter and M. M. Crane.
Major E. M. Heath read the Declaration of
Independence.
The Cleburne News some years ago pub-
lished the following item:
"Johnson county's popular teacher. Prof.
L. 11. Smith, has left in our oflice a bottle
containing two rattlesnake heads preserved
in alcohol. On the back of one head is the
face of a man, and on the other liead is the
face of a woman. One can ].lainly st'C the
eyes, no.se and chin and a part of the bust.
'J'he two snakes were found in an apjile tree,
and there is no record when a rattlesnake
was ever found in apple tree before. The
scientists of (^alveston, New Orleans and St.
Louis have tried to solve the mystei-y, but in
vain. A number of gentlemen in our otiice
were unaniuKjus in delaring it to be the most
wonderful freak of natui'e the) had ever wit-
nessed. Professor Smith says this practical
;n.i!., ... •i/1- i,.;1;;-,
.I-,;, ^c.l yuoii-.
= trl....j ..j4->
IlISTOUY OF JOHNSON
■t.'iy
all skepti-
licn.tofuic
.■niplutiun tu
(leiucjiistratioii co
cmI views lliut any oiio iiii-li
huM ill rc-aid to McitlaT Kn
liliick the tbrliidduii applel"
In the stmuner of 1S7S tlio Sand Flat ])e-
liatiny Society wus orgaiiizud, ai.d tielected
for their first (piestion, '• Kesolvud, that the lo\e
of iiiuiicy will y
jld erreater intiuence over
man than the love of woinaii;" hut before the
e\eniiii; ari-ived for didcussioii the ailiirnia-
tive j^'a\e up that they could not defend their
side, and the society liad to select another
question.
J)e
.■puty
Sherilf James V. Ili-n
accidentally killed May 17, lS75, in Karle's
saloon, hy the discharge of a jiistol in the
hands of (Oliver J. ester, who was not aware of
tlie new arrangement that would render pis-
tols liahle to be iired by such handling.
The total eclipse of thu sun of July 2'J,
1878. embraced this reo;ioii of Texas. It was
visible most of the time at Cleburne, except
dining the central ]H.rtion of the jicriod,
when clouds intervened, lireat interest was
taken in viewing the phenomenon.
A. J. llyrd published a brief history and
description of Johnston county in 187'J, 232
pages, bound in black cloth. About half the
volume, however, is devoted to directories
and advertisements. Mr. iiyrd died some
years ago.
In 1888 I{. M. Hall, Commissioner of the
General Land Oflice of the State of Te.xas,
published a very elaborate map of Johnson
county, on a scale of about a milu to the inch,
on which is very exactly indicated the names
of all tiie proprietors of land. A cojjy is to
be ibuiid at the county clerk's oflice.
Johnson county probably excels in " tall
timber" of the human sjiecies. Abnur Ste-
vens, a resident, is seven feet four inches tall,
and Gus Fowoli is but little less.
)! ,>;., ■•■.!..
v'l' )■,,!; I'
i ,..,:
AND UILL COUNTIES.
€ILL
TY,
^1I,L county is boumird on tiie west !>>'
jl^.. the l!i-:i/,oB I'iver, wliicli fiuparutes it
■'"'■* iVoin 15usc|ue county; on the north by
J.ihnsoii county; on tliu oast l)y Kllis :in<l
.N:ivai-]'u, and on tlie south by Limestone and
McLennan counties. It contains 1,030 square
miles, or G5'J,200 acres, and is capable of
Mibtainiiig a population of 200,000 people.
The <:rand old State of New Jersey, having
alioiit the same area, has already a po])nlation
of 31)0,000, but It is true that many of them
arc in cities, sustained by trades which have
fur tlieir patronage the outside world.
Hill county is situateil near the geoj^i-aphi-
cal cc'uter of the State, on the thirty-second
parallel of north latituilc, and ninety-hcventh
meridian of west lonj^itude.
Topographically the county may be divided
into four parts, and for convenience we will
begin on the we^t.
The tirst subdivision embraces all that part
of the county lying east of the iirazos river
and west (d' the (h'oss Timbers, amounting to
about 100 bipu-uv miles. 'I'his includes the
rich yellow sand and chocolate lands of tlie
than which no more b'rtile soi
is found on the globe. Leaving the valley
going east, we ascend the " breaks," wliicii
are merely the rough, uneven lands that
separate the valley from the table lands
above. The '-breaks" furnish fine grazing
for horses and sheep, and also an abundance
of cedar timber. The table land is for the
most part level prairie, though dotted here
and there with groves of oak and niesquito.
The soil of the table land varies from a gray
and sandy loam to the stitf, wa.xy land of
black and chocolate color. Corn, cotton,
wheat and oats are the staple products of this
part of the county, all of whicli give good
returns to the industrious farmer. This sec-'
tion is in mu>t ]»arts abuinlantly supplied
with good w-aWv. Noland river runs through
the northern |)art of it, and its clear, crystal
Waters teem with every \ari(!ty of the tinny
tribe. Along the "breaks" of the Brazos
numerous bob! springs seinJ their sweet
waters over pebbly beds, to mi.x with the
turbid wateis tif the L^razos. Several llowing
wells of sott artesian water gladden the
hearts of the enterprising farmers who be-
lieve the "earth and all things therein were
made lor man." Whitney is the jtrincijnil
town iif this subdivision. It is situated on
/'ri/iMf^nl
.1 y
i LJ. i i I ■
. 1.-;; >,!T
ill'- iM L.;.i
■i '"ill. il;.1
i!.l) ,; .!lf/.' -, ,vil
HISTOHY VF JOHNSON
tlic 'IV.xu.s (lentril railroad, ;i l.i-aiu-li of tlu.
lloii.>tuii i*c Texas tluiilral. It liart a popula-
tion of aliuiit 7tl(), aiul coininamls !i lar^^o
trailu from tlui surroumiiii;^ (•(Uiiitry. It lias
live, eiiei'Hjelic and uiiterprisino; iiiercliants
and business men who are worthy the conti-
tleiice uf tlio j)eo|jlu. iihuii, on the Noland,
18 also a fine town, and has many of as clever
citizens as ean he found anywhere. Jt has a
j)0])ulation of several hundred, and does a
line business.
The second subdivision embraces the CJross
Timbers. This is a belt of timber land which
;li th
.unty
lortheast to
southwest, from si.x to eight miles in width,
and Contains about 200 square miles in Hill
county. The timber is principally post oak,
but is interspei'sed with liiekory, ash, elm,
black jack and some other varieties of oak.
Aqttilla creek, which has its source in John-
son county, coui'ses its way through the
"timbers" and empties its watei-s into the
Brazos in McLennan county. The soil of
this section, while sandy, varies in color from
dark to >;ray. 'I'lie greater part of it is very
fertile. Corn and cotton ll,.uri^h, as also
do peas, potatoes, melons and fruits of all
kimls. The |)eo])le are generally pi-osperous
and h
^ppy-
^Vatel
ibundant as
the first subilivision, but a line quality is
usually found at from twenty to forty feet
i in B(jme paiis
the Burfa(
itiiral s
found. Til
nal
trading points (jf this section are (^iovington,
Woodbury, I'.'oria and Aquilla, all of which
get a fair local trade from the sui'rounding j
county. I
The third subdivision en. braces that part
of the county from the eastern edge of the
Cross Tindiers to the '• ^[ountaiu." While
this st^ction is several feet higher than the
Cross Timber belt, it is yet a valley. This
valley varies from eight to twelve miles in
width. It has its beginning on lied river, in
Grayson county, and embraces the eastern
part of (irayson county, the western part of
Collin, the eastern parts of J )enton, Tarrant
and Johnson counties, the western parts uf
Dallas and Ellis counties, and passes through
the center of Mill, into AIcLennan, and on to
the Colorado at Austin. It is questionable
whether there can be found anywhere on the
face of the earth a body of upland equal in
extent, in richness and fertility of soil, in
abundance of yield and varii^y of })i-oJucts,
to be compared with this valley. Hill county
comes in for her full share of this magnifi-
cent and beautiful belt, wliich eml.iraces about
250 square miles of hei' territory, of which
there is scai-cely one acre but that is suscepti-
ble of cultivation. Here corn, cotton, wheat,
oats, millet, sorghum, the native and culti-
vated grasses, lu.xuriantly grow and yield
a bountiful harvest. There aie numerous
springs in this belt, but a large majority of
the inhabitants get their water supply under
the earth at a depth of fifteen to thirty feet.
Almost this entire valley is enclosed in farms
and ])astures. Hillsboro, the county seat, is
the principal town of this belt and of the
county. It is located u little east of the cen-
ter of this valley, within one mile of the geo-
gi-aphical center of tlu^ county, on an ele-
vated ridge or plateau, that is bounded by
/.w wuo V, ■) i'
acs;
!iri' -1,... ■ '.vv :. :' In- : ,, ■ . 'i' ■ .i' ; ,. :,,.-m ,. ;,,,,:., '-;ir..;; .«,;/!' --.L
w ;■; ,1- ,,:■ •■. ;i ... :. .;: .. ' - ... >; ,, .-..Mi .;■..' »-.:,.!' v. H.-.ihl.Mil
,■ '■;,•. ^ . ""- f.-H nr v,.„,,„:i ,...,...) ', ,;, . .; ,i „.,.,..,■ -■. I;,. ->V 1,„,|,: ^,_, ,,.,.)'
.-■lijr; , J _• ■ f .tl'.H' I '"!'!' -iciJ ' , '')ii;!.'>il;J:' j.i(iiaii(<':,>Ji^. I'ini :,( iMii'iOiiu ,-w:i
,l» • M,M:.,vJ '.i / .KCil - ifiV V '1 f:v ! lr)ui!) vj.'ii-fj;/ ■.:.: .,■! / i...i(( ;^ .y: i M;r { r.a
7!, .cii i.p ii^iif) (■/■■Uli ;,:< il ^; ; .' ,!•.• ,(,M -h a-:. ,£(:i;i:; cI>;j^| k,.' i.. oi aL
l;l:: ■ m./..^
.UYii UILL COUNTIES.
r.ivii,r> whirh fuMiUli spluii.lul dniiuage.
'I'lic -t-neral i'acu uf the county is wliiit
u„nl.l <,nliiiai-ily l.u tennud " level ;"• then- aru
iiu eonsiaeralile elevation or de^ire^siuiis-
The •' Mountain," tVuni whieh the county took
il.- name, ia the \vater-.-heil or di\ iiling ridge
hetween the watei's ol' the lirazos and Trinity
rivers, and is a mere prairie ridoe of an ele-
.vationof ahout 150 feet above the general
Biirlaceof the country, and passes from north
to South through the country, ahout two and
one half miles east fi-om its center. The
''lower cross timbers,'' a belt of post oak and
hickory timber in the main, but occasionally
interspersed with othi'r oaks and swamp tim-
iiers, rano;ing in width from I'our to eiglit
nuk'S, pa.^ses through the county about paral-
lel with the '■ Mountain," at a distance of
about six miles west from the center of the
county.
'Hie Brazos river, a ne\er failing sti-eam of
considerable size, borders the county on the
west. Noland's river, a most beautiful stream,
passes through the northwest portion of the
county; the A(]uilla, a large creek, meanders
the cross timbers, while its tributaries drain
the section between the •' Mountain " and
the cro>s tind)ers. East of the dividing ridge,
Kicldand, a largo creek, and its tributaries.
White Uock, Ash and other snuiller creeks,
drain the eastern ])ortion of the county. 'I'he
llrazos river, Noland's river. Ash creek,
Afpiilla creek, and some smaller creeks sup-
,,orlea by springs, are perennial, the other
streams failing in dry seasons.
The prairies are the consequents of this
periodicity and the rather peculiar confor-
mation of the country. Underlying the soil,
on the prairies, is a stratum of lime, sand and
gravel closely approaching concrete, ranging
in thickness from ten to twenty teet, which
is incapacitated to support vegetable life.
Under this stratum is a stratum of sand and
gravel, varying in thickness from ten to
twenty feet, and underlying this is a stratum
of soft slate, which constitutes the •' water
bed."
During the periods of di-ought, eva|)(jration
e.xceeding the rain fall, the moistiii-e necessary
to the suppoi-t of vegetable life is exhausted
from the surface or soil stratum, imd to a con-
siderable depth below, and no vegetation ex-
it that wl
m be sustained by surface
moisture, produced by occasional r-howers of
rain and the precipitation of moisture from
the atmosphere in the shape of dew, cane.xist.
The conformation of the timbered portions of
the county is similar to that of other tinr-
bered sections. The climate, for equability
as to heat and cold, will compare favorably
with other sections of the same latitude, the
thermometer very seldom marking above 95
ilegrees — Fahrenheit — or 10 degrees below
zero. The much dreaded >• norther" is sim-
ply the result of intense cold North, which
occasionally forces the "arctic waves" down
here, for about four months in the year.
Owing to the levelness and openness of the
country for a long distance North, the change
of tenijicrature is l're(]Uently sudilen — chang-
ing from mild to the extreme degree ol cold
within from twehe to twenty-four hours.
The extreme cold, howe\er, conlinues only
fora few days. Durinir the summer months
'.,:■ i'&vw: .\^! 1 ',.1'.'. '.,'1
;.,;,^..w:^ ,i.n,r,->, '.. i, .■;.,.,. v!.- . , .'fr^ ,■ , , , i) ',; ...l ••■..... !V>; .u\ ^(lluAul ■<>> Uvn„
!,<!!. !i;i,.^ lo r:iUK:V, >:. I : .-.■,;.; ,. i • >! 'j.-n ., ■.;:;. -: 1. ■:.. ;.,.„!. ,-:!,;rf vi J ,•■,-,,,,; . .Ii
"- 'I'.ij . I(')i.n cffP: . .^-.'-r.' !':'■; ,■•'.-:. -.no'i :3;!,) 'ill •■■■i/''iiis
!-7,i>, ho ^f ?♦•: .i'lf:l^'T..,v ■,., iM..j.jiM yiij .,j ' i;:-, ,1j,^ :_i; 1 1(. :!:>0,. .-. .ii!. .fi" '. ■. v.,! "
-y.c ii i^rtn-^yv on 1 ■)<; ,v/oiM'J ''J^i'-''' ■r-\.:i^\ 'vt. \ .cj .|:(ik7/s tuKt .'.,i,io 'i.' i!lii itjiv/ IioKio.'ifi'i'jJm
tKi^^yV-. :\ \i^.\\>iS.iU. •>\J lun .: 'ii! 11-, la]'.-' I •^'■. :.! iti 'l i).);"l ifTiiy, iii v,ih.(ii.-. ,i-rj(l
"^o ,-, ■.'c' ', Ir.MOi.-.i. .•■_. -^<J L.f)j'; ^^^ij ,_•).. ;.'!.. .. ' I .' •; 1 i-tdn '(itiii ••; ;;i!j tij^i'inil-) 6!.«..i',ij .^^-ilrni
■Oi't. -v .si ,1,- !o ii..'':jH .[(•(^■,. '■:!' ; .1^. li L 1 . .■..i!Jj[. i; ,15 '',i:uo.(iH>'/l " ^i!' i!J;,. i>I
v*''.vOi;fii , -,■'.'.. r.jijkii j*i iK .•ii-ii- ,,...., • I' \ '' ': .■ • ;.!', ' •"..■ ,i ■.;'l rt-y.v ijlii/i a1 ■ Vmv.Iii
•;i ■•.>,, I •} ,.':;..,;:; „r:- ..noi y^.- i ,.3.! ■ uvl,:... cl > ,i- I/. ,i' ,. .,1,1- .!., -.ro',
. .:|l
HISTORY OF JOUNSON
coul hrcf/ius from the yuiitii arc almost con-
Tindjer constitutes about one-fourth the
tinuous, i-cndoring tlio ni^rhts cS]iocially tle-
area of Hill county.
li>rhtful.
The altitud,^ of lIillsiM,ro ahovc the level
W .VI I'M.
of the tica is 027 feet, wiiile U'oo.lhury is
'I'lii^ subject has alri'ady been referred to
700, i;ium 0-^2, lluhhard 038, Kort Worth
in connection with the three snlxiiviaions of
5D0 to (ioO, Temple 082, etc.
the county. It may be added as a fact gen-
For the j^eoloo;y of tliiB section of Texas,
erally conceded that no county in this portion
see j.aye 50, and for time see page VI.
of the State is better favoreii in this jxirticu-
TIMliEK.
lar. The JJrazos and Moland rivers, Aqnilia
creek and several other streams are perennial.
Tin; timber in this portion of Texas is
while still others furnish water at all times
j,'enerally interior to that of sontliern and
e.xcept in the dryest seasons. Besides these
eastern Texas, or other timbered countries.
streams there are, in many portions of the
In Hill county it olfers no exception to this
county, springs of j)ure limestone water.
rule thonoh fully answers for all ordinary
which fail only in extremely dry seasons. The
uses, and there is an ahundance foi' all de-
water-courses ai-e so located as to suj)ply the
mands. Formerly it was used for huilding
various i)ortion8 of the county with drainage
and until a few years ago many of the resi-
and water facilities. The IJrazos river, which
dences were built of lumber from the native
forms the western bonndai-y, is one of the
timber. Since the advent of railroads, how-
princi[ial rivers in the State and affords u
ever, lumber has become sulliciently cheap to
never failing llow of water. Noland, a beau-
dib])ense with the local manufacture and the
tiful stream, passes through the northwest
use of native timber. The varieties of tim-
portiem of the county. Acpiilla creek, a
ber an^ post oak, burr oak, black jack, elm.
stream of considei-able inijiortance, rises near
hackberry, mulberry, pecan, walnut, cotton-
the Johnson county line and ilows south
wood, ini'sipiite and several others, including
through the county, meandei'ing the cross
cedar, which, however, is in the main conliiu^d
timbers an^l emptying into the Hrazos in
to the western section near the iirazos. The
McLennan county; it also has a number of
belt known as the cross timbers consists
tributaries which drain the westei-n and cen-
niaiidy of post oak, burr oak and hickory,
tral portions of the county, among them be-
fhou^^h it is intersjjcrsed occasionally wilh
ing Hackberry creek, which rises near the
other \arieties of trees. The lirazos and
northern boundary of the county and Hows
other streams are bordered with growths of
south jjarallel with the croso timbers, empty-
timber, and there are also some ^roNi-s of
ing into Acpiilla near the south boundary of
j»)st oak and other trees in the interior
the county and drai.iing all the valley west of
prairies.
(he mounlain. In the eastein porticm, Kich-
;;<!; :,!:i!'.
h. ..■-.;: .:,v/ u:.i-v
.(Mi tl,^ •.ri-
ll l.Jil ■ i'l
;);;• u,/i.:.'u . ,j:iu r,,.i'i ,<Mj:
lUi ,i;(, J,;;; i yoo
.l:i.'J .!!'('
!••. 'tot t<';il(;t 'III. « i,Ji il ;.i ■ .•;■; .r-.
■ •),r ^. •■ii«f, a. tt-'jM^ v/ji j; ! inr !■
.;r, -Mji . ;■ 'I '•■ ' . ;;' i- 'I'h'i -; .-If i--ir.
H -r^cii! i,.
o;J-M.l, ,10;. ^; li.i:)--:- |
i pii;n iio.'rt :I;>'(j 9.1-! j
I,;' 'Ij ' '.'■.■:■ ■,,' I iM.!; i: :.'/iln;i lo yfeif
v,j'' ;• ,ij'i!«'/ t '■ ■-' 'i . •■■'( "ti!" .■"■i>''r,tor.d
■'! ;-;..!' ,<'")''(i In r ■i.H !,,-. ■•,;(ijM'ur! ,b'JO"'(
i-:'iij. '- i: .:i;y rui" ,;^'i'- i«v;(| io '(.^uii:;!:
,1', 6.,,.»_|!' 111''.' .BJ'nJ 1'.^ ' .i.*<.',|:/ IJillO
, ,;, ^, ;;■(;, '■ ■ ■.:'■•:- .-; :^. ■ur-ll'< 'KJilJO
HK.,r
AXD JITLL COUNTIES.
l.ii..|, 11 hiri^'u crock with two main brandies,
ui,,l its ti-iluitariftf, Wliite Koei<, rucan, Aeli,
l^i^I-(lak anil otlier Bniailur ci-cuks, aiford
ilriiiiia;_'u and water snjijily. To^etiiur, tlii'se
rliLiiiiib allurd ahundant stock water, and the
Jlra/.dB I'uriiislies water power which lias to
MJiiie extent been utilized for milling piir-
jn.hi.8. Aside from the flowing Btri'ains and
liuiiiitiful sprinyb, water may be obtained for
dcmiebtie purposes almost anywhere by dig-
ging or boring to dc])ths ranging from ten to
thirty feet, at but small expense. Tanks or
artiticial jionds are used for stock where
.-ticaius are not at hand. Artesian wells are
ulro coming into fashion in this section of
I he State.
Water for drinking and culinary ])urp06es
is ubtuined almost anywhere in the cniinty
at a depth of twenty to thirty feet. l!ut the
best method of olttaining and keeping good
water for house purposes is to catch rain-
water in cisterns blasted out of the slialy
ruck near the surface of the ground.
A. II. White, near Aquilla, has a mineral
well, yielding the following analysis, the
figures denoting the number of grains to the
gallon of water; Common salt, 23. 75; sodium
sulphate, (;.8-i; ferrous sulphate, 43.87; fer-
ric sulphate, 18.10; aluminum sulphate,
83. 'Jl; magnesium sulphate, IIG. 03; calcium
sulphate, 124.38; calcium carbonate, 10.20;
silica, -l.ll; carbonic acid gas, 121 cubic
inches to the gallon. Of course such water
tastes very decidedly of iron or ct)pperas, and
it is considered by some physicians here as a
good combination of chemicals for medicinal
l.urposes.
A number of artesian wells have been suc-
cessfully drilled in Hill county, —notably in
Files' valley, Whitney, and near lliUsboro,
etc. is'ear Whitney, C. M. Carver had one
sunk on his place to the depth of I.GIO feet,
which runs about 3,000 gallons a minute, of
pure soft water, llecently there was sunk at
Lake Mills, by liobcrt H. Deering, on tiie
place of Mrs. .N. A. Haley, just west of
Ilillsboro, a well which first yielded water at
a depth of 121 feet and eight inches. I'ure
water was reached at a depth of 170 feet,
which rose to the surface, and if piped would
probably havu ai'isen about thirty feet.
Itasca has an artesian well under headway,
and Ilillsboi-o one contracted foi'.
The severe drouths which prove so disas-
trous elsewhere seldom all'ect the farmeis
here to any sei-ious e.xtent, and it rarely oc-
curs tiiat the farming interest in Hill county
suifers materially from an extended failure of
rainfall. Even in the ilriest seasons those
who cultivate carefully and iiulustrionsly pro-
duce what would in many of the old States
be deemed good crojis. Aside from the bene-
fit derived from our laore favorable seasons
it is a fact beyond all question that this soil
stands drouth better than that of most other
counties, and that when crops are planted
here in season, which is a month or two ear-
lier than in other States, they are far less
liable to injury from drouths, and the farmer
can rely with more certainty on being amply
rewarded for his labor.
As is well known, deej) plo
'K
1 .. ' . lir;'
1, ;;.. A ; ,
.■ v:;:lVf .v,h.il
• ■■■iiii 4
•Jll ' ...
- ::ji ,bJ :-,:- M
.:;.Hfy n. (in i
■m J,:..L.i:n!i; Inafii:
■;: J .101
.! A
;^ ,;lH.
.- ..in; -1.1 V ■.v;.wv.:
)l,iri(i' 111. MM 1. jOX.'r'l ,&J(aU|i'ir
-"• • •■ ^ ■■■'■"■■ ,^^^.^--,---inN
•,•■»; ,i-.M-^ •..■ui;w .' ' .. i:.- Jill ■)( -so;!
■■■ ■■■■■-li". - ••'■■•- To ^l!l.3^;:-^.'. ,-.YS^--
T, ■)i,»tl ci;( rjiiv.i'[ :.J».' Vii hyiQ\<y
UlSTUUY OF JUUNSON
blu IIk) boil to liuld luuru wiitcr, 80 that tlio
the extreme summer heat and the e.\treiiio
ell'cetB of thy druuth, which usually Buccuudb
winter ci.dd of the north, and it is an admit-
tVoiii about the tir:.t of J une until November,
ted fact that this unitbrmity of our climate
will be little noticed. Jiesidea, the dry-
is more favoral)le to health, other things
weather crevasseB |)en!iit the raiu.s to wash
being equal. While at the north thousaiKU
down nutrient material to a good depth and
perish by sunstroke every summer, there oc-
tli\ib insure permanent fertility.
cur very few well authenticated instancco of
As to the weather in this part of Te.xas, see
sunstroke in Texas. The delightful gulf
pai,'e 5(3. Here in Hill county, the princi-
winds from the south jirevail in tlie summer
pal local weather jdienoinena within the last
and extend this far into the interior, greatly
few years have been the following: October
mitigrating the heat of that season. The
15, iSSti, there was a very heavy rain, with
pre\ailing diseases of the North, such as con-
wind and hail, in this section. Near Leba-
sumption and other diseases arising from the
non church houses were unroofed, small
6e\ere winters, are quite unknown in Texas.
buildings Idown over, and so much timber
J\Hasmatic diseases are unknown here, there
thrown across the roads that they were ren-
being no natural causes to produce them.
dered impassable, (hie old citizen, when
The ordinary summer temperature varies from
asked if he had any hail in his section, re-
80 to 80 and the extreme heat seldom ex-
plied, '• No; it just came down in a sheet of
ceeds lU-i. The iiiiluenceof the gulf breezes
ice and bi-oke up when it struck the ground!"
is so marked that the average temperature is
We have often heard of " cloud-bursts," but
much lower during the summer months than
this is the first instance of an " ice-burst" to
it is in the higher latitudes of the North.
our knowledge. Another farmer said that
1'he actual winter weather here is generally
wdien on his way to Aquilla after the storm.
confined to a period of less than three months.
as he was crossinir u branch near the lower
commencing in December and exteniling to
.-ide of his cotton-tield, he .saw his last lock
the first of March. Freezes occur at intervals
of cntton calmly lloaling down the stream,
during the winter, but as a i-ule the fi-eeziug
api.arciitly hound f^r the ( iai ve^ton market!
tempi'rature does iu)t continue long. The
Apiil B, \WM, water fn.zeto the thickness
snow falls are light and infi-e(pient. Some-
of a -dollar."
times there is a sleet for a day or two. Under
CLIMATE AND IIKALTII.
this head it may be well to notice also wliat
are called "Texas northei'S." The " norther"
Jly comparing our tables of temperature
constitutes an important feature of Texas
with those of the more northern States, an
climate, but one by no means fraught with
imjiortant fai;t will be demonstrated, namely,
such pt)rtentous meaning as people abroad
that our climate is far more unifoian through-
have been taught to believe by sensational
out the year. We arc equally e\cmiit from
writers. The "Texas norther" is nothing
;A. ". i:V}\_:-\\.
ANT) niLL COUNTIES.
in. re lliim what it is elsuwlicre known as a
...M iioilh wind.
TllK COUNTY OUOAMZl'.l).
'lV\an tinius, we lind tliat Kubcrtson county
uii- iTrated December 11, 1S37, a.s follows:
•• He it enacted, otc, Tiiat all that section
of c<iUMti7 lying and situated in the follow-
ing hoiuularies be and the same is heieby set
ii|mit and constituted a new county, to lie
known and called by the name of K,,bei-tson,
viz.: The line beginnino on the Brazos river
lit the county line of the county of AVashing-
ton, and running on that line easterly to the
Trinity river; thence up that river to the
northern edge of the Cross Timbers; thence
due west to tlie P.razos river; thence down
that river to the beginning point."
Navarro county was created April 25, ISIG,
thus:
'• Ski'iion 1. Be it enwied, etc., that all
that portion of the county of Kobfrt.-on in-
cluding within the following bounds be and
the same is hereby erected into a new county,
to he called and known by the name of Xa-
viirri>, to wit: llrginning on the east bank of
the Kraxos river at the northwest corner of
J.imestone county, and thence with the line
of said county to the Trinity i-iver; thence up
said river to the lincof Dallas county ; thence
we-.t to the corner thereof; thence north with
the line of said Dallas county to the southern
lHjun<lary line of Fannin county; thence west
to the Jirazos river; and thence down said
river to the place of beginning.
"SK.rin.N- 2. That said county of Navarro,
as to right of representation, shall be con-
sidered as a part of the county of Robertson
until entitled by nundiers to tlie right of
'• 1S|... rio.N ;i. That until the st'at of justice
shall be permanently established as hereafter
provided by law, the temporary seat of just-
ice shall bo at the residence of W. li. Howe,
and all courts shall be held thereat."
The first act of the legi>lature referring to
Hill county was approved I'Vdjruary 7, 1S53,
and described its boundaries as follows:
'• That all the territory comprised in the
following limits, to wit: JSegiiining on the
southwest line of Ellis County at a point
twenty-two miles from its northwest coi'ner;
thence with the southwest line of said county
of Ellis to its south corner; thence to the ex-
treme north corner of Limestone county;
thence with the boundaries of Limestone and
McLennan counties as now defined, to the
Jjrazos river; thence up that river with its
meanders to a point south seventy-five de-
grees west from the place of beginning, thence
north seventy-five degrees east to the place of
beginning, — be and the same is hereby con-
stituted a new county, to be known by the
name of the county of Hill."
Sections two and three of the act refer to
the organization of the county and the loca-
tion of the county seat.
Section -i. "That the county court of said
county shall have |)Ower to purchase if neces-
sary 320 acres of land for the use of said
county, and shall lay the same olf into suit-
able lots for a town; and after selecting and
setting ajiart such suitable lots as may bo
■V:. m- -T^O: t I i\'.
'\ I'll' ■; ,1 . I ,: -iC li<,":rj .•1:j1(W'iK 1 HI ii lilf/.' iImIi
\\7j -.'V rr/^•/' .11
n; ' 'A ii '■ ■■nabin-j-' .[' ■'.; i ![i: '. 'Soi i -. iJ^.H i;;iJ; l':! ji;;!'!' ,.:.iio ,V:iw,vj \\ ,'-\ ■■
.,1,J
jj yi'')!!!'.' jiU -'h , :. 1 -• . i.'/i' - <• Jl -ji; o in. !„ '; cnl oiCi' ; si-'
■.-Au\]
in STOUT OF JOHNSON
iieeussary for :i coiirtliousu, jail, clerks' olliues,
eluirclies, schuolliouscs and burying i^ruund,
tliL-y fliiiM jiruercd to .-.ell tlic rcniuindur, or
sary, at palilic aiictiun, at .-ucli time and upon
such tei-nis as will most comluce to tlie inter-
est of said county, and shall ajiply the j)ro-
coeds thereof to the erection of necessary
jiidilic liuildini^s for the use of said county."
Section li\e provides I'oi' the conipensution
of tlie ciiief justice.
Sij TioN 6. '-That all that ti;rritory situ-
ated north of the county hereby created and
wliicli was iieretot'ore included within the
limits of Navarro county, be attached to and
from a part of the territorial limits of the
said new county, and for all county and
general purposes shall form a part of the
same; and the location of tlie seat of justice
thereof and the county lu^reby created shall
be att.ached to and form a part of the Thir-
teenth Judicial District."
Thus we see how that Hill county was
carved out of IS'avairo, the latter out of llob-
ertson, and the latter acj;ain from ^V'ashinll■ton.
The county wa,. named in h.uior of (ieor^e
AV. Hill.
February 15. I.SDS, tiie Legislature jias.-od
the following act, defining the dividing lines
between thu counties of Hill, 2s'avarro and
Limestone:
" Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., that the
dividing line between the counties of* Hill
and Kavarro shall hereaftei- be as follows:
Jjcginning on the upper line of Navarro
county, three miles nortlieastei'ly from its
junction with the northeast line of Hill
county, thence running southeasterly parallel
with and at the distance of three nules from
said line of Hill county, the entire length of
said liu,s to a point which shall be the south-
west corner of Navarro, the southeast corner
of Hill aiuJ tho north corner of Limestone
county; provided that Hill county shall pay
tho expense of running and marking said
line.
"yKOTiHN'i. That the north boundary line of
Navarro shall hereafter be as follows: Be-
ginning at the northwest corner of Freestone
county, tiience in a direct line to the point
desigiKited in the preceiling section as the
mutual corner of the three counties named;
thence a line shall be drawn direct to the
southeast corner of Hill county a8 lieretofore
existing, so as to complete the division be-
tween Hill and Limestone counties."
Hill county, according to article SIO of the
Revised Statutes of 1879, is bounded as fol-
lows: "J'eginiiing at the northeast boundary
of McLeniuin county, thirty-eight and a half
miles north tliirty degrees west from the east
corner of Falls county; thence north sixty
degrees east to a point bearing tliirty degrees
ea,-t from another point on the southeast line
of Ellis county, three miles north sixty de-
grees east from the south corner of said
county; thence north thirty degrees west of
the said point; thence south si.xty degrees
west three miles to the south corner of Ellis
county; thence noi'th tbii'ty degrees west to
a point on the liUis county line, bearing
south thirty degrees east twenty-two miles
to the west corner of I'lllis county, as estab-
lished by the act of .January 2S, 1S5(I; theiu'o
,.; io .,, ,. ,i..uy.,,()
lit /-u ■. V '.' i
:t;i..!: i:*^^ ir,:,^
,;IJ I.', t. I'l
ilv/
...;■!' ikI,, !-,/,•>; '.J .,■,. , .'..r
.1 r; ,.•,.;., I
I-...VJ;/: IKIH
.•UY/) HILL COUNTIES.
•oulli .-.•vfiity live doL,MX'crf west to the I'.ra/.ori
Steiner cast his fortunes with the notorious
riM-r; llieiiro iluwii lliiit I'her with its lueaii-
filibuster, William Walker, and lost his life
,1.1,, to Iho iKJi-thwcst line of Melx'iUKin
in the \ain elTort to civilize Nicaragua.
.■.Miiil\; thence with >:ii.l line liolth .-ixty (hi-
C. X. Hrooks, wh(,te peiimaii.-hi]) shows so
-r.iv- fii.-t tu its noiih e,.rner; thence soiitii
beautifully in the county records, discharged
thirty degrees east tu the phiee oi' be-
tiie duties of both county and district clerk for
^■iuiiina."
several years. He died on a farm four miles
Ill i''eliruary, 1858, Juliii Flower was aii-
west of Ilillsboro, in the summer of 1891.
thi.ri/.e,J by the county court to survey the
Nicholson, the lirst district clerk, was his
aMiiity lines dividiiio- Hill IVoi.i Ellis, Ka-
brother-ill-law.
viirro and Limestone counties, and the dates
JJraggand Sanford both died in this county,
wi-ri' h\ed and publislied in which each sur-
leaving an untarnislied reput.ation and a
vey was to lie made. Mr. l-'lower made tlie
jirogeny that fully sustains the honorable
Biirvey, and the field notes are recorded in
leputatioii of their ancestry.
the lirst volume of the (.'oiumissionera' Kec-
Davis is still living, eight miles east of
ords, [laire 100 et seq.
JHllsboro.
.VciMidino; to the provisions of the legisla-
Clayton Williams, the second chief justice
tive act, Hill county was duly orguni/.ed by
of tlu^ county, died several years ago.
the election of the neci'ssary ollicers in Au-
At the time Hill county was organized
>.'u^t, 1^53,— James 11. Dyer as cliict' jus-
there were only a tew hundred voters in the
tice, Thunias M. Sleiuer, Thomas I5rag-
county, and they were engaged almost ex-
Jiinies Iv. Davis and J. M. Sauford as county
clusively ill stock-raising. The prairie part
coin 111 i.^sioners, ami C. X. Hrooks as county
of tlie county, like a vast meadow, was
clerk. No sheriir being elected at the or-
covered with a luxurious growth of rich and
ganic election, Haywood Weatherby was duly
nutritious grasses, upon whiidi vast lierds of
appointcil sheriir by the Comniissioners'
cattle and Ikji'scs roamed at will, a litth^ less
Court at its lirsl term.
wild than those that range the broad savan-
Mr. Dyer wa.-, elected two or thiee times to
nas of South America. On the Brazos river,
otlice, and was li\ing meanwhile about four
which is the western boundary of the county,
there were a few persons engaged in agri-
culture in connection with stock-raising.
locality he lived eight years in JSteiner valley,
Also a few small farms had been opened
this county, and is now living in iJosque
aloiig the eastern edge of the Ci'oss Timbers,
county. He is an extraordinary man; is
along the western slope of the "Mountain,"
u pliilantliropist, but positive in manner,
and on White Uock creek. There are now
warmly loving his friends and e(pially cold to
many farms in tlie county either of which
his enemies.
numbers more acres of cultivated land than
,..'••.. I ■ J... m(! ■!>/
(•Iv!. '■. ,' /l.liM'l
L„ : .../rl ,,t.,,;
!•■--(.•: ^!'Vo villi' ^(!M ■, ;.>'i..r-' !!;)! J-.i 'im!
li; iii;''j i;li/, I Ml ■ .1 ',1-ii; ■•.;; Jjl .|-iri')')
.. . .1 .
210
insrORY OF JOHNSON
all the fiirins enntaiiicd at that time. The
peujile liviii- in Hill cuiinty at the date of
its oru;aiiizali()ii weie, strictly sjirakiiig. jiio-
iieeis, and like the pioneers (_)!' oilier eoiiu-
tries, they wure brave, generous, liospitahle,
lione»t. A stranger was never turned from
their door, nor was there anything i-eceived
as compensation for the rnde entertainmunt
gi\en. In.leed this was the ease all over
Texas at that date. The traveler was always
sure of a hospitahle reception at every cahin
and I'anch, and the only condition exacted of
him was that he "unsaddle and stake out his
horse." There were in those tlays some bad
men as uiav, but as a rule the pioneer people
weri> honest, and it was rare that any one Nvas
ever charged with theft, robbery, ar^.n or
burglary. A few of those old pioneers still
live among us, honored and respected by all,
and il i.-a -vnuine treat to hear some of them
relate their early experiences in Texas and
llill county. Many of our best and most
worthy citizens are descendants uf these
pioneers.
Lexington was the name of the iirst village
of llill county. It was situated on Jack's
branch, ancl was settled in 1.S51 or lS52.
Here the first goods were sold in the county,
by Messrs. Harrison Abels and John AVor-
nell. Jack's branch look its name fi-om Mr.
Jack IJoyles, now a resident of Steiner's
valley.
When the county was organi/.ed in ISoll,
with the temporary seat of >^overnment at
the old town of Lexington, on Jack's branch,
an election was ordered for the pui-pose of
selecting a permanent location for the county
seat, and in that election the site which now
partly embraces Ili!lsboro was chosen on
accoUTit of its situation, it being within a
mile from the geograjihical center of the
county. Tins choice was made in Septem-
ber, 1853, and although for many years the
place remained nothing but a village, and
three efforts have been made since its selec-
tion to eifect a change, the people by their
votes have in every instance sustained the
wisdom of the original choice, and renewed
the expression of jireference for Hillsboro,
emphasizing their will on the last occasion
bv SI
,'erwli.
:empt is likely ever ;
moval of the county
The election fur the
majority that no
to bo made for a
ocation ol tlie county
seat of the county was held on the Uth day of
yeptember, 1853, and resulted in the selec-
tion of the present site — Hillsboro — where
Thomas M. Steiner had donated to the county
220 acres of land for county seat purposes.
While on the subject of the county seat
wo may notice here a recent elfort to cut off
the southeastern extremity of the county,
called the '-cold corner" (probably because it
is so remote from the county seat), in con-
nection with sections of adjoining counties,
for a new county, to be called Koss, in honor
of the State Governor, L. S. lioss. Hubbard,
formerly "Hubbard City," is the principal
town interested in this movement; and in
order to obtain the amount of territory re-
(piired by law, it gave a large majority of
votes in favor of the removal of the county
■ ij* r.: ;'iii;
.1 I!fl
y;.i(i ,.,.!■,!
)!•>•, : ivj't
jiiv-. ( 'jni;i]'ir;j1 3f!l iljiv,
jjv ,i, ..I 'k. .-vol ti).. oMt
AND lllLL COUNTIES.
siMt uf Hill to Woodbury, eight miles west
of its |)resoiit locality, November 6, 1888.
Fiill(;winjr is the vote by precincts:
Hilliboro. Wuo'lbury.
Iiill=l)oro, No. 1 78 12
N(j.2 295 5
No. 4 2;i2 12
Wocnlbuiy 24 107
Scoll'a Chapel 79
Peoria 110 33
Osceulu 40 74
C'ovinglun 9 80
Filea' Valley CO 6
Irene 118 8
liriiiiaon lS.j 13
bcriYner's SuUoolhouse 32 1
AcjuilU 91
llassey lO.'". 10
Itascu 203 119
Blum 20 80
Wliitiiey 185 40
I'lirbo 9 50
Hoiiila ai 17
IJriiiiliy Knob 0 129
llubbard City 40 287
lil.iiitun 14 81
Abboll 95
liyiiuiii 49 n
Jit. Calm 85 13
Fort Grabam 25 59
I-t'baiion 77 1
I'rairieValIfy 47 1
Total 2,041 1,287
During the last legislature T. C. Morgan in-
troJuceil a bill tor the "creation of lioss
county.'' Some errors were detected in the
bill, which the interested parties endeavored
to remedy. In connection with this matter
tiio ililUb,M-o papers piiblislied the following
item; " In answer to an inquiry, the Coin-
inissioner of the ( Jeneral Laud Ofliee otticially
stated that tlie distance from the old county
line of the northeast corner of McLennan
county to liillsboro, is eleven miles and 578
varus; and the distance from the northeast
corner of J. J. Williams' 320-acro survey,
third-class, iJ'J2, located in Hill county, to
Uillsboro, is ten miles and 1,830 varas." The
Uillsboro citizens held a mass-meeting and
after discussion decided to send delegates to
Austin to oppose the movement for the elision
of the " cold corner."
The matter will probably never be settled
nntil the proposed county is created.
The first substantial courthouse was a two-
story brick, whicli was burnt down September
3, 1872, the fire destroying a few of the pub-
lic records, namely, all the records of the
district court excepting possibly the minutes
of 1857, and one record book (Hook L) of
the county court, and all the records of the
surveyor's ollice. l''rom the district clerk's
oflice tluM-e were saved (jidyoneor two books,
and some from the county clerk's oflice. Five
years' records of the probate court were
burned. The tire was siijiposed to be the
work of an incendiary.
In 1874 another courthouse, also a two-
story brick, was erected, at a cost of $15,000,
and this served until the present magniiicent
structtire was erected.
AVhen the •• fullness of time " had arrived
for the building of anew courthouse in keep-
ing with the demands of the times, in 1887-
'88, there was naturally un ell'ort made for
the removal of the county seat, as already
■ T^.p -itcK.ii ■■■' :-. .-;; ■ - .-J . ;:..;,•:,,.' .vjiir-.o' h;-.>'.„^ i, u
iOii.t..!' :iui 1:1.: ;eji-ii:v ' .y,u,ihj..\v .ir,.'-ll.a
<':•,.>;>' ,:;("■; /-ar,' onJ; I "* '■
Jii'i; .:...l l-ri ..io.i ,;.:J ),i ••...y.r.. . (ii
msTOHV OF JUJINSON
iin'iitioiicd, !is in ulimist always tlio case on
Buch Ofcubioiis. Alter the popular vote hail
(leciiU:(l in I'uvorof llillfilioro, a mass meeting
of the citizens of the latter phice was called
toorderJune 22, lbS9, D. Overton, chair-
man, foi- the purpose of devising ways and
means to circulate petitions among tlie voters,
to be ])reseiited to the coininissioners, asking
them to order the building of a new court-
hoUbS at its August term that year. Appro-
jtriate committees were appointed for tlie
work. They did their duty, and accordingly
the commissioners, August 14, 188'J, in their
legislative capacity ascertained that the peti-
2,t;3G voters, wl
was a clear majority of all the voters in the
county, and in fact '• within -100 of the total
numljer of voters." This was sulliciently
decisive, and the court accordingly |)rui'i'eiled
iniin(.:diately to make arrangenu'iits for carry-
ing out the wishes of the peojjle..
t)n these petitions Captain A. P. McKin-
nou sht>wed tliat there \wvc fifty names of
tax-payers who wouh! jiay, as shown by actual
eumi.utatiun, $S,510 of the cost of the build-
ing, an<l four-fifths of the tax -paying values
of the county was reprerented n))on the peti-
tion.-.. In. representing the matter before the
court, conti'ary arguments were called for,
but none wei-e presented; and the names
t-igned to the remonstrances were found to
aggregate t)22. The discrepancy between
this figure and the estimate that the number
of ijetitioners was "within 400 of the total
nuniber of voters in the county," we do not
pretend to account for, cxce])t jxissiljly by
typographical error in the newspajiers, or, as
is often the case, by the supposition that some
men signed both petition and remonstrance.
The plans designed by AV. C. Dodson, of
Waco, were accepted. The dimensions of
the new courthouse are 105 .\ 130 feet; top
of the tower, 130 feet from the floor of the
basement; foundation, of hard limestone as
higli as the water-table; main walls, of hard
first-class sandstone; coriidors, with cement
floors; steel eye-beams as joists, and nicely
tiled; the joists covered with asbestos roofing;
all the ceilings and the roof, of corrugated
iron, aiul the stair-steps also iron; floors, all
double, separated by two inches of cement;
county otUces and the C(junty courtroom, on
the first Ihjor, and the district courtroom oc-
cupying nearly all the secontl floor, with a
gallei-y, etc. All the ollice rooms are built in
the most modern style, and those of the
county and district clerks are fire-proof.
The contract was let December 19, 1889,
to Messrs. Lovell, Miller & Hood, of Erown-
ville, for §83,000, tliey agreeing to have the
building conipleted by September, 1890. As
completed, tht« present courthouse turns out
to lie tine of the best and most beautiful in
the State, if not altogether the best lor the
money. In 1891 the various county oth'ces
were moved in, and their ari'angoment in the
building is as follows: Southwest corner,
county clerk's otHce, fire-proof; southeast cor-
ner and innei' large room adjoining, county
judge's office and courtroom; i)ortii('a.--t cor-
ner, sheriff and assessor; and nortiiwest cor-
ner, surveyor, tax collector and treasuiei-.
:( : !i. ., 9l't .t.
!. 1^.
AUD HILL COUNT I res.
The old courthouse was sohl at a\ictioii,
IVccuibcT 21, 1.S89, to O.J. George, for §120;
aii.l (luring thu liuildiiii,' of the new structure
the county oiliccs temporarily wore mainly in
the oil! Mwell hotel, nearly opposite the Com-
nicrcial hotel, which was bougiit by the county
for r^2,750,— but little more than would have
to bo paid for rent for the time occupied.
JAIL.
Tiie first jail was erected by William
Vuun^', about 1856 or '57, at a cost of
^fl.T'JS. It was a log structure, in two divi-
eions, the partition being of stone, and, l>eing
Mibatantial and well built, it lasted for many
years. It was located 2U() feet north of the
(^(pKire, on nortii AV'^aco street.
The present jail and sheriif's residence, at
the northwest corner of the square, was
erected in 187(!, at a cost of !?12,()()(). It is a
liii'ge, commodious, two story brick structure,
euliiciently substantial for the requirements
of the times.
KLKUTION UKTlIRNy.
In publisliing the following votes it is not
at all understood ihat the figures denote tlie
jiopiilarity of the resjicctive candidates at the
time, for often a man is voted for who has not
really permitted his name to be presented,
am] sometimes the most popular men in the
county is ])laced upon the wrong ticket, or
brought forward in some iri'cgular or unsatis-
factory numner, etc.
As Bonie of the earlier records of the county
were destroyed by tire, the election returns
on tile in the county clerk's otlice begin with
tlic year I87i3. From them we select such
data concei'iiing the general politics of the
county vote for the respective candidates as
will be of public interest.
Dec^embick 2, 1873.
Governor— Richard Coke, 1,302; Edmund
J. Davis, 14S.
State Senator— A. J. Bali, 817; William
E. Shannon, 332; J. N. Chandler, 109; Johu
U. Lippard, 125.
Representative— A. M. Douglass, 1,087;
D. L. Middleton, GG3; A. J. Hart, 016; J.
B. Henderson, 269; Joe Robinson, 192; II.
G. Bruce, 290; G. L. Dobbs, 272; B. Lantz,
128; M. Wiley, Hi.
Treasurer— AV. K. I'osey, 511; E. R.
Goolsbee, 898.
Surveyor—!;. Veale, 855; N. C. Howard,
557.
For Constitutional Amendment, 1,12-1;
against Constitutioi'.al Amendment, 135.
For county seat at Ilillsboi-o, 497; for
county seat at A. Frederick survey, near
Peoria, 911.
FiniicLAKY 15, 187t).
For the proposed State Constitution, 2,201;
against the proposed State Constitution, 40.
Governor— Richard Coke, 2,103; William
Chambers, 1.
District Judge-J. P. Wood, 597; D. M.
Pendergast, 1,465.
State Senator-J. W. Moore, 1,753; B. J.
Chambers, 177.
Represeritative— W. L. Long, 307; A. M.
Douglass, 861; J. K. De Armon, 451;
;.i ■'■: :.■ ^.i^>
u j.!:,- .:.v o:u..<i)-wi...; Mo -,11
v-:-H' !; ■!...:;;.ii.;;M,l -,:;! ns'i,,: 1.,,*
■ V,' 1^,1 .j;-'oij;ilv.i ■•■ .iUti YKlllO ' • '■
.-.>..,•,.-, '-u-.i! -.;;,>, I Uy:'\ LI,
!i5 ,>/^-"M ..■ V',
^i.i ,w,;...ni<, h l^no:-'-. ■ .v/
u.-l
, ,', w» i;,,..; inji.' '.j.j-'i.tMjl Pi-v; .1 ! .dlila^
J9')-|1'i i.v:.'if (i.Ili.f ao ,;injii;^M
•' : .■ .:' '■■ ).-- TV, ,fci)oil (.'I'fi'o;) .uVIhI
!)■« .. n ,..9i'l , '4- ]„.,.. ^j
.? •.''; -'-.i;,;!'!!,,,
')" "^'''f - r
IIISrOHY OF JOHNSON
v.. F. Yoiu-by, 22'J; W. T. Hiirk, 242.
County Judge- - U. II. yajers, 2-il; II.
Ciuiii.Ih.II, GS7; .1. W. Steven., <J37; S. A.
Keavis, 20 1.
County C!erk--J. M. Duncan, 1,299; (J.
II. Hardy, 141; G. P. Lee, G77.
Dititiiut Clerk— I). Derden, 1,2GG; S. C.
Dyer, Jr., 774; AV. L. Towner, 25.
Treasurer— E. K. Goolsbee, 1,774; C. W.
Hunt, 2(!5.
yurveyor— C. Veaie, 1,979.
Sheriff— John P. Co.\, 1,502; n.(;. Drigj^'s,
G21.
Assessor— J. S. Napier, 383; F. T. Weir,
510; L. II. Puehanau, 331; \V . A. Scruggs,
107; C. A\^ Reiley, 402; J. J. Stoker, 350.
County Attorney— J. M. Abbott, 27G; J.
A. Martin, G59; C. ^Y . Peech, 170; (i. T.
Jones, 578; A. P. MeKinnon, 3G0.
Coinniis.sioners elected — District No. 1, A.
W. Weatherred; No. 2, I!. F. liurks; No. 3,
T. W. AViley; No. 4, W. S. Stanford.
August 28, 1876.
President— S. J. Tilden, Dein., 1,G29; K.
P. Hayes, Rep., 4.
Congressman— J. W.Th ruck rnurton, 1,592;
J. C. liigger, 2.
For Prohibition, 871; against Prohibition,
C32.
I'KoiiiurrioN IN nir.i.siioKo and vkunitt.
March IG, 1877— For, 187; against, 79.
April 12, 1878— For, 249; against, 228.
NovicMnr.K 5, 1878.
(ioveruor— (). M. Kolu^rts, Dcni., 2,044;
AV. II. Ilamnions, Gbk., 583; A. P. Norton,
Rep , 1.
(Congressman— Olin Welliorn, 2,042; E.
.M. Daggett, 570.
liepresentative — A. M. Douglass, 1,088;
AV. C. Griflin, 77G; E. P. AValling, 7G3.
County Judge— J. H. Pullock, 1,313; J.
S. Planton, 1,370.
County Attorney- Jim AVitten, 1,1G1; J.
L. (Jrain, 1,37G.
Sherill— John P. Cox, 1,428; J. S. Napier,
1,2G2.
Assessor— F. T. AVeir, 641; (J. AV. Reily,
71G; L. D. Martin, 1G4; B. L. Hiekey, 46;
AV. T. AVestmoreland, 144; E. J. Calloway,
143; S. J. Rowan, 350; F. Bowman, 124;
A. L. Johnson, 31; J. B. Scrivner, 24; N. E.
McGraw, 88.
Treasurer— E. R. Goolsbee, 980; J. W.
Puwery, 1,229; G. AV. Hunt, 358.
District Clerk— I). Derden, 2,494; H. B.
Sumner, 89.
County Clerk— J. M. Duncan, 1,509; D.
T. Sawyers, 811; G. J. Mathews, 33G; J. J5.
Gayden, 37.
Surveyor — (J. Veale, 696; AV. M. Vaugliau,
1,182; J. E. Cameron, 798.
NoVEMUEK, 1880.
President— AV. S. Hancock, Deni., 2,491;
J. B. AVeaver, Gbk., 530.
Congressman— Olin Welborn, 2,593; J.
C. Kerby, 4G1.
Governor— O. M. Roberts, 2,438; AV. II.
lIammon<l, 52;i.
State S.natur P S. Ross, 2,145; C. L.
AVas.sun, G30.
I 1.
J. A. -I .:,;.-/3
\, J
\ I- L :(..in
.< . < : --^■: ! )
i»"..7.:/ V,-..
.a:KK:.. 'I'V - 1--?T '■ ,•
AND UILL COUNT IKS.
District Jiidgo— Jo. Abbott, 1,57<J; J. M.
Iliill, l,21t!.
i:,'l,rm.nt:itivo— J. II. Littlulield, 140; 15.
1». Tarltuu, l,2il4; W. C. viriUin, 703; W.
11. 'riiituii, 522; T. II. Cainpeer, 289.
(\>iiiity Judge— A. W. rarliain, 1,27G;
J. S. iJlanton, 698; A. P. McKiiinuii, 9S5.
Comity Attorney— V. II. Ivy, 1,228; ¥..
IVii.ilutoii, 9(jG; J. L. Ch-iiin, 580; Ci. A.
IV'll, 187.
AbSLSsur — C. W. Kcily, 2,478; J. W.
llii.l-ins, 186; W. II. AVubb, 281.
Collector- J. L. IJur-oss, 182; J. II.
Huciianaii, 1,304; W. D. McKarland, 326;
W. A. McMurray, 289; D. C. AVornol, 935.
Treasurer — J. W. Lowruy, 954; II amp
Carter, 910; W. K. Long, 626; \V. G. llar-
ri.-, 465.
District Clerk — A. Y. Kirkpatrick. 79;
J. A. Ceor-e, 836; J. J. Stoker, 979; II. N.
Uees, 24; Ed. Ilutcldnson, 172; E. 1). Keavis,
GU; J. M. Fennel, 110; J. E. Cameron, 373;
S. II. Uiggs, 23; G. 11. Royal, 166.
County Clerk— J. M. Duncan, 871; D. J.
Sawyer, 524; D. Uerden, 883; W. W. Wright,
714.
Surveyor — W. M. Vaughan, 1,481; C.
Veal, 1,242.
Sheritr— J. I'. Co.x, 2,250; 11, P. McKin-
ley, 718.
ComniiBsioners elected — Dislri.-.t No. 1,
William Carmichael; No. 2, Willis Prannan;
No. 3, .1. II. Harrison; No. 4, U. P. Ed-
ringlon.
March 13, 1882, the county gave 842
votcri lor prohibition, to 1,145 against it.
NovEiiiiEu 7, 1882.
Governor— John Ireland, 2,281; G. W.
Jones, 802; J. P. Kobinsoii, 13.
Congressman — Olin Wellborn, 2,283; J.
C. Kearby, 737.
Senator— A. M. Douglass, 1,029; W. H.
Getzendaner, 825; J. G. Colej, 239.
Representative— J. II. Walling, 569; J. O.
Piles, 562; W. P. Cunningham, 494; J. M.
McDaniel, 610; J. D. Runiage, 99; W. P.
Pardue, 231; F. II. Wood, 362; William
Craig, 159.
Floater— I. A. Patton, 2,401; G. II. Royal,
388.
County Judge— A. AV. Parham, 2,381; J.
S. Plantou, 013; S. A. Reavis, 55.
County Attorney — E. Pendleton, 673; V.
11. Ivy, 1,257; J. L. Grain, 951.
Sherilf— J. W. Morrison, 1,345; Nick
Farrar, 686; Tom Bell, 1,129.
District Clerk— J. J. Stoker, 2,447; E. B.
Reavis, 649.
County Clerk— D. Derden, 888; J. M.
Duncan, 918; J. M. Rogers, 123; W. W.
AVright, 1,219.
Collector— 1). C. Wornel, 1,827; T. M.
Tarver, 1,300.
Treasurer— 11. W. Carter, 1,241; W. K.
Posey, 287; W. G. Harris, 1,572.
Surveyor— W. M. Vaughan, 1,85G; C.
Veale, 1,255.
Assessor— C. W. Reily, 2,683; W. M.
Bell, 473.
Commibsioners elected -^ District No. 1,
M. D. Saunders; No. 2, Willis lirannau;
No. 3, N. A Tekidl; No. 4, T. K. Miller.
:'c. -A,oJ^ I .::.:- A
,^->, :.>.,:•-•. a.> ,:M:.,..,;,i,T.'
v-^i ,!W|
I ,:- r , ,-•,;■ .: !. - A..!- i!ivJ
,■ .■■ .7/ ;. .■' :U':-;; ,; .•■trl':'^ '\ .7/'
.{■u ■■ , v!,...,uD
iV. (•••.'■M'l
niSTOHY OF JOUNSON
NoVEMIiKK 4. 18S4.
August 31, 1885, the county gave 1,620
for prohihition, to 2,091 against it.
I'ivsidcnt--(i rover Ck'Vfluiui, nt'iii., 3,011;
i;. 1'. KiuKt, (il.k., 315; ,1. (i. Khiiiic, i;i'|K,
NOVKMIIKK 2, 1886.
5; yt. Joliii, I'm, 'J7.
(iovernor-L. S. Koss, 3,791; A. M. Cocli-
C.iij^rebsinuii - - Oliii AVellhorn, 8,707;
ran, 132; E. L. Dohoney, 286.
11. C. lligger, 228.
G..vtrii(ir— Juhii Ireland, 8,205; G. ^\ .
Junes, 000; A. W. Norton, 101.
District Judge- S. C. Upeliaw, 1,922; S.
11. Lumpkin, 82; J. M. Hall, 1,083.
Kepresentative, 39th District— U. D. Tarl-
Congressman— Jo. Ahbott, 2,497; J. C.
Kearhy, 1,833.
Seiuitor— S. C. Upshaw, 2,011; A. Ited,
1,448.
Floater— G. C. Groce, 4,058.
toD, 3,243.
Representative- A\^. II. Tipton, 339; C. M.
liepresentative, 38tli District— II. W. Tip-
Christenhury, 1,505; J. M. McDaniel, 1,014;
ton, 2,078; J. M. ilcDauiel, 1,809; II. D.
J. G. H. Buck, 491; J.J. Connolly, 1,000.
Brown, 135.
County Judge— A. AV^ Parham, 2,251; J.
County Judge— A. AV. Parliam, 2,501;
G. Abney, 2,153.
J. \\. Stevens, 1,143. J. y. liicliardson, 391.
County Attorney— T. S. Smith, 2,205; D.
Attorney— V. II. Ivy, 3,051; t'litT. iloor-
Derden, 1,357; Clifford Moorman, 502; J. S.
inan, 942.
Blanton, 292.
District Clerk— W. C. (irillin, 903; J. J.
District Clerk — \\. S. Crumley, 2,758; J.
Stoker, 3,102.
J. Stoker, 1,120; AV. C. (irithn, 536.
County Clerk — "W. W. Wright, 2,690;
County Clerk -AV. AV. AVright, 4,299; Joe
John P. Co.x, 1,414.
Hardin, 29.
Shoritf— J. AV. Morrison, 1,491; W. R
Sheritf— J. E. Ballard, 088; J. P. Co.x,
Cunningham, 747; Tom I!ell, 1,884.
2,041; Tom Bell, 1,732.
Trra^ur.T J. ( ). Killuugh, l,l!tO; AV. C.
(Collector- Tarn Brooks, 875; George Car-
Harris, 1,509; J. (i. lientley, 1,111.
michael, 2,172; [). C. AVornel, 1,366.
Surveyor— 0. Holland, 3,628; E. S. Davis,
Assessor — C. AV. Keily, 3,023; James G.
38.
Howard, 1,397.
Ta.x Collector— I). C. Woriiel. 1,911; T.
Treasurer— J. (i. Benlley, 1,355; J. C.
M. Tarvei-, 2,226.
Killougli, 1,720; J. 1). Bailey, 768; 1). J.
AsBessor--(!. AV. Keily, 3,517; J. G.
Sawyers, 575.
Howard. 574.
Surveyor— (). Holland, 1,953; W.AV. Chap-
Coniinibsioners elected l)istri(tt No. 1^
man, 1,852; AV.AV. Bane, 303; McCune John-
J. J. Scrivner; No. 2, J. E. liallard; No. 3,
son, 286.
J.J. Elliott; No. 4, W. 1'. Pardue.
(;ommissit)ner8 elected — District No. 1,
>?.'-AMV •■*.'.> ■IA».'\,'.\U
vU '•••
i'irai: 1 ;vin;*M',
v; ,... I 'I.ImI. .!«
>'/.:' ivn;'
... Nil, t
AND HILL COUNTIES.
K. M. KKlcr; Nu. 2, Willis iiramiuu; Nu. 3,
!!. 11. Turner; Nu. 4, J. M. Lovcluss.
AlIUU.ST -i, lSi57.
On Sl;itc Con.slitiiti(j:i;il aincndnicntri-— For
liri;lul)itiun, 2,5G2; against pruliiijition, 2,-
li'J5.
At this election there was a majority
ai^ainstall the aiueudmeiits proposed, namely:
To make tlie pay of the ineinbers of the Legis-
lature 85 and $2, and mileaf^e; to create a
permanent nniversit^' fnnd; to tax property
in unorganized counties; to register voters at
elections and numlier the tickets; and a long
amendment to the article on the judiciary.
NoVEMliLU 6, 1S88.
President— Grover Cleveland, Uem., 3, 380;
A.J. Streeter, U. L., 029; lienjamin Harri-
son, Itep., 370; 0. 1!. Kiske, I'ro., 1-17.
Governor — L. S. Koss, 3,258; Marion Mar-
tin, 1,513.
Congressman— Jo. Abhott, 3.00G; Sam
Evans, 1,517.
Uepresentative, 38th District — J. M. C.
Wilson, 3,046; C. L. Wassun, 1,(332.
iicpi-esentativc, 30th Dislrirl - Sam. R.
Frost, 3,178; <i. W. Helcher, 1,535.
District Judge— J. M. Hall, 2,G57; U. D.
Tarlton, 2,102.
District Attorney — I'icrce B. Ward, 2,270;
W. C. AVear, 2,452.
District Clerk — E. S. Crumley, 3,527;
Wiley Curry, 1,232.
County Jndge--J. (J. Ai)ney, 2,005; V.
11. Ivy, 713; (;. M. Chrislenl.ury, 872; 11.
W. Vonng, 1,182.
County Attorney— T. S. Smith, 2,031; D.
Derden, 1,770.
Sherill— Tum Cell, 2,058; John Co.x, 2,-
813.
County Clerk -W. W. Wright, 2,002; Will
G. Duncan, 2,187; A. Thames, 605.
Asses.sor— J. V. Kailey, 2,411; James G.
Howard, 1,155; F. M. Sampson, 700; J. P.
Williams, 457.
Collector — George Curmichael, 2,940; E.
M. Vineyard, -; A. W. Kuykendall, ;
CVocket Woriiel, .
Treasurer— J. C. IviUougli, 4,686.
Surveyor— W. W. Chapman, 2,572; W.
W. Lane, 2,144.
Commissioners elected — District No. 1,
I. Vermillion; No. 2, W. P. Cunningham;
No. 3, P>. H. Turner; No. 4, T. C. Carlisle.
June 18, 1889.
For removal of the county seat to Wood-
bury, 1,270; against, 2,041.
N<n'EMUEK 4, 1890.
Governor — James S. Hogg, 4,129; Web-
ster Flanagan, 303; C. E. Heath, 104.
Congressman— Jo. Abbott, 4,021; 1. M.
Darter, 244.
Senator— M. M. Crane, 4,026; H. W. Par-
clay, 103.
Representative, 39tii District — D. Derden,
3,987; D. V,. McCain, 79.
I'epresentative, 38th District — J. M. C.
Wilson, 4,079.
County Judge— J. (i. Abney, 1,911; A.
W. I'arham, 1,880; P. F. Vinson, 830.
County Alt.orney— 'i'ain Ivy, 2,523.
•J I >:
:v,!
tin.S? ,'lo-i ci^-:C- lin -.'■
.'.'t ;.jl-.l ;-I,U,V ,'^J'!ra 'I U- > ...c^or/. I .CUli
; ,((:' i:;,^^,.>j //.A .- — - , '■ n'i'i'f 'T ! , jj'tji: .j- ; !• ^/jtiiifi !>■! i ,: ^ i.^ifi -1?; o-iuJitl
, '.•.-i-K'VV ,i:j..- J ■' j ,'■;•' jfT-;- ;.t;J j.; .'.iir.i . i|, , ■ , 'luj Myirj^iiiV.'j
u,0
. A . ;-i.-viri
,,..'1 !'
!M / .7/
UlSTony Oh' JOHNSON
yiuTiir Joiiii r. c;.>x, 2,120; .K.iu. a,
Sleven.-., 2,275.
District (JIltI; O. II. Voiin-, 2,170; E.
S. Cruiiilry, 1,1'JI; J. 1'. C.-iincll, h'J5.
('(Minly CltTk-Will (;. Dunciiii, .i.lUW.
(;ullei'tor—(ifurgu(!arinicli;iel, 1,753; Mat.
MeColluiu, l,G7tJ; J. J. Mooru, 1,128.
A.-^st'ssui—J. (t. II. liuck, 2,513; J. D.
Jiailuy, 2,154.
TiviiMiivi -J. C. Killoiigh, 1,<J10; T. 1'..
Kdi-iiigtoii, 1,5U5; 1). Ov.-rton. 1,22'J.
Surveyor— P:. S. Davis, 4,511).
Coimnisisioiiers electetl — District JSfo. 1, L.
15. DaiiiL4i; No. 2, W. P. Cunuingliain; No.
3, J. J. Elliott; No. 4, J. M. Loveless.
STATIC C'0N.sTITL:TIONAL AMKNDIIKNTS.
Relative to voting — Eor, 1,008; against,
430.
Section 5, Article 7 — Eor, 271; against,
1,045.
Keducing rate of interest — For, OIG;
against, 541.
Eocal control— Eor, 7(58; against, 021.
Kelativo to judiciary — Eor, 701; against,
7t)S.
During tlio reconstruction period General
E. J. Davis was elected Governor of tlie State,
under the " Radical " reijii/te, and during
his administration came the odious militia
bill, police bill, printing law, school law and
all the leading " Radical " measures of the
Twelfth Legislature, which culminated in
martial law for Hill, Walker, Limestone and
Ereestone counties, and the murder of Godley,
House. Mitchell, Applewhite and others hy
In the full of l.S7() one James (iathin^rs
i.-gru
an.l "Slol" Niehoisun killed
and woman in l!os(jUe county, and tied, it was
supposed, to this county. Soon afterward,
one morning before sunrise, Lieutenant
I'ritchett and two other othcers and four
negroes, under the autlmrity of (iovei-nor
Davi.s, went to the residence of Colonel J. J.
Gathings, a distant relative of one of the
refugees, near Covington in this county, and
demanded opportunity to search the house for
"little Jim" Gathings. The Colonel met
them at the door and told them he was not
there. They insisted, and he asked them for
their authority, and they said they had it.
He demanded that it be shown him. They
then replieil that they had left it in Waco,
and he then told them that they could not
search his house e.\cej)t by force of arms.
Two of the men then drew out their pistols
and said that they intended to do that wry
thing. Next, I'ritchett told the negroes to
go in anti search.
Ciathings then seized a shot-gun and de-
clnred that he w.mld shoot the first negro that
came in; a white man could go in, but no
" nigger;" and he cursed them in the severest
terms imaginable. The search was made, but
no boy found.
The otlicers and the negroes then started
toward Co'iington. Gathings had them ar-
rested before night, for searching his house
without legal authority. They gave bonds
for their appearance at court, but sent word
that they were going to mob Gathings, and
•f{ \ I
,. - ,,:,I1<,0.:;M
.( -2, ' . jiTiV^J
.ij ,);a»ii' n,;/. f j|5'(i : •! ; .. .; . .vl i'.>;.i -O -J r.-Jti!'. •lOi'.oist-.iai n.j^
■■,, ( ;•.:•< ''l
!.-•.,« M„ 1,
„.
,-..>li..-.,U
v-u r
'.'■''■''
■.'».'
l.r^, ,.-
1 i. ■.!);:. •■
,..-;•: 1'
. ■■' j';-)( .!,
-..( ',,.'
1 !.■,■'(:)•;
<:;■;
.lU ['\ 1.
.-, (.'I- >«
'
■ v-!; iyl-.
J r;;H ;.
i '; .
il.HK i
v>,.i ^.:f
./.M o'ji;<
,iv:^
* .li, . ■-... ■ ■
•■:*
.:■.' '.■:.!'*'
ji..U 1 :.
-T
L-r ,■..••- V'iivil'r ...; .nhihn
a< '.•■:,]
.i -Hii! flB
(.'CO 'J|l<'' ::..l\i
Ly^<^t^^^/^/^
U.. \:-^'
AND UILL COUNTIES.
the citizi'us stood giiai'd at his house for eight
iiigiits. The mob, however, tlid not appear.
Nor did they appear at eourt, aithougli (iath-
iiii^'s and his friends were on Iiand.
In the meantime Coveiwior Davis issued
writs fur thearrest of (iatiiingsand his friends,
to lie ser\ed i)y Sherilf (iraee; Init when the
matter again eanie up the authorities said
tiiey wanted oidy an amicable adjustment,
and proposed to release (iatliiiiirs if he would
l'='y
it of the ])roceedings thus far.
wiiieh amounted to nearly §3,000, and which
was ri'adily raised by Gathings and his friends.
Afterward, when Coke was elected Governor,
the State reimbursed Gathings. James T.
Katelilf, of Ilillsboro, was his attorney.
For a biographical sketch of Colonel (bath-
ings
ee another
pag'J,
bund by the inde>
C!ommenting upon the foregoing trouble,
S. A. i.'eavis, of Jlillsboro, taid in LSS-i:
" ISonie two yeai-s after this tyiannical pi'o-
ceeding, at the dawn of a return of the su-
[iremacy of ci\il law in the State, this man (?)
IJavidson, \vithout previous notice, alian-
doned his ollice of adjutant general of the
State, his wife (i) and the State of Texas,
carrying with him an amount of money, ol
which he had robbed the people ol the State,
variously estimated at from ^^50,000 to
^100,000, and has not as yet been heard
from by the good jieojde of the State,
(iovernor Davis made frantic elforts (in the
city of Austin) to secure his arrest alter it was
publicly known that the bird had llown.
•■ During this memorable leigu of terror
throughout the State, the county was olticered
in the nniin by lorce and fraud. The State's
district attorney, S. C. llpshaw, a highly es-
teemed citizen of the county, and a very able
lawyer, was summarily dismissed from olHce
for refusing to prostitute his ofKcial position
to base political purposes. His appeals to
the courts of the country were of no avail, as
no tlecision could be ol>tained until the
usurpers were overthrown and a supreme
court selected by the people, some years
afterwards."
Hon. Jo AiiBorr, an able statesman of
Central Texas, is one of the popular citizens
of Hill county, and has made a record in the
political history of the State in which his
countrymen take just pride. In tracing his
(;areer it is to be found that he was born near
Decatur, Alabama, January 15, 1840, and is
a son of William and Mary (McMillan) Ab-
bott, natives of Virginia; his father and
mother were b(*i-n near retersburg, the father
in 1773 and the mother in 179-1; they were
married in 181U, removed to Alabama in 1836
and resided there until 1853; thence tliey
came to Texas and settled in Freestone county,
where they remained tintil the mother's death
in 181)4:; in that year the father went to live
with a married daughti^r in Limestone county,
and made his home there until his death, which
occurred in 1871; he was a soldier in the war
of 1812, stationed at Norfolk. William and
Mary (McMillan) Abbott had born to them a
family of twelve children; twodit^d in infancy,
one at the age of twelve years, and the others
gri^w to maturity; four of them are no\s' liv-
ing: Franklin C. rendeh in Callahan county,
Texas; William L., at [J.,(-kpnrt, Texas; Mrs.
Margaret Adamson, in Williamson county.
lIltiTUHY OF JOHNSON
uii.l Jo, the rtul.ject of thi8 biogi-apliical
Jo Alibotl was ruareil in Freestone county,
Texas, ami was uduealccl under the direction
of the eniinent schohir. Dr. Frank Yoaknni,
wlio tiien I'esided in Fiinestone county, and
Plot'. Cieorgc F. Allison, who taught a
classical school in Freestone county. He
i)e^an reading law in 185'J, and pursued this
study until tlie beginning of the civil war, at
which time he joined the Confederate army,
eidistiiig in Company B, Twelfth Texas Cav-
alry; he was commissioned First Lieutenant
of his Company upon its organization and
served in tiie Trans-Mississipj)! Department;
he was in the engagements at Seai-cy and Cot-
ton I'lant, Arkansas and Negro Hill, in Louis-
iana, and I'leasant Hill and Yellow iJayou,
Louisiana. He was wounded at the last
nieiitioni'd jdace and disabled for several
months, but rejoineil his command and was
with it until the close of the war.
He returned home after the surrender and
resumed his legal studies which had been for
so long abandoned. Ue entered the office of
Major L. J. Farrar, at Springfield, Limestone
county, and received instructituis tVom him
and the Hon. D. M. Fendergast; in 1801) he
was admitted to the bar by Judge liobert S.
(iould, of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
who was afterwards Chief Jnstice of the Su-
preme Court. He began practice with his
old preceptor, JNLijor Farrar, remaining in
Limestone county one ywir; at that time the
courts of that county were disorgani/.ed un-
der reconstruction measures: so he left, going
to the western counties in search of other
employment. He came to Hill county in
18(J7, and taught a school here for five
months, having made a tour of four ov five
other counties. The courts of Hill county
were disorganized only a short time, and he
was enabled to resume the ])ractico of his
profession tiiere in 18(58. He devoted him-
self to legal work in Hilleboro for many
years, and from the first enjoyed a lucrative
practice.
Recognizing ins ability and peculiar fitness
for legislative labors, the people of his county
elected him a member of the Assembly in
1869, and he served during 1870- '71. He
was chairman of the Democratic Ivxecutive
Ccjmmittee of Hill county for a number of
years, hi February, 187'J, he was appointed
by (iovernor O. M. Roberts, Judge of the
Twenty-eighth Judicial District, composed of
the counties of Hill, Johnson and JJosque;
he held this position until November, 1880,
at which time he was elected to the same
office for a term of lour years, which he filled
very acceptably. His appointment was to a
newly created district. In 1886 he received
the unanimous endorsement of his own bar
and the bar of a number of the counties in
Central and iMorthern Texas tor a vacancy
on the Supreme Lench caused by the death
of one of the members of that body. Al-
though he developed considerable strength
and received a very llattering vote, he was
unsuccessful before the Convention. A month
later, however, in September, 1886, he re-
(■eived the nomination for (Jongress fi-om his
Congressional District, was elected, and has
been twic(^ re-elected. He received at his l.ast
J Hi..:. 1) K'-\':r.> OllJ ,cL l)ii
C.ij' :.•: . V,' iooil'. .; .,1.1;;^.:' iUil ,!..^C.i'
V5:;i;.> \'W. .-. :J ,;...... aci'i .^'.KUu^i't, ' •■■ ' i' ' '■
.■•1
-•lU
■n <\y'y.
.i"-',V HI f - 'v^.-ti:
,1''. :\ o-..,.:>
Ir-i. ,.i-i,. I
•I •..,.
AND HILL COUNTIES.
rIcL-lion i'J/JS-i votes against 5,001 for liis
.1 iiil;^'o Alibott acliieved a \n\l\\ rt'piitation
ii.-i a lawyer as well as a judge, tu wliieh he
lias adileil ill no small degree as a legislator.
Ah a lawyer he is noted for his patient and
[lei^evering industry; he is gentle and con-
ciliatory in manner, is a skillful logician and
a smooth and graceful speaker. Ujion the
bench he was distinguished for the same in-
dustry wliicli he showed as a lawyer; his
ojiinioiis were noted for their profound legal
itructions wer
iways
full,
accurate and delivered with a calmness and
delilieration worthy of his high antl I'csponsi-
hle position. As a legislator he has steadily
grown in favor with his conatituiuits. His
career in Congress is more or lees familiar to
the people of Texas, and has so far lieen very
satisfactory, as is proven hy the repeated en-
dorsements which he has received. lie is a
Democrat and stands high in the councils of
his party, being an able champion of its
principles on the public platform.
December 15, 18tJ8, Judge Abbott was
united in marriage with Miss Uowcna Stur-
gis, a daughter of James W. L. and Martlja
Sturgis, and sister to George V. and W. W.
Sturgis, of Ilillsboro, sketches of whom ap-
pear in this work.
THE OOUIl'J'S.
It is most interesting to note the begin-
nings of the history of a county by i-eading
the recoi'd of the early transactions of the
various courts, including that of the county
commissioners, which by the way, is more
legislature than a judicial tribunal.
TUE COM.MISSIO.NEKS
The records of this body are conij)lete.
The first
jlum
e opens
th the folio
wmg
certificate of election:
State of Texas, )
County of Hill. ) I, Presley Donaldson,
Chief Justice in and for the County of Na'-
varro and State aforesaid, do hereby certify
that Thomas M. Steiner, Thomas Bi'agg and
James U. Davis, elected as Commissioners
for the county of Hill at an election being
held on the 1 Ith day of May, A. D., 1853,
aj}pearetl ijefore me and were duly sworn into
otlice as required by law. I also certify that
C. N. lirooks, who was elected as Clerk of
the County Court of said Hill ('ounty at said
election, was duly sworn into otKce as requii-ed
by law, ho having previously executed a bond
with three securities in the penalty of ^2,000,
conditioned as the law requires, — which
Court members I now declare to be [" de-
clared to "J lawfully constituted the County
Court of Hill County, in accordance with the
law passed at the late session of the Legisla-
ture, approval the seventh day of February,
A. I). 1853.
To certify which I have hereunto set my
hantl and atfi.xed a large scrawl by way of seal,
having no county seal at hand. ^i \^
r. Donaldson, ^^ \^
Chief Justice N. C.
The next entry is a minute of the ojjening
of the lirst county court, thus:
.?.fV^'V'
'.•.iA'.xH'-'
. yil: IC'll
/'■ lO* b- of ;j(j.}oi. t ■^M)'!!' ' -/ii .•;.;>!- u'l.' •,■.■1 baiifiii'yniJ^-iii «i;;w m\ ilonuJ
. ', 'i"i;':i i.^li .-' La '1 ' '. ; ,i.'';l •i'.'ir.v!,; ui.yu ^n./u :';.,iii ?r;i ;'_■"' 'Hj/jI
i/' i:, -nl. ■ ■ ..... ,. . . ,,-■ lw;:n:.,:' ■■ : ■■ ;mW-.., .,. .^Ur:^ul\hi,
;;;! v
.r.v..-in
■ -I-O'ICJ
^ ■•!
..;mj ■ji\,
/■I'.J
^;':oJi!B
-)(v,
.HO.l.t.
..; Uri
..'inv';
■; /^i
.«q .h!
> OJl
;'3"'-"!
i-jv!iii
^;>i,a
[•jiiiiii
■ i:; Ml
'.1 ■■(.- i
niHTORY OF JUUNSON
" Hill Ouunty Court, May 25, 1853. The
County (^ouit of Hill County rnut at the
lionsc of Harrison Ahk-s in said county, on
the ;i5lh .lay of May, A. I)., 1S53. Kuk'S
of the Court. Prf.-.unt, Tlionia.s M. Stuincr,
wlio was stated to preside over said Court;
Thomas I'ragg and James 11. Davis, Coni-
niissidiiers, and C. N. Brooks, Clerk.
"'I'he C'ourt ])rocceded to appoint Williain
Willson as iSheriiF jiro tein., who proceeded
to ojjen Court accord in it to law.
'■ Ordered that an allowance of $12 be
made to Presley Donaldson out of the iirst
money that may be received into the treasury
of the county, and the account is ordered to
bellied.
'■Ordered that the Court of [Hill County]
ifi adjourn.Ml until (he 3d day of June, 1853,
wliich will be held at the house of James II.
Dyei'. Thomas M. Stkini:r,
pro ton.
" At a special session of the Honorable
County Court of Hill (Jounty, bc^un and
hohK.'ii at the house of JanKiS H. Dyer, in the
County of Hill and State aforesaid, on Fri-
day, the 3il day of June, 1853, — present,
the lion. James 11. Dyer, Chief Justice;
Jam.'- .M. Simford and Thomas liraj^g, Com-
laissioiiers; and C. N. IJi-ooks, Clerk.
" The Court proceeded to appoint Haywood
AVeatherby, Sheritf, pro to/i., who pi'oct'e.led
to o[)(^n ('ourt accordiiij^ to law.
"Ordereil that a petition be sent immedi-
ately to the Honorable County Court of Ellis
County, be-^rii,^r them to have acalle.l session
foi- the j)urp.)si!of adoj)tinij;bon]t' mi^ans where-
by tint cuiinty line between sai.l i'^llis county
and Hill county may be imme.iiately run.
"Ordered thatthe Honorable County Court
of Hill C.)nnty is now adjourned until the
next regular term of sai.l C.mrt, Au;,'Ubt the
3d, 1853. Ja.mks H. Dyek,
Chief Justice.''''
At a special session held July 1, that year,
tlie court ordered that the "county be laid
off and divided into convenient and tem-
porary precincts for the [lurpose of holding
the August election in August next;" but
there is no record of the result of the division.
The election in precinct No. 1 was ordered to
be held at the residence of James McCoy, and
said IMcCoy to bo the presiding officer; in pre-
cinct No. 2, tlie election was ordered to be
lield at William (lipson'a, and he to Ije the
presiding oflicer; in precinct No. 3, at Thomas
Haley's, ArchibaM liobertson to be the pre-
si.ling officer; for No. 4, at James Woods',
William I. Cummings to be presi. ling officer;
No. 5, at "Lenn" Williams', he to be the
presiding officer; and for No. 6, at Vernoy's,
with Mr. Vernoy as presiding otiicer.
August 15, tliat year, a list of talesmen
was ordered to be drawn up wherefrom a jury
could be summone.l for the fall 'lerm of the
district co\irt. The list is recorded, which
we here copy, premising that some of the
names are probably misspelled, and that it
was written at a day when it was fashionable
to make n.j difference in manuscript between
1 an.l J: William 1. Cummings, Thomas
Kirvin, — Hynum, Martin Newnnui, (Jharles
Duncan, J.iseph Martin, James Chapman,
J.Jm C'rensbaw, John S.:.,tt, Kussell Williams,
William Kinsey, I'enjamin Prior, Ellas
I, !■-./;; I'M: ,,. ..Mv.,.| ... L.'H.,]. ..../ ,A'.
) r,4
■;.-;q 'ill f."! oi iuw-.1l!.< !-•<'. ii!' 'I'll;'! ;' , ■ft.i'rf.' , I '• ;•,', :i I, Jo OcIIuii ■!; i« i'i'Jii •->>• iliv, (fjiilv/
'' 'Hi y ■>.! , -.flli-!^' / "nfit'.t ■ .tc ,t. ,t A '■ jl'-i-ti !■. >l[ D i! !■> i.'j ^t: '. II' :■'( ■ r. J/ "
:l, .\ . b.i,./i,. Ifl .. ..■';j^
■ ,,! ., .,. ! ..lit
AND UILL COUNTIES.
Mr Key, William llunis, Williiiui CaiT, John
MrCuiley, John Kurd, 11. Frazier, II. Wtatli-
irl,y,.KR'l Mitehcll, AVilliani Mitchell, John
U.in.lall, J^.-cph Smith, - Smith, F. S. (L.)
Kirtlcy, C Vernoy, TlHiinas Jack.son, Jona-
than iMc-lton, James (iatliings, James Trnett,
JJrewry Kinard (Kemiard), Prebtoii Ilart-
graves, — Ridlin, Anger Price, Thomas Ay tea,
A. I. Mitchell, S. W. Taylor, Prazile Harris,
Alfred liragg, William Langford, John Mor-
ris, John Wornell, W. (). Smith, James Mc-
Coy, John McCoy, Thomas Hambay, G. W.
Biirchum, William Pace, A. (i. Ck-nn, —
Scott, — Scott, (two Scotts without given
names:) W. D. Martin, — ]\[artin, — Martin
(two Martins also without specifics:) G. 15.
Fancher, Sam Morrison, llai'\'ey Bonard,
Henry Jiieden, WiUiauj A. Jones, — Monroe,
John Welch, I. II. Baccy, Sam Crist, Stephen
Crist, G. W. Sevier, — Baley, J. G. IL Tur-
ner, Jacob Graves, Valentine Severe, —
Ponton, — Ward, IJavid (Jook, — Pobertson,
James Casaday, — Dulaney, Chiton Williams,
II. llarwick, 11. L. Dyer, J. Price, John
Canithers, John Chapman, Harvey Young,
Cato, William O. Piver, llenrv Maler
Moses Stanley, M. C. McGilson, W. K. Kinj,',
— Caruthers, — Poberts, Stephen Bright,
— ilcKinney, William Bragg, N. Owen,
Riley l)e Armon, John Caubleand Benjamin
Green.
The nc.\t day, at tlio samo term, the court
ordered i;15 to bo paid Haywood Weathcrby
" for his tervices in going to Springfield on
his own expenses and getting a certified maj)
of the county of Hill and State aforesaid,
which map is to be brought l,,ruard and de-
I livered to the Commissioners of said county
within ten days fiom tliis date. Ordered
, that the sum of fifty cent-, be paid out of the
treasury of Hill County to each one of the
following j)ers(ins, t(j wit: H. P. Ford, James
H. Dyer, Thomas J5ragg, J. K. Davis, A. R.
Fanciier and C. N. Brooks, for money which
they paid for the above named certified map
of Hill County, for the use and benefit of
said county."
Only one of the foregoing — A. R. Fancher
— is still upon the jury list of the county,
and he is living upon the west bank of Jack's
branch, about four miles from llillsboro.
At a special session held August 25, 1853,
it was ordered that " selections shall bo made
and nominations from the donations which
have been proposed for the location of the
county seat of Hill County." The next
morning they met and selected the donation
offered by John A. Caruthei-s and Thomas
M. Steiner to bo one of the situations of the
county seat, — the donation offered by Jona-
than Newby to be attached to and from a
part of said donation. These donations
altogether contained 2G0 acres of land. That
offered by tJ. 1!. Fancher and H. 1'. Ford
contained 185 acres, and the one offei-ed by
Samuel Morrison was the third selection
made by the court on which the people were
to vote.
At the special term of September 2i,
1858, it was ordered that the town of llills-
boro he surveyed and laid off into streets,
alleys, etc., by Arvin Wright, who should bo
paid !i;2 a day for his .services. Haywood
Weatherby an.l II ugh McMullen were ap-
.WY'V^:. .\
t'i:'il i-.:j'l
•h ..,,,.
:, ,' ..^..i;ii7/ .iirir.f (.---lliW .vv/!-!'
■.■h:M .,<,.:ii;7r liKii;!;!/ i^.i. ,■/.(■• ,
•i , ;■. •■> ^n,'> .'.,,- ;, M..\ -...i
ifa.^iiT,-,rr'!r.t;.:A,i.lll.i:i--,S«/i;,;3
':; .> ,^. '.„: ,.sii.,7r ,,..,ui:-u;Il
ij .' ■ .. - ! ..r' ;/• . , : - '■'■ MO-ir.
- ,^.,.-!' - I ■ ,^ ■; // (■-. .:KII
1. i ■! ' - : . ■. ■ ■ -•i;Jl>;li^ ov/.lj
,:..''r:il .1!. . ;..:'■■; < . r' ' ■'■'!>■. 'i
;i .1.1 1 /i.i_.7/ luiol.
.la li I .1,. i-,.{.oi.
" "■•"■'■ I
;v J J H ,V'0I/M.:U Jl
.[■.^ !■ _.,• L
:n V
. .. ,.Vn' Jl. >;[,'_' '.>,:'^ .uj .i. ,i;OiUl/ 'J^ I ValJJI
t> ) -■. -..,11 ,(i vjl ■.Miw,--i jii.. )u , ;ii iv.'Mv jJT
IIISTOnV UF JUIINSON
itoil ch.
anicrs, tliey to bo paid §1.
a. lay;
tliis
ay it was also ordered that
future sessions of this court lie held at II ills-
horo. It was also ordered that the town lots
he sold on iXoveiiiher 1, following, continuing
from ilay to day, and tliat the boundaries of
the precincts be particularly described.
'J'lie precincts were thus described:
No. 1, beginning where the Patton road
crosses the Aquilla, tlience south witii the
Acjuilla to the McLennan line, thence east
with the directions of saiil line to Eliae
JIcKey's, thence in that direction to the
county line, thence to Conner's Station, thence
west with the Patton (" Patoii" was a sur-
veyor) road to the beginning.
No. 2, beginning at the A(piilla where the
J'atton road crosses saiti creek, tiience west
with said road to Fort Graham, thence due
west to the Prazos river, including Fort
(iraham in precinct No. 2, thence with the
said river to the McLennan line, thence east
with said line to the Aquilla, thence with
AduilU,
the phi
No. 3, Ijeginning at the ci'ossing of Aijuilla
creek with the Patton road, tlienct? with
said A-piilla lo the boun.lury line of Hill
County, including the ti'rritory of Hill county,
thence west to the Prazos river so as to in-
clude the territorial partof Hill county, thence
down said river to a point due west from Fort
Graham, thence ea^t with the Patton load to
the place of beginning.
No. 4, beginning at a point north of Flias
McKey's on the county line, thence south
with said line to G. Hernendo's 1,280-acro
survey, thence west to the southeast corner
of precinct No. 1, thence north with the east
boundary line of precinct No. 1, to the place
of beginning.
No. 5, beginning at the north boundary of
G. Hernando's (or Hernendo's) 1,280-acre sur-
vey, on tlie Navarro county line, thence south
with tlie said line to the southeast corner of
Hill county, thence west with the south
boundary of Hill county to where it corners
with Limestone and McLennan, thence north
with the line of said county of Hill to the
south boundary of precinct No. 1, thence
east to the place of beginning.
No. 0, l)eginning at the place where the
Patton road cros.ses the Aquilla, thence north
with said Aipiilla to the Ellis county line,
thence east with said line to a point uoith of
Elias McKey's, thence west to Conner's .Sta-
tion, thence west with the Patton road to the
place of beginning.
Li precinct No. 2, an election was ordered
to be hel.l at the house of William Jones,
who should be the presiding oliicer of said
precinct, etc. Porhaps we iiave pursued this
lino far enough.
The first road laid out by the county court
was on November 22, 1853, as follows; "To
the county line in a straight line from llills-
boro to Waxahachie; said road shall be of the
lirst-class and cut out according to law. The
court appointed as reviewers of the road,
John liandall, H. Harwick, Elias McKey,
John McCauley and William Carr.
At the same session a road was ordered
leading from Hillsbonj to Waco, intersecting
the Dallas atui Waco road at the county lino
of Hill county, to be laid out as a first-class
■Yi
./
'!..;! '. ■,.
AND HILL COUNTIRS.
.ml. Mho a lirM class r.,a.l liu.lin- in a
rui-l.t lino n-oiu Uillshoro to (Jorsicaiia.
.•vit:wci-s of the Waco i-oad, -James McUoy,
ihn Morris, Tlioinas llanl.y, I-aac iNolaiid
,.1 l:. iMax.iur; aini of thn (Jorsicana roa.l,
Jli
,yu(
A Weatherl
AVilli
Caiiii
John Scott, James Jiynum and C. S. Da\is.
Also a tii'st-class road was ordered laid out to
the north boundary Hue in a direct course to
iJirdville, Tarrant county, and the reviewers
to he James (tathings, Alexander li. Fancher,
F. L. Kirtley, C. Vernoy and William
Jackson.
Ordered tiiat an allowance of .'fi-lS be made
to II. McMuUeu for buildi
'g
clerk's otlice and a courthouse.
Then a road of the second-class was ordered
from llillsboro to Fort (iraliam. lieviewers,
II. 1'. Ford, Harry Voung, Anyer I'rice,
Alfred I]rao;,ir and G. li. Fancher.
November 23, the court ordered that a
county tax be levied uf one-half the State
tax on all i)roj)erty subject to taxation, for the
use of tl:e county.
December 27, William C. Megee was ap-
pointed Clerk pro tcin. of the Court, C. N.
iirooks b(<iiig I'Xcused liecause of " extreme
family aliliction."
As an example of the manner in which a
new road was ilivided into sections for con-
venience of workiuf^ and superintendence, we
(|Uote (juc paragraph of the proceedings:
" Ordered, that said road (to HirdsvilkO I'O
laid olf into j)recincts (sections) as follows:
Frecinct No. I to commence at Hugh iMc-
Mullen's so as to inclu.le said McMulleu and
haruls: from ihence to where said road crosses
i-th of A.
l''ii
.11.1 brancli
to Anger I'rice's, so as to include said
1 i.recinctNo. I; thence to tlie Acpiilla
creek; ihen.'.e down the channel of said creek
ojiposito Alfre.l iiragg's so as to include said
Fragg; thence to IJorothy Newby's so as to
include all the hands on her pi-einises; thence
to Richani Frazier's so as to include said
Frazier; tiience north to the beginning, so as
to include Weatherby, Dyer, Chapman and
liar wick and their hands; and tliat A. li.
Fancher be appointed overseer of s:ud road.
No. 1 to begin at the courthouse, and cut and
bridtre
,way
the same to the south
branch of the second brancli, or west fork, of
llackberry.
" I'recinct No. 2 to begin at Hugh Mc-
]\Iullen's so as to leave out said McMullen
and handfc, and from thence north to Ciiam-
bers' Creek, so as to include John Itandall
and premises; thence northwest to Aquilla so
as to include all the settlei-s in the cross tim-
bers; thence down the Aquilla to precinct
No. 1; thence to the beginning; and James
J. Gathings be appointed overseer of said
road included in precinct No. 2, and that he
qui
and crossway and bridge
said I'oad accoi^ling to hr
it the next ro'^ular ter
and make
to bo hold
.'port
1 the
third Mond
iuay
February, 1854.
The roads were •■ classed " (numbered) as
follows: to Firdsville, No. 1; to AV'axuhachie,
No. 2; Turner's to McLennan, No. 3; and
llillsboro to Fort Graham, No. 4.
From this time on the county court con-
tinued to busy itself nuiinly with roa.ls.
At present the county is divided into four
iV.k-AUUO AAVit <xy.'.
jlAnu 1 I'.* H) It'll ■;
f""t;-l jiujli^.u oJ «i^. OK
>M(iii .>'';iiiiii . [lit' )^ '111;
I u/i ■•n,..u., .uj..:/l
>;nit«. .1 lull'. Knijl;>-,t«-iit /I oblA .liiKH
•ji-.''<'J mJ t.'.oil-iIiil uful'l ■wii! J.l-i<il'»
< !t\v. ,;,,.■: .1' -I'ir.r. j LiMrl. K »M-l ,i^<ix.,ol hl.trvilT .iTluM I..!"!,
i;>f'H (>'yi'': iL •,'. !■['.' I ,'■::. .1 -.n •• ") -' !> '/,!..: ,';;ii.v;;i''l ,JI luin
.; i^; . hV ■■;J,.''i] ■■!■•■. ,!■,:■ > -'- '"V Y i i ! . ijijia ,7" bl :'.W( '^li I I
I'l .-i: '.-r*? ; •i/.il'jj'"! 'i.t I Mj j.ot'i;;' i'.ifjl.i- ty.a brci ii;.j hi-'M-'ii n oalA
.)■.: U ,'o,(ij. .,*: -tiM //■.<! .'J-| Oill biifi ,YJ<n!i,0 t<i.:-! i.".'!' ,;;j',v;,^;iii
H .1
'..; - : :'/v^/: 1! ot
;< '! uJ w
i-MinIVV.,Vi
IVilfK
...) I jj\'\ ,l:Mit:mM
iirsronv of joiinson
coiiiuiissioiici-s' precincts, us I'oUows: A I'oud
ruiiiiiiig from IJrainlon to llilUboro to To-
wusli, uikI the roud niiiuiiijr t'roiu (Jlelmnie
thruugh llillsluin, to Waco, .livi.lc tlic county
;ar p.
ibcrud the northwcBt
par
No. 1, tliosinitliwcst No. 2, the southeast No.
3, and thenorthea.stN... 4.
The iirst license to i-etail spii'ituoua liquors
was granted by the county court ( )ctober 22,
1.S57, to J. C. Goodwin, to sell in less quan-
tities than one quart, " in the house on the
soutii side of the puldic square in the town of
Ilillsboro, for the space of si.x months," the
date of said license to commence from the
IGth day of April, 1857. Tlius it seems that
the period covered by the transaction had e.\-
pired before the license was issnod! Possi-
bly a mistake in the record. Ooodwin's next
license was issued in advance of the time for
•which it was issued.
First grand jury: "Ordered, that a grand
jury for Hill county bo selected from among
tiie legally qualified jurors of said county,
consisting of the following named persons, to
wit: Elias LIcKey, James 11. Dyer, Frank
AVeatherred, II. AV. Ward, A. O. Oraves,
Saunud Carulhers, Joseph \V . Ilustiau, Henry
Treadwell, William (.iipsun, Henry Mally, IS.
C. Dyer, L. M. llendon, O. T. Meadow, J.
R. Davis, Benjamin Green, L. W. Cato,
James McWright, Stephen Greenwell, Thom-
as IJragg and ■\Villiam F. Anderson.
The tii'st case of naturalization was that of
James Wood, a subject of (ireat Kritain, in
N..vembcr, l.S5(>.
At the May (lH5i) term of the county
court the Counly was laid idf iulo school
districts, as follows: No. 1, beginning on the
Dallas road where the Wa.xahachie load lead-
ing from IHllsboro intersei;ts the same; theiice
west to where the I'attun road cnjsses the
the llackberi'y ci-eek; thence south to Doro-
thy Newby's, so as to include A. li. Fanelior
and said Dorothy Newby; thence east to
Oato's so as to include said Oato; thence
north to the beginning. In this manner
twelve districts were described. Ne.xt fol-
lows a description of the boundary lines of
eleven election precincts.
June 10, 1854, the court ordered that
§200 be appropriated out of the ti-easury for
building a temporary courthouse, to be of the
following dimensions: A frame 30 x 25 feet;
sills not less than eight inches in diameter,
square, and at least four pillais of rock under
each sill; plate not less than si.x inches stjuaro;
corner posts not less than si.x inches square;
studding not less than four inches thick after
being hewed on lu.th sides no as to admit
(•eiling; a snllicient number of cross girders;
raftei-s not more than two feet apart. To ho
neatly weather-boarde<l with plank and cov-
ered with t^vo-feet boards or shingles, and
show not more than tuglit inches if covered
with boards. Said house to be not less than
ten feet high from the edge of the sill to
the under edge of the jilate; and two
doors, — tme in the side and the otlier in
the end, with good shutters to tlie same,
made of jdank m)t less than one inch
thick; one middle sill, and sleepers -1 x G
inches thick, |,laced two feet apart; ])la!ik of
tlu^ lloor six inches wi.hj and ouo inch thick;
live windows, two on each side an.loueinthe
■..I, ..■.; ^< ,t ••7 ";:, ..! - .■■!;, K,-,.i.,:v, 7/- ,1 ^.„„l,;i;ji .■.., .,!.
li'^'.-tu \ ir!<'>?i.;il "'IJ I .■■vfl(! < rj • r. i ' ci •■<!'! iJ-il .'.-.'mi,! ,5Ji<a] 'luy'l Ci("
; ./. I .lilt.;. ..Ij LOji ,tj
;] ixo/i ,Li->iii'-i..',/' ...ow ;ij;i.J3itj J .',■'.-. ' ic... >, .::■,; ii^ il'j-. •).' /M/f^<.,. '; .0 .', Mi .\",;''l
n»i;'i {ijiL!u;'.r. OJii Ml jiuilij; ■ -'!. i. :ifr'l I i ■ ^jiuoil .-jiii t i " J" ■,( . /i.ivi ii.'.Il /ji;ij
: {>h:i;-. !-ir V) v;l,! ,>fcyj ^'IrM'vrl ! '^'h '.v.;;;!-. .';/:■ i-i h) ■«« t ^ '!j lo! , Oft"! il!; II
;j ■"It Kim..
AND HILL COUNTIES.
L'lii] i)f the lioiiso, am] siiid winiiuw.s to be not iaiii N
l,v-s tlKiii four feet lii^rh aii.l tl.ree feet wide; | onlerin
.■a,h win.Kiw to have a doilblu sliutfer, made ! the Bee(
,,t phiiik nut h-,.s than o
rland ofsullicient si/.e, aiK
her of seats.
The citizens agreed to assist the eourt in
liiiihliiig tlie iiouse, and t!ie ctmrt reserv^'d
the right of lettin>r tlie contract, and liave
ixei.eral control of said lioiise nntil they.-honhl
ef justice of tlic county, for
;tion for ratifying or rejecting
ley sliould
iqui..
htl
e.-,t ill said house to tiie scliool ti-iistees in
school ilistrict No. 1.
At the November term the court ordered
•• that the courthouse by Owens be received
if the ten seats are made good, with one ad-
ditional brace to each seat, and that [conrtj
be holden in said house at its ne.xt regular
term."
In May, 1850, the court rctcommended
Jesse K. Grover for license to practice law,
thus: "Ordered by the court to be certified
that Jes^e U. (irovur, who intends to a|)pl}
for license to practice law, is a resident of this
county, and that he has been a resident of
ihisStaleat Ica.->1 si\ months, thai he istwenty-
one years o( age, and that he has a good repu-
tation for Uiorals, character and honoralilo
deportment."
In November, 1858, the court ordered that
the county records be trunscrilje<i by the
clerk or his deputy.
ACTS OK rnio ('ountv ooukt o(jo.\sionki) liv-rnio
Feluuary I'J, 1801, $10 was paid to Will
h thi,dv. Aj duly l,lSi;i: '■ Appli.'ation having been
urn- I made by the citi/.ens of Hill county lor an
appropriation of $^(,000 to Cijuip the cavalry
of Claptain J. R. Goodwin for the service of
the State of Te.xas or of the Confederates at
the South, ordered by the Court that E. M.
Wil.ler, John S. Schofield, David Womack,
C. N. Hrooks and J. M. Griliin (any three of
whom can act) be and they are hereby ap-
pointed a inilitai'y board for the county of
Hill, for the purpose of equipjiing said com-
pany; and said board is to be governetl by
the following conditions: Whenever the mus-
ter roll of said company shall show that it
numbers sixty-foui- men or a greater number,
and evidence also be att'orded said board that
saitl company has boon acceptetl by the Gov-
ernor of the State of Texas, then said board
sIkiII convene at their earliest convc'iiience
and proceed to equip said company with the
means hereinafter provided for.
" It is further ordere<l by the court that
the bonds of the county of Hill shall be is-
Mied to the am. Mint td' ;^:i,000, bearing inter-
est at the rate of leu per cent, per annum and
payable after date, and that said bonds shall
be placed in the hands of the board above
appointed for the purpose above set forth,"
etc. The rest of the ordei- pertains to the
levy and ctjllection of a s|)ecial ta.\ for carry-
ing out tiu^ abovt^ measures, subject to an
ek'ction which shouhl determine whether the
tax for that purpose should or should not be
levied.
,-.il; Ui.
V--: ■-'
»LM ' J'/.i!--, :)lll ■ ',
;r:- >>:'i; ■^•1H
n.,i .,:„. ::■ .:.:,.: .0
.ti ,- .Oi !.• ,.:3^ ::.,.
f)i\: 1 i' \r(i:(l<:i ' !.<
. „•.., ' )-,;>:•.;• ...1
.jr.iiiir: ■-,'il
i-ljl -!• i! ' M. lUC-iriM!) ^^ii;:^.;i irt i;,.;^;.
■. ,:i v. ;;'-■• :^' I
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
On the p:iiiu' day Tlumiiis Hell was ap-
[uiintcil captain o[ a patrol I'ur piucinet No.
1,^ tlic patrol i-oiupany ronbistin- of N. W.
Taniior, W. (!. iMoscly, ,] . L. (iarrett, T. 1!.
tjniilli and II. W. Carter.
Aii-Ubt lU, ISGl, ordered tliat tlie appro-
priation made at the July term for equipping
Cioodwin's eavalry he diverted to the equip-
ment of Captain J. W Wier's company; that
the militai'y lioard he notified to examine all
accounts made hy the menjhers of the mili-
tary company to he e(juip[ied hy said hoard;
and that the hoard is hereliy ordered not to
jiay for any article that is not essentially
necessary for the e(piipment; and further,
that the hoanl he leijuired to rejiort at the
iie.xt re-ular term of the court.
The next day the court ordered the assessor
and tax collector to collect the tax levied for
the e(piipment of the voluntai-y company.
April VI, 18(32, the court ordered that
honds he issued of the denominations of !jil
to 5^3 to satisfy the appropriation made at the
July tei ni preceding, of §3,000, for the pur-
jiose of equipping the ahove mentioned com-
panies.
Alsc
" patrols wiMC appomteil )i|
di
August IS, lSti2, ,Sl,(;U() uas ordered to
he paiii out (_if the county scrip on iiand foe
the jjui-chase of clothing for the soldi^jrs then
in the Confetlerate service from Hill counfy.
A committee of eight was appointed to
s\iperintend this appro[jriation.
August 31, the court petitioned that P. ]\I.
Smith he furloughed to remain at home and
work at his trade, as he was the only wagon-
would he greatly inconvenienced hy his ah-
sence in the army.
Novemher 17, 1S(J2, ordered that John S.
Schotield he authorized to make arrangements
to jirocure the powtlei-, lead and jjercussioii
caps proposed to the county hy the State,
transjiorting said ammunition to said county,
and pay for the same; also that J. T. l{at-
clilf pay to the justice of each precinct (ex-
cepting one) the amount of money that may
he necessary for the yearly support of soldiers
in the Confederate service that may actually
he in need.
At the May (18G3) term a tax of twenty-
live cents on each $100 in the county was
ordered tor the assistance of soldiers' families.
Measures were adopted from lime to time
during the remaining ))eriod of the war for
those families of soldiers who were depend-
ent upon the )]uhlic for sup[)ort. Cards
were issued to the dependent women hy the
court, for the convenience of distrihuting
sujiplies; and cotton, corn anil heef were
purchased hy the county for the relief of
soldiers' families, and every measure was
t;iken to nuiintain them during the war.
In April, iStio, the court ordered one half
the accounts of soldiers' families, when
credited, to he paid in county scrip of five
for one, and the other half to he [)aid out of
any other moneys as soon as they should come
into the hands of the trea.-,urer, under orders
from tlu! coui't. It was further ordered that
two-thirds of J. D. Doak's account he paid
hecau.-^e he had heeu ki-eping a soldiers' liomo
much longer than other kecjjers of such
homes.
' ' i"
.:-:■;, -
i.h..
V. 1 ,
■.■•'■
i. I..II ,
i .■.:;
.« :
•'■•■■'■■( ■
•.il. ,i
,> ' .•
""-■"■"J
■i,.->l! V . ■:
,.)../! 'l /k: ^: •..■•• ,^0'r• ' ..)' v.- ./■
M '
■ii""
.l,i. ,i.-n .,..,,. ,,.,., J,....
^;.U. ^ t.
■ -jv;,... Ill .. jji.. '■/!■; .,; h;'. I'd; 11 - 1 ' ■ ".i s i-i.n j!. jiiiv J ..IJ ii'
Ij.ov, ' ,;^.M
J'iiiaij <
AND HILL COUNTIKS.
'I'luMu aro no iniiiutus of [jroceeiliiiffs be-
tur.-ii April uiid yoptoiulHT, l.S(i5; tliL'se
\s,'vv llir lii-bl li\u iiioiifhri af'aT the tenuinu-
ti..M III' thu u-ur, di.si.-.ln)iisly to tlic cau^r
«l,i.-li ha.l l.ccn bO liL-artily cs|,.Mi.e(i by Hill
c.MHity.
I'KOlJiTE C'OOKT.
'I'liu lir=t voliiiiio of tlio proiiate record
•• Hill County CiMirt. At a regular term
of the Honorable County Court of Hill
Coiiiity for the transaction of probate bufii-
iiL>s, whicli was held at the house of Jaines
II. Dyer on the 27th day of June, A. L).
l-ioli, present, the Hon. James H. Dyer,
Chief Justice, and (!. N. lirooks, Clerk of
duid Court.
"Ordered by the Court, that letters of ad-
uiiui>tration of the estate of K. S. Wyiiian
Iv^rranted to .Martha Wyman.
•• Ordered liy the Court that James Chap-
iiKui, J. K. Davis antl l^sijuire Kichardson be
and they are hereby appointe.l by the Court
u|iprai.-ers of the property which were of M
S. Wyniau, deceased.
■■Ordered that Court is adjourned until
Die next regular term of said Court.
J.VMES H. DvKit,
Chief Juatice.
"The estate of E. S. Wyman, deceased.
Filing of application on the tenth of June,
1^53. There waB tiled in the County Clerk's
oliice of Hill County, the application of
Martha Wyman, praying for letter, of a<i-
ministration of the estate of E. S. Wyman,
deceased.
"The estate of K. S. ^\^ymau, deceased,
(irantingof letters of administration. The
applicati.ju of Martha Wyman, tiled the
lenth of June, ISoli, prayin;; for letters of
adniinibtratiun on the estate of E. S. Wyman,
deceased, in the words and figures following,
to wit:
" State of Te.xas, (
IlilUJounty. ( To the Honorable Judge
of the Probate Court: The underbigneJ,
widiiw and relict of E. S. Wyman, deceased,
would respectfully represent that the said E.
S. Wyman dejiarted this life on the 2tUh day
of January, 1S53; that he died without any
will or testament known to the petitioner;
that there has not been any administration
upi>n said estate. She therefore prays your
Honor to grant her letters of administration
ui>on the estate of said E. S. Wynuin, de-
ceased, at your ne.\t term ol' your County
Court for jirobate business, and as in duty
bound will evei- pray.
M4KT11A Wysian.
" H appearing to the satisfaction of the
Couit that the notice required by law had
been given by the Cllerkof this Court, where-
upcui, on due considei'ation of the premi.-,i'S,
it is oi'dered that letters of u(.l ministration of
all and singular the goods, chattels, rights,
moneys, credits and ell'ects which were of E.
S. Wyman, late of said county, deceased, be
grunted to Martha Wyman, upon her entering
Luto bond, taking the oath jirescribed bylaw.
" WhereUfH.n said iMartha Wyman entered
into bund, with James Chapman an.l Harry
Skiles securities, conditioned that the said
Martha Wyman shall well ami truly perforin
■.VtV,M\r; S\\\\, i\f.K
,ni (..« n'..>U l^
:.■:_' .IT£U,_.:r
'
■'■ !:.■ ;..!!!■!
UV .!r|i
/. luii;')
■; ! 'ui/)
!Ii!(
IIISTOUY VF JOJIiWtiON
iill Ihc <iutits icjuiivd (,r lirr as surli a.liiiinis-
tnitiix; ami tliu sai.l Martlia Wyman alio
took the oalli [.iTMiil-r,! l,_y law: Said bond
is a|,pi-oved liy tlu- ('..nil and onlcrcd to l.c
liKd, which was dune accord inj^dy. W'licre-
thc[.-aid] iMartha Wymaii in pnrsuancu of
the statute ill such case made and provided;
and. it is further ordered that Ksqniro Rich-
ardson, William J. (!nmniiiis and Janius
Chapman be and they are hereby api)(jinted
appraisers of the said estate of E. S. Wyinan.
•' It being made known that William J.
Cummins was not willing to act as one of the
appraisers, wiiereupon J. 11. i'Javis was ap-
pointed in ids stead.
'• At the July term of the Honorable Court
of Hill County. The Court met at the house
of James II. Dyer. There being no business
in Court, the same was adjourned until the
2'Jth day of August, 185^.
'• August term of the Honorable J'robate
Court. The Honorable Probate Court of
Hill County met at the house of James II.
Dyer, on Monday the 2'Jtli day of August,
1S53. Present, the Honorable James H.
Dyer, Chief Justi.'e, and 0. N . i'.rooks,
Clerk, b.rsaid Court.
'•.Now, on the 2'Jth day of August, 1S53,
is tiled in Court the inventory and appraise-
ment of the property of the estate of E. S.
Wyinan, .h'ceased, wlihdi inventory and list
is ordered by the Court to be spread upon the
record, which is in the wonls and figures fol-
lowing, to wit:
"A list of the propi'rty belonging to the
pstate of Iv S. Wyman, deceased."
Here follows a short list of farming and
lioiisehold chattels, amounting to about
$l,r)(K), and then the minutes concerning that
to execute a new bond within the liiiiu
prescribeil, Mrs. Wyman was supplanted by
the appointment of William C. Mcgee pro
ttin., under wliose administration a portion
of the juoperty was 6old and accounted for.
At the January (1854) term the court or-
dered that the chief justice and Mrs.
Wyman jiartitioii among the minor heirs the
lesidue of property e\em})t from forced sale,
wliich amounted to $170.
The next case recorded in the probate min-
utes is that of Dorothy Newby, at the October
(1853) tei-m, praying for letters of adminis-
tration upon the estate of her deceased hus-
band, Jonathan Newliy. This was a large
estate, valued at many thousand dollars, four
slaves being a part of the proj)erty. William
C. Megee was appointed guardian ad/iic/uto
to I'epresent tlie heirs in the partition of
said estate.
At the same term letters of guardianship
were granted to William E. Anderson for the
persons and the property of the minors Nancy
Anderson, James Anderson, Margaret Lee An-
dersoii and Matilda A. Anderson. It does iiotj
clearly ajipear from the record what kinship
lors had to th
uardian, but tin
guar
were probably his brotlier's children, as their
]jarent.-i were James and Eo\ina Andei'son.
The amount divided between these children 1
wa^ ;?l,12l.
.\lso, at this term,K'ttersof administration
were graiiled to Martha A. Tilley, upon the
fi.-'-i
' i) '
•■■•li. li
vA. ,■. ; .r' ,.
'-
.il-r.)
•"">'■■
■ ...;..?
^ '■ v
,i.w..-, .'.'-.
■Jii..
■ u\u
■/ 1 ,'
ii ■;/,'.!
. jlii-.y.AJ .■
UA J
1: 1 -J-i
■./I ■■■'i 111.): I. ri-u-.- •iMilJi;.i ei ji i'lu
(,.p ■,il ;■ .1' .M, •; .1' li/'fi ol rciiq/iil'..
M/V/ ., M i,,.,j„|.
.iXn HILL COUNTlh\'
i'^l;il.; of hur deceased IiusIkiirI, Duiiiils 11.
hotel, he heard the judge direct the sheriif to
Tillry.
ai-rest him aiul hold him suiiject to orders
And tliiis tlic. record pmcoeds, tlio court
from the Navarro county authorities.
fciltiiin; alinost iiioiithl}', with ^M-eatly increas-
The tirst judge of this district was —
ing' liu.siiiess, ill pace with the growth of
Frazier, appointed from Marshall. Jewett
|><i|iidatiiin. J.)iiriii>,' tlie tirst year ami a lialf
was the tirst regularly electeil judge, and he
the followinfT estates, besides those ah'cady
presided a number of years, lie was a resi-
iiieMtioiieii, were administered uijon: AVesley
dent of Freestone county. The ne.\t man
Carroll, I'restoii llartgraves, IJenjaMiin W.
I'ryor, James K. Foiler, J. 1). Allen, Samuel
elected was John (iregg, who afterward went
to the war and was killed before Kichmond.
(.'raft, James 0. Overstreet, John Hart, Mary
Judge Nat. M. IJurford, of Dallas, was upon
Kuck, M. J. L. Allen, a minor, etc.
this bench for a time;' suli6e(juently John ti.
DIM'KU'T COUKT.
The lirst term of district court held in the
county was presided over by the Jlon. John
(ioode, since the war, and conspicuously Hon.
Jo Abl)ott, the present congressman.
AGUlClTLTUliAL.
II. licagan, at jiresent United States Senator,
Ki:souucEs.
who had exchan-cd with Judge Jewett, the
The resources of this county are mainly
rei,Milar judge of the district. An amusing
agricultural and pastoral. It is, howc\er,
incident is related of the juilge in connection
su especially ailapted to agriculture that the
with his arris'al in the town, which was com-
pastoral interest is being rapidly sticceeded by
posed of two or three board and log cabins.
the aoricultural, and the time not remote
The judges and lawyers in those days traveled
wdien live-stock of all kinds will be confined
on horseback, and carried their libraries and
to farms.
wardrolies in a '• pair of saddle-bags.'' When
Three-fourth.-^ of the area of the county is
the judge ha<l got within about live miles of
supericir faiining land, while the remaiiuler,
to\\'u he was overtaki'U by a stranger, who
with very little t'xception, is not unproduc-
was riding a splendid horse, and was fully
tive. The staiileagricidtural productions are,
e(^uipped acc<M-ding to the custom of the
corn, cotton, wheat, oats and millet, l^ye,
times, lie engaged the judge in conversa-
barley anil many of the best hay and pasture
tion, soon bei-oming quite confidential, and
grasses can be succi'ssfully grown. Of ciu'ii,
aiiumg .,ther things related that he had the
there is proilnced from twenty-five to fifty
day befcjre kilhil a man in Navarro county,
bushels ])er acre; of cotton, from one-third to
and that he thought it best to take a " little
one bale; wheat, from ten to twenty-five
trip'' out west until -things blew over."
bu.shels; oats, fr.mi lifty to seventy-live hush-
Imagine the sni-prise and consternation wIk'ii,
els. The |iroduction of rye and barley is
as they alighted from their horses at the little
about e.pial to that (jf oats, and the yield of
.,,'; ;, ...i. ■_. -■/! .;. 1,1, I .,-,',: <ii..bC ,.•...,/ .l,..i..(I.:
I .;;.:■: :^' .■ ^'■:": J ;;1 . ■:.,!.. {•,.■>•. v., A) . ) -...;i, . ,yi:
il. ■'<, .,.1^'.' U-'il oil':
1-1- •■J„i 1' !■ MIOJI
lll^TOUY OF JOHN, SON
inilk't :nul t-uiuo uf tlic cr,-,,.
^'rarly M tlie vc-ctaliles ^
l:ititinlf are jjioduc'Cil in abiii
Kiapc.-, 1
(_•^ IS (.noiiiious.
iinimui to tliis
limce. IVaches,
II' titlier I'niitb
aic bu^.■c^■^^flllly grown. Thf ,-oil u]jpeiiit; not
to l.c adapted to the growtli of ajiidus, an in-
l't!i-ior (juality only liL'iiig prodnuud, at con-
biduialilii fxjiunsu and lalioi'.
The facility with which the lands are cul-
tivated is unexcelled, it only being necessary
tt) jiioperly pi'epare and seed them, and at'ter-
wai'd to condiat the weeds liy surface plow-
ing, there beiny no pestit'erous grasses to
contend with. It is a well established fact
that by the use of iin])roved agricultural
iinplements-~sulky or •• riding plow.-," and
cultivators, which are now being extensisely
used, that a larni hand can produce, with
comparative ease, of the leatling productsi
fi-om one-third to one-half more than he can
successfully harvest and uuirket.
In the sparsely settled portions of the
county, the stock range is but little impaired,
and horses, cattle and sheep are well sustained
during the whole year by the native grasses
on the open range, except during excessively
cold winters, when much stock die from ex-
po.-,ureand want of proper nourishnient.
I'UOIU'ctions.
It may justly be claimed for Hill county
that theie are lew otiiers in which such a di-
versity of production is practicable. Already
our people have in a coubiderable measure
availed themselves of this ailvantage and the
tendency is Siivy projwrly in the direction of
a much greater diversity. Thert' are sectioUb
of the State adaj.tcd only to the cereals;
others only to cotton and sugar cane; others
only to stock-raising. Jlere the toil and
lapted to all the great
cult-
ural staples and nearly every variety of prod-
ucts, including thobc suited to higher m.rthern
latitinles as well as to semi-tropical climes.
While cotton is still to some extent king,
wheat, oats, corn, soi-ghum, broom-corn, mil-
let and various kinds of grasbCS also grow to
great perfection in the same fields alongside
of the great Ileecy staple. Ahnost every
neighborhood has its mill for the manufact-
ure of sorghum syrup. Vegetables of every
description grow to great perfection and
nearly all kinds of fruit are produced. These
all lind a ready market in IJillsboro and the
smaller towns, and the largei' cities which are
in easy reach. The average yield per aci'e of
the various products is as follows: Cotton
between a third of a bale and a bale ; corn, thii'ty
bushels; wheat, ten bushels; oats, tifty bush-
els; rye, twenty bushels; sweet potatatoes, 100
bushels; Irish potatoes, 100 bushels. The
average yield of millet is two tons per acre;
])rairie hay, one ton. Sorghum hay, which
is destined to become an impoi'tant product
in this section, will with little work yield an
average of eight tons. A careful estimate
shows the average \alue of the j)roducts
named to be as follows: (!otton, $12 per
bale; ct>rn, lifty cents j)er bushel; wheat, sixty
cents per bushel; oats, thirty cents per bushel;
rye, $1 ]>er bushel ; millet, $8 per ton ; hay,
$5 p(U- ton. Of sorghum, which yields an
a\ei'age of two barrels jicr acre, the value per
barrel is :i;20. During a portion of this year
111!.
fl.i"- VMK^.
0i.(.nv|,i.
11 '. 'u . , ■■«.■'
hii,. vli^^i «!>;;;: :li
i! ib.Jvr ,8.. I*.'
(>v)i ;, V ..i.
.. . I ,.; i.-:.. n
. ^-.^ I . ,.■).. •;, ' ■■„. „•,.., li j..(;
,■ .; ,i ■■ ■'.:■ .'i .r^;l';:/.' i ;.. 1', , jih-;i(V
AXD HILL couyriK.
rum suUI for as iniioh fis seventy-live cents
|HT bushel, anil other productions also sold at
hi^dier jiriees tliaii are given above; but as a
general averai^^e, takin^^' year after year, these
lii,'iires are correct. iJuth the Irish aiul sweet
[icitatoes grow to great perfection; also cab
lia:;e, peas, beans, turnips, egg- plants, col-
lards, lettuce, beets, carrots, onions, parsnips,
sal.^ify or vegetable oyster, sweet corn, cu-
cmnbers, okra, pumpkins, radish, squash,
loniatoes, mustard, water-melons, c;uitaloupes,
etc. Asparagus, cauliliowers and kale also
ilo well, though they are not generally culti-
vated. Strawberries of an excellent quality
can be grown whert^ ihe soil is tandy, and
raspberries do well, but as yet little attention
has been given to the cultivation of these.
Peaches, plums and other varieties of fruits
are grown in great abundance and of tlie liiiest
qualities. Cirape culture is also becoming an
import:inl industry, and this is undoubtedly
destined to be a great wine-producing section,
the climate being as favorable tor some of the
best varieties of grapes as that of C'alitbrnia.
Api)les of good quality, being of the earlier
varieties, are produced in cunsiderable quan-
tities, while apricots and |,ears ah-.j thrive
with jiroper care. The tropical fruits, such
as oranges, lemons and bananas cannot be
produced here. In most cases farms ai'e
rented for parts of the crops produced. (Own-
ers usually retpiire one-1'ourth of the cottori
and one-third of all grain as a rental share,
or if a niduey rent is charge<i it amounts or-
dinai-ily to $IJ and from that to $5 per acre.
In either case the renters furnish teams and
all imphmients Inr the cultivati>,n of crotis.
Tile average wages paid i'arm hands is -i^lo
per month. AVages for cotton picking range
from fifty cents to §1 per hundred pounds,
though seventy-live cents per hundred is the
average.
DOKS F.\KMIXO I'.W IN HILL COUNTY?
From the Ilillsboro papers of different
dates we extract the following instances:
Harvey Ohenault, two miles north of ilills-
boro, has B71 acres in his farm, of whicli last
year 250 acres were cultivated as follows:
Cotton, 140 acres; corn, 85 acres; oats, 25
acres. The yield was: Cotton, 70 bales, at
$47, i;3,2'J0,— an average of $23.50 per acre;
corn, 3,400 bushe's, at 25 cents, or $10 per
aci-e; oats, 40 bushels jier acre, at 22 cents,
total $220. The total value of the crop on
the 250 acres cultivated was $4,400, or an
average of $17.85 per acre. Any one will
see that the above figures are very modei-ate.
As to the amount of labor rc(iuired, it may
be stateti that one of Air. (Jhenault's tenants
cultivated 15 acres of cotton, 27 of corn, 15
of oats and about 2 in millet, and did all the
work himscit' with the exception of some
little cotton ho hired picked. The tenant
made on his cotton $31.40 per acre, dividing
this eqmdly with the landlord, who furnished
a jiair of mules and feeil foi- them, besides
tlie implements for working. Other land
Mr. Cheiiault had rented bruuglit him $7.00
per acre as rent when he received one-iburth
of the crop. He says a man can easily culti-
vate at least twice as much land in Ilill
county as he can in Tennessee, from wliicli
State he came; and as he has been a planted-
.ii ..,.;•„, ,.,;.
.J;.l:.,j
"T-'
1 1 1-1 u'
i).V,
.,.,'... ,: .!• : ...xV ,;.... ,v, ; '■-.•'•> :.,ll to ^.!-["q V-'l ii'.};;
■ i:; ! 7 'i/ ' ,(...'!... .1!; I' A' M.;i ,-t.) ./Kj;;j,.-- ^,.!li.;„u r
. ■ I- ; '' '. I ! !'. ,,;i !. ,..!■! 1: I r.i'.iA- si ! l'.;'! y>.in.ini ti 'l i
.. .: J,, -. ■■, .Ml. 7'>{j ,1i ..,< 1.1;;. .' ,.i„v( I'lu; i."r, i>) ^li'iDi-
240
UlSTdUY OF JOHNSON
ill Ixitli Sliitcs
^^^lye
that :i
tfUlnl,L.tUMtj.ul^re. Ih.
r hus to ilo lioru is to
jiiaiit, sow aii<l reap; liu lioes imt "fool"
away tiinu and money in I'crtiii/.in^r. A Hill
• unty
docs nut know what fertilize
aru I'XCL'jit troni what ho roads or hoars of
thoni in tho older States. With this niatoh-
lo.-s, inoxhanstiljle soil, six foot deep, all that
IS iiocessary is to j
to i)ut th
' P'-^'l'
elbow grease on the plow and hue handles.
On tho above dosoribod farm no stook is
raised, exoopt a few hogs for home use, and a
few good Jersey cows for milk and butter,
for home consumption. A nice young orchard
supplies tho family with all tho fruit, siioh as
peaches, plums, apples and a few pears. Most
of tho orchard consists of peach trees.
A deep well, with windmill, supjilios the
placi', both I'osidence and stuck, with an
abundanco of good water.
'J'ho tiguros j;ivon in tho aliove sketch are
not guess woi'k, but are taktwi carefully from
tho owners" books, and tho same re.-ults can
bo secured almost anywhere in tho county.
/. T. Hubbard states that ho got olf tho
train at Itasca in 1SS2, -with a family of five
and jusl ^fHO less than nothing,"- thai is,
ifliO in debt above all assets. Tlio lamily had
tlioir clothing and houseki'oping outlit, and
Mr. Hubbard had $20 in cash, but was ijiSO
in debt. He farmed on the shares until ho
could purchase land; now he owns IbO acres
of as good land as there is in tho count}', and
has it all imjirovod and well stocked, and he
is ontiiely out of debt. 1 fo has dug it all
out of tho ground in eight years, with throe
bad crop years against him. 'J'hat is what
one Hill county man lias tlono in fiirming.
Why not others do tho same? Thoy can if
they will, barring sickness an<l accident that
wonld render one a ciijjplo.
0. K. I.ee has 20(» acres throe miles oast of
Hillslioro, where he located in Noxombor,
1888. Tho next spring ho broke his land
and put in about, forty-live acres in cotton
and twonty-two in corn. He gatliered twonty-
threo and a half bales of cotton, which aver-
aged him ,s50 a bale. The total yield in cot-
ton was #;1,125, — an average of $25 ])cr acre
for sod land. His corn made fully fifty
bushels to the acre, and brought him 50 cents
a bushel. Ho did not sell it on the market at
that price, but sold it •• on foot,"— in other
words, he bought cattle and fed tlioni the
eoi-n. He purchased tifty-sevon two-year-old
cattle, paying §10 a head lor thojn, and after
feeding sold them for $22.50 a hea.l. One
acre of cotton, of which a careful account
was kept, yielded GO'J pounds of cotton net,
— that is, that much cotton was left after the
toll had been ],aid at tlio gin. It sold for 10
cents |n'r pound, or the acre yielded $ti().UO.
This was ^od land, as all tho land was that ho
cultivated that year.
Another acre was caiefully jjicked and a
strict account kept, and it made 575 pounds
net, which sold for 'Ji cents a pound, and
thus the acre brouglit its owner tho nice little
sum of $51:.(J2J.
Tho above are tho exact figures, as kept by
Mr. Lee himself. He bougiit his farm for
$20 j)or acre, and tho cotton lamJ brought
him $5 per acre that one year nnjro than it
cost him. The corn land, at tho i-ogulai'
V.v',.- v,> \,
: .i: ■•, ,!*,., 'I'jo:" )..|r -"i.'.L (jil .'•ji:','-' f /li: V/os .|i|>;:ii
I'd- l.!.K .V I ,,: • / .,',:\:i:n _i iii ,.'.:'■■!: l-.M -m,... ,,..;■:
■...t -.i .; I oi -,.;..') ^yiilw v,u.i.i i.. .'-•...:,: Mil sjil ^! ;ii->
■■■v ..! -,.-" = ■!' ,. L.I.in'i i ■•. ■;..■„; -.0 ^U:y< ■■A S,:.lh liM i! L, r, ,•, -l ;u
-lii'-- :x .,: ..'i'l ..■•V:r i : .^-i-i- .'il ;!.•■« - ),r!'. !,|.U, 'ji'l lU sih'iil
'-^Ji.^i iiioib, i:i Kh) i.-- i !,;.;' ili, jr.;, i., I- vi.( I;,,.. ,;,;,, ,,.,,,,,,, ^,, ,;
■{■■H ,„■' ,;...i7.:
i;ui..:r: ;/..n ,ol
Jmhm ■.„i, .--i jijii^
i- 1-^v ... -,lj 1.,
life ; aii .'tl*. r»'..i'^
'■ ■ ■ '"''^ '-^"i •■■"^
.: :,„:; i.vJ.iioi /i7
.. ;.,.:- I ■; 't-i .i;'il. U(
• J'-i' ; bj. I... :! '. i.w_/ «J( lo
^j I
AND lULL COUNTIES.
ill! iivura^^a^ of $12.50, or cucli ;icni caiiiu
witliiii $7.50 of paying for itself the first
}T;ir it \v:is ciiltivatei]. At the same time he
ha,> uurking for him a yoiiiij,' luaii reeently
frciiii North Carolina, iiameii James llensoii,
who receives iiere $15 to $18 a mouth the
yi'ar i-oiind as a farm hand, while in iiis native
titate he could get but $8 a month! Also, on
account of the absence of crab-grass and olhei-
obstacles liere, ho says that one can till sixty
to seventy-live acres in Hill county as easy as
twenty acres in North Carolina.
Jn the above aeco\int there was no reckon-
ing of the expenses, lint every farmer knows
wliut they are. Mr. I.ee and a "chunk of a
boy " did all the work e.xcept in cotton-
picking time.
After reading the above ac,co\ints, a wealthy
merchant in Illinois remarked that such re-
sults were not jiossible in Ids State, even on
more e.xjjensive land.
A Hill ci)iinty farmer I'eccntiy informed
the Mirror tliat twelve years pr(-.'iously a
young couple were in his em^iloy, and started
out in married life together witli only a ])iano
and a cow and calf. The y.mng man r.Miled
id
whrn h
of him 11)7 acrt'S at $() an acre, in three an-
nual payments. The money was all paid on
or before it was due. In the course of twelve
years he had, besides this good farm, eight or
ten heail of good horses, forty oi- iifty head
of cattle and twenty to twenty-tive hogs, a
comfortable, good liouse, and was out of debt,
— except that twenty months afterward tlie
last ]iayrnent on ninety eight acres slioidd
fall due.
Jfr. Wallace rcuited of the same man sixty-
seven acres of lirazos river land. lie had
for his hidp his wife and two sons, aged only
eight and ten years, lie planted thirty acres
in cotton, thirty in corn, two in oats and five
in millet, lie began his crop with two poor
horses and a debt of $250. To plant the
crop he had to buy his corn on credit. Soon
alter ]jlanting his corn his horse died and he
had to Ijuy another. When hi& crop was laid
l)y he worked at odd jobs all through the hot
days of summer. In harvest he paid out
only $15 for help, and had the following re-
sult: Foui- tons of millet, GOO bushels of
corn and seventeen liales of cotton, averaging
5.']0 pounds to the acre. He paid every dol-
lar he owed and had $200 left.
K. Severns, who owns 110 acres on Hack-
berry creek, abiuit six miles southwest of
llillsboro, with the help of his two boys at-
tended a crop of twenty acres of cotton and
ten of corn, during the season of l88'J. The
cotton yielded twelvefiales, and the corn forty-
bushels to the acre. In the fall the average
price paid for cotton was $50 a bale, an.l for
corn 25 cents.
Another source of income is butter aup
eggs. Mrs. Severns makes 500 to (500 pounds
of b\itter a year. This little farm therefore
brings in about $1,200 annually. Of poul-
try, cows and horses. Air. Severns has a fair
number and in. good condition, besides a nice
youi
?hard. lU
His corii-(
nodel and scientific
jiroof against mice
'"'■'"■<'^'i
ij.i„.,-,.l :AiK.
•/fi.'j i>:j» ,ai...; ..' ' \u.n 'j'u;: >iil iji'j.l -i'i lui j -^iia.''>i" i.jwii v;i'i'0( ^ ii;iil -lul i^ni.M/,/ -. :
W!--ir -jiiiil' ■■^'Jtt;. , jli 31. : .'_ ivj-i biui )vl"i'j I .-n .iiiH- mnil .'!->nt«i; .«<•;!. .-,iO il.-'jVl nt,
'....'j v.Vvi :\i:n i|..-i;» t!»i* f;ir;'x' • I; :i-A;\.'A :: > ' ■ -i'' ' '• ■■ ■" ■ ■•' ' ir i;liiii; Imi.'.- •)i-.')'(
:.|. i;„.^ r r.vi'o ^V ',ij'. .i 1,H/ .■,,.-':■..!••!/. ^ ^. .,'.;.!::■■'. M.I i J,.; M1..J-. nil .,t>;i>i
■'i( ' i/j. ii^l. jfci. 1, nil! iriLfj 'i:' p. i'li '!'•,■;);.. I 'J/- i'-- ''J.V'U *;. 'j ,.y;j:' - h •^fjt! '. 'I ;.f^ii<
... ' ■'.■... ■: j\-< '.. :.:■:':■ -.■.ji. ■ •,■ \ ' ..' . . ,_ «. ^ . J <.i— 'ill' ,|- -vi •. o/'' , ■ -i-i'-j-- "'.
. > ■'•|..(/i,
l.wr,v; •., i„..„i
■,'(.- I , .v:-.-
UISTUUY OF JOHNSON
:uiil rats. His place id systenuiticaily siip-
jilicd with hydrants, 8u that water is remleml
coiivcnieiit lioth at tiio huiise and at the hums,
and morytliing is neatly arrani^ed.
The Jlillshoro Minor, as well as the Re-
fcctor of Deeeinber 17, 1891, gives many
other examples equally encouraging, mention-
ing in particular G. W. Garrett, who settled
near Woodhury in 188G; JeiF. Pritchard,
near Ilillsboro; John AVeicli, who located in
the western pcu'tion of the county in 1S72;
J. iM. xMcDaiiiel, near IV..ria in the fall of
1809; James G. Ploward, near Teoria in
1880; J. W. Howell, near Ahbott in ls,^2;
G. L. Martin, eleven miles west of Ilillsboro
in 1S70; Tom Ellis, twelve miles south of
Ilillsboro in 1880; V. M. Files, in Files' val-
ley in 1852, and is now one of the wealthiest
men in the county; 1!. II. Turner, ten miles
southeast of Ilillsboro, in the autumn of
1878; Thomas IJ. Smith, near Afassey in
1887; J. 1). Kendrick, near Vaughan in 1867;
J. B. Harris, eight miles south of Ilillsboro
in 1890; J. A. McGowan, n.^ir Ililhsboro in
l.b7(J; W.T. Morelaiul, near Kienzi in 1878;
W. K. Oarr, four miles east of Ilillsboro in
lS8(i; 11. (1. ,l,,rdan, near Abbott in 1S79;
John Mc.Vdams, a mile west of Ilillsboro in
1890, etc., etc.
Ko^enbaum Bros., dry-goods merchants of
Ilillsboro, having .several farms in the county,
testify as follows: "We bought a farm of
about 1,200 acres, three years ago, in Hill
county. We arc merchants, and bought the
land for siK-culation. We rented it at $-1
j)ur aci-e, cash. The tax on it has been about
$80 per annum, and it has not cost over $50
]]er annum to keep it in repair; and it has
netted us about 18| per cent, interest on our
inve:-tment, and is now worth 25 ])er cent,
more than it was when we bought it. We
have no trouble to rent it. We have always
had demand for more land than we hud, and
usually rent it in J idy for the following year.
We figure — not imagine, but cipher it out
carefully on the slate— that a farm of 100
acres, bought at §20 ])er acre, payable in ten
yi'arly e^ind paynn^uts at (i pei' cent, interest,
and rented at $ 1 per acre, will more than pay
for itself, interest and all, in six and a half
years.
"Last year (1889) the tenants made on an
average seven-eighths of a bale of cotton per
acre, which averaged $51.50 per bale, or
$15.00 per acre. If we had rented for one-
fourth of the crop, as is customary, we would
have collected $11.20 per acre."
Hill county land is considered the best col-
lateral in the United States next to Govern-
ment bonds, and loans upon it even at a small
rate of interest are eagei'ly sought tor by
numei'ous loan companies. This makes it
especially desirable for s]>eculation, as it
gi\ I's (.me an opportunity to use the most of
his investment at a much smaller rate of in-
terest than he coidd borrow the money on
any other kind of collateral.
CiUAI.N ANlJ COTTON.
There have been raised the followiiu
pro-
portions of grain and cotton to the acre in
Hill c.Minty: Gorn, 70 bushels; oats, 115
bushels; millet. 50 bushels; wheat, 32 bush-
els; cotton, 1,180 pounds; These ligures
1.,..
,-j;iitji{fMi -t^.K- -L-jrai: ■-■ V'
■ ' ">. "■ "■■—'•.■'■•I '■ '
anom Hi// ?.••.;: i<i| 1/^ ii, !■
!'• yia 111 '1;; '/i(« ';'>■. >.U\i ,
> , ^ .. ;;;>.i 1.: y.;...-..,V7 ;.■./,
. ^■ ,:; ■■ ..11 ..I \nii- ,i;r;^I i:i 701
IK
I I : 11.1111.'
' ■■--. .. •■ . . .,:■:' :HT>J
.•i ': .7/
n' (i():.:
,[ '..uUii
. •■"t!
.V3i:ll'.':
'■. .q-'
-'1 b'!;.l
i^-,-
'"•'^'' '"^4
!irUiii;
•...,) Oi'.?
AND IIILL CUUNTIKH.
.in: lakcn IVoni tlio 18S5 report of Vv.Cnu:
Dc'lKiiaiicre al.oiit six niilus north of llill.->-
Imro. (iood unimproved land was tlien woi'tli
aliuut i^'i an aerc; improved, al)out !t!30.
At lliiklmro tiieru was shijiped durin^r the
f-eabon of 18bl)-'<JU, 15,000 hales of cotton;
IS'JO-'UI, about 19,000 hales; and 1801-2,
pnihahly about 22,000 or 23,000 bale.s.
In l.S8ti tlu' lirst hale of cotton was
l.roufrhi to the Ililhshoro market Au-ust I],
by IJ. II. Taylor and Cieor^re W. Watson,
fiom a jioint about nine miles Bouth, and they
received 10 cents a pound an<l a preuiium of
$14.50. In 1891 the lirst bale was brouoht
by 1\1. ]''. Crockei-, near Abbott, who stdd it
at 8 cents per pound, and obtained a
premium of ^51.10, from the Ilillsboro bus-
iness men.
In the fall of 1891 three sons of U. 11.
Taylor- -Arthui', Sid. ami AVillie,— aged re-
spectively ei^diteen, twenty and twenty-two,
picked in one day a total of 1,525 jjounds of
cotton, quitting work wlien the sun was an
hour and a half hioh! In 1890 they had
made a record of 1,-185 pounds in one day,
and their father gave them a premiuni of
$;5 lor their e.vidoit.
October 13, 1891, J. V. Hampton, who
lives on kittle A.piilla creek ei-ht miles west
of llillsboro, brought into towi] a specimen
of a cotton jilant grown on his place, that was
six feet high, ten feet wide and liad 300 fully
developed bolls. The main stalk measured
two inches in diameter, and hail six laige
diich waslar.'erlh
an average stalk of ])rairie cotton, and co
taine<l an average of thirty-four bolls earh!
Every lujll on the bush excepting one was
fully di-velo]ied. This particular species is
known as "Long's Im])roveil," and is the re-
sult of eight years' e.\pei'imenlal work on the
jiartof.Mr. J>(jng, its original projiagator. It
is strictly a Hill county production, having
never been raised outside of this county.
Mr. Hampton has, in addition to several
acres of this cotton, two jiarticular acres,
which he cared for as a s]>ecial test of the
claims made l)y Mr. Loi.g for it, and as a re-
sult Ml-. Hampton says he will never raise
any other, having already picked 1,027
j)oiinds from these two acres as a first pick-
ing, with a ])rospect of gathering a total of
5,000 poun<ls from the two acres. This
patch was not planted until June 2.
The "Hill County Ginners' Association"
was partially organized May 3, 1880, but we
failed to learn further particulars concern-
ing it.
CORN AND OTUKK I'KOUacTS.
During the month of .May, 1889, as the
-eonle were
neir pr(
u-oducts
xhibition of
dace, J. M.
Moore, near Woodbury, furnished a beet fully
seven feet long and ten to tweh'e Indies in
diameter! He also raised red corn the j.re-
ceding year averaging sixty-five bushels to
the acre. (i. W. Powers, four and a halt
miles north of llillsboro, raised white corn
wliicb averaged by weight eighty bushels and
sixteen Jjounds to tlie aci'c. (ireeii clovi^r,
sown by Dr. J. W. Spalding on the black
land iarm near Brandon February 8, 1888,
K.lf '.,,./|l n.nl
,.: (,,;
. :<.■
.i; ) J
L .K M%
y 'i !-; .(.J
ilj
!li):i" .-
■■'1 ^'
. ..;. c }■:
'[['
.■' ..-^Ti; u
1 7/
i';<i' .'.;
■■■ ■',...-■
/, ^ur,/\:
-<•...,:-!,
. ^..JVl^.•.,^«
I 'ii; -;W' line ".<; iCi.ij, . ,.., ;v,((iJhuii ,iiu)|.ji>
■ i.,,il ■/• ,•- '.^ \ .i :^ :;..: ^I<!ll J! I'1-.i IIIO.I
' ; .!,(:;/■: .;••:') -fj'l U/jf
: .-,, , . ,.: ■ ., ',' ■ ."'I .VA :,'>■ );'>
. w .,;. :■ . ■ ,; ■■■.'' .,,;/. -.iJ-U .1;. .'i mI
S ,i, , „,- . I ::■ ,;V/.:-' ; ' ..i.' 'l^.-iJu-l <; t,,
.•M!MI ■•■,v1
IIISTOHY UF JUUNaON
wa.s cut May 8, ISS'J, and liy tl]e28tli of tliat
iiionth was six inches liif:;li. A sample of
cluvci- hay rroiii that farm was [jreseiitod
Ka.ii^hes, raised by J. V. Kecd near i51anton,
were ,-i\ iiiciies in diametei- and fifteen indies
lona
Tlie "Hill County Beekeepers' Associa-
tion" was or-anized in the sj)rinjr of 18S6,
with li strong- meniber.^hip. In their meet-
ings important practical questions were jirof-
itably discussed. T. 15. Smith, president;
JI. A. (Joodrich, Becretary.
LIVE STOCK.
This is not now what was formerly re-
gardeil a stock counti'y, though the stock
interest is becominj^ far more profitable than
it was in tlie days of extensive pastures and
larne herds of Mexican ])onies and " long
horns," or Texas cattle. The tendency now is
to inijiroved stock, and the stock interest is
still an important one, though subordinate
and (-nly auxiliary to that of agriculture.
At present the supply of every variety of
stock is far inadequate to consume the vast
j.rodm-ts ofKi-ai,,, ^,H'd, liay and pasturao;e, .-o
abundant in every portion of the county.
In fact the growing and fattening of stock is
the key to ^ucce.•^s Wtv the jjroducer, as every
animal thus liecomes a vehicle to carry the
jiroducts of the farm to market. At present
the general grade of Hill cnunty stock will
coiiipaiv. favorably with that of most others
in Texas, and the purchase an,l br.HMling of
horses in the county, such as Norman,
Clydesilale, J'ercheron and Knglish draft, run-
ning ami trotting horses. The supply of
jacks is limited but tiie (juality is good, as
most of tliem are either imported from Spain
or are the olfspring of the Black Spanish
jacks, ])roduced either in this country, Ten-
nessee, Kentucky, or Missouri. The (juality
of cattle is also bei.ng constantly improved,
and we now have the red and roan Durham,
the Devonshire, Jersey, Holstein and others,
all inter-bred with the native cattle, and all
constituting good milk and beef cattle.
The general grade of hogs is as good as can
be found anywhere, and such a thing as dis-
ease among them is hardly known. The
average values of stock are as follows:
Draft horses, $50 to $100; saddle and
buggy horses, $75 to $125; mules, $75 to
$125; unbroken ]ionies, $20 to $25; a cow
and calf, $15 to $50, while blooded cows are
worth $50 to $75; sheep, $2 per head.
March 3, 1890, occurred in Ilillsboro the
most brilliant display of horses atid jacks
that has ever been presented in Hill county.
The number of animals and the splendid
maniuM- in wdiich they were prejiariul for the
exhibit testitied in an unmistakable method
the great intei-est of horsemen on the occa-
sion. There were heavy draft horses, the
graceful saddlei-, the swift-nioving trotter
an.l the thoroughbred. The jacks were well
represented by imported animals and (;thers
that traced their descent from some Spanish
■ -■raiidee of their race. Several individuals
ine stock arc eonstaiitly becoming more gen- j am<jng the splendi
f siicidniens wi
many
Is of fine
thousands (,f dollars. Tl
ley were
..,,V1 vm! •.:r,.,i-
h ^r■..■u.
1 . . l.n, . . V. I
.-■ri ,i ■ ' I, ■'
-',.o1-. ■>:•; 'J Hi;! k. ■,<!>.;•' V U'i'iiTug oil?
-r!.. hi 1,1.1 i.iJO'MUl !..il 'i-H' .H../oT..(
;■ ^1 y' i: •_ M]i;o) .il ; l.h J.lhri... ; -j'j ii ,^■. ':• -iiii'
AND HILL COUNTIES.
all line, 'lur tliiTC was nut ii coininoii liurse ur
jack oil t'.'C gfuiiml.
Kcid llros., tlie .■ntcrprising liurscineii uf
II,ll>li.,r.., ha.l Uicir tlnvr riplcii.lia (iiaft ani-
mals tli.M-c, au.l thuy iiiadu ii bliowin^ that
coiiM Ijunlly l.u excellcl at any laiiry st.irk
sliow ill any cdUiitry. ('liaiiviii, the inijunt-
fd I'Vciich Jralt hursr, was greatly aduiireii,
1111(1 was by iiiaiiy cunsi. lured the tinest liorsu
uf the kind on the grounds. Texas (ilory
was there in all his "glory." lie had taken
the hliie i-ibhon in several Ktates in the
North.
K. I*. Lyncii was aiiotlier prominent ex-
hibitor, having at the grounde Wa&iiington
Denmark, I'.ay Donald, A. S. Collier (half
Norman and half Leviathan) and Lilli|nitian,
the binallest stallion in tlie county, live years
old and weighing only 1G2 ponnds! It i.s
said that he boiiglit him of a eamper on the
creek near town, paid 40 cents to have him
shipped to I'randoii and iio cents fur
a man to go along in the car and hold the
horse to kee]) him from blowing through a
crack !
Other liorses and jacks were Duplex,
owned by W. (i. Duncan and Mr. I'usey ;
(irovcr Cleveland, by J. S. Wuu.lward of
Massey; Muntro.-e, by J. C^. Simmons near
Itasca; Young ]\Iadrid, an imported Spanish
jack, by A. K. Fancher; iJeecher, by Dr.
T. K. Dean of Itasca; Kolhuid Mc, by W. V.
Snow; Ned Lee, by J. E. JMartin on Ash
cre.'k; Charley, by U. C. IMathews; Prince
William, by S. IL (Ihuke of I'eoria; lilack
ihiwk, by ,1. D.t J. S. Terry; i'oiter, by
A. J. C)'Neal near Itasca; William, by T. ().
Wells near Itasca; Prince, by Dr. J. R. Har-
rington of IJrandon; Archie, by J. B. Wal-
lace near Peoria; Starlight, by J. D. Miller
an.l l:. I!. Porter; Cenoral, by S. 11. Clarke;
Vulcan, by \V. W. (ilasgow; Hannibal, by
James llagaii; Clyde, by Weatherby &
Swemlell; King Cieorge, by J. F. Pritchett;
Donmark, by J. S. Terry live miles south of
Hillsboru; Master Clyde, by L. F. Malone
six miles southeast uf llillsboro; Joe, by
Kusk Joindan; John, by I. C. Pyerly livo
miles north of llillsboro; Dick, by S. K.
Junes near Peoria; liutton, by G. L. & J. M.
lliggins; Lawrence, by ]\Irs. iihoda Sehotield;
and Wanderer, by Weatiierby A: Swendell.
FAKMEUS' ORGANIZATIONS.
The Patrons of llusliandry established a
number of granges in this county during the
years 187-i-'78, a few of which still exhibit
some vitality.
At present the Alliance movcineiit seems
to be the most lively, especially as its votaries
ai-e inclined to take part in politics, which
somewhat disturbs the regular old parties.
There are now forty-seven alliances in Ilill
comity, and one district alliance, with lieiul-
(piarters in llillsboro. These lodges com-
prise about 300 members. The organization
is a vei'y secret one, and scarcely any particu-
lars, even names uf leaders, can ^be obtained ,
fur puldicatiun.
POPULATION.
in till' iiiatt((r of pojiuiatitm the progress
of this county lias been almost marvelous.
l''r(jm a spai'sely settled territory a few yeara
1 /::■': il»
! ::j "/cjiii
. '■ I'
,.f/.Mii
) .1, .;>
insrORY OF JOHNSON
ago it lias liocoiiio one of tlic most populous
Hubbard (formerly Iliibbard City), in the
counties in the State. The census reports
southeastern corner of the county.
^'i\'e the lollowing statistics of its popula-
Irene, eight miles south of Mertens, in the
tion:
eastern part of the county, near the railroad
In 1S70 7,453
to CorsicaiKi.
In I'-.-.ii IC.Wi
In ls!)(j 27,5«3
Of the ahove, 25,429 are white, 2,U'J
Itaaca, ten or eleven miles north of Ilills-
lioro, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail-
colored, 3 Indiana and 2 Chinese. Thus we
see how nearly the whole population are
white Americans, in contradistinction to
road.
llassey, six miles northeast of Abbott.
Mount Calm, on the St. Louis & Ai'kansas
mobt northern communities. The ^rreat body
of the negro iiopuhitioii of Texas are in coun-
ties further south, esjiecially near the coast.
Hill is the tenth in the State in order of
railroad, southwest of Hubbard.
Osceola, twelve miles northwest ot Ilills-
boro.
Peoria, six miles west of Ilillsboro.
population. The total of the State is 2,235,-
623.
Tyson, live miles south of Aquilla.
liienzi (formerly Halfway), twelve miles
west and a little north of Hubbard.
POST OFFICES.
Vauohan, nine miles southeast of Hills-
Following is a list of the post ofiices in the
Whitney, in the western ])artof the county,
county:
Oil the raili-oad and on Noland ri\-er.
Alii)ott, ten miles south of Ilillsboro, on
Woodbury, eight and a half miles west of
the ]\[issouri, Kansas t^ Texas i-ailroad.
Ilillsboro.
A.juilla, on the Texas Central railroad.
A mail stage makes three trips a week
eight miles southeast of Whitney.
from Ilillsboro to Yaughan; daily to Wood-
iilum, northwestern corner of the county.
bury, Osceola and Covington; daily to Peoria
Jllanton, fourteen milcb northwest of Ilills-
and Whitney; three times a week from Blum
boro.
to Derden; daily from Itasca to Files; three
Brandon, nine miles east of Ilillsboro, on
timob a week from Abbott to the po^t otiices
tlu^ Cotton licit railroad.
eastei'ly; three times a week tVoni A(piilla to
iiynum, lifteeii miles northeast of Abbott.
Tyson; and three times a week from Whit-
Cosington, eight miles west of Itasca.
ney to Fort (-ii'aham.
Dei-deii, live miles cast of Blum.
Files, six miles northeast of Itasca.
TIIF COUNTY'S WEALTH.
Fort CJraham, on the i\oland river, seven
TAX V.M.I i:s.
miles northwest of Whitney.
From the tax assessor's rolls Un- the year
llillbboro, near the center of the county.
1«.S3, we take the lollowing exhibit:
:>::'.va,\ AC ".i'.'Vfv.viv
ih;... Ic)^■<. ■' .-.H.,..o -.,.i'l
l<. h.Ll^iJuib .iiiv.iit
(»!')1t>K"t -I'll
•8<I'.M 'i^ .!lt( I SO;'..-; .i'.iv-:iifj -.. ooj ,vjci.jJ'
l-:/)v;.lf,..,i --.ii.n •>7's.v' ,.!!-;■>■>'.)
; iioii
o;v,r III
nl
Hi,i; .•.;!i./' oip. ur::^/.i; .^vf-it; ..lit til
.J. !'■- ■ . -. . ''h./i"')0!' i.'i .9, .;v'. ■ >(;; :"■ 'Ohr//
.[>:;., ,';::•, :f!.;n ir'.ili;;) 'i
iND lULL COUNTIE.
A( rt-s of hiiui remlered fur taxes, 3S3,55C. . .*l,S;jcl,.J':;0
Cily hiul town lols TAAM
\\ .1-..I1S uiul cillier veliii'lt's ;)8,(IS0
To.iU, iiniili'iiieiils and nuujliiiiery 'JlfiM
llorai'S aiid mules, ia,4Ui head 411,r)l'U
Tlio assffisiiiciit fur 18'Jl gives tlie CoUow-
iiij^ tigiirea:
ITEMS. Kesideut. Non-Kes. Total,
Land $;i,ll;!,0'J5 !i;G71,515 |3,7S0,110
City and town property. bSU,y4U 121,225 1,001,505
Maniifactiired articles. 100 100
Carriages, buggies or
wagons 123,ltJO 123, lUO
Jlanufactured tools and
iniple'uts, m'cliy, etc. 05,980 Go.'jyu
Steam engines 42,.'ii0 42,a60
Horses and mules.. . 074,840 5,840 080,080
Cattle 222,.5U0 28,900 251,400
Jacks and jennets 13,305 13,305
Sbeep 7,005 200 8,105
Goats 700 700
Hogs 18,755 18,755
Goods, wares and mdse. 442,800 442,81)0
j\[onpy on hand 234,100 284,100
Miscellaneous property. 220,075 10,045 230,120
Total $0,007,305 $837,725 $0,005,190
Unreudered roll (land and town property). 453,800
Uailroads. telegraph and telephone lines. . I,008,2!i0
Grand total $8,307,270
Assessahlo [jrojierty for 1800 7,038,370
Gain for the year 1801 % 428,0;)0
Coiibidei'iiig tliiit tliu asbussiiieiit is only
iihoiil t\vo-lirtii.s of tlie feal viiltio, wc si'o Uiul.
tiie t(jtal viiiiiatioii of ))ropc'i-ty in Hill eutiiity
imi.'^t he about $20,000,000.
The .special school la.\ a.s.srsse.l for 1891
bliows the foilowi.i- a|,[)orti(Miinent: Wilke.s,
)t;(lS; Willow, !J5l21; Moiiiilairi Sjiriiigs, ,'i;;iiirj;
Dourrherty, ^liO; Union Valley, ^:2l3; Itas-
ca, 801'J; ()^eeola, 8S7; Bois D'Arc, $;15-i;
Monntain View, ;?SS; Ahhutt, %:Wi; Mc-
Ciowan, .>?47; A.iuilla, ;?15il; (irove (h-cek,
$102; Jiraiulon, $812; Union Hill, $14ii;
Monnt Calm, $;J13; Kicliinond, $55; and
Huhhai-d, $145.
State ta.xes are as follows;
For general purposes 15 cents on the $100
For school fund 12}2 cts. on the 100
Toliil ...27)2 cts. on the $100
The county levies are as follows:
Fur road and bridge purposes 10 cents
For general purposes 20 "
For inteie^t and sinking fund 10 "
'I'ol'il 40 cents
Total State and county taxes, 07J cents on
the $100 valuation of property in the county.
Scliool districts may levy special taxes not to
exceed in any district 20 cents on the $100
valuation for the support of free schools,
erection of school buildings, extending leinfth
of sessions, scliolastic ago of pupils, etc. The
total State and county taxes levied last
year, including special district school taxes,
amounted to $08,S2(J.09, and for this year it
is $70,4 24.02. The entire cost of the new
courthouse will he $87,145.
FIN.\NOI,\I,.
The bonded indebtedness of the county is
as follows:
Courthouse bonds $82,500
Koad and bridge bonds 11,000
•biilbonds 13,000
'l'"l"' $I00,,500.
.1/ /'.
T".;; ,1
.■.<>;0 ;i.^;;>^
,!^V
.,!;.. li
'!■.
^i;:^
,:..>., ..■■;*; .:,'
sH
■Xil
•;i
Bio! <I-«.)i lo.'K, ,;
'>.■» .'-n TfUi ?•:.'>"<
yt
.,.,■.-■. -.i.r
0,'i ..;
.-,.'.?•> 0:
. ^v 'iqllir; n-
))'i>
Ui;. ' .-1 U'T;
" ■)■■ .
...|i:i
r; I.-itsn'j-u ■n/'l
(>.■>:: 3
(10 *li!
Lull! S"'i' •
li
.4 .c.,.t.:oi .^?
■' /ij'fci "^o '^ »i
'•
-:.,•-
, -yA
1. ! lil]fW 0 •
■('
v^ 'iv=- . L-^^
'''r/i.
i''>'i -,.;
'[ ':l,rr.l5i i^.'V-rOf C',^.i.r|/:| '. . k;i..l
iinoaloni (if>ii,i.v));lUUi»14
t'("J,t'.0 . .Mti.'Cll.V'Ul.Blli'-'iiiiili
f--.t"A- -J'.nJv, ■. .11/1(12
UliJ'r-S i- K;,B..' i-Oi.Pi.-i- .^UU')
i';}t:,l-! . ...'iiourtei f T« iiiDiil
:-.?)?.•.: n-ji(iB
J .'iri;i i-iinv.-
,Kf..
oO
. . , ..iiml no
•{"Uol«
'••-■"-^■' ^'
I'j-^ijM.
ft,
..T
.^ir U", l.-ijibag
iiU
,!.., .■,-.:.. il'
in){
Ijiv 'nvi -.i!., ■>... ;.(!n,;- //, ,ii,
■,_i'-.ii'..i : ,1- iri.ijiiuii'.Y [uh'i oil:
248
UISTOUT OF JOUNSON
Of this iiMlclitcliiess, the 8UIU of $21,500
is hold iiy tho county in trust for tlic .'^chool
Cun.i, uikJ of tiic hiilance iihout !t^l(l,()UO will
In. |,ai,l Ihi^ yrar. Tlio rroi.t.MV.l indcM..]-
ncss i> ,-i;2,0(IO, hrin- hahinrc iluu on thu liro-
jiroof vault.
The exliibit of receipts, expenditures and
indebtedness of Hill county for the years
IS'JO and 1891 gi\e6 the foUowini;!; o;rand
totals:
RKCEIPTB.
1890. 1881.
CollecliDii oil the rolls of tba two [ire-
cediiig years $32,459 $30,713
Occupation taxes 2,821 3,823
Sale of poor farm proJucts 2,778 1,193
Fiues aud forfeitures 2,745 1,793
Jury fees 129 173
Stray animals CS6 435
Deposits by road overseers 16
Sale of courthouse bonds 33,5U(( 33,500
State school fund 15,000
Miacelluneous 462
Totals $89,a81 171,031
EXPENUITIIKKS.
General fund $10,783 $8,766
lluad and bridge luud 12,170 9,268
Pauper fund 2,724 3,772
Jail 3,711 4,001
Jury 5,281 5,101
Courtliouso 53,417 3U,0U2
Commission on siultiiig fund . 19
Totals $88,0B0 $67,020
The last exhibit compiled by the deputy
county clerk .riveH also the fo!lowiii>^r items:
INUKirrELINlCBM— COUUrllOUsK liOMJS.
To McLennan Co., school fund $10,000
To Shelby Co., " " 10,000
To Kobertsou Co , " " 10,000
To Aiihliii Co., " '■ n.oOl)
To Hill Co., " " 3,5U0
To City of llillsljoro, i
To Slate, Bcliool finid.
i,ono
42,,'iOO
Total $Si,00U
These bonds bear inlcrest at bi,\ prr cent.,
payable annually, and duo on or before I'JOi.
Jail bo.nds, to Hill county scliool fund,
$13,000. These bear interest at seven per
cent., payable annually, and due 1901.
lioad and biidge bonds, to Hill county
school fund, $11,000. These are at six per
cent, interest, payable annually, and duo in
1898 and 1899.
Other registered indebtedness, $8,470.
The Hill county poor farm, in account with
Hill county, -rjveb the following credits for
1891: 28 bales of cotton, $1,085.88; 628
bushels of oats sold, $237.50; corn and oats
sold, $32.70; 30 beef steers on hand, $750;
balance, $694.50. To the credits here aiven
micrht be added 23 bales of cottou burned,
worth at the time $35 per bale. Were it not
for this loss there would have been a balance
in favor of the j.oor farm of $110.50.
The cost of the new courthouse, $83,000;
W. 0. Dodson's commission as architect, $1,-
020; clock and bell, $1,325; furniture, $1,-
092.90; vault in clerk's office, $-4,G00; fence
around the yard contracted for, $1,500; car-
peting, $150; other items, about $800 To-
tal cost of courthouse, $97,000.15.
LAND VAI.UKS.
Land values have been advanced to an
almost marvelous t;xtent during the past few
years, and in many instances persons who
have |iurcha.sed within that time would not
to-day sell llie land at four or live times the
k,dK.... ,
,0.':. n > -^f
.l^i^U^ IHifilflSlJ
.(■Mil bn« l,,.;i
AND niLL
jiriai paiJ for it. Ol' eoiirso tlio prices of
Uml.i iiro gos'eriR'ii in :i great measiiru liy the
aiiioiint of improvements they contain and
thrir proximity to towiL-^ an<l convenience of
railrwa.l laciiilie.s. Witii six lines of railroad
riirininii; ihroiioh tiie county there is vei-y
little laii.i in it that is not conveniently ac-
c-ia^hle hy means of railroad cominnnication
mid transportation.
The present value of farniintj and pasture
hmds range from $5 to ^^O, according to
locution and imjirovenients, and there can he
no safer or nioie remunerative investment
made in Texas than in Hill county lands.
While purchasers can now realize most liberal
jjrotits in rents, the greatest advantage con-
bi.~ts of tiio continual anil certain a[)preciation
of values. i\ fair indication of the values
of land and other property is shown by the
conijitroller's report of taxable values. This
is the best ovidenC(t, for while the tax rcdls of
a county fail to show the full value of the
jtroperty, owing to the dispusition of people
to render at the lowest figures that will be
received, yet as a comparison of the relati\'o
values in dilferent tectious, the ollicial assess-
ments can be depended upon as a test, the
tendency to render at the h.west permissible
tiguies prevailing to no greater extent in one
section than in another. The following com-
parative statement of the assessed values for
tlu! past six years will give a better idea of
this county's growth.
Year. Total Valuation.
lH«i5 $4,615,ti2U
188G r.,(;(;2,;j5()
1887 7,UW,liJU
GOUNTTES.
MO
1888 7,305,050
188'J 7,572,020
1800 7,088,370
The iiu;i-ease within six yearsas thus shown
annmntsto mtarly three and a half millions
in taxable values.
RAILROADS.
Six lines of railroads ti'averse the county,
three of which are trnnk lines. These three
are the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, St. Louis,
Arkansas & Texas (better known as the Cot-
ton Belt) and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe. The tirst name<l traverses the center of
the county in nearly a north and south direc-
tion. The main line of the Cotton Bolt route
passes through the southeast corner of the
county, its diiection being from northeast to
southwest. TheCorsicana and Jlillsboro road
is a branch of the Cotton JJolt, and doubtless
will eventually be extended further west.
The Atchis(;n, Topeka & Santa FlJ from (Jal-
veston to St. Louis and other northern points,
[)asses through the northwestern corner of
the county; and the Dallas and Ilillsboro
branch of the ^Missouri, lvans;is 6c Texas is
completed.
This may become the main line of that
road. 'J'he Texas Central, wliich is the prin-
cipal branch (jf the Houston lV Texas Central,
connects with the latter line at Bf-emond,
thence extending north west to Albany, Texas,
and )iassing thn.Uigh the southwestei-n portitui
of the county.
All of the above named lines of railroad
are actively in operation, giving the county i^
total railroad mileage of 00 1-5 miles, valued
.•■'V."'.TAV'''''s I'
. -u ,!•.- .-I!
if-,' I.;-l). > .,*;.■.■ T
.U: ■■}■■ *MI (..I •;■ (Ij, v,'.,| -■: ,i
.llVMV.Jj r. lUliiu'^
)j«i,!i. . .-' illl
niSTOIlY OF JOHNSON
on tlio tax rolls, ii very low tstamlard of valua-
tion, iit $882,1^0.
The lirot railn.a.l which the citizens of
llill county aiine.i to have l.uilt was an ex-
tension of the St. Louis, Arkansas iV Texas
railroad, which eventually turned out to be
the present '-Cotton licit " road. At a rail-
road meeting held in Ilillsboro March 18,
1877, $20,(K)0 was raised for tlie purpose of
proceeding witli the construction of this
branch, thus '• in.-uring " the buildini^r of the
road, John I). AVai-ren leading, both in mak-
ing the most entlm.-iastic speech of his life
and in heading the suiiscription list witli
$2,000. The citizens of Woodbury co opor-
ated in this move. Jiut we notice nothing
more in the papers concei-ning this enteiiiri^e,
and conclude that the effort died down.
During May and June, 18b(), sevei-al quite
railroad meetin(i;3 were held in Ilillsboro, in
order to devise ways for building si railroad
from Dallas to this place. At the lirst meet-
ing a committee consisting of C. E. I'hillips.
J. K. Patty ami 8. (J. Ujjshaw was appointed
f the
eitv,
to visit Dallas and consult witli ^
Missouri I'acitic otlici,-ds then i
The laller agreed to have 1 hoi r engineer run
11 line within the next few week.. While the
oliicials di.-elaimed any thought of building
a road to Ilillsboro, they seemed to be better
po^ted as to the route and distances tlian even
the committee itself, which fact indicated that
ally
ad
nvestigaled the subject.
During the bummer the .Missouri Taciiie
Company proposed to build a road from Dal-
las to Ilillsboro, if the j)eoplc of this county
unte.iual to $1,()()() a mile
d.l
within the county. At a mass-meeting of
the citizims a committee was ajipoiiited to
raise subscriptions, consisting of Iv 13. Stroud,
v. ['. Fox, A. J. Jasper, (). .M. Welborn and
J. "W. GoUedge. July 17, that summer, the
committee, then consistiiig of O. M. Wel-
born, John D. Warren, C. D. Phillips, S. C.
Upshaw and C. M. Dunham, had an inter-
view with the Dallas committee, with the
result that lIillsb,,ro, Waxahachie, Milford
and Lancaster agreed to give the right of way
and depot grounds, while Dallas agreed to
furnish whatever bonus might be necessary
to secure the extension of the road. At the
same time J. it. Thompson and E. 13. Stroud
were successful in soliciting subscriptions for
the extension.
Put, as is always characteristic of pioneer
railroad enterprises, the heavy undertaking
seemed to drag its slow length along, defer-
ring iiope until the public heart is made sick.
The following paragraph from the Reflector
of August 19, ISSG, is (piite illustrative of
the rcbults of interviews with railroad men
ai such times: "There has not much been
dime during the past wei'k in the way of
pushing Missouri railway matter.-^, iVom the
fact that nothing coidd be elfected until Mr.
Dowhind had accomplished the duty assigned
him, —that of going over the road and report-
ing to headquarters the result tl/ereijL He
was in the city on Monday last, havino- come
through from Dalla.s by way of Lancaster,
Waxahachie, Italy and Milford. We met him
at the oflice of Colonel John D. Warren, and
found him to be a very clever gentleman, but
wo elicited nothino ddinite from him in re-
■)(tl i: II''. ]■)/ ] I ,: . ■,, , 'i:
■J. 'ill o, 1.1 . , ; ,1 ,x(1 J ;
.•'j';i:j ifc.if •jIC
AXD HILL COUXTTEM.
t;:ir.l t.. the hku] otlier tlum he was pleased
uii.l ilelialite.l with th.' route. lie hnwever
^ai.l that hisinstnietions were to do the hest
heeould and rei),.rt."
•• I'lea,-.r,l uith the route and will endeavor
to do soiuething," was generally the result of
all interviews with railway ollicials.
Dui'ing the next week the ahuve couipany
a-reed to reduee the Buhsidy of $1,000 a mile
to "6^0,000 on the Ilillshoro and Dallas
proposition;"" this amounted to a fall of ^'M-
UOO from their original proposition, which
was §1,000 a mile and the right of way.
Colonel John IX AVarren then led a subscrip-
tion li.st with $2,000, followed l>y Adam
Files, $1,000, the Ilillsboro deleoation at
Dallas, $5,000, etc., Other points coming in
until the amount reached $37,000, within a
few moments. Dallas agreed to raise $30,000,
hut was slow in that movement, and finally
failed altogether. When one or several j^laces
do their duty, it seems hard that they should
he made to sutler on account of the dere-
liction of other ]daces, especially when a
promise is broken in so doing.
Immediately after the above failure, the
.piesli,ui of building the >• Sout hu estern ex-
siou" was revivc.l.
During the following January, (1887), the
- Ilillsboro, Dawson, Southeast & Northwest
Uailroad Company'" was chartered, Colonel
AVarren at the head, and in a few hours
$30,0(10 was pledged. The incorporators
were J. D. Warren. A. II. Files, (). M. AVel-
horn, O. T. Lyon, C. E. Phillips, 1!. I). Tarl-
ton, of Ilillsboro; and W. F. Osborne, (J. AV.
Younger and J. J. Stan.s.dl, (d' Dawson.
OlHcers, J. I). AVarreu, president; G. AV.
Vonnger, First vice-president; M. D. Knox,
second vice-pi-esident; W. F. Osborne, sec-
retary; and J. li. Thompson, treasurer. Mr.
AVelborn was a])pointeil to raise llillsboro's
share, $21,000, vvdiich he soon accomplished;
and Mr. Osborn saw that Dawson raised her
share. Authorized capital stock, $700,000.
March 11, it was determined by various
committees at Dallas to comijlete the south-
western extension, and chartei'ed their com-
pany as the '-Dallas, Granite and GuH'
liailway." Tlieii' line was to come to Ilills-
boro and go on further west.
December 1) tbUowing, the St. I.ouis, Ar-
kansas tV Texas company completed their
line to Ilillsbcjro, aiul started regular ])a3sen-
ger trains February 2, 1888.
The railroad from Dallas to Jlillsboro was
completed early in January, 18SJ1, connecting
witii the Missouri, Kansas .^: Texas. The
trains commenced running during the latter
part of the month.
May 18, IS'Jl, the St^ Louis, Arkanas &
Texas railroad passed out of the hands tif re-
ceivers and tht^ name changed to St. Louis A
Sonlbweslern railwa;), and for ^hort is called
the "Cotton licit." Their i\c\v depot in
Ilillsboro cost about $-5,000. It is a tine
building, 80x30 feet in dimensions, with
two waiting-rooins, each 22x24 feet.' It is
located in the western part of the city, just
southwest of tlie"Katy" (Missouri, Kansas
& Texas) depot.
But long before the "Cotton P.elt" line
was built, th(^ Missouri, Kansas \. Texas
rushed their line from north to south throuuli
in.-^Tni:y of jonysoy
.uiity, tliroiio;li IIilL-lK.ro an
..].uning fur pa.ociinor I,,,.
Sunday, April '^t;, 1881, with lour daily
Altu-rtlirr, the ritizcns of Hill county
rai.-rtl about $200,000 for railrouds, including
right of way and depot grounds. For the
Cotton IJelt they raised Sl5,000, the right of
way and depot grounds, an<] other l.onu,-, the
total equaliui,' ahout ,^00,000. For the 1 )al-
las liranch, the right of way from Jlilfoi'd and
and depot grounds. For the ]\Iissouri, Kan-
sa.s A; Texas, tlie right of way and depot
grounds. The Te.xas Central, running through
AVhitney and Aquilla, obtained some local
aid; Imt the branch running through Hub-
bard, none from the citizens of this county;
nor did the Santa Fe, running through the
northwestern corner of tiie county.
January 20, 1S87, a rippio of excitement
was raised in lIi!Uboro by a few minutes'
visit from the noted Jay (iould, who stc[iped
oil' the train liere, asked numy questions re-
ilroad mattei
iud sc
jioints, but answered but vei-y few questions.
The foregoing is necessarily a brief sketch
it at K-ast serves its main jiurpose, namely, to
give ci-edit to the princii)al cajiitalists who
did their duly in bringing railroads into the
county.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school in Hill county was tan"-]it
near Peoria, about 1854, by Judge II. W.
Yomig, iiowof Ilill.slioro. During the second
Hessi(jn of his scliool he had aliout 100 stu-
dents, many of them coming from a distance.
IJut it is interesting to contrast the school
facilities of those primitive times with those
of tlie jiresent. In tiiis resj.ect how the times
have changed, both in the demands of the age
and in the methods of supplying them!
In the first record of an order for a scliool
fund in this county we find the following
minute of a proceeding of the county court
heiil in December, 185C: " Ordered tiiat the
treasurer of the State of Te.xas be authorized
to pay tlie treasurer of Ilili county or his
order, the sum of i?29.1i2, amount due Hill
county under the twelfth and tliirteeiith sec-
tions of the act of January 31, 1854." This
appears like a small beginning for so great
an institution as the public school system of
a county; but there are three very important
elements to consider in such connection, viz.:
the s])rtrsity of the population, the little ap-
preciation of a scliolastic education always
held by pioneers in any section of the country,
and the great struggle they always have to
undergo for \\ bare living, under j)recariou8
circumstances which tmtail much anxiety
over the question whether they can eke out a
at all.
Of coui'se it woulii be altogether too tedi-
ous to mention all the details of educational
progress from year to year from the first to
date, and we therefore pass to the year 1883,
and glance at the statistics of that year:
No. of free school cominuiiitie.'i organized, wbile 77
" " colored 5
No. of scliolastic populatiou white 3,820
coloied i;31
No. of free schools Miaialained while 75
c.don-d- i
^U-J I ■ .!' ,('
! .■■.4:
( ,- !■..::!- tMut •!;
■-1 V- ■ '' I i ^; , -.1 r-l.' , ■-., i..,) ■( ^. .'.•/■
AND HILL COUNTIES.
Avcnigo Brliool leiiu days 00
NuiiilMT uf aludenU taught ia the differeut branches: .
Orili.igiiiphy 3,075 Euglish Giiimmar 920
It.Miling 3,000 Cunipuailioii 125
remiiunshii) 1,150 History 425
Arithmetic 2,-150 Algebra 100
ti'-"Ki-"I'l'y 1.3-'5
Xiuiihur uf leacliers who have received certificates of
coiupeteucy :
Ist grade, white male. .20 2d grade, while female. 10
2il grade, white male . .45 1st grade, colored male. 1
;id grade, white male . . 5 2d grade, colored male. 1
Avorago salary per mouth, white male |40,00
" " white female ^5.00
" " " colored male 45.00
Total amount of school fund e.xpeuded $20,013,00
Now look on this picture: Aceonliiig to
the lust i-eport (1889-90), tlicTe were in the
caiiuty, outside of llillshofo, lltil.haid and
Wiiilney, ---which control their own hcIiooIb
iMdej)endentlyol'tlie county — ninety-six bcliool
dibtrictb; lUU white bchools were t;iHu;ht and
ei;.,dit colored; eigiit Bchools were o;rade<l ; one
id a hi^h bciiool; ntmiher of Beats (or '-sit-
tings'") for ehildreii — white, 0,855; colored,
100; average school term in months — white,
5; colored, 3.9; nuinher of pupils of scholas-
tic ag;e, white, -1,822; coloi-ed, 109; nnndier
under scholastic iige (under eight years of age)
d, white, 511; colored, 11;
iiiinilier over scholastic age (sixteen years),
white, G98; colored, 1; average daily attend-
ance—white, 2,850; colored, 115; nuinberof
piijiils of school age who could not read when
Ihey entered school— white, 9i;9; colored, -10;
niindjer who conld not read when they left
6ch(.iol — white, 202; colored, 5; ntiinber who
could not write wh(-n tlk^y cnteicd wliKe,
1,515; coh.red, 81; udicn they left white,
447; colored, 30; number who did not under-
stand the four fundamental rtiles of arith-
metic when they entered school — white,
3,292; colored, 120; mimher who did not
when they left -white, 1,917; colored, 8G.
Number of impils instructed in geometry,
32; natural philosophy, 88; physiology, 45;
civil government, 22; Latin, G; bookkeep-
ing, 8.
Number of schools visited during the year
by the superintendent — white, 90; colored,
G, — one visit to each school. There were ten
teachers' institutes held during the year, with
an average attendance of twenty teachers.
N timber of male teachers holding first-
grade certilicates, 31, all white; second-grade,
35 white and 4 ctjloreil; third-grade, three
white; female, lirst-grade. eleven, white;
second gritde, 22 white and 2 colored; third-
grade, four white and one colored. Num-
ber Of teachers holding dii)lomas from
colleges, 8; and 2 held diplomas or certili-
cates from Texas normal schools.
During the school year closing August
31, 1891, there were 4 new schoolhou.ses
built, at a total cost of $1,970; G5 school-
houses are frame, 1 brick and 1 stone; 07
are for the education .if white children and
2 for colored; GO ^choolhouses are reported
as in good condition, 5 fair and 2 bad.
Total \altie of public schoolhouses and
grotir.ds in the county, white, $31,470( col-
ored, §100; value of school furniture and
apparatus, $4,1G6 white, and i;20 colored.
In this regard there has been great improve-
ment.
1\dal amount paid toachers from the pub-
lic-school fund, $27,313.50 for white, and
1 oil;..'.
.a ;Ui'.','^, ^•
■II- ).H .,.•( ,■,; : .r .L>or:. ,!;6 , ■^.,!v/ ,\>>,iUjit.j ytllw/i'Ui
:Lv:'y •• t ' \ f "■ " -i -1; i^l ) "■•:■ -liKl.'.-'i-i-J ■!-) /y ■;oi(iIllilf
8h.|(UJ
,•>«' . - I ;•). -!>■) ...vj ;r )".v)/i!v.' -!^ •■ta I. nuMif '(oil)
■ ^ ■ , , .-!,■ ;■ , ,>.. ■; ■ IK .1.,:'.!..', ,:,|0J
254
lIlHTOHr Of JUIINHUN
*l.(i()'J for c.loiXMl; from juivati- tuition,
^■J,1U5.-15 iuY \diitc, ami iioiir lor colored.
A\L-ia;.'i: ^:llaJ■y ]-fr inoiitli, male teaelieri,
white, .S51.4i.l, and eoloreti, sU.50; for fe-
male ti-aelier.-, wliite, 5^87. olJ ami colored, $35.
'I'lie averaourateof tnition per montii of pupils
ol' rieliolastie age, as per actual attendance,
i^l.OO for white, and $2.25 for colored; aver-
ai,'e rate of tuition jiei- month as per actual en-
rollment of pupils of scholastic age in scIkjoI,
Ij^l.il for white, and i-^l.^'i for colored.
Amount app(.irtioned jter eajiita, iiO cents.
All the school lands are sold.
In 18U1, sixteen districts supjjlement the
public fund hy extra Kical ta.xation, thus
making the terms longer ami providing het-
ter schoolhouses. White and colored chil-
dj-en receive the benefits of the public-school
fund alike, ultliongh they are taught in sep-
arate schools. White teachers are enjployed
for the white chihlren and colore^! for the
coloied chihlren. The term in the counti-y
di,-lri.■l^ i> Ii\mi thrcL to nii:e ni.'iitli>. ai
■V tax, tl
lyei's
re op,
MII.ITAIJY.
Hill county did her whole patriotic duty
during the last war, as will be seen from
the facts enumerated in tiiis chapter. J\Iost
of the tiirie during that unfcjriunate .struggle
a numlier of men were absent from this
county and in the army ecpial to the whole
number of men sufficiently able-bodied to
Ije subject to military duty.
Conjpanies A, of the Twelfth Texas Cav-
alry, and l),of tlie Nineteenth, were made up
entirely from Hill county, and these served
count of which is given on page 1 17, witli
additionahvminiseeucesby M . L. Hickey, of
Peoria, on these pages. General AV. 11.
Tarsons was a lawyer and merchant of Fort
(irahani before thu war, having been oi.e of
the first settlers at tliat point; but he iuid
also lived in Cleburne, Waco, etc. In his
brigade were also companies from Ellis and
Jolinsem counties. Some of the citizens of
Jlill county were members of tlie Eighth and
Eleventh Texas ix-giments of cavalry, wlio
ac(|uitted themsehes on the battle-field with a
higher degree of bravery and cool judgment
than was ever known in the history of America.
The last light occurn;d March lS-20, 1805,
under command of 15rigadier-(ieneral Cuiu-
mings, at JJentonville, Nortli Carolina. These
two regiments, with 100 guns eacii, charged
upon and whijipeiJ the Seveiiteentli Army
i ' Corps of tieneral W. T. Sherman's army ami
eirove tiiem back over two miles. This noted
corps had flanked the left of the Confederate
force an<l got in its rear under cover of dark-
ness. Cummings' brigade, led by Colonel
liobert Henderson, charged upon them at 8
o'clock A. M., and fought them until -i i-. ii.
The Eighth and Eleventh Texas Cavalry were
led by General Harder. The %hting liad
been vigorous on Sumlay, the ISth, and Mon-
d.iy up to late in the afternoon, and Tuesday
morning it seemed to be more vigorous than
ever. It seemed that the days of the Con-
fedei-acy were about to be numbered; but for
all that, of all the daiing acts of war it is
■,'l .. .-.\-,'>
hn'-'. lu I.'.
'I ^■■
h\iJU-U'' I ' -o ■ t-
!■. ,- :, i; ilA
.1'!.. ■ :;1
/...I.
,1 SMii.J'i .1 ' ■■ i<U. .1;\IU^ ["jm ■•.• ■•:.', .inn
li ' I.J ,-.,,.. 1,., v>.' I
■■.U It, A
ND HILL COUNTIES.
llioii^lit that iioiiu exc'olled tlie bnivury uinl
OH, I, „■,-.. of the Tuxiiiisuii this occasion. With
the f.iiniliar •• i-chci yell," with bayonets lixe.l,
Mill with tirm deturiiiiiiation depicted in each
pnldicr's coiuitenauce, tlie charge was made;
inf:uitry and artillery seemed to strive to see
which shuuld gain the most honors on the
licld ot' 1-attle.
Al'ler the fight, when the commands
marclied hack to Jolmston's liead(iuarters in
1.11 ojien field, the remark made to the boys
hy the ge-neral will ne\er be forg(jtten: "The
|iageb of history will never be able to tell of
the military feat which you have achieved for
yourselves on this occasion." General Har-
der said to the tieorgia boys, " 1 feel proud
of the boys of the Tennessee army, — jjroud
uf the bravery and honor which tlusy have
exhibited in this battle."
Itol.L OF COMl'.VNV A, TWELFTH TEX.VS c:AV-
ALKV OK DKAGOONS FOK FOUK VEAltS.
(KINDLY KDltNlailEb IIY M. I,. IIICKEY, OF l'HORI,\.)
(A number of the names are probably mis-
spelled.)
J. ]'. Wior, first Captain, killed at Yellow
Hayou, May 18, 18()1.
(i. W. Ingram, First Lieutenant, jironioted
to Captain, IbG-i.
11. 13. Smith, First Lieutenant.
J. M. Jackson, Second Lieutenant.
U. W. Calhoun, Third Lieutenant.
W. Carmichacl, ex-J.ieutenant, discharged
18G2.
U. W. 'Laylor, ex-Lieutenant, dihcharged
18G2.
J. M.
\l. A.
J. Ci.
li. J.
w. c
J. p.
F. G.
W. L
N. M
ifcDcason, bugler,
(ice, l''irst Sergeant,
lleatherford. Second Sergeant.
lIcKi
iney.
row, Fourth Sergeant.
OtKeld, First Corporal.
Heath, Second Corporal.
. IJooth, Third Corjjoral.
Carver, Fourth Corporal.
;'lin-ATES AND EX-0FFICEK8.
D. Archey, transferred 1862.
W. M. Archey, transferred 1862.
W. Adkins, died at Ilouston, Texas, 1861.
W. U. Arnold, transferred 1861.
C. T. l^ooth.
li. K. Booth.
J. C. fJowles, killed at l'\iyottville, Arkan-
sas, April 18, 1863.
Tom liowles.
J. G. liowles.
W. M. Bennett, died at Little liock, Arkan-
sas, April, 1862.
J. W. IJradley, discharged.
W. M. liankhead, discharged 1862.
11. I'.rown, discharged 1862.
J. F. liond, transferreil 1862.
J. O. i;urden,transferrred 1862.
J. \V. Uurden, transferred 1862.
J.C.Calvert.
Eli Case.
J. A. Calahau.
J. W. ('ook, ex- Lieutenant, transferred
1862.
W. Cox.
W. i;. (Maton, transf.-rr(Ml 1862.
J. 1). L. Crowley, transferred 1861.
,.r\.T:j:. A.UM 'IV,
^■■>\\'yifx> •ji'.jii }m!i tihj.
l>:iM.1
T '^ /. f lil',>]' '.. '.. >L' .!! I!.- ! • ■ -q^.U 'H.Mi:. i(IJ'i-l,l',-.> t(!li! ij'iiv, I .
■ '/• i,l! f!M > .'. I I >o<. (,,-v.'.-i' : ri' fi-ifi('->SS VTtJIijra In;.. ^ U>!i,' :i
a:w'.-' , ■ .]■■ . ) :. ■ '■> '-:' ■ ■ '.' ■':■>■■ •■.. Kir: ': li .ivi.l/,-
■' ''-'y'l
f ••I'liioy
■il, , 1 .Li
V, ' !;:..' -Ill .7/ .;:
.vr,:;>
256
niSTOllY OF JOUNSON
X. \:. Hariiulr, tran.-lVrrt.i l^tJS.
(i. W. Fiks, ilihcl.ar-ud ISIJI.
T. J. Files, Sr.
T. J. Files, Jr.
K. W. Troinaii, killed at Yellow IJayou,
LoiiiMnnu, May 18, 1804.
J. J. Fi\>st, tnuitiferred 1801.
A. J. Fai idler.
li. Frasier, died at Areadia, Louisiana,
18(JH.
1). C. F\>asell, transferred lS02.
James F'rasier, transferred 1801.
J.J. Gatliings.
W. C. t}uthi]igs,
V. W. (Jathings.
J. (). (ice, died at Des Are, Arkannas, 1802.
J. G. Galaliair, died 1801.
J. I). Gipson, traiitiforred 18()2.
W. M.Cireen, tranaierred 1802.
(i. W. Green, transferred 1802,
W. Griseni, discliarged 18C2.
M.L. lliekey.
M. F. lliggins.
li. lliggiiis, died 1802.
W. S. Heath.
(i.W. Heath-
Thomas Heath.
J. J. Ilolcomb.
K. A. Harris.
13. F. Iloges.
J. W. Hoges.
F. llagert.
M. Harrison, transferred 1802.
S. llillyer, transferred 1802.
J. B. Hughes, discharged 1802.
Jc-c- ni:g!:.~. d:eJ lSl>0.
J. W. JIaajilron, dcicrted liol.
J. v.. Ingram.
J. .M, Jnce.
John I nee.
C. lnet\
F. M. luce.
Joel Jaekson.
A. J. Johnson.
John Jackson, discharged January, 1803.
K. G. Knight, transferred 1802.
(!. Knight, transferred 1804.
N. Kemp, discharged 1802.
A. H. Famb.
T. B, Lane.
W. C. I>ovelace, transferred 1861.
A. L. Leatii.
F. (;. Maylield, discharged 1802.
H. Maylield.
T. More.
Thomas More.
John J\IcAnier.
J. C. McMillan.
L. F. ]\Iitchell, deserted 1803.
T. Mcliridc.
J. 8. McKinney.
J. AV. Aforrison, ex-Orderly, or First Ser-
geant.
J. E. Morrison.
W. M. Martin, ex-Orderly Sergeant.
r. n. Martin, transferred 1801.
W. L. Martin, died 1864.
S. J. Neal.
T. J. Oliphant, deserted 1803.
E. A. Face.
H. A. Face.
G. G. Face.
8C£
■jv.il !.C 1 I
i-^ni .U I
.Ei'Xfl v. 'i
.!.,..:■, bill. I^':l.
..:■.'.;>» J-I .A I
c:W\ ;-^^>•-'.-; ,. ... 'J j .7/
■li. ,i'>(i'l .L T
■ !. .1 .J.i'i.'," ' .', il. :.:• Hi ,-(ui8ri-f'~l Jl
..g.udi.i;"! 1. L
.7; .Mrllj.fj :; V/
..:';>iM:'.^;i .v/ --r
:^t'; 1...:' il' ..Mi;!? .:' I.
;.; ^' V ..!i....;! ..i- .;.■■> .^i .1.
, -'I . M.,,.:.. •;: . ;...: : ,M 7/
' .!^'j ■' •■■|.'U::&.: .ij'OiiJ . '//' n
.((!„vli j- ■:<
.:■:;- ^ .,.>-, ,|,.M,n, ,r".iri;;!l . !4
AND lUl.L OOUNTIKS.
A. I'ark.
K. I'tinington, transfcrml 18(52.
W. (.!. Powell, ilic.l 1S()1.
A. luil.urtB.
J. J. Kussull.
1). V. Russell, killed by li<,'litning Febni-
nry 23, 1863.
II. M. Russell.
T.J. Rich.
11. I\f. Roilniuii, womi.le.l suid ciiscliurged
I8t;3.
R. 1'. Rohy, discharged 18(32.
(i. A. Roberts, transferred 18G2.
M. 1!. Roberts, transferred 1861.
J. M. Rose, discharged 18G3.
J. W. Wright, transferred 18(31.
Thomas Reecc.
llu-h Reece.
J. M. Sawycars.
R. II. Sawj^ears.
J. (). Sawyear.s.
1*. A. Smith, Sr.
P. A. Smith, Jr.
W. Steel, killed by accidental shot 18G4.
J. G. Steel, transferred 18G4.
I). C. Steel, discharj^'cd 1862.
T. Stockton, transferred 18G2.
B. E. Trafton.
R. A. Tanner.
G. W. Tanner.
W. Thomas.
L. L. Terry, died 18G1.
C. W. Taylor, died 18G1.
M. Trafton, discharged 18G2.
Sam Taylor, discharged 18G2.
J. Trim, discharged 18G2.
J. M. Tarver, dischartred 18G3.
J. E. Twilegar, de.serted 18G3.
G. W. Taylor, e.\-]jieutenant, discharged
18G2.
A. Thomas, transferred 18G2.
T. Variion.
W. M. Varnon.
J. J. AVitty.
J. 0. Wadle.
Thomas Wood.
G. T. AVebster.
L. C. White, deserted January, 18G3.
F. M. AVhite, deserted September, 18G3.
F. M. AVilliams, died 18G1.
AVm. Woods, died 18G2.
J. E. Wilkison, transferred 18G2.
U. Wetherly, died 18G3.
Win. Wilder, died 18G1.
J. AV. Young, died 18G1.
J. G. Voung, transferred 18G2.
T. J. llight, transferred 18G2.
Sam Pillingsly, transferred 18G2.
•iuhn Severe, transferred 18G2.
J. AV. Weaver, discharged 18G2.
John Taylor, died 18G2.
Di.xon Veal, transferred 18(j2.
CilJirANY n, NINICTKICN'l
;XAS CAVALUY.
J'"ollo\ving is the original muster rol
kindly furnished us by D. C. AVornell:
F. M. Snyder, John P. Cox, '
Gip Smith, James Anderson,
AV. A. Treadwell, J. J. Greeiiwade,
Jolm Ferry, II. C. Fancher,
Carroll A^^ale, T. S. Ilorton,
Dickson Veale, W. R. Abies,
Columbus A^eale, R. T. Frazier,
<L I ..; vj-a'C \\ < iDM
. .i,; r .A ,.(
//t: •■;' ,,i J
>.;. ■;.'i' ."'■/ .)
if. ,!.i7:;i'
'I'. L
IIISTOUY OF JUIINHoy
Jiu'k-oii V^'ale,
W. it. Arnold,
John P. Graham, James Serii<,'gs,
r. K. Yai-iK-ll,
J. E. Allen,
P. Givenwade, Van AVailing,
IJun WanI,
Will. Anderson,
J. M. (irillin, J. 1!. Williams,
.l.,llll W.nnl,
Win. Armstrong,
C. N. Harris, W. A. (irahain.
W. C. Walsun,
(i. W. Ayeock,
A. V. Kirk.Midall.
C. IJ. Wait,
J. AV. liyers,
This company was made up in llillsboro,
T.J. Walling,
D. C. Wornell,
in the spring of 18G1, by electing John 15.
Jo WlK-at,
J. W. MeCullougli,
AV^illiams captain, who was afterward pro-
A. S. Wilsuii,
J. M. Moss,
moted major, and Eieutenant J. 13. Doak
T. K. Vutes,
James Mayoso (Me.x.),
]iromoted to his place as captain of Company
E. 11. Abies,
Elias 1!. Nance,
D, with T.J. Availing first lieutenant, J. J.
King W. Falsun,
E. Erocell(Me,\.),
(ireeiiwaile second lieutenant, C. If. AVaits
W. P. C'liiiiiiiigliaii
, i;. E. Eniitt,
third lieutenant, and John P. Co.k orderly
J. T. I-anhau,
A. Kibley,
sergeant.
C-;. K. WilliaiiiB,
Do Eorub Dudley,
These ollicers carried tliiur coinjiany
J. T. Suttle^,
11. W. Harris,
through the war and returned home in 1SG5,
Win. yhcnnan,
J. 11. Ui.k.
with only a remnant, tiie majority having
E.J. CalK.uay,
K. V. llieks.
lost their lives in the service of their country.
J. U. Doak,
A. G. IJiekey,
— some at Negro Hill, Eangeal, Eleasant
L. D. lioiul,
IJ. E. Harris,
Hill, etc. In fact, all along the line some
Jamo.s liulowe,
C. Inec,
iiiembers of this noble company fell in the
L. M. IJatuman,
J. J. Jenkins,
6er\dce. Major John B. AVilliams died after
li. 15. IJaiiiott,
[i. E. Killian,
he returned home, leaving a widow and sev-
AV. J. liilliiigtun.
Win. Kirkpatriek,
eral children, who reside at (Jleburne. Mrs.
Andrew Catoii,
AV. 1'. Kirkpatrick,
Williams was afterward electe^d an lionorary
W. 11. C'ainiil.ell,
11. M. Eary,
member of Parsons' l!rignde Association,
W. Y. Ciollonl,
Janu'.s i.awle.ss.
an.l sho seldcim failed to iiu'ct the reiiiiiant
Juiiii Suivll,
J. Murphy,
of the old company at its annual reunions.
1>. E. Clampitt,
J. S. Middleton,
sometimes bi'ing almost the only represent-
B. DoLaney,
E. McEadden,
ative of that conij)any present at the reunion
J. 11. Dillaid,
J. AV. Morris,
of the brigade.
Juhn 1'. Dallas,
N. ,S. Middleton,
Company 1) had a noljle set of otiice?s.
Green Davis,
AV. C. Moseley,
whom the soldiers wore proud to follow
Tliomas Draper,
AV. 11. Parton,
wherever they went. Captain Doak is in
i\. K. Elliott,
11. Kced,
Mexico, Eicnteiianl (ireeiiwade in Kentucky,
li. A. Kur-ersun,
M. K. Keyiiolds,
liieutenant ^V^dlillg in l!u=(pie county, Te.\as,
J. C. FrazicT,
E. Uoberts,
Waits in eastern To.xas when last heard from.
li'^.l
Mi
u.,
1 /
tY/ .,.,;t
f.j^i
:f .0 .A
T
. 1
' t .■>.■•• <i
,..v tlJ-L-;. f ;:i K
■/....,,:,,, > I .a
,i i.-l -i .J
,_ :.; ! i( .A
,.Mi,'' :i'i, Ii;Ij,'IiU
•J t-.nrk>r.viJ/-
., !;
■1 -1 .
'//
.,;,.J.:,J v/-."!'./.
:.i
,!;,.!.j,iMVl Ji .7/-
:'..'■■',
! .•>,;
A.
1. ..it. .i.Y .V/
i,
,1' /u,:t! ...l.-l
I'.il.i
m1' :-',
.L
,J'irK,;j:13.'l.!!
::jtl;
! V
,4
,i,..;iH<j ri .1
ii -' .
•'
\ND niLL COUNTIES.
tiiiil Srio;iMiit (a)X is tlic ])rL'bt-ut popiilai-
thuiiir of Hill comity.
TAI^SIUNn' 1!KIi:AI>K.
FdlldwiiijLr aro u few lu-ief i\'iiiiiii>-^CL'!ici's
omc-rniin^r this iiotu.l l.riga.K-, kindly lur-
iii.hfcl l>y Mr. M. L. Ilickey, of Peoria, Hill
county, wliieli will bu of interest to the citi-
zens here:
I'arsonb' brigade consisted of the Twelfth
Texas Dragoons, which was at tirst "rarsons'
rci^iniunt," and the Ninteenth Texas Cavalry,
cuininanded by Colonel Carter, and also Mor-
gan's battalion and Captain Pratt's battery
01- artillei-y. Parscms' old regiment first
went into cainj) four miles nortliwest of
Waco, wlicre they drilled under that colonel
during tlie last of ]\[ay and the first of June,
18(il. Tiiey were then mounted and drilled
H sliort time on lied Oak creek, in Ellis
county, at Camp ]\lcCullough. Next they
were in the Stttte service, numberiii!^ as the
Fourth Texas. Then they were ordered to
Simm's bayou, near (4alwston. On their
way there they camped a short time in Linie-
btone county, for recruits, ami thai point
■' -7
lied Camn Moss. Th^
the-
Jic.l to ilemn.-lead, wl
the
y w.
uiu.-tered into the Confedeiate service lor
three years or during the war.
It then became necessary to change the
number of the regiment to the Twelfth Texas
J)ragoons, W. II. Parsons, Colonel, by which
the men were drilled both in infantry and
Ciiv<ilry tactics. This ground was named
Camp Parsons. Uemaining here until early
in the spring uf [8G'.i, ami ihei-e being very
little or no prosjicct of an attack on (iaives-
ton; and, both the colonel and the men being
anxious to meet the enemy (or " Yankee^"' as
the Confederates called them). Parsons suc-
ceeded in obtaining orders to move North,
and the line of march was begun immedi-
ately.
The regiment camped at Camp ISeauregard,
on Chambei-s creek in Eliis county, in March,
with ten as good companies as e\'er stood on
Texas soil, anil with but few men who had
beard on their faces. (Company A at this
time was commanded by Cuj)tain J. 1*. AVeir,
of Hill county; Company ]!, of Freestone
county, by Captain A. M. Mato; Company
C, of Johnson county, by Captain W. J. Neal ;
Company 1), by Captain Uighsmith, of lias-
trop county; E, of Ellis county, by Captain
John Prown; F, by W. J. Veal, of Ellis
county; Company G, of Kaufman county, by
Captain Keiser; H, also of Ellis county, by
Captain (-luy Stolks; 1, of Williamson county,
by Captain Morrow; and K, by Captain
James Prown, of Limestone county. These
.pan
ored about VM
making 1,200 men in the regiment.
They weie well mounted anil armed with
-home-made" rilles and double-barreled
shot-guns, and four had six-shooters. At
this place the regiment was partially reor-
ganized. Lieutenant-Colonel Mullens re-
signed on account of failing healtii, irnd —
Purleson was elected in his place, filling that
olhce to the close of the war, with signal
gallantry and with honor to the regiment.
Althougii be led his men to the battle-tield
injury; but after the war strong drink proved
>i^r. ■!,', ,;i,,.l
■y. I: ..
iiu: 'to -loi' fi
("!.'•' : -••'•'li;.> <■' 'J'UJ
insTOIiY OK JOHNSON
more jiowcrf 111 agaiiistliiiii than liad the battle-
"Give 'em hell, boys!" although he bad beuo
field. At this reorganization E. W. Ivogcrs
a strict church member for lifteen or twenty
was elected major.
years. After being told what he said, he had
'I'akiiig up the line of nnireli northeast-
no recollection of it.
wardly, they li(jped to nii'et (ieneral I'riee,
Jn this light ihe Confederates were armed
but Boon received orders to yo to Little lioek,
with double-barreled shotguns, each barrel
Arkansas, where they ari'ived early in April,
loaded with an ounce ball and three buck-
witli almost half the regiment sick, mostly
shot. Over 200 Federals were killed or
with measles, which carried away many a
woinuled. 'I'here was not much ilisciiiline, if
noble-hearted man, A[)ril li they were or-
any, on either side,— a few in a place and
dered to meet a part of Curtis' troops near
man to nian was the game. The Conteder-
ISearcy, Arkansas. I'liis order was received
ates lost a few horses and nuui. Just at this
with joy and pi-om|)tly obeyed, thoii;,di only
time about 1,000 Federal cavalry charged
ei^'ht companies hail reached this place.
upon the scene, and the Confederates had to
Colonel I'arsons was trying to obtain orders
retreat, which they did in small sijuads. They
for crossing the Mississippi river, and had
recapturcnl Captain McCrary, who had been
gone with two companies to Memphis. In
taken prisoner.
liis alisence iMajor iiogers started with all the
After this the Texans passed from one
elfective men in the ei^dit comjianies, ai)out
point to another in front of (ieneral Curtis'
'100 iu numbei-, an(J they camped within a few
troops, engaging them almost constantly. At
mile.-, of the enemy April 17.
Cotton I'lant, Arkansas, the Federals won the
i\ext morning the advance guard, strength-
tight, but lost heavily. Captain Neal, of
ened by volunteers from the ditl'ereiit
Johnson county, was killed, and several otli-
companies,, moved some distance ahead,
cers wounded.
commanded by Major Kogers, the main lujdy
During the summer of 18G2 three other
being left under Captain Weir. The van-
regiments joined this brigade for a short time.
guard, ninety-si.\ in numln'r, with a few
being dismounted at Hayou Jiartholomew,
cili/.uns from the neighborhood of Searcy,
Arkansas, and moved to other points; but in
soon met the enemy, 400 strong. Lieutenant
October the brigade was joined by the Nine-
McDonald led a promjit charge upon them.
teeiitii Te.xas Cavalry, the Twenty-first Texas
Rogers commanding: these men had been
Cavalry, Colonel Morgan's Cavalry Dattaliou
rivals for the majorship at the pai-tial reor-
and Captain Pratt's battery or artillery.
ganization. McDonald was killed instantly,
During the ensuing winter the brigade kept
and in a few moments Kogers' horse fell, but
near the Mississippi river, frequently imj)ed-
recovered HuHlciently to go on; in a minute
ing the advance of the enemy.
or so, liowever, he was shot again; but Kogers
In the summer of l«i;3 it co-operated with
C(;ntinued to ur;re on
ig them to I (^.nerals Marmaduk.. and Shelby, h;
'AC'-'.'.' ,0'.
(i9y
iV'jl ,!!■ H"«'' trnr)" \ <■ I'lit' 'it. ../■ ( iijt ft "M.[t'.jiii-,y,'; in I (OV/'.kJ aiUit
-leni/ ■! IM (. ! :» ' ., • :1
,) f"l;.u),|.,:j
AXI) nil.I. COUNTIES.
I„irt (.f June (the 2'Jtli), it attaeke.l only IK
til.
lii^li
there,
11,1 ve
Hill," eaptni
in. Mind w:i6
-1' ^•"
M,le
heing (inly oiio yAiux where men could ascenil
without cniwling. The Federals had dii>< out
a basin in the top and were finely fortitied
therein. After au ent^agcnient of only one
hour and twenty-five minutes the white flag
was raised and the Federals surrendered. The
lo=s was hut sH-lit on either side.
The (lonfedenites then immediately started
for Lake Providence, four miles away on the
Mississippi; hut just before reaching that
point they ran into an ambu^cade, which tried
the mettle of the men. Captain Weir and
his company, being in fi'ont, formed quickly
into line, under lire of the enemy and stood
firm, though the regiment was slow to get
into line. Colonel I'arsoiis ordered the men to
disnmunt and light, charging bayonets; the
men cjuickly obeyed ami tirove the enemy
of gunboats. The Confederates, lemounting,
started on their journey, which movements
the F.-derals n.i..took for a retreat and re-
charged; but the Coulederates, being hoi and
thirsty, were haid to control and seemed to
care for nothing. Captain Weir, still calm,
commanded Orderly (or First Sergeant) Mor-
rison to form the company in line. Under a
galling fire from the enemy Orderly Morrison
called out Company A, for fully five minntes
but only five responded, — R. W. Foman, <i.
T. Web..ter, Thomas Jleath, E. A. Face and
^. L. llhdcey. These brave men .tood hrm
until the whole com]iany was formed into
line, and then the regiment immediately fell
into line, ami they again drove the enemy
back, .h>troying all their clothing, blankets,
etc., which they had just lamled. Fieuteiiant
Jo Abbott, now Congressman, took command
of the squadron and did gallant service. The
loss on each side was comparatively slight for
such a close engagement. The Federals had
possession of about eight miles of farms on
the river, on which thoy had about a thou-
sand negroes employed, and in arms.
'i'he iie.xt morning, June 30, the Federals
renewe.l the tight with fury; but (ieneral
Walker's division of infantry had come to
the aid of the Confe<lerates, and frightened
the Federals a
;ttin-r that we have to end Mr. Uick-
ey's account here, we must refiT the
reader to page 117, for further history of the
regiment.
CONl'EUKliATK CASH'.
A few days after the meeting held in the
coui'thouse to pass resolutions iijion the death
of Jefferson Davis, the livjiector published
the following edit.u-ial paragraphs:
"During the meeting at the courthouse
Friday night, the chairman called upon all
e.x-Confederate soldiers to arise, as he desired
to make up the committee on resolutions
mainly with those who had served in the war.
The old veterans stood np in various parts of
the room, hut it was evident that tlu^y wi-re
decidedly in the minority; and the fact af.
forded an impressive illustration how materi-
ally the Creat Reaper has depleted the
■;.'■: ' I...,;, -.: ■ y. :,;,;!:(.. ''„i,' ^.il [< W A t l'>:)!:: 'f / Ufl p. ( Mj, 1 1 . J..' /f , .1 1 i- I ;':'i / :j
li- ■ a;.;.-i.i,r , 11. . I.. ,.:■:',: CViV' iii.j: , Mi! ' .1' / ■ .i;. , ' : )i ,(i.)(;:; ^.'/l •<ii.;l. '!.> ruKj
y.' :• ■ I- -/'/ti, ri:dv.'. (-.lij '.lui .-.•.•.ii (.Jiii I : .;4..i :•■ .«;) ',■! il! r. v ^iV, ■' -.j ,l.(iic.K >,.J-.^
.;)■■:„.;::. ^.;:j. ^ . ■ :• = :. ■.: .,->-:' ''• . '■ ' . 'L. ' ■•- ■-W'MS^ ■'. .y •-.-" ..■,. •■■vnl!
•■1, ■ ,ir.,.l .I,.!..;,' ' .■, I> : •■ M rivi, ';/,■:;.. ; , • '- . ■ . M;!i .: , ■ ;.-..i'. ,.r.'ln. • ..-I y ■■.•\
j:<'i ...,:y-t«H ■fnr;Jit"<i l>(il (nlj. iloii,i,i, |,t-: Jilj ^y j .,. ■■;4Vll' : ' "1-^- 'l-t'' 'JH/i' .J^;,.' iii.. ,lJ"!(ll,'/
■K.'j J'.u/m yi»y.i,i<>'W'|'Uo'j ai,'( '..I.;;! .'■.I - .i<^ bool j >.i;jli '.l;.>'i v^'J^^i ■.•;o'W t'Oi; qo' ^'dt ■> ''i(.!'J a
L f| ol'.T.il'-H y : i' 'iTOCiKv. ;yiiy Jt-Au |l cf"!' • I yil.j y.il'l l' i ■•' j-univ^I y inl i-jjl/v .llijnflti)
,' ' ; li. (Jj; 1.1 li y;ti(f.l il.'il-w ;;Ci ,■ il'v. Olli •>,! L' .;j':i ■''. I li'tLlft ■albl:)b: ■[ 'u'l um; '.'...;: j:V hiiv/
' !:.';, .S'rj^o''; Jet tjwiJiJi! iau-' 1 .'.b-.^- -igiiiui :;i, 1 itilJe tiiij ;:;■ ;i:ol
.- :' : ... . U
al.i.i .Mdiou
fj : ..-, J -ri
'./I nj Mo:-.i>
.',. :) '.''>'''' .■
>,^' ..,i!i«j^
. .; ■.. ,,....;■>
^n,. t)..[i;i:.
..'■.,..;:■ ■: ji
'! ■/'■! . JlK'
il .: ..-...: . ,'t
■...,i.>V; T
.-, .i" -.>!
„'i a .;^
2C2
nisTonr of jouxsoy
milks of tlioso wlio woru tliu gr;iy.
••Ill vii.w of the fact that tliuy are su
rajiiilly jKib^iii<.' away, it lia.s (jcciin-cd to tlie
Jitjlcdur that it wouM be well for those who
btill biir\i\e tu realize what enjoy merit they
can ]ia\e from social i-eiiiiioiis during the re-
eiiil it io fciiii;gesteil that a meetiii-,' of all the
fx-CIoiifeiieratesokiiers residing in Hill county
he held at Some convenient jioint within a
the comity. This would alford the veterans
many opjiortuiiities for social reunions, at
wliicii they could talk over the old wartimes,
liesides proving a medium of pleasure and
ad\antage in otlier ways. Who will suggest
a dati; and jilace of meeting';''
Tliis suggestion was followed the next
week by further arguments in favor of tiie
reunion; and W. (I. Iteaver, in the RejLctur
of January 2, 18'J0, made a strong and elo-
quent appeal lo
,))eal for the s:i
■nt. Ac
cordingly, at the suggestion of several
veterans, the liijlector called a meeting of
all e.M-Confederate sohliers residing in Hill
county, to be held on the second Saturday of
febiuary, for the purpoM' <il' organi/.ing an
encampment. The day arrived: not withsland-
ing the cold weather there was between 100
•and 150 e.\-(;onfederates in atteiKlance, in-
cluding i-epi-esentati\-e citizens from nearly
every portion of the county.
Shortly after one o'clock Mr. licaver called
the meeting to order, and pr.ipu.-ed Dr. A.
M. l)ougla^8 for ti;mporary chairman, who
was elecled. On motion of dudge A. W.
Parham, William A. Fields was chosen as
(Jn taking the chair. Dr. Dougla.ss ad-
dressed the meeting in Mibstance a.s follows:
•'Gentlemen and e.\-(Jonfederate soldiers: I
feel very grateful, 1 asaure you, for the com-
pliment expressed by you in calling upon me
to act as temporary chairniaii of this meeting.
Our object is to organize a Confederate en-
campment. For one, it is always a pleasure
to me to revert to the scenes and events of
the time when we were engaged in the great
struggle for Southern independence. I never
see an old soldier who followed the stars and
bars but that my heart goes out to him in
fraternal regard; and I never see an empty
slec\e without honoring tlie man who wears
it. Every one wlio followed that tiag felt
that he was but performing a duty that he
owed to (Jod, his family and himself. For
four long years our boys followed the Hag
and faithfully devoted themselves to the per-
formance of that duty. Very many of the
jys have passed ov.r the river to join
Jackson, Lee, Joiiiistc
othe
«'■
;at
lea.lers who are resting under the shade ot
the trees. A more devoted people never
gave up their lives than those who died for
the lost cause; and tliough the ranks of those
of us who survived the great war have been
greatly thinned, it is right tliat those who re-
main shall honor the memory of their dead
.•omraiies by maintaining organizations coin-
ineinoralive of the associations of the war.
I'he brave soldiers of the Northern army re-
cognize! the bravery and lioiior of the (!on-
I "" , ' ■ ^ ^
..: ^ ,.,1, ;.(|;M:.-' oi !,.■; ■; 1 !.--,• -i;,:, jjiM,:ii;,| i -.:0 -l l..ri( .-.■.;,1 \:n<A\';^l -IVmIi ].> •< .l.'ii;;!ii
•\./o,i ] -• .v.!.ii r ,;-■ ■i-;jiU,p.-3 V 'I :jl^;':'::i I :>« .:■-:!'■ rr . r.'> . -r..} s-jili jc;'! i- .if[0 Yi;/:m
J .;■.,( ,.
'* llOiUi o.o -p.liU'i.-;! )..■-■■ ; •' .-."''■I -.Mrijuoill ^C jDJiUj Diji; nub li
h.'li b-..'.'.>lli/' jil." j(i> (^r.vj .'i ; l/ii< -Jill hr^ioll<\ -iR^r ,-i,iti-.;>v;x^i!,. n'ttT
i^- ''Ml::.. ,.!,. '.■;-: , ll'V^h
...■■ ..r^ ,:■,; ,:.,M...... ,... ,...t K.1 ...KuoU .1/
Axn HILL couyriEs.
|-r.lLT,it,'s. The I'edLTal suKliiTs arc paid
pi-nsioiis, but for our own conmulcs there is
iHi Mich recniuiH^usi;; ami all that is left of
u. is Ih
■w old
u.-5iieiatioii.s and ujjhuldiiig the ju^tiee and
honor of our cause."
After tiie conclusion of this appropriate
address, Dr. Douglass was unaninjously
elected permanent president of the eneaniji-
nient, (!aptain J. M. (.). Wilson was chosen
lirst vice-president, and Major J. II. Little-
field, second vice-president; Smith Powell,
secretary; and W. G. IJeaver, treasurer.
A motion was made that eacli one, on be-
coming a member of the encampment, pay
50 cents, but alter a little consideration was
withdrawn, leaving this matter as a voluntary
matter with each member.
One hundred and twenty-si.x names were
then si^i,'ned to the roll of membership, wliich,
with others who have since joined the en-
canij)ment— a total uf 274 will lie found be-
low, alphabetically arranged.
On the completion of the lirst enrollment,
lit this, the llr.-^t meeting, it was decided by
vote that the surplus u( the money, from
membership contriljutions, after all expenms
are paid, be de\'oted to the Davis Monument
Fund.
A committee was then a])[)ointed to draft
11 constitution and by-laws, and rejjort at the
On motion of I'rofessor W. M. Fuller,
this organization was named the Stonewall
Jackson Fncamj)ment; but on reconsideration |
a few minutes afterward, the name waa
clianged to Hill County Encampment of
Confederate Soldiers.
On motion of W. (J. iJcaver, all the people
of Hill county were re(jiiested to assist the
encampment in raising funds for the Davis
Monument Association.
Upon invitation by the encampment, Mr.
Beaver delivered an address, which was elo-
quent and enthusiastic in reviewing the
record of devotion ami courage made Ijy the
Confederate soldiers during the wai-. Dr.
Douglass followed with an able and interest-
ing address.
On motion of Dr. W. T. Moore, any Con-
federate soldier could become a member of
the encampment at any time, simply by
signing his name to the roll.
I'rofessor O. F. Gragg made a stirring
speech in behalf of the Confederate Soldiers'
Home at Austin, and the meeting adjourned.
Following is H list of the present members
of the C'onfederate Camp:
Namb. Co. Ukg , HnuiAUii, Ktc.
Ale.xaudt-r, T. W C, Forrest's Brig.
Allen, W. J B, 18 Te.x, Speight's Brig.
Amlersdii, H. L I), 'J 'IVx. Cavnlry, JIcCul-
louglrs Brig.
Billiard, J. K B^iiul, a Teiiu, Stewarl's Brig.
BalUrJ, !sol A, b Aik., AVuod's Brig.
Buruett, A. (i I), 27 Ark., Tiippiin's Brig.,
CiiurcLill's Div.
Barber, N. 0 E, 8 Miss., Jacks,, q's Brig.
liartlell, K J C, a Teim. Cav., Dibbrell's
Brig.
Batlailf, A. W t.'apt. Sales' Va. Co., Army Nor.
Va., C^amp of lustriiclioji.
Beaver, I). C B, 2i Jliss. Cav.
Beaver, W. G Semple's Bat. of An., Clebuiiie's
Division.
<|. V.i r\
■ !^!,!:- ..K-A .:.r,r ,,i,.'v-
ii. J. ..u . I'
((!'(;::■ ■'■).•, ul/i!,
i;L,(a (OH I
vi'.l ■/ll'
.ahU»
■' , ,; ^ - ^ , - -■■ ■■ ■ ' • • -i' '"^^
,' . ; ' 111:. li;'l I .,.:| Ji.;-'. )!jf li.;!'; ^lUi! : .■ I i Ii; j\. (pi: f9i!;(J JIU
■^- ■ ;^ A '■' ■' ... u I v''^ ii/K ! - I.) . i l.;.,i. • 'I. --i !ui>q .»-u;
. _, f.ni.H
1^ ;- ...j ,,,;•■, ' ''rr.'. ' :.,!. '.. ,, , "It tSIVII V-jy.^'<iA\'\t A
■'.'■■. ■,, .IT': . -; .v,/.'l .-I i ■!!; i-'lw,;;; = il<':' Ji
■ ■■ . ' . ,1 '.-.ri.j ; -..,',■ ,, ■'. ■ .Ni''.;>i'lO r.
2G4
Belcher, G. W D,
Itell.A 1),
IJell, W. jM K,
liennetl, A. T I,
HookeiU,.) I) K,
Booth, W. I.e Uiuiid.A,
Buyil, J. F A,
Bniiublelt, J. M I,
Brunnan, D. L C,
Brauuin, W. F
]5ninnon, Willis I,
Breeding, T.J A,
Brewster, Juhu I,
Broiles, Ben A K,
Brooks, DC F,
Brook.s, Sam E,
Brown, A E,
Brown, C. C F,
Browii, C. D A,
Brown, Jonathan . . . .E,
Brown, W. M F,
Brutou, William E,
Burgess, J. A II,
Butler, Ahira H,
Calloway, E.J D,
Carney,']'. 1) B,
Carroll, C. W
Carter, A. A A,
Case, Eli A,
Chenault, J. M D,
Clark, W. II I,
Clarke, W. T F,
earner, J. T C,
Collin, C. I '. ..E,
Cornell, L
nr STORY OF JOHNSON
24
Va., Pickett's Div.
Cox, J. P
..D,
19
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
Vi
Ark., Foagau's Brig.
Cunbill, W. K
••('.
Pindle's Battalion.
b
Te.\-., -Walker's Div.
Cunningham, W. P
..D,
I'J
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
:iO
Te.v., Gauo's Brig.
Curbo, T. J
. .1!,
17
b
Tex. Vol.
Curry, E. A
. . E,
lU
Ala. Cav,, Roddy's
12
To.vas Cav., Parsons'
Brig.
Brig.
Daniel, T. II
•A,
4
Ga., Doel's Brig.
7
Te.x. Cav.
Ala. Cavalry, Roddy's
Davis, J. E
..A,
2
Tenn. Cav., Forrest's
Brig.
37
Brig.
Miss.
Davis, John
45
Ala.
Davis, K. A
..1,
37
Tenn , Carroll's Brig.
Te.x. Inf., Polignac's
Brig.
21)
Miss,, Bragg's Brig.
Derden, D
..F,
15
1
Tenn., Archer's Brig.
1
Tenn.,Vaughan'sBrg.
Dickerson, G. S....
.A,
1
Mo. Cav. Bat., Stand-
22
Tex., Bates' Brigade,
Walker's Div.
Dickson, W. II
waitie's Brig.
Alex. (Va.) Light Art.
3t
Tex.
Dormau, II. F
■D,
3
Miss.
12
Tex. Cav., Daahler's
Dougherty, T. J...
..I,
5
Ala., Rhodes' old Br.
Brig.
Douglass, A. M....
.•I,
0
:ilis3., Adams' Brig.
3
Conleilerate, Harri-
son's Brig.
Eager, \\'illiam
.G,
Tex. Cav., Parsons'
Brig.
12
Texas Cav., Parsons'
Brig.
Easterling, J. D....
•B,
1
Miss. Cav.
Edringlou.T. B....
.(;,
Mo.
13
Miss., Barksdale's Br-
Egan, J. J
c,
38
Tenn, Donaldson's B.,
-
S. C;. Vol. Art., Khett's
Brig.
Te.x. Cav., Jones' Brg.,
Gould's Div.
Cheatham's Div.
Elder, K. M
..I,
11
Miss., Whiting's Brig.
Eliir, T.N
■ i\
32
Tenn., Brown's Brig.
Elliott, LB
•G,
17
Tenn., Bushrod John-
20
Te.x., Scurry's Brig.
son's Brig.
15
Tex., Polignac's Brig.
Elliott, J. J
..I,
IH
Tex,, King's Brig.,
Walker's Div.
41
Miss., Sharpe'sBrig.
18
Tex. Cav.
Elliott, Tom (Col).
.C,
3
Tex. Cav., Ross' Brig.
It)
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
Ellis, G. I)
D,
47
Tenn., Smith's Brig.
4
La., Gibson's Brig.
Evans, Eli F
.B,
12
Tenn., Polk's old Brg.,
9
Tenn. Cav., Forrest's
Brig.
Cheatham's Div.
Evans, W. M
.11
1
Miss.
1
Ala., niakley's Brig.
Fanclier, A. U. ...
• D,
I'J
Tex. Cav., Buford's U.
12
Tex., Kelley's Brig.
Faucett, S. (Lt- Col.)
5
Miss. Vol., Tplmau's
3
Ark. Cav., Bolding'a
Brig.
Brig., Forrest's Div.
Ferguson, U. A ...
.1),
19
Tex. Cav., Parsons' B.
15
Tex., Polignac's Brig.
Miss., Adams' Brig.
Fox, T. S
.C,
17
Va. Cav., McCauslin's
23
25
La., Gibson's Brig.
Brig.
3
Tenn., Kirby timith's
Frazier, R.F
.D,
19
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
Brig.
Frier, M
.A,
19
Ark. Inf., Churchill's
4
Miss.
Div.
■V'4-' \ "^O iSVCU \
(., , ."/.'■ .:,' ,•:■ ■' ■ -,'i
. if. ii ,l>.-it
1, 'i .Mi;i,H. •:)
'I V/ ,;;,aK,
.4.Y7^ HTLl ('(/r.Y77A\v
f'uiur, \v. :m ...
(i.iii.iiii,'s, F. y[....
. . . c;,
(iill.mi, 1). 11
..B,
•if.iL- OF
..B,
Cirali.mi, W. J
..E,
•-ir^'y. KI
..1),
tini)-, L. D
..II,
tiic-eii, D. S
Orec-n, J. T
..II,
(ireenwade, P. M..
..D,
Gn.einvuod, S. K..
(ireer, F.J
..G,
Oriu.es, II. P
..A,
Giulirie, L. J
..K,
Ihiriiti-luii, J. K..
ll-inis, 11. P
..D,
llani.s, W. A
...C
llanc.ick, A. L....
...c
llaraeii, liarnett. .
..K
llar,lou,W. B ...
..K
llarlzog, C. C
...A
ll,.iuU.r.s,m, J. 11...
ilclulciili's Battery ol'
lloitou, A M...
. . . C,
A.t, MaUone'sDiv.
- Hi.ss. liallalio,,.
Walkers Div.
5 Miss. Cav.
1 Ahi. Cav , Martin's B.
lliillhiii.'s, T. M..
nugh.s.K. 11
Isliell, C. C
...B,
. . .G
J Te.\., Polignac's IJiig.
8 Tex. Dism'med Cav.,
Jackson, U.L ....
Jamea, Joliii F. . . .
...K,
. ..F
Ilicka, C.C
..U,
yt
Ilkks, U. V
..D,
I'J
lliglitower. S.J...
..II,
51
UigliKnver, T. J . . .
.11,
12
Hilton, J. F
8
Holcoiub, 11 \V., A
s't Sui
,80
Iloklei-, J. Y
• K,
10
Hookef, J. F
12
Ilum.W. T
..K,
8
Iieynokls' Brig.
Miss,Waltliall'sBrig.
Battalion, Waul's
Legion.
Tenu., Polk's Brig.
Te.x., Parsons' Brig.
Va., Washington Art.
Miss. Cavalry, Arm-
strong's Brig.
Ala , Baker's Brig.
Tex., Hood's Brig.
Fagan's Beg., Price's
Brig.
Chief of Stephen D.
Lee's Scouts.
Tex-, Parsons' Brig.
Jliss., Biickner's Brig.
Tex., Granbury's Br.,
Cleburne's Div.
Tex., Walker's Div.
Tex., Walker's Div .
Miss, Featherstoii's
Brig , Loriug's Div.
Ga., ('oh|uilt's Brig.
Tenn., Wrinbl'sBrig.,
Clieatham's Div.
Miss.
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
Ga., Slercer's Brig.
Tex. Cav., Dea's Brig.
Mo. Cavalry, Jlarma-
ilnke's commaud.
Ga., Slepheusou's Brg.
SU,., Parsons' Brig,
Teun., Van^han's Br.
Tex. Vol.
Jetton, J. II E,
Johnson, J. M K,
Johnson, T. F C,
Johnson, Tom II
Jones, W. P G,
Jordan, John J E,
Kelton, J. P G,
Kemp, W. I)
Kennedy, N. B....
Killongh,W. II ..
Kimlirough, J. II
Kirder, W. II
Kirksey, J. I
Kirkpatrick, W. A.. .K,
Kyle, C. C . B,
Lane, T. B A,
Lanford, James C. . . .V,
Latlimure, S. T C,
Lawless, James I),
Lawrence, W K,
Leverett, ^V. P D,
Lewis, M. B G,
Liltiefield, J. II E,
Lloyd, J. B C,
Long, D. M K,
Long, J. N I,
Lovejoy, J.
,D,
2
Ga. Battalion, Cheat-
ham's Div., John-
ston's Army.
3
Ky., (Jano's Brig.
3
Tenn., McN'ary's Br.
Ti
inin's Co., Quantrell's
mm
Ala. Cav., Martin's B.
1
S. C. Cav,, Hampton's
ling.
15
Tex., Polignac's Brig.
Liken's Tex. Keg.
1
Tenn., Archer's Brig.
2
Tenn. Cav.
9
Tenu. Battalion.
1
Ga., Garrett's Brig.
IS
Tenn., Buckner's Br.,
and Keynolds' Co.,
45th Tenn., Zolli-
colTer's old Brig.
1
Mo., Little's Brig.
27
Ala., Burford's Brig.
(Surgeon.)
—
Texas., Col. Crawford,
AYaul's Brig.
4
Tex., Hood's Brig.
•1
Mo. Cav.
1
Texas, Col. Elmore,
gunboat at Gal.
veslon.
I'J
Tex. Cav., Parsons' D.
Speight's Battalion.
12
Tex. Cav., Parsons' 11,
GO
Ga , Gordon's Brig.
08
N. C.
I'J
Tex., Parsons' Brig.
22
Ala., Dea's Brig.
20
Ga., Beuning's Brig.
o
, Col. Clarke.
5
Tex., Hood's Brig.
1
Ala , Grade's Brig.
12
Miss., Harris' Brig.
VJ
Tex. Cavalry, McCul-
lough's Brig.
0
Tex. Cav., Ross' Brig.
., -■.. . vil'" ■■ .T M
.ViT:l '' >"-is:|
•I (I., . i'V ,,^iK :::
.. /• II ,
'! ,ji..-»-.ij'nU
^ ■...•niill
■! .'■ .-.ni
. : ■!UI
2(i(i
Lowiy, M. M ....A,
Mmiui, T. II II,
Martin, J. D K,
Mailin, J, .M i,
JIaMiii.J.C C,
Maylieltl, J. A C,
Mayua, T. G U,
JlcAlisli-r, JI G,
Jlcl'iuiig, W. S II,
JhC'ouuell, J. P F,
McDonald, J. A
JIcGhUbey, W. W...A,
Mclnlobli, Lou
JU;:Mmray, \V A....G,
McNairy, F. M
McNeese, Geo. W....F,
Jl.-a.l, L. P G,
Midaiebrook, F. M...
JlilkT, J. D C,
Moore, C. II B,
Moort.-,K B,
HISTOllY OF JOHNSON
M.M>re, J. 1!..
51 (.ore, W. T.
Morris, C. I F,
Morrison, J. W A,
Murphy, J. IS. (Capt.).E,
Myrick, Dr. T.J
Niiniiey, M. II K,
Niuigle, W. H A,
Neavea, N. P II,
Oiiey, J. T A,
Oi.Mil.aiiM, G.C.
Ureubaiiii T K
Tonn., Walli.'r'a lirig.
I\Iiss,, Wnlthall's Bri;.
'I\-x. Cuv., Green's B.
'lVnM,l)oiial(ls.JirsB.,
ClieaUiain's Div.
S. C. Cav., IliUler's B,
Ilajnpton's Div.
Miss,, Davis' Brig.
Ark., 3a Mo. Brig.
Te.\. Ciiv., -Waul's Br.
Ala. Vol., Hodily's B.
C:ol. Wood, Wirt Ad-
ams' Brig.
Miss,, lieynolds' Co.,
Fealherslou's Brig.
Ala., Truc-y's Brig.
Miss.
Ga., Stephenson's Br.
Te.v., Walker's Div.
Tex. Cavalry, Green's
Div. (Lieut)
Mo. Cav., Shelby's B.
Ala. Cav. (Ass't Sur.)
Tex. Cav., Koss' Brig.
Miss. Cav., Mabry's
Ala., Mangold's Brig,
under Bragg, John-
btou and Hood.
Miss, Colbert's Brig.
Miss., Chalmers' Brg,,
lOth Te.\. luT., Col.
Ihig.
Jliss., Sears' Brig.
Tex. Cav., Parsons' B.
Teiin., Buckner's Brg.
Tex., Capt. liucker.
Miss.
Mis.s., Barksdale's Br.
IMiss., Walthall's Brg.
Morgan's Baltal., Par-
sons' lirig.
Tex. Cav,, Green's B.
'lex Cav., Green's B.
Orr, F. iM K,
Orr, J. W F,
O'Shields, J. A 11,
Overton, I) C,
Parham, A. W A,
Park, J. I G,
Parker, B A,
Pally, E II,
Peden, II. U B,
Price, V, S B,
Prilchett, J. D D,
Kailcy, J. D B,
Uawls, Thoma3 D,
Keed, F. M E,
l!eviere,J.M
Kichnrdson, J. S A,
l{ivers, M.M II,
Uobert, A, J. (Adjt.)..
Uociiello, J. P.......
20 iAIiss, Tillman's Brig.
3 Ga,, Iversou's Brig.
1 N. C.
18 Ala., (Maylon'sold a
0 Miss, Cav , F.,rresl-8
Phillips, W.T...
...A,
Pogue, J.T. . ..
17
Powell, Smith...
...C,
yc
^v,
Ala., Dea's Brig,
Teun,, Brown's Brig.
Ga,
Col. Lackin,
McCord's Kaugers,
Walker's Div.
Col, Green, Price's
Command,
Tex,, Polignac'sBrg.,
Walker's Div,
Ala,, Clayton's old B,
John II, Morgan's
Command,
Ala,, Khodes' Brig.
Tex., Hood's Brig.
Miss., Davis' Brig.
Tex, Polignac's Brig.
Tenn. Cav.
Tex,, Polignac'sBrig.
Tex. Cavalry, ilcCul-
lough's Brig.
Ga,, Doll's and Phil
Cook's Brigs,
8. C. Cadets, Tliomp-
son's liattalion.
S, C, (iist's Brig,
Uing, W, S 11,
3
Tenn,, Palmer's Brig,
Rogers, John T C,
a
Ala.
Bogers, T, W, (Chaplain)
Shelby's Brig,
Rowland, G, W D,
2S
Miss, Cav, Van Dorn's
Brig,, Lo\(ry'3 Div.-
Russell, J M II,
at!
Miss,, Tillman's Brig
Rullieroid, U 0,
2
Tenn, Cav,
Sanders, A. B 1),
1
Tex. Cav , f.ane's Br,
Sawyer, J, C
Parsons' Reg.
Scarborough, I), li.,,I{,
1
Ark., Cabell's Brig,
Irt ..'/ .-(v.
w.
.1 . ,'(....V/' ..:-U,^.f> ril«
AND UILL COUyTlES.
f
N.Uf.Jola.
K ..
...II,
pa»!!.T. (1 \\
...G,
Mi.ll.r. ,1 I'
c,
M..ri. K. K.
... A,
f.k.M, J. H..
....C,
AD..
.•'I..irk.s,ULM,. W.
Brig,
oj Mi^i.
2.-) .Mi^.-,
22 Ala., Uea's Brigade,
Jolinstoii's Div.
3 Mo., Kiug'd Brig.
— Ala Cav., UocMy's B'
2? Mi.ss., Wallliall's Brg
30 Ga , Ciiiuiiiiugs' Brig.,
Slcphenaon's Div.
Si..H.u,.r,0.\V.(Capt.)K, 41 Mis3, Tucker's Brig.
.«;|...„n>>r, H. N C, — Te.x, Brown's Hegt.,
Buclielle'.s Brig.
M^pliens, J. W K, 5 Tl-x., Hood's Brig.
M.'vens, J, A G, 3.5 'J'e.x. Cavalry, Terrell's
Brig., Bagby's Div.
.''U-veiid, J.W 4 Te.v., Hod's Brig.
Miiwarl, II.S Burdee's Keg., Bee's
Brig.
3 Ark., Fagan's Brig.
19 La., Adams' Brig.
4:; Hiss., Greeii's Brig.
...A, 4« Ga., ^Yrigllt's Brig.,
Anderson's Div.
,..1I, 40 N. C, Hagood'sBrig,
Hoke's Div.
Tarver, G. W K, 8 Tex., Walker's Div.
Tiitmn.W. A F, 11 Miss. Cavalry, Arm-
strong's Brig.
Taylor, B. M. (Cliaplaiu) 23 Tenn., liuslirud Joliu-
.Mrwart, W.J C,
.•<iin.on, W. A E,
.SwtMuloll, W. C E,
.Swiiit.J. S..
»kes, J. T.
Tekell, N. A
...K,
2 Ala., Ferguson's Brg,,
Lee's Div.
Tennison, W. C II, 32 Miss.
Thompson, W. P I, I'j Miss., ZollicolVer's Br.
Tiplon, W. H K, 3 Tenn. Cavalry, Zolli-
coU'er's Brig.
Tuwnsend.J.P K, 8 Tex., Wold's lirig.
Tucker, G. M 1, Furresl's C;av, Kill-
Turker, .1. P H, 32 Miss.
Turk.T.C I!, 1 Mo, SlanduaiUe's ]!.
Varueli. P. E Parsons' Bii-.
Vaughau, J. W...
. . . D,
._>
Ark , McVeigh's Bry.
Viles, L. A . ...
...A,
'J
Tex Cavalry, McCul-
Walker, .\ M . .
'■■
'^
KiUi;irs Brii,'
sons' Brig.
Walker, G.C....
9
Tenn. Baltal. Cavalry,
Ashby's Brigade,
Wbeeler'8 Div,
Walker, N. I)....
...B,
2
S. C. Art., Rhodes' B.,
'I'alialerro's Div.
Wall, II. W
...I,
2
Tex. Cav., Home's B.
Wallace, J. B....
...B,
24
•S. C.
Walling, J. U....
...I,
0
Tex. Cav., Ross' Brig.
Warren, C. A J . .
...E,
1
Miss. Cavalry, Arm-
strong's Brig.
Warren, J. D....
. ..E,
1
Miss., Armstrong's B.
Webb, D. L
...B,
39
Ga., Cummiugs' Brig.
AVeckter, J. W....
...B,
7
Fla., Findlay's Brig.
West, 1!. C
..K,
26
La., Shoup's Brig.
Whitley, W. H....
. . . K,
25
Tenn., Zollicoffer's B.
Williams, W. W..
..D,
1
Tex., Hood's Brig.,
Whiting's Div,
Wills, T. B. K...
..II,
Do Bray's Command.
Wilson, J. M. C...
..G,
G
Tex , Hoss' Brig.
Wittingtou, A. J..
..K,
4
Tenn. Cav., Forrest's
Brig.
Wood, J. S
...I,
Forrest's old Reg.
Wornell, DC...
..1),
19
Tex., Parsons' Brig,
Wylie. J. F
..D,
12
Tenn. Cav., Forrest's
Command.
Yarborough.S. M.
..A,
13
Tex., Cannon's Brig.
Young, B. F
^'
Tenn., Brown's Brig.,
lireckouridge'sDiv.
Young, F. H
..A,
1
Tex. Cav., Ross' Brig.
Young, 11. W
..II,
3U
Tex. Cav.,Gano'sBrg.
Young, J. C
..K,
8
Ala., Wilcox's Brig.
Young, Seph
..E,
33
Tex. Cav., Gano's Br.
Young, W. P
..D,
48
Ala., Taliarerro's Br.
AVe SllSl)eet tl
at a 11
inil
er of iiaines in tlie
aljovu list are ii
isspell
J.i,
.111,1 there may l..e
some utlier erro
■s; but
we
lia\e taken great
pains to make t
le list
IS L
orreet as practic-
able.
?.\'V'';o«v:! .\.vn
,il ^ ■! , . t
U .,! I '.;.'!).
. ;i ■. ..II :■■■!■ •*
Vf '■>
T X ±ilt
1) ,i9yu1
in STOUT OF JOHNSON
DEa's ALAliAMA liKRlADK.
July 25, 1SS8, the veturans of Dea's x\la-
l,:un:i I Irij^a.lf licKl a icunioii at Ilillbhoru.
Muyur iJallard dclivercl tlio acldross of wel-
coine. Colonel Guorgc II. Kinibrougli of
KaiiiB comity then spoke in helialf of tiio
veterans. In the evening Cieneral l'"elix II.
lioleitson of Waco made a sjjlendid Bpeecli.
In the conrse of his remarks lie coinplinient-
ed the Federals for their liravery, especially
at Missionary Jiidge, saying that had the
North not been brave it would luive been no
honor to have defeated them on the many
battlefields.
J\lr. Derden made some very feeling re-
marks, Mr. Heaver spoke at length, and the
entertainment was closed with a hop by the
young folks.
II. L. Morris was chosen president, George
K. Kinibrougli vice i>resident, George AV.
Jones secretary, and Miss A. O. Snow treas-
urer. Judae A. ^V. I'arham was the oriiici-
lal cut
A thest
lliUsboro.
For the above occai
ity were dc-irous of
etia'an
1 the ladies of the
king a Gonb.lerate
tern. Therefore I\Irs. S. Leo Kennedy wrote
to Honorable Jefferson Davis, asking for in-
formation, and received the following letter
in reply, accom])anied by a card with two
hand-painted flags, the one on the left hand
being a Mag that was first used. This had a
ground of red and bars of blue running trana-
ver.sely, with stars in the blue bais. The
one on the right represented the Confederate
Hag that was used until the war was closed.
The following is the letter:
Ukai-voik, MississiiTi, Jn.Y 27, 1888.
Mks. S. Lkb Kknnkov,
J)Mr J/'ud,i,n:^^'r\iv Hag on the right was
the first adopted by the Confederacy. It
was subsequently changed, leaving out the
bars, and the union became, as 1 reincniber it,
like the battle-Hag you find on the left.
KespectfuUy and truly yours,
Jekfukson Davis.
The above interesting autograj)!! letter now
hangs in Dr. Kennedy's office.
illLLSUOKO OUAKUa.
This body received their charter and the
officers their commissions March 5, 1889.
It was then named Com])any D, and assigned
to the Second Kegiment. Soon afterward
they were uniformed.
January 9, 1890, a number of the old
members and others met in Hryant's Hall,
and reorganized as Comjiany F of the Second
Regiment of Voluntary Guaids, by electing
A. Iv Aaron Captain, S. Frank SuUenburger
First Lieutenant, U. A. I'liillips Second
Lieuleiiant, M. I). Haley First Sergeant, ( i uy
West Sec(.md Sergeant, Arthur Alexander
Third Sergeant, Horace Spooner Fourth Ser-
geant, Fd L. Orenbaun Fifth Sergeant, O. D.
Cheatham Secretary and Treasurer, Will S.
Mason First Corporal, J. Albert Rogers Sec-
ond Corporal, Louis West Third C^irjioral,
John L. Lovejoy Fourth Corporal, and J. li.
Jacobs Chaplain.
The monthly dues were fi.xed at 25 ceiitu,
and a sei'ies of rules were adopted, one
i( i ....■•:. .:. r.,ll
;;( v.::.-w,.t(^
1,, ■-,!.. ; , '■ Ml.,-:: .-;:/
,,.J ,;,,.;.,.. i !■ I ■'» vai.i . ..ivji^t (l"6'l'<t!:'i. ■>''<}yn,vA] O-t
iii.'Ui;;;' i! J •. '•■' 0 livM^lii '! ■■ ij i)S /b > >\ l,i ■; ,1 uJifUlliC'i
.. .; • ij.; , I ;.!_-;' fl-.«; I.J l.'O Ji ;. ;_' (i ,-•:) il lijlMii'^'-firtnil
■ '..'■' ...., , ,. :■., ,, I ■•:>^ '.y 'iM,; I..n ■ 'i.,.,u-lv
::l..u^ ■ ,i;r.U;;:.s,.:
.III ->ri'
ASD HILL CuCXTn
c' *Imo1i u;i- that the coinpaiiy mcut every
Kn.lay iii^ht.
i:.-i.h'.-, the Mlu.ve namo.l otlieers. the I'ol-
l,.>wn- iil,-oh:ive tlieir uaiue^ on the mu.ter
f,.ll: K. W. n.uiii.U, II. I'.ri^^-.s Cni;iiu|)
(•.liter, Siuu Col.lwutei-, John Cunithers,
i:. .M. ll-uirhiiie.s, J. M. La.-y, George L.
.\I,i.-.e, K. Uu.eiihaiiin, W. M. Williuiiis, Lee
Warren, D. B. West, J. II. Waltasky, Harry
llrrk, Jack Carter, (iregg Om.per, G. W.
Kl.lf, E. O. Hughes, Alhert Keen, William
I..u-y, W. Y. Murphy, James I'under, Ed
Kiavis, Ku.hing Garland, J. L. AVhite, T.
(larri-unand J. D. Thomas.
May IS, 1891, the guards elected S. F.
Sullcnherger Captain, O. D. Cheatham First
I.ieiiteu.iiit, II. (y. lieavis Secoml Lieutenant,
M. I). Haley First Sergeant, Will Mason
Second Sergeant, Secretary and Treasurer.
CRIMINAL.
The crimes which \vc notice as having oc-
ciirri'd in Hill county were not generally
committed liy those who could he strictly
called Hill county citizens; nor lia^ there in-
comiuunities. I!ut it is true that the most
])eaceable, industrious, law-abiding coininuni-
ty is just as liablo to be raided by highwaymen
and other classes of criminals as any com-
munity of lower morals, even if not more so,
as such people are apt to have more of tliis
world's goods and be less EUs[)icious of
strangers.
There have been oidy two verdicts for the
death penalty in Hill county, but nu man
actually executed by law.
The tir,-t case \va^ that of William" Ferrell.
who wa, indl.ted in lS7-i tor tlie murder of
Miss ]\fartha (iray on Cobb creek, this
county. May 2(5, that year, he and one
Henry I*arton went to a gr(jcery live miles
distant from Mrs. Gray's, whero l''errell and
wife lived, Mrs. Gray being his mother-iu-
law. They returned late, <lrinking on their
way live or si.x: times, Ferrell once losing his
s;iddle-bags, which were picked up by Parton.
Ferrell was talking a great deal, and at one
time said he wo\ild kill a man before the next
day. Ueaching Mrs. Gray's, Ferrell tried to
ride into the house, but was prevented by
his wife. He then called for the (accursed)
"old woman: "he inten.led to kill her. He
dismounted, went into Mrs. Gray's room and
employed himself some time in beating her
bed. Coining o\it and g"iiig through a
passage way, he found a hoe, broke tho han-
dle across a table, and, taking a piece of the
handle, two and a half feet long, lie went to
tho door of another room, where Isaac (iray
and one Seroggins were sleeping, and called
for " Ike." The latter i)acilied Ferrell, who
then commenced calling for Scroggins.
Scroggins by this time had put on his clothes,
and FerrelUtill calling for Scroggins, said,
"Come out, (i — d you; I'm going to
kill
you
iuii-np
Scrotririns tried to
pacify him but he still kept cursing and
threatening. Scroggins attempted to go out
by a low door, the only exit from the room.
Ferrell struck at him as he readied the door
with a piece of the lioe-liandl(\ and hit the
UV.' ,!.■ // „■;•;„.-,,;■ .;l
! i.-J-
;;...: .;.- ijM ,;,) Jl.'l .>-l v
• 1! ;,!■,' ,-■ •■ ;,iii
,ti t -Kin avjii! <l) ]'j); '-US uir(n'.,q ri
ii*< ,' iiii\--,.ji' ^ilj
o-.v; /i.i.M.iMd.i.i^ii ^.tmI'i
IIISTIIUV OF JOHN SOX
.'foro thu ISuiiremo Court at AiiBtiii.
tu]> ut Ilie door. ^fi-iigi;nitf UH'H fcprunf^ mioii ■■■-■■ ------- -- - ,
l\,,vll. i.u.hin,' l.i.n with one hand and' Au^^i.t U, 188.!, Ju.,,.r "MrM nll.n nhot
d kl\h'\ \V;.-),. WIhI.-, ;; ixyno, ;,t ll,f ithI-
to], of tlie door. Sfi-oggins tlien sprang upon [ '"-
]'
.-;;.i-i if.^' '.wtl, ti,.- (Jiit r. n-inr/a .-n.ali pocket
knilf 'iLiN kolli ti'll to"illiiT. Scroirirjtis dciu-c- of .ilrs. Alift- Sloan, in tlie tontlierii
kc].[ .-tab!. in- hiia ai fait a. l,.-Coul<l. FerrdI part of lIilL~b.>ro. (_)n trial, in tl.u tVdiowing
tr^in^Mo catcli l,i, liandb. RrroJl'., wife in- , < ''-'"'"-r, he was bentenrud for ninuty-nino
torpo^-fd and tried to pull Scroggins otf. The | Jfars in the penitentiary.
spran.
xXovenil.er 29, ISSG, Nip Allen and Gran
an as fa.-t as lie could. Ferrell received ville Oliver came near escaping from jail,
level! ^tahs intlicted hy Scroggins, hut none Ihiving concealed themselves henealh the
,r them dangerous. Aided hy his wife, Fer- iH.nches by aid of hlankets, the; seized
ell went to his roouj, hut at once got away Deputy Clanipitt as ho entered the corridor,
aoain, returned to the door, and, seeing Miss and
Martha Gray, exclaimed " 1 will save one of
you," and tired, the sliot taking effect, from
which fhe died two days afterward.
The mother of the deceased afterward tes-
tified that her daughter, when conscious of
the apj.roach of death, said she knew Ferrell
had shot her hy mistake! At the following
term of court Ferrell was convicted and sen-
tenced to he iiung; hut after an appeal a new
trial was had, wliicli resulted in a sentence of
for a ph-.t(il, with
It ft
twenty live y.
J. :\[. Drake, for the killin>i- of (iuinn in
whicii, had they found it, they might have
shed blood or taken life; but I\[r. tMampitt
cried out and thus attracted the attention of
Sheriff t'ox, at the breakfast table below, who
ran to the rescue, thi-cnving the brakes upon
the door and so securing the prisoners.
At noon, June 15, 1887, the prisoners of
the Jlill county jail, consisting of two white
men and one negr(j, attemjited to escape
when the <leputy was handing them their
dinner, and the sherilf, Mr. Cox, was endeav-
oring to put the bral<e oa the door. In the
ISiK), was twire convicte.l ot murder in the .-cullle M r. ( 'o\ was seriously wounded, and
lir.-t degree and sentenced to be hanged, but it Was immediately reported that he was
by appeal, etc., he was sentenced for lite, and i killed. AVith the aid of his own family and
now he is in the Waco jail awaiting the re-
Bidt of another ap[)eal.
March U, 1883, Thomas J'. Varnell killed
Janus Land, four miles from Hubbard City.
For the trial he took a change of venue to
Kllis county, where he was sentenced for
twelve years, for murder in the second
degree^; but some point of his case is
some of the citizens he succeeded in getting
the prisoners back into prison
"William IJoberts, a respected resident of
the southwestern j.ortion of tlie county, was
murdered hy highwaymen December 14,
1887, when about eight miles from Aquilla.
Two other men were with him and had a
narrow esca](e from death.
'/ .| Z 'O-'.iil ,t!
'(,■ I ■ . -A.
mn HILL COUNTIES.
Muivli 18, 1SS8, Joliii Pitts, a lawyer at
lliil.lMnl City, shot and iiillcd Davi.l Storn,a
1,-a.liii^r mcTcliant of that phiL-e. Stc-ni had
iimmI unwaiTantod hui-ua-c rcllucting upon
tiic wifo of iMr. I'itts.
Mart. Gliassurd was siiot and killed by a
hoy named Penrod near Jiluni, May 12,
1SS8.
On Saturday, Se])temher 12, 1S8'J, J. T.
lIll^hes, livino; at ]\[ertens, hruu<flit two
hales uf cotton to Ilillshoru, which he sold
for )<W. The reeeiptB in his pockets after-
ward fiiiowed that he had paid out about ifiSO,
and that thei-efore lie was probably robbed of
about ^V>0.
IJefore starting home he had tried to em-
ploy cotton-])ickcr8, and succeeded in obtain-
ing one, with whom he started from town in
his wagon about three o'clock in the after-
noon. His dead body was found lying in a
little gully in tli(^ ])ublic road about one and
a half miles iVom Ilill.boro, just beyond the
corporate limits. Mrs. Keithly au<l her
daui^htcr, residents of Indian Territory, were
in a wao;on ju^t ahead of the murdered man,
who had tried to jiass them, when Mrs.
Keithly .luickencd the pace of her h,.rscs,
and had not gone nu.ro than 200 yards when
she heard a |)istol shot, and on looking back
saw a man falling over the side of the wafon,
which so frightened her and her daughter
that they drove on. The murderer has never
been captured.
On the night of October 2G, 1889, James
McOowen and Mr. Cobb, a book a'^ent, were
in Woodliury together and agreed to go to
tiie Dallas fair. Leaving Woodbury in a
rude cart, to take the train at Itasca, they
reached a point about live miles from the
latter place when two men suddeidy appeared
in the road in front of their horse, which
caused him to shy, throwing out the occu-
j)ants of the cart. The robbers, for such
they proved to be, stepped aside and let tiie
horse pass, when they immediately "covered"
McOowen and Cobb with pistols and ordered
them iKjt to move. While one of the robbers
hold them under cover the other robbed them
of their valuables, obtaining $05 froiu Cobb
and 685 from McCowen. While Cobb was
being robbed his watch drop])ed out of his
pocket and was picked up by one of the
robbers. Cobb begged him not to take the
watch, as it was a present tVom his mother.
The robber cursed him and said, "We don't
want your watch: it's money we'i-e after."
It was very dark at the time, and the
gentlemen could not tlistiguish tho features
of the robbei's. After finishing, the highway-
men said a "[lolite" gooii-night to them, and-
told them that their horse had gone east, and
that they had better move along iu that
directhiu.
On the evening of Noviunber 22, 188il, at
about half after seven o'clock, as Mr. Cieorge
Counts, a very (piiet, industrious and respect-
able young man living with G. A. Richards
near Fort Graham, was on his way home
from AVhitney, wdien, on reaching Cedar
creek, he was suddenly ordered to halt by an
individual standing by the roadside and hold-
ing his horse by the i-eins. As young
Counts turned his face toward this man he
was Budileidy struck acr(jss both (iyes by a
.,:: ,..■.'! ^..■: w .■ . ;<M,;li; ir,; ..,; l !• ;:' -u. ■ ' <'M'-,.,;- ;., v,:U lis!!: ,' '.itJl .!o,!,; ,-^!i; n.'li;>i.'i»
r/iL", ,w: J.- ,-..L...Ii .;.. .■.■'':''■ ■■.>.■' ciij'i.':!/ ,,-;iiv/ .,■!!
.;, ,, : :] ^v, 'J'-i ji!'!' -U.:) ' 1 '-'i l--' I'-.^^'i- 1 'i y>(i. .'. i l..n« i(. ic: i;.v/ i.i;;g -j;ilO JiiilA
.,,.■.. ,■• VI',',:,,. , V'.'' ^-'■^■■' - - ^'— '^- ' ^^^^i
tnuii) tjy"-uo-i Ttiiijii '"iJ i;v<._o . L.I11. .iijiii Lioii { bios i/.! ii:.ii!si< ,..njUblliJi ..,;) i:<jJ>!uj lo fa'jUil
hj ■: ..u'..; CI. :.iV/ . :jv/,>0:i'.. i'i<n't Ctk 'tij; ' , '•i.:j. j:,(i(Ji: lUv f! ] hf;'il oj 3j:i1j buwoil^. tl'iV/
uij 'iO - ■" I JC'M .;■ li:;J i?/ ■ ■ ■ mKL'i >.ii' 'i' j ^O b.')JJ.r! \ |i!M.>ii -iij «|,'.,- (lil 0-IOi)'Cj|IJ .Ull' Lillt
•^I't 'tt, j;-. .. 'I I-.' (. ■ ■ ■.-.V !'"i; .'•■;!:>>. ' .(K)4 ;;,.ijii
;-,,,; ...V.' ,.' .; .1, ■,;;:! ..., ■ ' u;^..,L» 0 ..pi.-, ^ ::,■ ^ ' : ,.-■'■--' ■:;: i!><(n',r ■ > ,^,;i
.,.^,,-,;,. ,:f ,,,;,,;, :,,,,:, ,, :,v- .; ;;, ,..,lr-,' l' ->;.^. - ■ -.Ijv.' ■ ■.! , ...1.:. ..!: , M.,. ..,■■,• Y-I.l
' ,I',i) ■•V/' ' ,'i.;, , l.,!.i .llill I -■ I-:) !.)(■ I'J' j/r ■■! I'V^'J f. 'i l-j/-.,i;' "..i If-il.'.' :!j>V ^0,1(, J;;ll
. M" '■■ ■■ |,%'i- a'l; '' ,',;,v ■!(;>,•,• ■,.,■,■■ ■'■ • --^it^ ■•■ ■■■■'.'•■.:.. ■ ,ii- -IK,,',, .:ru;' '/ ?!i!
•„ji: . '..;: ,:j : . \--\ ' 1,!., ; i:': . i • .''i '■" •■■■ '^ ' ■ -'■ i-"[. ■■\<'i\f'>< i ni
..;.--( - ,,,,^,- ... i .,.. . ,^. .:•■ ^ -.1 ■'■- ^' •-; - ' -''i'V -■"*'>!
■,,,., I,.,;.;,, ,i, ■,,;;!„ • i ,,,,/-■!■,■ i, 1, ■ ,■ i J ^..lrJ.,^.l l«- I,-:. .!,.i:;, 1,.; ; : :'j a SMHil flllfl
,.;., , : ,,,,,,, .- : .,, ,,• ;■ ,., .,, , ..,,-i • ,. • ; ,; ..-.:■ ■■:.,i: ;,^.'i :-.;! .- M !'4;i^ ..., uv.iv,.
,j, , ,,,;,:-.., ■- .-^^ - /-;■■ . ■' .- ' ■■' ' -■■!'• '- --* • ■-■'•'■*^' 1-n'.' I...b
^^, ,^.' -_ ,., . :,.,:,;,, .;[i'. : .; ■■■'.,.:.■:> .di: i..,lqi;o ll,'f<i
,' ,,; i;.,;i ,' .'.;•■ •■!:( -.r .. .'ih. ^ , ;r.' 'it. i:i .,.:::, i. ' ' '' 1 - v^fuJiM l<. Jiljjill 0(!J ilO
,,,,,-, ■ ;. '; ,, ; .,, ' .,,;: ,,,.v.^ •,,:..-■.,-.: ,.iilo') ,-.M !...ii iiM,vu:.)-)W
,■ ,,,,;; :,i| ■■."■,.,,, ,-, ,; . ,! : ■■ II, ■^.,;.' .. ,,v ■ : -'!>;' i'"'-: "il'"v • v-hi.H.„oV/' fa
lllSTdUY OF JulIKtiON
"(|uirt." At tlu' .v;iiii<- instant aiidther man,
jiinj[iLMj fi(uii Ijcliiiul u tPLC, caiii^'ht Ooiuits"
LricJlf in ihc k-ft Land and with his right
hand attempted to pull Counts from his
hor-i;. j\ll thio wliilu Counts was spurrinj^
hi^ animal with thu liojie of e-eaping.
At ahunt this juucturu the individual hold-
ing the horso began cutting at Counts, the
first j.a^s cutting through the hrim of his hat
and into his coat and \e6t, and tlio second
stroke sticking his left hreast just below the
heart. The blade being arrested by the sus-
pender buckle, no marks were made by either
stinke. At this moment Counts succeeded
in getting out his knife, a perfect sword in
aji|ieaiance, and leaning forward plunged it
to the iiilt in the left shoulder (;f his opjio-
neiil. The man theneric(l ont that he was
badly cut. His arm, which was holding
Count,^' bridle, lost its hold, and Counts,
seeing he was free, i)lunged the sjjurs into
liis horse and was soon hon:iel
During the entire time but two words
were spoken,— •' Jlalt " and "1 am badly
cut." No clue was afterward olitained to the
leiitity of the villains.
In N..veml.er, 1S8-, an intelli
looking young man, representing his name
as (.ieoi'gc Taylor, and his fraternal relation
as an Udd Fellow, tried his hand at begging
in lliUsboro, aiding hiuiSelf by forging
immt^s to a subhcriptioii jjaper for his relief.
l!y t-iiowiiig this ]iaper to an Odd Fellow he
hoped to obtain contributioirs and genuine
signatures, for a dollar or so. After obtain-
in.r in this manner a dollar (U' two in lliUs-
boro he went to Aharado and swindled the
brethren there out of 620, when he was
caugiit at hi.-> tiiek.-, and was soon tiled, con-
victed and sentenced at Cleburne to five
years in the penitentiary.
In the fall of 1S87 II. C. Brown of Ilills-
lioro was deputed by Sheriff' Co.x to arrest a
man in Fort Worth. Ujioii discharging his
duty thereanotherman in that city, who knew
r)rown but not as a deputy, had him arrested
for kidnaping, and Brown was lodged in jail
over niglit, awaiting the session of court next
morning. In court he jiroduced his authority
and was relea.~ed. The haste and ignoranco
of the Fort Worth man were inexcusable
prisoiiment.
As to the character of the people generally
in Ilillsboro, we (piote the following from
the AV/ZcvA'/' of July 2U, IbSO:
"^'olwith^tallding the tirade of abuse in-
dulged in by the so called P.ev. (?) Co<ii)y [a
jjreaclier of " sanctitication " or sinless per-
fection in this life, who had just been in
Ilillsboro) against the good people of this
city, we venture to say that there does not
exist in Texas or elsewhere a city of its size
which contains a more Christian, moral and
upright people, who endeavor to live uj) to
the Scriptural injunction to dove thy neigh-
bor as tliystdf.' No murders have occurred
here, no elopements, no burglaries, no social
bcandals, no heinous crimes, and there are
but few citizens who are nut attached to some
church. Hence, what right has this fellow
(.iodby to come into our midst and charge
that •Ililkboro peoj.le are on the road to
I... . ..<!,. : -/.i
-i;i,).- ■>
.£ -'.■-;!)!] J) . i' ii/i ('ill 'ji-i -l•,,:JU^ i
.;1 ;.r.;:
.;■;.. ^.i.i .(J .li l...,f.vl ic.,.: r-i.;,i
i-.ii
• ■■ . ' "J . ., _... :■ ' <■ " :■>'. !: , .// yijb ■.'',■■ J:i')
.J'l^l./. j :. .^; ,.ll i;.;i;. .■t.i' l(,( .-Kc'l , ydlM^C.'/. ,ll
in 'C. ■) I .■! );!!,[ .1 'i(t>-,!',il -.i I 1 n; .■!■ 'i'(_..'r ■;j'i' ' • ' -Ji
AND HILL COUXTIE^.
u\\: ..ii.i Ik. ■iH.jK.a i.uforc tiiL
n.i-ftiii.' tci Ik- iiMc to RMleeiii tli
TIh'i
ire iiiiui
y ,..o.l people who
»UKvr>' in tliuir belief und relijriuudly follow
Mr. (i.Mlliy; but there are alK> (piite u
iiuiiibir ot our best citizens, lueiiibers of the
c!iurcli, who positively (iecliiic to attend his
iiiieiiii>,r.s, notwithstanding the jiastor, Kev.
('. S. Fields, stated from tho pulpit that he
Hud the [.residing elder, Kev. W. K. 1).
Stoekton, liad e.xtended to him an invitation
to ocL-u])y the Methodist clnireh, and he
hoped his eongreoatioii would attend and
help."
(iodby's hinguaoe is common to those wlio
im- bo wrapt uj) in some particular I'eligiouu
teiiel.-, that they are inclined to judge jieople
11= iiiiHi.jral, or at least stublxjrn enough
H;^ain.-.t the " truth " as to wai-rant their pas-
Kigc t.i hell. About the time of the above
o.'currence Kev. ,) . K. Jacobs, pastor of the
I'resbyterian church in llillsboro, published
in the liejlcvtor an article containing ten
iiigiiments against the claims of the '■ saneti-
licatiuuists."
lioth as a sample of grand jury work and
of the county, ue here give the rt'|ioi-t of the
grand jury at the Afarch (ISUl) term of the
District Court;
-We, the grand jury, duly impaneled at
this term of the District Court, having
tinished our labors, beg leave to rej)ort us
follows: That we have been in session twenty-
one .lays
and h;
presented eightcsen indict-
ments for felonies and forty-nine indictment
(or misdemeanors, making sixty-seven in al
AVe lind high crimes \n our county decreas-
ing, moot of our time being consumed in
investigating misdemeanors.
"We have examined the books of our tax
collector, ta.x assessor, treasurer, district clerk
and county clerk, and lind them neatly and
propei-ly kept.
"The jail we found well kept, and the
])risoners kindly treated; but recommend to
the commissioners' court that they have the
lower part of the jail repainted and renovated.
"On examination w-e found the poor farm
to be well managed, and commend the super-
intendent for etiiciency.
"The i)ublic roads in our county wo tind
to be neglected too much and often obstructed,
and recommend to the commissioners' court
that they see that all road overseers forthwith
open up and remove all obstructions from
their roads, and that they take such stepjs as
are necessary to protect said overseers, because
we iiiid that through fear and intimidation
some overseers have failed to open up and
I'cmove fences and other obstructions fi-om
their public roads.
" We further suggest that in swearing in
bailiffs for the gi'and jury, the regular con-
stables be given pi'eference, and only tlujse
that are needed for actual service be sworn in
and retained for grand-jury service.
" We leturn thanks to Special Judge A. P.
McKinnon for his able charge when he im-
paneled us, and we also thank your lujuor
[lion. J. M. Hall, District Judge I and County
,.y Ivy
kindness and
ssistance
" AVhereuiiun wi
charged.
jpectfully ask to bedis-
J. (i. Hawkins,
Fo,
I>et's orteiier Uilk oI'hoI.Ilm- deeils,
Aiul rarer ol' Uie l)ud onus,
And siDg about our hiippy days,
And uot about the aad ones.
We were not made to fj el and sifjli,
And wUen grief Hleoits to wake i
Bri;^lit hai)piness is standing by :
Tliis lite is what we make it.
JMU
• «'•'
••"■' '-''■
^.f
t.i:
t: .:;■':>
yj J
1.
M . •!;;;- v
',! 1.
wL:! .;/.
■■n! .(iij
-'-''I
.„i
. .:v/,wi. I
: r-;!(.i'j ! in J mi I
I J»! 1.m'o,,.:.-.i(- fll'l. ,(-..[ r>a:Tl. UiU ,jV '•
1^5 l-i'i ] It '^l f- I A v'."* .-i-IO' ..:! ICO Uillfciilil
j ■ ^i.r 'ViJ II' •• rl iMilt! !..'//;:! nil J«ilT :f//()!i'iil
UtSTUHV OF JOHNSON
Let's find llio biiiiny side of men,
All we lieliovers in it;
A light tliero lain every soul
Ins |,
, Fchruury 2S, LsBli, niul inove.l with
ircnt.s tu Tu\;ts in 1 kwiniicr, 1S50,
Tliiil laUes llie jjatlis li) win it.
O. there is si umbering gouil in nil,
And we perctiance may wiike it;
suttlii
g at Nu\ari-u, in I.uoii county, in wliicli
he wu^ district cK-rk, and also iiad tiic
Our luiiul, cnnl:iin the magic wun.i;
Thi-, lil'e is what we raal<e it.
He w
uliice afterward in McLennan t^oiinty.
is a resident of Ilillsltoro for tweiity-
MI.■^CELLA^•E()rS.
tffd \
L-arf. dnriij^r a greater part of wliieh
Tiii; L 'l".n:v ;•■.■ 'i. ; ai;m
time 1
-e was coniircieJ with the realeitate
and huildii.g. are neatly and ec.noniically
kei.t. Tliere are two welid^uilt liou^eson the
farm for the accommodation of the [laupers
(jini)-tered there, of wdioin there are ahout a
lialf dozen, and as many convicts for misde-
meanors are also ivepton the phice. The hitter
need imt very little close supervision. The
calaboobc in which they are housed over night
ic a comi>lete little jail, in the upper story of
which the guard sleejjS.
For Ihe lad three years John C. Cook has
been sujjerintendent, preceded by John Evens
and J. .M. ("oUey.
HISTORY OF nif.I, COUNTV.
S. A. Ueavis in 1SS3-'81, published a
small manual of ninety-two pages etititletl,
'• llilU^ounty, Tojiographic;d, Statif^tic, Ite-
souices and (uinTal Status;" but at least half
of the workeon^istsot■ fcnanal advertisements,
Btantially advei-tise:neiits. As an exception
to the rule, iMr. Iteavis made considerable
money out of his little enterprise. He was a
brilliant man, well-read and of original ideas.
He was for a time county judge, and built
the last courtliouso precediny the present
one. He died November 24, 1SS7, in llills-
boro. He was born in Lincoln county, Teti
a.'id '.i:\ i-a_'eiJoy bnsineis, and was without
doubt the best po.■^ted man in the (^ounty on
land titles and claims. Eor some years be-
fore his .leath he liad very feeble health.
A CASK OF liKMAliKAliLE I'lCKVlSION.
The Uclicctor of November 10, 1887, re-
lates this:
'• Mr. A. (^. Hibbee, a good citizen, died in
this cityOctober 15, 1887. Mr. David Hibbee,
his father, who re:,ides a few miles north of
Milford, related to us the following remark-
able facts concerning the death of hiss(jn and
others connected witli the family.
" ' My son, during the first week of his ill-
ness, remarked tliat he had the gift of C^rand-
father Uibbee. The night before he .lied he
was at his bedside, atid he put his hand up
aiul dr.'W him close, and .said, -I am t,, die at
ten o'clock to-night.' 'This,' he then said,
'is wdiat 1 had reference to when I sp.ike to
you of having the gift of my grandfatlier;'
and in accordance with the hist statement
"•The above appears remarkably strange
from the fact that the grandfather alluded to
had told his father, two ye;irs befoi-e his
de;ith, the time he would depart. He told
his mother si.x months before she departed
iir!.Ki-'j<i, ;i u-
■"'''1.'
1
i. 1 lu. /, J.;
Ill i S^r ■ .^i: ..>,!/„
i<\iu.'i,nh
! O^J OJ
. . '. ( [
l( .0,...
i .u-H.iJ
.LXD HILL COUNTIKS.
wliL'M .-l.f should diis and liis wife tliat tlioy
wuuld lusu twu uf tlicir children (luy hru-
Ihri-r,) at a certain time, wideli eaino to pa.s;
and liien, .Miiee I can leeollect, he ruretohl
my si.-ter'ri death. Ilo also foretold their
cousin's death, l>y sayinir, 'Children, you
don't helieve in foreonlinatioii, but your
cousin is now sitting at the tabk' at liipley,
eatini( with all the appearance of a hale and
hearty man;' hut, pointing to the sun, said,
' Hefore it settles in the West lie will be a
corpse.' iS'oiie of ns knew where he then
was. Tliat same day my father received a
message that the cousin alludeil to abcve
wanted liim to come and see him, as he
had the cholera. My father went, and my
cousin died at live o'clock that evening.
"•Another time my fatiier made a similar
remark, baying, ' Your uncle Jo and his son
Alfi-ed are now quarreling, and befoi'o the
dispute ends Alf will strike Ins uncle with
a stick, which will cause his deatli. Alf is
not to blame, but will have to suffer the
penalty of the law.'
" ' A few years afterward word was brought
to tlie tdl'ect that such an occurrence had
Inkcn place, and he di.d from ihe elVeclsof a
broken .knll, causc'd by being struck with a
handspike. lie also told of my mother's
death, which came to pass at the time men-
tioned. 1 could enumerate to a dozen simi-
lar instances, but deem the above suilicient
to show what a remarkable gift of forc^-
telling the coming of death the Hibbee family
were possessed of.' "
Such instances as the above are compara-
tively rare in the Southern States of America,
but common among foreigners, who are tar
more numerous in the Northern States than
in the Southern. In Europe and in Asia,
whence come the foreigneib in the IS'orthern
States, these things are very common, mi.xej
up with gypsyism, Spiritualism, fortune-
telling, '• claii'voyance,'' etc., etc., and are all
charged to arttind coinciilence in medical and
other scientific works, as no scientific man
can believe that any one can truly pro|)hesy
further than as inferrible from jiresent and
jjast facts.
TATl^KNAI, M>\.
Dr. Cason, of the " XIX Medicine (!oni-
pany," one day in the spring of Ib'JO, went
ito I'eoria on a
pony dressed in
ribbons, crying out in an excited manner, '• I
am going to tell it; 1 am going to tell it."
The people thoiiglit he was going to collect a
crowd and tell tiiem of some new medicine or
discovery he liad made. Stopping, lie alighted
and l)egan piling goods boxes upon one
another to a great height, all the while say-
At length, as he mounted his stand of
bo.xes, a waggish by-stander awakened out of
ids reverie enough to ask him what he was
"going to tell." At first he seemed a little
dazed, considei-ing his dangerous iieiglit; but
in a moment he recovei'ed himself sutKciently
to deliver liis little speech, which was this:
"Well, gentlemen, it's a lioy, a ten-pounder,
somewhat like his daddy in that jiarticular!"
Disnumnting, he jumped upon his pony
ami away he went, wliile his many fi'iends
and all the boys besides indulged in U.i.ter-
ous iatiohter.
'.•.".VVV,
...' ;::. „■.. ,^';..;.. ■■ ■ 1 ^,^..110; .:.;:;, ■iK>-/ J ll'l /^.,:J,.•.li ' i V, ..:,: f 'j! . ,:.! i- I .h'-i U Jtir' UMli
i,j:iii >.'iMU<& nh'ii)ii'»l J.i) -., ii;..,.IJt,JiJJ /...' , .-.'1 I 'i^fj ::rtl-'i;l') '(-(J) |<i ,iV/J Uiul ul;l'
,i.:iA 1,. lau oj.^.i al .1. ...l...(<;^ Olli ui j , ■ m^ 'iJ ^:/;-- .'\^'-r ,:nu>-i ii'i..' .,■■■ ': !i; ("':.; '
n'> '1 ,'■' iii.' ci ■■■: . .sL<!'i'i f.iM:' yiii>,-j ijirji' '■ '.'idlui.iTt yil .-1:.'j! •■■•)■•■ ,!:,-_' 1 •j'.,!:!^ ifjiij Li
L' '; .'I , I'llWliUl-' ■. O-JU fc^>|.if.;j -j./j;;; ,6t>li;!>; :.'./:.) Li(.>)[.-lol Oil;. < '■] liju'.b ri'.Oi-.ia ^:
illl -n« '.. I, ..■:■■ ..•-■!;■ ",'"';"!r . •ii;;!:.."- ^v.;li;4':I I •)!), I, ^ J w.i .(; )• 'j.,! , Ii'iv,.- , Ji i!l ;>/'.'ll'j,i «'" .
I'liri,' '::',i jiK ^1 .'j.^Ij 'i .,■:.■■:' '-j j 1 'liia ,i .. 'li' v '. ■jnijii'.K^ .ill!! '-liuai yj'hjo'!
'f liua ..l.iiMlal.P ^ '(b.h -.v'l'r) ■ . mJ 111... ->f l.,-,V- ,,h ;,?,,;•;,. J; y,.-!->H '
, ).<ji' .R, ; HUM :•'! ^cr-u' .- , i. 1 .! ^.d 1., i.. u/ -v. ,■.,_,,
•r-1
■.. irnllA
I/. i.: -Huq^ll,
"i "> '
.. )■ ..(:: yill ...J
.'!» ai..Ii-iJ
-!r..V. yl,
iiiaronv of jounsun
Accoi-diu- to tho Iluhhani City Xcws,
Ctiluiud J. 11. Oiistdtt \v:Lb tlu' uiiltickiest
mail oil (;lii-istiiiii.s(layuf 1MS5 that tliu editor
liail uvLT licanl uf. ILu rt-cuived a .^15 bliav-
ingca-o and outiit, and, ihuugli lifty yeari
ohi, he liad neviT ..liaved himself in his life
and had no use for his tools. Ne.\t he re-
(■ei\ed a 5^25 meerschaum jiipc from Fort
Worth fi-iendt-, and was ahuiit to laugh over
that, hut rellected that he never in his life
smoked a pi
P'l"
111
,-ed a
uf
e.\celleiit siisjienderd on the Christmas tree;
but hUbjienders wei'e things that never erosted
Ilia shoulders. A $15 set uf shirt huttons
was presented him, but his friends all knew
that he seldom buttoned his shirt!
William D. Cleveland, of Austin, however,
struck him right by sending 100 fresh oys-
ters; but he lost them, and still cuuld not
laugh, lie said he was not born lucky, but
li\-ed ill hopes that ne.xt Christmas he would
get things more to his taste, — a cigar-case,
lor instance, and a loadeil quirt and a demi-
]^'l
and
tho Colonel
lattL
ud!
juld he well tilled: so
]5illy Long, son of Dr. W. ].. Long, of
Peoria, deceased, is the hero of an interesting
story in the New York Wuiid, in the summer
of ISSS. lie went to Suutbern Arizona,
wdiere he became one of the best known char-
acters as a [)lucky scout among the blood-
thirsty Iiulinns. Tlio story, three columns
in K-iigth, is reproduced in the llillboro
Rcjledvr of July 12, 1888. The " Little
Scout," as he is sometimes called, was brought
up on the frontier as a cattle-driver, and even
from his youth was used to fighting the lu-
speiit some of his leisure time in search of
preciou,= metals.
E\igene Caruthers is another Hill county
boy who went west to Arizona and distin-
guished himself in dispatching a desperado
there, a I'apago Indian named JIanueL Ho
is a nepiiew of Captain Jack Caruthers, a
lawyer of Waco.
"TIIELOYAI. So.NS AND DAUOilTEKS OFl'Hl'J SOU'l'll ,"
is the nameuf a secret order founded by J. S.
Moore, who instituted the first lodge at
Teoria, this county, in April, 1890. At the
ex-Confederate meeting held in llillsboro a
few weeks previously, one of the speakers
chanced to say that the old worn-out ex-
( Confederate soldier had no one to look after
him in his old age, as did those who wore the
blue. This remark gave Mr. Moore, who
was present, an idea that it would be a good
thing to oi-ganize a secret order to look after
such Worthy heroes. Thinking over the
matter he finally developed the idea and got
everything arranged in a must satisfactory
manner and began organizing lu<]ges. The
following is from the constitution of the
order:
" Profoundly impressed that ve, the loyal
sons and daughters of the South, united by
strong and faithful ties of love and honor for
oui- Ijrave ex-Confederate fathers, and believ-
ing they were not traitors and rebels but
true, jiatriotic men who believed they were
l.-/.i,,d .J>- .. h-.'-
» i .,-^ . ..■■. i„(,[
, i\ t'.l I&JJV Jlll'W 'lliW
•r 1 -ii
I'lji'
,Jj:i
,-^;,,. 1
10 ti'.M i " ' .'.T ijK » '■ lU .iA i 0.. jJl''l •' ; ' iJ • ••HI 'a: ;!' .' J IJ ,;0 o'K (il'ii j-i.iri I it';!fo ./-J
6 ;'..'.M; ; l,''i. ') 1 13 ; .•'' A ^-^lyliii' .'ilb till
'it'ij« .
.M
iJ .- o; ! ••>.:5>.i:' I
'.!. lo
,!l l-.;)' = ' ■ ■; -1 -■
'O .\\/A
AND lUl.L COUNTIRS.
277
li;,'litiiifT for triitli and iioblo priiu'ij)lt'S, Tor
tlirir fduutiy ;iiicl for tliuir I'ights, tiliould and
Wo tlinvfuic ivsclv,.:
"1. 'JV. l.onor and defend tlic true and
iioblu patriotism uf tiie ex-Oonl'udurate sol-
diers iuid the jiirftieo of the cause for wiiicli
tliey enlisted and wliicli they so ij;allantly
defentiod.
•' 2. To hdior for and su]>port tlie needy
and disalded ex-Confederate soldiers and save
tiiein from the wants of this life.
"3. To protect and suppoi't the needy
widows and orphans of the ex Confedei'ate
soldiers, and endeavor to procure for them
iiappiness in their fatherless Iionies.
" -1. To inculcate in our children ever to
lose and honor our ex-Confedeiate fathei's
and the justice of the lost cause, but at the
same time to love, honor and lalior to protect
the grand and powerful union of the United
States."
But on account, it is said, of the expensivo-
iiess of the institution it could not get nnder
full headway. It is always a pity that chari-
table contributions cannot bo de\oted wholly
to their object without loss from friction of
handling.
KII.Ll-;!! HY LI(iUTNIN'(i.
Early in May, 1H85, Mrs. Lucy Smith, wife
of J. C. Smitli, livin;^ just west of the depot
in IliUsboro, was killed by lightning. She
was beginning to "-ecover from a severe spell
of sickness.
i'ioxi;i:iis coiNo !
As an example of the increasing rapidity
with which tiie pioneers of Hill county are
fading from it.s domain, we clip the following
item from a recent nundier (December, 18'J1)
W
the pa
^'•'I'
taken froui earth to that other World no less
than 8e\'en of the few remaining pioneer
Texas men and women remaining in Hill
county. These good old people who had
withstood the many hardships and trials of life
for the greater part of a century and who, it
would seem, were capable of battling success-
fully with e\ery conceivable species of mis-
fortune, were forced at last to yield to this
dread destroyer.
Mrs. Mahala I^arker died at her homo in
Whitney on the 19th, ag(Ml eighty-four
years.
The death of Mrs. J. T. Townsend is just
announced from Ilni(jn IJlulf, at the age of
sixty.
Ml-. W. K. McLendon of the same neigh-
borhood has just crossed the dark river, at
sixty-five.
Mrs. Julina Keaves had i)a8scd the four-
score mark when the death angel came.
Mrs. Thompson died recently at the home
of her son-in-law, J\layor M. ]). Ivuox of this
city, in her seventy-tirst year.
The death of Colonel f). D. Sanderson is
reported fi'om AV^liituey, at a ripe age.
It is learned here to-day that Jiov. J. C.
llogers of the Methodist church 'ied on the
IGtli at his home, near (Jovington, in his
seventy-fourth year. This Christian gentle-
man was born in Lawrence county, Tennes-
see, January 2G, 1S18. Twenty years later
he remo\ed to Perry county, Alabama. At
■•li :■■'[ ; ' ' ,-.■. M', !j -lot <1I = 'I''U'I
'•ri'"'
uT
.11. '.;/-..!<' .-'i ■ :-,»o-, ^ ■' V' ' ■' ■■;■■' luiV ,■ i ;. -;i.tiv, :.,o")o -li'idl ot
'I I). , .'.'to ■■■I .'•' i':i., 1 :..ij Juq.l
.1) liM.lv,- if.i
UISVOHY OF JOHNSON
tlic ()iitl)ro;ik of
lldStilit
OS with Mexico l,c
tail
iiig '1:10 acres taken oil' the survey iifori;-
went, to the I'roiit
an.l i
was while ut Vcia
8ai,
made for Tiioinas "Si. Steiiier, asbiirnce of
el |). lloiistoii, Ijy virtue of certiiicate
Cniz with tliu
Anier
can army that lie
Xo
b2. ir,Hiieil l)y the coinmiHsioiier (jf Mer-
i.r, :u-h(- 1 hi:, lir-
t .-rrilM
h, which ua.- to lii.s
ccr'
- colony on the Kith .lay (,f April, 1850,
c..;nr..J.~ i:i .u:i,-. l'rx:i tha li i.c to the
yl.x\- Kji hii .irath lie Wa.^ C'. cT proiuilient in
rv-ii:^i.ii- circle;, ho!J::j^ nja:.y pjiitions u!'
tr.ir: in church aii'.iiri.
lIlLL.SBoIio.
The location of the county seat at Ilills-
boro, upon land donated hy Thomas M. Stei-
iier, ha.^ already been noticed, in jjart. Fol-
lowini^ is a copy of Stuiner's deed to the
county:
State of Texas, (
County of Hill. \ Know all men by tlies-e
presents, that I, Thomas M. Steiner, of the
county of Hill and State of Texas, for and in
consideration of tiie county seat being located
upon the following desci-ilied tract of land, to
wit: A 32()-acre survey made for mo by vir-
tuo of certificate No. 82, issued on the 16th
day of April, 1850, by the commissioner of
JMercer's colony, the receipt whereof is here-
by acknowledged, have this day granted,
made over ami convoyed, and do by these
presents grant, transfer, niako o\er, convey
and confirm unto tlie county of Hill in said
State, for tho sole use, l)eiiefit and behalf of
said county of Hill, all the following piece or
])arcel of land situated and described as fol-
lows, to wit: IJeginning at the southwest
corner of the aforesaid 320-acre survey, thence
north sixty degrees east twenty-two and a
fourth rods, to a stake in prairie; thence
north thirty degrees west, ISo'^' rods, to a
stake in prairie, whence an elm ten inches
bears north thirty-three degrees west, twelve
and a half rods; thence south sixty degrees
west, 226[- rods, to a stake on the branch,
whence a cottonwood ten inches bears north
twelve links; thonce south thirty tlegrees east,
155^ rods, to the place of beginning, — con-
tran-fcrrcd to mc. :lu- ,-ud Th.mia^ M. Stei-
i:--T. on ;iit: !;[ day oi Septc-mhtir, 1"553, — to
have and to hold the aforesaid 220 acres of
la:id, tOi;ether with all and .-inu'iilar the rights,
title aiiii claim of iiitero;t and a[ipurtenances
there;!!, to Udo:igi:i^' or any wi^e incident or
perrainiiig to the said Hill County, forever.
XnA 1, the said Tlioinas M. Steiner, do
hereby bind myself, my heirs and assigns, to
wariant and fortiver defend the right and
title in and to said land unto the said county
of Hill, against myself, my heirs and legal
representatives, and against the lawful claim
or claims of all jiersons whosoever chaining
to claim the same or any part of the same.
In testimony whereof I liave hereunto set
my hand and seal, usiiig scrawl for seal, this
,second day of March, A. D. 1855.
Tno.MAs M. Steinek.
The above deed was acknowledged before
C. N. iirooks, then county clerk.
This Steiner was living here at the time of
making the above deed, but had no family
here. He had a family in Ohio, who never
came to llilldboro. He died in Nicaragua,
as licfore noticed, in lS55.
Uillsboro was named probably from tlie
county, or in honor of the same man, and not
with i-eferenco to tlio '> nKMintains " at the
east of it. H was named in an ago before
the Postoliice department at Washington re-
quired that no postoflice thereafter siiould be
given a name ending with either tlie syllable
" burg," '• borough " oi- " viUe." But, singu-
larly enough, the same ilepartment persists in
peLling every "burg" in the United States
with a linal h (thus: burgh), whether it is the
iwuv '-V) -{y.^y'/r.w.
err;
It. lit
i1
J jl 111 , M lit
AXD HILL COrXTfES.
ci.iTL'cl thing or not ! ami llillsl>oro witli
ii-h! Call!
A MUV17 oftlu' town of llillslH.ro was re-
(X'ivcil \,y lliu ciMinty conrt NdVcniluT 1-
1S53. 'I'lie terms of the sale of lots wcro,
uiio-liiilf payahlo in ont; year and tiiu otlier
Iialf in two years. Tho following certificate
de.-.cril.es the iirst snrvoy:
"i certify that 1 surveyed the donation for
the county site of Hill county on tho 2yd
(lay of January, 1S54, viz.: Commencing on
the soiilheast corner of James I'rice's pre-
emption, now owned by Thomas M. Steiner,
running north si.xty dei^rees east twenty-two
and one-fourth rods to a stake in prairie;
thence north, thirty de<i;rees west, one-lmn-
dred and fifty five and tliree-fourths rods to a
stake in prairie," etc.; as in the deed, closinj^
with the sentence, " By order of the county
court of Hill county.
"Akvin "W^kiuht."
Here follows an account of sales of a por-
tion of the lots, ranging in price from $20 to
^t^GO. It seems from the foregoing dates that
the first survey, after having been receivedi
was set aside, at least in part, and a re-sur\'ey
ordered.
At the date of the foregoing deed there
was no building on the ground. ThompMjii
Frazier erected the first building, probably a
frame, at least in part, one story, on the cor-
ner where the Sturgis National Jxink now is,
^lot S, block 5,~and was kept as a hotel.
Suiisecpient additions were made to the
liuilding, and after a number of years it was
remove<l to give place to another building.
The next building was a frame, erected
probably for the same purpose. The next
was a law office erected by Joseph I'. Wt
on th
le sq\iare. in Ibo^ a
schoolhou^e was built, llxlO feet in area, of
elm poles, but with no llo,,r excepting the
earth, and its co,-,t was $10. It was located
on lot V, out-lot Z, northeast of the public
square. The patrons of the school paid one-
third and the county two-thirds of the e.x-
j^enses of maintenance. Hi 1855 a fi-ame
building was erected on the public square.
These buildings were ceiled with lumber
costing at least $5.50 per hundred feet. The
schoolhouse served until about 1800, when it
was i-emoved to make place for a brick struct-
ure, whicii cost about $0,000, on the center
of the square, and the old frame building
was used as a storage loom during the w^ar.
Nelms & Cyrus were among the first mer-
chants in Hillsboro for several years. J. &
James Goodwin were the first in the grocery
business, and afterward they engaged in gen-
eral inercliandise. W. L. Hooth & Son
(C. T.) were also engaged in general mercan-
tile business. All these were before and at
lencement of tiie war; and duriii
arcely any business
I'ton) and afterward
m the north side of
that national struggle !
was done in Hillsboro.
Joseph Hardin (or 11
Tom Hell kept a hotel
the pjublic square.
The Mirror of June 5, 1880, thus describes
the first five years of iHllsboro's "growth
after the advent of the railroad in 1881.
"Through the kindness of Mr. IVank R.
liird, of the firm of I'.ird ^ I'ragg, contract-
ors and hi'ickmakers, the Mirror is able to
place beh)re its readers facts and figures in
I'":
•i..Y,a
.,: !•■.■,[,
!',■ . .1. !..iv.1:, ,.::,.-V I
'!'"'!
.. ;„ii ...i ,:M io^-i
2S0
ni STORY OF JOHNSON
r.'Hiird to tlic nroj,'ifHs l
liavo not lu;rc-tofulu W
tho.-,c who wu-o in II ill, -1,0 a. v
na.l canio ia IVlM-iiary, ISSl,
Ilillshoro which
puhli.-,hca. To
tho
iliui-; hilt to
owth is
mil (Tons rcadfis who
have collie licre since tlnit ilate the facte
wliicli wo lay hofore them may scein like an
AhuKliii-lamp tale.
"'I'he growth of Ilillsboro has not been of
a ninshroom nature, Init of the substantial,
o;ct-uji-an(l - get, clear-the-track - for-we-are-
coming kiml, and in that way she has man-
acred to get there, with both feet. She has
moved along at a rapid stride, twenty I'eet at
a jump, leaving in the shade all competitors,
and is to-day the peer of any country town
in the State, as the following facts and ligures
will show.
"It has now been five years and three
months since llill.-iboro was connected by
rail with the outside W(jrld, and in that time
she has furnished to the world a shining ex-
ample of the w<jnderfiil and substantial
growth of Texas towns. AVHieii the railroad
came the entire business of Ilillsboro con-
sisted of the dry goods house of Cieorge F. &
W. W. Stuigis and 0. A. .1. Warren, the
il. 1'. II
.*c l!r
].. J. Sturgis, and I'errill .t fox (who also
kept a stock of ilrj good.^), several saloons
and one or two blacksmith shops. Aside
from the conrth.mse and jail theri; were but
two brick buildings in the town, namely, one
store-house where Lewine Jiros. now hold
forth, and a small brick law oilin
Captain Up^haw; and to-day tlh
brick house standing that was h,
ry, 1S81, the Sturgis single store-r
iug be. 11 swept away by the tire-lieiid.
riie bricl
-buildingboom
was ina
in t
le jall <
r ISSl, by the
erect il
Job
1 1). Wa
•reii block, corn
er of K
of till
and the square, containing 450,000 brick. In
18S2 J. K. Thompson and J. K. AVheatly fol-
lowed the good example set by Mr. Warren
and built four one-stoi-y stores on West Elm
street: number of brick, 190,000; J. K.
Thompson, one-story store on same street,
70,000 brick; Hawkins & Lary, one two-
story store, on same street, ninety feet long,
175.000; Mr. Stroud, one-story store, ninety
feet long, corner of Elm and (]o\ington
streets, 100,000; on the south side of the
faijuari^ Captain Ifji^haw built one two-story
house, containing 175,000 brick; (Jeorge and
Will Sturgis and Cox .t Bell, each a one-
stjry storehouse on AVaco street, 100,000
brick. This closed the work of 18,S2, over
1,000,000 brick having been jilaced in busi-
ness houses the t.econd year after the advent
ot the railroad.
"In 1883 work commenced on Jiulge
Abbott's building, corner of Elm street and
the square, il being two stories high, !)() x 30,
and measuring '225,000 brick. Then came
the Harrington iiros.'and Dr. Ernst's build-
ings, 80,000 brick each; then the Ewell hotel,
erected by Lowery, Eastland & Ivey, having
about 250,000 brick. The Masonic block
I'ollowed, the lower story of which was erected
by L. A. Scott and V. II. Ivey, and the upper
story by the Masons, the whole containing
175,0OU brick. AVarren's block of four
stories, measuriiiir over 300,000 brick, was
Il ]■• c.U-t^iO'H> Mi) ,.i I.
;:,. ,..|! Srvi '■ :■■■ '■) "fJ O'.-:!* Jiiij )oniti ;r|.iii )i!!o'j 'J/i:;(
„,l ,t,i:.
Mid \ ■ riV.O'l;; ')-)'.
tl„M built. Tho opera ll,ln^>^ oontaiiiin^
■i:,l).()l)(l, the lowfi- stury Imilt by \'. II. iMc-
l)..,.al.l, 11. W. C^u-tur aiicl J. [I. I'atty, and
Ilic iq.iHT stury by u ^tuck uuini.:uiy, was no\l
iTci't.d. The elegant bHok reMJciicc uf J.
I). Wan-uii, perhaps tliu tiiicst in the city,
coMtainiii«^r 35l),00() brick, closed the year
L^.Sii -over l,U0l),O00 i)rick beiiio necessary
tu keep ],ace with llillsboru's progress for
that year.
"In the spring uf 188i John J). Warren's
lirst block was burnt down and work conj-
inenced witli Liu- rebuilding of that block,
measuring 4:50,OUU brick. Dr. T. 15. Bond
followed witli a storodiouse containing 7U,-
Ot)0 l)rick; and then Mr. A\''arren built a
house adjoining Bond, with 12(),()()() brick.
U. I). M(n-reirs and J A). Morri.' slorn build-
ings were repaireil, taking (i2,()()0 brick.
Jackson S^ Treadwell then erected two one-
story buildings on the east side of the s.^uare.
taking 7(),0U0 brick. This year's work
closed with the erection uf the Hill County
National Bank building, as handsome a ]nece
of ai'chitectiire as can be found in any town
whicli measures 19(3,000 brick.
" There was K-s building in 1SS5 than in
any pre^ ion. year since 1881, bul the work
up
ito the hundreds
niencing with the buiblings of iM. 1). Knox
.^ Tarlton and Jordan ^- Tarlton, containing
170,000 brick, tlie I'errill .*c Vox store buil.l-
ing, measuring ltiO,(HH) brick, and the jail,
which required 1-J5,U00.
"Th« year 188(i opens with contracts closed
aggregating over 1,000,000 brick ; Uity Hall
and i.ublic-school building, 350,000; File,. A;
Soott's cotton store-hoiic^e, 270,000; Stroud vV
Vcrby's twu-story brick, 00,000; Thompson
& I'.lakey's wareruom, 8li,000. i;esides these
buildings several others are in contcnnplation,
an<l will no doubt swell the list of 1880 to
1,500,000 brick.
"To furnish and put these brick in the
walls cost ,'?12a thousand, o-- an aggregate of
about $00,000; and when it is stated that the
brick work is only about one-lialf the cost uf
building, a very correct idea can be formed
of the total cost of the brick binldings erected
in llillsboru for the past live years, to say
nothing of the hundreds of frame dwellings
that have gone up.
"All the above work, exoejit the L. J.
Sturgis and II. M. lio.Iman buildings, was
done by the lirm of Bird .'c Bragg, of whicli
Mr. Bird is the architect and builder and Mr.
Eragg the brickmaker."
In 1880 Ilillsboro had nine dry-goo.ls
stores, eleven groceries, three drug stores,
two stores for the sale of horticultural and
agricultural implements, live saloons, two
book and stationery stores, three confectionery
stores, four furniture stores, four livery
stables, three wagon-yards, live hotels, two
restaurants, three millinery stores, two saddle
ami harness stores, two grain-iiealers, one tin
and stove store, three photograph galleries
one gunsmith shop, threes shoe shops, two
meat markets, one feed store, two p.inting
(jHices, three blacksmith shops, one planing
mill, three gins, one mill, two barber shops,
about thirteen lawyeis, eight or nine doctors,
three dentists, two insurani;e agem-ies, two
land olliees with abstracts of title, ami other
,.,, ,j ,,-:,;■ -■ ■\.\^.: ;;,,,; /'i..;:. vr/j ;-v.i.,.;V ^^Jr^ !';:.. .- v^' ji.i,! yv-^^i i-v.oi ■•■!; .no'i,;
,,„., !,,;>;., i ,t,i ...■■... .,;.,.;■,■• ..;..:i :.^. ■. .„ . ^^ ,;. in. .>.>>. N a r; •<■<..'. -ir.:!;.. t..M
■,, ,.,;,■,;' I; l^-n'"-! l;ut'"'!' vii '-> rt .!-'^^'.' - '>i-' ; I .•|i;OV ''^ill
■,:,-,,;•:':...., ■; ^ -^ •:. ;-i : '■(.;:: ■■-;;/V. ^ ..-;•■!, i^H \■^•■..,^:^^\^\■■
.< Miiilawi' i.i i' ■,' !.'.'■;•,' '.I'M ;.. _i, !rii.;. .( ' li;;-" .;' !. ,i',t /(..■■•I'l (l(.i'i,t"-' f^i-iUi«ii>y<il
.(iij ?,;(>- :• mI ;i;i!' [ ■,(_.i vi'ii '(ji'vlm j«ko!'-'vio(.> a I'jiv' l)i(W0il<j1
.', .! jiij Kj-:; ■. .>;'u,v,' ■ ;(■ ^../ ! );'" | f^ ii.."; ;.;Vi.,'</ .tl/ (ic!: L(i« pf'ntif 0<)0
((;: , -iifb'-lld . i .I'O.l ■ .W i, .; ..,;;.)()>' I .y'jrftJ O*'*!,*'*'.' iji'.v .J'O'.iil ■0(iinto[l)li fii(lO;l
.il/l !.a..-.,;.;i...i n„« )-.i, ..-,1 ■'. di ;■■•■-'■■ ' '■ ■ '■'..,-,; ,;;.i,u: ,...!;,.,,.. vj -V, ...m
''^ .w ■ : -u.r ■■ Ii ■' •■ . ■'-■ '■'' ; . 'I'.o ■• •: .. ':;.,:i''Mi.i 7 li 'U
,-_:., •"■|'> ■>'': ,..-.1 !■ ..'^^ i,..V'Ic ,>^' II' -. , jI-i !/' i" ■ / fV'ii'-' .I'd On;*;.!? ;^/ii/lil1
■ . . ,. ■ , ;..':! -., ,1 , •:. ^ .■.-•.■ ': ,;...i,' . .;-- :.,ii i.. '..ur .„" iUiv/ ! moI-.
.-;.( Mil;,,. Ml ;4,'i;o./;:iM ,-.,;
UlsTdllY 0/'' JOIfNSON
liusincsB men, nrlisiiii.'^, flc, in prujiurliun.
June 2, 18S7, the U,jhvtor btatea that
wlKiilhecliLur liist,-,,nnnrnr.Ml |,uhli«liili- !i
|,:,jMr Iktc in ISSl ll„. l,,wn had \ JM) in-
l.J iranl. anJL-i^iit -ahj..::. al,-J fuiir irrucuie^
whnx- lii^iiui- wa.~ colJ, ami only one church
LuiKling; ami that then, tlie day of writing,
po)
nh,
\va~ iKuii
ih only th
taiuuiii and two groi-erit- whc-ie iiijiKir was
f,.ld, ai.d nve new church buiMiugi.
X(jw, in IbUlJ, let us take a glance around
the pulilic 6(|uare, commencing at the touth-
wcct corner and going east:
Hill County National Bank.
J. E. Martin, harness.
" Racket " store, gi'oceries and notions.
Hooper, Anderson A; Co.
iJond's drug store.
Upshaw & Jordan, lawyers and land
agents.
J. J. Stoker, law, loan agency and notary
pulilic.
IJarber shop.
Thornton iV; Piper's saloon and restaurant.
(;. J. (icorge, grocer; south, W. L. iiooth,
1, lawyer; and llennett .V'
(Ml Hold iMuc
I.ovell, cotton agents.
Smith, Morrison & Co., fancy groceries,
confectioneries, etc.
j\r. I.,evvi8, saloon.
L. Urin, dry goods au'l clothing.
1. Goldman,- dry goods.
Stnrgis National I'>aid<; up stairs, T. if.
Dixon, lawyer; A. L. r.\vrc_), lire insurance;
and T. P. Whipple, law er.
I'^ast side, going north:
(^iiickenstedt iiros., " Poanl of Trade "
iloon; M. Keller, pn.prict,,r.
Knse .Si 'i'arll insurance, hind, h,aa and
.llccting a::cnt.-.
C. N. Pangs, farm and city loans.
J. M. Jolmson, lawyer.
KtL-enhauni Pros., d.'y g<.iods. etc.
(^pera saloon.
iL^ftCtur otiice, Scruggs' hu.-iness college,
and city treasurer's office.
E. 1). Kogers, '• Spot Cash " grocery.
Eagle Drug Store, in which are Foven
physicians: see list further on.
T. S.Johnson, dentist.
W. A. l''indley & Co., grocers.
llearn, Lloore & Co., dry goods.
Going west:
" Mi.-sissippi Store," AV. IP Ellington &
Co., dry goods.
W. IP Pragg, dry goods.
P. K. i!vockinton, dr}' goods.
S. E. Carter & Co., hardware and agricult-
ural impleinunts.
Central House, by Mrs. I5illings.
(ioiug south:
W. 11. McPonald, feed store.
l\lrs. Ct. a. Paschal, fancy goods, millinery
ai^d notions.
Paris & IPiinilton, grocers.
]v. E. Bauch, saddle and harness.
O. Holland & Co., grocers.
Peavis & Young, loans and insurance.
Smith, Tomlinsoa & Co., crockery, hard-
ware, agricultural implements.
l"'urmers' Natioiuil liank; uj) stairs. Spell's
and Wear's law ollices.
. .1:! .11 :' .,1',
..[..I'
,'JV:,., (r, ' ' !;ui .(1: . ,l! ''-
,j1! v. rfi-M":
off i .. ■>'/'../, F
AND HILL COUNTIKS.
(ioiiig south from tlic southwest
corner of
Going west from the square and about tho
till- piiMic si[U:irL':
dej)0ts:
Iv M. 'I'urner I'v: Co., wnt^oiis, ;i
j;ricultural
Hawkins Hardware Co.
i,„i,k.„u.nt., c.,c.
Stroud Bi-os., grocers and wai'i'liousenien.
Ne;ir tlie soutlioast corner of the
square:
J. L. Braswell, furniture store.
Christoplier's news depot.
Lumpkin, saddle and harness.
\\\ \Y. Phillips, music store.
Thompson, Lang & Co., crockery and hard-
A. B. Taliaferro, musical conser
-atory.
wai-e.
" Roj'ul Palace " saloon.
P. Mittcnthal, groceries and liquors.
I. M. Givens, "City Druo; Store
"
Pate & Green, grocers.
11. ¥. Attaway, postmaster.
Turk Bros., dry goods and groceries.
Grocery.
Carney, li\-ery.
Porter A: Crumley, livery.
Gibmin, blacksmith.
Commercial Hotel.
Sweeney, lilacksmith and wood shop.
Cioing east from the southeast coi
ner of the
Grain store, meal market, etc.
square:
Hillsboro cotton press.
Two restaurants and two barlier
shops.
Files, Tayhjr & Files, cotton press, not
D. T. Iluifhines, dry goods and
clothing.
running.
S. L. Mayers, sewing-machines.
iHllsl)oro Bottling Works,
Gibson & Ballard, grocers.
Gould Hotel.
Mirror office.
A. H. Files & Co.'s new improved gin
Lingo lV Hall, irrocers.
and corn mill, run by J. S. JM^nly, a member
A. E. (iraham & Co., dry goods.
of the iirm.
U. T. Dennis tt Iho., furnituie.
M. T. Jones Lumber Co., lumber.
From the northeast corner of the
square:
Kirk & Patterson, coal.
J\[eat market.
Pritchett & Floranco, bh^cksmith and
... till,..
1m>1c_v, i]hutugrapher.
Joseph Fllland, mattress factory.
Booth House.
Hillsboro Poller Mill. Tliis is owned by
Hillsboro Hotel.
the IHllsboro Roller Mill Co., of which
Reid Bros., marble works.
Mr. Ed. Rodgers is president, and J. R.
Northwest corner;
Thompson secretary and treasurer and man-
County jail.
ager. J. \V. McClure is the head miller.
Pierce, wagon yard.
The linal, successful organisation of this
Hatcher & nar[)old, car])enters.
company was preceded by several protracted
Tennessee House.
attempts which proved abortive. The ca-
I'V'ed and grist mill.
pacity of the mills is 125 barrels of Hour and
■t ■;■/]■ .: .L
XI .-a:
<l / I _v,^ l,in
..A^Ai.
.n.l / ' t..fi ■<)!<■ j
twfutv-five liruTfl:- tif c<iin niual jier day
Ti.c l.-a iiiig li.u.]. are Kl.] <.-.J, Uluu t^ca
ai..J i;.,yal i'atcut.
HlSTOliY OF JOIINSO]^
\ Thoma-. 1!. Hond, most of them I'armers.
ThciL' -eiitlfiufii all live in the county and
The Stunjis lYuilonul i?ra/^, of IlilLsboro,
Hill county, had its origin in the private
bankin- house of Al.hott .V ^turgis, which
was cstahli.-hed in 187u, tho jiroi)rictors be-
ing Jo Abbott and (ieorge F. Sturgia. Busi-
ness was begun in Auyust, 1875. It was
conducted under this arrangement till 1877,
when Stui-^'is bought out Abbott's interest
and ran the banking business in connection
with the dry-goods trade, assisted by his
brother, W. W. Sturgis, till 1882, when the
(.■ntire business was bui'nt out. It was re-
vived immediately and conducted until 1885,
when lieorge !•'. Sturgis was compelled to
retire on account of ill health, W. W. Sturgis
taking control and conducting the business
till 1887. That year George F. Sturgis died
and on October 1, within a few days of the
time of his death, the bank nationalized with
a capital of 5^60,()()0, W. W. Sturgis becom-
ing ]>rcsident, (!. N. lirooks vice president
and ,1. N. I'orler cashier, the direelors being
AV. W. Sturgis, C. N. I books, J. N. Putter,
John S. Scholield and 1'.. K. Brockinton. In
18'J0 Mr. Brooks died and his place as vice-
pre^ident was taken by Dr. Schutield, and in
July, 1891, Mr. Porter was succeeded as
cashier by C. A. SuUenberger; L. L. Works,
assistant cashiei'.
The present board consists of W. W. Stur
gis. Dr. John S. Scholield, J. N. Porter'
(ieorge I,. I'orter, J. C. Kobinson and
ill the .-.tock
:ounty, these
led by citizen.- i_)f the
ering only ninci. The
capital is still ^i;0,000.
During the first year of its existence the
bank netted twenty five per cent, on its in-
vestment, the second year it netted twenty-
seven and a half pei' cent, ami during tlio
third year twenty-nine anil a half ]ier cent.
The balance has not been struck yet for the
foui-th year. Tilery; lias been passed to the sur-
plus fund §25,000, and §25,500, has been paid
in dividends. On October 1, 1891, the bank
had cash on hands and in other banks to the
aminmt of §G7,.^<;2, and individual deposits
amounting to §70,890. Undivided jirofits,
§10,000. The bank owns the building which
it occu])ies, a neat and substantial two-story
structure, brick, situated on the southeast
corner of the square and couvenient to the
business portion of tlie city. This building
was erected in 1.888, and is valued, together
with the lot on which it stands, at §12,819.
Tho lixtures are valued at §2,535, The
bank is furnished with a vault 8 .\ 12 feet,
Hall's combination dour and time lock and
burglar-proof safe.
' (ieorge F. Sturgis, deceased, was the
pioneer banker of Ilillsboro, and it was in his
honor that the Sturgis National Bank of
Ilillbboro was named. lie was born in the
town of Berlin, Worcester county, Mary-
land, March 20, 18-18, and was a son of
James W. L. and Martha A. (Pernell) Stur-
gis. His father was born in the same county
and State, in 18().S, and there received an
Al^h HILL COUNTIKS.
ucinlfiiiic ccluciitiui); lio resided tliere until
lSo-1, when lie removed to Crittenden euunty,
AikauHiis, and llicre en,-iia.'d in fiu-niin^r
quite e.Xt.IiMvly. In ISoS i,r diF|M.h(.d of
liis hind and wont to Alenjphis, Tenne.ssee,
where lie etiibai-ked in the retail grocery
hiisiness; two years later he was burned out,
and after this catastrophe he came to Texas
and settled in Milford; at tlie end of twelve
nionthri he came to Hill county, where agri-
culture ayain claimed his attention; he de-
voted his enero^ies to this occupation until
ISoS, when he retired to Ilillsboro. His
death occurred here in 18-Sl. In 182'J he
was united in nuvrriao;e to Charlotte Selby^
mid four children were born of the union, one
of whom is now living. In 1840 he wedde<l
Maltha A. rernell, and the result of this
union was live children, three of whom are
(leorge V. Sturo;is received his education in
the public and select schools of Waco, and his
business career was begun in that city. He
aclcMl as salesniau for his brother at Waco for
one yeai-, and then went into the bank of
Flint et Chaniberlain, where he continued un-
til IsTo. in that year he came to Hillsboro,
where he ojiened a private bank in partner-
ship with Ju.lge Jo Abliott; he also formed
a partnership with his brother foi' the purpose
of engaging in mercantile pursuits. The
banking iirm remaine<l the same until 1877
when iMr. iSturgis bought out Judge Abbott,
and o])erattMl the banldng business in connec-
tion wilh his other interests, assisted by his
brother, W. AV. Stnrgin. In 1882 the entire
business was burned out, but was inimeili-
ately revived and conducted by Mr. Sturgis
until 1885, when he was compelhKl to retire
on account of ill health. The following year
to C
with the
that "Our Italy" might give him strength
aiul iiealth again. He also made a visit to
New Orleans for the purpose of receiving
medical treatment, but this too, was in vain,
and death brought him relief June 10, in the
year 1887.
Mr. Sturgis was wliolly absorbed in busi-
ness pui-suits, and gave little attention to
piolitical matters. The oidy position of a
public character which he was induced to
hold was that of Treasurer of lliUsbjro.
He led a very active life, and accumulated a
considerable fortune, not forgetting, however,
the duty he owed to his fellow-men. Ho
was possessed of excellent business qualilica-
tions, and was regarded as one of the ablest
financiers of the State.
He was united in marriage to Miss Julia
L. Vineyard, a daughter of E. N. Vineyard
of Louisana, who came to Hill county in
1878. This event occurred Noxember (J,
1878, and three children were born to them,
two of whom are living: Florence M. and
(leorge F.
' The Farmers' National Bank of Hills-
boro was organized in March, 1887, and
opened for business September 5 following,
with a capital of $50,000, and with the
following ollict^rs: John I). Warren, presi-
d,.nt; A. II. Files, vice-j.resident; K. I'. K<l-
rington, cashier; the board of directors being
John I) Warren, F. xM. Files, U. 1'. F:.lring-
.Vi 1^' w ,v \yr I
t.i,:,-. ul , i.,i.l,)-.nL.;. ;; : ;.:.„
. . .> • . ,,' ' U -,■ . ■ ,: \" ;
i! Ml;,!, .1 (';•-' I V ■ '•,.;i;^ ^.;1'J-1 lu.i H l.j/lutijmu '..it 'VVlflW
n.; .1.MK.:. '■ : I :./! .,') \i ^:.,i'- ,fl| Jr ;in.., :.;' ,w I..,! „ .. I„i„
•lU:,
r ■ 1,1 ..r^'i 111
I.,... ... ui ■.r.nhj
■ ,;' .1: : ,i"irt
■"•'"M
;' ..uii.lir:.;
280
IJ/STUUV OH' JOHNSON
tun, J. (). Filus, J. M. Kcvii, 0. M. Diinliiiin
aii.l V. ]I. Jv,.y.
January 14, IsKD, tlio Lank njun^nul/M'i,
uiih the lulluwin- l.oar.l uf iliivcturs: John
I). Warivn, V. ]I. hvy, F. M. Fiks, J. M.
Duncan, ]'J1 Kogers an.l Tain llmuk.s. Ed-
rini<tiiD ic-i-ncd as uasliiur and J. M. Duiicau
was apiMiintfd in liis atead. Thu ])rL'sunt
l.uard aru: Jolm I), Warren, J. M. Duncan
(casliitT), J. J. Warren (assistant casliier),
Kd Koirers (president), T. S. Sniitli, Tani
Uremic.-, Iv l;. Stroud (vice president) and
U. 1'. ll„d-e.
The Haidi's ctirruspunckMits ai-e: the Na-
tional IJaidv of ]\'ew Vurh', Clontinental
National Ihuik of St. Fouis, National Ex-
cluuiH;e llaidv of F)allas, State National Hank
of Fort Worth and tlie Galvestoii National
liank.
The loans will average ahout !?10U,00a.
Dividends declared up to Ih'dl nniount to
^25,220; total net profit, $35,578. The hank
owns the building and around it occupies,
valued at S 12,000.
The Hill County National Hank is situated
in a neat iniilding at tlie southwest corner of
thepuhlie,.-,iuare. Clapital, .s50,(IOO; surplu.-,,
$50,000. J. II. iJeniis, presi.lent; W. 15.
Ward, vice-president; and C. E. I'hiUips,
cashier.
(rrnKR iu'sinkss.
The " Shippers' Compress and Cotton
Clouipany," in the Bununer oi 1^90, erected
that niai^nilicent press north of the depot, at
a co.st of .•?(i0,000, between the switch.>s of
in.th railroads. The i-latforni is iiiJO feet long
and ISl feet wide, and is capable of holding
G,000 or 7,000 bales of .'otton. The shed
under whi<d, the niachinery is local,cd iu
ninety feet wide and 155 feet loii',', with a
htoragf capacity of about 4,000 bales; so that
the C(.nij)any can care for about 10,000 i>aies
at once.
The press is a Taylor hydraulic 2,0()0-ton
press, — unquestionably the best made, .supe-
rior evi-n to the celebrated Morse. There are
three large steam boilers, twenty-four feet
long, and one steam drum of e(|Ual length,
•h furnibhes the jiower to tl
pre;
;s. Til
press is valued at ?^40,00(J. It can easily turn
out 800 bales of cotton a ilay of ten hours.
It was sold to the com])any with the giniranty
of compressing cotton to a density of twenty-
two and a half pounds to tlie cubic f(jot; and
it will put as many bales into a coniinoii
thii-ty-fonr loot car as any press in Texas,
namely, sixty bales; wdiile the average Morse
is fifty bales. The Ilillsburo press is the
heaviest in the interior of the State.
The water is supplied from a well 1(35 feet
(.ieep, in which the water stands at times
within twelve feet of the top. The reservoir
holds 15,000 gallons, so arranged that l)y
means of a hose any jiartof the building can
be drenched on short notice, giving ample
protection against Jii-e.
The weekly pay-roll of the employes, dur-
ing the season of marketing, is iJ^SOO a week.
Of the company J. K. Fennett is president;
II. C. Denny, vice-president; I). K. Brockiii-
ton, treasurer; and J. F. Watson, se<-retary
and superintendent, in 1800.
The llillsbon. Foard of Trade has been
O".'.
, . i 11 .7 i.„.
/J'lv: ,<, , ,..:}■
M .... ,.r.-:i, W ..- ,;.(.!.
.'!ui d'.ij.i -i:
i-K.'/ v-u;:.... /Jill.'>lfilvr ;-,-'./• vl ' -la
,v.M).U i.:r H.K ^:
' ^iiM
:;l.,!rr,ii
AM' IJIl-L COLW.
K'ti\e uiul I'tlioiL'iU ill tho
if the iii:itiTi;il interests ol" 1
>1.1K.
a. ^3So >0; soooud-oli
he eity ami
izatioii we
,g rhy
,,. ever kiiuwii. Nearly all ll
,iiie=,> men u{' tlie jjlace bel^
Ljr;4u 1. Jordan is presiileiit.
II ev(.Ty eiMiiMiuiiity tiiere are
ictioiii.ts to wlioni tlie fulluwii
approjjriate:
Hero's to tlie kicker,
The fiiiut hearted kicker,
Ihe kicker so heli>lesj mid blue,
W'iio is idwaye decrying
And never is trying
Some guud tor tiis ewa town to do.
No uoe to correct;
Nor need to expect
Him to go to the front like a muu;
For while others hustle
He'll sit down and rustle
Objfclioiis to raise to eiich [dun.
15m when the brute dies
We'll piiuse with dry eyes,
On his future condition to dwell.
And we'll envy the devil
Who'll not huve to be civil
When he roasla this rank kicker in
A good iiuiex not only to tlie intelligent
cliaraeter of a coniinunity, hut alrto to its
material interests ami prosperity, is the nuni-
her of postolliees in it, and the extent of
their hiisinees. I'ostniaster 11. F. Attaway
lias just eompleted a statement of the busi-
ness tran^aeted at liis olliee for Unelo Sam
during last year, and it sIio'a-b the f.dlowing
iiitere.-,tinjr facts:
Sianij.H Mild, :f;4,;jM4.;{2; Hpeciui recjue^t
5,270 pounds, ^^o^.Tii; hox rents colh'cted,
$4r/J.59; auditor's circular, 8(j.25; total re-
ceijits, ;i;rj,2>i'J.72 Expen.-es of otlice, includ-
ing allowances, clerk hire, fuel and liglits,
$l,'J-i7.4G; remitted United States treasury,
j;3,3i2.2G; total dishursements, $5,289.72.
The 1891 receipts are in excess of 1890 re-
ceipts, $514.04.
Money order department — On hand De-
cember 31, 1.S90, $20(3.01; 2,917 domestic
ordei-ri issued, $29,933.47; 1,322 postal notes
issued, $1,974.52; fees on above issues,
$291.81; fees on duplicate jiostal notes, 9
cents; total receipt.s, $32,405.85. Disburse-
ments-1,503 orders paid, $17,589.21; 586
postal notes paid, $934.98; 34 money orders
re])aid, $298.00; postmaster's commissions,
$209.47; deposited postotlice at Waco, $13,-
287; auditor's circular, $l.b5; balance on
hand December 31, 1891, $85.28; total,
$32,405.85.
The Immigration Association of Hill
county was organized in llillsboro February 0,
18S8, for the encouragement of immigration.
J. K. Thompson wa.. elected president, ,1. W.
tioUedge secretary and F. U. Stroud treasurer;
and vice presidents were elected for the vari-
ous parts of the county, to act as ex-otiicio
chairmen of their resjiective communities, to
subscriptions for a fund fc
'g
the county. Much useful information was
elicited and published; but the association is
not active at the present.
Th.' b
IMl'KOVK.MKNT IN VAI.l.KS.
U evidence of the steady
•n lr;!U
•'-''-' ' ■■■■■>""l
■nii^(.-jV,
.■in; i-ji.i ,:.i!ii
?.\\<-i>..
'■ii ,„iii<ir ..-,.;
A i':/'^t:.:.i ,.i.
;.■:■ '-.I :mIj •
V"
" '
'i ..,.M.i!,i ■;•.■,
•r/,,,1
mI.1 ii, M'J.H
■■J.;
:irj„|
■1 M ll>.h|:.L J
III
■/•i.il.., a',.,., a
..■||-4:., r.J.I,!:.
.'!'
> ..,.,„■• : c. . ,;■//
'hr,, r..:.- 1, v.;,.
i r., :... ;i; ,.•■ ;/'.v„^ ,: ;j:J f.-:..U !(•.:■•] i , ^ .t. ;■*-,■!:( lU'iT ^li, ■-■ ..^ ../ .full
.SL'iO f.iJ (lit'.' KMif; !i
-;:, ■ r" u/i by. ■ . o.-jv/ .. ' -M:-ff ^.oiv !.ii« i 'i' -M^l 'J ■■ ■■■•' ■'' v!'." J^'O '^.•I'l'i !.oi.j; /.
JllSTdUy Oh' .Kills- SON
t.riiil aiowtli of Ilill.-lH.ni witliin iiTuiit years
ib hIkavii !.y the city tax :n-ll6 fnr tl„-i,a.-.t Irw
yuali. Thf n.jUd„r i. il,<lrlilrd to A^~l•b.•,ul•
(uiiiK'vcy f^"- li'L' loll.iuiiij^ Ktalfincnt bIiuw-
111^' tliu taxal.lc values of the city for eacli of
ll,c pa,-t live years, as shown l,y tlie tax rolJH.
I's^t i; (il(),7S4
1^^5 (iS5,170
l^^G 7i5(),0tK)
ls^7 US(I,S1()
l^^s l,15i»,71(»
talilisliineiit is .luu mainly to tli.' eiiort.-. of
,1. (i. Jl. lliiek, l»r. X. l;. Kennedy aihlO, I).
Clieathani. In tlu- nn.nitl, .if May, l^'.ll,
the.,. orntKunen originaUMJ a huh.eripti.Mi
list, with shares at $0 eaeh, an<i ohtaine.l
eij,'hly-tive names ami a d. .nation of 2»)0 vol-
nin.^s: soon they liad 100 volume,-^ more.
The lihrary was tirst set nj, in tiie furniliire
l.uikiin^roecni,ie,i by the Hoard of Trade o^er
T. li. IJond's druo;-btore, hut afterward re-
moved to the courthoiife, wiierc it now eon-
ISS',1 1,1(;2, «'JU [ tains ahout fidO volume., l.esi.les many pam-
IbltO ahout... . 2,000,000 1 I'l'l-'t"- nv.vj:A7.\\Mi>, newspaper,-,, etc., and
Thisrhows a.trady imp]
„e>,!ur,no..veryy..ar,maki
, I where the very aceoii'inodatini^ and polit
1^^, j librarian, .Mr.. (J. W. lieiley, presides. Th
,fs:^52.l05 uithin the entire .ix ^.,„... ! IM'-ary i. kept open every day in the week
The rendition really an.ount. to hut |iul, ' tnun ten ^. m. to ten .•. M., and on Sundays
more ^if that mmdiilhan half the re.al Mdue,
yet such a .howin- i,> the hioh.-.-^t ev idenee of
the.tahility <,f 1 1 ill.-^hor..'. j,rospt rity and the ' ~^
prolitahle ehara.ler of the investments in \ 1'^'
property here.
A f^..od hu.ine,-.- hou.e will eomm.and fnnn
.•;25 to s75 ]ier month lor the oround lloor,
tlu^ lo,;ilion, Ke,-idenre.^ rent at iVom ^y\ to
s2() |,er month, whndi is a ivasonahly low
rate of rent in ]>ropoition to the i^eneial \al-
uatiun of pro].erty. lint at the |)re.-ent
writino; there i.not a vacant house in the
city.
from tAo t.
diti
lemher.hin i.s the payment of s5 at 1
niii.i; iN.rrri:
llillshoro ha.s
nurthea.t corner .
little i,uhli
ts a montii thereafter, for current e\-
, I'rof. J. (i. II. iJuck is pre.M.lent of
the association.
I 'J'iiis most useful in.titutioii ou-lit to he
far nmre jiatroiiized than it is, es])ecially .ee-
\ ino that the e.xj.eii.es arc so light. 'I'he
side- that the only e.\pen.-e is I'ncl ami the
small fund for the purchase of additional
lMHd^s and perio.licals.
I'rof. A. 1;. Tidiaferro's Musical Conserv-
atory was e.-tahlished in Se])temher, ISOI, in
the second story of a building south of the
Stiirgi.- National Hank. The professor
the ; Tb.
ilor
.1 di
hal
■•-' 'r. ently an
d and ti
'/.'.■',/.'•. A. ...i ^^^■:\~'.\\\■
"' "
i;^ l.,n-,j
• 1 n
V.'..;l>'. 4t
_„,,!,J
1 7;.
.ill; J/
/■JI!(!U 1
.;, olU
v.Ii:>.u
^■'■H'>
,1^,' I
-1 r..,'!:. J>h
:!' i /
■' J ((;■ I!-. ' )i.(i <■ fi'ivn! 'jtp;! .v/
[ND llll.l' UOi'STIKS.
I'm, I'. THliafuiru is a grudmitt; uf two cuii
M-rviilorif,-, of limbic,— Uostoii and Ciiiciniiati
ua.> tui. years in Italy, ll^e iaiul uf eunbhiiie
,,„| .-u,,-. in tliu Royal Academy, u.ulr,-ni..K
,|nli ill ;.'fiifral oratorio work; was in Ciiicin-
M.iti thrcr years as a teacher; taught music in
Dallas nine vears; also at Fort Smith, Arkau-
rari, a year; llrowiisviUe, Texas, one year, and
i, therefore well and favorably known
iiir(,ii'diout these southwestern States.
!',. V. Seruc^nrg, a modest and enterprising
\,,iiiu' geiitleniau, and a native of this county,
id ul the head of a businCbS college in the Re-
lli,'t:ii Imildiiig, which he organized in De-
cinher, l^l'l, and is therefore yet only the
iiiu'leu^^of a larger institution. There are
already twenty pupils in attendance. lie is
a ;;induate in the system of short-hand called
.■Tachygraphy," invented hy D. !'. Lind.ley,
uiidiii which there are many smart verbatim
rej.urtcrs in the United States. The pro-
fessor ib also a graduate of liaylor University,
and uf the business course of li. H. Hill's
ruiiiinercial Oolle-e, ^botli at Waco.
Of the l.adie.s' Cemetery Association of
llillsb.u-o, Mrs. A. I'. McKinuonib president,
.Mrs. J.N. I'orter viee president, Mrs. d. J.
Stoker secretary and Mrs. Sarah i>ooth treas-
urer. Si.xty ladies and eighty-five gentlemen
are ineuibers of the association. For the
cemetery a se.\t(jii is emjdoyed, at ;j:23 a
month, to fill the graves and keep them free
of weeds, etc. In aid of the above W(U-k !?1()
is j.aid monthly by the city. Financially the
assiiciation is in good condition. 'I'liere are
now T'iO graves in the cemetery, and meas-
uies are now in progress for the estaldibhm
of a new burying-ground.
According to the census of IS'JO, Ilills-
boro iiad then a population of 2,541, and.
Hill county 27,583; but the city at present
really has, within itself and suburbs, about
3,5Ut).
NliWsl'.\l'i:US.
The first newspaper ]iul)lished in Hill
county was just prior t(; the war, and during
its cuiitiiiuaiice. J. K. (irover, a short timo
previous to the var, began the issue of the
llillsboro Exprtxs. This paper was ke[.t up
for a while alter the effects of the war had
rendered the procuring of white pajier imj)06-
sible, the weekly issue being printe.l on bnnvn
paper; and for a few years after the war there
was scarcely any newspaper published in the
county.
The J'rairie lUadc was another jiaper
started before the war, and conducted until
some time during that struggle, in the north-
west part of town.
Aft(«r the Express had ceased, W. L. Bond
and C. Dalton, in 1871, establisiied the Ex-
positor, issuing their own edition on the
north side of the S(juaro, near where t'-e Cen-
tral House now stands. This was in the days
of reconstruction, and they continued in the
business but a short time. The jiaper after-
ward passed into the bauds of L. d. Stur-is,
and then into the possessiui, (d' C. S. SI k.
Sturgis was a gentleman of considerable cult-
:n:. .iq-i-.J,
V.I |lll), Villi i>(«i| -I
msTunr of jonysoN
lire iiiid of indeptMident aiul origiu;il views
uiiJ iiKidu the p:i[)er wliiit its nuiuo indiciited,
— tlie exponent of his opinions on all sub-
jects gcrniiino to its design.
I!iit iiniid all these years the popidation of
tiio eonntj was comparatively small, and
their reading not bo indispensable as in these
railroad times; hence these early ventures
were not tinaucially successful.
The llillsboro Mirror was e^tal)li8lied by
,1. \\\ Golle.lge, who united the I'rairic Bee
(of Whitney) and the Expositor and formed
the Mirror. The next year it was destroyeci
by tire, throwing the proprietor $2,UU0 in
debt; but he survived and jilodded along,
hiivinj,' a lar^'e circulation, until January 1,
IBSb, when he sold to (J. S. Shook, of A(|nilla.
The latter, however, sold to M. F. Heaumont,
previously of the Corsicana Obserrer, and in
1^S,S the present proprietors, Thompson &
Cheathuni, purchased it. Tiiese gentlemen
have added materially to the establishment.
Since they bought this paper, they, in part-
ncr^llip with W. V: (lower, editor of the
lUuoming drove Rudler, purchased the Cor-
sicana Ol.^trrer, and Mr. Thompson soon
afterward remmed to Clorsicana to edit the
latter paper.
Me.->r.. Thompson and Cheatham, before
coming to lliil.-.boro, ha.l been connected with
the Albany (Te.xas) Xt}rs. Mr. Thompson
was born in Missouri, was a school-teacher,
and came to Texas probably about 1S83, lo-
cating at Albany. Is married. Mr. (Jheat-
liam was born in Carlisle, K.Mitucky, his
father bcMug a prominent citi/.cn there. lie
lell Kentucky when .juite young, locating at
Albany in 1885. He sohl his interest in the
paper there to Mr. Thcjnipson ami wont to
Calib<rma, where he remained two years, and
(HI his return to Texas the two gentlemen
l)urchased the Mirror, as stated. IJe is un-
married. Connected with the Mirror office
are the politoaiid accouunodating gontleinou,
xMessrs. E. A. Sturgis, L). W. Campbell and
T. G. Mcllvaine.
The Mirror has paid special attention to
local interests and educational matters, giving
fidl details of all educational news, proceed-
ings o\' teachers' institutes, etc., besides essays
and other contributions to school literature
and pedagogical science. For a novelty, it
had iti its issue of Jatiuary 1, 18'JO, a New-
year's card with greetings, from nearly all
the business men of the city. During l8'Jl
it stirred up a pleasant ripple of excitement
in olfering a scholarship in the llillsboro
high .school to:tlie young lady in llillsboro
who should receive the highest number of
votes, and also to the young huly in Hill and
surroiiii<ling counties, and not a resident of
llillsboro, who should receive the largest
vote. The votes were given by sitn[)ly tilling
the blank |irinted in the Mirror {or that pur-
pose and sending them to the .l/Z/vw ollice.
The contest was closed at noon, August "213,
18'Jl.n'snlting in 1,752 votes for Mi. ; Lillie
Bunger, of llillsboro, — a plurality of twenty-
seven, and 1,738 for Miss Eva Williamson,
of Woodbury; but the liberality of the Mir-
or led it also to gi'ant two more scholarships
on this contest, to the next highcBt on the
resjiectivo lists, namely, Misses Fannie Var-
luill and Lizzie HarriiiL'tou. The excite-
>;-.VAll*V. v.> "'.'OC'-W
n '
lie 110 i'.l! ..(l-ijij 'Ul ^
, ' ai --i) 'M'>:ir. J' ,,.,■• ,1' \'.\i '<-!..!■_.■;:, ; , : I .'o^jJiuji. J oil' ^T':v ;>t,',il) i(r b'(\ui<. iu'A
,: iviHiM-rj V. "iH--/nMm>.u;>^ i>;u'. tO;Ii.>'.j :*:!; >■. •■- ■'" :■■' -•■ 'iJ;'.-,iu>< i ;i i;;, ok (..ii yw.^ ,: ■-•
' :f5 M.i.ir'P;/'^ V^ \\ ,i\r<-\uiC A .'^ .i;^Ki, >\L \ "mDUin^i (iuja ;,;'.'i!3 :>\^u-^^ ,vu't
.•.Mi;;.|]-jl/' rj .T ' .l!ltii(!aj-.>IHi vll/i(yn*(l::
I ^
. oj ii,i/(.. ■Jx; :ti:!,^ !. !';■;_ -;,:: ru .vV. ..ilT : ' >! !)r>'friii:lj)l d ftw •tc-i'vsMi. o-i'j.l^liiit •}iiV
•.'y'.')o:<i *■//■,,! [gii.k1i;j;'!(- ■'. ^:, f:!r,-'i!. J .i! i .' 'Mfnoi bus ^il^l m'vi'jV i>;0 Ln.. (■/3i):ii.r// Id)
" I • " ■-■'■.
LM,?.n.^:! ;o..:ii-, ,r ..;.,,(:..,, .'moo ;.1*. •...;..-. ' ■: ■ ;.; lol.i ;;.... . ^-n. ./ov-i ..1. (J
•■i'i .■ 'I'^cT ,!, •. ij,i),c 1, i<, Miidtri Jiii'i:^':; ' ■^: snu- .. l'.h:u ij.'iJi.di'n.'i ^-ii!! j* ^/iivo.l
'!■.: ,!,.:!, ■,,,-,; ,.;-.-.. ,,,, ,'-. b-uo n.:.;,v ; . ^i :■ 11 [. /-...■ . -.r:, .d..J j\ :,\: :■:'. r„\^ Ain.l
•■•■■; ,-;.;,'! ..!:•. , ' ^ :.'■.:'. ■ il^liu-;.'; ' . t*' - -..-:' i . It ■ ■'. ■■;,. ,. ;- :• . u ,v>JSvl 0(IT
ji:::;,.jvv.:- '., -i-(.)n .'■;■:.■;:-, ,^ .•• :.:.;-i ; •-= .;- , '■' ' ■^/^••■' '-vV^ ^ .•.:.::■:■.' J £.(ll I- (,.^;m i>r,-.,I
,..lK.l-:.;i,;!
. (11111 1 1 A h, ;m -
■'I ' ^ '■'-
Ayj) lin.L UOUNTIA'S.
nii'iit ln'cairie indfo iiitonso to the last niinnto.
In 1SS4 J. ^V. Hill started the ///// f.uinti/
\'i.si/o/: ' Jiit(j the liiana.reiiiciit and uwner-
.1,,,,
tliis
<,u.d,t ,1. G. 11. I'.uek
partner and editor. This [laper was cliarac-
trri/.ed Ijy tlionHin;h indepenilence in its edi-
toiiai department and the purity of every-
thiiii,' a(hiiittt-d to its columns. Espousing
the canse of prohihition when jirohihitiou
was weak, it hecaine a Baeritice to its princi-
jiles and ceased after nearly three yeai-s of
hattle for tlieni. Meanwhile Hill Iiad retired
and liiick had hecome proprietor of the paper.
It had eight ])ages, with six twenty-four-iuch
columns to the page, four pages of which
was ready j)rint.
In 1^88 the Ilillslioi'O JYeiva was in e.xist-
enee, conducted l)y ,1. 11. Harrison, a vigor-
ous and witty writer.
Alter closing his bargain with M. F. I'.eau-
mont in the sale of the JIh'ivr, J. W. Gol-
ledgc. May 20, 1S8G, ustablislied in Hillshoro
the Rcjlcctur, and ran it until No\end>er,
18S7, when it ],assed into the possession of
William A. Fields. Shortly afterward J.
E. II. Uailey jiurchased a half interest in tho
pap,
\'U-v this tiansaction !>'
ing on January 12, ISSS. I n January, iS'Jl_
Air. Field sold his interest to 1'. 11. Pardue,
previously of the Itasca Mull, but within
one week afterward I'cpurcdiased tlie entire
office from Pardue & Kailey, and is still pro-
prietor and editor.
The paper has ever been consistently Dein-
ocralic in politics. luiring the snmmer of
1887, while the discussion of a]ii'oiiosed pro-
hibitory amendment to the State constitution
was in ])rogress, the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union edited a column in the
liC/U'ctor, wdierein prohibition (non-jiartisan)
was advocated, wliile the editor was anti-
]U'ohibition. The Ut^jtcetor is vei-y judicious-
ly conducted, is alive to the local interests of
the community, an<l j)ays due attention to
educational matters. The educational de-
partments, both of the Mirror and of the
Rejltctor, have been ably conducted by Profs.
N. J. Smith, D. N. Arn(;ld, Mrs. J. B.
Powell, J. M. Fennell, O. 0. Melton, C. P.
llookei-, I). N. Porter, etc. U we are ever
justified in digressing from strict historical
narrative in this volume, it would be to say
that the most useful thing for the people is
to study and apply tho contents of the edu-
cationa' columns in their local papers. We
would insist on this more than upon anything
else. In this department are gi\'en tlie best
maxims ccjneerning education tliat have been
evolved by the experience and thought of
modern educators, and tlie study of the mat-
ters treated in these columns saves the reader
the trouble and waste of time in seai-ching
through large volumes, many of which would
be iliscovered, too late, to bo antic^uated rub
bish.
William A. Fields, in whoso name the
press of the State of Texas recognizes one of its
most honored members, is a native of tlie Lone
Star Stale, born in Liberty county in 1854.
His father, William I'^ields, although a North
Carolinian by birth, was reareil in Tennessee.
In early life tie engaged in the newspajier woik,
with F.dix K. Zollicofler as a partner, and they
published the Columbia Ohscn^cr in ]\Iaury
A . i, 1,.
■,i ....s.-(
.1:;!. .>..!;■ |,i l>-,..i.,i
! ' ■;.! i.ti:
. ; .. ■' r.' •!( ,M 1, Y ' ■■ ■' ■'.r::.-> ■;-,r.;
..1 'l .IJl ihtt.' Jii^i^'Ui'i <.:r' yvh.Ao -lytlA
.;,ll.l. II'- ;^ill
lIlHTOlty OF JOHNSON
coi
11 ty. 11 0 was
a viirorous writer, u\
0,-y
art
elo hu cwcr pe
miuil Ix'aiiiii,' the btrc
>ng
Bta
IIJI of lli.S [HThlM
ality. lie was thcaiit
lor
c.f
-V\vlW Scrap
l!>Kik," wliich was li
■St
j)iiMi,-.lie.l in 1833 and afterwanls revi.cl.
lie i;aniu to 'iV\a:, shortly after tin- adnii.-sion
of tlie State to tlie Union, and located in
Liherly rounty. He tanght suhoui fur a
time and hiter represented liis eoimty in tlie
Legislature, defeating General Thomas J.
Ohamhers in the race for thi..otHce; he failed
of being elected Speaker of the lluu^e by
only three votes, lie was a stanch L'nioi;
man and an ardent .supporter of Sam Hous-
ton. At the time of his death he was State
Engineer, and iiis name had been pruminently
mentioned as a caiulidato for (.io\eriior of the
State. He died of yellow fever, at Hemp-
stead, in 1858, while on a tour of inspecti(jn
of the Te.xas A:. Central Railway. Politically
he supported the jirinciples of the AVhig
party. He was vi^vy popular with the
mas.--es ami was endowed of those faculties
wiiich make leaders of men. He married
Minerva 11. Mayes, a daughter of Ciarner
Mayes of Tennessee; she received her educa-
tion at the Knoxville Female .\ea.leniy under
tlie sup:
of I'rof. Joseph Estabrook.
The strife, turmoil and desolation of the
half decade of the civil war deprived many a
youtli of those eiiucational advantages which
are tlie birtliright of every citizen of a republic.
William A. KieKl.s whose early school. days
came durin- that period, was no e.vceplion to
the rule. It wan not until IS73 that he took
up the profession of law; he began his study in
liiH country home, and after the war read with
liallingcr, Jack & Molt, a leading law lirni of
(ialveston. In 187-t, several months before
he was twenty-one years of age, he was
granted a license to jiractice both in the
District anil Supreme C'oui-ts, his disabilities
having been removed by a special act of the
court in order for him to be admitted to the
bar. The followiiii^ year he removed to
Comanche county, locating in the town of
Comanche, then on the frontier, 105
miles fro'.n Waco, the nearest railroad
point. Here he engaged in the practice
of law, taking an uncoinpromising stand for
the preservation of order in the cominiiiiity,
and the repression of the crimes of a large,
lawless element, then e.xisting, whose nuni-
bers were snlHciently great to be a force in
that section.
It was not long after the beginning of his
residence there that Mr. Fields became in-
terested in tiie Comanche Chief, and in this
position he was able to promulgate tliose
principles which created a sentiment that de-
manded the observance of law and linally re-
sulted in the expulsion of all disre})iitable
citizens. Mr. Fields remained in Comanche
until 1.S7S, when he moved to Hosiiue coiiuty
and located in Meridian, there establishinir
the lUade; this gained some reputation as a
local journal, and was conducted in that bold
and aggressive style which has charactei'ized
all of the movements of the editor. The
IVudc wa,> sold in 1885. In January, 187'J,
Mr. iMelds was elected First Assistant Secre-
tary of the State Senate and during the
giH^ater part of the legislative scs,-.i<jn lilled
theoliiceof Secretary, that oflicer bein- ab-
.-ijU-ii; '.ai'.j'iiv
:,U
li: ' , i::>:!j:r)::i .,;1 .-0 in; I ,-A Vj''-
.j ...Ml to .p.i.Ja
)i Liij; -. :i;',J ■:,,'.• oi ■,!: y-f, or. lo
.r.;.,.,.ri ;,'
;1 :•!! ..rM}:,
;.L ...•■iUi.l.;-.9.1
•••■.• 1. -iipj,: lo
..;J..v ;,.„;) vlll^
11 ■: -ii) iA r.oi
. 1- u\ !'v'(i.i.''ijr!i
1 .,]/ j:^i
^n>7/ r.
B -. ..J L^jO eui - : Mii;:5 i-i J ..,v.=>"w\ ixl' ' ,.(,, Ho ii.rl,.h)* .'j In: l.c.ii:-Ufi ,o^i-n« miIT
Uk .i'1 .•.! !■■. :/iil ■ *-;i-.v {.•(■.. !i:i|.,.,..j uuo: j ;. ■ „, ,,, ;,.,v -i I, ■■ w )tv;:).j(i,i l^.' -jlL-rju ■j!«t!
■*.;•■.. , . I, . m: ; V.MM. ,7i. ,-;;.;,.: f..i , I .;„,i.,, .,:^,:-:\,^ \ M,.M infill ... . •■
..'T -.M.... .^.:. .. .. - ,; ^.ii .. i: I
r.- •.,■.-. , ■-.• . ,. ,;- -p, Ij.iil ^. ;,.-'. ;.MU.'.
■'*:■■ 'J. )•' (•■iJ I J,.-j t.ti .uid' i:r-'! i li'ii i'i;wll .w:!!-! :iiil
' "-■{!■ -'-v'. ! :ivb^il» •■■! ^'■;;"'' :: . ■ '^ ,'-f^v,--!,/l.j .Mi);.j(l
■! -• Uw;)'!l . .•.:! I (Ij:^ f,,i-,,i ,^. ., ,J| i.jl,,' Ik ;t ■.iilK.il ."3(1110.- ^lii
AXI> HILL COUSTIE^.
si'iit. "Wliile iiccupying this position lie was
tciidfiL'd the Olericsiiip of the Senate Coni-
Miittre ,Mi Indian atlairs at Washinatun hy
SL-iiat,.r Kiehanl (A,kc, t hen ( Ihairnian ui' th(^
Cuniniittee, hnt the oiler was decline.l. It
was in 1880 that he was appointed Assistant
Librarian of the House of Ke]ire>entativc-s at
Washington: two years later, the political
complexion of the Jlouse changing, he was
rtdeived from duty. In ISSS he was ap-
pointed Distriluiting CMerk of the House of
Kepresentatives at Washington and held this
position until 1887, when he resigned to ac-
cept a position on the editorial stalf of the
Oalvcbton and Dallas ^'£ws. On account of
rlieuniatibin from which he was a sull'erer,
he was compelled to leave Galveston, in No-
vember of that year, coming thenct^ to Ilills-
boro, and soon becoming sole projirietor of the
litjUxtov. To this sheet he has given the
characteristics that have marked his other
journalistic work; and, although this free e\-
j)ression of sentiment against the lawless
characters who have at tinies infested tliis
community has placed his life in jeopardy.
there
■n any
los. ..f the courage of his c.un iclions.
In 1860 xMr. Fields was married to Miss
Fannie E. Andrews of Galveston, daughter
of Mr. W. S. Andrews, formerly a leading
merchant of that city. Of tliis union three
children have been born, a son and two
dautrhters.
liefore the present free-schoul system was
fully inaugurated tliere were "academies,"
"seminaries," "colleges," etc., among the
principal oC which we mention the " IliUs-
b.n-u Male ami Female Academy," eight to
ten year.-, ag(<, with I'ruf. .1. IJ. Murphy as
principal, and Miss heila (Jarter as assistant;
then the " Ilillsboro Normal Scliool," for
both se.xes, which was opened October 4, 1886,
by James A. Clark, with Kve assistant teach-
ers. The latter was the predecessor of the
present free Central School. It was graded,
well conilucted, and at one time had as high
as 200 j.upils in attendance. I'rof. Clark also
publishetl an educational periodical, entitled
the E.qjositor. I'rofs. Wise and Pettit were
also teachers at the " Ilillsboro Collegiate
Institute," which is still conducted by Mr.
Tettit.
Tho corner-stone of the jjresent Central
School building was laid June 10, 18S(3, un-
der Masonic services, in the presence of an
immense intere.-.ted assemidy, pi'obably 2,000
jieople. Captain Upshaw was marshal of the
day; the Itasca Ban.l furnished the mu.-ic;
Grand Master Jo Abbott was master of cere-
monies; Rev. AV. S. Wyatt delivered the
prayer; G. I. Jordan delivered the addrcrsof
welcome, and i'rof. John Collier the oration,
wdiich riveted the attention of the audience
for an hour. After this the following ode
was sung, to the tune of " IIow lirni a foun-
dation," etc.:
"Come, ciaftsmen iisseiuble^l our pleasures lo share,
Who worli by tlie phnnlj iiud remember Ihe square;
^Vhile travelinij in love, on the level of time,
Hwuel hoiie shall light U8 lo a far better clime.
txtr 1'/! .w.w ■. /
■i :.,;, : ,v i,:;, .It h.-l ,'^!,. !i mmk.k)
IK,. ;, S.;V' v.!
.,,a ■ „\\
•r •:■ t ■
■A h:. i: 6;.l!
294
IIlSrOliY OF JOHNSON
"Wo will seek in oi
Our ltuui)lo Id blesa
And tlHis lu iiur iillii
While joined in Uu
r liibors Ibe .Spiiit divini
iiui imr heiiils to roliue,
u Uibvile we'll brinj;,
fiiendsiiip our autUem
" See ortler and beauly rise gently to view,—
Eiich brother ii column so perfect and true!
When order shall cease uud when temples decay,
May each fairer columns immortal survey."
The cost of tliis building was about $11,-
000, not eouutiujr tlie lot or furnishing.
Fifteen-year bonds were isstied by the city
for the means of building. In it are six
recitation rooms. For the want of room at
present, some of the primary schools are kept
in church buildings. The colored school
building has three rooms.
There is a taxable valuation of property in
the city of $1,500,000, on which the levy for
sciiool purposes is twenty-five mills on each
$100; and tiiis, with tlw State ami county
funds, yields about $G,800. Tiic scliools are
continued ten months in the year.
The course of study more than reaches the
freshman course at college; but the high
school here is not yet formally connected with
the State University. There are in IIill^^boro
three courses of study, - the regular chis.Mcai,
the Latin and sciontilic and the normal. The
latter includes psychology and Brooks' Nor-
mal Course in Teaching.
The enrollment for 18<J1-''J2, including
white and colored, is G41, between the ages
of eight and si,\teen; but pupils are admitted
of all ages from six to twenty. Including
"overs" and " undcrs," there tire about 850
who can be admitted. The actutil attendance
is prol)al)ly about 150 in the white schools
nd 125 in the colored. Th
i present (Janu-
ary, 1802) attendance is about ninety-five per
cent, of the enrollment; it has been over that,
but the "grip" has recently interfered se
riously with school attemiance.
lu June, 1801, there were five graduates in
the high-school course, namely, John Rush
Powell, Miss Sallie T. Harriss, Sherwood P.
Ilarriss, Turner F. Roberts and Miss Leoua
Knox. Some of these entered the junior
class of Baylor University.
■In 1890-'91 the school passed from the con-
trol of the city council into the charge of a
board of school trustees, with the mayor as
president ex oj/lcio. The present board com-
prises M. U. Knox, chairman; A. L. Lowrey,
secretary; G. D. Tarlton, T. S. Johnson, C.
Moorman, L. A. Carlton and J. G. II. Buck.
Since September 17, 1891, Prof. P. S.
Ilalleck has been the city superintendent of
schools, and he is also the principal of the
high school, with nine assistant teachers; will
soon have two more assistants.
Ilillsboro is well supplied with the principal
Christiau churches and auxiliary organiza-
tions, the ptirticulars of which, we are
sorry to say, we failed to obtain in time for
this edition. Of the churches there are the
Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptist, Chris-
tiau, etc.
The lirst organization of the Baptist church
in the county was at Ilillsboro, in 1853. It
organized with fourteen members. In 18GG
it was reorganized on Jack's branch, with
liev. James Mc(irand as moderator, and C-
Vi.vl'i./.MiU. '■\'.i •CViO'Vi.VU
iiiil.f .)ii!J,/,i'j l.i''T .1 :.-((. i-j-i •!, (J ni i.lU '.-.it'. 1 -Ji'liiii inhi,-^. oiilfloUilMv rsi Av-ibUiw ■
,, , , . ,, , .. ' .;-:r;i-ivl ll'aw ciluili'il J) ■uilli! TUi." .jt I'U!.-'
I .?/iJ!'. DWin*i.')u/j luo riliUl.fii'iit '..(Pit iM btii!(i/V ^il,
H.wt|/f Oil'* :."v,^,],..y o-JiiJ to inucr\ ..... ,i7f_ ! . ., , ,
:...o> io .iif^v- oil; r..-^
b.T ,:...!,..; a.;. ;v..^,.:...|
■ 1! ■;(■: "i'..ri.( I'l nuioi. i.iIjV; :j,'r,Ur/;;3 ;j iii :,-iiiiiT
I ilv:;'.i IT': x'liri ovi|-v)i;'.i7/» ,i ?::.^.hT!1!i1 IcoiFng
■■'•""'• '"■" ''''' *" '"■ '"•'' '■■'■"-'-" I .•.._., V.!; .i! alii I'llft ..: ; ifjUlihiUlO
'■' .,.!; ..ji'L>.;'n !.i^;ii ^-iL.iii vi.(;-., r Miii.u-v ailT
yr^'nl^:'\•.^'.n\uUi■/b'i^'':^.lLii^[.J^■■^■^>■Jii.'.liU 1 nuiUilill ni j^ IB o.^ilT .-(Jis-i-rMaU oJbJc: yil)
..: ;.Mf.i.l f:i ■•'■fAi'o u.! J..,--iij;i :'.« .'(^a. oi /'I'l'^-, , 'i.:)/! V-vIo '-iJi [.lie Y^^^oioiio'/J-q ai>iiilf.-jlii l;-. ,,
a-:.;.;;; viil 1.. n-jis...: .i,.v . > : ■:.' fJ'l' '.^■■j ■■.■ ■■■ .n; riiqiu, i-'t! ;ii;->j/.f l.;w! Jiiiiio io
I . . ...
; II. ,'>•;.;. -.'iiil ■;: ,-,•.■•/ viniJoa ai! ' iii ' giill'j.'i/i .^;..m*l o-i ria liioi'i B^r^ii '1.'.'. lo
.>;>'..iiiiMi<; 1 :'i'.i:i:-. ■:■■'■:■ |/.^i:,...u. !l';: ' .11. \ /.r ;.-,'. ii ' ' .i'T/Liip •• l':,-, '' h-vj'/o '*
■ ''i'' ■<'-'■'•■' '.'. !>..■-.:;..•;.>•>■; -.j;-,-/ :; , ;i.jiii,|.(i . ■•; ; i:;.i;a», miII .w-jJJui.lr i.c' fH^-v Oilw
.i.Y/* ini.i. corsTiKs
N. Hruoks as t-lerk, and \n a ^lu.lt wliile was
ii.ovua to I'curia, wIutu it took the name of
IVnnarhurd,. Tliis dturrli lias >iiifu sent
nut al.out a thou.an,! nieinbcr.s to .lilleiLMit
|,oilions of tliu State.
The tir.-,t Mftlioilist cliurcli was organized
at tlie i-L'sidenee of Harrison Abels, on Jack's
iH-ancli, with about fifteen members, and was
moved to Peoria in LSS-i. The present niem-
bersiiip of that cliurcli is about seventy-five,
and it has sent out between 5U0 and 700
members.
The Seventh-Day Adventist was organized
in 187S, with liev. K. M. Kilgore as pastor,
and now lias a membership of about eighty.
The (Jhribtian church was organized in
1SN7: Kev. J. F. Grubbs, pastor. It has a
niembershij) of about thirty-five.
.SOC'IETIKS.
The secret or fraternal orders aro well rep-
resented in Uillsboro by the best ami most
respoll^ible citizens, as the Masonic, Odd
Fellows, Ivnightsof Pythias, etc.
J[aiiy other societies, of a niiseellaneous
cluiracler, have also lieen organized from time
to time, as dramatic, social, musical, etc.
.\ novel entertainment was given at Uills-
boro .Nfay 2i, ISS'J, at the Pall Park, in the
evening, by the young ladies, who presented
a great variety of exhibitions for the purpose
of raising money for a public enter[trise.
Long rows of Japanese lanterns enclosed a
largo portion of the grounds devoted to the
entertainment, and, together with numerous
torches, ■'ave the scene a brilliant and iihan-
.pearan
iiebekii
d her well
re, and the amount of lemonade sold
that this modern Kebekah was as
d fa
In
charming as the one of Sc
a brilliantly illuminated tent three ladies were
finely dressed up to represent the •• 'I'liree
Little Maids" of legendary fame. The admis-
sion fee to this side show was freely paiil by
many. One young lady represented a Mex-
ican girl selling a variety of notions, in which
she had great success.
The fortune-tellers' tent, before which was
a camp kettle over a bright little fire, was a
center of attraction. The young lady read
the future for all who deposited 10 cents
in advance. Two young ladies represented
gipsy maidens, wearing appropriate costumes
and engaging smiles that disposed of a bushel
basket of sandwiches. Cigarette girls, min-
strel girls parading the grounds, fruit vending
girls, and a variety of other kinds, were active
on the premises, and of course the entertain-
ment was iinaucially a signal success.
A-rroKNICYS.
The present members of the bar at Uills-
boro are: Jo Abbott (now a meinlier of Con-
gress), J. C Abm^y (the present county
judge), 11. W. Young (retired), 8. C. Up-
shaw, George I. Jordan, W. L. Booth, David
Derden (member of the legislature), G. D.
Tarlton, P. D. Tarltou (now judge of the
State commission of appeals), W. C. Mor-
row, Clillord Moorman, IL AI Vaughan, T.
H. Dixon, W. E. Spell, \V. C. Wear, Thomas
Ivy, J. M. Johnson, L. A. Carlton, G. T.
Jones, J. S. Pounds, A. P. McKinnon, U. P.
liodge, T. S. Smith, J. J. St(daT and T. P.
1 :ii I.' '111.;)'.' ' iit'j) "81
•I • V:;; ■» 'tfi
JllSTOJiY OF JOHNSON
"Wliipplu.
No 1
aiiio lia
oh.iUcl.
Ainoin
tlic lil
.t lawyc
it lawyei-d at llillslioro wlio
are iiut Iuto now wen; William Veal, an cx-
<.i.]|int man, Uuv/ i;i JJi ..M.-l.mri.i^'e, ba-jila-no
county, tliib State; lie was once a member of
the le(7i.~|ature; Joseph F. Wear, a most ex-
cellent gentleman bl.] a irooJ la'.vver; very
c.irefiil. He raised a company ol' Confeder-
ate infantry and wa< killed at Yelluw Bayou;
Turner A; JJendrick-. both decea-ed;
IL.rc'.ero;.. no\^- j,..ige or ;, JiKrict eo;;r: out
We-t somewhere; William II. (••Iloudy")
ilaitin, wlio haa been State r-enator sevea or
eight years and meml.jer of Congress; a re-
markably good man. but too conliding in the
])retended honesty of people; V. 11. Ivy, de-
ceased; K. I'ondlelon, now living in the
vicinity of Kort (-ii'aham; Jasper; John
E. Clarke, now city attorney of Itasca; F. P.
Smith, M. K. Wingfrey, moved to Memj)his,
Tennessee; and others.
l'o..Mbly this is
stury to give a nic
junctun
of
of the m<ist marked characters in Texas, Col-
onelAViiliam i,. Ilooth, especially on account
,d'hi,. having been a pioneer in ilill.boro, and
is btill a resident, lie was born in Livingston
county, New Voi-k, February 17, Tn18, a sou
of Isaac Jjooth, of Connecticut. Ilic father,
a tanner and shoemaker by trade, moved in
1833 to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he
followed farudng until 1S3G, when he died.
Colonel Booth's mother's nami^ before mar-
riage was Jane McElhany, and she was a
native of Pennsylvania.
Wlien about tw.^nty-one jcars of age, Col.
ouel Booth located at lliner's Mill.., Indiana;
afterward he taught school near Hillsdale,
iMichi-an, but .oon returned to In.liana,
.-ettling in Lawrence county and resuming
teaching, in 1845 he removed to Jackson
County, that State, wiiere he was adndtted to
the bar in 1546. The next year he went to
1 Wliitc;ide county, Illinois, and engaged in
i farming, mainly to regain his health; but
i cOon be moved into the town of Fulton, that
county, on the -Mi--isrippi river, and en^'afed
in law practice. In l»o2— '53 he was in
California prospecting, etc., from Flacerville
to the touthern mines; and in November,
1853, he arrived with liis family in Ilillsboro;
and he has ever since been a resident of this
county, excepting 1871— '81.
He and the present Senator Coko were
attorneys for J. i\I. Steiner, whom Cajttain
Bobeit Anderson, of the United States Army,
came here to arrest on charge of killing
j\laj.,r Aruol.l, at Fort tirabam. The civil
court aciiuitted Steiner, but during the scutile
wherein Anderson and his men un<lortook to
obtain posscfsion of Steiner, the crowd, aided
by I'.ooth, ingeniously kept the parties sepa-
I'ate until Steiner waa safely away. Tliere
were at least 30U citizens in the county well
armed and ready for the light. ISootli warned
Andei'son of the facts, and some rough lan-
guage passed between them. Anderson linally
gave lip the contest and turned his troops
toward Austin. Steiner himself subsequently
moved to Austin, where the governor told
him he would ].rotect him. lie practiced
I medicine there, and akso dealt largely in
(((".
.,.■,]'!?
^,:.^h.:
. ,1'.) " ■ ' ■(•■;[;■ ,4 J i: vji"' './Oil .ajl-u:!vJ ..i
I ...,.,r
AND HILL COUNTIES.
I.nln, Hr., an.l finally movca to (iror-ia,
«li,TL' lu' ,li,.l.
ih lNr,5 Col. ISooth was eluctwi county
Ir.asiiii'r I'nr tliruu yrare. When the war
.-.iiMo un lio joined the Confrderati' army and
nuidu a -ood light lV.r Suuthcrn indeiKMidence;
I. lit diiriiii^r the Litter era of recijnstriictiou he
uas a Itepublican and his life was several
limes exposed. He is as true a Texan, how-
ever, as any man in tlie Slate.
The colonel was first married in 1S38, and
by that inarriairy had two children,— Charles
Tlionias, \vlio became (juite a prt)mineut at-
torney under President (Jrant, and Willianj
1.,, Jr., now a practicing attorney. ]\[rs.
liooth died in 1812, and a year or so after-
ward the colonel married Hannah Conn, and
hy this marriage therehave been five children:
K, \l, who was killed in Waller rounty in
IST'J; Frank, killed in u duel; Connie, who
dieil young; Kli/.aheth, now deceased; and
Annie, now the wife of II. F. Attaway.
The physicians now practicing at Hills-
h.u-oare Drs. N. I!. Keniu.ly, 11, i\w\ -M. I).
Km..\, K. !.. S.>,-ions, J. Muie, .1. W. Miller
J. II. Wysong (all theso h^ve their olJices,
in the rear portion of the Kagle <lrug store on
the east ^ide of tiie square), George 1). liond,
W. M. Drake, II. W. Dudley, J. T. llarriss, J.
.1. Robert and K. I\I. Carlt.m (eclectic).
1'")'
llillsbon. was l)r
Doe, who after a few years went to Mexico.
Among other early doctors lu^re were ,1. M.
(irillin. wlu. is still living in the county; Dr.
Stewarl, who |)ract1ei,'d with him tor a time;
Dr. Willi.'im Craig, in Ib.^jO, was residing a
mile and a half from town; Dr. Fellows
(ecleclic) was here four or live years, and is
now in iJrownwnod, Hrown county, this State,
.loingwell; U. F. Attaway ( vitopathic), liere
two or three years, died of consumption ; J.
W. Smith, now in Bell county, this State; J.
F. McKenzie, who came in 1885 and dieil
June 25, iStil, aged sixty-eight years, was a
leading physician; J. M. Smith, who moved
to Seymour, Texas; J. W. Hunt, who died in
February, 1887; W. J. Pollard; W. A. Craig
decea,-ed; Alexander Campbell, also a Presby-
terian clergyman and school-teacher, move<]
away; i>. II. Vaughan, now living at Vaughan,
in this county; Ij. F. Smith, who prac-
ticed liei'e four or five years and is now
practicing at iieutonville, Arkansas; ,1. G.
Hendricks, who did well hei-o for a time, and
ib now in eastern Texas, etc., etc. AVe can-
not name all the j)hysiciaus who have prac-
ticed here in llillsboro; but it is somewhat
remarkable that thei'e are so few '• irregulai's "
in the South generally, as well as in Texas;
not a homeojKithist in this county, although
they constitute about a fourth of the medical
profe.-sion ill the North and in Furope.
The Hill Comity Medical and Surgical As-
sociation was organized J line 'J, 188'', wiieii
there were present Drs. 1!. F. Smith (presi-
dent), M. I). Knox, Joiin I'.uie (secretary), G.
W. liciiton, S. \l. Gates, 15. II. Vaughan, N.
15. Kennedy, A. L. Wiley, A. J. Hamilton,
A^ J. Weathened, R. A. AVilliamson and R. A.
Milh,r. Also, in 188!) the '■Hill and Mc-
Lennan C(,iiiity Line Medical Association"
't !• ■■ ..; M'l
,■!•' i-.;ft
,1-, ,,W I,,:
.1 vu
i; , .■■..!. : ;. ..'■ . , ,1. ..I
i , r
:r. .1,11 ,;j .U :- I ^■vAu',\ I,
..;.,ii,if ., , ,,./<!., .mil ..,iT
; '..:■ , ,■,"11 J- ■.'!• ..'iv/ ,'JoU-
1 i!' (i: ■. Hi- l.'').i .11 t'li* .iiliiiii)
lUSTonV OF JOHNSON
org:i
ized: W. E. Mciu'lco, iiroBidoiit for
tlie year 189U— "Jl.
I't-hruary 18, 18S(), ii lire, suiii.u.-e.l to liavu
originated in a laundry, quickly tlireatened
to become a conflagation, damaging tlie line
DOW Warren block, tlio lumber sheds of Page
& Oo., Harpold Eros.' agricultural implement
store, and totally destroying the office of Es-
quire I). Overton, with all its contents, and
also damaging the property of J. A. lioss and
IJawkins, Welborn & Co. Tiiore was no in-
surance on nKi.'^t of the property mentioned
Way 10, 1887, the AVarren block and a
number of atljoining buildings were con-
sumed by fire, with a fearful loss,— $118,300,
)al los
beiiif/John D. Warren
-thep
building, oUice furniture, etc.; A. Ku.\ .<^
liro., di-y gooils; E. I^. ISi'icliolst)ii, dry goods;
Mr.s. N. L. (Jarmichael, building; T. S. John-
son & Co., groceiies; J. A. La liryer, I*acitic
Express Co. 's office; W. II. Ellington ik. Co.
dry goods; Thompson & lilakey, buggies and
agricultural implements; ,1. R. Wheatley,
building; Harpold Bros., iigricultural im-
pK-nu-n.s, etc.
DLVcmbci- -JO, 1.SS7, early in ihc morning,
a lii'e caused the following ll)^^es: Jjcwine
Bros., dry goods, $10,000; estate of George
F. Sturgis, $7,500; L. I!. lirown, grocerl
$14,000; L. Brill, dry goods, $10,000; W. II.
McDonald, building, $850; Sturgis Nationa,
Bank, building and furniture, $5,500; M.
Lewis, saloon and rcstauiant, $1,800; E. I!.
ytroud,$400; J. W. CoUedge, furniture, $200,
etc., total, about $57,000.
February 20,1800, W. T. Collier's resi-
dence in the western part of town,; loss
about $1,200.
January 10, 18iJl, the '-City Grocery,"
owned by C. I). Brown and managed by W.
W. Carter, along with some buildings adjoin-
ing, were burned, the total loss being about
$17,000. Fire probably incendiary. The
fire company did well on this occasion or tho
loss would have been much greater.
November 23, 18 — , the residence of U.
II. Edmondson, in the eastern part of tho
city, was consumed, with all the contents:
loss, about $1,400.
August 20, 1891, fire destroyed the estab-
lishments of E. M. Turner & Co., J. It.
Thompson, Stroud, Buck et Sturgis, Stroud
Bros., Hawkins & Lary, K. S. Lumpkin,
Thompson, Long A: Co., Dr. J. T. Harrissaud
others, the loss aggregating nearly $70,000!
This stirred up the people anil the city coun-
cil to hasten on with the contemplated arte-
sian-well enterprise. For iire company, seo
a little further on.
niLLSBOKO COIU'OUATION.
llillsbdro was liist made a tuwu as early as
1851, and cuntiiiued a monotonous life, witii
scarcely any signs of growth until within u
few years of the advent of the railroad in
1881, the Missouri Facitic. In 1882 tlio
question came up for incorporation as a city,
and February 24, that year, a vote was taken,
with the result of seventy-three for incor-
poration and eighty-four against it; but it
seems that other action was taken, and tlie
council pi-oceeded to transact business until.
'A\.>f.y.\u>v "*<) rMnvAw.
;ii f'lwi liv/.nil .(I .') X'' t'-tW-> ' L"/'i o) i.u 'vijqiie ,o(il m ,<'>f'j<l ,81 '^ujimWI
.j'( 'juiob illiv; yn<'l« ,mhi;'.> .VM !"■ .i.-u.ij ^'^aiuj. j'^iixiijjjl ji »i haJiuiiyi-iO
*' ?;> •■•,f)ii3Li£3l y.jj ,— yi.fii; •lOilli.'jVo'i'I j !)i.j: ,£i.tii'j^fiO:v «li 111', lljiv/ .nOl'lOvCl .;l rjliap
.""i I ^oiKiiit'tKu '<,■''■"!'•■'■( ■■"i' '''^ •'^""' "" yjiiin!'.j
.Jl I , f.'- ./. •i':.(V..T .W ..» :.>. 6^.<*..iLUfl I iK.v 'n.^ i-.iif.Ii.Kl o.^^i^-ih-: li.' -J^aiiiiin
J ij :l r::\[ ?i ;i,';iv//;Il , -<..nU I ,.■•■: w.W (i ,. I...L. -iii-ji! r.r, -....1 ioij-j.i in; yi!) —
•i \^lTjri.]; y LijjniS'-JI^" e-<'l 'Jflt .iT-iji. ! . 'j. o- /-^li . i:. .,.■.(■ iilji / j ,H ; -.! i vO'.^ \(;il, ..u'lfi
.fi.j .-'.liJiijl :,;"ijl II I \>in: mn-ii^ii'' ,yjAi\iii. iL itv.dq:..i;rj'r ,-,ijo.". /^'i>
AND HILL COUNTIES.
in tlio sprino- uf 1S(I0, it w:i= ascertiiinol that
it h;ui bcciiuctiiia invyularl.y,astlu-townliHd
not bcL-ii legally incorporated as a "city." A
di^cnssinii theivtWe arose aa to the host
(■..nise to pursuit C I.. C!arltoii riiaiiitaiiieil
that there was a remedy, as t'ollo\v.->: Puti-
tioii the county court to or<ler an election for
the purpose of ascertaining' whether or not
the incoi-poratioii of the town bhould be liul-
lilied, and then vote it down, leaviii>r the
tiAvii without an incoi-j)oration of any kind;
thi-n, as soon as possibU^ petition for another
election to see whether or not the place
should be incorporated as a city. He be-
lieved that within thirty days the place
in this manner could become a "city" within
the meaning of the law, as was done pre-
viously at Taylor, in this State, a town that
had been similarly situated.
The council, coincii.ling with these views,
appointed a committee to carry oui tlie
measure, and it reported favorably, and the
plan satisfactorily cari'ied out. i\ public
meetinj^ was held to Consider the niatler:
370 nan.es were secured to a |)etitioii to tiie
county judge, requesting hiiu to order an
election, and he refused to order it, b.Tieving
that there was a better remedy. The U.-ard
of Ti-ade decided, Mny 30, to carry the matter
to a liighei' tribunal. The (juestioii was dis-
cussed and bandied about until finally a
general ];^w of the legislature was enacted
enabling cities in such attitudes to legalize
their transactions. This law, however, be-
came such without the signature of the
(iovernor.
The government of this city is now con
ducted ujKin a consi'rvativc and economical
basis. The rate of taxation, including the
school tax, amounts to 75 cents on the one
huniired dullars valuation. Kxj.enses are
cautiously gmirded, and the present iiulebted -
ness, excluding a small amount of lloating
claims does not e.xceed §15,000. The bulk
of this indebtedness was incurred in the
erectiiui of the public-school building. The
tax rate required to meet the sinking fund
constantly grows smallei-, and within a short
while will be nu;rely nominal. Of the entire
amount of taxes, 25 cents on the $100
was recently levied by a \'ote of tlio
people for the jmrpose of extending the
school term to ten months.
i\mong the most interesting acts of the
lliUsborq council are the tblhjwing, which
we have incidentally gleaned from the city
papers.
In June, T'^SG, the city compelled all own-
ers of jdgeons to keep such birds caged.
August 17, same yeai-, the business houses
and re>idl'nce.■^ were ordered by the city coun-
cil to be numbered.
September 4, 18SS, the council refused to
permit tlu' sale of fruits, soda water, etc., ou
Sunday, even when restricted to the early
morning, by a vote of live against two.
In 1S90 the council Ijegan by resolution
to exempt certain private pro}>erty from city
ta.xation, for a stated period, in ita philan-
thropic zeal to foster local busines.-, enterprises;
but the majority tiiially decided that such
mi'asures were unconstitutional. After vot-
ing down the [iropoeition to (!Xemj)t the
llillsboro roller mill, they aceortlingly re
ij giiiMiri',.:'
i: M.iUi.i-./. :,. ; .,,/; . .,...,. . .., . '. ,.„ ,;.rw ■,:,.|l ».;itj
.1 ,'lii,ii'5
il:
niSrOIlY OF JOHNSON
Hciiuled ii runiun- rcsuliition exomptinj,' the
Ilillsboro took place June 0, 1883, and called
U,KT. 1U.U.C.
the-iiillsburo liouk and Ladder Company,
Ill 18111) tliu i^niml jury Martcd in for a
No. l;"tlie engine company was organized
thoruiiyh investiH;atiuii uf tliu viohitiiui of the
.September 17, 1885; and the city fii'o depart-
hiw prohiljitiiig tlic sale of iuto-\icatiiiy liq-
ment October 24, 1885.
uors to tiiiiiors. A certain young man was
For the use of the tlepartment a house was
brouglit before it wlio testilied tliat he was
built on South Waco street, \vhere the appa-
uiRler twenty-one years of age, and that lie
ratus of both companies are well housed.
liad ireqiieiitiy houglit intoxicating liquors
The lirst department oliicers were: Henry
in ]Jill?l)Oro. Upon being (questioned in de-
P. Harrington, idiief; T. J. Holland, first
tail, lie admitted that lie had bought liquors
assistant; (). M. Welburn, secretary; and M.
from e\-ei'y saloon-keepei- in llillsboi-o, and
1). Knox, treasurer. The first oliicers of the
the foreman of the jury proceeded to make a
Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, wei-e J.
a note of each case, with all material particu-
W. GoUedge, foreman; I'.en French, first
lars, dates, etc.
asbistaiit; I^. K. Harpold, second assistant;
After having given his testimony at length
<i. W. Jones, housekeeper; V. H. Ivy, pres-
ami when the foreman had prepared data for
ideat; T. G. Hawkins, treasurer; and T. 11.
a good batch of indictments, the \vitnes8 in-
McCJoUum, secretary. The members were
nocently rt'inai-ked that in iS'a\arro county,
11. F. Harrington, Tom liell, L. lirin, W. H.
where he had formerly lived, ho ha.l fre-
liragg, Tom Couchniau, 1>. Derdeii, S. W.
quently bought whisky, and that the authori-
Hancock, J. S. Kirk, M. Lewis, J. W. Tatter-
ties of that county had never seemed to con-
son, iScott Shook, ]]. 1), Tarlton, S. J.AVatel-
sider it an olieiise to sell to him. This was
sky, A. L. Blanchard, W. S. McFaddeu, P.
a poser to the jury, and a de.Mre was expressed
F. Fox, C. I' . Phillips, Ben French and J. W.
to know why it was that licjiior dealers could
Golledge. Tlie company then had a very
sell intiixicating licpiors to minoi-s in Ts'avarro
nice, handy and compact truck, with six
ci.imly witliout being held to account.
ladders and thirty-six rubber backets and
Imagine the surpri.-e of llic jurors when the
other ap])liances, manufactured expressly for
witness replied that although not twenty-one
them. The truck was a model of neatness,
years of age he was the head of a family,
being so constructed that any la'der could
consisting of a \vife and two children ! This
easily be taken from it, each being on rollers.
was enough. The witness was told to stand
Fngine Company No. 1 had one SiUby
aside, and the foreman destroyed the mem-
engine. No. 6, with two hose carts and 1,000
oranda that he had ])i-cpared as a basis for
feet of Paragon hose. The otiicers were:
indictments.
James Harrington, foreman; O. M. Welburn,
FIKK COill'ANV.
first assistant; George (Jarmichael, second
The first organization of a lire company in
assistant; !!. Swecnev, secretary; F. H.
•I; .:•. ( .: 1o:Iy;, 0,
1. vr.rV 'n;>v-^
j) .j;: V 11 n.
.■ 1.-. .-h ^ ■)?
L;i« .u->
yL.) ,bl< - ■'■ .'l
( ru;i. f.;:i t j J':i;vtu. ■.ill
• .'.r,: .•.■•;n liar, I i') ejijil j:
AXD II ILL
t^truii.l, truiiiiii'LT; 15. 0. Hrittain, oaj_niiocr;
1. U. r.huicluird, tirst assi.stiuit engineer;
CIku'Ils Sdiolus, ciiptiiiu of hoso; T. J. Mc-
Kfii/.ii', lii'Bl asHiotunt of liusc; ineinltcrh -
T. S. 8njitli, T. J. Holland, ClilVord Frank-
lin, W. L. liootli, J. F. Uayuc's, M. D. Knox,
K. E. Harris, Aiic Fox, Sidney Mills, J. J.
Kubcrttf, J. J5. Hayes, R. S. Lnni[dcin, J. N.
MuKon^jie, J. K. Patty, ^V. E. McLaiighlia
and J. E. Ikllard.
At that time the city had two cisterns upon
the square, connected by gutters with the
surrounding buildings, — one on the west and
one on the east. This supply was sntKeient
for a time. The dep:u'tiiient [inrchasod a
thousand-pound bell, manufactured expressly
for it at Cincinnati, and it was mounted on a
tower forty feet high.
LTntil within the past year or two the city
has been somewhat unfortunate as to lires,
but it now has a fully ec|uip])ed lire depart-
ment, composed of some of its best citizens
id lead
lusmess me
riie dcjiartment
is a volunteer one, but a consideralilo portion
of the expenses are provided for by the city
government. The engine and all the appurte-
nunccri are first class and nothing is nccdeil
but a little better organization of the system
in order to assure perfect protection to prop-
erty, and accordingly reduced rates of insur-
ance.
Kecently vigorous movements have been
made for the establishment of electric light-
ing and for watei-- works; and for the latter
1 Is to the extent of !s7,00() have been
d, to dc
y the exp,
of <li-i;
artesian well. It is not yet decided just
where it will be h)cated, but the contract was
let September 15, 18'Jl, for the drilling of
the well, to the Mcl.eod Artesian Well Com-
pany of Keokuk, Iowa, who are now busy in
a similar enterprise at Itasca, and will take
U[) the llillsboro well next. The company
guaranties a depth of 1,200 feet, live and live-
eighths-inch aperture at the bottom, for
$4,000; and if necessary, they will go 1,500
feet, at §3 per foot over 1,200 feet; and if
still further iiecessary, 2,000 feet, at $1 a
foot 01. er 1,500 feet.
The ayes on issuing the bonds were Messrs.
Martin, Hounds, Lary, Morrison, Knight and
Holland; nays, Harpold and Dunham.
In the spring of 1S'J2 tlie council con-
tracted with the Texas Water-works and
CJoustruction Company of Dallas for the con-
struction of water- works, and selected the
places for the tire-plugs, as well as for elec-
tricdight poles, which are to be thirty feet
liigh. There are to be forty-five hydrants,
furnished at a cost of $50 each, and the elec-
tric-lights are to be of 2,000-crtndle power,
arc, and set up at $100 each.
On hearing of the death of ex-i'resideut
Jefferson Davis, the citizens of llillsboro
held a meeting December 6, 1889, and casseJ
appropriate resolutions. Those taking the
lead at the meeting were Major J. 11. Little-
iield", liev. T. W. Rogers, Hon. P.. D. Tarlton,
W. A. Fields, L. J. Thompson, T. H. Dixon,
,I,din I). Warren, W. F. Spell, W. 11. Young,
Kev. i;. M. Tayh.r, Sherilf .). P. Cox, W. C.
P.lair, W. H. Clark, Isaac Green, J. H.
•.)! ti, lU ,lii;illfMT«I>i .5]
h.
i',11
! :,
I „v.,, ; ,„, r,>i :, ,.',./: i - ' .'.^.Hk!! .M .1 [•,,.
,;.,,;!;, - V V'.) I 'i i. ■• ' i-i^J •.. ■:i:i.-- 'i;ili;'i:)r(l ';ii:l/ll(KirHJa
I
,;!■ lvj;j;'''iM^ ■;.■'. 4;T3ilGij.'.t :.'ll lo
■( r .' -jit.l. ' jo-i.-i I t 1 ..'X>i0iq "juliau r.wiu'.; o' it»!jiu ui
'..;l
■ •■.[■.[
UlSTUltr OF JOUXSON
■\V.km1, J. 1'. MrC
11, J. S. DiL-kui-M.n, 0.
ip--
A numU,T
1). IJrovvii aii.l J. l;. Tl
of tlirsu {^reiitlemuij, kjmju uf whuin li;ul been
pLTfLiiially iicquaintud witli TiTbiidi'iit Davis
delis't-rc-il aj.|irupriatL' .-pt'OcliLS. January 2
follo\vi;i^', .S. C. L'pJi:i«- w-a-^ autl.orizLfl to
solicit and receive duuatiuM; for the relief of
the family of the deceased, and for the erec-
tion of a nioniniient to hi.s memory. The
buoks are btiU open (May, 1S'J2) for bub-
bcrijilion.
Several hundred citizens of Ilillsburo,
wlioso inuiies appear in the ^l/Z/vc/' of Jan-
uary 1, 1890, for a Christmas gift to Miss
Ellen Roberts, a paralytic, raised §78.50,
with which to purchase a propelling chair,
etc., for her use. Dr. Kennedy was the mov-
ing spirit in gettiiif^r up this charitable and
most sensible present.
The following account of the celebration of
July 4, 1S90, is from the llillsboro Jlinvr:
An immense crowd of people, \-ai-iously
estimated at 8,000 to 5,000 jjcople, was in
llillsboro the Fourth of July, ISOO. That
was the day of reunion for the e\-Contederate
soldiers of the county, and the laying of the
Masonic
)f th
Vi
the morning, yes, the night beforct, buggies
and wagons began to roll into town bearing
loads of people anticipating a grand time.
The first thing on the programme of the
day was the laying of thecorner-stone. About
10:80 the Masons marched from their hall,
preceded by the llillsboro cornet band, to the
northeast corner of the new building, where
the beautiful corner-stone was laid with an-
propriato ceremonies. In the stone was
placcl corn, oil and wine, and coins, letterB,
jia])ers, and other mementoes contributed by
Aarious pei'sons, and lists of members ami
oliicers of the Masonic lodge, list of members
of the (Jenietery Association, a copy of each
of the city papers, etc. Although it was in-
tensely hot the vast crowd stood and u-atched
the ceremonies with eager interest. On the
north side of the stone is engraved: "J. G.
Abney, County Judge; Ike Vermillion, AV. P.
Cunningham, 13. II. Turner, Thos. C. Carlisle,
Conimissi(uiers; W. C. iJodson, Architect;
I.ovell Miller & Hood, liuilders." Ca the
east side of the stone is engraved: "Laid by
llillsboro Lodge, A. F. et A. M., No. 196,
A. L. 5890— A. D. 1890," together with cer-
tain signs and symbols of the order.
After the ceremonies were over the crowd
wended its way to Abbott's grove, a cool and
shady I'etreat just suitable for such occasions.
Hefore the crowd had assembled a rain came
on, putting a "dam|)er" on the enthusiasm of
many and freightening them home, es])ecially
those living in town. In an hour oi' two the
diM
ppe
th.
jrowd
a.ssembled. Dr. A. iM. Douglass, I'reshlent
of the Kx-Confederate ]':neampment, called
that association to order, and Captain A. i\
McKinnon delivered the address of i'elconie,
and Hon. Dave Derden made a sjieech.
liecess was then taken for dinner, for
which eleven beeves had been barbecued and
an abundance of bivad ordered; but tin; rain
so "demoralized" everything that the dinner
was not a " success," though it wao no fault of
the committee. Many jieojile who ha.^ pre-
:(. J'.U)-'..i'f
1. ;;.!.: Mv/.vl
'- ('!.--
[■.I.
; rj; ... j,,!,.m:>. .,.uj „,,J no. lNti,M I., ft ...IT
,1. i Ji. ! 'iij:!! ,;.,il f-...l.vii'.fii ^.■u'-.i,!/! Jill 0K:O'
. ■ ■., ■ ■ . ■ , '< •'.■■: ■■• • I -. '. ■ • -ijiyu' , TuiiOilhoT
AND HILL CUUNTIES.
|iirL'(J IjHskets did not bring thein on the
,.,„,H,d.
Aiur dinner Hon. B. I), Tarlton and
Ju>i-c J. M. Hall addr..s.<ed the veteran.^ and
tliu rubt of the afternoon was sjieiit in social
rLMniion until the roll was ealled. The oilicers
elected for the ensuing year were: W. G.
lieuvers, president; Harvey Ohenaiilt, first
vice-|nc-ident; J. M. C. AVilson, second viee-
|iii'tiilent; Smith Powell, secretary, and
l)a\e Dei-den, treasurer. The new president
made a short speech, and the encampments
iidjourned until the next -ith of July, subject
to the call of the president.
On the same Fourth some of the Knight
uf Pythias of IHUsboro left here on an excur-
sion to RHlwaiikee, fiirnislaHl with u chair car
entirely through. The car was handsomely
decorated with banners along eacli side bear-
ing the following statements: » HiUsboro
Lodge K. of 1'., No. 48— Texas." "Hill
county, Texas; Hillsboro, county seat. Has
tliree national baid<s, two compresses and a
^100,000 courthouse." '-Value of farm prod-
ucts, 188'J: Cotton, $3,000,000; grain, $3,-
000,000; cattle, $2,500,000; miscellaneous,
^2,500,000." These banners were attached
to the sides of the car with eleven handsome
rosettes made of red, yellow and blue, the
colors of the order. The fuUowijig citizens
took advantage of the cheap rate, — $15 for
the round trip: D. W. Ualton, Captain S. C.
Upsliaw, C. S. Colvin, W. C. Wear and wife,
T. S. Su.itb, .Mrs. C. L. llarpold, .Miss Sallie
Wear,,]uliaSturgis, li. Quickeustedl and wife,
J. M. Coley, L. K. Harpold, CJ. J. Sorrell, N.
J. Nagle, 1'. F, Fox, J. M. Duncan, d. U.
Wright, G. F. J'itchman, J. M. Pratt, W. A.
Fiehls, J. AV. Orand, D. Lanman, W. H.
Abernatby and 0. T. Crawford.
On the morning of August 29, 1888, a
bright, tine-looking boy, only six years of age
ari-ived by train at llilLsboi'O, unaccompanied
by any one, having come all the way from
McMinnville, Tennessee. On the front por-
tion of his coat was sewed a piece of white
cloth Containing the words: '-Please jiut this
little boy off at Hillsboro, Texas." The con-
ductor could give no further information.
The boy was interviewed closely, his clothes
and valise searched, but no further clue could
be obtained as to his identity or destination
other than he was to bo met at the depot and
arge by
Mr. I'atterson,
happening to beat the depot, took him home
with him. The next day Mr. John Todd,
li\ing near Prandon, an uncle of the boy,
called for him, saying that the grandparents,
who are al.-o named Todd, expected him to
arrive twenty-four hours later; and hence the
failure of the connection.
September 24, 1881, a daugiiter was born
to Dr. and Mrs. J.. S. Fellers in Hillsboro,
that weighed oidy twenty-four ounces, includ-
ing even the clothing it wore when weighed!
It was born unexpectedly, and showed signs
of life when born, also unexpectedly. It was
carefully nuised, kept enveloped in a garment
th olive oil, and, although appar-
ited
il, and, althi
ato.-je state foi' about six wi.
it then began to imjjrove. Its arms a
were so small that a linger ring coi
slipped over them their full length
whole body was not uujre than eight
tA \, ,ni-..i,;-w'L .'l .<•) ith'n" i pU :v ■■■'->di y-"i'u* U;:' i-il* .i,u.:l9;-.u Iwi
x ,-;.iv''i
.1:,;,|,
•iyi;.,li
HI llY'l
,,-,■,:: .. . -', ■l.'niK ,.r; .T
lv^^^ 15 .}; ..1 ,.:!..r^'( J
UlSTUUr OF JUIINSON
ill k'!ii,'tli, and it could lie CcmifortaMy [daced
ent owner, mentioned abo\e. Jt is well
l)re-
in a ciij.u' bux. When nearly ti\e years uld
ser\ed, except that a few lea\es have been cut
she wa.s still in ^otnl health an.l smart iiitel-
out by a \andal sur\'t'yor to whom it
iiad
leeliially, Init weighed iiiily lliirly ])oiind,s.
been h;nt atone tiim..
Her I'athrr was liurn in Au-iu-ta cuunty,
iiiK I'oKr.
(ieorgia, Kelu-uary 1-i, 1S31, and her mother
UV ,IAKE U. HAlilUSoN, UK TUE IIILLSBOKO NEWS,
JULV
in (iille.-jiie euiinty, Mi.-=uuri, I )eeeniher 2U,
■llj, f-SO,
iSiii.
Un circus day, October 31, IbS'J, when a
lie is one upon this minul.ine sjilieie
L'lilike all othoibofliiskiuLl,
And lliiiiki liiuisell'a sort of goil
'•j.aiaiJe" was expected, a wild-eyed indi-
\Vuh wumlrou=ly develu|,eJ niiud.
vidual came rapidly down Elm street loiddng
lie bpfiids his lime in rt-ailiug books
in at e\ery store and alley as he passed as if
Aiid wandering round in cogilalion,
looking for something that he was afraid
And usually grows gaunt aud tbin
In feeding on imagination.
would be missed by liim. As he got oppo-
lie's blest beyond his fellow men,
Bite the butcher shop he could contain him-
And somehow always seems lo know it.
self no longer, ami, spying a oood-natured
The world may say he is a crank,
man near by, asked him in an excited tone
But still he knows he is a iioet.
of voicis "When's that des-parado coiuin'
ulf; ehr'
lie writes of love and si)ring and tlowers,
And birds ami bees and such as that;
lie curries tons of inhi)iiati<m,
J. S. lioon.N of llillsboro, has a home-made
Aud a pocket-book that's always Hat.
mathematical work, bound in bear-bkin anil
He's fond of dogs aud wine and women,
sewed with buck.-kin strings. The book was
Of hshing-rods and siieckled Iroul;
made by Jonathan lioone, in 17^7, or at lea.-t
He's kind to strangers when he meets them,
lUit makes his home folk stand about.
lini>hed in that year. The maker and auth(ji-
He's sad because the world is ™icked ;
of this work was a surveyor, and on ^tilf
In verse on veise pours forth regrets
parchment ]iaj)ei' he workeil out ditlerent
liecause of honor's reirograding,
probhtms, giving a full exjilanation of each.
And then forgets to pay his debts.
The book is divided into several parts, tlie
When mounted on his lean Pegasus
first treating of " I'lane Tiigcjnometi'y by
He soars beyond our reach ;
But in his acts he's like all others
Natural Ai-itlimetic, and liuK^s for Laying
Wlio fail to iiractice what they jireaiu.
out New Land, etc."
You may sound his fame iu sung and story,
The book was made in Meade county, Ken-
And [iraise his genius all you can,
tucky, wdiere the author, Jonathan IJoone, a
And slill 'tis true (you can't deny it)
nephew of the immortal Daniel lioone, liveil
A poet's nothing but a man.
at the time. He gave-tlie book to Jiis grand-
A man? Well, yes, he is a man;
And to be plain and speak it Hat, <
son to help him in his .M mlies at s.diool ; the
A i>oot's nothing but a n\M\,
grandson in tiii-n gave it t(j liisson, the pres-
And a very cimiuion man at Ihall
;!q /l.l:^,..'; .>,o .1 iv
jCUIl: . ■ .!■
ii . . /u I r>-l'M'i ■' r 'J!i' ,i!.;.--i ,•< I vii;i:iil'.' -J .jii'^loy
.(.;:• ..Im-v,-,.!
,,.... H.
i,M:l....,
;.; -'l-j/: ,i;j<
AND HILL CUUNTIES.
ITASCA.
'I'liib ciitc'i'iirisiiifr littJu town is bwiutit'ully
MdiaUai on u lii-h ri.l-c of land half way
I.L-tWL'c-i) Waco and Fort Wortli, forty-four
inilcD from each jilacu and about eleven miles
north of llillshoro, on the Missouri, Kansas
& Texas railroad. The sui-rounding country
comprises as tine farniinj^ lands as are to be
lound in Te.\as,~- rich, black land that will
jirodnce anything eatable that can be grown
in the I'nited States, 'i'he country is com-
paratively thickly settled by as hospitable,
honest and industrious j>eople as can be found
anywlnire.
Amon>r the lirst settlers in this jtart of the
country were ilessrs. I''iles, Ciathinys, Majors,
James Lawless, K. A. (iee, John Stephens,
etc., before the wai-, and Wetherred during
the war. The Files and Dathings families
are often referred to elbcwhere in this volume.
Ill the latter part of 1S>51 the Missouri,
Kansas ic Te,\as liailroad Company, imme-
diately upon the eompleticui of their line
through iiero, purchased through thoir agent,
(i. M. Dodge, of Mew York, lOU acres of
laud from Anna M. lirower, and platted the
place, naming it, from mere fancy, after Fake
Itasca, at the head of the Afississippi river in
Minnesota. The lirst sale of lots took jdace
October 10, ISSl.
W. I. Hooks and J. IF Ciriliin. from IFir-
rinirton, Tennessee, erected tlie first buildinir
general sloie. Fut it
on the ground
was not until the summer of fS«;3 that tlui
town got under lull hoa.lway. At this time
the tow II plat and all the surrounding country
was a vast jirairie, almost unoccujjicd. 'J'he
lirst settlers there had actually to plow around
their little town to jirotect it against the
sweeping prairie fires. Messrs. Hook and
(irillin bad, therefore, a rather tedious time
exercising their patience while they worked
their way steadily along. Some Jiouses were
moved here from Covington by Frank AVear
and Mr. Watson. Mr. Ft. L. Duim started
the lirst liotel.
From FSS3 to 1885 the place grew at tlio
proper rate of speed, so tliat by the latter
year it was large enough to \>o chartered as a
corporation, which was done, by a vote of
thirty-seven to thirty, September 19, and tlie
following city ollicers were electid: li. F.
Vinson, mayor; AV. E. Anderson, W. J.
Fruitt and J. C. Clark, aldermen.
Again, during the early part of 1890 they
realized that their charter was not full enough
and that they were assuming the jiroportions
of a city, and applied for a new one, giving
them all the advantages enjoyed by their
sister cities. This charter was granted on
the 7th of March, 1891, and now Itasca
stands forth a full-lledged city, bidding you
comt! in and enjoy a share of her ]>rosperity .
The jiresent city ollicers are: C. (). Weaver,
mayor; AV. 1. Hooks, AV. J. Fruitt, J. Z.
Noble, T. L. Shells, J. H. AV^ombwell, alder-
men; L. F. Stanley, secretary; J. E. Clarke,
attorney, and (J. F. Stanford, chief of police.
'J'heso gentlemen are all men of high stancF
ing, which is a guarantei^ that the interests
of the city will br well guarded. The bonded
indebtedness is only ;?5, .-,(.)(); the bonds have
just betiii issued for the purpose of boi'ing
..;r' ,...,>.-,.|T/,.,.,.|l
ti'.< .ivi.l .. 1).- !jmI,,;i,
1 .1 lU ..M»i'V('
l. .':.' r
;: ■' i.
I A
! i/ .0
111,;;/
I ■,..,;; \ ■/ ;..V,|.v..'
inSTOllY OF JVIINSON
ail artuaiiiii wull and draw only nix pur cent.
80, not like t-oiiie dtlier cities, Itasoa does not
i-i'(|nirc all her taxes to jiay tlio intercdt on
lier l.on.U.
'I'he city iri not yet divided into wards.
The council has taken measures for the ini-
provunieut of the streets and sidewalks.
I'HICSKNT STATUS.
Itasca lias twenty brick buildinH;s and
thirty. od,| merchants, and at least 250 dwell-
ings. The J3a[)tist, Methodist and Cumber-
land Presbyterians liavc elegant places of
worship, while the Christians and old-school
Presbyterians both contemplate erecting
church oJiiices in the near future.
Now let us take a walk up and down the
main business street, commencing on the
south side at the ilepot: Vinson House, J.
AV. tiilliam, proprietor; post otlice, James
Messimer, jiostmaster, where there is also a
stoi'e of confectioneries, cigars, etc.; saloon
and restaurant; First National Bank of Itasca
(see sketch further on); the Thompson liuild-
tli.
il store kept hv
I. K. AVatelsky; in the second story, J. K.
Clarke, city atb.niey; Vinson c^ AVetherred,
real-estate agents, collectors, etc.; K. IJ.
IJrown, general hardware; J. P. lielk, gro-
cery and drug-store; Dr. C W. Martin;
McLean, Miller .t CriOin, drug-store; J)r.
W. S. McLean; clocks and jewelry; J. A.
Townsend it Co., grocers; Mississippi Store,
dry goods, J. J. Price; Koulhac e*c Co., dry
goiid.-i, groceries, hardware and (pU'cnswaie;
Itasca Mail newspaper ami job jirinting
ollice; Dr. C. C. Weaver, dentiot, and Dr.
AV. I). Fountain, physician; T. W. Lewis &
Co., blacksmiths; J. T. Cilliani & Co., lum-
ber yard, sash, doors, lime, cement and
iminl»; N. F. Dulf, photugraph gallery.
Ketui'uing west, on the north side of the
street: E. F. Lenox, boots and shoes; II. L.
liettisuu, boots and shoes; G. AV. Priggs,
Lone Star blacksmith shop; A. AI. Howard,
watclunaker; saloon and i-estaurant; Niece
Pros., dry goods and groceries; S. S. Massey,
saddles and harness; J. U. Thompson, hard-
ware and stoves, J. J. Hatcher, manager;
AVombwell A Williams, general merchants;
saloon an<l barber shop; Iloper, Collin &
Simmons, hardware, tinware, saddlery, har-
ness and farm implements; confectionery and
fruit store; Moulton \' Sims, dealers in
grain, hay and produce; barber shop; saloon;
moat market; Tipton House.
North of Main street are the following:
J. (). Files' furniture store; warei-o(jms of
J. II. Thom|)Son & Co., hardware and agri-
cultural implements; the "Racket" store:
artesian well and the school building.
South of Main street: M'llinei'y store;
Mrs. Stone, manager; Clink.scales iV: Aber-
nathy, an immense lumber yard, doors, sash,
paints, oils, etc.
About the depot: Four gins, with corn-
siiellers attached to twi
tlu.
'■•y, by
Wetherred Pros.; Nowlin & Pelk's black-
smith and wood shop; Pui'ks & Kiggins'
cotton yard.
Drs. \l. \l. Weir and W. H. Orr are also
Tb,^ total business done in Itasca during
the year IS'Jl was .^^orjO.OOU. Over 18,000
,)!•. ■,■/!
''-'■' i
Jo lici i-.,:; 31' .'
'.,.mI.:.-..'I.'/.V /.
1^ u: r. ■-„
M.'[
Lull's i>i I'uttun wi'Vt- broiiglil lu-rc fur sliip- ^
iiaiit, eight car-loads of wheat, furty-eight i
iMr-lu.uls of roi-ii, t\veuty-si\ of liiiy aiul other j
yioAuvc, -SM car-loa.ls ,,f hcof eattlo, et.
Tuoiity two resi.leiicos woix^ Imilt duriiij^' tl.
inc yc
and tliruu now busiuoas
an ice-house and many other additions and
improvements.
Under a contract for $5,500, the city of
Itasca is having ;ui artesian well bored, to
reach 2,000 feet if water is not obtained
h.M.ner; and at this time (January 27, 1.SU2)
the workuien have reached a dej-th of 1,150
feet. Kor strata gone through, see section
(in geology, in this volume. Seven-inch
casing is used for the first section of the well.
The contractors ai'c the McLeod Artesian
Well Company of Keokuk, Jowa: Norman
J. McLeod, manager.
The Ita.-ca IJanking Company, with a caj)-
ital of $25,000, was organized on January,
21, 1690; the business grew to such projjor-
tious that November 21, 1S91, they found it
necessary to increase their capital to $50,000.
Thus the Itasca IJanking Company was
merged into the inrst National iiank of
ItaM.a. The following gentlen.en were
elected to manage its all'airs: ^V. 1. Hooks,
K. M. Files, U. P. Edrington, J. 11. Gridin,
J. M. Collin, C. J. Calfeo, E. E. Critfin and
K. B. llrown. From these gentlemen Mr.
W. 1. Hooks was elected president, Mr. F.
M. Files, vice-president, Mr. U. !'. E.iring-
ton, cashier, and .Mr. J. IF (irillin, assistant
cashier. From the ibt of January to the 1st
of July, LS'Jl, their net pr.dits were $(;,S()0;
surplus, $12,500; thus showing that withuut
any proteiisiuns they \\ere doing more busi-
ne.-., than a great many banks throughout
the State that are crowing about the Inisincas
The bank is kept in a neat ono-6tory lirick
building erected and owned by the company.
The Itasca Jfail is a lirst-class newspaper,
published by Weaver & Orr and edited by
Dr. W. 11. Orr. It was iirst established in
l.'SSG as an alliance pa})or and named the
Al/iance Jhul, by J. Ij. Murphy, but in a
month or two F. [I. Panlue took it and
changed its name to the Itasca Jlail, and ran
it as a general newspaper until November
18U0; then Kich A: llartson had it until June
1, Ib'Jl; ne.xt Fich & (C. C.) Weaver until
October 1, following; then Weaver S: (F. L.)
Orr, the present pioprietors. The paper is
of good si/.e and ail "honjc print." iVlso a
gooil job printing ollice is run by the firm, in
connection with the jiaper.
Mr. F. F. Orr and Dr. W. IF Orr, brothers,
are nati\es of Mississippi and came to Itasca
in J idy 1891, — the Doctor, liowovei', more
directly from Memplns, Tennessee, where he
had been practicing meilicine two years. lie
has had many yearb" .■.xperience as a journal,
ist as well as physician. Mr. F. F. Orr, who
has geneially been a newspaper man dui'ing
his life, started the Fe.xington (Te.xas) 7'cl-
e<jrain. lie is unnuu-ried, wliile the Doctor
has a family and owns a residence here in
Itasca.
While on the subject of journalism we
nuiy here cite an amusing instance of local
correspondence, in which Ita.sea wit closed
the hally. First a writer at I'i'airie View
../'[ .H.^1
,i. ■. l;U .L
;aM :j.;i -vi/ii'l
J J Y:
I1..1
1. :'j\ i.si <' I-. ■.'■■ .'■( nu'i.,.
. ■, . -.; I- .ti, .< n'. ,w,.a : l-l J'lJ
11 .1, i!.' 1,
:vj\A- ivj .ri ,
.. I
ii!l,
III rliii'Hj -h.d -irj.lj ,U.:'' , 'Jill. 'It
lUSTOUY <)l<' JOJ/N.SON
jiiihlislu.a tliu following ill a IlilUl.olo ikijilt:
" Tho young ladies of this conuaunity met
oil lubt Sutunlay evenino; for the iiurpo^-e of
iiura clul)
"PI''
the hatdielor cliil
[that liad lieeii ori^anized a shoi't time pre-
viously.) The following .young ladies were
present: Misses May Webh, Ida Wuo.lard,
Nora ]\[cClnng, Katy Simmons, Arrilla Leg-
ate, KUeu Sjiassard, Sally Watson, Lorena
Uudgers, Idlly Hewitt, Laura Hewitt and
Emma Todd. Miss Ida Woo.lard was elected
president and iIi^s May Welib secretai-y ; and
as time was jirccious other ullicers were de-
fei'red until next meetiii;^.
" They passed n few resohitioTis, among
which was this: ' Resolved that no niemher
of the society keep comjiany with any mem-
ber of tlio so called " ilatclielor's Club" or-
ganized iierc last week.'
"Miss Simmuns on being called to the
floor, said: -Sisteru of the sisterhood: I am
glad that ntjue of the lower class is rcpre-
Bcnted here to-night, — I mean old batchelois,
those incorrigible old batchciors wiiu not only
are not but never mean to be mai'ried — ma-
licious ilespi.sers of life's lawful sweetness and
charms of our own fairer se.\. i\.ugu>tus
Ciesar laid a heavy ta.x on all who were
found unmarried after the age of twenty-
five, and Len Harrison ought to do the same
thing in the United States. Simonides said
that the man who does not marry shows him-
self to be so selfish a coward that he shrinks
away from tin; nio-t sacred responsibilil ies of
life. So, if this famous old poet Simonides
is right, the man who gets married is as
brave as a soldiei-. A word more and I am
done. I want to say to this society that the
best union pacific bonds in the market are
marriage certificates.'
" Miss Webb then arose very solemnly and
said: ' You just tell those old batchelors
that heaven is fenced in with girls, and it is
bliss, too; and by woman paradise was re-
gained.'
".Miss Sally Watsun then aro.se and said:
'He who loves not women, wine and song
will be a fool his whole life long.'
'<]\Iiss .\rrilla Legate said: 'I tell you
what: let's advise those men to break up that
society and just be as they have been here-
tofore.'
"Then they broke uj) with the song, 'Old
IJatcbelors are Naughty Things!'"
The ne-\t week the local correspondent at
Itasca said: " If tluise lioys down at Prairie
View havn't enough get-up-and-get in them
to keep the girls from clamoring against
them we would like to take a contract to fur-
nish a car-loaii or two of fellows foi- those
girls. Our stock is well selected, including
the liest varieties on the market, and we will
not be undersold, even if we have to 'give
them away!" We are overstocked in kids;
also have a full stock of old batchelors, and
the latest variety in the way of u'Jowers.
All these are guaranteed to hang upon the
"■ate as lone as any girl that ever looked at
the moon. i!e sure to examine our stock
before j)urehasing elsewhere."
'I'he public-school building is a large two-
story frame north of Main Street, erected
Vfu .j' J.;., 7 1 . II' i; I J'^M- 1^1
, 1 -,
1., 1 li )'<■>
Villi iv> ■jiiiyinii-.B ld;i[ no
i 1 ' 'r"'i ';
1 ' '' "'
ill 1 -;.; .. i
.■•iMV/x ..-.;i,.:.i
,, , t,.,'..:
'■". r' '■ 1../::.,;: ('
, .. •_
1 ,.• !■ 'i ' K ' V>V>'
, VJ ■ -.nhli ■■'A 1- .'Miyv
'
.i'^-> .'...■.^
r" " •.-!;.;; .W -^M T... 'mi
■•-(-'; |«>L..,.; ,;
>: .;.I ■! Mr, ! ■! rjir.il :i' Ixii.ol
■;. :, •;.■., ,i. m:;;!! f...^! ^lu. ,Mvil
^^i;.,,;i i, , •„,/, Mi!^' tti.l.i "i!! tj.di
.(j -:..■,.,.,. ., ,! Hv>- OS v-.i i>J lii.a
...i bf.., o...*.!..! ... ', ■'; ,i>;^ .oil!
AND niLL COUNTIES.
111... lit 1SS7, ;it aiiotluT point in'^r by, uii.l |
iiltrrwunl luiiviMl to its |ii-L'Sfiit |jlaec. Its
r,.,t was uhoiil !^;!,0()U. and tlie Masonic onli:r
|,ai<l SSdl) additional I'or tlio iipjuT =.tory as
11 lodges ruuni. Tliu lower story id divided
into foui- rooms, fur scliool [lurposes.
Previous to the erection of this l.uilding the
citizens had some primary schools, ranging
from about lifty to sixty juipils to tlie scliool.
For two years these were kept up by private
donations, some individual subocriptions
reaching as high as $100. The school is now
kept nine months in the year,--li-ee for live
Hionths. The attendance at the subscription
school is 125 to loO, while the enrollment in
the public school was 305 for the year closing
in June, 18'Jl. The atteii. lance therein has
reached as lii<rh as 2-iS. J'rof. N. J. Foster
been the
il here since the autum
of 1SS7, and he has four as.-istants.
Robert K. I.ee l.odo;e. No. 449, F. d; A,
M., was charteie.l June 10, ISTtJ, at Osceola,
with thirlv-t
y-lwo members;
d the otiic
were: W. 1'. Purdue, W. M.;K. T. Pruitt,
S. W.; W. 11. Webb, J. W.; \l. .\. Tanner,
Treus.; J. J. Scrivner, Sec; Davi.l Hunt, S.
J).; J. L. Ilearn, J. D.; II. A. Ciee, Tiler.
The lodfre was moved to Itasca some years
ao;o. The present oliicers are: W. II.
Webb, W. M.; (i. 11. Abernathy, S. W.; W. J,
Pruitt, J. W^; T. K. Miller, Treas.; ,) . A.
Town.eiid, Sec; W. P. Ila.lley, S. i). ; 1<. ().
(dinkseales, J. D.; J. S. Watts, S. S.; M. II.
Matthews, J. a.; A. AV. K'uykendall, Tiler.
Th.
It numl,er of ineinb.
nine. Podge nieets on Satunlay night b..'foru
each full moon.
Ita^ca Lodge, No. 3,553, W. of IP, was or-
ganized in June, 1S',)0, with about twenty-
seven members: N. J. Foster, Dictator; W. I.
Hooks, past Dictator; li. A. Johnson, Re-
porter; M. B. Palmer, F^in. Rep. There are
now thirty-ti\e memliers, and the following
oliicers: N. J. Foster, P. D.; P. F. Vinson,
D.;J.A.Townsend,Ass't.D.; L P.Mead.Vico
I).;J. Il.Gritiin, Fin. Rep,; R. P. Edrington,
Treas.; R. 11. JJrown, Rep.; J. B. "Wiseman,
Chaplain.; Jeif Pratton, I. G.; I. K.
Watelsky, (). G. Lodge meets twice a mouth,
in the scliool building.
CHl-iJCIIES.
Methodism was first established in Itasca
in 1S>)2, with about thirty members, under
the ministry of Rev. C. G. Chiitt. The class
had been previously organized in 1881, at
Union Vulluy,a mile and a half west of town.
There are now about a hundred members.
J. W. Ansley has been the class-leader from
the beginning to the present time. The
jiresent board of stewards comprise J. T.
(iilliam (^who has served in that relati.m from
the beginning), and J. W. Ansley for the last
four ye-ars. II. (iilliam is a local preacher
residing here. The present superintendent
of the Sunday-school is Prof. N. J. I'oster,
and the attendance is about si.xty.
The pastors have been Revs. ('. (i. Ghutt, —
Carson, W. W. Henderson, one yeai', Sam J.
iM-an
yea
"W. E. Caijertou two
years, S. P. Ellis, three year.., and — Galigher
since December, 1801. (We arc not certain
-'.-(, ;j;;^ ,,o.:.- .iwv; ,';t.f;i ,i:ifl "< I'-r.'n,-,^ \ r, {i.,.c jh,,|;/ u:It i./i lii(v,i 1 1! t^- ' ,0r^ lMr.|
.! .7/ :'l«jJ ■.!:.(<! ,'!.iJ:v' ! ' /l :r.-,a(ii."!."ii H'.ym-. ; inbivi' at y'io-i<) -lOWol 'JllT .no.ri ,,,wl,yi „
. ■•,: ■':.I.^;.^' •.:/. L. ...'n.,oi,/ ,1,; ., U,i,wr, j ,; '.,,^ . ".V/ ..r.,(l , - ■• u J/J Mi -i
, ;:m. ,,. ■ .^i .!, ;. ./! ,ii ■' J :.' ; ; J; ,.Ki;:,.ll- I ■. ■ • IT 81 lO'-'lbt oil J' (.'^ ' !■ '. ffH (I ^i tl -n glliliOi"3T
■■;,:),.. i ;;■',>,.-;. ;-.;_l'<i.i • i ./Mci:a.|j,7/ . 1 :.i KJii : JiJ- nil ri; C(0(l:if'l' l) l! MllT ...lldilft!
1 ''
M .:,! ^,-.i. i..)-,, •!;,'■, ^,.-H .M
.;l ;.U : c: ,ii .! .1 ;.a
r.l' '/ I 'i' ,.7/ .1. ,i)ii. ri
:' i;ii y. 'If ,,;ic ,liOti>;:vw<;f
■;,;! ,.7 .;. .f^ .1, ,...v..l)JiJA
:M.ni: Uj ;■■' i Ul')::nO ■Jil'l'
msTOHY OF JOHNSON
tliat t!ic foivguini,' list is (JOiiijilcte or in
liruj)er cliroiiuluHical urdur.)
'VUi'. cliuiTJi l.uildiiij^r, 30x50, was erected
early in ISSCi, at a eost uf al.uut $1,700, and
is located ill the ea.^terll part of town. The
aociety has als(_) a parsoiian;e in Itasca.
Ill the Itasca circuit are also societies at
ITiiiua Valley, 8aleiii, Biirris Ciiapel and
Pleasant Hill. At IJuioii Valley there is
^lill a meiiibershij) of about si.xty, tlie class
heiiij^ first organized there under the min-
istration of Rev. Kllis. Salem is about iive
miles south of Itasca, IJuriis Cliajiel eight
miles east, and Pleasant Hill four miles
north. All these couiiti-y societies worship
in schoolliouses excepting the one at Durris
(Jhapel, which has a house of worship of its
own.
Thooldschool Presljyterians first established
themselves as a society in Itasca in January,
1S87, under the ministration of Kev. Cooper
of W;
st pastor was Uev. J. li.
Jacobs, who served three years; the ne.\t was
liev. W. J\I. Eldridge, of ilillsboro; but for
the last year they have had no minister.
The membership at first was only fifteen, but
it has increased to twenty seven. The el-
ders are J. V. Wiseman (who is also Miper-
inteiident of the Sunday-.scliool), J. II.
Koper and K. P. Edrington; and the deacon,
Lewis Simmons. Average attendance at
Sunday-school, about thii'ty, with about
forty-five enrolled. This school is kept up
still, although there are no regular public
services. The phice of meeting is at the
school Iniihling. The society is collecting
funds for the erection of
)Uso of worsliip
during the summer of 1892, to cost about
$2,500.
There is also a church uf tliis denomination
at Files' Valley, six miles east, which is served
by the minister of the Itasca church, when
there is one. They exp(^ct to build a church
there also this summer. The society was first
established there in 187(i, under Rev. Smiley,
1). I)., of Milford, and they erected a hand-
some edifice in 1879, costing about $1,500,
with a Masonic liall aliove; Init this was
burned down, and since then a union house
of worship has been erocted, on a site near bj,
for all denominations and also for school pur-
poses. F. M. and J. L. Files are the ruling
elders, and T. J. Files is the deacon. The
church sustains a Sabbath-school, of which
the superintendent is llev. J. A. Walker,
D. \).
The Cumberland Presbyterian ^church of
Itasca was organized about 18^-4 or 1885, by
Rev. W. ,f. Lackey, who was sent here as a
missionary of the Kirkpatrick Presbytery,
now the Corsicaiia Presbyte.-y. There are
now eighty-live or ninety meiiibei-s. Tiie
ruling elders at the time of organization were
J. C. and A\^ A. (Mack, J. R. and J. II. Grif-
fin; and the deacon, Jaines Clack. The
present elders are N. B. Palmer, J. A. Cody,
James Patton, and Messrs. Hodge and Mal-
lard. The deacons are A\". J. Pruitt, AV. I.
Hooks (elected but not serving) Dr. AV. S.
iMcl,ean (elected but is not now a member),
W. S. Kennoii. They have a good Sunday-
school, sui)eriiiteiide.d by ,\. H. (irillin, with
'"'■ I
-V'l-i :li : r;,;, .,. ; l!oj;.;:^.> p, ...i^.jj v^j|„V ,!0(pU Jj'l .I'll! J.-;;US'
^J-j.;Ji'r;-
'AV-ivi 'i^ t v;. r ,':,>•
■ I ../ .,-/i ;,„ / J/., h>J i^v ■'.n.l. 1,
,^^'^
\
AND ini.L COUNTIES
«ii inii:i;^c iittciulaiiL'C of alioiit eixty. I'lie
j,rt-.-iit iiiini=tcr in charge i= licv. W. A.
,uo.dK. l.crc
l'.at,i.-..ii, „r llillBluu-o, wl
Ih. mcuimI and lonrlli Smnlays of o;u_-li
Mumtli. llu Lari U-un tlio pastor hcru bincu
JiiMuary 1, 18'J2, i.reeoded by Ucv.-. E. Ji.
Jol]n.-.on one and a lialf years, and W. J.
l.nckry a little over four years. Under the
iiiinisti-y of the latter the greatest ninnber of
ncceseions to the chiireh to(jk place.
The church edifice, centrally located, was
erected in the spring of IS'JO, at a cost prob-
nl.ly of about 82,1100. It was under Kev.
Lackey's ministry, also, tliat the church build-
ings at Eureka, three miles soutli of Itasca,
and at Osceola, wero erected, at both which
points there are nourishing church oi-guniza-
tions, with ellicicnt missionary societies, as
well as at Itasca. At Eureka there ai'u about
seventy-live members, and at Os.'eola thirty-
live. Cost of church building at Eureka,
about J7U0, and at Osceola in the iieiirhbor-
huod of 5;l.,000. A Sabbath-school is main-
tained at both these places. The pastor is
Uev. 1. N. Clack. Osceola has no pastor at
At Covington a church wasorgani/.ed about
1^."5'J, with about thirty-live members, and it
has lieen served by iiev. I'atterson ; but there
is no preachei- there now.
The iiaptist church at Itasca was organized
in 1882. There are now about 170 members.
Deacons, M. S. Holland, D. J. Smith and J.
11. Conner; (;. IE Abernatiiy is clerk. The
Sunday-scliool has an average attendance of
about forty, superintended by K. !>. Jji'own.
liev. "W. 1". Green, of Grand View, has been
the pastor since November, ISUl, preceded
by Ucvs. J. ^E Glass three or four years,
\V. .1. Erowu two or three years, U.
\V. Jarrelhetc. This church was moved here
fi'om iJois d'Arc, about three or four miles
northwest.
The IJaptists erected their house of wor-
ship, 80x50 feet, in Itasca in 1S82 or 1883,
locating it in the northern part of the town;
its cost was about $1,500.
There is also a Baptist church at Osceola.
At Itasca there has been a nourishing
"Young Men's Christian Association" for
several years.
A FlliE.
Early in the morning of November 29,
188G, the Vinson Hotel and three business
houses wei'o destroyed by lii'o, originating in
a defective Hue. Several guests in the hotel
were obliged to jump out (jf the Bocoiid-story
windows. Loss on the hotel, !jil,GOO; Moore
& Funderburk, saloon, $3,500; Webb & Mes-
simer, groceries and supplies, $4,500; Roper
Bros., hardware and groceries, and building,
$3,500.
A WOKTUY flTIZICN.
li. E. EoKKNOTo.N'. — No name is justly en-
entitled to a more enviable place in the his-
tory of Hill county, Texas, than the one
which heads this sketch, for it is boruj by a
man wIkj has been usefully and honorably
identified with the interests of tlie county,
and with its advancement in every worthy
pai-ticular.
His father, Jjenjamin Eilrington, was born
in the » Blue (irass State," February 28, 1812,
■'. :■'".■ .'1.1 i .>l'1
',!,« III-. feii:l lo'.,i(il»fc-Vii'i-illi'!
ai2
IIIBTOUY OF JOHNSON
ami inovi-a fnmi tliorc to I.ivin-ston (■(,unly, | will a;i.| ],n.r..iiiHl irKunl of all 1\a,.c uilh
Mi~~..uii. ill l^iS. TIrto he U.ii-ht aiui j wh.. in lie was associated. iJu liaW received a
iii,|,i-uved a fanu. and after a few year, of ! g..ud Knt/licli edneatiMn in lii-, yoiilh, and
.ncce..-tully till
juolit.- in the n,
with his broth
the ,-uil, he inve.ted tin
= uli-o
^iieiitly po
r-in law, ^V. ['. Settled. He
,1 hid interest in the store and
returned to the farm where he remained eight
or ten year=. From there he went U> (Miilli-
cothe and engaged in buying and '• prizing"
tobacco in eonij>any with Joseph Davis.
After one year he became sole proprietor and
continued in this business until 1^04, at
wdiich time the Union forces took possession
of the buildings, converting them into coiii-
iiiissary department and livery barn. When
vacated they were uiitit for use. While en-
gaged in the tobacco business Mr. Edrington
took stock in the iJaiik of Cliillicothe, Mis-
souri, of which he afterward Ijecame a di-
rector. From that city he removed to Illinois,
wdiere he was engaged in inendiandising for
one year, and then settled near Columbia,
wdiere he continued in the same biit-iness in
(Jane Valley, in connection with agricultural
jnii-.-uits. Several years later lie disposed of
thebt.netohi^ sons, Tlioma.-, and Dei.oiivois,
and e tinurd on the farm until his d.^ath,
which occurred I\Iay 2\, ISl'J. He was a
mail of very decided convictions and was not
capable of being moved wdieii his conscience
approved of any measure. He was a seces-
sionist from principle, and he indicated his
convictions by utterly refusing to take the
oath of allegial.ce. While he was stern, and
thi.. he supplemented by observation and
cl..e reading, beaming „ne of the well in-
formed men of the day. He was naturally of
a niatli(!matieal turn of mind, and becanift
ijiiite jiroticient in surveying. l-'or about
forty years he was an active member of the
Christian chureli, and for a number of years
prior to his death served as Elder.
He was married in lb3'J, to Miss Emily
Settles, a native also of Kentucky, born in
1819, and the daughter of Benjamin Settles,
a native of the Old Dominion. Mrs. Ed-
rington has been prominently identified with
the Christian Church for years. Their twelve
children are named in the order of their
births as follows; William Robert, a farmer
and stock-raiser, resides near (Jhillicothe,
Missouri; Mary F]., wife of J. M. Sjiears, a
farmer and stock-raiser of Avaloii, Missouri;
Thomas 13., re^ideb near llillsboro, Te.xas,
and is engaged in farming and .stock-raising;
DeLouvois F., farmer and stock-raiser at
Ballard, IJates county, Missouri; Bettie, died
when about seventeen years of age; K. P.
(s(ibject); Alice, xsil'e of C. A. Willie, a
teacher and farmer of Iowa I'ark, Te.xas;
Nannie J., died when fourteen years of age;
Susan F., wife of W. 1'. Nalley, a fa.-iner of
Iowa I'ark, Te.xas; John II. died wluui four
years (jf age; James L., died at the age of
two years; and Emma, wife of Deroy Cloode,
a farmer and merchant of Adair county,
governed in all his actions strictly by the Kentu.dcy. The paternal grandfather of
dictates of his conscience, lie elicited the good I these chihiren, Thomas Edrington, was bora
'1 :- i' .J' ' 'I i' .. !li.'- ' .VliMM-' ii.i?:-<,>:'i .1,1 ,. ;i-.-,.l! :i;i.-|'', (cjVOfll 'mUi
■ - < ^' 1 ■, II ■,.i.)' ] l.i- -1 ! -,,i:. : filJ li ,Ji::i';ll ,11 ,.iO- '111 ■ lillil ■/:U-'.\r.:-i'}_.\li
-;^7 oM ,.i '■.-'■ ■ '1111 ;Minii; I £iU ko:'-. '-J .'i , ' '' .•//j-l-ci i-iImh' ^Ij! .";>.■
M!^ .■ i'-nM!-^ l'..i. viit.
q;...-
.h'/i
,. ■', l:i!-' .i -li !; . •:'. '■':. ',■{•> n,\\
,M.,'1J :, 1 .yj.i-<' ■■ .".0 rill ■'■•^■.J<.1 ''ii
Ill Virginia, lait mow'd from there to Keii-
tuokv Ml nil riu-ly date. Ho Imill liuats iiiid
.hil.j.o.l tob.u'L'o to Xew Orleaii:^. He \va= a
l.ir^-.- iil.iiuer and slave owner.
U. P. K.iriu-t..,u. llie iul.j.ct of tl.i^ .k.-teh.
ii'inallv from Keiitueki,
nil
lie lias not only aequired a eoinpeteney but
by hiri upright course in business lias gained
the eontideuce and e.-tteui of the entire coin-
uuinitv. lie is a man of enterprise, intelli-
i^ei.oe. ar.d suieiiy hoiioraljK- prii.oip'.es, aud
his labor;, have met with me.-t jdeasing re-
L-uniug May 3, 1^4S, and remained wiih his suits Irom
niniarv poi
piireiit.s until ISOU. When tilteen years of
H;^c ho began to assist his father in the man-
ii;,'eiuent of the business. His edueatioual
iidvantages were good. He coinplete^l the
(•oiUbeat the Clolunibia College, and afterward
bjieiit one year in the iventueky U ni\'ersity.
His first business venture was buying and
helling mules and hogs, and this his father
encouraged by furnishing the neees.sary
Miouey. ]\[r. Edringtuu then studied medi-
cine for a short time in conijdiance with his
father'.s wish, but, not liking it, gave it up
and came West. Ho first settled in " Files'
\'alley," and embarked in the cattle busi-
uer-s, which proved profitable until the win-
ter of 1873-'7i, when he lost all he had made,
llowevei', he continued to di-al in stock, and
in 1S75 he bought 110 acres, which he tilled
ill connection with stock-raising until 18S7.
lie then a..sisted in (u-gani/.ing the Farmers'
.National l!ank of llilUboro, and was made
ca.-hier. Ho remained there three years. In
IS'.IO, in company with others, he organized
the Itasca I'.ankiiig Cloinpany, which w;(s
nationalized November 21 of the same year,
with a capital of !>;5U,0()0. Mr. Kdrington
I.egan for hini.Mdf when twenty-one years of
1,2(10 acres of laud, well stui^ked and well
improved, alsotc.wii pn.perty and bunk stock.
has been a reiidi-nt of this county for many
years, having from the very lirst iilentified
himself with its material jirogress aud de-
velopment, and his career has been one that
lellects great credit upon him.
Mr. Kdrington was married Decemlier 2,
1875, to Miss Caddie M. Feazel, a native of
Hill county, Texas, born January 8, 1800,
and the daughter of Dewitt and Caddie M.
Feazel. The fruits of this union were seven
children, wdio are named as follows: lien.
Page; M. Chloe, died September 15, 1891,
whiui twelve years of age; Thomas DeUoy;
(Maudius C., died at the age of one year;
William Robert, died when five months old;
Files and Newton Ruil. A touching tribute
to the memory of M. (diloi; Kdrington ap-
peared in one of the county papers:
'■ Tliere's :iaollier tiower in tlie gardeu uf Gud •
'I'li.Te was never one purer gi;iceil llie culil sod,
Or so lavish witli sweetness lUat all miglil imbibe.
yoki,K|, obedient luul loving will, all,
Like a pure, pidished dianionJ so genuine andlrue-
Wilh grace aud submission alie answered the call;
In the realms of Uie blest she's enjoying her due.
And hearls almost ciuslied by Ihe pain and Iho
grief;
And buiieil are inaiiy fond hopes in the tomb,
11.11 Christ lo ilie monrner pours out liis relief.
n: ,c i.Oj t.
y \\:-.j\ {..-:• - -i '] ;, 3i-'! :?■.•! /. ,i^j^! ,..il ■ t.) Vit- v (ij-.J';h .x-r^f] ..!;jcl '■•'(;*!■
U •". .;■. '■ ...■■. .hmI '■•II,; lnMii:..;,i[:,.. ! aiii ii')l-fi^j.7!0'i 'lil ,*. r_. aj')'/^ ■ 'y"'
' .it'. !;..,-:!■■■..■:! : 1.1:1 .J a: («<•*,'. U i lii i^ )_ " 'v u 1 :iv '..!.(,.. ;Mrs:iJ .'iiit ,uil
■' '.M' ' ', ■■ ■ 'v 'CJIliii -L tuiHlMK ' V 'f'^fi.' '■'■I :«JJ ;^: ill-'iil :i>1 ;;' '1 r 11.11). v;,iu
■■.m;!,;V
.:,c.l 1- r.o
'•! (I'. I 'v;f';rr.i iil
! •.;! iH,.,>ii,i/
> ■ !i i-iil-.w
x; :w:,!;,Mu.;;„i,
■ Ml,:,:, ,■ ,l)r//
ll,; :!u,, ,.^^/i
m
Ves, C'lilou, I kiKiw llioio :miv sl.'in in )(Uir .kium
Whose iiuiulieruii.l In illi.uicy iioi,., ran sin|K-is,i;
They woulil ilazzlo dur vibhui ami cause us lo rriivvn,
t'ouUl we in Ihy ^-hiry l.ul view lliee— alas!
'Tis not r<ji poor Mioilals in the sUUf^-le lor life,
'!"() view Ihe rich sphnjilor Ihut uwails us heyoiul;
Twoulil roll U3 or uU Ihfit we need iu the atril'e,
Thill makes life so dear — that we treasure so foud.
In God's garden eternal this lUiwerwill bloom
And
thtr portjli the gljrioui ait
■U'lec the e^r-Li. i^ni the sea ihall give up their de^d.
What a grand reunion of fnjd's children there'll be!
The meeting will not be o'er-shadowed with dread,
For parting in Heaven— aueh nevei- could be.
Theu bear up, ye loved ones who linger behind,
There's a great work allotted you yet here below.
You have a bright star, a clear hope in mind,
That shines on your pathway wherever you go.
Its light is ne'er dimmed by the sorrows of earth,
Through the deepest of gloom it will e'en penetrate ;
Ah ! who would not say thai it has untold worth V
Theu go wliere it leads you, before it's loo late."
iiiji;i;aki) city
is a town uf abuiit 1,50(1 jKii)ulaliiui. It is
licaiitirull)- situalcd on a r.dliii- [.fairio in
the tulitl.ca.-t corner uf 11 illcciimty. Distance
t'roiii the county .seat (II ilUhofo), twenty. si.\
miles; tVoin the nearest towns uf coiiiiiiei-cial
iiiipoftanee, as large or laro;ei- tliati it is, as
follow^: Waco, thirty miles uest; CurMcana,
tweuty-eight miles east; Me.\ia, twenty-t'om-
miles suuthea.-t. IliU.horo lies t(, the north.
twenty-si
te,l,tlnisk
lliih-
anl City in the center of the territ.Hy unt-
iled hy the four points iiamnl. While there
iire oUur Ira.liii:' |,oinlii in llii;. leinU-ry,
llnhhar.l Cily i,. llu- lai,;e I hy al leiud MH)
population, and is the only one ha\ in.;; ii haiik.
iiig lioute ami .--imihir I'acililies lor iiot'Oin-
modatiiij^' the eommeice ,,1' thislarf;.! scoim of
country.
Iliibhard (jity was surveyed and platted \n
1881, and the ptihlic sale of lots took place
Augiu-t 11th of the same year. Ou that ocea-
z'.::. over I'/j -..-Jr.c;^ ar.i reiiilence lots
were .-old— the rir;t Lid otf at ^W), and the
CiL''j:c-.:..if riilfi of the liay amotinting to close
in the neighborhood of $4U,0()0. This
splendid sale illustrates the high esteem
placed upon its location and natural advan-
tages, from the very birth of the town.
Governor Richard 1!. Hubbard was orator of
the day, and the town was given the name it
bears in honor of this famous statesman of
Texas. The Texas & St. J.ouis railway,
(now St. Louis Southwestern) had at that
time juit been eoinpleted from Waco to Tyler.
This railway, being completed to St. Louis,
chan^■ed from ;i narrow to a .-standard-gauge,
building branches and '• feeders" and buying
otlu'r lines, has become one of the main trunk
lines of Texas.
The country with which Hubbard City is
surrounded is as rich a tanning country as
Te.xas alfords, adtipted lo the culti\atioii of
as near all the products of the temperate zolio
as any section could be. Jleiiig a cotton
country without a s\iperieu-, it is also well
adapted to wheat, oats and all the Cereals,
('(.tton yields from one half to one and one-
half
'ty
; J • '1 I i I -
r .,' ,!0 I."- (Ol iy ')•> Ifvl il>i)'<
■ ; . -■<,!- ,.,1.1:
-■V. .■-' M< -^i i.,:.'i! ml
D UILL COVSTIE-.
|..i-li.-li; \vlio:U. rinoen to tliirty liu.li.'U, ;v.i.i Suite, .-..ino h.u iti^ l,oeu l.nilt up l.x> f:4
■r yiel.l
.pti,n,al
o.itn from twenty to ei^'lity, tl
.■n-os. l!ut little wheat is j,n-(iwii, iiw\\\<; to
the alisoiicu of facilities at iliihbanl (lity foj-
.•onvertin- it into flour. This is oin. of tlu.
^evera^ urgent needs of the town, ami one the
Hiiiijilyinii; of which will prove to be a paying
iiivcritnu-nt to the miller who will put in at
this place a good roller mill. Oats is raised
U> a considerable extent as a money crop,
while cotton is the main sta])le of the coun-
try. Of this crop, Hubbard Oity received
this fall
ovEi: 12,000 BAi.ios,
with several thousand more remaining in the
hands of the farmers to be yet marketed,
f'oi' this cotton, liuyers for manufacturers
paid out in round numbers $120,000, which
sum will, before the end of the season, bo
aii<,nnented to a Cool half million dollars or
more. This amount of money is turned loo.-e
in Hubbard Oity every fall, lor c.tton ahme,
the auKuint increa.in-; from year to year,
with the teltlemeiit of the country, anil the
incrcaSKl facilities an. I .levelopment ol the
husiiu'r,.-, of ihe town, at the rale of about 20
per cent, per annum. To illustrate, the shij)-
meut of cotton from the town in 1SS3 was
a,000 balrs; in IS'Jl, as above shown, 12,000
bales.
Thus it wi'l be seen that Hubbard city is
IWN,
.t the ca.e by any n
md towns in tliis p
ith all
d' the
ahead ol the country in years past.
scno-u.s, cniKonKS, i;rc.
llubbanl has a scho,d j.opulation of 300,
wdiich is accommodated with one of the most
nourishing instituti.ms of learning in Centra!
Te.xas. The school building is a two-story
brick structure containing si.x rooms, accom-
modated with all the nujdern facilities in the
way of I'urnitui'e and a]>purtenances. The
building was constructed two years ago, at a
cost of $10,500, and is a model of convenience
and utility. The town numbei's in its bor-
ders eiirht church organizations -^Methodist
Episco]>al, Methodist I'rotestant, old-school
I'resbytorian, Cumberland Presbyterian, ISap-
tist, Christian, Epi.scopalian and Catholic.
It has throe church buildings that would bo
creditable to any city, and asplemli.l Masonic
temple. The business portion of the town
consists of good solid brick houses. It has a
bank, ago(j<l newspaper and jirinting otiice,
two milling and ginning establishments (no
Hour mill), cotton yards, g,.neral mercantile
houses, etc. Samuel R. iJoyd i.-, the attorney
at law practicing here.
is obtaine.J al a depth of llfteen to fifty feet
by digging wells, although cistern water is
largely used. The town is about 72(J fe"t
above the level of the sea.
JM-uit does well in this section, aiid excel-
lent orchards and -ardens are a marked fea-
ture. .\pples, peache., pear., grapes, etc., .lo
well, as al.-,oall the deciduous pioducts uf the
iiisTour Oh' joiiyso.x
garden. Il(.'t'-kcc[iiiiii; ])ays well, and is en-
gaged in l.y quite a ■n.ml.er in this section.
The yield uf honey is enormous, owi ng to the
ahundanee <,f llowering plant, that eover and
udoiii the prairieri. Market, ganleiiin^' and
fruit-growing has never heeii tested to any
considerable e.xtent but by one or two men.
Ccdonel J. 11. Lippard has made the business
very pr(.)fitablo in the past, as does his suc-
cessor, Mr. D. E. Withers, at present, on the
same Ibrty-acre fruit farm.
PKIe'ES OF KEAL ESTATK.
Wild lands sell from $8 to $10, cultivated
lands from $15 to :^2o, per acre.
].ands usually sell for one-third or one-
fourth cash and one to live yeaj-s on balance
ten per cent, interest; jiroperty in Hubbard
City is still cheap, and can be bought on
reasonable terms.
STOCK KAISINei.
is still conducted to some extent in the
country tributary to Hubbard. The railroad
company have e.xeellent shipping pens at this
place to accommodate this business.
The a^'itation of the rpiestiun of organi:iing
a new county, (•omj>ost'd of portions of Hill,
Navarro, Limestone and McLennan counties,
caused the founders of the city to make
preparation for the tinal success of the move-
ment, by laying olf a court house s((uare and
j)ublic jiark, wdien the town was platted. A
bill to cieate the new county has been intro-
duced in the leuielature at sevei-aL dill'erent
times, but so far has failed of passage, al-
though earnestly jietitioned for by niiie-
tentliH of the vott^rs in the proposed territory.
The bill
d fav.nably by tl
"committeo on new counties" two or three
times, and friends of the ]>ro]ect are eonlident
of its tinal passage at an early day. H^ibbard
City, being in the exact geographical center of
the proposed new county, would beyond
doubt be chosen for the county seat, for the
convenience of the people, also because it ia
the commercial headquarters of the territory ■
embraced in the bounds of the proposed new
county.
WUAT IlUliUAKl) CITY NEEllS.
The needs of Hubbard City are, a cotton
compress, a roller tlouriiig mill, a system of
water works, and more capital invested in
gi'Ueral mercantile business. More than one
move is being made to supjjly the water
works. One of these is by artesian supply.
A well is now down about 900 feet, thou<>li
operations are at ]iresent suspended. Another
piopcjsed plan is by turnishing surface water
IVom tanks — a su]jply
Am
upon in
Texas and other prairie countries for furnish-
ing good, pure water. A cotton compress
would jKiy very liberally upon the invest-
ment, and would bo splendid property in
such a young, thrifty and growing town.
The same may be said of the milling enter-
prise, while it is the general desire, even of
mei-chaiitd now in business, "to have others
come to h.dp bring to this town the whole of
the business naturally tributary thereto.
A most nnu.Mial and lennukablo fact in
, ' . V.U.H.0 Y/'i!! liill ■■.U:'>\-> u: i'.iii
h
' iMm
s« S
^
///^m y/^M,
^v-^1.
t'Y '
\ND HILL COUNTIES.
CiMiiurtioii witli the lust siiygostioii, is tliut
ill llu) tea y.'iirs liistury of llio phux Ihoro
l.avo bueii hut two nssin-niiients— but two
f.iiluri'a ill iuusiiioss. This fact, and the
e.ih'lity of lluhhard City, are noturiou.s ainoii<i;
coiiiiiRTL'i.il tourists of Texas, and can he
vfiiliud hy any of them who is well posted
•• on the road." It is a fact that needs no
cHiuiiient to enforce its iin[)ortance to the iu-
se.--tineiit St-eker.
AS A PLACE OF KICSIDEN'OE,
lluiihard City conibines many attractive
I'riitiires. Here is splemlid health. A pure,
bracing prairie atmosphere; no swamps or
bigooiis in fifty miles of the town; hi<rh, roll-
iiij,', well -drained prairie country, interspersed,
of court^e, with some timbered sections.
SiuuU creeks meander through the territory
ii.ljoiiiing, wliObe banks are lined with the
tiiiiln'rs which furnish the iirewood for the
hollies. The elevation, 720 feet altitude, as
iieiiitofoie- already noted, insures freedom
from miasmatic poisons. Tlie scenery can-
not be said to be grand; it is morii on the
oKJrr of the boaiiliful ibo picl uresqiie. .\h
an ilhi>tratioii of some of its IVatures, it may
be slated that on a clear day one may view
from almost any south window in the ttiwii,
the college buildings atTehuacana — eighteen
miles away to the southward— -the seat of one
of the lea.lin- institutions of learning
ill the State. This 'i'ehiiacana is situated on
the apex of a low range of mountains (so-
called), while Hubbard City is on a greater
eli-vatioii than that of any point intervening.
though reached by gradual ascent, broken by
many gentle undulations.
Siicli is the scenery and such is the char-
acter
.f this
garden of the gods
whose realm encircles for many leagues iu all
directions this modem (j[Ueen of a ricli and
vast estate, Hubbard City. Well indeed is she
entitled to wear a crown golden as the harvest
tield and snowy as her own cotton farms,
where the white staple wreatlis in its thou-
8aud clusters many a wide expanse. Her
people hold out the hand of welcome to all
worthy comers. Her people themselves are
from all quarters of fair America. They came
here from the North, from the East, from
other portions of the South, from across the
waters; and all who have tried, and the work
of whose hands has been well directed by old-
fashioned comniou sense, have prospered
Others can do likewise. There is room for
thousands, of the right kind — industrious,
virtuous, earnest jieople, no matter where
they hail from. Come to see us, and you
can, ill this country, easily make yourself
content.
(lEoKCK W. J\IoNekse, whose residence in
the i.one Star State began with ais existence
on this planet, has had a long and hon-
orable career, and is worthy (jf rejireoenta-
this histoi
y o
r li
juiity. IL w;i
born December 20, IS 10, in Washington
county, Texas; was reared to the occupation
of a farmer, and received only a limited edti-
catiiiii. The great common schools of this
country were then in emltryo, and the oppor-
tunities olfered theycnith of the frontier were
meager, indeed. At the early age of eighteen
AvV.
■]i:d\' "J'.J ci ii'> ■ '•;.'■ !■ •■■•■ '111,1 f-i ''.■•;r(8 '^ ■■■ ' ;.!^.- - ?''f"iiMr^;,rtU o'wi Diil iio'xl <)■
'vb. ^, .)(;} Ii, .'-.Lii-.'^ ■'■ VI , I: 1 I 'S'^';.! j ijH Iui,! i-jii siilT .aeaiiifcdil j;i aim-
..11 'lii .. 1c .;■." u^' '• , ti' I' .i..i; rt/wii (.'):■ ii''> I ■I, .Dy, fn i' ,4'";'-jT Id f-.'-i.rrul I.'.iyi'jiiii.
i)yi.>ll'V """">ll> c ■ ■• 'W
i-^ifi.:. Ji-
.' I' .'
lllL.ll
w. -,.,i:!.l.od 'vn-illo- Mil)
. ....,,? 'J.IJ
■I// ,,i.>lir.
;l,..! • .n 1.. i,rtll]
irisTouY Oh' JOHNSON
years J[r. McXit.-t oniharkrJ in bu.iiuv^s fur
luin.-clr, ^roino to ^,.Utl,L•l•I. 'JV.XUS, wluTC llC
invL'.U-.lii, livc->t.M-l<. ilo devoted lii. ener-
j^ies lo tliis iiidu.-tiy until lie eanic to Hill
eouiiiy in July, IMU. In Seiiteniher of the
same year he went to San Antonio, Texas,
where he eidisted in Cunijiany F, Toui
(ireenV lieginient, Sibley's lirigade, at'ter-
waid 'J'eiu CreenV Jhieaiie. He spent one
)ear in Arizona and in iN'ew Rle.xieo, was at
Valverdee and (iloretlu with Tuni Green, then
went to J.uiiiiiana, Arkansas and Texas.
Alter the retnrn from New Mexico, Sibley
resij^Mied, and it was Tom (Ireen's IJrigade.
lie was in many skirmishes and buttles
on^h Ark
unsuB an
d I,oaisi
and was oi
the lja\ou City with Tom Green at tlic re-
eaiiliiriii}^ of (ialveston, January 1, l.^G8-
Ue was never wounded nor taken prisoner;
was elected Second iJeutenant in New Me.x-
ico, havin>^ enlisted as a piivate, ami was soon
afterward uiado First Lieutenant. Im-
mediately following the recapture of (Ialves-
ton, he was taken sick with pneumonia and
was sick for a few weeks. lie was at lious-
un.l hiH bnna.le there disbanded. lie then
returned to Washington county, ari'anged his
business for permanent i-enuival, and then
came to Hill county, takinjf chai'ge of his
live-stock. In September, LSC'J, he was mar-
ried, and then went to W(jrk on his I'ancli and
began improving his land. in early days his
father had received a lieadrighl here for ser-
vices rendered in the Texan Ke\-olutioii, in
1835 and 1.8315, the tract containing a third
of a league; this was divided among three
cliildren, Mr. AfcNeeso's share being; about
500 aci-es. lie has always lived upon
this land, I'arrott W. I\lc.\eese' head-
right, and has added t(; it until he now owns
about 2,50(_) aci-i's; -100 acres have been
brought to an advanced state of cultivation,
the piincipal crops being cotton and corn.
Mr. McNeese has continned iiis interest in
the live-stock business, and of late years has
given special attention to the breeding and
raising of mules and hoi-ses; he has succeeded
in elevating the standard of all grades of
stock which he has handled, anil his enter-
prise in this direction has been of great bene-
fit to the etiunty. lie is a man of much more
than onlinary business ability, and is consid-
ered an authority upon all ijuestions of
agriculture.
The parents of Mr. McNeeae, Parrott W.
and Mary A. McNeese, were natives of South
Carolina. The father i-ame to Texas a single
man in 1835, and participated in the Texan
Kevolution. lie received a land warrant and
al.-.o a pension in recognition of his services
as a Texas veteran. In the year 1838 he was
married to Mi,.s Mary A. Allcorn, a daughter
offilijah Allc..rn, who was of Irish descent;
he came to Texas a member of the Austin
colony in 1830, from his native state, Ten-
nessee. Four of his sons weio soldiers in
the Texas war. To i'arrott AV". McNeese and
wife were born live children, three boys and
two girls: (ieoi'ge \V., tlie subject of this
notice is the eldest; l"'i-anklin P., the second
son, died in lStJ7, of yellow fever, in Washing-
ton county, 'i\'xas; he wa.-, twenty-live years
I of age, and had serv(!d all through the late
H'X'A'U. ..J. ^ '', ' \-
ilf. :■:
,, .1 fi -MM ! ;i>v. 8«/' ■>i.'j>'i'.-\A
>.'v;ii<''^ ,!rut(iiix-„ 1 -.'ir. Ill)
''in,: ylil ■ Sii.n.iti:' ■ ;Mii! i .- .Mil f:-> -.i/i- !■;''■ mi .biriu.! f)^T*; a>. -;;.;■;■! A jli^iio'iij.;
f IU n III
:.u-l 'I.:.!) Ir
.;.,.),! -.ill ^.lH/,, ,
\NU HI LI. COUNTIES.
«ai- ill tlic ConrrderiU'y witliuiit recciviu^
wi-iiuils IIP liLUiio; iiiipriboiR'il; Nancy Iv, tliu
.:M..l dii.ightrr, iiuUTie.l 1'. W. Ooniioll, wlio
i« (IccoaM^I: blic is livin^r i,, Wasliiiiotou
a.iiiity, 1111.1 lias tuc <liiu-litcrs; Afury K.
iiuuiiL-il J. 11. (!ucliruiii, and lives near llar-
ruM, Wilbargur county; John P., the third
son, died at the age of tive yoars. The jiater-
iial -landfather of this family, John McNeesc,
was of Irish descent, and from him is the
McNeeses sprung; he came to Texas aViout
1^37 from South Carolina, and died in
Washington county. George AV. McNeese
was wedded in Hill county, 'I'exas, September
1, 180 U, to Miss Sallie E. I'oteet, a daughter
of Jaines i'oteet of Tennessee; her father
came to Texas about 1853, and died in J.iine-
tituiie county befor.; the war.
Mr. and Mrs. t;eorge W, McNeese have
nine children, three of wdioin died in inraiicy:
Franklin 1'., the ehlest son, was born August
IG, 1870; George W., Jr., second son, was
born November 22,1872; Hugh S., the third
Bon, was born September li, 1875; Mary E.-,-
tello was born Octolier (5, 187'J; Aylnier
Green, named from (-ieiieral Tom Green, was
Imuii Octobin- ;!, I.SS2; Surah i.oiii.se and John
1). Leo, twins, were born May 7, 1885; Sarah
Louise died October 28, 1880, aged eighteen
muiithb. Mrs. McNeese, the mother of these
children was born D.^cember 11, 1850, in
White county, Tennessee. Her father, James
I'oleet, was born July 21, 1801, and her
mother, June 18, 1810; the father died Octo-
ber 1, 1857, in the State of Texas, and the
mother n.'turned to Tennessee, where she died
May 10, 1800. 1'. W. McNeese, the father
of the subject of this notice, was born April
22, 1810, in Darlington, South (Carolina, and
died October 2, 1885, in llrenham, W^ishing-
toii county, Texas. His wile, Mary Ann
McNeese, nas born July 10, 1817, and died
November 10, 1880, in lirenhani, AVashing-
toii county, Texas. After the death of his
wife Mr. McNeese married Mrs. Frenettie C.
Dunlavy of Brazoria county, Texas; they had
no children; she is still living, an<l makes her
home at IJieiiham, Texas.
To return to George W. McNeese: Politi-
cally he aihliates with the Democratic party.
He has no as|]irations to hold i)ublic office,
but he has served as deputy Slierilf of Hill
county. He is a momlier of the Masonic
fraternity and also of the \. O. O. F. In
all the walks of life he has sliown himself a
man of the highest integrity of character,
fully possessed of the courage of his convic-
tions, loyal to all home interests, and a citi-
zen of wdioni Hill county may well be proud,
a credit to the community of which he is a
member, and an honor to the parents wdio
bore him.
WMllTNKV.
The town of Whitn
u.ited in the
western portion of Hill county on the Texas
Central railroad, liiirty- three miles lorth of
Waco and twelve miles west of Hillsboro.
The Country iniinediately Burrounding the
town is a rolling prairie, though tiie cnjss
timbers are only two miles distant on the
east and other timber is still nearer on the
west. To the north and soutli, however, tim-
ber is round only in Bcattering gro\es, leaving
'■|;,7.- ;,.r':.\.A'
A- ^.■
MIL/' !:.. > ,li .!. ■ .iri...
Vj -y; .;: < , l-,;t. I r.;t ;/> j..
,1m:, ,i a.
'"■" '■■■' V
•• , , 1 -.. ..... v .•.n'.u'.ij ,uV8r ,ni
: Yu i'' '''■"■''- ■■• ■' '■■:■ ->"; ''■ '>i';" ^'"•■' •■'"•'
ir >hi
i'-- ;'i-.''i.
.1." .«,U..oi.,
■ ....,■..).. !V^
msniitv 01'' ./iiii\s(),\
a l.ult (,f liiiu fanning and pasture land ex-
directly to C'dtdmrne. A hitch in the arrange-
ti'inlino- in l,utli .iirrctiuns alniu.-.t iiulelinitcly.
ments, liowever, caused work on the mud to
Tlir rl.ara.'Irr u[ ll„. .,,11 in tiiis l.rlt, or at
be hiis|,ended fiom L^TD until 1S7'J, and
Irani lliat jjorliun of it in the vicinity of
when Work was resumed the course of the
Wliitnoy, ib what is kji.nvn as "black sandy,"
road was abruptly changed and it took a
and dilTcrs from tlio "black waxy" in the
westei-Iy direction.
eastern j)ortii)M of the cunnty in that it con-
The Ihniston t^ Texas Central was the
tains nioru sand. In point of fertility this
lirst railroad to enter the county, and prior
Boil rankbwith the best in the State when the
to its ailvent the territory of which Whitney
seasons are la\'oi'alih', but in di-y sea.sons the
is now the trade center received its supplies
"black waxy'' excels it by being moj-e adapted
of merchandise thi'ough the medium of sev-
to the retention of moisture. 8i.\ miles to
eral small villages of two orthiee stores each,
the west (d' Whitney lies the ISrazos ri\er,
dotted over the country in all directions. The
and it might be well to include a mentiun of
most impoi'taut of these was I'eoria, six miles
tlio I'icli lands of its valley in connection \\-ith
to the east of the present location of AVhitney,
the topograjjhy of the town. All these lands
which had, uji to a few years jirevious, enjoyed
produce excellently, and though they are
the distinction of being the most important
nujstly sandy, their proximity to tlie river
county town. JJillsboro, six miles to the
insures better seasons than lii^her land. Tlie
east of I'eoria, was then an unimportant
town is situated at an elevation of about 7o0
hamlet, and the only special distinction it
feet above tln^ level of tiie sea, which, together
enjoyed was that of being the county seat. A
with its topographical surrountlings, makes
sliahby brick structure known as the court-
its natural advantages for health njosl excel-
house, four or live houses, a blacksmith shoi)
lent, it is drained by the tributaries of
oi' two, and a score or more of rickely shan-
Towash creek, one of which passes through
ties, in which its people took their meals and
the southern portion of town and the other
slept, then marked the spot occuj.ied by the
Ihrongb the western p.ulion.
present proud metiopolis .d' the county. On
The Texas (Central railway .uiginally
the Kra/.os rivei-, six miles to the west of tlie
formed a part of the Houston iV:. Texas (Cen-
site of Whitney, was a village known as
tral, and both roads continued under the
'J\)wash, wdiicli was noted nioi'e particularly
same management until the latter part of the
for its milling facilities than for any other of
year 1891. 'I'he line of road from Waco
its natuial or accjuired advantages. Mr.
north was surveyed and gi-adt'(l to a point
iSinipson (J. Dyer, now deceased, then owne.l
about a mile oast of tlie present location of
the dam ami mill, wdiich still stai^ds, and dur-
Whitney .luring the year lblC>, and it was
ing those early days it did the grinding for
the intention of the inanagenu;nt then that
]ieo]ile in the AVest for hundreds of miles.
the road should continue its northerly conrse
Another village six miles to the north of
<'J(i
.1. ' ■■; ^\.'.->M \
.11. ;.'),;(lu oil'.'; o-.i: liN'.i III ;y,i;(.jriJ
: -■■.>)' Ml li... ,:. 1.. ,..l.;:T,i|.i r.ifT
. I.: V,!!.! ■ Villi . .:.ri ^'rJlil, I'Ll
. w ...■..■ 1
:: ,j t.t() 1 , .K.iJ
111 ■• lii :J(i l' f'VJ -llt'Jf
J .i;l* 1 1 J.r.ij ^<!!;ii « ;),i>J«
01, Mil 0(!1 V; iMJliiil^llli inh
AND HILL C'OUJVTIES.
Towusb, on llu; riv„r, was Fort (Irahaiii (Sre
u little fiirtlicr oil.)
nthri- liaiiiK't.s that wuru not jKirticiilariy
,iibtin-iii>li,.l Inr anythin- .-xccpt -m .lisliih-
uliii^r points for murchandist; we.-u, Wuod-
Ijiiry, 6c\cn miles north of J'eoria; Trairic
Valley, seven miles southeast of Towasli;
'I'uwash Springs, three miles south of the
])rescnt site of Whitney, and Hamilton
Springs, one mile northwest of the Bame
point. The two last named jilaces were noted
for their magnitieent natural water supply,
and even to this day, csjiecially during
dry years, the inhabitants of their le-
s|)ective vicinities are dependent almost
entirely upon these springs for drinking; and
etoek water.
Soon after AVhitney's delint ,ill these
Jilaces dwindletl into insignilicance. Their
merchants moved to tiie new town and their
[leople went there to trade, tlie elfect of
which has hecn that at the present day no
husiness at all is done at any of the places
named except i'eoria, Woo.ll.ury and i-'ort
tiraham.
The town of Whitney was laid off and tlu'
lots suld on the ;:rilh.lay of NoveiiiKer, IST'J.
The land on which the town is located was
originally granted to Mai'y Ijeauchamp and
Thomas Mackey, the former on the north
and the latter on the south, a hois d' arc
hedge wiiich passes throuoh tiio town soutli
of the railroad depot forming the leaoue line.
The laml was purchased by the railroad com-
pany from Mr. 1. K. Grillith, and had lieen
in cultivation prit.r to llu, sale. The day on
which the hits were sold had been advertised
irements made for
d picnic and barbecue. I'eople in th
country
try frmn far and
assembled to do the occasi(jn iionor and par-
ticipate in the hospitalities. liesides theso
were men of capital wdio eanio fi'om distant
towns to invest town property and reap the
material lienetits of the occasion. The town
site was then a cornlield and the only houses
in sight were Gritlith's, on the north; C. M.
Oarver's and two houses on (_!aptain R. 11.
Sayers' place on the east; (J. C. Hicks' on the
south, and Tewis liaborn's on the southwest.
The barrenness of the country in the imme-
diate vicinity of the town, however, did not
interfere with or alt'ect in tho least the
^ale of the lots; and when the auctioneer
mounted his block the crowd were more
eager, if ])ossible, to buy than he was to sell.
The streets of the town were laid off to the
north and south, east and west. Tiiose run-
ning north and south were named after the
principal rivero of the State, and beginning
on the east were as follows: Angelina,
Neches, Trinity, San Jacinto, llrazos, CJolo-
rado, San Marcos, (iuadalonpe and San iVn-
i,{ the railroad reservation were named
North First, North Second, North Third, etc.
As soon as the crowd was made acquainted
with these facts, and the further fact that the
town was to bo named after Cliarles A.
Whitney, of' New Vork, stockholder in the
Central railroad, the selling began, and be-
fon, it was conclude.l the railroad "had added
,i;:j2,0()() to its coir.^rs, an.l the investors had a
liece of land which had
bou.ditafew
f.:.<i ;u!ur.
.1 ■,-■;. ,,u .yd.
I,!l
.lis , ^H. ..V.:>i
,;!■ .r, : ■ ...I .! .;/: (iH'ji ■•■■- ^
UlSTOUY OV JOUNSON
bc't'uru i'ur $15 j)or ;icre. I.uts sold at prices
nin-ino- all the way IV.. in fJ^lOO to .t;75l), tlio
laltci- pii.x' l.L-in^' paiil I'or one lot oil the cor-
luT ()(' liiazori and First dtreota, now occupied
by tho Strauss building. /Vll parties were
seemingly satislied, however, and work on
the new town was begun without a moment's
delay. Carpenters and other workmen plied
their vocations uninterruptedly both night
uiid day. Some who were too impatiimt to
wait tor the completion of their houses
ujjencd up stocks of goods in tents in order
to accommodate anxious Ijuyers.
The first of these was ]\[ajor J. IF. Little-
field, now of IliUsburo, and the first dollar's
worth of goods was sold by him at the train
before he had time to get his stock under
cover. .Major Littlefield was also the first to
com[)lete a business house, which was a frame
building and occupied the corner of North
First and (Jolorado streets, now owned by M.
V. Anglin.
AVork was begun, however, on several
houses immediately after purchasers had
secured titles to their lots, and before the end
of the year several firms were doing business
in new house... F. I'arr was the first to lay
the b.uudati.ui for a rock buihiing, which
occu|iied the corner fronting lirazos on the
east and North First street on the south.
This was built from native .sandstones ob-
tained from ipiarries in the cross timbers,
about two miles distant, where it is louiid in
almost unlimited tpiantities. A large one-
story brick building was also commenced on
tile northeast c(jnier of the same block, about
the .same time, by Messrs. Frelieh .V: I'.a.lt.
Other buildings on wiiich work was begun at
the same time, were two large hot.d buildings,
one by Dr. Napier on the corner noi'th of
Frelieh & IJadt's brick, and the other by a
party whose name has been forgotten, on the
corner east of E. I'arr's rock building, lie-
sides these there were several other smaller
buildings, includi ' ....
irgo nuint)er ot re.-
)i ei'ection
all
(lences, m c
of the town.
As has been already stated, Whitney is
located on the dividing line between two
surveys, viz.: the I\Iary Iteauchamj) and
Thomas Mackey. The league line also origin-
ally formetl the di\iding line between county
precincts Nos. 3 and 4, both of which made
Whiti
th
I'liment. At the
time the to\vn was founded precinct No. 3,
which comprised the northern and main por-
tion of the town, was a local ojjtion precinct,
while No. 4 was not. The line dividing the
two ran diagonally across Trinity street, in
the ca^tern part of town, at its intersection
with North First. This was the occasion for
a number of saloons to be opened just across
the line in precinct 4, and it was here during
the first years of tlie town's existence that all
mannei- of immorality was practiced without
the least effort at concealment. A number
of liawdy houses wei-e erected at the reiir of
the row of saloons on Trinity street, and
during all hours of the night and day the
hideous yells and imprecations of druid<en
men and women ilisturljed the peacefulness
of the law-abiding citizens. Such reprehen-
sible conduct as this so<m secured for that
portion ,d- town the very appropriate cogno-
..^.fAU'n '».•' lU'-V:
,j| -r .-l.'ii J J ■. : /rji'i 'to J.^ : 1 'J :: ..:■- j r - I'in v ' • ' i ^'itiv lV' ,|i J .(J flail J:, •( vlxii-i K^'j-j...
T:it:.,;Ti-; .■■jJ;'., Ini'j-'- an;."// v •')
. ji.j.
! „,r:il ...I, ..V' I'll-' I ' -'-i: '■'■>■'> \''--^ ■■-'l'> '
I.VIC i V/,)M ', ^1
' ' I , . , ,,
L'- -.i.., ; i
.ai
.•u;ii; 'I r:/..;.j
.v:ij I,, '^-'-Ji.;; 1c;,
\IJ HILL COL'STIE.
mm ut - Hell's llulf Acre." All -one now.
The lirst. year ol' tlie town's exisleneu was
a particularly hard one, crops oi all kinds
huin^r almost a total iailure. The town,
however, managed to sustain itself in spite
of the short eroj,s. It was the nearest rail-
road jioint to a nuniher of westei-n counties,
and the short crops forced the jieoplo of
these counties to come here to buy corn and
othei' bupplies. (!orn was shipped here from
Kansas, carload after carload, antl there were
two 01' tiiree merchants here wdio did nothing
hut handle corn. It sold all the way from
^1.00 to $1.75 per bushel, and even at these
prices the demand was hard to supply. The
next yc;u', however, made \\\) for the short-
comings of its predecessoi', abuntlant (:ro[)S
having' been raised in idl parts of the country.
Whitney still enjoyed an immense trade ter-
ritory, and during that year her merchants
bought and shipjied 22,()()() bales of cotton,
besitles doing an enormous business in all
other lines. There was one wholesale gro-
cery house here that did a large jobbing
business with merchants in the \W'st. The
trade tei-ritory of the town extended beyond
llill.-^boro on the east an. I to Cleburne and
Waco on the north and south. To the west
she had practically no competitor, and trade
came from as far in that direction as there
was human habitati(jn.
Besides the advantages which the location
of the town allorded as to trade territory,
there were other circumstances which tended
to establish complete contidence in the town's
future. The railroad company had not only
plcdii-e.l itself to e.-,tablish round houses and
machine shops here, but it left the impres-
sion on the minds of investors that it was yet
their intention to c(jmplete the line of road
which ha.l been surveyed in the direction of
Cleburne. With this end in view the com-
pany began at once to dig b)i- artesian water,
but when the well had reached a depth of
300 feet the ]iroject was abandoned. In the
meantime the road had been completed to
"Walnut Springs, and the management of tlio
i-oa<i made similar promises to inwstors in
property there as hail been made to the people
of Whitney. This naturally made tlie jicople
of this place lose contidence in the future of
the town, and probably this was the first
circunstance to stai-t the town on a '■ down
grade."
It was about this time also that the tire
fiend began to play havoc with the busi-
ness hou^es. The first liouse burnetl in the
town, however, was a year or more previous
to this, ami was a livery stable belonging to
Wiley Jones, who had formerly come from
Waco, and was burned during the year ISSO.
There was quite an interval between this and
the next tire, but during the years '«1, '82
and 's:!, nearly all the houses which had
originally formed the business portion of the
town had been reduced to ashes. During the
year 188ii a block of brick business houses
were erected on the south side of North First
street, and the following year two others
were erected on the north side of the same
street and west of K. Tarr's building. In
1885 two large two-story brick buildings
wei'c erected on the lots adjoining the build-
ings which had been er(,cti^d the pre\iolls
''T-l "
j-;i 1,1: s;!v/ si'i. vlujiUe,;
.iiiiii> ii
.'u ill; liJ.v-
■'.^,r! -a-;V '-..ii^ -U i''l:'
,.,:■!'' •■-•-' J i; -;.: ^: ,v I ^J .. '-I'd-- •; '^1'"
,.--■. . Mi; l,iu; ,1,);'. 'r;. .'; ;,.,.I-t;,:, .^r.^.iUul
,',>;.; l',i, :.r' ■, : ..I -.I, i ,, - , :■;.;• l.J ovt
r!'j .• It;,;: II ■'' i'-tr:! ,i;;,' Liiiurofi lult 8'«i'iv{
I'ir.l} .1 I./- . :■ . .iii"i(| •'ti \o -j^diijio)
a- .- ,. ii!
.;)V/ f<-j'ir •^■.;i;l ■i-nil:.
:m1 il- ■. M l(jl'V ;;j;...l-_;,.(
. jw . m;i ,„. .,,..Mj.ii>ji
■llj.., 'J,U ■■■-. :-.,rJI
_;ir =;::'..„. •! Oil'-
•■I'::/ i-ilT .■(;.■:■!
llIHTOIiY Oh' JOHNSUN
year.
or tlu. ori^nnal buildings whidi are
thive cottmi-yards here. The town has fully
still tft
andiiiL; aie ihe I'ai'r building, rock, the
recoxered from the collapse of its buoni, and
old N
ipier hotel, Iramr, and thr frame build-
there is no doubt that it will continue to
hu^VA-
Tied by Major Litllrli.'ld on tlu^ corner
increase its volume of business as the in-
Oi' Nn
111 l<'irst and (Jolorailo, now owned by
crease in population of the country surround-
M. V
Anglin. In ISSS-'So several votes
ing it will justify.
Wfl-O t
akeii on incorporating, with majorities
The history of the town's newspaper enter-
for ill
d against, but Whitney is nuw an in-
prises may be recited in few wonls. Tho
corpui
ited town.
first ])aper establibiied in the town was the
WvX
veen the years 18S5 and 1889 the
^Vhituey Exj^rtas, by Captain II. 11. Savers,
town
leclined Bigiiilicantly both in popula-
which was sold out in a few months to a man
tiun and business. The railroad had gone
by the name of lieed, wlio continued it for a
on in;
king nev,' markets foi- jicople in the
few months longer, when it suspended publi-
West,
aiui Ilillsboro had bei^n given a boom
cation. In January, 187D, almost simulta-
by till
. advent of the Missouri, Kansas &
neously with the Kxjinss, Colonel V. 11. Ivy
Texas
railroaif. This circumscribed the trade
and Captain W. II. McUoiuild began the
of Wii
itney to the strip of country between
jjublicatioii of the rralric IJcc^ which he con-
the i;
azos rivei- and the eastern edge tif the
tinued for about a year and sold out to Ci. \V.
cross t
inibers. iMeii who had investeil money
CoUedge, who removed the plant to Ilills-
in \n\
perty hei'C became eager to turn it
boro and established tho Ilillsboro Mirror.
loose,
.ut buyers were hard to iind. Mer-
l>ut it is at this moment learned that the
chants
put on long faces and lost the sj)irit
J'ralrie Bee was the first to issue an edition,
and ei
tbusiasin which liad formerly charac-
coming out just twenty-four hours before the
terize.
them. In short, the boom had eol-
Ii'djiress. After these two ventures the town
hipsed
and things went from bad to worse.
was without a paper until November 2, 1883,
The 1,
iliulation dwindled from l,2t)0 in 1884
when 11. 1'. and J. O. Jones established the
to alM.
It C.dO in 1^^'J. 'I'iie lown corporation,
Afeti.stUijer. This paper has been issued un-
which
had been establi.--hed in 1881, was dis-
interruptedly since that time, with only two
contin
led in 188'), for the reason that it
changes in its management. J. C. Jonea
couhl
not be supported. The bottom was
retired from the management of the paper
read It
d about I88li, ^ince which time there
the year after it was establ'shed, and in 18U0
lias been some improvement, and at present
11. V. Jones sold out to J. T. and D. S.
the to
wn is on the up grade. During the
Mayes, the present pi'oprietors. The plant
past t
wo years several new frame business
has prcjven itself a paying investment and
houses
and one brick ha\e been erected, and
its advertising columns rellect' credit upon
there
ire other substantial impi'ovements in
the enterprise and public spirit of the town's
prospi
ct for the present year. There are
business men. The paper is a si.x-column
lis ' '.-'i' ./Jr-J iVil I .
Live. .f- i f
f- : i
lA^Z-i ////,/. CdVNTIICS.
.,u:irto, ;.,h1 (liuina tlic fall nidutlirt r..f thu
y.i^i two years tliu pn)|iricti»rd liuvc r,,iiii(l
coliiMiu (luaii.i, wiiicli inakrH it, tlii' lar^r,.f,|,
.Iamk^T. Mavi.s, a prcimiueut rosidciit ciT
WhitiiL-y, Hill cuuiity, was horn in Kayettu
cuuiity, Texas, April 15, 187U, ason of Daiiiul
G. Mayes. The latter married Miss Mary T.
Sledge, who \vaB horn in Mississippi, Novoni-
hur 27, 1852. The father died in December,
1873, leaving three children,— James T.,
William 1>. and Daniel S. The sons are
all living with their inothei-, and all are en-
ergetic and full of business prinei[)lcs.
William i;. is a musician by profession, but
helps his brothers in the otlice whenever they
are in need of any help.
James T., our subject, was reared and ed-
uciited by his grandj)arents, and lived with
them until their death, the grandfather dying
in 188G. and the grandmother in 1888.
After i-eacliing a suitable age he bought a
small newspajier in z\lexander, which he
afterwards sold and moved to ilill county. He
attended school for a time in Towash, then
moved to 'I'uiraiit county, four years later re-
turned to Fayette county, and then settled near
\Vhitney, where he now lesides with his
mother and two brothers, William 11. and
Daniel 8. Mr. Mayes enjbarked in the news-
paper business in this city in ISS'J, having
purchased the Whitney Mcssciujcr ,\'.-\n<ih is
now a tirst-class county new.■^papl■J•, having
now 1,(KK) in circulation, and still increasing.
He is one (d' the be,-t new^pap.■r men in the
county, and knows how to run it lor the
good of his town and the Rurnmnding country.
The present status of the town of Whitney
is about as follows: It has about 750 |)opu-
lation, which is steadily on ttie increasi'. A
good school, with an eni-ollment of 220,
wdiicli is incorjiorateil and supported by the
State fund, supjJemented by a Sfjecial tax of
twenty- ti\e cents on the JjllOOon town property,
wdiich gives a free school term for seven or
eight months in the year. The furniture of the
Bcliool Ijuilding is of the most improved pat-
tern and everything is arrarigetl for con-
venience, with due regard to health, comfort
and speed. The religious denominations are
represented by the l]aj)tist, the Motliodist
Episcopal South and the Cumberland Preoby-
terian, all of which have substantial church
buildings and regular ser\'ices. In the way
of secret societies therc^ are lodges of Masons,
the order of the Eastern Star, Knights of
Pythias and Knights of Honor, all of which
are in flourishing condition. There are
about twenty-tive business lirms, the nuijority
of whom cari'y a liea\y stock and do an ex-
cellent business. Nearly all of the business
houses are of brick or rock, which makes the
town sub.-,tantial and insurance light. Its
pople are all hospitable and benevolent, and
the stranger moving into their midst lands a
heai'ty welcome and expeiienees no dilliculty
in becoming acquainted. Water is abundant
and is obtained at depths varying from twenty
to torty feet. To the e.ast of the town, about
a mile, Colonel C. M. Carver completed about
two years ago an artesian Nvell whicli furnishes
a magniticent supply of water coming from a
depth of 1,500 feet. It,, allitu.le above the
■ I:.- ir- ■ i'
„1 h'i
,;w -hH
i" '*V
. ''ill
V-.kJ; I ■!
i .V.J 111103
»/rl-5 .i)
u:.;uva^M^ Pi ill..: .i:.v '.,[.,/ ,.;j;wa
1m *:,; ,/
' yii'. a\ '^^■'
'r>,,.,.-rl,
''■i-'l -'■'-'" ''''"'*>
• .•■ ;;:,'■;.'., Li-.bnt..';B
"j" 5 'ly , , -M' Mil I..1 V Mi; .1.1 vfoif -iv...'-4 iutt; .riilUiiJ
32fl
lllSTURY UF JOHNSON
se;i le\el, its tlioroiin-Ii drainage, its gcKid
Bchuois Mtid clmivl,os and its many -'tluT ad-
vantages make Whitney oiiu i.f tlio most
licalthful ami du.-irai.lc ivsi.leiieu points iii
tlu' Stale.
AlinOTT.
Tills neat little village, ten miles south of
Ilillsboro, is a creature of the " Katy " rail-
road, starting with it in 1881— '82, and
named in honor of tlie present cungresbirian,
Hon. Jo Alihutt, of liill.boro. It i, beauti-
fully bitualed on high land, in a good
agricultural section of the country.
The tirst settlers in this vicinity were
James Thompson, who died about January,
18'J1, abont a mile and a half S(;ntheast of
Abbott; -Mr=. M. J. Johnson, living a mile and
a half east; Thomas Franklin, now living a
mile we.-t; Judge W. (i. iJlood, from Ken-
tucky, tv.-o mile= north; W. L. AVells, from
The next building was (he hot.,1 ererJe,! by
(i. T. f'enncll, now a farmer and merchant,
and the bouse is still a hotel.
The third buil.li
was put up by Johu
;id was rented out as
Mi
-'PI'
jut two and a half milen
north; 1). O. Carr, now living a mile and
half southeast; J. M Vonng, Edward Cai
roll, l.aac Turner, W. M. Wal.tuii and (i. 11
Vonng.
March 11, 1882, there was but one hous
in sight of the station: scarcely a fence wa
visible, cattle and horses grazing at large al
around.
W. W. Trea.lwellerectc
here, for a j>e„eral store, \\
lirst building
was conducted
by !,. (J
reshbme.
.Worenp
by Milton .V l\lcl>..i
such. In 1885 it was devoted to general
merchandise by Ilassler & Elms. Mr.
Banuird bought the place in 188G or '87.
The fonrth building in Abbott was the
hardware and lumbei- estaldishment put up by
J. II. I'rice, who still owns it; and the ne.xt
was the diug store now occupied by J. M.
Young.
The gin-mill was erected by Harrington
liros., and afterward sold to J. li. Couch,
now the postmaster. Mr. liarnard was tiio
lirst postmaster. A good cotton market is
sustained at Abbott. Wilkinson &, Price are
dealers in hardware, agricultural implements
and lund.er.
The population of Abbott in 18L»0 was 156.
It is rennirkable that no building has yet
been destroyed by lire in this place, nor has
any damage lieen inllicted by storms. The
community is remarkably healthy. The
people Use rain-water, collected in cisterns
excavated in the blue, soft, .shale rock ten to
twelve feet below the surface,— a great deal
better nu^lhod than is generally followed by
the people of Texas. Very liltle lime gets
int(. the water. Several years ag- an artesian
well was eoMimeiiced here and drilled down
-183 feel, when the workmen lost the drill, the
l,K-s lalling upon the artoian e,mipany and
Mr. Treaduell.
The pliysiciahs piaelieing here are Dr.s. K.
Y''",\vvr\, ••'^i. ■\V.'i''-:. W
'I'MIII'/
I !•■.,, , i,v,:j •„ir ' 5.!.u'|
.); ,!•
\NI) II 1 1,1. VOVNTIKy
I!, Wilkes since ISSS, aii.l (V)l. •man Curtn-
.-ince ISiH). Dr. W. A[. Drake practiced
line rnnn al,„iil ISS 1 to ISS'.I -'HO, wl.cn lie
uvnt 1,. Ilin.ih,;m; and a Dr. M.'D.uial.i wab
here lor a time.
The selioul building, erected in 1885 or '8t),
i.s a Well built one-.story tVaiiie costing over
^tlUO. The enrollment of pupils is over 1-10,
and there are thi-ee teachers, of whom I'rof.
Abraham Rull'ner is principal. School con-
tinues on an average about seven months in
the year, most of tiie time free.
The Missionaiy iJaptists organized a church
of eleven members, in April, 1876, at
Liberty Cirove schoolhouse, two miles south
of Abbott, under the ministry of Kev. II. N.
Kee.-,e and T>]lder Martin Kibby. The original
members ^vere: Rev. li. N. Keese, jjastor; J.
iM. Voung, deacon; IJ. II. Young, M. A.
Keese, U. W. Young, J.avinia Young, Eliza-
beth Young, Eliza Young, K. E. Young,
Nancy Keese and D. (J. Cobb. They wor-
shiped there until 1885, when the place of
meeting was moved to Abbott. From the be-
ginning to the j)i-eseut public ser\ ices have
been held once a month.
'I'hu pastors have been: Kcvs. II. N.
Kee.-e to May, 1877; John A. Harrison of
Waco the remain, Irr (d' that year; J. 11.
I'lickett, also of Waco, from February, 1878,
to October that year; II. N. Keese again
until December, 1S7'J; AV. S. llulf tol880;
T. 1'. Speakman, 1881— '82; Tin. mas ll.x)ker,
1883--8-1; J. W. Anderson, 1S85; A. J.
Wharton, a year and a half; K. A. Cox, to
September, IS'Jl, since which time U. AY.
Jarrell has bcui the pastor.
The present number of ineinbers is 121,
who have jii^t coinpletiui a house of Worship.
Eliza Young is th.^ oldest member of this
church. Slu' was born in Tennessee in 1812,
raised in Floyd county, Kentucky, man-ied
David A'ouiig in 1831, moved to Platte
county, Missouri, and linally, in 18^4, to
Te.xas; and her youngest son, J. M., is the
present clerk of the Baptist church above
described.
The Jlethodists also have a church build-
ing in Abbott, a neat frame, and a j)arsonage
on an adjoining lot. They have a respectable
membership, of whom I). C Brooks is class-
leader. Professor Abraham Kuffner is the
superintendent of the Sunday-school. Local
preachers, Ke\'S. Powell and IMcMillan. In
the circuit are four appointments, including,
besides Abbott, Boll Springs, Scott's Chapel
and AVillow. Kev. S. P>. Ellis liab been the.
pastor since November, 1889.
The Cumlierland Presbyterians first organ-
ized in Abbott in the summer of 1891, with
about fourteen or fifteen members, under the
ministry of Kev. AV. A. Patterson, of Ilills-
boro; at present they have no pastor. The
eldei's are T. I\l. Couover and L. C. Bariuird,
teen, who hold their meetings in the Meth-
Previously this deiKjmination h"d a church
at Antiocli, four and a half to five miles north
of Abb.jtt, where a society is still in exist-
ence, and a ehureh building. Kev. AIc-
Carty is the minister and Thomas Colvin
and Mr. Kutherford are the elders.
':^V\A O; AA\\\ t.\7,K
'1 ;i. ■/.i.lUMli
.i:f ,.>>-. j-.O i .1'.. .[: . ■ ../{ ■ .■••■•r.' H'wiidivrii
'i ...,:..■;..•.-:•, .'1 ,r
,11!'! ^riJ.ii-^J.jvH
^'"•i
in STORY OF JOIINSOK
OTIIKIi I'OINTS.
KuiiT (;K.\iiA>r,
\va.. ;i (uivirriiinMit Biipply btulion in Iii.lian
times, and truojis wore stationed thei'o for
the i.rutcctiun ...f the frontier. 'J'lie foil was
abandoned in 1853, bnt some si^ns of the
Liiildiiigs btill remain, impressive inoiiii-
inents of the irresistil)lo westward How of
civilisation and the corres])anding ehb of
barbarifrm. Two or tliree stores and a black-
smith sliop or two was probably as higii as it
ever reached on the ladder of cummei-ce.
Here it was that the "boys in blue" stood —
a bulwark between advancing civilization
and retreating barbarism; and here it was
that a tragic incident of intense interest to
the civilized inhabitants of the then spai'sely
settled county i)Ceurred, about the time of
the evacuation of the post. 'J'his was the
killing of Major Arnold, the commandant of
tlie po.-t, by ])r. J. M. Steiiier, the surgeon
of thi^ jiost, in a jiersonal ditliculty. (See
page 2'JC.
Hut by the year 1890, when it had a popu-
iuliun of 250, it was ambit i, MIS rnough to
take a vole oil incorporation, fnity-four votes
in favor and fcrty-seven against. Although
there is a considerable settlement in that
vicinity, one general store does the local
This villa,i:e sprang up soon after 1851,
si.x miles west .d' llillslM.n. and on the road
to Wiiitney. Among tiie early seltleis were
I Daniel Koyles, Harvey. Henry and Wesley
Young, AVilliam Hell, Thomas IJragg, Ford
and J. K. D'Armand, etc.
After the war I'eoria became the coninier-
eial c(Miter id' the county, and for awhile
stood first in jiopulaticm. It then had some
ten or fifteen business houses and a news-
paper, the ///// Count 1/ lidcord, edited by
K. H. JSayers. The jdace once contested for
the county seat, wdien Hill.•^lJoro obtained the
victory.
It was liere that the first school in the
county was taught by Harvey ^V. Young,
now Judge Young, of Hillsboro. In 1855
John Patton built a brick schoolhonse and
taught foi several years, the students coming
from Ellis, Bosque, AfcLennan and Ooryell
counties.
The first Cumberland Presbyterian church
in the county was organized at I'eoria, in 1855,
with liev. John I'atton as pastor. The so-
ciety numbers about si.\ty-live.
The town is well located in a beautiful
section of country, on higli rolling, somewhat
sandy ground, in the crcjss timbers, and
within a mile of where the thirty-second par-
allel of n.u-th latitu.le and ninety-seventh me-
ridian of west longitude fr.-m (Greenwich
cross each other. The place now has a
))Oi)ulation of 500, a drug and grocery store,
a general suj)ply store, a blacksmith shop,
two scho(ds, three physicians, two oculists
and a notary public.
The water supply is plentiful and gootl.
A.^rii.LA
is a small town abnut thirteen mi'les south-
west ,d- IHllsburo, on liie'l-.^xas Central rail-
'l/1j' 'I
:fi <y .,}-:inii ,ii(r.(
• iiiui. vi it;.-.) yv. Lift,
uuu..: .Jn.L..
.1 i:' .91
' '( .•'Jiir-.i'ivia •iiiiitin: ■'■ a fi'isv. tjl /■(i-.v.Iiid ii
..- J, 3'i:'j.l Lit.: ;-i'd '■.iiic(' ■ii'.'.-.i I ■.-( tii'it
'£ 1.: ,1 a. ,.'• ]■
AND II ILL coumriKh
rcuii, and one mile from Aijuilhi ci-euk. It
^ ill tho mi(Lst of a licii and iirodnclixu
cuiuitry and a j^ood cunininnity, witli its
complement of bl'IiooIs and
Bonic iodfre, etc.
clinivhcs, a Ma
UUANUON.
Tiie old town of Brandon, about twelve
miles east uf IliUsboro, was fonnded by Dr.
llanington and Joseph AValling, two respect-
able and thrifty citizens, and ;sueh men as
R. B. Howe and A. J. Jasper and others
were conspicuous in the U])building of the
to\vn; but it was linally removed to the now
tcjwn, next to be noticed.
.New Brandon [av bir short, Jjrandon) is a
mat little town eleven miles east of IliUsboro
and thirty west of Corsicana, on the railroad.
It is situated on high ground, in a healthy
locality, and is indeed a beautiful place.
White Creek, a clear running stream, runs
within half a mile of it, while Ilichland creek,
a very heavily timbered stream, is seven miles
east. Good water is obtainable at a depth of
eighteen to thirty feet.
The plat contains seventy-tive acres, the
main bl reels being seventy-tiv(t feet wide, the
business hit,-. 20. \ UU and the residence lots
60 .\ 140. A depot and stock pens were first
built here in 1S88, and soon the old town was
moved to it.
January 15, 18'JU, a post otlice, grocery,
general stoi-e and blacksmith shop were es-
tablished here. Now Bi'anilon has ten busi-
ness houses, a blacksmith shop, twu hotels.
fortv-il
idences and a $3,000 scli^
e who b
k'isited Brandon
has to acknowledge that the residences built
hei-e are far superi(jr to any they have seen
in any town in the State. The ri-ason of this
is that the town is mostly built up by the
farmers who have lived in the surrounding
country fur years, and still own farms near
the town.
The school, which is the pride of Brandon,
is conducted by I'rof. G. L. Bradford, who
owns the building. The citizens have voted
a ta.K of hfty cents on the §100 for tho
mainteiianc
A the fr
school.
pro-
tect this school the people have voted for
local ojjtion by a vote of three to one. By
this means young men who desire an educa-
tion are freed from many temptations. Bran-
don has: Three grocery stores, 1 drug stoi'o,
1 dry-goods store, 1 barber shop, 1 lumber
yard, 1 coal yard, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 woo<I-
shop, 1 lunch stand, 1 beef market, 1 hotel,
1 picture gallery, 1 cotton gin and mill,
1 schoolhouse, 1 Masonic hall, 3 doctors, -15
residences and 6 carpenters, who are kept
busy.
Two churches are convenient at band.
AVoodbury is a tlourishing village of about
200 inbaljitants, and situated in the edge of
the cross timbers 8 miles northwest of IIi|ls.
boro. The lirst business liou:e there was
built by T. L Wood in the fall of 180'J, after
whieh the town giew rapidly, and did i\
8))lendid business until the railroad ndven'tiu
lest eipiijiped gins in the ISljlite, a .Masonic ' the county, sinciMvhich the trade bus declined,
• ioi.iify't 000,(.?' J-. i'lij; *'j:jii(»i).'h'ji svrt-1'.l'iol ,llKil j il .'<i:)i\o nlliiniA un.a3 ■jihu ono Imit ,!ui'Ji
jliiHJ i.yii<toI)iw.n oiU .^Ji'iJ ^i-n[)'il f/on>J!.i; u3 Sisii , -^Ji ill;:!*/ ,vJ/!U.'tiu)ii/:) itxOi; i; f'lui 'ciinnaa |
fu.'«a fi'/iiil '(;;.(j vn.'i (jT ■luiTJCjiiB lu'l j^t; jv^oii j jif/1 « ,:i-jil.'j-i»iir' t.ii;r. 9lo>-'ii-j'. 'lo I'loni-. iivio:;
gmfjiaio-nua 'jiU ui Uvil jvHii '>ilw ii'jir';;) ;
•ifioi! >'iir;j'i iiv/o Ifii<( tuit ,a;.>;-jx. 'fj^- ■(■iI'I'-u'j ' tvi-j/^^ lijcJc ,<nA.'iiinii ''.'> iv/mi bio ailT
,a<>huniH to <)l>ji'iq Oil^ tti li'jjdw .ioi.jfoo .'jiIT I j'j'.-.j-.t -iV/) ,j2fiii!..7/ iii|'jdfl. lu)« inij^iairue]!
o.iv/ ,h'io'il'Li<'[ .^1, ,1> .)■)•!'! yd boj.Tiiliti'..) -i \ m; .i'.)iii il;)ij,; imi; .•■iih.cm"-) ,'j;;-i,i3 Lm/j 'jkfit
L.J.JOV ijvi.ji uiiisshk- oiiT -ij'iifiHin! yd. -Mv.o I ii'jdlJo l.ii.. •i-i.j*;/;'. .1, ./, boir .-.'.voU .{'i .H
'Jlh -lol nOJJJ y/h iJ.j lilir;.;; Yllf! lo i-.r.-l Ji ; S1I.I 'iv^ -.jtr Uliu J.jli ■>(!.) Ill rAlon:->\o^.niyj ■■>■■:'
-'.nn oT .k>o(iva !>oil -til' '..■ yjiKiij^Jni.im | v/'.wi 'jilJ ot bavcfifr; \'!!,--cii ;■! .- ii icJ ; •
■lujiil .M!U!Jj;^(jii!v7 '(..1:1;: (uni !!-jai: 'yia i;.-, | Jii.oii'in v;;- jin ,»;i^C',io;i^,.' ''■' ?•>;,.■> ■^j-ijul Luiii
i;;f'u!»l I (notic, •i'M)-,r.>l I ,•..!', Id sLKi'.a^-Yni. J ; .-i.i'.'.j lu^i.?;i«i.Ki 15 lie^f ;,) -il'U;; ,-^ti!«fK:.!
.!i';.«w I ,;jOiU ;;iiii-i;!^»)iM 1 .ha;/ l(;.o i J>:i^\( \ Jiur' ,ri,/vri).i ).r'i"|ji,; ;.(;!>;■> ;: ,>i^;-nO tUiilV/
,ijiOil r .J'3il:.:i' h":.l I ,(i:U!l^ li^.K'i 2 ..(..:'. ; >f.;..v.. l.iiiii.I-iil ^^liiiv; .-i I., hlUu i' "lUjl liliMfV^
3i- ,>j-iiW:uji« i.^ ,ii«ii ;>ii7 0i .l/, i ,^r<iiotiiO--:l .8 3 i io ilJn>h nin f>fiiajii.ftl'Jo si i:.lirw i;u<.ic') .1of,3
irj'^M -J-!.", o.fv.' ,«-i-ji:0! ]■!.'. '! !■;:)! c-j"f;:.i,;i.-j. ; 'r.-Zt vJ-iiiH i,J )i'joiil;yi!j
;>;/•! I 'til ,.!M' 0 M H-V ilt .V^a -riJiiirOO l4iK( OllT
^^^^^ '.-••.: •-:;■.!. ;^.-, -.Ji I.I,.. (jM /(.':: ^I"! i.;,MMi;;ii.l
l!ij>l« 10 r*v,t<lliv v,inildiiii^j{i j; bi ^iuJI/l.'/.V j ,.,; ■,,;,-,,) b(o "ill nc.;, t,.m ,8)r'.<:Jl iii 'ji.^i tWinl
io o;^Lo UiU 111 jJoii;jJi(i bili; ,ii;M;it.:!i.,Iai ('C? . ' .li (1I !.;V/..U(I
...:!i;i: 10 ii^wilJio.. -.■■Urn 8 4('.-Uuiii .-.avvj .'ji!t • , . ■!..>oo-ijj ,.» .i:l(. l»j,( « ,0C8J ,Cl ^nmnml.
aflv, /,'oii) f.:.jOil ■■.hvii\::ii-l Jo-lit oilT .uio J , -af'tn-iv/ ij.i.l* rlJhiJi;/b«l(J bii« yioJ,-, !j-;o !■-■
i>i!. L:l
v/>1 'jilj uut<Jv; I .,.|:>j( (I jv't ,(jot5a j!jliii«*bnhl u .(•'^'iiuil
(T! J(i;.ivl"> h.no-ilrir; •■;h nil..: -.oStiibiiij hci'.ii'ii'/i | ■■■.{■, ''■• ■iit,, 1.1^; ii-uiv iI.jw'/j « ,tj'li:y_-l'jiliiiiil ii
II I STOUT OF JOHNSON
It now lias two (roncval luercantile lioiises,
(jiic di'ii;^' stoiX", a post ullice, two wajj^cjii and
sniitli sliops, a steam mill and i,Mn, two well
r^n■ni^h(•d riiurdirs, a laino W..11 cjiiippid
two Bt(jry academy, Masoiiio iiall and many
handsome residenees, inlial.ited by us social,
mciial and jirogres^ive a population as is to be
found in the entire State.
I'or "Woodbury's part in the late county-
seat contest, see pa-es 21(J-7.
The town of Blum was laid olf ami ushered
into existence in the latter pai't of the year
1SS2, immediately upon the completion of
the (iult; Colorado & Santa Fe railway to
this point, and named after Leon II. lilum of
Galveston.
The tirst business houses were op(Uied by
Taylor Brothers, J. if. Togue, A. Thames
and M. i,. Marsli. Afterward G. R. Jackson,
A. T. Mann and others entered busi!iess there.
'I'he population at (he |)resent time is
sometluLig over three liundred. The people
an^ generally moral and relined, and have a
high appreciation of the advantai^e of eiiu.
cation and are hiying the touiulatioii fur a
splendid civilization. A school building of
ample dimensious and comfortably furnished
with all necessities is a feature which is the
especial pride of the citizens. With the aid
of the public free school fund a session of
si.K montlis is held eacli year. The enroll-
ment the present year is 15((.
l''our churches have organizations here,
three of whom, the Baptists, Methodists and
Christians, ha\'e neat and commodious church
buildings in which to worship. The Prcshy-
teriaiis contemplute building soon, ami the
Masims have a stnmg lodge.
'I'he town is pieturi'Scpiely situated in the
Noland nwr valley. \Vhen seen from sonio
of the surrounding liills it reminds one more
of some fancy sketch in a frame tlian it does
of a view of actual scenery. In the im-
mediate vicinity the land is broken and hilly,
but within a few miles is considerable fine
agricultural land. Four miles to the west is the
celebrated Brazos valley, while neai-er by ia
the fertile valley along the Noland. A few
miles to the east is a fine body of black
prairie land lying parallel to the cross tim-
bers. This land when cultivated has proven
to 1)0 well adapted to the growth of all the
staple products of the country, and is settling
up very fast. All kinds of fruit succeed
here better than in most portions of the
country. The Noland river is deserving of
more than mere mention. The beauty of
this stream is the common remark of all who
see it. In spring and summer it affords tine
fishing. The tine gfoves of pecan and wal-
nut timber growing ijlong the banks and the
numerous tjno springs are inviting, and id
often visited by parties from the cities.
The river took its name from a trader of
tl]e sanie nanje who made frequent trips fmin
"the States" while this country was a Mex-
ican province. On one of these expeditions
he and his jiarty were attacked by bandits and
destroyed. The scene of the battle is near
where the town now stands. Men continue
.',iUhV. 'AO 'ti\OTV.\U
,«fiv.{hh[ ')(i)(ii;'noi/i i»!'!OMo^ n'tfi fir.il w'>u jl
but: rn.'j>Jiv/ r.».'J ,.)riiHo Jftitq a .•j'tdle j;«'ii)un»
!l!>W ('*,! ,.I:y Ivi-!;. fliiii 'lii-.Ola ii ,b'.|f'llft l\\iAte.
^^|.j. I ■<_)./iiii !'ii,; l!j;it -.nti'-Hr.V. ,/ii)')!^j;-)i; V i....iy-uV.'J
iDiioH. i i^*'"''-'" ''' 'C' f'^'Ji^-'fii'iii (SOL.iifjfjirt'r.i :/iiio«l>inul
V'-c.(iS' fci);t;i,jj !.iya ,i-.-:n',;ij.'< Jr.Ori
oL) U itin\\ .ut'.^.i u ui il'j.t'i><;i '(-j;!);! oti;^.'^ 'lu
7i Oil.: Ill .\r-|fMI'J'.>c lOifto' !(i w>iv « Jo I "^ I >•
ij ei '^tw/ :j,lj<jU';iiM;-i(FMvr .1,111:1 \^.v^^\^^.\^. \
■^d lO-iJiU.. 3llilv/ ,,(,,1).;Y «0!UnH l!Mlni.k.bu j ,.,,^_^^,^ j^^^^, ,, ._ j^;^^, ^^^ ,, ^,,^,,., ,,^
J; A .litMit'.'VI oill •'<.'!..!« fjllfl.' : <:)(•.: vfll t , ^ , , ,
" '■ I -ijviY 'jil; to 1-'!.] •: i!.',: od! (!) ;•
iaii.l 5'! vIi'xJ 'lift ii ai v.-^:' c-ii
y,- iji,»j'fo(</) -iliii/ oill
•iL'lij; I'oi.u;,
..Id.:.
'» 'io biKtii-iOq Jc:"4() n< '!6i'j 'IJJ' "J /nil
'" I :„:.
K! ■!!
■M...r
!i fri
>? ^nl)
.■.J'^vvl'u)
.!. ..,:,;.'■! .U .1, .: .:),.:;l J',;.'!'
.;; .;>!; ;i;,T,llA A-r.Al A M. <.ri.,
;i'r ii il ,nnl /■.■):!; •!.;;>; ui;;ii}:.!itv:-
,i,l,;i-ii::' : -u'W ^;H.V-' '^■'" ''•''' ""''''J
;ri ion',:j /. .'-'.iLDO'lllViv l.'i!..i:jl.jfi
i (Jiicl.'iilf!!'"-' bill! JUoi-.II'j.l.ifi Lii.JI'il!
1
^•.t sq--il j..v.!i;'f>-! ii;/in^ !:,!•■' ..,;:.Ta -..ai.^ ■..iJ I ;.iu V'ii 'fuV/ ....
.,,;;1.,,^^ .(, :„.-i.i. i( -jrio II* > .:.:)ii;V(, ;.j ;(/!oi I lio'l^a ailT .•it^''l( jlfliiS !. l0(i Hi J'i.l3:.0(il z;,i
,,1,1 <!!i.i -jnt 1'., !>..'.:)fr iil'l' .t mjit'i.-jb : .ijt'jif *<I'..iJ^;^iIUJ;JJ•('^ !>yxii| a!i)bl.li)D •ijjo'';
AND IfflJ. COUNT IKS.
yet lit intervals to searuli tor tlie tiviisiirt! tliat
it id said was buried by the trader, but
whctlier any one lias ever succeeded in lind-
in^ anytliiii;^ valuable ur not is nut kinnvn.
la an a])pendix to the second volume of
Yoakum's History of Texas, will be found a
full account of the cii'cumstance brietly nar-
rated above.
The trade of the country tributary to this
l}lace would support a much larger town, and
it is confidently expected that tlie popuhition
will double in a short time. The distance
from competing towns, the healthfulness of
the location, and the excellent school privilege
may be mentioned as proof of this conclusion.
Although nearly every line of business is
represented, still the amount of capital in-
vested id inadequate to the re(^uirenieuts.
i,-, a j)ost otiice and small business point in
the northwestern part of the county.
COVINGTON,
also in the northwestern part of the county,
was left -out in the cold" by the railroads,
aii.l hence lo.^t its prospective trade an. 1 ceased
to grow, except by the slow ami steady
gi-uwth of the respectable community which
surrounds it. The hjcation i.-- simply grand
and lofty, and is noted for its splendid college
buildings and noted citizens. Colonel James
J. Gathings was an early settler in the vicin-
ity, an account of whom isgi\en elsewhere;
and Hon. A. M. Douglass, a phyMcian, is one
of the well-known statesmen of Texas. Kind
tketch of this gentleman by the index. There
is a Cumberland Presbyterian cliurcli tliere,
organized in 188'J, with thirty-five members;
but they ha\e no pastor at jiresent. There
is a pleasant little town about five miles west
of Itasca, having good society and a church
or two and a school. See under head of
Itasca for some account of the churches. Dr.
J. S. McKown is, or was recently, the practic-
ing physician there.
fii.es' valley,
one of the oldest and best' settlements in the
county, has its center about six miles east and
a little north of Itasca. It takes its mune
from one of the oldest, wealthiest and most
intluential families in Hill county, that of D.
S. Files, who settled there in 1855, from
Crimes county, (Jeorgia. He died in 1879.
The previous year James McCuUough had
settled in the vicinity. He was a brother of
Genera! Ilearv McCullough, and
KUiy
years ago. N. J. Witten was another early
settler at that point, and is still living there.
Judge Weekly, deceased, was another, who
also caine from Crimes county, Georgia.
For Frebbyterianisiii at this place, see
under head of Itasca.
In File.-' Valley and vicinity are several
good artesian wells, tlowing to the surface
with pui'e, soft water, excepting that it is
slightly sulphnrous.
liois li'.Uii:
is located four and a half miles norlhwest of
Itasca and about hve miles we.,t of Grand
-.'AVtV.MVj \A^,\\ *\V.t.
.J ■/ !(] oiij .11 .:■ ;i.iui(y I 'illi. • -Ij ;-i« .iiv/oiri Ion «i lua lo vMi iil<:v Mim'jy.iii '■:
I lo o.uyil ,.
/..lOHO;.j I
! r. t'liuo!
J^ov/fslim gviJ J(k-W« tif/oj o!t:',l j,rfi,u.sJq 41 si j ^^^^^ ^j^^.^,, , ,, , . . j. , . ,.,j,^^^ j, i
.,<; .a.i!D.fi.bodl %>l;.aoo.. ■.,..,. a.x «■*>•] , ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ .^^.^^^, ^^^^^ ^^ ^„^^^^^^^ ,^,^^^ ^^j^^
• '"" ■'"»■•" «t'^n?"' |a,KtiJeil, s.IT sui.j JioiCa k ni 3iJi)...L llr«
0.1,; i.i *tfi!»tti-);j!yi-;:i-"' !..j, Jr.i.|v) i,iii i,. Ji.. ' ;';^-'iivii4 !■ orii,. *i!:-)(l'W/'.vil3 Is:.; ,.::jij;;y<,l udJ
.t:Vrl 111 !i":ij oil .I'r^ii'.T-' ,yti;i"-j ■■jin'riii i
Mil! *i',i;wyl!)'.'vf.' f.i'JJ.i- ...■■,_ -l;i..iv'..-t.; :vI'l '
'>!] i,-.viii,-.i;*l iii;a!o uii'; ;/jiI]o 1:-.o(( i! ■■!
.i /; r'.,:v 'ii; .1I i-'-j'.i ;ji!! ic lr..h.)j- i '
,v I. :■• .;„i-:J r/J-Mj-nj^/.jl J-,. f •,•.,<•„( 1.,..;
!k (i'.''it;:c,.!y;'i.iarl -n/1
.^ ,,^ f, ^j'j ,,. ., ^ „, ;^^^^^^ i :j;."j'ii.:i i'n'.-,;.|^ tj; ^^■.'■^ ;.?.;. .1:, r.i liitB ,yJlol I m
Ml/-.. .'CljUv' ,'■-. MlJlj tin* '
j , ..mIVj^I; iir;<n.., ,-i •!;(.;'•/.' 'tw j.'lli.'.'jji Cfc- ,'^ji
Ill- lii;rl n Pik: IIIuI 1.-,. ',;.'.( ii , ;.iii'>( -;:/'.T In i.-iilHiJlC V :i '■ i ./r.' ■ iluy,i ailj lo
-:,l..; .vll 3,1. .Oi; !.!.« k:,.,;! ^ mvJ i :■ ,i /.ilj '^l (.;l,n^,!l ■•■;_; ..iJll... ,Sjt,;Ji
inSTOUY OF JOHNSON
View, and is tliorcfoi'i! near ( 'uvin^tuii. It is
intelligent moral commuiuty. A prominent
siirroimdud ijy as fine a farniinir country as
citizen residing in this part of the county is
tlio Lone Star State contains, an<l comprises
an energetic class of people.
EDWIN c. zoi.r.icoi'Ki;u.
To tluJM- men who lived j)rior lo and
MOl'Nl' CALM
through Ihi: civil v,-ai- in the irnited States,
is a nice little town southwest of IJ ulibard,
the saying, "These are the times that try
on the St. Lonis, Arkansas i^: Te.vas railroad,
men's souls," was just as true and fraiiglit
one mile nortli vt' old Mount (Jalin in Lime-
with the same serious meaning as it was
stone county. It has aljuiidant water and
when uttered almost 100 years before;
wood sup])lies and tav(_)rablu school and churcli
and the patriot, be ho of the N.u'th or
facilities. The community has an excellent
South, will not losu the opportunity to pay a
ro[nitation.
tribute of respect to those heroes who suf-
August 30, 181)1, iit 4:10 i'. ii., a wind
fered the horrors of warfare and the sacrifice
struck the j)lace more violently tluin had ever
of all their worldly possessions in defense of
before been known, carrying evei-ythiu<^ Ije-
what they belie\ed Ui be the best interests of
Ibre it like chalf. First the large two-story
the Uepnblic. To one of those great armies
Bchoolhou^e was torn into tVaginents, wliicli
belonged F.lwin C. ZoUieolfer, and the Con-
were tcattei-ed lor a long di.Ttance. Fortun-
federacy never had a more lo)'al subject. A
ately there was no one in the building at the
history of Hill county would be incomplete
time. The ne.xt building to go was a resi-
without an outline oi the careei' of this gen-
dencA! owned by Terry Wiley and rented by a
tlenuin. He is a native of Tennessee, born
]a<ly music teacher who had only an organ in
in Uaury county, March 7, 1822, the sou of
the building, using it only for teaching. The
Cieorge Zollic(dfer of North Carolina. Ilis
hoik-e and organ were completely wrecked.
fatlier came toTeniu'ssee when a young man,
There was a territic crasli at the depot, and
and afterward went to MississipjM ; when a
immediately the west half of that building
resident of the former State lie engaged in
was gone. Then went the meat nuirkel, the
UKU-chau. lining in connection with his finn-
lumber-yard, etc. At the IJaptist church.
ing interests. lie married iliss Abbv
where sei'xices were in progress, carriages
Nicholson, a daughter of Malachi Ni.dioLsun,
ami hoi-ses were thrown uj) into a confused
who was a cousin of A. (). I'. Nicholson,
UKISS.
State Senator of Tennessee. Of this union
UiKNK
seven cliildi-en were boi'u, of whom Fdwin C.
was the fifth; he is the oidy siir\'iviu(>- mem-
is am.lher liiu^ liltle place lu'ar the .-astern
ber of the family; liis sf.ter, A manda, married
border of the county, surrounded by a mag-
Nicholson Sims and riumncl to Flli^ cunty.
nilicent hirming country iidiabitcd iiy an
where she died; her husband is ^till living
i,;. l;ili*:rh> Jl si'.l't -,v; vif l;-l,ili«)ni;a
!h,i: ,;t.i!!;:uO-> 'Jjlllftl 1.<.)c. :,mI.kI "(l.t
■jlc'i: l'-*.ii.i j.!i r.i -n ■; hvi-.i -;.; 'IuD'."-*!!! j
Tj (u;!) i':!i(jit :i:lJ :)7»: L;.iu;i'f " ,;4<i!^i;« f)ii:S.| ,mi;ii<lulT ^t^ .)r;'jV(Uiu(ja i.w.Mj olJlii joiui: oj
i-^((;:i-!'. !■>.':■. -lyil ai; ..-ii(^ flRV.' '',8ljio8 ^'nri.tt i .i.novlrir; enxc'l' .-A aj:.:i!ft->iiA .eirioJ .7^ -iiiH no
j-fo"!-..! s-iB-i'( 001 J.-.o.tif(! i.:,'n(3(( .■•.if-,v
.) iiJ-.fii^. uill :i; :).! aJ .ioir'rq -ir'l tniK
•^jq J ■j_tiiH!l-nj;}»;j hi!) ..rij .;,.ii Mi// ,!'if;o« I im»'l->j/.:f» frf- ,-,;,•! /liiniiiimyo '>iJT .ROiUifitd
I ..,.ii-!V_.b »< ^ifujitairt^oq vi!.Wyv7 -ihAt iU io ! iii o U;i! midi i^lhwiciv 'Jt:>iii oaj^Iq ai{;f J-ihiJm
) ^;-.-.>;'iiii U-t»J '.'Ii 9<! til i;:.-.Miio'l -/'kI) Ji'.J" ' -■»(* ?;iiiil Iv-KiVi •jiu (_niio ..'iw6n>' /r-'J rn-jlmi
1" JR'T.;^ saoilJ io t»iio dl" 'Jil.iiiq')}! .ilj j ri. in-ov-l .■.«j.!,'il .,'! If-ii'T "fliM') cJu jl ofol
• ■.o'j .iH iii'ii ,-:-,'i ivitis'. .:j ■'■!. ■]>[•[ ii-yTinofviJ lii'ii!.'' ,.:l';Mii;,.i.:i dliii iricj siflv/ m ■Poifioo.i-vii
,;:, iiifn !;.'...: ;.■■'•.. jii .< L'm! -I'V/vn /;)r'l;iL li ■ f •'!■!-'■' .■'.> ':i;,if.^ i.i ^_lJo! N :ut !i'Vr';:i,y,!i -.ivv/
i-i.i..,(..i'M>i .'.j'.i 'Ufyn '(Siiicw liill Iv '/'foi*!!! ' 8^*1 )■■ ^.;'.;!:>lii;il vili uj ono <m asv/ o;.-il) ilou\
!v.^ i;,i,': ■l,-. •)^,';J■!i^'■. ■till !■. :/ii;i):;. ,;/, Jii^.i;;; // l -i'-y' i, bi; ;^ c;; u7 ^'liiMjjjfJ jj;o;( ii i L .oii;:'
•:;;J vr<-.v'i.iu)r ■)*, .,n:i,ii -i ,;! >! 1 . ,;.;ia-.>l i j B V' ! Ir'hiyl Ilil,. -(^'il V/ t^Vi-^T V;J(ri(r/fO fi;tM.,i,
. r,r. -..i ;-•":/ ,r .i:n..r4 .■(_,'. ; ^•.kkR i:; ; ii: ;-^-- ., /!::- U'\ "<:w i-;!-,.;.: ..i..:,M ./l.:!
ji'j
,■/ ' ,Ui V..i bM.'i'd.
y/itnifOt ynmriiit Jn,i:„.ili.;
a^y£L,ic^<^
w
£.
f
:l
mt^
.^,n'<0''--..M.
V
'^'
AND HILL COUNTIES.
tlicru. The f:itlior died in iAIis.sissippi, alioiit
ters; she then married Jo llochell, a native
the year 1S40.
(.if South Carolina; ]\Iary married James
Kdwiii CZolliciitler came tu the Lotic Star
Maddu.\ of Alabama, who died in 1888, leav-
Slate in IH'A, and settled in Hill county
ing two children; Mrs. Maddux is now living
wheie he has since nia<le hisliunie. He pur-
at home with lier fatlier; Callie is the wife
cliascd 2,1(JU acres ul' land, l)Oii}^rht a uniuber
of William Sjjark of Alvarado; Lulu is a
ul'blaxes and at once bej^an the task uf plac-
student at Hubbard City; lulwiu A. Sharpe,
ing this land under cultivation. For three
the second child and oidy bom, has charge of
Miccessive years lie broke 100 acres of land.
his father's business, as before stated. Mrs.
and at the same time he handled hirge luim-
Zollicoli'cr died August -1, 1800; slie was for
hors of live-stuck. He furnished horses and
many years a miuuber of the Baptist Church,
beef cattle to the Confedei'ate Government,
and died in the full assurance of that faith.
receiving the currency of that government
Mr. ZoUicotfei-is also a member of the bap-
therefor; this he held, and the loss was about
tist Church, and he has belonged to the I. O.
j;2(),()00 and in ad.lition to this misfortune.
C). F. for imtny years. I'olitically he has had
forty of his slaves, the entire number, were
no aspirations; ho has served as Justice of
set free.
the ]'eace for ten or twelve years, and has
After the war was eiidetl lie sold a farm
been a faithful and ellicient officer. He is a
uf UOO acres, s..ld olf his live-stock, and
man of great force of character, and during
built a steam mill and y(u\\ this proved an
all the yeais of his residence in To.\as he has
iliipi-olitable in\estment, and at the end of
given a hearty support to those enterpi-ises
eight years he disposed of this property at a
best calculated to elevate the community of
.s.critice. He then resumed the ijuiet life of
which he is an honored member.
u planter wliicli had been interrupted .-o many
years before. He still has an immense acre-
M.\ssi!:v
age in Hill cimnty, the cultivation of which
is huperinlended by his .-.on, Ivlwin A.
is delightfully situated about eleven miles
Mr. ZollicoHer was married to iMi.-s l.ncy
southeast of ililisboro, on the three tribu-
ftfohcly, a daughter of Archie Alosely of
taries of Ash creek, in one of the most de-
ISedford county, Tennc-^see; her father died
iightfiil counties of Te.xas and in a relined
daring the war, broken-hearted, the W(.)es
community, with four chinch oi-ganizations,
that overtotik and surrounded him at that
good schools, etc. The churches are the
period being ulttu'ly beyond his endurance.
I'rimitive and Missionary Baptists, Method-
Jlr. and Mrs. Zollicotfer had born to them
i,-,ts and i'resbyterians.
Bevi'ii (diildren, two of whom died in (^arly
August 2-1, 18S(), T. Collier's residence was
childhood: Sallie has been twice married, —
burneil, with all the contents, and one of Uv.
first to Dr. Key, who diol hiaving two d.tugli-
Collier's childr.m!
M,'i\\'\Y.yy)\) .\:.\\\ '\v.L
i' f'lii'-.n ix ,litui;H>)l 'jl l>tji-iu;iii iioiij ■.x'a jo'ir'l | JiJO'i/j .iipjiisieiail/i tii i)3i|j -ioiluA ad't .oiuiii
-Viirji ,bWl lii '.y.iibv fit,' ,Kn;ji(J.ilA i-. j.uiilr.U ] ~r.\ri fjnod ^jilj uJ i'(iu;.i 'lyilooJiluX .: ) iiiv/lvl
'jKIvil wo.J >^' /lll.if'iil^l >l]A JdSililliio ij-,yJ Tiii j V3i(i((>:) ill!! ili Ii.>l)l!i8 b(l« jt-Ciir!! ni oliDt'.
o'liw yil) ai ji![j:l) ;iOi*Jji'i v ' :,■ j -'iiifj ;)I! /iuioii «"[(! almiii -'■j/ii?, Jicif oil ui '
41 ii! [)1/Jvl ;<ji.ii;;iiv!A ^o A- •.; j -i/iidUlit .: tili.)i;;-)(! ,i.inr.! 'lu ■•/i'jh 001 'J liKt.'
U> ■.-.^•u:il') gfifl ,(ii.n -^lf(vi M(.'.fi iiiii!, bjUiu^-t:;. '•> !; ,!.'rwi.( ••.■■■l .itoil.';7i;ii..'> -lOlii::! ii'i;;! -tui) jjdi
uW .bol£:s -jv/ijii nii ,h-nh--uA s'r.jiUsii ■/:.[ [ Mini ]o >:y»;i6 <A)J; ■r.hruf oil *"i!i'. f^ iivu.svaDWi.
•'•/i „,f:v/ •,•:[(>, ;008i ,>• !ao^,yA U -A, i"!to,->ilt'.'S ; -!«;»'fi vvi,!! '..•..;!. iij,-.i '.;t ■jii;'.' '■.•:iia'- iili.Jc \mii
,.iO!fiilO J^iJiji;?! '.jilj i'.'Wcliit'.ui ii t.if;'..j; ^(i:;.i ' , lnt -.uer)A Ijd^Unu'i all ./iriDJi-j-fiv!! 'Ic m-.!*!
■■ '!ur.>i]!o?i .'lit j iiiv.inri'.w,:^ Jfiii) ic. I'M^mrj -jil'. ■t-^mihym
;: >..'■■ -'-i'A oil:; I'lNi .Mt.i! ■.:{ ,-i.lJ ;vihvji\i
Vu.Ui'.a hi, 1.1 ...; ,K.iii!,i^,.. in l-iiu UOO.OE*
V.I O'li.i;!!. '.> ..<; 1.;>VI;*B hf.A 'Ji! ; :-!(i ,;i !;:'iu]f,.i u/.
l'<u: ,ih.l-,-;iv;i ^ii! !,M l<i>'^ .. ,,-jS: 00(i V>
I .';:; ijoVL.'Ji! ■:(!;.! ,'i';, i in; Hi^u .i:;-;;i|id iijliilii
j ki i'.i'j vi'j .)jj Ivii: .::; /VM^' ■, ni '/!(l;-tilo'ir['!;i
, ';.ji;i(; .A l^v'.j'ij ,■■)}•(; ti'y"i l.;:.l i( )i.i;v/ ■ij|i;jjiij ii
' il'ii/lw to iKiilflvh']'-) ..'fb .(tiKMu I'll I lii uj4i(
i: ^i:./','; 1.-; .,w.,M,./, li.'bii:,!!, ;,,,;!, ■:„/„: ,. J , o.;c..>j,)!i'.T ,^!in>v.. IniaboU
! !;iniv -lUO* ''H>V ,YHtiUlil<i!i.:> i -...ov/ ,),U ,bo) Uu:i-i:yylv.-r.l .n-'W !.'^!j )^iihul>
J'li't Jji '•■^: ii')!'!(tif)'fliiH lillit .jfoo.'iMvo Jidlt
.OMimui.d'j fill l>ii<.'(:nl ||-)iiJ)Ji j^iii-jd bt)iit»(j
.ij:irjJ7ti-ji*i {•iii: .Jrii ,„;„|j „• i!-io<i I'Hil N-j'lUoilloS a-il/. LiiB .iJ4
iS)i!l( i.'i'.OoHl ,! :; Jhtij'.ii/i I -(hifj (IS lii't i-i>di' kt •t'Hi ,t<j-tl<l\tl!j wi't'm
u,«h<r-]!h.j 'jil; I!j'. diiv, ,!v),;ind j — A-Sivimn a-jiw.i luwl wul ailljirl rbuiulUiila
'!-nl)li:(v. ^'-lallu,;) I -ily.i.i, ., v.' ! rciv,;'-! (...il,. .,!•// ,Vj;i .-1(1 uiihv\
:I.O())i!.i ,<ii-|jiji;rt •(•u.iioiebiJ'! J>»-,ji bviTiati'i'l.
^'11// o.;.
;■:,■■ 1<
UlSTUliY OF JOHNSON
TOWASII,
]'i:aikik valley
also was once a thriving town, live miles west
on tlie eabt bank oi tlus IJnizos, ie an old
of Whitney. It yet retains a sj.lendid church
point, wliose jirtispccthc future waa wijjeil
and a j^ood school.
away by the railroad; but there is a line
ULANTON
water-power there, which has long been
is a postollice and village in a good section,
ntilized in running a Hour mill.
in the northwestern portion of the county.
yLoV.'ViUOl. 'Mt (iVOir.WV
Ivnii'-j l)!l}ij;i!(ti 11 ««(J!k»i Jay; Jl .
J an si (Sosfti'r Old '>() iofld tsna orfj iio
it'^aJ jjftoJ e/ui (loiilw ,ot'j/Ji lovvDq-Tjj.i;/.'
.Ilim toon: js j^r5'i:«|i!ifa iti IwiiiiiJii
I .
a^i^^ui^
i^^'kZ^a^
;A VvJi...> ..J-. .
AXD UILL COUNTIES.
OGWHISAL SKETGHES.
fAAIlJKL K. DAVIS rusi.k's one mile
earit of Ciiiiiul View, Texas, liul was
burn in Lawrence county, Alaliania, in
1822, and removeJ with his iiaieuts to Madi-
8ijn county, of the saino State, hefore lie liad
Hltainetl nianliuod. Hit; parents were Will-
iam and Ann (Mcl)aniel) Davis, and were
well-to-do farmers. In the Hihscriiition
schools of Madibon county Samuel K. Davis
early
schooli
He was one of
the following family: Jane, the deceased wife
of Jolin Clum, of Madison county, left ten
children; Kli/.aheth married Smith Criswell,
and with one child survives him; Samuel K.;
James W. (deceased), first married Hannah
J. Damron, l.y whom he hecame the father
of four daui^litcj-sand one Bon, and afterwaril
Penelope Norris, who bore him one child;
Anderson married Eliza Martin, who with
one child survives him. He was an able
)l
pny.
.nd waa in the ('onfederate army,
and some time in 1SG2 died at Kno.KviUe,
Tennes>ee; William resides at Newmarket,
Madison .-ounty, Alab.ama, and is married I,,
Nancy Jane Seolt, by who,,, he has live livin^^
childien; iiobert !.., a farmer of Arkansas,
mariied Kliza Henderson, by wliom lie has
th,-ee children; ami Holbcrt S., who married
i-'annie Strong, by whom he has one daui^'hter.
He enlisted in the first con,pany to enter the
Confederate service t'roi,, JMadison county, but
was taken sick about the time his coi,imand
started to the front, and died; he also was a
<,'ood ])l,ysician. ^Villialn Davis, the father
of Samuel K., was a pioneer of Alabama, and
sei'ved in se\ei'al Indian wars or campaigns
in that State.
From Madison county, Alabama, Samuel
\\. Davis came to Te.xas, liavin;^ previously
mariied, in IS-it, Rebecca Jane Criner,
daughter of Ciianville and MartiiaW. (Barnes)
Criner. I'pon reaching tiiis State he rented
land for one year in Hill county, and then
came to the locality in which he now resides,
at which tii,ie thei-o were but few settlers in
the region. He at once purchased 420 acres
of la,,d, of which IJjO are covered with tiin-
bei', but has since increased his acreage, and
at the pirsei,t time has 400 acres under cul-
tivation, and in all owns over 70^ aces, on
whi<-.l, he ,aise.i cotton, cor,i, wdieat and oats,
and stock to soii,e extent. He has one of
'J&VW'.Vu'/) JUU •iVi,
1
'^sffdlmI^ diMEmwd
.V..1ij^^H«l>jiiO 11-..! u:\ n:i'i')f V.
Oil; lojuo ol i[n«(|fiio; j»irt on
Jr((i ,.\f'n ))..,;. mi.*-.!! ijj/' i.-.'tt fw/
h;jj!(iiii!;''j .-:d Oi 'i? '' 'it:
,-. ai;v' (jalr> ';{ : '.
•\utiirA aiiJ ,.uv..-
4o3 i)i!f).j,({ iii! lUivv !j-3voii.ai I^ie .SSKl
sil tjioloil ftilurd 0!Ti«« 9ill l<i .'(iniioa i(o«
I ST*.'* Inii tiv.'sU (l:)iiii:(I»M) lu:/. bti;; iiiiji
l.,.M ,,:->V{ !
<rfj ;.!,.
I
,i.t L'i
IJ'^iij tii;: .VJ'IIJO-; iiiii (i i^'V f.- •KM
:-:,- iiOl:!^ l-uul-i,'n V..;.. h-
-i.i' • ihiv.' ! ■•.'I ■)•.■.)•• •. :»; 'U'! r
'"-' I
,:■•■: ,
n ;.::,vn.j ,,;!j L. , JV..I-,
|..,::.il
1:1 ■■■ ;;fi' ( ■■; 'ivi 11 Liiil:. tjiKi sil.V/ li.'lO
;..M •••; lit ;.-,i/: ,[l.<>h.i::j-j-ji>/ . 'V rt-./ffjil,
.,1, ■;■.,.;:.•>•■ -mI mi. ■!■// Y.i ,iirii<i::(l .1.
:.i i.iti, ,,.,.a :i,iM i. ;i:^,:-.l,l;^i.vL 'i- ] lo
:«, i.ril ;,....! -ilv/ ,8!Vio/ ...; _.lvi|.,' I
■:'(■-•! .'tiui'.^ vi\) 11' i;;'« |.:u: iij;i7iw(_i.'i[
(/ li! I'..i;> *-tt:-.l nl -iiiii; Jii,.:. 1..1I.
the Icit ini|ii\.v,J f..i-;r,i in rhe coimij.
Tho la.-t year ol the war he entered the
Cunle.leratc r-ervice, and was with ('arsons'
reyiuient in Luni.dana and Arl;an^as until
tiie war el.-.ed. Ahunt ISSIJ Mr. Davis
hur\ed a^ (\iuntj donimissiunur for two years,
heinj^r chosen to this jiosition by liis Demo-
cratic friends. He made an ahle otiicial and
many improvements were nuide in tlieconnty
wiiih^ he was in olhce.
He and ids wife are tiie parents of tiie fol-
lowing ehildivn: William (i., married to
Klla i;hamhers; .Martha Ann, wife of Hamp-
ton Savage tjfCirand View, Texas; Mary Edna,
wife of AVilliain Harrell, of (irand View; and
Finis K., a farmer and who niarried Sallie
Wade, a dauj^hter of Squire Wade, of (irand
View, has two eliiklren; Kula E. and Henry.
The paternal gn
r, Samuel 1)::
u ICevolutionai-y Sdhlier and the youngest of
oioht brothers. He was married to -lane
Alli.,on, a lady of Scotch- 1 ri.^h descent, which
blood also coursed throneh his own veins.
The family worship in the Cumberland Pres-
byterian Church.
flL i;U Y 1), of Huidmrd City, Hill
county, was born in Oktibbeha county,
Mississippi, in 1S53, the youneest of
nine children of David lioyd, a native of
South Carolina. The latter removed to Alis-
aissijipi in LS85, where he remainetl until his
death in lS5t3. He was a faimer by occu-
pation, and durino; his I'esidence in iMi.-^-
sissippi he held theollice of County Supervi.-or
of Oklibbeh
His wih-, tin
of our subject, was a iliss Elizabeth Kobin-
son, of South Carolina, and a daughter of
John Kobinson. Only five of the childi'en
of .Mr. an.l Mrs. iJoy.l, besides the one whose
nameheacU this sketch survive, viz.: Mrs.
Mai-y Arnold, of (jc:oi|retown, Te.xas; J\H-a.
J.uci-etia Etiiridge, of J. imestone county ; A.
II. JJoyd, a physician of llillington, Idnie-
stone county; and T. D. JJoyd, a farmer and
stockman at San Aiigelo, TomCireen county.
The subject of this sketch, aside from his
iittend:ince at the country schools of his
native county, spent thi-ee years at Gross
I'lains. Tt^nnessee, and later took a one year's
course in Vanderbilt Uin versity, at iNasliville.
He was a very ambitious boy, but without
sutlicieiit means to jirocui'c his education, ex-
cept by intervals at work and in school. He
jiassed the crucial test of a law examination
in Choctaw county, Mississippi, was admitted
U) the bar, and located for practice at Chester,
where he continueti until lliSS. In that year
he canu' to Texas, locating in Ellis county,
wdiere he engaged one year in mereliandising,
and then came to Hill county, where lie fol-
lowed the same business at Mt. Calm. Two
years later he removed to Hubbard City,
where he now resides, and here Jie again
resumed the practice of law. In 18UU Mr.
i:oyd formed a iiartnersliip with T. J!. Wlior-
toii, and engaged in real-estate and insurance
business; but Mr. l!oy*' ^^i" continued to
practice his profession. In April, IS'JU, he
was elected City Attorney of Hiibbanl City
for a term of two years, is interested iy the
Arte^ian Well Company, in the lluilding
Association, and is the attorney for both cor-
..iiJu:i iii..o,:v(i:.i i„i/
y,
l.t...l j.l!
s'llA ;.:viv .vviniK /i^.i;.>!v. oii;] ;l.;-j.l.,i<(i-;t L:,,;(j .,!jf vy^J i:r.At'. .l-.-.J., .rv ^Ht
.., b-
fiilllV/ •r.r.lul',
■■:-.i.,-i' > i,^ VU"!V :'/:.n '(••)q,i .V.i::j.. •,.!■!,.' I q«"'H !>' j''i- ,M l^ f;ilr!;;l(' , - ; ji !iiiji,l .' r.W'A
«!■■«■
r) '." '■ .i ,- ll\t. •■•■mi) I s ,-.,4 ■.•,•,]■'!.
oil i:uil:.- .-i ;.,;,; ^ti.v^ ;!.• ali.. • I.. ^ ^^.U-l'':, ' .VMyH '-.i .:•! .:iirf ,u^-tb!;/iy n.M HK,! ,,/■>(■/
r,] b
■r (a
r.i.v/ .11 ! -ri'-iIJi !■■! Jil;,|i':<
.;;.«« Ui( n-il ■■ '.: ^.<Lioi w,... ^.1 oi^m!// ' ['ill .yii:> b-uvuiiill lo ,<!YO:i .1 ^
,!,').'i;<'J iii .',. ' •.. vv.iJ );i'ii] ,;i! IcjlilH^il ' /Ulil'jl.i:!^).!.;,; Mlir-I^iv/ Y-'H'"'''' ('^/y<(l
,,,,17/ .H.i ,l';^wl,ii,l,.lMV-„i >; ir.(iri 'i ii^"'' } 't- J-^;,;...: n,,.^ Oli: .b-li^/ il. ,;q() ,-;.'i >.■ liC '' *^
iL',. •.•;'-.!: I I. hi: :l ■•;;■-. Ij/!i rli iV'j:!.^ 1.. i.lii ,MU.< j io ;iV!li:;: /: ,b(i<l bivjl'l In llfMi'iliih 9(|i|I
. : ,W',"I ,,'.:■: '" ':1 .■,,,(:- ...:;i.i r.id -j'.ilijntj ^;rii lit(:it I>e.'i;':lliO'^ ..1 !'-.Jiiv/ ,i5fe''*l lli iqij'^sil
,■!■ .;. i-,J.^.-,MM; .,; .-.,:■/, ov;J 1,. m:i.! t: m! ; ..M/ ,.; ^uwUu-n hiil -ui'Uib bn.^ ,>: .iuHJ
AND HILL CUUNT1K8.
1H7
[i(ii-:itions. llu is secretary of the Mu.-^oiiic
lud-o, and the KeojiLT ot'tlie liecordti MXii Seal
..1 llie K.of 1'.
Ill 1^S3, Mr. lluyd niarrh-d Mi.sg Afaiy 1'.
Duck, a cuiisin nf I'lcif. (iorlaiid liiick, Tax
Collecturof llillcuuiity. Three ehildiun have
Ihvu horn to Mr. and iMrs, lioyd, as follows:
Mary Eulaliu, Samuel Theodore and Maggie
IVarl. Mr. Boyd is an Elder iu the old-
bcliuol i'reshyteriati Chureli, and has heeu
ideiitilied with the organization since twenty-
one years old, and his wife is also a member
and constant attendant of the same chureli.
•T^ STROUD, of the firm of Stroud Bros.,
|J wholesale and retail grocers of Ilills-
^-^"^ l;,,ro, was born in Freestone county,
• Tt'.xas, in 1S5I), a son of M. Stroud, who was
horn in .\labama in 1S20. The latter came
to Te.xas at the ago of tei! years, locating
near the falls of the Brazos river, where he
ijocame an extensive farmer and stock-raiser.
He was a soldier in the Indian wars of Texas,
and also of the Confederate army, heing a
member of I'arsons' brigade. Our subject's
mother, iicc Narcissa Oliver, was a sister of
T. ,1. Oliver, prrsi.lent <.f what was fuiinerly
known as the Bank of Oliver ^' Origgs, and
now the Fourth National Bank of Dallas, and
was also a sister of Frank Oliver, of Gro-
sebeck, Texas.
The subject of this sketch was educated
chieliy in Crsicana aiul Waxahatchie, and
at the ago of tweuty-one yt^ars lie left school
and engag..-d as salesman for S. A. Face, of
Oorsicana- He was thus engaged three
years, <levotiiig himself entirely to his em-
ployer's business, and acquiring a portion of
that energy, push and good judgment which
are necessary (pialilicatioiis bjr a succesoful
business
o\v X
lossesses
a remarkable degree. After his retirement
from Mr. Face's employ, he engaged in busi-
ness on his own account in the same city; but
six months later, in ISlU, he closed out and
came to Hill.sboro. Mr. Stroud then em-
barked in the grocery busiiiess in this city,
under the tirm name of Stroud t'c Verby.
They opened their store with acapital of .•?!:,-
000, and their first year's sak^s amounted to
about $25,000. The popularity of the lirm
soon made the tratle increase, a»jd their safe
methotis of business multiplied profits, until
they were enabled to handle the largest stock
of groceries in the county. Hi 18^U, Mr.
Yerby was succeeded by E. B. Stroud, and a
stock of from .$12,000 to §50,000 is now
carried, and the yearly sales amount to -i^lSO,-
000. Six men are now in the employ of the
tirin, and a branch house at Mortens carries
a stock of groceries and hardware of from
i;5,000 to $8,000. During the recent lire in
Hillsboro the tirin lost quite heavily. These
gentlemen have also handled cash and collec-
tion cotton for several years, tiie largest
number of bales handled during a single
season being 5,000. They have adopted a
safe method of doing business, opening their
books iu the spring and holding them open
until October or Novemlier, lor the accom-
modation of reliable customers, and closing
ill the fall, and courteously insisting on col-
lections, but ill no way a|)j)roacliing severity
To fiMi.l')0(.i
i ■" ?-*'
hnsi
Mik) h'-(-r^'.i!fj I ;.ii:o;-.i;f/: 'iili lo 'nrAtyiDjH ti vU .rjiioUj;
1(1 ■•ii»r.?^-i,;aijit v7'jii o;! ii"iii'f^ 1)11)1 ,((i;i(i .'b'jtii-ti.n
"'•i
.'i lo./l ail) la
J<^ b.iM l.'MTU.iti b-^oti rM .J.'i^'I 111
i-^TA ■>T;>i.'.ii ._'l.!;;J-iiiM.!J-i i: | >/.'J' ,jt'.'M!J !h.. !i..i) .l-Vl !.
aijcl ni l'!i-y;f!;M'j y.i ./,,,'tjiiifi %'•;■•':'! .'sM ;;iO'il i .,/■.,'. nLiiii[,'-i'i ■.■•)■',:! r .yJitiJij'j ii;'l 'lo •i"U).-.<i!i.O
ii'i ^^f';v Oi.;rji() oil..' lU J!(I'o'>;jj; .'^v.'vv Siti no SriuL' i iV.vrf'jIiul S,': .(■f/jil >n M l>l!l; .■;!/ >! r'loj liO'xl
t;i'„i; .Iiir, hit",)!;* )'; .iOdl lii ,T.>^a .AilSnooi /ic j ii^y:\U. L"m •. ti .-i-.'.-xiT li-'iiiUJili^j /AliAf'A \n:U
-nifi .'I'jiii t))K>-:i''; .iM, ..v;.,(J.!i()| o.l aiiii;^ I -Mo sjli ui iul'.'.;i lUi m !)yoi! .-iM .i'ld'/l
,Vi!i'VY :/i \,inn'i'<i Ui »ii!ij;ii iii'iii '.li'li Vib';!) \ yJii'-'-v' ir.n^ iii)i;j,.'iir(i.r^'in j-ii ijtiv/ ^y(i..'r. .bi
-,i^;4 lo i»l!q/:OJ: iluv.' 'i>...;; 'n'Mlj (r,..wp ^ :i!T ! iO.ii-T-.m ,; 'o...... .■ u]hr ,.■■{ i)(ij> J.'u .-i-»v, wio
ol !-ol)ii)C.(;u; s.iina fe''(j::.^ i.-i'! >;:.,!j iiini 000 j .i!'/;'^:'. '"aJ-d -jiirjo Jui:t'ari).i.i Ji'ii^aco^ L.wi
"'■* -'^ V-
■; I.,-. •••
;j i,.i -./o.
■^1 ' .:')iH /.uJ
,'.;.UiW,.:
.-.•ivl
■:)lt'l'}l
/•li.C'U.. (■ fjliii ,,
i.o."I •}.,, ■
)■■../,•!;■■;
,'■ !.;■:; ..
.:'i-.,r,>. lo J::,uJ
-M, VJil )'l
.m:j'i Oil
'7,;,'r;/.(!
.01 JO/A 03 0(K
•jy..i_<!i.« MiO .vIkmns -::m.-i;;'! 1., iu\utr,u:
vhtjiCr .'(liv/'M.i '.'tijip )i-.iii j;.-;(i :„,:t ,j lOii ill i <. I i I lo irjJaJ- J' 8,i.'Vf ,-(Ovii<» i!e;:i^-i'.'I :.u^'. .■'•niiotii
-J',;;..-) !..;;. ,!.r. \ Ahny.i >-[^. ..v!.,; >',!t-M!h! _>- ' yii.j-.i.n fc,;.v '(utv V .,!„■,:. ,^)'!f{ .VyniO .!. .T
u-j^iiii -.lii ,;.u,'i'(. imuvyj -,ol fi.)Jlo'j tnKJ j inf. , 'o.^hi) J», ,.jvilO lo jinfiU adj oHifWOuJ
fl liDlrio':': JVJvl X>aV AW){; t.,,io,: ;:.:.,-„;•,,. 1 ...,;» ia /-./iiO ^i^i/n''! I 'vi^Iit .; ,,.^hi e,;7/
^•tifoicj i.(i;j , .itiiiiolcri) :jklisilt)i 1/ noili.Loiii Jyudoi jVjI 'JiI .i'iisuV' mro-i^liiovl ")o -j'^r. -jill Jt
.'i.;> lio ^!i;i,lf,c-.iii •(i-ii;.i)1iOii) i»H). Alni uiL iii | It. (••aM'l ./ .fc 'lo': (uiiK.afiiB bh b;i»;;yiKi Lfwi
'(■; I. ,vor. ;)■:,,' )..i,vi([iii: /i;'/ 01! ni }(ii! ,f((!oiJa-il { .>f)ii!) Imnrj^ii:) ;i/i!.i mt/ all ,j:ijj.:iipioO
'Wiiihy.iUjo 10 I fil.'.» f.ifl vl *(l'.niJil;> ilOd<(ll»l J^tli.lyV'jIl ,8"l«f>^
uisrour ok joiiN.'iON
In isse .^rl■. sn-oua uv.iwwd Liiiy l.v
8L\Ut, a daughter of J. W. 8cot[, a pioiicor of
Alahaiiia. Slio Ib tlio yuuii^re^t of a family
(if live chiKlruii by the second niarriatfe of
liei- father. They have had two children :
Ethel and Clyde. Mr. Strumi is a nieniher
of tlie Iv. of P., and also takes an active in-
terest in jiolitical matter^.
W% J. NORWOOD, of Clehiirne, John..on
(.jHi^ county, is a sun of St. Clair and
■^ Chitherine J. Norwood. The father was
burn and reared in Blount county, Tennessee,
and is now living in fikevillle, IJledsoe
county, that State, living the plain and un-
eventful life of a fanner. The inutiier is a
daughter of i'eter lloodenjiyle, one of the
first settlers of Secjuachee Valley, Ea^t
Tennessee.
I'eter J. Norwood, one of .-i.\ childien, was
bojii in I'ikeville, IJledsoe county, Tennessee,
Oct. i, 1842. lie entered the Confederate
army in August, l«(Jl, eidisting in Colonel
Henry Ashby'sTeiineh.-ee lieoinieut of Cavalry
and began his service in Kast Tennessee and
Kentucky, near Cumberland (ia|). He was in
the light at Fishing creek, and later the en-
gagements at Chickanuuiga, Mission.ary Uidge
and Lookout Mountain; from there wenttlown
to.lonesboro, (icorgia; was with Hood on his
return into Tenues.-,ee, and aflrr the disper-
sion of his fon-e. at iNashviUe Was part of a
.letachment that made ils way lo th.^ Eastern
Army, then in North Car.ilina. Mr. N..r-
wocxl served until Ihe iieneral surrender, was
a private throughout, was never sick or
absent from roll call, ami was captured hut
once, but was hold only a short lime. lie
was almost constantly on duty, on the nuirch
or skirmish, being in the cavalry service.
After the close of the war he returned iiouio,
and shortly afterward went to Selma, Ala-
bama, where for two years ho was agent for
the old SelnuiA: Meridian Kailroad Company.
He then went to Bayou liartholomew, Louisi-
ana, whero he was engaged in farming ono
year, but, on account of ill iiealth, he I'e-
turne<l to the mountains of East Tennessee,
where he soon lecovei'ed. Eebruai'y 11,
lSt;U, Mr. Norwood nuirried Miss IJrsaline
Schoollield, a daughter of V. II. Schooliield,
of that place. In 1871 Mr. Norwood camo
to Texas, settling near (iarden Valley, Smith
county, but after a briid' residence there
moved to Fort ^Vortll and engaged in the dairy
business. Four years later he moved to
Kaufnum county, purchasing a ranch of i,-
UUO acres eight miles south of the city of
Kaufnum, on King's creek, which ho stocked
and conducted successfully until 1881, and in
that year decided to seek better quarters for
his increasing tlocks and herds. He settled
on I'ecos i-iver, Tiear Petrican Springs, but
two years later came to Cleburne, Johnson
county, where he has since resided.
After settling in this city Mr. Norwood
purcha.x'd an interesi in the insurance agency
of ]•:. ']'. Lewio, in connection with Zach
Brown. The latter subse,|Uently .sol.l his in-
huvsl I,. W. ,1. Uulledgf, and in 1S87 Mr.
iSorw.H.d bought Kulh.duc's intere:.l, since
.,1 -Ijh iM/'Jii btyx ,)ii..(lytiuiii) tjl.'vhtj it I y,,l v:'r,.t ii',;ri<;.ii |,i(..-|i;i ;i]/. iif'>A lil
ml t'i/Iiilfj<iU Vi:v/ i.Hii ,lllit; ilw, I.Ji'J-i'l .l-ivistlj; ! Itj |Mvilwi(| (, ,l,<..vr'. .li .L 'lo T<IiIjiUIiJj i; ,!t.,^iJ
il .-jiiti) ijoiie n yliio l)lntl egw i'Ki ,oon© i '^linntl i; io Jaoj^niiuv 9ill ei oii^ .;inuiJiifA.
iiiiiiri ;iii^ lie ,v:.A I'C i(I?nc3rt!iG3 ja^ii-'.i it;v/ I !o iMj^h-unn i,i;<ji.'jt fulJ y/' lisnljiiifu t;-'il ^>
uii-Oif bonin'vi ;).; -frr/. m,ij 'io .;doh) ^.1; -■•lU. ! i>',.i>,:. >:. t>i Iwu,,}/^ .-iW. .^Jrj!!> l„tf. I „[jy.
1.L" ,;-■'.!.'■.•■'. v> 'liiw ! vc'.jll. (Ilv.-(i>. ;..iiji ! -fii -r/.'Di; im; f i;i;i.t t»3lj: i/iiK ,,M !■.- . >l uiiJ 'lo
:.:•. Jn'.':.;« 'ri;-'-' 'vi .>y:': (, <'WJ -njl osi/ilw iir,!.,..! j r,i'>Aifini i.i.v()il..'| in Hy/vji
^o.r;..;-J i..v,h.i] :..;!.i-,.W •^....,i.:. l..i. od, J -.-.^.^yv.■■^.^^.^.^.x.-^
.;i„<iWi!aT i../;a ]0 iiilirliia-M,! ^ii:) uJ iMi.UJl j ^;:.A. ■,',.:, a 'M IT .ix..,.vriul4 .L..:[nv:n>i')*' ^
.J l:y-;,,M^ ...i ■lu''if ^^-u:;--^ .!-^'i . --'.'^-'IJ^I ' ,, , .
, ', ' . . ^^ 1 ....,.:.:<■, .-..i'-T .'^!ii;iO'i ;:L:-ii'.!i'l ,v;M ■-. J.;'! ;ii irioJ
■' y "" ' ;" ■■ ■"" '"' " '!';"' "■""", *"■', ' :u,M-:;n4.l>.0 ^aj i.;;'i^:„,.. ■ill .^iy\ ,i\ .J:.0
■«>tn.jJ:. C'll ,i-;ul7- :i.-,v.:. :,,.!,'! (fo ,ili!:l, Mi,<. /I ,
1 i-,n..;..;j ,|- • .ii.i'iiji'; ,.K!:-.J . ■-^^.■'.•..i. ui VMirii
i! !,„.;, C.-.^-i iu.:<. '(a.(,-r,--...y<*«:..^JvL.!...o.L.ai* I ^ __ - _, ' ,..,.•',,,,,,..„.{
/t MOi'iBlip l-,)!,!'.ni ;ij.-,..', Of it-j'iiii-j!: -u-.'j-/- j.-iij j '.''■■'■ '••'■• '^^' V'.- ' -' ■ ■^ ■ ■ ■■■' ' '-^ '
""""'. .;^"'^V'' ■','.""., ..','[ ..,'•'!■■' ',' ! <■;''•■'• "II ..jr.>; J. i-/ilV-.L!MiMO ■>;:•. .;.7.!vfllHl;>J
,r.,..; -„;,;■.,;.,(: c.,!t,M ■.-.,,■. Ir.' i'M i.vW-d-n :„, I .„^^^^j^. _^l, .^^|-,^ ).,„:,■,.•:.< -i-. T alni M'r.i.ijr
• •..X <■■ ■■ ;„.:::^./;.. .^ :■: ,i:/->.l .* ,.( 'lu ' „ lu riiiO ri;'// .;-'m!^;:V1 J;, vr.'.wl ^lii U. .,..id
,r. uwl ;>,.,.. /ISiK. I. ,-...! J!,.? ..\'V .;:••■,. )V' j .li>iw;>l ^,(li o) y,i7/ .li :.|., i.i JJ:.ll .>UlM\u\'n:'rA>
,i,'Vr-l .li t'rw. /.>.! .lM)l .1 '// .^' u..,..i ; .i..^^ ,!/, .,.,,;i<,M,;. ! .lr>..H .li mviIi .yrinA
.h.Mi I (hi-vikH I t:i!V; ,-tiLir.>'nii» tiir.ii!:-*^ y/ll liiim '>
AND lUIJ- VUUNTlKti
wliicli tiiuii he has heoii :iloiic. This a^'oiicy,
(if whicli Mr. Norwood is now boIc jirojirit^tor,
was loun.loi in 1870, an. I i^ llic oldest and
only oxriuhivu ag(ini-,y of tiiu kind in the city.
It re|)resL'nt8 twenty-oiiu iire companies, four
Hcciilc'iit and one life company. Mr. Nor-
vs'ouil has some of the largest comjiauies in
the world, and the capitalization of these
companies amounts to over $70,000,000. lie
has u well equipped olHce, and does a thriving
business throughout the year. lie is a
nioniber of the City Council, a director in
the Farmers and Merchants' National liankof
Cleburne, a member of the K. of P., the K.
of II., and the I. O. (). F. lie is a shrewd,
wide-awake business man, and a most e.\
cellent gentleman.
— 1^^^^^-'— ■
til. VFAGFR, a farmer of Johnson
county, is a native of Washington
"^'"''county, Tennessee, and the third of
si.x children born to C. F. and Selina (iioss)
Y' eager, also natives of Tennessee. Our
subject entered the Cctnfetlerate service in
Augubl, iSCil, in i\
Twcnt
y-ni
\\.lunteer Infantry, and served with this coni-
nnind tlirongh the war. He was in the battles
of Corinth, Tujjelo, Chickamauga, Missionary
liitlc-e and Kenesaw Mountain, wheie he was
taken pi'isoner in June, 1803, while on
picket duty. He was taken to Camp Doug-
las, Illinois, and was exchanged in March,
1805, a few .lays before l,ee'rt surrender. lie
remained in Tennessee from 1805
engaged in teaching, and wa.H alsi
ilil 187;i,
.dmitt.'d
to the Tennessee bar. He practiced law in
that State two years, and then, in 187~,
settle.l at Alvarado. Three years laler Mr.
Yeager canm to ChJiurne, and bought a one-
half interest in the Cleburne Chronicle, \Y .
II. Graves being his associate. For six years
they did all their editorial work, after which
Mr. Yeager was connected with other county
papers, until January, 1800, wdien he retired
to farm life. He improved 200 acres of tino
land one mile from this city, where ho
ei-ected a beautiful dwelling, and liow gives
his entire attention to this place.
He was married in 1882, to Miss Mary V.
llightower, a daughter of V. N. and Matil-
(I'erkerson) llightower, natives of Georgia.
Mr. Yeager is a Democrat in his political
views, and religiously is a member of tho
Methodist Church: his wife is a member of
the Cundierland Presbyterian Church.
^m F. 1;KAN(;I1, of llill county, is a
|m i^rosperuus tiller of the soil, and not
■""^"" without justice is he conceded to hold
an i^nviable position among the prominent
and successful self-made men of llill county,
Te.xas. He became a resident of the Lone
Star State in 1878, but since 1878 has been
one of the progressive and law abiding cili-
/.ens of llill county. Ho resided in Denton,
Texas, for alKjut two years, then went to La-
nier county, soon after to Pinoak county,
removal to Louisiana, at ihi^ en<l of one year.
ll]Mm locating in Hill counly he purchased a
,■(1(1 'i^J;.; '::-ov y-n>yy -vl'ini:-t\r. !y. ic-in-. ! !;;i;t in ,l,lo 'uil «1 !mu; .OVr 1 -li i.'j..!ni<;i >w..;
■ :)no K yJ.y-M'J'i luiU ,'itrnKi;.i; > uJ oi.u;;; JUi^'..'' { {ih mi!,! f!» liriiH 'jiil lo ¥.;)il(il^j; LiVi^iif '■.• '^Iilv)
.W ,^'>.s«twA^j i*n-uiu!.m) Ltil] ill J6.u'jjJiii V,ii<\ ' iUoi .(n'.iii/iqi icr) oiH '!nn.\^j(i(rv1 sJ(!'jfifn(|;n Jl
ai^iiy > (fc "■• ' "I .3Jiii;.u-.r!i! jtrilgiiit'J sjv-nc' .11 | -tj/I .-iM .-^xiBqinoa nYA yiio bdi: itiliioDB
ifaiilv; iiJIk ,i*i >?/ \i:'.'ii.iSih-i -u'j'U [\u laL (cj.'h ni ^f)ifJ.fiqf!IO.■J Jiioyii;! tud 'to omua «i>il hv< ■
/Juiio;. -Miifo illiw bsJi-iiKia;) w:v/ •njvj^.oY .iM | osoitl 1o noiJjLNiiii.'i.ji -j 'jilJ ! ": ,l>|-iow •
iofU'iM «i! iKii!-',' .0!;(.U ,YiJ.ifni;!; lijjijj ,i.-.v.)4i«j i oU .WKUXiO/T^Tyvij oj aJuwoi.;*,- csjinjHjHiuy
i..iiH l^- ■'■'""»■'. OOS r':>7!inip; ; s H .-''^d aii.:.' ^^J i vjiiivi-iiiJ d h:>'.Aj i.ufi /j.'iiftv !'n.j'firfpH lU^/ j; asil
i;;l :.''i ■i!/- tVll'.'' '.■":!! ■ti.'/If ''l"i ""'' '''"'■''■ ' '- -i ;' • ' '■'!■!'•{ wH Ju.j;!j,;u<'-ui; .s,-',nii«(|j
IIJmI/; ins;. /■ V I'l •i;sJi!;oiii-U j! /lyv/uir ill '"'^" ' '
'•i ,0 .(J J. ■>il.i !:;ni: ,.H 1u
(ij:i<r ^«"ai:uil y.it^v.'ji-'jfiiv*
"I
m
villi''.- I'ii! U. .'A S':/.M:! 'i ::/tv- !,^-.<,-t] ,„i;cKi 1).m; ,•! .: • .> icoii iiyiMiii;> xia
fir-;,
V.I.I 1" ,l!i-_':;-i.-w ;: :r.!,.;>,.-.l -1; .^j:, v'i' ; .■>! ;.!);<! •, lit ::^ >.,:.: ■• I i -frv; ■; !j ihi^iv.lf bi.Ufit
un V/oJ .■■!.-. U.:; i"n (U Mid,:;: -li^t'^ I ^.., ,!..■■ ;M ..^iu!.:M ;'-;iL),i.ir«j::'l ,.;t;!ii>>OVj
::;;! j.'j. w;.i i,-i :> .• 1 .-■•mv.,i ; .;!) 'i.) >•'■■', ' .,,.;, ,:; or.'/; /; i/aiUK',!,/: •;/■.,. ri, >! '•;,,, •jybiil
i(f ;:!!>:.!. J..-1 oi! .7.).i!..... i:wi ■;.( fc/Ci;/ (i.i :■.:;•, /iDr;! .m;!. ,., •iu:lv>'ln( ltO,Iia
I .:,,:v, ;;•..■=: :.■•), -IV ^I'.vi *•,.),';: i,,l ,,.;.Z'i'^ ! --.(• ' i ■;.<;,) Oi i">..u..' MVH m|1 . ^' ;!l> ,Uybi(.[
., ;:„■.;:.' ■ \ ■■■•'\.: ,:: ;y , v.; ,:!,; ,-. i ti,( I ,^l , ; :: 1/ w, i <>- m^iI ./:i '■;;■/ JnM: ,..i.,.ulll .!iv\
l;. , ■,:;.,.,,; '• ■ : ;.■'' ,ii a.^v/ -.ih .■!,,iiv, ' ■> ! • r, •'(-,, IT; ;/-v.; M..!-,,; r/J)i. wol 11 .oOHI
,,, ., i-. li,; - ii!! U. ,ri!. i ;ii .'.i ••! i.ivoiwn ' /'V'-i i' • '. ^^'hl iii"-.i ..-.m MiifiT iti l-jiiijililo's
'■i!-j-';i-j -.'I Y"'-"' !''■'! " ;_';.i!;.Mi'l imjii ^ ,.■ );'..: ;, ■.,'li'. aaw \n:ii ,^ii.!l'„L.,(t ni Ir.T.-i!i^i(0
lllSTdUY Of J6i//;V.S(>.V
l;uin u\- KiU aciu. iniuii wli
uiciiU lia.l licvn inuilc, hul by hiri own indus-
try Uv. has Ihomiu: I Iu; uWhiU ..f 700 acivb ami
l.a„,ir,lr,| ll„:,v,„i a .ail-.lantial i LM.I.Mha:,
an. I I, a. inadr otiur valnahl.. i lu l,n.VL-iucn U
HI lliu WAy (,r I. nil, lings, there ijcinj^ live
guu.l tenement lion^es on the plaec. All his
land 1.-, un.ler IVnce and iJ7u acres aie under
eullivatiuii, devuled to the cillturu uf cotton
and cv)rn 1-y hi^ tenants, the rest l)einf/ jias-
Inre land. Mv. lirancli devotes much atlen-
tiwu to luiying, raising and fattening stock
lor the market, and keeps constantly on hand
a lai'^o nunilier of horses, uiulos iind cattle,
lloi. endear orinf,. to improve his grade of
hoi.es, an.l keep., a lino Clydesdale and JMor-
he ha.-, ever taken a.lvantagc of all mothods
and ideas tending to enhance the value of his
property ha:, had a great deal to do with
leteiicy he now enjoys. In
ig of a fanner and stock
raiser suhstaiilial results have followed him,
and he has the Bati,,factioii of knowing that
his present good lortune is the result of his
own hoiie.it toil and good nianagemelit.
When Ml. Ihaiuh reached Denton hi. entire
tronlded with malaria 15 cents of this was
cxjiended lor .piiniiie, and the remaimng 10
cents for a mu..Liiielon, which to(;k the place
of a meal uf ^irtn,ds. lie ..ooii ohtained
employment, and a. lortune ever favors the
hr.tve he pi.,.-,pered as he fully deserved to
do. lie ua. hwrii in Krauklin county, Ten-
iie.-.,Me, Angu.M :io, [^Ti'^, wa.-, hr.Might up (Ui
.d.lainmg th
pur.umg th
remaine^l wilji and assk.te.l his father until
lie came to Te.\as. Hi., parents, \V. A. and
l.oui.a (Cisk) liranch, were from the Old
North Stale, and hefuie the War the lather
was a wealthy farmer and slavi' owner and
operateil a large distillery. lie was very
iiilluential in the community in which he re-
sided, and his death, which occurred May 1<J,
lb78, wab felt to be a great loss.
Ills marriage was blessed in the birth of
twelve ehildren: Eli/.abeth married Ben llut-
toii, came to To.vas in 1887 and settled in
Ellis county; Joel 1'. came to Texas in 1873
with the subject of tliid sketch, and died in
1871; William II. came at the same time
and is now a farmer of i'dlis county; Martin
L. .lied in November, 1887, married Emma
Freeman, A. 1''. Branch's step-daughter, Jan-
uary 1, 1881, having been a resident of tiie
State from 187'J; Susan married J. A,
Weaver and came to IlIHs eoiintv, Texas, in
1882; Nancy L. married 11. Fields and still
resides in Tennessee; John T. is also in Ten-
ne..see; W . A., who came to this Slate in
18.^3, is a resident of ivaiifman county and
is unmarried; and the rest uf the children
died 111 early childhood. ,V. F. IJrauch, the
immediate subject of this sketch, marrn-d the
wi.low Freeman, the daughter ,)f Josejih
Roberts, of Virginia. She was born in Kusk
county, 'i'exas, July 2'.), 18 lU, and by her
lirst husband, who was a f.irmer and stock-
rai.,er, .-,he became the mother ui live chil-
dren, lour of whom are living: Emma; ftlil-
ton A., William A. and James F. The.so
children were left latherle.ss March 21, 1873,
but Mr. Kranch has endeavored to lill his
,r^\v)V ■■V
nil.
liliii) 1 ill' I -.1,1 i ■',.., cii... ijiw: .iJiv. !•,. (iJiiuJ) j -tivuiijii;; :<u>:is il'tillvf iiuqi/ -I'livj: L'ill. Im ;'|(.I
!.'(■ ,.::, .,i..,.l ./i'j7/ ,.:. .u;-.;. l.liUl .•:!....! t.in;u>: a, uon.. rn.vu mU .•!,.. ./.J »i.,:l .'mI yj
Ut;;: lo.iVA.. ,/.i: iM-r !,ii.u:l ^i!i;..jf/ )i ,', j •.",•!,,.. .■..■iu„i. -.'.h-iKy -ijil!.. .i-iri hmI |.,
■^i.! 11/; .•■o.;:- uliJ II.. «• -i.,-.: I'l -M- -^1 i.w-l.
•l;>Li!)) mil t I'l:..: ^Vt I'MJI "' ivlnlij Bl Ixu.l
Vj illM I "OJ 111 ^<-jrr/J\i V-. *■ ;.;ri....,: f.ili i -...;
■jiili tKiii h'<m«ii, iUo(Jji;iiiJ :,'-j-i In!;, ^vl.-;. .' > ''JJa .k;ii;i i'-'.n'Aj di^nt/.i .<\f. !.iij;i ■/ud
•( t■■:^.ih•■^ hills T8Bi 1,1 ...:/.'jT Oj yftli/J ,in,i j >l'^uic ^;l^UU.jJ^'^ Imi,'; v:ii i.'- .^-'''tC'' >■') '"■•il
Cr^I lit Bli/.1»T 0> OKUCJ ,'l L. '
■•'iiil i<i,;iiH tiiJ 1^, :i(iii-'-; .11 iiii. "• ■ - ''1
tlHtl! IH>
"lij -.'U'/ty r" ■'.'.i'..;ri ! 1.; -
-lu'r'i |.!u: :jl.k.L.Ijvrj ;..lil li
-:!; I ,-...-■;, .1.1: ,,:■> . -•■ ;;i'^ 1 /> ,.iimiL r ' • , ;..;...!_.,': :.(, 'lo L';;i.'Mj;"{.y ,i i.!i:l -if)-. .■ .-jiii ..1
.,;, 'hi )lli.i.,. .1 ,. . j:..( -,ri..'-wi ,i<'0i ,i •.,'■ ' -1 I ^.-Jf'liw '^.IJ 0-, ...;,.. L-! ;M'll.,i.! ;);j|.; 1,,;,;
^M .^.../c'I^v/.m:. . ^-Uia w . ■- .:..!•■■..''' ■! .,...; ■-;;.' piDJ. .;;.... L„lj-H.,i;,:l.l,,
..:..-o !'.■.. .1 r.'i .is l.-'i;i.jM .1 ynui'l''' ,SMc.l j /ijt.'.- bi.li it'Ki i! < ii 1 <..lii; .iy yiii v,Miiu,i.(|
; ..il.^
fci..!..
:tl.,j"H 10 .11
•:;; l-.-./.'llul i)/);i! .■,,;,•■.; '.:ilH':J.-.ili.h l ,oij;-(
,.: ^.-1 -..irl ■ ,.. Du-.! ,l:.:, ■- :) &.... .,,1 JM';:
,i :>-> !,>■'■.: v.h ci M-i.,!,. , lowl. )iiv-J'i;| .-111
•.,-lv^„illwll i<J<Jl, I'll.- ' w) :-^.•l|..,i nv>.^
:ly.o.. i....; .■-- . .: :: ;-„,[.,.. -.Jt...: JmII I l.-;.n;,|.i.. .,„>... ^.il ..•l..n!.i- i. Ikm.i J; ^.
:,;■:. .tv;; .u ■.•..:...- j..|j > i, ,v.,.-i r../L ,ii3^;j-t j ;,.n r.;.,/.;'l ■.■jv. .jMiilM : .). i.iij; ,Ji(uni'(ul|jnw
w. vi^^i ■•■'! .'■ : .^^.,."1 ■•■' -■•■•••■'
I r, M!;,...-i''t 'li iTi.mI ,.,..v .11 ...li
lrnv>v,;:j;„:_. .,:! .L.ci.vl ..'^ M() | 1.,m. )-,:lo,,.|- •....,;:„.,,, .i ii-./i;; .-■■ o ,.ii ;j:'i j;
I '
A\n mil. coryriK
[il:u-c hy rvci-j iiieuiis ill lii- p.iWcr, uii'l tliL-y
li^ivc iiiuiily repaid liim in alTectiijii and olie-
dii'iu-i. Mr. P.miieli and his wife liave live
cliildivn: Amanda K., liurn Au^r,,..t 2'J, 1S75;
Nancy T., born February 13, 1877; Mary I.,
burn January 30, 187'J; Jesse L., born June
19,1881; and Alexander V., bom October;
28, 1882. Mr. 15rancli is a Deiimcat politi-
cally. His f^n-amlfatlier, John IJraneii, was a
.Mildier in tlie llorida war. Tiie fatiier of
Mrs. r.ranch, Josejili Koberts, settled in
iiiisk county at an early day, and tliere he
followed the oecii]iation of tanniiiii; in con-
neetion with that of fannin^r, beo.niiii- well-
to do. lie married llaehel Stenson, and was
called from life alK.iit 1858. His children
were named as follows: Vir^nl A., in h]ratli
county, Te.xas, a prominent farmer; Amanda,
the wife of the subject of this sketch;
Samantha E., wife of E. IJrowii, married
second time to Mo=es Ledwell, now a
farmer in Erath; Henry ()., a resident of
Hopkins county, Texas; and Andrew 15., a
]iromiiient farmer of Denton county, Te.xas.
Mrs. A. F. nianch, of this sketch, has an
uncle on her mother's side whosi^ name is
Henry Stensoii. He is a jiroiiiineiit doctor,
having a hu-iro practice in Thorndale, ^Hhun
county, Texas, and also runs a farm in the
country. His aj^^e is sixty-five years.
Ke>^
^.-
FOSEFII W. McCLUNG, of Johiisi.n
[ county, is the eldest son of William W.
-^ and Mary A. ^rcCluiig
if Ueiiben McCMun,-, ,d' (\i
na. Tlin latter WH< a ni.u,
dson
ity, (i.
ligiouj cunviction- and was a deacon in the
Missionary liaptist Church. Mr. and Mrs.
William McClung were the parents of thir-
teen chil.lreii, viz.: .loseph W., our subject;
Elvira J., deceased, was the wife of Larkin
M. Hewctt, of lienton county, Alabama;
Martha A., deceased, was formerly Mrs. Ab-
salom Carter, of Cass county, Texas; Creorge
A., deceased; James K., W. J. and J. L.,
who died of diseases contracted in the army;
Sarah E., the wife of J. M. Davis, of Cass
county, Texas; Mary M., wife of John lleaf-
iier, of Taylor county, this State; Nancy C,
now Mrs. James liogue, of Cass county;
Emily F., wife, of J. J. Haker, of Shackelford,
Te.xas; J. F., a liajitist minister of Cass
county; and Amamla, who died in girlhood.
Josejih W., our subject, was born in Gwin-
nett county, Georgia, l-'ebruary 27, 1832, and
at the age of three years his parents moved
to Campbell county, Gi'orgia. He remained
at home until arriving at man's estate, when
he married and moved to Sevier county,
Arkansas, in 185l], one year later to Miller
county, same State, and in 1867 to ('ass
county, Texas. In 188(5 lie came to his
present location in Johnson County, and all
the subseijuent years were spent in tilling
the soil, in which succti.^s attended his eti'orts
in every case. In 18IJ2 Mr. McCMunj,', in
company with four brothers, enlisted in the
Southern army, in the Nineteenth Texas
Infantry, under Colonel Richard Wateidioiioe.
Ho was at the battle of Perkins' Eanding,
MiUiken Bend, Manslield, and at the Jenkins
and Ferry light, where he was st-vcndy
wounded, the ball pa.s.ing through his body,
,\'/."l(>■^ .'. r,u ^\ {
iM. !',i;: .-ill. .-uriu/IO 3..iiq,;'! yj/iiiois'siM' i ->!<■• iwii? nQUv.ulyi lu /oiil Mmi-ri x''!""' '^'""1
c-j4-(0M,> ;ii;.../r ,■,.!,„!.•>:■ s.,/.) 1.. ,■■ .'ir,* iiioi.:-^ j :ji!-.; h;.'..'ri,<! ;i -i ^I'.ii/nU. .•'/: .i^HHJ: .W
,lnoil-/,.!oj;i)f. il' .-ijiiiii .1. .1 '.'> >!)/• 'i v':"''-l
. I ,../:,;;. I'i ]'■>!!> n,iv/ ,.^'"; ::i'/. l,.,i- :-^!.;,n-j
1,, .0,11 .,-J!;;v.(-j ..il iT.,t,'4 *''*■''''' 'Jo ''y*' t"f'' *'■• i ^'■'■•"
■i..;'il/'' o:t '.!>«] -iioy !»iuj .0u<31 u; ,£ai.!f;;l
-O'lliii ■-•!!! .11:7/ l:l'Ui)l''' i!/ :''. 'fnldD^
■ '.OiiJlM ,^iTjJ«.51 iI(I:?^m1, ,;i:.Mi;.i;! .^-iiA
I','-, i ,;l;';;l |,- jii,. .ill <jf>-OJ
i)l-;-'lV [a-ii'M '■ ,;s. i JPtJ'.fl Sl-yit
:ti,'* jn'jiiiiiiosq I. .T/.-T ■ij'.v.:^vj
1'. :•:... Una !;i, 'i ■ ohr >.i!t
■ /„MT .';'.vm:jJ e^..oJ/^ .-J ...-• 1 :!J«
<i 111;.!),-: n ", .1* •(•ii:>!I .i:'..:'"f m i-JuniA
*.!U>lT ,-'(_Jiiiii . .:-'!:)<! '!'■ '!i:i;-!i;'1 '.T)i(iit(01<.{
-.ii{ o.' "..If; • oil >'"»i'". :ii .*»;• .'T .v>ntio:> i M^ oi.UK owd'/ t.hiii 5'/L:(liuni I'.ul no fiboi,-
liii bt.'. .7.i<iijoo ;iCMfi:l : ii'c ii.iihvt'l }iK'-!-y\« ' .lO) ilIi Jit«jtiiiiu,i.| n <i (jII ir(jrtiijjy y;ii'o11^-
tl-|,,it.. fci.l )..:
MV -CI'V/M
. :.•■._ ■... :i- /!/.;. -li 'j^-i: wil .vjiii.Hya
• -.iiii 'i. rU7/ «*if. i .V7 ».ij;i'l,"// \^ .'(.8 lb 'LI'. aj!l i (Y^ih i
!/: J vAi .1-ruii/ ! ,.. ■,!.,, , .■, . i ,,,; .■,..„!• !■.(/: .J. ',u.u I..
IITSrOIlY OP JOHNSON
and oil its way piercing tiio loft lubo of his
light lung. JJeiiig unable for further service
he was honorably ilischargcni.
Al till' age of twenty one years Mr. Mc-
(Mung was nnirrieii to Amanila, a daughter
of Joseph and Kllendcr Eiulsley, of Campbell
county, Georgia. They are the parents of
ton childreu, viz.: JMouiitsic, wife of Calvin
Erown, who is now Treasurer of Cass county;
William I., a l>aptist minister at Midlothian,
Texas; James II., a farmer of Johnson county;
Lcvina E., wife of Joseph Herring, of Cass
county; Mary E., wife of iS. P. Johnson, also
of Cass county; Amanda ('., now Mrs. A. L.
Mahany, of Johnson county; the seventh
child died in infancy; Robert F., Samuel W.
and Joseph L., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Clunj^ have also kindly cared for a number
of cliildren left homeless by deceased rela-
tives. In politics Mr. McClung is a Demo-
crat; socially, is a Master Mason and a
member of tiie Alliance; and religiously,
both he and his wile are members of tlie
Missionary Itaptist (jhurch.
(i. AliNKV, Judge
1 nary, i-'iiJO, in liar
was there reared and
the Hill County
h(. '-iOlli uf Fell-
m county, Texas;
eceived his education
in the public and select schools of Marshall
and Gilmer, Texas, finishing at the Univer-
sity of Virginia. Succeeding this he read
law under Mabrey & McKay, of Marshall,
and was admitted to the bar before Judge Z.
Norton at Longview in 1S75. He at once
opemnl an olKce in Marshall, and there prac-
ticed his profession until February, 18S0,
when he inoveii to Ilillsboro, which has since
been his biMne. Ho is an active practitioner
and has met with a lair degree of success.
lie was elected Mayor of Ilillsboro in April,
1S,S2, and held the ollice one term. In No-
vembei-, 1888, he was elected County Judge,
and re-elected in November, 1890, and in
discharging the duties of this position was
always considered impartial in his decisious.
The principal event of importance which
occurred during his term of otlice as County
Judge was the building of the courthouse.
Judge Abney was prominently connected
with this enterprise by reason of his otlice.
It was put up at a cost of $90,000, and
is probably one of the handsomest and best
buildings of the kind in the State.
Judge Abney was married December 15,
1884, to Miss Nettie Thompson, of Dayton,
Marengo county, Alabama, of which place
she is a native. They have two children —
.John, born November 12, 1886, and Frances,
born October IG, 1889. The Judge's imme-
diate anc^^stors came from South Carolina,
the old family seat being tlie Edgeiield dis-
trict, where his lather and grandfalluu- were
born. Th,. family came I,. Texas in 18o;3,
and the father died in the Confederate army
on the retreat from Corinth. Judge Abney
is a member of the Methodist Church, and
in social as well as })ublic life is highly
esteemed.
Texi
••4,-
"^•i,
E.
MOSS
ba
iker,
M.;i
gan,
Texas.—
M
r. Mos
,, pi
eshh
nt of
the
National
* V,
ink of
(Me
jurni
, Jol
nso
1 county,
,bu
t a rciii
lent
of 15
,s,iue
com
ity, i= one
•if/iHiij'i li>«'!'; dvij-ji.' !iu bi '11 .tyfu's! ijitl iljioil t»:iiviOfi 'lyil)
.:■_.■.... ■ ■ ■'• ;jJit j: -IIJ// -I'll! a>;ii f'llC
'. •iovk!.« tji,i-j:A» '.y.-i' oil -ii/. /il/i >-.M
' .,'iUo uiU l)i.i'i - ■ • . i - • ■
> LaJyoij fcr.v/ oil ,'"
.■;oiloji''/'f1. ai I
saw jijj.isofj *lil.l id ib'oui cu'
,8u;i:fio3L eii! ci iiiiJ-iv ■!:-•'. juay
rii'iiiw oj:!«Ji'.sqii!i 1o Jiiovtf !
i: "i'> px sticBo 'to fjfiaJ dJil jjiir
•■ ■ .■■•->/:(■{ 3iiV.' Y'j';(Ji'. b^wil. j usi-s' ,n(j,'iiii|oT. 'l .8 'Iw t>liw ,..'>' y/i^i'
,t>Diir m! asJi^isi.ia oiilj I'.fifv ; J .A aiW won i ') uLnnMi/i. ,'^i
Lii-5 ..-J ri 1*; 'III Ji<q t!«w )j I (i^i'.ovas tub ;T{inu;>;) unfudloL
hti'' hilt. l-<-ji\joiljiiy.i u:ij lu .ill'.' vi<JiiiJK-K| ^'i I /. \-jUU'.!:b . 'T Jth.'.,H ; {icm'tHi ,
.i,JiO.^ Jilt fii biiiJ oi'.' !i tjinii.iuu:' j jl*. .aiU. Um .ilZ .oii'uil J;. , 1
,j^ f 'rj-in j:J:.<'.l titJl'rw'.K! atH' ■/L'.i'.i i\. tjjjb./ 1 I ■iv<.l:iii;(l u lol b^ni j Y-i-'.li-l '-'•-'•:
.ti..)^^.<3 io ,.i.j.4a'...i;a' jiti;.)^ c-.iJ': o? .I'BSi ; yA-n l.L'^Mi'.jl. -., . :■ .-.w( jl'.' .. .
u-jj'.ly il-ji/iw 1r. .liiiijiJiiiA .'^liiii:*-,! nmiiiiK?' ' utujA j; ni - .:>iJj!o 1 uI iovi)
— liL-iiilfi'-i owi OVili V;';!J ■>viJi;.. ji r.; M'lf J V l-'fli! llui'j: ■ . .! ,'^iiK:vij« (jji'ia
,?0',/!i>"'i l':!j< ,!)^.U ,£■! v7'!in;>¥,>H trrud ,.ii(<ji. [ J^>ioiMil:i-. Inut jyjiUiillA 'j.Ulo J!^viiiiyiii
■3ft:u;i .i';!v;;iu !, ,.iiJ' '.'.-:<^.l ,0 1 -ivloJ »U tn-j>l 1 -uij V. < ; iiiiniiiii 'J'!!'. >mv. o.J t.ii.i 'jil illoJ
,«:ii!vjl«.') .!>i,v'K ,11 'il .ifiui-) '••i.,)'.'-'-..n.j 0).-i;l,> j .lij-iinl'J ,l«iii|jtfl icii;rMr.'..!il/i
y,.<; •'•;:. .illn'iu- 1.-. V7,P :• ciil /'v:!-. ,jt.M' | ,^:.,,;o:) ).,!I:.ii.t !u ^-Ls-i. .YM ^il V. /<
Xivn.; .j;,i^in;>fioO fill .;i ;.M;b m^.'Ij.I :,m.! 1.,;., j ,.,„/.:'i'.x ..i/o-Miociri^J ! i:i .'G^l •(';'''
•/.-•nJA ^;;L-(il, .jl;r:iuJ itcv.I ji.tj:;-ii nii a^ \ ,iu(iiw/;Lo i ' ' • ■
1j|i« .|!-JI!J.I'J J?iUni ■i' »li.' jij ''-•■.lilJOtl! B ai | ljj;,l„-; til i(.,
• viiuV. oil: ■><. ;r.,(„.:,v. ... ,- .u.
;.:!rio.*> IKHinloi. .;.i,-ii:Om[',Ji '1(1 -AiuA
AND niLL COUNTIES.
til' IIk' clear lic:i(l.nl,fiil(;ii.iisincrlMiKim'sH iiicii
ol' his .hiy. He was liorn in Dallas oounly,
Texan, and is a son uf Azariah Moss, who
was one (if Iho lirsl Heltler.s ol' that c(;unly,
iocatin^r thciv as early as IHiU. The elder
Moss was horn in Wilson eoniity, 'J'ennessee,
Jlay 30, 181G, and his pai-ents, John and
Kusan Moss, were both Viiginians, but early
settlers of middle Tennessee. Azariah Moss
remained in his native State until nineteen
years of age and then came to Texas, making
his home in liowie county until 1837. lie
then returned to Tennessee, and on the 20th
of December of that year was married to
Miss Adeline S. Alford, a native of Wilson
county, that State. He again returned to
Texas and settled in Red River county, where
his wife died November 4, 1848. July 3.
1849, lie wedded Miss Christiana Watson,
then of Red River county, Itut a native of
Mississippi. Her parents, James and Rhoda
(lianlieldj Watson, were natives of North
Carolina, wiiere they attained their growth
and were married, but they subsecpiently
ujoved to Te.xas, by way of Missis.>i])j,i, and
settled in Red River county in 1835. They
were pionci'rs thtu-e, and their house bein^ a
II fori was frrc^uenlly re.-,(irle<l to by tlie early
aril
pr.
bv the h
bettlers wli
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moss
resided in Red liiver county until 1851, when
they moved to Dallas county, settling there
on the 20th of January of that year. Mr.
Moss took up a headriglit in the southwest
part of the county and camped on the praiiie
until he built a iniall split log house, lUx IG
feet, into which he moved and there resided a
number of years. I'his cabin was r
by a frame li.,us(, the lumber for wh
iiauled 200 miles. This buildin-
d by the widov
343
^placed
ch was
s now
. Mr.
I 'el
ly n,
staiulmg ami is (
M(jbs' death occurred then
1888. He had followed agricultural pur-
suits all his life and had accumulated consid-
erable property. The eight children born to
his marriage were named as follows: James
F., now at Fort Worth; S. E. (subject);
Mary, wife of James Allen, of Dallas county;
Edmund L.; Ida, married Benjamin Frank-
lin, and died December 4, 1878; M. P., still
on the old homestead; liobert L., of Dallas
county; and Emma, wife of Michael Thomas,
of the city of Dallas. The father was a
member of the Methodist Church and au
excellent citizen. He was also a member of
the Masonic fraternity. S. E. Moss was
born on the old homestead, between Cedar
Hill and Lancaster in Dallas county, August
18, 1803, and was early trained to the duties
of the farm, receiving but a limited common-
school education. He assibted his father on
the farm until 1877, at which time he began
selling lightning rods from the wagon,
through the <'ountry, and then and there laid
the biundation for his subsequent jtrosjwroua
cai'eer. He began business in a small way,
but this gradually increased and he made a
great deal of money. He is still engaged in
this business and now has twenty-four wagons
on the road, covering the States of Texas,
Louisiana and Mississippi in his operations.
With the money thus accumulated he em-
barketl in other enterprises, all of wliich have
brought him in good returns. He owns a
.auvviA.'w ) .v.vv\v ijwti
liy)i:I'|-n m;v/ »,>\in tiiiT -::k'>^ \{i •vii\»uui i wtiii K'VJuiiiiiii ^iUHVU\\iiUtu ,h:i{>i:,i\ ^n■tl')
<iifH ■'■Jil.v I'O T.illlM'l -jlil (>>il>/il L>;i|j,i'! .; 7*1 | ,i/lui"i'( !li.ll);'i ,11. lIKuii Hi;*/ vU .V^mIi -■■
WOK tii ^."'i! Ui'i-' li'iT .r.'jiiiii OOi: !M':...:ii . jii.v ,«ifo74 duliti&h to .'(08 Ji oJ bna ,-<'
n |u::i..l./'l u-|().()
>:X1 ilijtol' V of/l
-l..i«n'j;> ti >jji!f;i;iii50« L/iii Inn .iT[i! «iji Ik ■■l£ua
r,j.i)fi'. .8V,':[,<..'i Hit b'jfUEi' r;urj.- yT^iiJ-'-ji.ii! '.id
ilT .fliHI „ ^(uw
ai
,i'J,:S01Ul'yi" t^tiM.Ol. llv>-,!iV/ C,f IIIUJ 'M\ll
aaoM iluiiusA .■jj'».iv.in<.-i\' ulblv
;(3-n(di
ir-t .rj .ir, ;dhfi'W Jio'f 3e I'yu ,.'•! ■, ii-.»;i,i'jn;ii iijcfi 'Jtjijfc:, a-iM
,t ';'ii-rniiii atw.' -itwf .J^.i[} 't../
::\ -ill l9ii,.S:: 'i'
.•i r,.
.!;T.V'i
.11 I l;li)i ,ici(|i.-.
.1 Tiy- ,,K'..l.iV/ -.!■,
O-in,
■ iJi
).. .--ii' ,!( L.;.i -.3;- !i.'. 1,'n.i «i!i!i<i(ioJ j JajWiUiioB 9ii5 i'i .^ii^;i!i-/»itfii .
IIISTOHY OF .JO!fN,S<)N
r.-.noli of4.U0U ;KTf~ in 1!.i.-,|Iil- county, :ill in
a line jtate ot' cultivatiun aiiJ [.lubably thu
HI .= t val;:alilc in llie comity. lie o-Aii, a
laru'r anioinit of .tork in th.' Xati.mal Kank
ol' ClciHiri.-. ol whicii hv i= i-rc-i.knl, and
al.-ooun- .-tock in tlic Fir^l National Hank
of Meridian, of which lie i= vice-president.
lie at one time owned the water work.-, at
Clehurne, iiut .sold out t(; the city. iMr. Moss
recently i.urchased a tine !>;18,000 residence
in \Vaco. lie is just in the prime of lil'e,
and the high i-eputation he has always borne,
together with his witle acquaintance in busi-
ness and social circles, serve to stamp him as
a gentleman with whom business i-elatioiis
must be pleasant and prolitable to all con-
cei'iied. He is j)leasant and geiual, is liberal
.vith Ids means, and has a hobl of warm
friends. Mr. Moss was marided in July,
1877, to .Mrs. R. Irving, of Uosque county,
but a native of Washington county, Te.xas.
|p7TlILLlAM (J. DAVIS, President of the
Wm First National Bank of Grand View,
Nj^l jyi,„gy„ ,.,,u,ity, Te.xas, is descended
from a family of note in this country, and
whriever its representative. have settled
they lia\e been recognized as prominent and
inlluential members of society. William G.
Da\-is is no e.xcejition to the rule, and is uni-
ver^ally acknowledged as a leader by his
constituents. His linancial ability is prover-
bial, hi:, energy and industry inconte.-.tible,
and his m.^ral integrity unre.-ervedly ad-
mitted.
Ho was born in Madison cm, nly, Alabama,
in ISli;, and was t he eldest son id' Samuid K.
I»avis (.-ee sketch). He came to Johnson
county witli hi? parent:, in ISjo, and, with
the exception ot' a .-hort time o[ient in the
ipt.o,
.Mdi,.ols until
1m;i;, after uliich he worked on his fatlier's
farm until 1870. In 18W, he enlisted at
Mansti.dd, Louisiana, in Company (', Twelfth
Texas Cavalry, under tJaptain Haley and in
Colonel Parsons' regiment, tlie latter after-
ward liecoming Brevet Brigadier (reneral.
Mr. Davis served principally in West Louis-
iana, in Mississip])i and Arkansas, as a pri-
vate, until the close of the war, when hia
conunand disbanded on Little river, this
State, in May, 18(15. He was principally
engaged in skirmishing and scouting and was
in no ]>rominerit engagements. Keturning
home when the war elo.M-d, he attended school,
as above stated. In 1S70 lie embarked in
general merchandising with A. C. Seurlock,
now of ('leburne, until about 1873, when he
clerked for S. B. Allen, of that town, for one
year. He afterward engaged in the stock
business, and continues this at the jiresent
time.
He was married in Austin, Te.xas, in 1878,
to Miss Klla (Miambers, daughter of J. B. and
Klizabeth (Daniel) Chamber.., both of whom
died before their daughter's marriage. They
have live children: Uichard Stuart, James
(iordon, William lloswell, Varner (daughter),
and Jeanie. After his nuirriage Mr. Davis
moved to a farm of tiliU acres, situated four
and a half miles east of town, wiiere he re-
sided until two year.- .ago. At that tinie he
ileeastof CJrand
ilOvl >c:-
V ,)i.U; JZ/.l III 'Jll-jlliq <i(I iiji (iJwJu-uj L..
) fii Jujqo ■jiiiU liuiU /< '1.., iioi; ) ... -.iAu -.-li .•,;>.. ,. , ■
III. K!...n!'M a<,:|qir...lii..^ l.-l,„.^]j,; .y uriit 1 -J*" f !'..>••"•'-;/ 'Oj lii >i-.ulb 'lu I. lu... ,;.;■. w,,.]
■•■ ■ „•) i,:,;,!;. |..!l,. .;^;''I ; '""> .''-'■.-/!; ^i •=■! .Ivi.!" ■!■• .•:.n;;Oj;'> l-,
1 .W>!i lilii" i«n«l i5tiJs!l hnf.inr/. tint 4 ■.i.il ,il J-.k,!- <.i!WO o-Ij.
,„ i ,,,..:.,...;/ .Jlu.Li5'y<,p;uiv ri v;l ^nui-.: "i .. ,;L-iit»1/:. 1o
.!.!?•>•: OOO.bl^ t>nh A liasisibiuq -(liiiiiayt
., ,,^,^ . , .; jo oaih({ «iU ni 38h(_ ai all •wj;'/'' iii
i fi9<!'« ,iEW ., :. . .-.■■ .vih [ii(!!/ ,v.ti!/ I -idtiil lu o:-.inJnij5ifp,R 6.iu7f gidiinv; ViaiUJjuJ
i!.' .•i9vii '..ItJi.l no i/yl.itii.IeiL. Ijiir.ui.iK.y «' ni! q''''-'a ''—'^"'i''''' .^^^'y''''^ '•■'■''«-•'■'■ ^
wlitu^i i)iii1[i(.':>. liiifi-.iiul^iitni.ii iii lusJ'^'i's "'"'^ Ihi ol aidaiiloiq !■<>« maaBakj 'iii Jciuni
liiniiJoiF .c.|;iviu.;>i;»;i^ii:i !!V)<iti(urc( oH (ii I ''"•■'^••''f' ^'' Jfi'i''"-i '""^ '''-'"''■"'!fT *•' i^^' .[-fCClyO
lli Jj; ci.l.! :. .'lilliliC.L-.; [lili; ,;->.jill«r(i! I
'jn'ij !
T'^i <i: ;ij/;/'/r .ii'jaiiA ii! i^'»i■l■•,l;ll, .-.n ■/ .-jli iic/i ,rU!;i">.-< . iJ.J iii vl
i«.M .i>^i.;-iw:,i.;iii.;,.v,-Kji>!Ji,ii-» jii::u^i!/^ i.i . i-.m^i-i .-mI j-viini;.,
m
v!i.';i;) /! iiKn't
_.,iv.' 'i.. iii<iJ ,^i'r;ri;;'i!;> (bi;u:Uj ,1 i'lilj.';! iM
ilT '.i-'iii 1 11.111 i'Tjiii'iiifid liviiJ .vio'inti liaib
//■ .•(J:.,ii?;»j4 '(o d'./nliliL'lli Uijlliiuilili
t:';. ,l'iKiiJ>i li-iuiu.iii ;/w»()l!il;i u-i'd ■v.'isil -iiiti m U<:.. .■.In i '..ill ul (-.Hq.v'.i'.'j on ii iivij<l
J!l^;ii,(!l!)-!Oii'ii!V Jl:>w,.oi! niiiiiiiVi' ,;!i)lrio,J ! i.iii y;,l -(v!. )•■_.' ii fc4i byt,!', ,1 v/oiobc. -JfR^-i.^v
■.y\ ::1A a;v:ini;ii. ':nt lUilA .:.i.u:vt. lnui j --luvuiq m viiliilj; li;i-'i',:iiiUill .;-)uHiili)w.u'.
! i.-n..,.;';., ,f^v.,; 0:.li» V-, ;i -i-':': i. ■.! !.:/M.n( j ,<>I')M- jIii>.-j!'.i yi Iciil-ni Lii.i Y.VJ"'' '*''' •'«*^'
Ml V
.;,:!
M K\.
liil! 'lir.i !. i
1*1
'\ ^
, .ill Oil.,,,
,.lt;iA vli
(if ba.!
i);)r;i(ir
,1. ,:i|();j/l ni irmd «)!•// (U
ir-.ihV.i i.).|f >-,..7; i'iu; ,;ilf11 ni
AND HILL GOUNTIES.
:M&
View. lie still retains posses.^imi of his for-
mer farm, having 200 acres iimlfr eiiltivation.
Owing U. Mr. Davis' instrnmentalify, a hank
was f-lal.li.hc.l in(;ran,l Vi.nv (,n .Xn^rust 7,
18110, of u liirh lie was ..Irclc! |,r..si,len[. '1'..
his inlhience and re|mtation for business
ahilily an.) tinancial integrity, is due niueii of
its prosperity.
He has l,een a member of Grand View
I>udge, A. F. et A, ]\[., since he was twenty-
one years of age, and lias taken all the degrees
cunfei-red by the llasonic order under the
York rite in tliis State, the order of High
Priesthood having been cotiferred on him at
Houston by the Grand Lodge. He served
for six years as District Deputy Grand Master
of the 31st District. Mr. Davis is a member
of tlie (Cumberland I'resby terian church, of
which he is an elder. Mrs. Davis belongs to
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
His promotion to these responsible positions
Butliciently indicate the esteem in which the
people hold him, and this fact ahjue super-
sedes the necessity of our adding many words
in this connection.
i;fr,T(II^I^IAM A. IIOIIOHIN, a success-
"||t'/|y|| ful farmer of Johnson county, is a
l-#f5 ^^^^^ ^|. _j_ jj_ ,^^_^j Afahulda (i.insey)
llouchin. The father was born in Edmon-
son county, Kentucky, in 1823, was a farmer
by occupation, and a soldier in the late war.
The iiali;l-nai grandjjarcnts were natives of
Virginia, and the iinileriial ancotry wimo
originally Highlanders, having eume lo this
country before the Uevolutionary war. Mr.
and Mrs. ,1. I), llouchin were man-ied about
1843.
The subiect of this sketch was born in Ed-
,unty, K
Mi
iSlt,
and subseipiently removed with his parents
to (irecMie county, Missouri, and then to Jas-
per county, same State. After the war he
came to Dallas county, Texas, where he lived
with an uncle one year, and then came to
Jol
ison com
ty, settling nea
pres
location. For a short time he assisted his
father in retrieving the fortune he had
lost during the war, and then workeil for
himself at diti'erent occupations. In 1876
Mr. llouchin settled in his present neighbor-
hood, four miles southwest of Alvarado. In
1801 he eidisted in the Missouri State troops,
under Price, and afterward enlisted in the
regular army, in Livingston's Cavalry 15attal-
ion, and served until the close of the war.
He was in tlu. battle of Oak Hill, Cane Hill,
in the thirty days' tight en<ling with the bat-
tle of Saline, and was most of the time en-
gaged iu scouting within the enemy's lines.
He was captured in Missouri, in Cockrill's
raid to Lone Jack, and saw simie exceedingly
hot service.
Mr. llouchin was married in 1876, to
Alpha L., a daughter of (Graham and Flor-
(Uice l>illingsley, of Johnson county, and they
l.a.l two chiMren, -Florence May and Will-
iam Arthui-, and the latter died in infancy.
Mrs. llouchin died in 1880, and Mr. llouchin
the next year mairied the widow of W. 11.
I Ian
,f Samuel Kill
«y.
/ho was one of the llrst settle
Job
iVvY.
WVA
l.ivii Ml fj!'.i>w ^i-;:./:.'!' .^ICiKi" ti:l-j.t.! (•! •;iil.; !
'.■:; i'rr.i,-j i; ;;i i.;;i; ,mi jt miu. :jr^,i nit li'.n j
a.ltjfJiq VM.! ■-;t>:i V(ii;':.';b .Vidllo:. (ai.-i"i!<>(. j
•{l:ie ■'! >/!?; oi: '.ini- ,. i^ ,' ■.'. •! .7. .j^^loJ
itx^'ivsi' 'jilJ il». ■.;/.'« t >ij;/i Liu; ,aj^£ io(ii««-^ any
' ^ ■'o^.;;./! ii', !■' ntiqsU JonlPi'l fe«en<if»v xia-ioi
f^ii' ill it}.fj-ii!i9 is-mv. J.'.' : : -i hiiK .■.•.'ii'l -i;,!'-;.-?
i:U: ■,,:,■.> ,['][] >(;;(; t -. ,:;;.,■• .,.'1 111 Hi^w ..l
1.;.i ;».;.! ;liiv/ w. •!(,,.■■ :<iLi! 'c/..'' ,;liMi; ^!!i :
•I. -J -.tl/j'.' ■.••!) iC Jsc, Sii'f.' ;■/!/ .■■■:':k8 'lo t'
-.'iiivilo.-J , ■ ,;i.M,;^''!/ ili '.;.-r :,,.:■; f.;*/ o!
•sr),l:ii9fti f ;;i bivfit! .iM Jai-OaHT JafC 9rll 'to
!■,) ,il'-i/-i!;) ;mi-itilv»i8tnM Liiifl'i.jihiiii:) .•.ill 1i.
I itJ 6^4 ;i.i;r.i( 3ivi;(.l bi]/", .lablo rm J^i nil ihiilv/
,ii'niniD EiiqoafciqM jiiboillsM aHj
; ;./ici-, I'l/'"! aiiil !mj. ,(;i!it j.l-ji '4l(;J^)<J
11^ J'>i)ir(t..o ':ili3 111
:[i U
Vi.l.'
VliU'ii)v;iI .A W/.1,I.U
.!1 V/
;;'" ,f.iL:.".t (li ,i/i:jji.;,ij;l /(Jiiju.-.) uo^
" (UV/ .-.lujllujluij.'nj i.i;ir;j'Mj miI'I'
■.•jiJjt .'/^rn.'iidni 'xl) l-u; ,.'^ i:i;u li '/ •
I '.••■iS v>:il ,01 j|i;rj;,iil;;; ll ^|ii!|iij*ho
illSTOUY Of JVIINHON
aiul KIlia counticb, ro.i.iii^ Ikuo in IHliJ.
Mr. Iluiulii.i i8 :i incdihur of tlic Uei.io-
cnitic jjarty, of tlio Iv iiif,'lit Toiiii)l;ir ile;,'i-U(>
uf Miisumy, liMH bcuii M;iHlur uf tl.u lodge
im.l lligl. I'liwt of Koyul Arcli Cliupt.-T.
Wvi. lloiicliin ib iiiiiumbur <^t' tljc Mibbionaiy
IJapti-st Clmrch, uiid U.tli .slio and lier daii-li-
tc'i- liave taken ii d('n;ree in Kasteni Star lodge
and Good Samaritan.
W% L. CAUTWinOllT, a prosperous
||^, I'arnier of Hill ccMinty, was liorn in
=^^* San Angii.^tine, Texas, March 15,
1800, a son of (Jolinnburt Carlwright. The
latter was a .-on of Mattliesv (jurtwriglit, a
native of Tennedsee, who eanio lo Texas
in 1623, and to San Augustine in 1625. The
family originally canio from England, and
have always been largo landowners. At one
time the family owned 8OU,UO0 aeres of land,
and have yet something over a cjuartei' of a
million aeres. (."olumbu.. the father of our
bubjeet, married Miss Sally Lane, of Ten-
nestee, and u daughter of liobert Lane, a
native of the same State. The parunls had
,IN rhihhvn; i;. 1.., onr .Mihj.ui; ,1. M., a
Clinton, aUo a hirmer of San Augustine;
Ameiieus 11., Mary (J. and Ella, at homo.
The bubject of this sketch received liib
cducaliuu in the Vanderbilt Univeroily, at
Nashville, Tennessee, and after leaving
bidiool he engaged in the stock business, in
which h.i has since com inued. He came to
Hill eour.ly in June, 18S3, where he has ti'75
acres, and is also interested in his father's
farm of 'l.tjOO acres, adjoining. Hero the
father and two Hons, K E. and J. M., aro Oii-
ifaged in the cattle business, and are alao
giving special ultunti(;n to the raising of
hoiscs. They have jnsL purchaseil at a groat
expense a thoroughbred registered Btallioii,
which is the best horse in the State, and
have also four or live registered uiareB.
Their stallion I'lucetto was sired by FaUotto,
a four mile racer and the sire of Dew Drop
that sold for 5l2'J,OUU at three years old.
I'lucelto's dam was a registered dam of as
ooOlI iiedigree as Fal.setto.
Mr. CJartwiight married Miss Terio Bick-
ham, who was born July 10, 18G2, a daugh-
ter of John S. IJiekham and an own coiisia
of Dr. i). .J. liickham, a noted physician of
New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bickhaiu
family are origiindly from Massachusetts.
Mr. and Mr:>. Cartwright have had tliroo
children; Luna L., born February C, IB84;
(Joluinbus ,J., November 12, 1887; Elislia U.,
January U, 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright
are member^ of the Methodist Church, and
the former is identilied with the Deuiocratic
party.
|,-(^,T1LLIAM M. EWlN(i, farmer, Clo-
*u4W burne, Te.xas. — Mr. Ewing has beoii
.jj&Ti ^ leiident of Johnsoa county, Texas,
since 1870, and is one of its most progres-
sive and successful agricidturists. He re-
sides on the Ste|)luinsvillo road, threti miles
wet of Cleburne, an.l has a good farm of 272
acres with LiTj niidei' cultivation. Hid prin-
cipal crojjs are cotton, corn and wheat. Wliori
iiiiio(,l(ii ,fTf,>» <XM»>
Qia ,,M .1 Liifl .M )1 .eifwa >tvcj bnu iKiin
■jIJ <!l (Is)ijl.jJlil
•,-'il HI liii.:i otiu jvmi
•.ij y:ift 'xij l)(Ui ivtjil yl'fii lii/^ ;*
: .••rui.'ii lil-ii MI.: 'J .ll/.
. U Jiurjd Mj I
.yi\ Jo Jhj .
'lij ll. -1 .(Jiu.'uiif ai lUii.moii .j-iirt
ij.-ii:i)i!H ibtxi L'li/i ,ilLi'i(i.JL) U'<U\rM
.(iftti'i/»fu;(i .1 •.■of) I'll..
^.iMWf..
<>. .TdDUIV/TJlAO „1
< ,\^;.,iv..-.' Hill 1^- rni,-u:i
•(lulinu,! ..,.v oilv/ ,..ii..( j^,|T , ,|,,i, ../;.<,:. „,,-!i„„l,j;j I,., „wt ,; .iWSii
i;M rnyft "(ilKiii^CK!
I y.rr
.U|
M i'.n\ l.V«ii J.hj.i'lVJi-;/;^ .'iM t'iU: .ilfi
toilA L'l., .-ilL li;.-a ,IJ ^iCMu^
i:.oiii:.U j.!i iljiw i:'iiliiiiubi ".': ^-i.^^.■' J.I;
..--micvi) tuij-l o;^'Uil '(oyt.l 6^ii'\!;' 'i . - d
.-ill • 0*U ,rliv:..i:iJol> .-. rot !(.,iil!.l
,Mi,.„i vl!,.fi ',.,iH lr,;..yi:!i ,!'.-i_(!,<c
, ,. iioJI '1., ■.J).;'4s.,i. :l lu.i; ,.);.o«M,.
,..q .kIT n 1^ ■.(,(». ;,ill ■',:. ■./:',,„
:-1 1., MO. i.
;y.yU| yr:' Ul Ml V) ...1.. -I 'i.-iu; .vT-^l w.li.r 1 ;j; ,^^llc■l■": ,mJ )liJ'-.i;fi»;"V L.U) .11 .r„i li.Ji(i"(
all ol<ii;r.'l.r..ilX;Ji ).vi,.<.L-J-J!i-, l.lJii UV( J j.i iViiji i-.uU- >:nii ,:j-)-:oii(lr.yT ,>..i! Ivil*.; /l
;u .>'JmI; ,!.'M';-' '.■.'^■■t^fjiiii'j'r; yslJ ;:j e-.l/i-ii ci .rit jmy'i'l ,i.->i<o jiJ.' )li h.-i-.yilu 71I !i>ui|>i«
.(< -) • ,K.il..v,'!.,J ■„H...M. ."i-; .i'lAr . ,..Mi j .Kf! W..1I - .1 >U..iw ,f;^'8i ,OlM(l ill Vl:ii:v:' l«'!i
' V7 m;,v t,-ij. .;■:'!... ,'.;,. I--- ..;: ..q..:. i.:Hi'; ' ■■'I'J.lli.'l o'll (!i ('•jjd-j CJlili i.*)lr. «i Ins ,r..jT;)i,
AXD HILL COUNTIES
lu. lir:-! M-ttloi iu-ro liL- L-reoto.l ;% loi; oaliiii, ' _\[oi-;_fiii c.-nney. Aliilj.iina. who ww^ rcsi.luicr
l.iit now hu lias a liiif, cuiiiiiiu.liuii=iv-.idcn>'L-. I at the tiiiit^ of hc-r Hiarria^'u in Itawauil.a
Hii.l fvcrvthiiio; alMuit the place inaicate^ the I county, ^[i»i^^iJ.l,l. She was the dau-htei-
owner to 1,0 a man of mterpri-e an.l a.lvanre.l .of (uven Kay. TluMuarriaae re-uhcl in the
l.irth of eleven children, oi-'lit now livin.r:
ideas. He was liorn in Lawrence county,
Ahil.ania. in 1S25, and is the sou of.l. iM.
and Sarah ^Me(iaughey) Ewin^. He was
hut seven year,- ot age when he went with
hi= parents to Itawanil.a county, Mi.^sissippi,
and there remained tintil 18G9, passing his
l.oyhood there and reeeivin- his education in
the sub>cription schools. The father was a
planter hy occu])ation and followed that until
hi. death in LsC.IJ. The mother died in 185S.
The former wa^- a native of Tennessee, but in
his youth came to Alabama. His parents
were Virginians and of Iri.-,h descent on both
bides. ,1. M. Ewing was under (ieiieral
Jackson at the Ijattle of Xew Orhnins, and
was discharged at that point. William M.
Kwing (subject of sketch) was re.-riding in
AHsoissi]ipi when llie war broke cmt ami lie
immediately enlisted fnjm Itawamba county
in the sixty days' troops. Captain Clayton's
company.
He was in
ac
ive servi
months, ;
fter which 1
•e-enliste.
State sci'v
cebirsi.xtyda
VS.
He subs
enlisted i
1 Captain Si
as
Asherof
jiany and served in AHssissippi, Alabama
and Cieorgia, under Albert Sidney Johnston.
He was at llarrisburg, Mississi|.pi, ,lones-
boro, (ieiu-gia, and in many engagements and
skirmishes of lesser i(ote. l}e wns |:ot
wounded or taken prisoijer, ami served as pri-
vate until di
rge
1 at hika, Mississip
Mr. Kwing was married in M issi.-sippi, in
1817, to Miss Martha Ann Uay, a native of
^[arcus Lafayette, tanner, marrie.l Miss L.
Strainer and resides in Johnson county,
Te.xas; he is the father of live children;
James, a farmer, married ^[iss Emma Will-
iamson and is the father of four children,
and resides in Somervell county, Te.xas;
Mary Frances, married William M. lieeves,
a farmer of Johnson c(;unty, and is the
mother of four children; Alexander De-
kalb resides in this coiinty and is married
and has one child; Charles, a farmer, single,
resides in Johnson county; Franklin, farmer,
also resides in this county; Robert, engaged
in farming in this county; and Mattie [',.,
who married William Howell and resides in
this county; thc^y have one child. The
mother of these children died July 10, 1873.
In 187G Mr. Ewing imirried Mrs. Frances
(Jamesj llay, widow of Thomas Kay. When
Mr. Ewing lirst settled in Joiinson county,
the country was wild and unbrtdien, only a
few scattered settlers hero and there. All
the marketing was done at Cleburne, where
there were three or four stores, and all the
settlers lived in log houses. In politics Mr.
Ewing is a Uemocrat. He has never held a
c.mnty
ollice but has attended
-•tly to h
f;|rming interests. He is a nunnber of the
Masonic fraternity, Cleburne Lodge, No. 315,
and has been a member of that organization
since l8oli. He has been a nu'mber ,.f tin
(Jhristiaii (Jhurch since 1857. Mr. Ewin-r is
*i7'.,|.,
I'.iA.n-tt '■sat iitir/ ,LiiuOi.'A ' '.• :. ..i i' I
.yviiio'i uofi'dfl. Ill z:')i>\i.j~ \iun '•..li.iiic
.:iiV/ iii'fw'-i. -j-csU. Lv.i'n. ■..■•(■li;! ij ,f.^i!U,l.
,iiyii>lii!:) uic'Vlu liJii'jT 'mIj ;.< i.<u; :i'V.i:i.(j!
.iov-jJl J/l iiu.i!!;W b^>ir(i=.ii ,*v;,uiV'f yii.M
Mill iii fifiii .'(iarn'fi ijurtiiili.l. tsi 'I'^iirusi i.
,^IJIIJ(VJ ;;jiiO'IV/j\l 111 ino(J di'.'W »J' .Hil'-J.J
(Ijivi' 1ity// L>i! irjiiv/ -Jtid lo fT>i:jV K'.ivDS J((iJ
,icji;ir Ifoil/^ ,7;;i''u'j jitli<!«7/ttil ,1 «niai/iij till
iiJ ijdiaHfii^ ,0<''^I I'J'i" Lit?fii-':r'.i',i ;viyil) 1)Iib.
J. e'v'.v !'liiH;'t ,7!ri" ,r.i*j(.iii.-J<i llChjir.
,tj\-<-i-'vi .T'ui'uO j> (tyi'CiiO ;Li!iilM .'miu ,>;ii li.;.> ; ij;vj-!;,(j imii jiinmiul/i i/J ;.iiijj,-i illirfr^ ti
.K.nnjBt ,n!lv{i:»;-t''i ;xJ'iiiO-. ii"o.iik>l if: r;.'i. ■; ; ;!.«.,, I ,,m ,,iu,v-7l> il-iil 1o fxifi i-iu:lniyi(V 'svr.
bjv.):-uiiN ,.lTjiS"il ;i(!i(!.'.! iitiJ 11! >-''>l>is/'. .'"''; i hnoiiyi) vjl'in; ar.-w j^tiiwy .}/ .1, .<!;ilii»
,.H Mi.1liilf! [.i!>i ; 1(^1111!.: . ^\i\! r,': ;jjt/ir.is:l in | i„u> ,-i!'u-)!-:l ) w:.' »1 li. olJIuiJ -lii.T li. ii(i''.;<Ui;l
Iii mlui'yi \<!iJ-. Uiii.'^'A iii-uilli'}* l:,{\n-A'^ u.:v/i t,1 rr,>:illi'// .liiioq Jiiilj ^:: U:y;::\,<:lM\l »«•.«
'JilT iiliii'. VOu 3M!'i VsilJ (VilliiC'i liili ! .ii miibllOi hiiV/ (llil'J.j'r! tv; llo(_'!<lBJ yuiv/J
.Ktyf .01 yii. l I'ji!' nrrihlii!:! fc.-.vi!i !•) I'isii* ii; ' .,1 I.i.H .lm; ojio'iti' it.ti uiij u.-ilw uj.{ih;ii«i«!M
tjiKun''! ...i'li! f-'»!-rir.fti i^..iv/'i : Iri OT^i <ii ; .fjc jo;< ji(jiiiuV(,.;J •:':oi'! 'j'.l-:itiij •^l;il:;i!iuiiiiiM
ayiiV/ .v/iM ^iiaioiil lo ■•/ol.iv/ .viOl (*;n^l^ ■ } : i'.u.'^ ni;j iiir^niiO .^'q.-ni '..(i.ii vlxiii •>.!) o;
,YJ.!lH):i J,iKii.i-M i:i lioijiOrt 3i-/ii y^nvn'A .-ilZ ■■).,,:; I -v ■■■•.'.i yn!-)K di -.i.i.' yU .'(!i!!.-(i;iuy
ti /hio ,-\irJ.ii'.iiis \ji<s; bW'n r ;:•/; y i.'iiiov "■» ' , 'nil ti; ! ••l;-.iiii,'/-"-i mI i i v ; , i v/ ' ■J^i. .iil'lflOill
i.v,ilw ,:.ii.nil'3l'.) i.. -jlK'!' :■,•/: ;.!l.'; ./ri,uiii '..IJ j -i;u,,i c' TI. v.iU /i Mill''. lliji.N;.:' J HI l.ijJ..il(li>
0 •) Di: L';!i; / /io!i -liiwi H' 'j:i-n'i -.jIi-V/ t-l'sil) I ,;i»i.'..!jJ /!. ,:');;i-:---ii:-i 1/ ('i Ii-..>vi''t! l"iii vii.<iq
•li/i .-liiu-Hi 111 >.j-.iiv.>ii iioi i/i Iry/il fcit/iJi'M 1 .lUiiiiUjI'.iT f.'jiiliid li&iJlA lolnij ,ti;>u>'jr) ('Hh
i-.l(! '..) y::jiili if.il'iiJlili iiMll );i'l iJ.iilii. 'j^Jll!U;a ! l>('«i JiJi)0;ili>J^.i(«tt '(tutiu ui l>>ii'
;;s..
.1 ..1
:,.-(1:>;,K„..iW
•>i l.i;8,riu
U-t.itii ■«> 1>-/1>1UI0''/
„;j 'lo •i.«i.ii»ini .V ,;■?'<» -^fsil •ill .itr.c!
'" ''MM'
..,.4, Uiir-vH iW
tiiiiw/I'i .iM .VCi'l -JiJiiiti .Iju/i.'O ii4ii-.iiil!J hu yvilj.ti ji ,7««i ttiiA. iiiij'UiM B^if/i »J .f*'
niSTOIlY OF JOHNSON
a solf-..i;i.k- inai. aiul wlnit lu- liiis accuinu
latLMl ill tlie way uf tliia worl.l's goods is tli
result ol' his own o;(„h1 tiahtiijjr (jiialitiea.
■fW^Ii) "• ''**'^^'"-''''^' ■' ^iieenssful farmer
ilH^ of llili county, was horn in T.mn
•"'-='"■ ^ nossec, Scptfinher 9, ISliO, a son of
.roscjili an.! Anna {(;anii)cli) Coiville. Tho
[lariMits move.) to Ari<ansasin 1S;J<J, ami aftor
the discovery of gold in Califoi'nia tiic f'atiier
and uldest son started in jnirsnit of tho riciiea
of tliat State, never again to return. After a
long and tedious journey across the plains
they located at a paying mine, and had heen
at work digging tlio precious metal froia its
hiding place until they were attavdvcd by the
wild savages, and were both killed and scalped!
The mother died in 187-i, at the age of
seventy-two years. Mr. and Mrs. C(dville
had twelve children, viz.: Sarah, wife of S.
A. I'rior; Klizaheth, wile of \V. U. Serry;
Margaret J., now Mrs. John Ford; (Olivia A.,
the wife of A. J. Goard, died in ISd'J; Ada-
Ime, wife of J. Il.d.hins; Mary 1,., now Mrs.
J. 1". .Mrl),uiald; Martha I,, was married to
M. \Vils,,n, and aller hi. de:,lh to .iame.s
Knox; Andrew (J., killed in California; | secon
Samuel, died in l^liiJ; and M. I). l.aura C. 1 Geor<
the Indians. In 1S73 he moved to Texas,
and settled where he now lives, ahout reveu
miles southwest of llill^boro. He purchased
Kirj acres of raw hiiui, 110 acres of which is
niAv under a lino state of cultivation. Mr.
(!olville was married, October 15, l«5-l, to
Miss Matilda Vaiighan, who was born No-
vend)er «, ISHfi. They have had fourteen
cliildreu, eleven of whom are now living,
namely: Joseph A.; James A.; Sarah C, wife
of W. F. Ander.son; Sanniel K.; Martha, wife
of A. IJ. Harris; Mollie.wife of A. II. Smoot;
Elizaljeth, wile of (ieorge Ferry; Alexander,
Caroline, Lillie D. and F. D. Mr. and
Mrs. Coiville are memljers of the Methodist
Church Sonth.
Wrfli I- SATTFKFIKLl), a successful
1-i)/^\ri farmer of Hill county, was born in
' '-'>"• ^ Walker (county, Georgia, in L^33, a
son of Arthur Sattertield, who was born in
South Carolina in lSO-1. The latter located
ill (ieorgia when a young man, and served in
%'i^ Florida war. He nnirried Delilah Jen-
kins a native of (ieurgia, and they had seven
chihiren, viz.: lieubeu, win. was kille.l at the
second bailie of Manassas; J. M., a farmer of
M:
,f Arkii
,; Flijah, of
larried (4. T. Wilmoth. | Hill county; William and :\lahalie Ray.
After the father's death M. D. Coiville and j W. I. Satterlield, our subject, received only
his older bi-<jther were left in charge of tlr
family, and, although young and inexperi
a limited education, and at the age of twenty-
two years he engaged in overseeing. In 1861
eiiced, paid ort" all the debts and came out eon- I he enlisted in Company G, Nintii (ieorgia
(juerer. Our subject was a soldier in the } Infantiy, under Colonel Hoye, Lee's ai'tny.
lies, and wa-, held ■donn- tin.'
dar fought bat i I,
,,and parlicip
mjv>^'v.\io\, '40 x•.\i''T^^^^
,1 ibfd*, -ii, „,-.:>,: 01,1 ,i„lj,i V^:v. 'lo •. rio;: v'^K j ^ . i,
..J .Jof-l .01 1..^'v));>«) .l:y}T|j:Hl HQV 'iflivlo'j j vHilU't (|)^ ^S-iSOIJ- (' a'II ! I V J ( )') r |
'.yndul :;,i,( o'^i-.l v:;.il'l .a!;K: / itMiniftv i ■;,, MOP ;: ,0?:^r .*! .,;,j,.i,,i(p?i .o-hiut * "'■■'■'
B
...h
iii.u.itaiy: -Ji!' !'
<1) -ir. -^ilrMO;.) .iT.'/.
i ' .■ T;l'lA .trii.l-n (...^ nii.-^fl •:r/.-.,-f .oJClf^ 1/.;i; ^>
hfUl I ;;r ,0.1110 ;.;'l'i.q i: 'i: L.J/; ■..,' r-;ih
U T.i i.->l-
iks" ):■■.. ;b ..: ,M,i:!i !:!ari7:
7-Mh !i.liii/ '.:ji,!q '/iw'-iil
i (tl (»;>il. v;!i'f.; '-.AT
Mi uj
i-;,W ,:,.,'! i.,'.,i ;-;l" V,....,
■ ■■'.:.r, .;,;/ ,1 /.If,,:!/ :1s;, .^,(1 ,|/ ') .1,
.1. ,.1 ,i!. .1, V.I !■,;', i.u;. :l 1(7/ .1/1
I "^V) M. ...:;■.! ..,) vrili^r/ ; -:u;i;!
i'ji .iiiiV/ . i' .1 J (i!)Iti,i;iii
IJ. .,.'., 1: ::(0.. :m)I.i;k c' .i1j V. •.■.•.!:!: ni J'I:V r.,ll V:,i><)-\t\ -liM;) ;<iif
;i ;.i;.;;j^:Ui..;! ^.;;;.j^ .,v,; \ O; j/')iii Vi'J i;iMii)^ ,Iy M(.,iij[ii ,i,Mi' ,vl!ili|!l
,,;, . ,,-■, , ; ,■ ;.ii,.l ' i;a; ,,!-... .!->.,!„:. ri -Ml ni oa; ll..( ,,'■: ..h-i
•:.-... re !■' ,,. -.Isii;!! L:|i . i.-,
i.Yi) Hill. Cut XI IKS.
tli'stjf Gettjobiirg, Aiuietain, Frcileriekibur^, , was the ;^uariliau of hi; [.orson ;ui>l ostato.
CancL-Uoriville, Cohl llarbur, Siwtt-ylvania ; lie commenced liU edueation at the Male
I, and liiiUhed
CuurtlKMis
..a. of liiehmoud. u-
tlie I Aeadeuiv of Katoutou, l.ie^
fcoveii dayo" ti^^ht at HiL4iiaoiid, .-eeuud
.Manassas, Voiklowii, Jamestown, Cedar Run
and all tlu^ battles participated in by Aiuler-
sun's briiJade. After the close of the war
lie returned home and enH;iiged in farming on
tlie Tennesaeo river until 1870, whi'n he was
again engaged as an overseer. In 1878 Mr.
ISatterlield came to Texas, locating in Alva-
rado, Juhnson county, and one year later
located on his present farm of 311 acres, 250
acres of which is cultivated. In 188G he
erected a ^in with a ca|)acity of twenty bales
jier day, and this year he will gin GOO bales,
lie also owns OiO acres of land in Fisher
mty,
now hemg luiproved
He was married, in 1859, to Frances Eliza-
beth, a daughter of Ansel Massey, a native of
South Carolina. They have had four chil-
dren, namely: J. W., of Itasca; W. 1.; Mrs.
Ma Kelley, of Hill county; and Maggie.
jtfT^i'.OUCF 1. JOUDAN, an att.irncy al
j[^ law of HilFboro, Hill county, Te.vas,
"^ was iiorn in Noxubee county, Missis-
sippi, on December 17,1854. He is a son
of \Varren Henry Jordan, who was born in
Lexington, Oglethorite county, (ieorgia, in
1820. He was the youngest of seven chil-
dren and was left an orphan at the age of eight
years. He then made his home at the li,.u,sc
of his sister, Mrs. Mary Sanfurd, wife of
Thomas Sanford, of Falonlou, (ieorgia, who
eniy
it at Atheu;, Georgia, the univer;ity of the
iState. He afterward received an ajjpoint-
ment to the .Military Academy at AVest I'oiut,
New York, where he remained two years oidy;
the severe clinuite and strict discipline being
too great a tax on his constitution. After
leaving West I'oint ho returned to (ieorgia,
and in 1812 moved to Mississippi and located
ill Noxubee county, twelve miles south of
Macon, the county site, and seven miles east
of fcjluuiualak, which latter place was his post
ofiice. Ill 1840 he returned to Fatoiiton,
Georgia, and married Miss Julia Louise Hud-
son, and took her to his new home in Missis-
sipjii, when! he accumulated projierty to the
amount of 2,210 acres of land and ninety-eigiit
l',y this wife the said Wai
Hi
reii iienr\
Jordan had live children, to wit: John J., a
farmer in Falls county, Texas; Anna A., now
wife of lion. H. P. iiell of Cummings,
(ieorgia; Julia C, wife of Hudson E. Adams
of l':aton, Georgia, but who is now dead;
George 1., the subject of this sketch; and
Warren H., who died in infancy. His tirst
wife dietl in 185tj, and in 1858 he married
Miss Elizabeth J. Pollard of Warrenton, Vir-
ginia, by wh(jm he had two children: (Jharles
S. who died in 188ti, and Elizabeth P., now
wife of Delaiiey Evans, who lives in Wil-
mington, North Carolina. Mr. Jordan was
what was termed a cotton planter in untc-
hclluin. days, and lived in a maguilicent
country residence, which was called Myrtle
Hill. He was princely iu the eulertainment
')!<J lo Y1i:1^V;/iU y.fj .iif'^-tOJf.) .^fl'jijj^. .1,. (i
tluio'l J'.'.j7/ J.'?i^i!i'..i>j.,'./. •^•ijiliiiJ/ ci:(3 0.1 Jiiii If
^Jliuu £>iii>iji:>o>b JciilJa biii;
■jal'l/. lUjiluJiJBii.' • ' > . . , . ■
l'.'>Jj«:)ol l;i.j:iqii(4*ih-i.' ^.- - ■ . . .1 iii hiuj
'li> dJiJOB *ylH!! fivlov/j ,'(Ji!ii'.jc> twtliJAuyl lii
;-'o<j aiii rjiw u"j:lq •irj.iJj'.i d.-ndw ,.iii!ljiijjiUil?:'. li.
.iit'JttoJ'k'! 'iJ l>niii,ijy-i fjil in;''i 111 .L. /ifi'.i
-iiirll 0-,iiJO.I hIIhI. -slM fXMn»irii JnU; ,y:i;>Tv>;rJ
fcii-^iJi 111 amuil w5ii ;.i,i ..•; •(?,,! Jiioi (>:;/! ,r.(>fi
Jil^ij-y_toi-.;:i hin) jhu;! i.' -'n'/S! Ol!.;,!: 1,.. Imdoojj:
■^•llljli i;:..l):V/ liU'i. (-1.! lYrU ..li'J vH .w.nv;;...;
won , ./: iiuiiA ;s5jj;;t/r ,'jl;Mi^''j xWivi lit ly/n;!..'
,«;.u1ui.ii:jO io Ih'd M ,J1 ,.io]i Ic vliv
cJ.nil.A .Ji iioi<!)olt '!(. i.':;w .;.) oiliil ,.ui;-io';;.>
;h:;-'j!i v/.ni ii >»iiv/ Jm) j;iv-i'ii..it> ,ii...)nvi V;
1.1,,, ;,1;..Im;I. .mi!) 'U, IlvmIi.. :.dj 1 ^.t,,:-;.
l.-.ii .:1!1 ■(.;>;(in;u iiI i, .it. uC '; ,.ll !i-r.."/'
v/v.n ,.M ,Mv.!).^ilM !m<; ,i!;-i«J ir. Uub od-*' ..<
liV/ (li IJvil i>i'i-tf ,-jHJt'','( v->li/:!u»l 'io ^liv.
it:-!' 'i.il.-ujl .-iM .iu;t!vn«L> ilvw'? ,(ii.iv,;iM/,i
;';i',-.i ,11 I'ltiuil.; ,-ic,;.t,,i. « l.-Mir{Mi v,;v/ IjiiJv/
Jii >;i;ij(ii.;i:i;! j- IM l.>vvil iin;' .v^iih ■■■W^'.'.SA
fivlA Iti J;(lijf;;io'i ^iZaT 03 tnlii;') ' ' ■ ■ ■ ''
j toJmJ -inoY; oi\u him ,\ii\uy<'j iic<i!
i 'Mi i'>^l^' (il .!.:»..viiU.;> ci t'v;!l7. lo V.
< ';•[«■.<] y^Ji;s>w3 l(j (,li'>c,;j/!'j ;i iijjv/ (liy - '
j t.jk.J fWfft irfxj iil'A y(f IIWV hlJl i
■iiiiiii Ufiiid v/i.
.lw,/Ji
; i.sii:-! ti"o/u.-.'! ,./ ,L'c8l ni ,:-)iv(.s!.i ..ji'w sti
j 'lo vvi.}»!i! ji ,i(tiroj!|V' [cjoiiA 'lo TOli'-Mjixl) * ,ji3ml
j -Uthj ::,..l I.5UI ovw.t YfdT .iU'Mo-tC^'J 111',
j .-.(l/. ;,] .7/ :jr:)f^«jl ]() ,.W . i. -.{J.-MnrM ,(■
! .uiM'uiM iniH ,v',iinoy iliii ^u .v'.lloM i;i.;
' !,; Y,n„,()j. M,. //i/,n;n.i ) M.);)<):if>
i ,«<:..-yr /(Jmiio'. inn ,a-i'..v.iiii[ i,. v^ti ,
r.u-. K -.i "li .i-il(''J J! 'itJiljii;>-.(i ii.j ,ii{qi8
! ri I'nul Hi,-<ii {,'hi ,r,i'.ly"j\, v-ih'jII iioi-ij'.V/ 'Ki
111 .(;i;.r).i»i> ,7.li.'i •.'•J !i'.;K'i!tyfTj|t.> .iio3^ilsi/.JAl
' li.l'.. M''-.-; 'w i.i''Vji.'i;<r( mU bi;w f)U .tH'-''
i .;i'-/i-' 'Iw •ivii tiii; '« (((iilij'io <(/;J'ly( ;■:«■•■/ biiis :
' I'iMul 1>)IJ J;; fni)i..ii pill i.»'»;ili! fii»illltll .:::
' |.) .';i--. .l:-;.,l:iiic: -cuiW .a'lM ,T>t;-.iu m:'.
i (,.|(./ ,i:i<.i. ;:..'.> ,ii..).U.U!:!! Il, .Ivi.aiij;^, «i(li.i.,. ,
350
IfJSTOlir OF JOIINHUxV
I.I lilKTal
l;iit the ciiiaiicipatioii
lai-i. demands made uj
wi... liddm--,,tiahlopa| ,
wa- M^ncd as eccui-ity, left Id^ fauiily
less. Ilo wae a staunch Donuicrat all
liiV-. lie <lied November 8, l«(il,
ieali
i^^-
I I
slaves, and tli
estate hy th(.^
■Inch his nam
■ oil his 1
The
father of oui
snhject was a native of South Carolina, and of
Krcnch descent, tracing his ancestry back
a family of Iluguei
k'lio came to
Ameri(ta in IGSo, just after the re\ocation of
IJie Edict of Nantes by Louis the XIV., and
orip;iiiully spelled their name Jonrdan.
The mother of our subject, as above stated,
was Miss Julia Louise Hudson, daughter of
"William Hudson and Annie Young (Mason)
Hudson of Ivitonton, (ieorj;ia. The formei'
was a native of Virginia and the latter of
Alabama, being a sister of C!haiicellor Wiley
Mason, of Tuskeega, Alabama.
The subject of this sketch spent five years
in the boardiiii^ .-,cliool of Woodlawn, Missis-
sippi, and then entered ISIoomtieM College,
Kemper county, same State, where he re-
mained two years. For the ne.\t three years
he had no e^tablished business, travelini,'
about from place to place, ami sto{)ping one
year in Eaton, (ieorgia. In l>>t)'J i\Ir. Jordan
borrowed money with which to come to Te.xas,
and located at Covington, Hill county, where
he farmed for three years, keeping bachelor's
hall during the time. 15y industry and ecoii-
(^my he accumulated sutlicient money to de-
fray his expenses at school two years and one
month at Mansfield, Tarrant county, under
I'rof. John Collier. In ISTli h.' returne.l to
Hill county and was appointed Deputy Ta.x
Collector by K. T. Weir, serving in that
ca|)acity for two years, after which he re-
turned to Manstield and completed liis course,
graduating in ,lnne, ls7',l. During that fall
he ran a gin near Itasca, working eighteen
louis per day,
d in January, 1880, he came
to HilL.boro and read law under Tarlton &
IJullock tour mouths, from May 1 to Decem-
ber 1 of same year. He was deputy county
Clerk under J. M. Duncan. On December
1, 1880, he again resumed his law .-.tudieo
under Tarlton ik Hnllock and obtained license
to practice at the spring term, 1881, of the
District (/ourt, and, the city being incorj)or-
ated at this time, on the same day he i-eceived
his license he was app.jinted City Attorney,
which otlice he held twelve months. A
jiartnership was then formed with 15. D.
Tarlton and (L 1). Tarlton under the firm
name of Tarlton, Jordan li Tarlton, wliich
was dissolved .m December 22, 1888. On
account (jf poor health, Mr. Jordan was then
advised to spend sometime in southwestern
Te.\as and Mexico, and accordingly tlie winter
and spring ofl888-'8i) was spent in Monterey,
Mexico, and s(Uithwestern Texas. June 1
of the latter year he returned to this county
and i-e»umed his practice in partnership with
Hon. S. (!. llpshaw under the firm name of
Upshaw and Jordan. He was Alderman of
the city two years; in the spring of 1888, he
made the race for Mayor; was one of the
county school examiners in 188-1, and is at
present president of the Hoard of Trade. He
is also slightly iiiteresle<l in real estate, own-
ing a farm of ISO acres n..rth of the city and a
,'!' i^JiH.jtl i.'.!;i'o.n{.! i.:y.-f' !)iu. v: ■ ■' . iiLaiit ttul llii ni 1 ' ' ' i1 ^il! lo
i.h Hi ^ixinw ,ii..Y/ T M X'' Mmi; ,r,yv.:(c, ail.i 'L ;mI3 Jiiil
,-Mii>:i ►.!>! iol-'ji.jlpO'. 111!... iil-)llM(iil/. oJ i-f>»n(M | '.'-u....) -iii i! .uiv.- «i.) ,r,..]i:q 'ti-irff..'.;.!. I'i-ill t.fi'n
•.•!!;-|l)U '.T^l .■KJilt. )U >i,ili»),firMr:S i -\<UV^\ Viinii,"! riif fl'.-i ,Vf >!)•.•..:. r... !,-,ii>.^)*, -itV/
,i!i;I-K>v/ ,t;L'fcj.!l luyi: !•!;.>, k id:', .ni i '-Mi U/ iu- .JukmiiitU ■(•/r/iititfc « ^>ir« •.*!l .«r.i!
.,i ,0«>'l ,vi/:i'!ii;t- iii I'li'i ,-M!l; -iWi f^'-finni 1 i'!<:ii .l'J«l .ti •r'>i!(H'.vo/; biiili ■•!! .•.;;!
, i\.,K-'y'l' Tjlnu vn:\ '<i.-n buc ..•H"<.-,ii!iJ o1 !■:>.•• ■)'! T^'i'^eli'iM-.ty -..ilT .j/t *,iii.ii.' 'noiM.-." r.
mq-mH <}i i ^ri?A ..'i.>1 ,3ili.!wU' ;;..! v^Ov^iirja I !» ;»!.r ,i,;iii...!ii;) illi/08 1.. «vij»;i; ( >r/' ir';.if(a
:u;u;:> yt.(vj'b si:v/ all .i.vjy oi'i*;^ lo I !•:»-' ' -^--'vi iiif-'j-.^iyi: it\i{ ■^ahnV, ,)(iy-j..;!- il-jiicn''!
■.ilic;,'. vn'.J -inl !:.i,(m(c..-.»'t n!ji;>« 'Jil .(:^««I J ' I1 !p.-;i!.xiv;v, j(!i r.)i;i) i.,ijj^ .("HfiJ pi «),-'..i,iA
oil viil [■oir,i;J>J(.> tu!..' :!;;o:li/}l 'ii noli'itT -labfli) I bir/> ,.VIJt <j((l 6ii;.:..T v/i ri^rinuK ;x) -laJK'l iidt
Ai u. .icf'! ...■ii-.:5 >ii\'nq-. i;ii u: 'j;/,Vj,vu\ .y1 \ i:;.lnii>jl uri^iii •:::^ii) !'t.Iu«(!. Y'l'-.ni-'^i";'
l...CJ-f(i'>.!i v"!-'^i X^--' '--'^ '''"'■ '^'"'"^^ J3i-!J->:<-! : ,L'-1V'.Ii">V<mU; -J! ,.)•->-. ijJij^ lit-.- Iu •l-uln.c- 0)11'
^,»,nolj/. vliL> }>oi;ii..^.:.i ;,-;/ ..,< t)^.-.M.f tit! ; (<^o-;iWj j^.mo^ ^-iiurA hiu, «oihf.!l I'l^tHiW
. , jj„ ,i,, .,,Iq«,i |,(;)jI uil j-iiffu ibiiivv ' lonno'l ailT Jtrjfion*^) ,<ioUiu}<(''i lo i.uoLtuU
(.; .n .bivr l,..',ano' noil; ««v/ <|i!:. rjf.ns^j ! ^0 '^'^'l '•*<'' f""' «nti- -liY In yvil.m « 8«v/
nirt ail} uJiiiii fuH'uT ,i! .9 l.iiii aulIuiT ! r-i'W luil'.K.uwIO k> vHbis « v^nrKi ^-.niwJuIA
i!r iiMlluT '^^iMiliK'l^ .noJhis'r
iiii:/uli:iA .tPjOO.Uv.'l ■*■> ,in>«»«'l4
■■Miil >:;•>>/ ilMb;>-l, ."W .lUbMi! ■l',u,j jm iHHir,.:' ;. ' v.-r^}/. ,;■ ■'; ib^-i. W ';.. :-jOtl-J' >>;.i?nBO'f M/fj fti
M^;.l(<t>Y/ilT:ii-., (■• v^.ill- /.. -. f)fT>(jh ■•! iiO^iv! ,: ' ,y>.'i!.''> ' .l';;!(' :<.'< ■!; ! f.Mi-,?.i.) .m.!' bar, .iqijts
ijjor.' -Jiii v!-!<iil'i<'3J<'- ' ■-J>.o'i/:f>]!: i.isei/.aT ' -j-i f..! ■iiudv/ ,-jt! )S '>i!j*-. ,711111.. 0 ($41(10/;
-,■<.:;, loK iii j;i'..!^ -:.:■■. .:-'-/-.^.^' !.'(.•). ,r...(* bill! ^•■<.;v vrciJ Vnr.: '..i! -../I .- ii:->v u/M \>-in\,uii
i ^nill^ •.;'./.. r i' i .It >V/I) (;- -■ iji:i ,.j.9i;CoM >i!i'!.V;;ll .MKIISU.' b-'ifsilJiiJio . .fl !>«.! imJ
^n,..,v-! fliai ..;; [..t i'uiJoi .wl •!.••:' -ii^in.} •,.;i 1<; I 'ml^ .•ii!>ji]o:.i luu; ,:.'>j.'.] n: -i-j.^':; .iu<-,'l jii-i.Ij:
illtv/ ,;!iivi:;,i!-i:-,q ii. :^'>i l'..!';,; .^i.i i...:.M !!!..■?■. i'lCi | (uifn .;. .^y O.'-'l nl .iiiv'uibi 1 ,^.ut;^ii /i: ;-:■>/
I
1.) y!\!*,M .il-i;' 'iij ■! ■:. i;i ■;>:.V.j']'1 .'■'' '6 .ir.JJ. i ,«/./"'l'-.* -"'•"•- '-'3 ''I'-'li'" i''''" TJll'if" ''!:)/^.."!-lud
i,, ..,.„;,u(.iA .>:/; -;;» .(.»-li-< I. [■■:>. -...;.!><]■,) I :/!■..!•.' ./liiiKn 'till ..u^i^iiiv,.' ; .). l,-.;j;;v,f |.ii/i
:.; ii [H!;;.(<''<i iii K-ifii, ;,';*(;■■. !.m;.!!'j., vJiiiinv I tr!' rtl {^.i..uii javi:Jaii.> b">,)itlii.iiii3'>« ..li '(.i.c
•jH st.;,nT ' , [>7."..'H 'i.'l 'i.< J,!t.M'.'.-!q jl..i;,!j-i..j I .,n<) mw- ,•...( ')f,.7 luOi!;.-!'. U H.,. ;lt'rtp« oil! ■^Ji'l')
. I'vnj ,-,1 ■-.»., . I;:,.i ii. !■•,-.•/:•).)..; v!i:lviib ..h;I<: ".! , lof.iui ..jr.M-.. ,ii(..i;-:i-,'J' ,(.1'.(^jiuiM :ji ([!rn..nt
- f.;u. vi.-.. n-i; ■!■•. (!!■,,,.! .-yr.iif;' ; b: iii'!/;1 ,; --.iii ' ■■' !■ ■.ii i.lTi >ii ('T'li nl .rtiil..!) /iiii.l /l.ri'l
AND UILL COUNTIES.
gouil lioiue ill the t'ity. Jii 1885 Mr. ,loril;ui
wub niai-ried to Miss Kate 1!. Upsiiaw, a
tlaiigliter of Captain S. C. Ujjshaw, wlio was
tVoiii 1880 to 18'JU State Senator and is now
a candiiiate for Lientcnant (ioverncr of tiie
State, sniiject tu the aetiun (jf tiie Democratic
State Convention. Tiiey have fonr chiiiireii,
namely: Sajnnel irby, Julia Lonise, Jennie
AKlrid-c- and Attillia Francis.
I
WY^ F. IIAMSEY, of the law firm of
jimf ^'■■ane & Itamsey, was born in liell
'^ county, Texas, October 25, 1855.
He passed his early years in his natixe county,
and in 1801 moved with his jiarents to John-
son county, and to Cleburne in 1877. He
was eiiucated in the schools of this county,
and atTehuacana, Limestone county, oraduat-
int; in the collegiate department of tlie insti-
tute in 187(), and in the law department in
1877. He was examined before J udge D. M.
l'render,i,^ast, of the 28th Judicial District,
and admitted to the bar J uly 4, 1877. Mr.
Kamsey immediately began practice, as a
member of the firm of lirown. Hall & Kam-
sey, his partiu'rs being James W. Brown, of
Dallas, and Judge J. M. Hall, now Judge of
the 28th Judicial District. This partnership
continued until in February, 1879, when
there was a general dis.solution ami Mr. Ram-
sey was alone until in January, 1881. He
then entered into a |iartner.^lii[) with James
W. Hn.wn, as Krown iV Ramsey, and August
1, 1882, ^[. M. Crane became a member of
the lirm.;iiid the styh; was changed to lirown,
Ramsey i^,: Cianir. In July, Fssfj, Mr. Kmwn
withdrew and soon thereafter moved to Dallas,
the lirm becoming Crane & Ramsey, and so
continues at this time. It is one of the lead-
ing; law iirmb of Cleburne, and is always found
on one side or the other in every important
law case Irieil in Johnson county.
Mr. Ramsey was a member of the Demo-
cratic State Conventions in 1882, 1881, 1886,
1888 and 1890, and was a Presidential Elector
in 1884. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and Knights of I'ythias; has served
on the City School iJoaril; is a representative
citizen, and has never aspired to oliice, [)re-
ferrinj^ his prof»;ssioa to anything in the gift
of his people to which he might aspire. He
is a clear, level-headed lawyer, a hard worker,
clo.se student, and a diligent prosecutor of all
matters entrusted to him.
Mr. liamsey was married, January 21,
1878, to Miss Emma Johnson, a daughter of
Rev. Felix Johnson, of I'aris, Texas. His
wife died April 1, 1885, and October 13,
1880, Mr. Ramsey murried Miss Uowena
Hill, of La (iran-e, Texas.
,R(MI A. MOORE, a successful farmer
I of Hill
junty.
hor
W;
yne
'•'■ county, Ohio, April 27, 1828, a son of
Amirew and P^leaiior Moore, natives of Penn-
sylvania. The parents moved to Ohio in
1820, .settling in Wayne county, and later in
Seneca county, where the fatliei- served as
(iounty (!ommissioner nine years. He <lied
in 1840, and his wife survived him unUi-
1881. The Moore fa.nily came fn.m Ire-
land, and the grandlalher, William Moore,
.W.\Vrfi'O^V"0, .\\:\\ v-, (v!
J';'
;■!! ...,•! I, „
.. ',iJ ii..'l-.;-.i
IL: ;..
i:^)i -iL'
^"'■-'-" ; (iO'-l ,0i: v..l..J:;(J» .,-Hy-T ,vt,-,i'.':. *'*^- ''
i\A u3 ..-Tr;!
; ;/jl; )..■ I;}';:li »!;pb L»:;;ij; -i'.iy vil.J ili ):^^l^
i,:^!
tv. ,:i:
Utiii
uiYisV/ ;i! !!-!vi.5<;v/ ,/i,ii)i>a iliii 'ii, ^i| ; 'Ji> 9^(>u'b v/oii ,')jiH .M .1. o^biil fnui ,8,nflfl(.l
K; MCb B '<;;o> ,YS' Ih'.jj. .v)i!<') ,^;..iiu'. ^^ i (liiiti-.jiil-ii,'] iiil'i' ..';>!'! 'tfi (I .'wf.-'ihul. ilJJi- tiiU
-"■tj'I i<j ifi)v;I>^'l ,(iro(jJA •?'ifijtf>'3 l/i:i. v/;ji'i:!A ] dtiilv ,{S<^i rVifiinil.'/'i iii liicm f'OJjJiiJdOD
r. i.iiiO vji I'fvoin ewiviiiq oiiT .»,i>i/!7)v>! j .i^Hjii /M jnr ii';iJ(i.i(Mi8ib ljivDitf>>5 « ><j;V/ nsilJ
ill lOJtff hifj. ,^)a.ivj Jii(.iiV/ ill j^tinjJs Oi'!"- | oH !>';<? .7:)',iinKl. lii 'iiiiii ijnoiu afsw ^oa
'"■.HI ■.,!, :. vi-, (lib /tv; ^,i,i !.ii; ,ai'>*l iii j 1<. T- i.iii);n i! uroaM-J jiuni > .1/1 J*i .ili'tl ,1
I'll ■'; ;i ■.i:,i-. 'til 'I.:) :.;... ,W :':l'y .\ ■■<>r i \ „,u.' .: \ .•: t ^--^ -i^il-i -.y.'^f -uii.. mI.: [■'Ml .uvul mU
35'^
iiisronr of joiinison
birvcd as a Capt
ai-y \var. Tiie
Kluaiiur Alli.oh, was of Iii.li t
(lau-litor of iMatthow Alli.-..n.
rnin.vlvaiiia. Souatur Alli...n is a iil'J.Iu'W
of Mrs. Mooiv, Mr. and Mrs. Muoro had
ten rliildroii: Kliza, William, dolni, yaniuel,
m->, Marfrarot, (iuor^^u, Arcli, II
hitrt,
ty, w
here liu was einijl
hruiifrli tliu Kevulutioii- I ((iriswold) Harris, natives ..f Oliiu. Tlio
er i)f uiir suhjuct, nee ! parents irioved to Illirxiis altoiit 184f), wlicre
lesci-ut, and a ; tlie fatlier diud, and the niotlier came to
, a native of j Te.\as in IStiO, and died in tliis Statu ill
lSt;9. .Mr. and Mrs. Mcore liavo lia,l seven
cliildreii, viz.: Samuel II., horn Alarch 21,
185S, is a farmer of East land county, Te.\as;
Ceville, horn April S, 185U, is the wife of
K.l. (i. (iray, a fanner of Hill county; JeiF.
L)., hcjrn Auiruet 23, 18(jl, is a fruit-raiser of
('alifornia; Eliza M., wlio dietl at the age of
fifteen days; (Jharles ^[., horn November
29, 18G4, is JJeputy County Clerk of Hill
county, at Hillshoro; David A., horn Octo-
her 17, 18G9, is at home; and Finis (I., horn
August 17, 187G, is also at home. They
have also raised an o]-phan child, AVilliam W.
lioren, horn N(jvemher 29, 1875. Mr. Moore
is a member of the Mas(jnic order, and in his
political views is independent.
and
Henry. Samuel, Eliza and Arch are tiie
only ones i-esidinn; in Te.\as.
At the aire of two years Arch A. Moore,
jd witl
])arents to
Seneca county, Ohio, where he grew to man-
houd. ^Vhen twenty-eight years of age he
removed to Illinois, settling in McLean
d as a
rk in
a stoi'e. Dui-ing his resilience in that county
he made two ti'ips to Te.xas and bought
ponies, which he took Noj'th and sold, and
during the ten years previous to his going to
111
my
dilieri'lit ulaees and
engaged in various branches of business. In
1858 Mr. Moore came to Te.xas, settling in
Hopkins county, but in 1.S59 he removal to
Wi.-e county, where he remained until 18t52.
In the latter year ho settled in Hrown county,
on tht' frontier, and the Indians at that time
were very troublesome. In 1S7() he came to
this county, where he worked on the railroad
at Bryan, and in this way saved suliieient
money to buy eighty acres of land. He has
added to his first purchase until he now owns
210 acres, eighty acres of which is culti-
vated, and fifteen acres in orchard and vines.
Mr. Moore was marrie<l in the s])ring of
1857, to Miss Mary Harris, born l)ec(unber
11, 1837, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah
K. V,. JONES has heeen a resident
;jl'/,;\/i of tlu^ "I.one Star State" since
^^^^^"^ 1^,71, and his present Bub..lantial
position in life has been reached entirely
thi-ougli his own pers(n erance and the facts
connected with ids ojieraticjiis, and their re-
sults only show what a person with enlight-
ened and enterprising views can accomplish.
He came to this State a poor boy, and first
turned his attention to stock-dealing, in
which business he was fairly successful. In
January, 1876, he was married, after which
he farmed on rented land for three yeiu's,
then purchasiMl a 120-acre tract of raw land.
Later he purchased another tract of 330
V.O.'.V,\',OV '^M (. AO'VVi N W
r oiilK l,.i rr-fvil.iri ,HVn,i\\ (i>iMv;iiiir.)) i -ir(,i^-(.j7,v;;i ,.>.l.t ,!.:^i),)',,ll Mri;1.()i:') It «tr: l..»/iw
(lift ,i!$v<i ■iKw.Jjs «; Mfiiil iji To .•..'«! v.i ''■/•.-■.I! 'f.rt ,l^->;'iut! -mo 't.' •iuiliiin rulT .-utv/ rin
v'M !,...: y,.;(! 'VKi-lA :.-;l/' Ln.- .fit .'^.^'1 ' v/,,!,-... ». ^i ,...;illA no',.r >. .icwr/l /...tr,' 1
i; iivirlA ■.:■'■ ,.11 l'.nni«ft : Miv ,rt:Til>ii'!;- , bfi.i j-.-.U y.-iU. |;,ij; ■< !/; /iiM-l/ .v;]/ lo
,:/■.■• ,fl(!i)o:, |.n.il:..vM )o ■rM::'ii.l ■-■ - .r^'HL i .biruv.- ..i i(,U .iiMiilliV/ .nxiC-! ; M;,-ti.!i:!% ....t
rjV.V -ull r\ ,UC>^1 .h li'-qA IM^ci /„i-V,:>; !>(■;; )r-:w;il ,,b-- A .-J^i lo-.i > , K/:,iJi'u: !^ ,•.■.,,•1,
yC ,^<;!-n)0:. liiil l.-irK.n/jli. ,(.--:;i -;i .^:>i vilt ->1S 'i-^/. In^:; ^^ilji: ,!-Uil.,:.-; .y;.,; ,!!
•^■jdin W.rf^ ., si ,I(.i8f ,Hi: is>ix^'. < :;>■■>{ '.\ j ^uxwT ih ^uiui: ■• ;-..<) y^l.io,
ili.llVoK ..'lod ,.J/. yjliiut:) ,=.V/:b ll;>M/i?l 1 t:.a ^>iirij;.i :-.'■ .!!iv/ ;k.V.j(1I ,i-rJ!;l.(S uio
f-..0 {''|':'<I ,./•.. t'iv/:!! rovrtUi'ii'i j»! ,v!!i!iu-' Oil Hv;H i<j i'l'-." .!'!j<ia-(;Ui.07/j ii-.ii\Y .LtH-ii
MlT .'i-,(wl J,; .-..('; :-; ^OfHl ,r; JcfijiuA im ,lic.; ;; --; :-v'W.,ii,iL! -x.v/ :,.; yjM.lv/ .yji^m..:^
.1 ;i, i,;!ji ,■)'-!:*.'., .Mill.- 'J*^ ^i!l3 Jo '^LMK';-;;!! i; «! : I :;; ,t,!(.^ i;ll^ ii/f.^' vIooJ ini il-.:.l;.' .•■'jtin.^l
;„,!).,•, U,l:,...,. :l'.:..; ..:a 'ill -' ,;o;ii.O.^ , /^•.lH^i'.'" ■'-•'II "^ i"''Ji^-'"' ^'---f, '^^^' *■•'!"!
I. ■■ 1. 1. ,..■..•;■(•.•,) ,v...,.|" v.iU'.i'.l'-'!'!!:* I'l:" Usi!!* . JiliM'-.iiii.o l»o.'«fc \i>U aitlJ lii 1 ■!': .M;ff| J;
..'. r(U; ,/•>' l^.-i ^ ..!n:<^ ^''1' .'.: 'Hi «'»8;l I .:««* .'^I' ^^"':' 'if^ «'•'"'•"■ K'^'V* t'"' ^'^ X"'"'""
i ,ui.<ii;-.l- .h.v>!.. *.: .oiliigJJd -i=: l,f.omJ JM(#.. ■«■./! ttil !i)iin (..-lukiiui Jr.ia fciii M lJt.l>h.»
.■p.i .v.ii -^o l-'ini <.n!.n uJil « i.».,*.ii;>ii.4 jiuJl j ;iv».!:w , r;M a-r-xi ,«i n„ll vuM aaiM. ul jr-L-ii
ASD 111 Li
hcrc.-, dii'i li;i- t"^T licrt:-; in il.e u\v;i l'I'
r.raiiil«.iii, ■■ri whicli he K",.ii txj^-cli to l.r.'.I.l a
n.-iilfiu-i' l\.r hiiii>rlf a;i.i i.ui.iiy. OviO huii-
lire.l ;iM.l liiirty-jix aorL= ol' hii Immo Uirm
aro \nulfr ciiltivatloii, ami aru (Icvc.lr.l to tlu-
raising ofcottoii, corn aiul oats, but the rost
is (levutLHl to i>astui'e, as Mr. Junes annually
raises (juite a number of horses, mules and
cattle.
He was born in (Jeorgia, Uetober 14, 18-i7,
was brought up on a farm, and at tiie ai^e of
sixteciu years lie left homo and went to
Louisiana, Init aftei-ward came to Te.xas. His
marriage to Miss Louisa C. Doyle took place
January i>, IHH), she being a daugiiter of
John W. 1'. an.l Mary A. Doyh^, of .\ hi-
bama. 'I'hey came to 'lexas in 1855, and
lir.-^t hjcate.l in Navarro county, but came to
Hill county tliree years later. Here they
made rapid strides in the accumulation of a
comj'eti'Ucy and soon became- wealtiiy, but
this wealth unfortunately cost Air. I)(.yle his
life, for ills house was attacked by seven
burglars one night, and he and his eldest son
were killed in trying to defend their prop-
erty! The murderers made their escape with
over ,•?;!(),( H)0, but a number of them were
captured and paid the penalty of their ciime
with their lives. The robbery and murder
occurred in ISGU. The mother is still living,
is about sixty-nine years of age, and makes
lier home with her ciuldren. Tlie union of
Mr. and I\[rs. Jones has resulted in the birth
of seven children: Anna G., who was born
November 10, 1876; Eugene, born July 11),
1878; Nora, born April 29, 1880; Hert H.,
born October 2'^, 1882; (iroverU., b,,rn July
l>ct.-^r li). l^Sn;
Ivr:. February 11.
the.e olii'.drxni nv..s
L'rat in politics, but
■ politician,
19. 1^-4: C-y v.. V■,^^:
.ii.d Fr^-.i Tex..~. who wj.
l-i»l. Tl-.o ir.oliuT of
born Septenit>or 5. 1>55.
Mr. Jone^ is a Democra
has never been an esjieeially
although he always exerci^e^ his right of suf-
frage. He is a son of W. I), and Martha H.
Jones, natives of South Carolina, tiie ft)rmer
an extensive slave-owner before the war, and
a successful plautei-. They both reside in
Cieorgia, tlie f(jrnier being now about seveuty-
two years of age, and the latter sixty-five.
To them four sons and three daugliters were
born, the subject of this sketch being the
third of the family in order of birth. He
was the only one of the family in Texas until
the fall of 18'J1, when his brotiier Charles
X. canu) hither, and is engaged in teacliing
at Mertens. The maternal grandfather, John
IL AVoi-d, served as Judge of tiie County
Court for a long term of years, also filled the
position of Justice of the Peace, anil was a
man of much prominence in the section in
which lie re>ided.
§AVII) 1). SANDERSON, of Whitney,
Hill county, was born in Buckingham
'**■ county, Virginia, November 20, 1822,
a son of Major William 1). Sanderson, wiio
was born in Cumberland county, Virginia,
.Luiuary 8, 179-1. Tiie latter was married,
February 7, 1822, to Catiierine K Patterson,
who was bom May -1, 1792. Mr. Sanderson
was a Major in the war of 1812, and was in
the battles of Norfolk, tJoney Island, Light
df'^WL'iyj . .i.;iu «iv.j
JfiJ .^yil'I'-Kj r:i il1-M>ll\A\ ft !;( a9fT<ll -lid
Il •)! !.•<!. jv-j^j ok; i'lUi ,{!<>. l>iV()l»t,i
il tii!l"..'5V. f.'irii .'{ V/ 10 Hi. bOiiiO.i lo. •lyUiiiim a »"
t:^Ii)lol tJiiJ ,!."i!.j'JJ;0 ifllioB ;■> il . ..'... '■ I ■ • ^
b.i>'. ,i*iw 3ili ri-.>yi:i(! r')ir//%.-i-'v;i!^ ^vi^ijrj.'.M 1(1, j Ti^el ,i-I -i-jdoJaC) jiigioiri) ni i\-aj<\ hy.v oil
ci al>iri->T d-jo': '('..ri' .-wliu:!!:] l;,)iH-)yrji'S « i to 'j%;jf ;iiiJ K; Ixui ,on«'1 ii »<• .['i .;if:;^njn' mkw
-■(Jii'jvi/fl )(R;.ii; vii! j^ifi-.j<l i^.iin.il !('!) ,ii!i;;'.i.wi.' , ■)! JW7(.' U:\ii onio« il"! ail fci»;-j'( navly.ie
.f>vh(;xii» it).)ii'.t aih Ima ,-j-p^. "*<> i*T*;-)v o'- 1 | till .6iiV,'Jl. oi ri/iuv) t''uiv."5'j.nii hj<l ,Aj»,)fii(!uJ
!>-ir*/ 4;..Jil^^/JJil> i'3<ilt lnu5 .^iiiua liio'l "ij.i; oT I wj;!'.) >i*"->i ■..!x.o<I .'J «iiiioa .--iil/; uJ aji)!iri«ni
;iiiJ •^jU<.'J il-jl'../lt« Ri/!l lo lj;>j.!iia .iilJ .fi'..,! i 'Ji, v^Uiy^.mU -. ^m .<'. 'jii< .iiT'c*.' ,)t ■ru.\niul
;,H (t)'uJ I'l -fji.'-io <•! fluiir't «!] 'ii( I'li'ii j -i:IA '11' ,■'!'('■ O .A n-.i/l I'/iJi .M .'// iiiiol
ii.'ifiJ Si.x/r iii y^ii:r.>;l fj(lj l-.- 'Jii.) \'!!iy 'i.i; ^li/.' ' Iniji ,(5tiHl ai ittituT t»3 'jjiiii-j (oiir .HtiiwJ
-i:ii(-».'>t ;u i.i:.;^;j;V"'-' «' t>'ii: ,vjtl-1iil unu.^ . ■ . x.'"" "Uili .t.J/J ^•ii;.t/ .•..vi) /•..<)(<> Hill
liiioL ,i:*il!ii^i.'<li;i^ ;/»,:');>.it:i!l ..filT .l^il'«.!Tjl''''- i.!'. [ Ji K) hm! .'isllM. !! - :>■- 'Jift ill -I'^lMtin i/l-'jui i)L«fU
•(liIOoO ■Jii) to 'iJjIujL C.1'. l/:;)V!a;4 ,(riu'(.' .'i | j.'/,i ,v :i;i/:.iv.' -jliUKiotl Hi'iio hf.ii yjicHM'tirno
<ii!} bjiirKv9f.'i ,i-!itoy \u ly.-ji >.!)>>: « -M'I i'i<»l* \ -.in' /.iinA! •;!/ }:i<>'i '(ir.'lmi-.o loiuii :!iUift»v/ >:iilj
M nHVi !■..'{.,:■<••;, '/I 0(!! "lv.t :i-)ili-i; L '(.j 0"i ; V'. nl f,-.,v.1S fi.i ii'j>l'.»;j.<li '«W u*;I!mU fid 'lo'* ,l<Vii
,!i .i^,iL>r.a :kI: li; -.j.l^-riii.iw-':^ iiornn l.l llCftr • il.u. J,>mI,|;) /.;,•) i.^Ji -jft idu; ,J:i-:i.l -.lil.) Hlltlji-IUtl
J: .»l)i->i f)»l >f)!iiv' ! -<joi(.| u-j'M l>n:ii'jl> oJ ^tiiyv; ,ii n)!liil yiuw
i.,// iii.:!t U, rx.'nuiil i: ll-.l ,tK>(>,0>.>, 1UY0
,'.iii-j •!'• ii.i 'I'.i (^iltiiui,) o'i;' ;. •; I'lir |j.rii»Ji|jo
;.i.-ti;v^c!>l-,.,;! ,M ''.vo -rsv ,^.hi., '...:) " •;""! !>iiii .■•ia-l'lo. f.iiT .s:r i. )iii)j illiv^
,.V,':fc; /''L; viid III 'j •-■..>■'; ,fliiM-:-}iV .'tJ . vli l!ij-i *-) ■kuIkh*! iri!' .'>^ici ui J:7C<uaai>
■ i^iv, ,,!ui-,ylM;.:<^ .'i niullii <■/ .wl-JA :.. .:..-... , '..ui luu: ,:>-'^i: lo Mi>v; ■»nia--(l/ffc Ji-o.Ik -,(
,;-.'(::m-,iV ,/.ii;v.'. ;.;!'<!-i'jd:>Hiv) iu iiio^I i^rw : 'i'^ .;■...:" a'iT .trj'iWiii'i 'iJil illiw 'tmoil -mi
.'■•ir(£.ii, -:k;,- i;r'>j! c'liT i i;'.-] ,S ^-(tii.-a:}. : iJJii^' 0'1» n' l'>3J'<*vo '«'( mi\:A. .S'li^ tuX! .tW
,(!.;.n«))ii'! ..! 'MKU'i'jj.C; cS ,';,lrdl .P ruii:-\dr/>i [.rt's«xi <<>.« <.'.iv/ ,.0 f..i!iA •ii;>'sjjii(j'j itsvaii 'It.
l:..,,-«-..tM,;;i^. .,]f. .IVM ,4 YAit KVai ;;i;w Oilw ; .'fi ^!'li. IIAmI ,Mtl3tj,l.:l ,(>Vbl ,ai Tjd.1.-JV(,,Xl
354
insTonr of juiinson
Iluusn, and was tiiukn- Major Goiieral John
CockL^ Mr. and Mrs. yandinson had tour
ciiildrun: I). 1)., our subject; Sarali 1!.;
William J.; and Dani.d 1'., dt-ceabcd. The
fathur diiMl dune 8, 1.S3S. at the aj;e of forty-
live years, and tl:e mother survived until
Sejiteml.er 4, iMutK The grandfatlier of our
t, Daviii I'atterson, was left an orphan
quite young, auvl inlierited vaiualile
property of lands and negroes. At the a^e
of fourteen years he cuneeiviMl a great desire
sunj
whei
to become a gunsmith, and only one j)erson
in the county understood that trade, an old
Scotchman by the name of Mathers, to whom
he wished to bo liound, as Matiiers would not
learn liim the trade otherwise. This was
steridy objected toby his uncle and guardian,
but the boy aj)plied to the county court of
Albemarle county, and after the uncle ad-
dressed the court, d(Miouncinjj; Mathers as a
drunl
M\
1, the boy was
interrogated
)y the
court
to
learn why he w
..bed to be boi
iid out
to su
•h
I man. lie co
.lly and delib
L'rately
statei
tl
at he liad dete
■mined to lea
rn tile
gunsi
lit
I's trade, ami
here was no
other
person in the county who could tt'ach him,
and for that reason he wished to ije bourul
out to A[r. Mathers. The coui't overruled
tho unchi's objections, and bound him to haid
Mathers. When the Revolutionary war broke
out he was running a successful gunsmith
establisliment, with a numljer of a|)prentices,
and was several times visited liy maraudimr
jiarties to destroy his plant, but oti such occa-
sion.-- his material and machinery were scat-
tered among the hills and put out of the way.
lie carried on business thruu-hout the war,
and supj)lied guns to the Government, for
which he received land in Virginia and Ken-
tucky. Our subject has now in his possession
a number of bills issued by (Jongress and tho
State (iovernment of Virginia, which were
paid to his grandfather for guns. One of these
State bills has on it the following: "These
bills of $500 shall be exchanged and redeemed
in Spani.-,h milled dollai-s, or the value thereof
in gold or silver, at the rate of One for Forty at
the Treasury of Virginia, on or before thei50th
day of December, 1792, according to an act of
Assembly passed the 1st day of March, 1781."
The bill is of common white paper, 21 x 3
inches, printed with black ink, on but one
side. The national bills are 2 x 3 inches, in
heavier white pa{)ei-, printed on both sides.
On i)ne side the inscription, " This bill en-
titles the bearer to receive five Spanish milled
tlollars or the value thereof in gold or silver,
according to a resolution of Congress, passed
at rhiladelphia November 2, 1776," and on
the other side is the card of the printers,
llall iSl Selleis, and a picture of two tobacco
leaves.
Colonel i). I). Sanderson, the subject of
this notice, was reared and educated in Vir-
ginia, and in 1«18 he moved to Marshall
county, Mississijjpi, where he bought a large
tract of laud. IJefore the war he was a rich
man, but was one of many others that suf-
fered greatly by that struggle. Although he
wa.s a slave owner, both he and his wife were
always opposed to slavery and secession, and
he remained loyal to his country. Mr. San ler-
son moved to Texas in March, 1875, having
juvviously purchased land in this State, and
VOe-VAUW "-*!*> H'A'.VVr.X'ii. *flli
I ,)!i.'<nin;j-M)i) (>ill .>J -^!iu>_, ijii' ' .'■il \l•^^.u)i) ' ■ "
>;htoaiit.>q >ii*i lis won ilill ''WftiDM T ! llniniS ;J5>:.>|_U .. do ,.'1 <• .ii';;..irj
r.w ibuiw .jii/iijviiV lo J(i niiin J. „ ■ • •- - .ruil lu ..»»■,'' oiIj . lu .K8«I ,H fldii !. Iviil) •i«il»i;l
odltt; r.v!<.ji r.ijii! ■iunoiliisHjiifi-iviiUl ol Luwj I ;(i:ui L-.j'/i'niJO tjiIUjiii ailj Iuj; ,/iji'j'( o/il
ii/):jf?t. ' I'ltj IT). :iWl »i«w ,uo<i'J!Jl)ii'l bivjiU ,luyj_iJiJ-i
. j,( ^i:, . .. .ri(c7 I>u3ii');l(<i i>(»n .jjduo^i. jJiiip irjiiw
t' )')lo!i3 :,:{m1jiA .fcoo'iv.ftH hiiH filmijl lo '^JTjqoiq
I J'ji: j'-jot;4))ib'"..oo« li'^it-l ,T.M:lm3wO lo '<_taU j .(o*!tkj ?jno \(li'o Ixii; .lUuiicntiiu u oui-j.y\ ot
ibVI .ibifiM 3'.> vi-!' fa/ -i'- t '■.-^li.., '^lifai:)a"A 1 bio iim ,uLh-iJ J.'4ilJ booJaiiabnu ifJnuoa oill (it
/: J[i! ,i'>i(«i'7 ftiiiiw nofTinio-i 1o fif ll'nf ciiT ; .iu-.i--' oJ ,oVj'.l1tiM in -Jiirjut o(U '(«l j!8iiitloto-jy
,t,L<ii;.n! S' .•. 1.' .'i'l'! ^Uf.l l;:m>iu;ii mIT .'Jl-irf , ,,-,i-, i^i.i'l' .yriv- .'jjIIo f>i«:-iJ u(lj fi'iji iiis.');
n Hid aiilT " ,)n.iJ'.|i-i;»<iiii oili il)(« oiiu (i<^ i '],, <M,,xt ^iiaiyij oti.) oJ |j>jl»jip \ja' .nis iH'.i
.Ilia< :ltii(lJ!<jy '.ivH ■jvi'j^-jlrtl irui"'' oifl Wiidil I lij: ol-jri!) ;(il) -i.)l'Vu bji« ,i{l(«tO;» olT.ervll/.
38«nip&df»-ij^iior> "la 'luiJuloK'jf ii ;J V,"'' ■"'■'-''■ I .,:;i vt i;:j!;"K.-nii1(ii ,,«w yO'J '"li ,t)-t.;/l(nii1j
J oi;« ".<.;TV1 1; -ijiiiritjv^Vi Kii!.ii<»lM.li;l'i J;; ! .,,^, h,.!io.io.! -.1 !.n-.i^iv/ oil (dn ir:r.:\ ..J riiMv)
■lunn-;; -j.U i<j I^'kim 'nh r.; ::!•;.■ -loi!).. •/(!( , yiy^j;.,,,,!,;.,!, b:;/; ^!i„.a ;)|{ .,i»i,n <i iIijj^ <»
.witlo! yv/J lo ;.-.(iJ:ii'[ ;^ r-^;* ,. ;:.l]r.t jA ilitll ! ,^(, .„ .,[ ,jj l„,„i,„-,..)Mii l.i;!l vd l.i.li i.!j'.:)^
(V ;w !.';Jii:n;h:j Uj/j ,j-..u::ti t;,'^ .-rMli.n yiil? i i'lUi '^^ iiU ■:•» d:. ;!>.,•/ y;l ir_.;;i/,-i Jj:.!i ■!•)'> t.ii/t
fiM(,-i !,/ o) !v,7oi.! ru! >:t^:.l ./. !'ih: .iiifiij. I b-ilcri-vf. 3ui..-. •..''(' -v.'ihjn'A .-.l^l «i nio
ij'M.: V! Jiii^iHi.i an ■nail--- > ,;'fi^ii*-.i !^ ,Vi./(.y'i j hiix ■.! n:i.l 1 ;ii;>jd T.i.i .i,:h>h:jt>]>U *, :,i„n!i .jdl
fi* )i!i|i sisiijo vi./iwi t.. ir.,<' :>.■' 'U'i .liiMA | li ti Mj .11! i;;'^ (:;U^:^:j^;ji-i i. -nmiun £;»w .>/! iiio
1 ili^ir(,iiilA .oli.'^ir.)^ .l;i^!:.' «•'. 7,i.)j.->'i-^ b£/w1 { .>iw\ln>}ui,.it in ■-..ir.uin I. Aii'n ,J/iJi!iiiiir Minis'*
rru '>■])'// niii Uuh m! iUm-J .•f.'»ir-«ii f;7i'i') r. »fiv ' ^iK'hi.'ruif^ vj! b-f-U-.'r: fe.'jfci.t l/ii*fV!>a w.x liiii
1)1. .•!oi>.Sf.'i.),; ;.|IJ1 'ri..-, i.l« '.it hMWiJiji) ,t7,-.7/!l( I -»ri'iOI<r.>|U Urt .1,l>l I.lJil.l .^((! V,<>>i''''b ii.t »-.'ii,1-IKi|
.?.! ,.K'r! 1)/' ./iliiiini iidi)! h;V'iMw,iirtiicrioji ', -Jy; >a "••■w; •<;"■''"'">'" ''"" lunomni «iii titoii
:ii.'i.ii .(Ac! ,'! '!>;l<' i>'i hi'/.'/r ()! !j ("t/iu iio^i 1 .y!'.'' ••;<' '<■• Jiiu IH'T I. (Ml .illjji 'ill) uMrKiin l"ii!il
jjc ,•,.'..'>., I'll .■; i-ii.-.i ij'>isft.!:>fiii| /!«*s..;v(r(,, 1 ,•},;/; .'.iiii J !(»iK^iiM-M'.i (.hoiiiKrid iM l.i>irui-) -ill
AND UILL COUNTIES.
ho utterwiinl ailded 330 Hcros tu lii.s urio;iii!il
purcLage, making in all 4,727 acres in one bi)(Jy,
all nmler cultivation. In company witli his
Bons he is engaged in stock-raibing, having
on an avt'rage about 70U head of steers. The
Colonel takes |)i-ide in collecting and kee()ing
old mementoes, having liia grandmother's
Bible that she read before tiie Kevolutionary
war, and his wife has her father's Bible, which
is over 100 years old. He also lias a copy of
a newspajier, titled Vinjuila GazMc, pub-
libhed on Saturday, January 21, 1780. On
the first naire of the
paper
an advertisement
that reads as follows: " I sell on the 27th day
of February, 17S6, all my horses and cattle,
farming utensiU, together with some very
likely slaves, etc." The Colonel also has a
deed that was made by an Indian tribe to a
man named IJallow, which is dated May 15,
1781, conveying 200,000 acres of lan.l,
describing the boundaries, and warrants and
defends the same against any red man as long
as the Mississippi river runs water and the
Chickasaw land bears timber, signed by the
chief and sealed with their hor=e brands.
The man Ballow was a second scion of Colo-
nel Sanderson's grandmother, and the deed
has been handed down to the Colonel. The
land, which was located in Mississippi was
given him for some kind and friendly act
done by him to the Indians. The maternal
grantlfather of our subject was one of the first
Baptist ministers of Virginia.
The Colonel was married* November 1,
1864, to Miss Elizabeth 1'. Jones, who was
born May 15, 1833, a daughter of William
Jones, who was born in South C:ir(-liiia, J une
8, 1783. He was married, November 4,
1809, to Miss I'halba Ilutchings, who was
born in 1794. The father died January 8,
1855, at the age of seventy-two years, and
the mother September 1, 1857, aged si.xty-
three years. They were the jjarents of six
children, viz.: Kufus, Jasper, Mallerb, and
William Lucius, deceased; and Elizabeth, wife
of Colonel I). U. Sanderson. Mr. and Mrs.
Sanderson have had eight children, four of
whom still survive: Helen A., William
Lucius, I'halba, and Warwick D. \n his
political views Mr. Sanderson is an old-time
Whig.
Wo copy the following notice from the
Whitney Mc^menger of January 23:
"Colonel 1). I). Sanderson, a well known
and highly respected citizen, who resided a
few miles below AVhitney in the vicinity of
Prairie Valley, on Wednesday, January 20th
about 1:30 o'clock, passed quietly over the
river of death to the unknown beyond. Tiie
remains were buried at liis home in a spot
selected by himself several years ago. He
was a kind and affectionate fathei', a devoted
husband and _ a whole-souled neighbor. He
was radical in some of his religious and polit-
ical opinions, but questioned the right of
none to differ with him, and some of his
warmest friends were numbered among those
who held oi)posite views on these questions."
fAMES E. M<QUATTEKS, a successful
I farmi'r of .lohnson county, is a son of
James and Martha (1 lay wooil) MctJufC-"
s. The father was born in I'airlield dis-
.c :Vn'A'J<Vi i.iiVi ^Vt.L
,i -lo'Imt.voK. ,',y,i:M:>\i mtv r)ll .ti»TI .f"- \ U:\uyhu hi t\ ol i>uv>i> VM '•'' .. .... ,„|
,8 -i-iiujuei. Liuili ii'iIJi:^ iiiT -i-^iri lit inijii j f-iii liJiw ^iUK}(im>'> jtl .Uv. : ...ui lis
L;ifl ,^.'ii4y^ ov/i-\Mi!tivi/« lo ^^^'i ci(!< Ijk cCi'l i viiiy/id ,j^i)ifliiii-i-jol* rti iiu'^nji.'i-) at yit eni.n
,5 s
'!J
■(jiiiiT .fcij>r»v rt!c;il;l ; jjjiiiqoo^ I'lUi -ijnilijalloo iii oWnj e^jiliil l.'iit'jIo'J
i);))i- ,.i i;r!l<iii^ .istq^jif-. ,;«ii'!i>l ..xiv .'f.ibliiij j ft''t;M[jo,i'biii«ip, *ii{ j4iii^iiid ,8ao1nMrii:ioi bio
oJr/'.tiJ'.HJjixilH lull! ;t>:>-<j;-j:)'>b fSditUKl niailliV/ I rmaolUilo-io'A ail.f nolau f,;;yi Mil? lujij ul.Jiii
mM bum .'.M .•(•jr.iaixKjiJ '1 .'' bduioO 'lu I i'.,iilv/ ,t)klii[ fl'-t-filt'iioil afti! iWfi .siii Ohh.ikv/
!lo iiiul ,ii3'ii'iiiit> i'^H'-' ■'^'"1 ■-"•''''' r":'ij-tal'(i/}8 I lu v/H!) i) w;'( -.-n'rt ;)!.! .i>ii>ini!Ov 001 -fj-fo si
iiifiiltJV/' ,.A n.'.liill :o'-i;i.')?* ll'l^ itruiiv i '.4 ,/i\>t.B'0 .>.»,-.4\)Vr} tijjiij .•!£iijjifjev/-Ki <:
eiti 111 Ci xoi/nf.V*' !ii<r. .j.diitil'l ,ofii-.'(iJ I n» J .(''eri.iL: v(j;i(ii»vt, .•^«i*io.i.'?, uo bailinl
oasiJ-blo iiii ni iti.i:i!>t>(:.'i.y iW ^vc.ir l»:ailibi] j Jii'jnt^aiJ-iuv.J.c is/i ai itiq.»ij ■'. ailj
y-.rl o,i.>'K lill'/ -iTiirV-V'^ ,filifjii:.Ju j^ciiiru:]
,!. ••;iil ooli> ioiiuioU »«(T '.aJu ,*>vi;ia vi^Jil
»( w»J jJi'i; i.nlbilj 11,1 i(^il :>bf.i.i iiiiv,- ii:iiri>:»-»|i
/U y«M b?)Jri!t .si ,•. . . ^ ^^^^
. teb;9«Li7/ no (^'.liUiV" ah{i:-i'l ,lju!i! lo
ilT .bl!')^->(' nwo.tililii tr.'.l Ol liJjVj'.'.'
J..qa
JO vd Klrl 1.- l.'jhlio
an
■> " V,: : ii-(:>a&L
.:..,. ;^l o^iwi. -(1,1!,; A:h> U,!„.i l,nu l-.idy
jiio.j i)!,!: M' -iy^il-i eiii 'io 'jiiioe ;ii u;yib«-( ai;y» I l>t''J>J 1. i!l itnu ,uj:i.i6nit.n.i}^ i'^nj-ViinutH ion
■ > ;j;'j)-< 4,ii Irhiwi' 'Jii'> iijif Rii'iiiili'ii jjji>i i t'it'r .Ij.ii.'Iv'J uill oi li'fvjji i;-ji/oeil uc^aI >ir;ii
* I
'^lil 'lu i.fj:.'. l-.i/; ,..H'i irjiv.' -oitii' oJ 9(?(>n ! • iiv i'fqUfeitoil^ lii botcw! sew rloiilv/ ,liij*ii
•><.?<-, IJ u:'..iiiti lj'.-<'.<ki:ii'; •./•MW ^l':;.i'."1 i-itii-.UK// ■'■'■. '<ll),,..i '.I ;.■!)« l.iiiJ (iii'-i^. lo'i rUJ;l ii'jvi'^
I Jrf'.il :;i:! 'n. '.u. i.;V- J'jjfilijsi i'.i.j '\ij vjMuMniiS'ig
-■■--.-\,'- -<-:v\^.-.^ j i<iinj>'ii7 tob'.aJ-tioiiii J.iJqBfl
.;<'i|.;,M -i;... ••■ ( ::; -.iJiif/! 1.!.. -mJ, •*' i ,„^-l.V/ \v . ■i,l.;iirl. /; .WiK/ ,01 'o.V. imiJ
iir.>i\'i:r oF Jr-ux.
trict, S'.iuth Oiirulina, in 1^12, was :i furinor
by niTUjiatiuii, a ileucnn in tlio l^Iis^ional•y
l>:i|)tibt cilurcli, and died in 18S3. Mr. and
Mrs. l\Ic(2iiattLr8 wero nuiiiiod ahotit 1830,
and wcvc tiie parents of live cliildren; Will-
iam A., deceased; (Juoi-giana, wife of W. A.
Hood, uf llulihard CHty, Hill county; Mary
K.,dLreased, was the wife of Daniel Strin^rc-r,
of Jackson parish, lAUiisiana; James, uiir
mil.jecl, and Ju.seph J., of Waxahaehio.
The sul.ject of this hketeh was born in
Fairlield dibtrict. South Carolina, April 15,
18-17, and in 1854 he removed with his
parents to Louisiana, and in 180(5 to Ellis
county, Texas. IIo began life foi' himself in
I8t)5, and in 1870 he began farming on
rented land in JS'avarro county, where ho re-
mained two years; next pre-empted IGO acres
of land lifteen miles west of AVaxahachie,
Ellis county; six years later sold this place
and iiought 200 acres in the same com-
munity, and five years afterward bought his
pre.-eni farm of 100 acres four miles east of
Alvaiado, Johnson county. lie has since
ad<led to his first purchase until ho now owns
200 acres. In 18(;3 Mr. McLiuatters eldibted
in the Third Louisiana Infantry, and served
about one year on i^iiard duty.
He was unirried in 1871, to Sarah J., a
daughter of Alfred < ). and l,(Uii-;a Tullos,
and they iiave had eight children, namely:
Lucy, wife of Jooejih IJrown, of Johnson
county; Ilettie McQuatters, also of this
county; and Katy, Jennie, Mannie, Otis,
Mattio, Ciiestei', at home, and also Eilgar
McC^iKitters, deceased, born Se])tember 2'J,
1885, and died November IM, 1887.
Politically Mr. McQuatters is iilentitied
with the Democratic
party.
Igiously
b(jth he and iiis wife art
Missionary i;a],list church.
^^OHN 1'. COX.— The political history of
II county would be materially incom-
plete without an outline of the career of
John P. C
th<
jut Sheritl" of th
county. He is the sou of Euclid M. (Jox, one
of the heroes of San Jacinto and a native of
IJowliiig Green, Kentucky, who came to Texas
in 1831; he served in the border wars with
the Indians, volunteered in the war by which
Texas won her indepeudenco; served also in
the wars following the independence of the
State, and was tinally killed in October, 1838,
on IJattle creek, Navarro county, in an eugaire-
ment against a number of Indian tribes, the
struggle being between the settlers and red-
skins. Euclid M. (Jox was united in marriage
to Sallie L. Scott, a mitive of .Montgomery
county, Alabama, who died in Hill county,
Texas, in 1881, at the age of seventy-two
years. Of this union three children were
born: John P., the subject of this notice; J.
Fred, a Presiding Elder in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, who died at Fort
Worth, Texas; and Mollie, the wife of Dr. J.
M. Urithin, of Hill county.
John P. Cox, the eldest child, was born
October 23, 1830, in Washington county,
Texas; he s})enf his childhood in Purleson
county, and was trained in all the details o'
agriculture; his early years were devoted to
'^IrCi.iViI 'i '>ii»i •'^''"^H yi^Avr' iuvi«l 'jil3 liiiv
M
111 i'.iiu»'.:jii» li ,(ioilmjii').j<» \<S
o v;..l..M !l;Ml3i!:v| ■,•;'»'--. ■^. J^ J .'J ^'■i'*'|J i ,-.%^.; . :lr;
;; K-
.ii,-:.-.)ia.-> Jrfii',;t;'i v'sii'i^is'"*''!- ' i<-*''J''' ' •!"<«!'! Ijitiumi m'uw aT>J!,(ii,f,lf>lr',- ,8'iM
! ■ili'V/ :ii.''':l;'i(ifi &7fJ ^o " Wltf'iMj -ji!} iri'j')/ liii/i
V/ :).) Mt:/r ,,(;>;iv>',,jji! ,: li^>.j!aM',:, ,. A ai«i
,', ;-^i ••,■.;.;>;> liiii .VliO '.■M.JdjiU 'io,l>ooll
yii... ,ZOO,JA LibrJi IC, :i'.w; Uiil .;..il .yhni ^- ; ^, [^ |,.,,,/^ ,,„,(,,, si/ jflUur; ,■,■;•■;', *.|ijilHii'')
jtj'v/ .-/icv/ r:;in'_M -.u ; i (.•jrii.'j i.i , mri :, '^ ,^^ j [,y.,r,M[l -.(,1 JUi ii;ivj-:vt! .^l! wu T ■(t;uiu.-j
j^^'ii^n'J iit' ''^V'iii^>-'<''i"'^: '•*''-' t''!''-'''''"''-''^''^ "■' i r-yj;!ir ;■;)(; i/!..v ■.jini >vi/:j'-»^ xt,! , YJiiin,'-) Bili3
liJ .htajiii onl.iii )u -Lfi^lmi'i^A ^i.i'h:-.;/'. 1:i-ij; < ,,,„, (^,,,„,^ ,j,|j .jj ,.y.(,,,, 01,(1; )il;.j;oi( b'lii
1".> ''':•' ■'' '-'^ "■ ■''■' ii'-,JV/'.."I ^i^illDO ''Ji'^'"'-' j j..tj Ifli^iiod I/!RWl:>l"t« «V:«Y. i.vlt bin, ,(li(!Iirii
;:.,,r .UM ;:i I'U": .' ^('V/ /wl ) .1/: l>ii;!ii>! .,ii.i:i^ '•. , .^,,., ..,,|i,,, ,_,.,•, ^ ,,.,,. oOj ;- iu:.;i iTM^n.l
■•.•i.iK.u;' .;!.' ■<!.. -'viJiin ki tUij.''!-^ .a aiJL.c. «;l ' .■„,,.,, ;^,;,i i,[l ./jruKo noair-lol ,ol'/Ji':viy:
.7/^-/jut.v').i 1.. "v;.. Mil i<; ,i>'i<.{ ..: .'-'■--''•..,'■;,„, ,„ojjj,ry:.!/l -lU ti'S-^i ..i -j , n-. 0[}i:
a:,-» .tyit,! ;.;• ■-.-•m!' -U :.,:> MiM HI ■■=•"-;,;..,■,... (kw, Vl l;i.;ll. I i^iS.i^^'n.l I-. , .D^ :mI 1 Jli
I- ,.;-.iioii f.ii«J io Ji/jj.di'c jiii ,.'! :ii!''. :ii!".'! ' ■■{'"'' t'U'i'iJ iHj '^'•■'l -mu liiodi:
il'jiilwyJ 'iLV
,■('■! i tm! how >i:-:j'r
iv/rl Jn b-jii' Oil.'/ ,lljl^'?^ ,ilo-i:iilO Iwjo ai'^l-i
.until. ) Hill lo,itiii*..iJ J/i
:\^,.'»(;Mi .ainbltib jii\p luiil fVBif \Mitl iyfi*
•.MA'i I'.IUO
ci>l ;int
i^fi
.r?'U .</i;
^^ylj^/^.c ^ f^^^.^9pc
i'
'■' --i f
I ft, /
':>-;^<^s v'■'^'^"^■• ^'-^"-o
AND UILL COUNTIES.
■AWl
tlifso pursuit^;, tilliiif^r the soil and raising
stock. Having t-hown a niarke.l .legrcu uf
c.\cculi\(i ai)iiity, his name- was ])ri'stjnted to
liiu jifojiie of Hill connty as a eandidatu for
yheriif, to «'hicli otlicc ho was ulwtL'd in Au-
gust, 1^72. He served continiionsiy for a
periodof tun years, and in IHSC, was re-elected
U) the ollice. He lias neviu- failed to win in
the race when his name has Ween proposed,
the hest evidence of his popularity as aii
otHcial. He has been Hill county's Sheriff
durintr some of her most trying times, and he
has had a varied experience in dealing with
her lawless element. He is a man absolutely
without fear, and his name is a terror to evil
doers; he has made thousands upon thousands
of arrests, ami has chased law-breakers over
a hundred counties or more in this State;
when Sherilf Co.\ starts out after a criminal
the guilty party has little liope. iMure than
once, when in the peid'ormance of his duty,
has he faced untiinchingly the pistoU and
guns (.f the lawless ek-ment. He lias been
present at the opening of four diifei-ent court-
houses in Hill county, bjdng now one of the
oldest puldic servants.
Mr. (Jo.x WHS a volnutcer in the late war,
cidisting in the fall of 1S(U, in (^)mpany 1!,
Nineteenth Texas Cavalry, Confederate ser-
vice. He was in the Ti'i"is-^Hssi.>sippi De-
partment tiirougli Louisiana, Arkansas and
Missouri, taking jjart in a number of im-
portant engagenjents in that region; he \vas
in the tight at ^^fanstield, I'leasant IHU and
Yellow liayou, in Louisiana, and was with
Marma.luke on his last raid in Mis.-ouri.
He served iis a private am) ifs ( hderly Ser-
reant,
id the good fortune never to bo
wounded oi' captured, although he was always
faithful to his post of duty and frecpiently in
the heat of battle.
In ^Lly, LStU, Mr. Cox was united in mar-
riage to AHss Annie M. Anderbon, of Hill
county, a native of Alabama; her parents re-
moved to Texas in her childhood. Her fam-
ily was one of the most prominent in the
early days of Texas. Her brothers were
soldiers at the battle of San Jacinto, and in
fact participatcal in all the early wars for
Texas and her independence. Her death
occurred in 1883, and Mr. Cox's second mar-
riage was to Mrs. Emma Y. Vines. He ia
the father of eight children, six by his tirst
union and two by the last. Kor the past
quarter of a century he has been a member
of the Masonic fraternity, and he also belongs
to the L i). O. R He is a man of the
highest integrity of character, a citizen in
whom IHIl county takes great pride.
fKSSE A. McGOWAN was born in
White county, Tennessee, June ID, 1841,
and, although he learned the tannery
business in his yi^uth and followed this call-
ing for some time after he began life for hini-
sidf, he is now a successfid tiller of the soil
and owns an excellent farm of 2t)0 acres in
Hill county, of which ninety-live acres aro
under cultivation and well improved with
gootl buildings, etc. His parents, Samuel and
Sarah (l\rarkham) McGowan, were born in
Tennessee', and died in 1851 and LStlD
respectively, the latter being -15 years of ago
li'All'AXSO',) .AAVi\ i\/J.
iiif o: i^vjft 'yMiri'ji J.'i;>oy «ji(-i !.r.<l IttP, ,t»iJOg | ^jiiJ^un ''n:: (iut »ilJ ynillil .^lifiaiuq a«'ii(j
o<_/iwlii 'Bw -.il ilv)(t>/il'.> ,bblJ)J;jjw III /.'5>i'i(mjV/ I to 0!>l^»li l/O^t'iBfii p. nwoiU ;gii;vt;ll .il-ioJ'i
.li ^(1!: •.ID .ji )i(i:! "(J'lli 1(> J8'j<| bi'i oJ liililJin'l j c1 IjjJiit/tia t<{ nii'i/ oiuiii; ail! .vtiliilt. o/iiu-JZJ
.9lH«.! lo Jfi&li Hlli I loi nJ/;b(blH10 « £li VtdCOU liU! \i' 'jltJOilJ ailt
-l*lil ill bolil'II 8117/ ^o! ) :iM . V:''' ! ,, '■ T - (;\ ni l;Ol-jj|;> Zl.li bll !.3ifl'» ti ilivi ••/} [i\viOl\Ji
!liH to ,aod-i»{niA -M (JUtnA YUnwi/ditd..-; li..vi-.>, ftW .STHT Jiiii^
-v! 'Jl)^J•!wJ -i;.!'.! ;.'iH'»:>/j.iA 'lu •■ ■'•i-oj yM-n ,\\ro\ v,: lu/.s .u'ltiyy I's) '!» Jxjitkj
Hirt^ •(■ill .>><."it!l;!.'iio -IJii ili 4!i:/"'l" C'j 'I'v.'nin j (li jJiVVOl .(''liicl ,m/'>II St:,! l.U .ri-)ill«j Oi) i '...I
■.h') ;ii nijiKiiionq ;? >fii dilt 'itj itua abv y'M ''-'■'' ■]**''0[ ''''^^■' sj-M oiiiBa siii ii»fl« 09i!i eil)
<jijv. 6'CjJiio-.<l ('ill .-jB/'/r J-' ><\i'-t yh/.o j .t(i CI, ^Jh*i!iiqo.| i.i.J 'to .^'nobivi Ja!Kl ail)
ill !'!!« ,o);;i u-.l. 'j.';Ii' tcf.'ij..<i :,(li ifl .-j'tiibli - I Tti^ji!?. s'^iiiiicj liill fiioi^ -if..! y/i .Ir.i'jillo
lot ,-!o-v -!•„;:, ;>,[J III; c: )y,J,:ji-i.<.;ij Us,
oi oil oVfl'V .V li'iM.a .?-yl,\ <A ^S5v/ -ivri'
Jti-;ii -.:ii V''. -/i>j ,;i-niil.i!:? IjI-io lu ■i')U.;.i.1 ■u!
1.jilill-JiTi ii !!'<-...' ;■-:,(; jil V rilMf" >; •'■ ,:^Vif..<^
■>Jr 1o il«,ris K -r ..ii .1 O O .1 ',•■'.: .,
>\i i'lUi ,-;i:iii:i ^oif/.i i'-mTT.iil toaiicivi Miii-itdi
iilv/ ^i;rl!.L::: M, -J^.i' >.-.-r.[/.>, U-ini:' li ijJtll SJll!
Yl'<>llf'-".'i)! Ni-.i; ji ij .iii .lillMfisl'j Ht! ilwaf -ly/!
livj o! -I'.Tif/i ii r^i 'fii/ii; oiil iniii ,!H>'1 Jijoihjv/
lyYo su>.-li:-i!vl v/L-i ■-'•■li-.iiiii' i-.rr' !,>(!i; ,:Jr!rni5 lo
;..')..< ;,'• ii: 'iioi.) ■((' aL.i'iriHu'i !. .ilxKli! )i
'i:iijfiir;j i-. ,'i;l.: .■{■!■.■ "ju;!,; >!.• ■' I 11 i-iii;;,' ijyily^
, '>!!■: ■)! ,1,1.1.3 J. l; II .i.(;u?l '.-Ijlii Willi ^(•u;,j ■■, Miiij. Oj(J
J'=-).f^i ." ' ,yl!/b ,iu '.; M;;(i^(l!-M'V, ;; tn[t ili .'if'v, .ooh'j
. -l^ivj .:::.:v i;.;-'i!; 7? iMi'; !!;ll itJOiiv. I I"-'. •:..:'. I. j ft.!) vi;.iiliL'un)n;/ by... 1 „l .oil
_^.'._. _ ^_. .;^.~,_,..__ -.' ^ I, /-■..•; .)..; j'? :i'"l:l.,!v i'-'-'WH,'. yiil >|. Kdll^^
: jii.'., (i-yi/iii!- iijijt ■(oviniiiii'iiv.i.iMjUi'vr'riq
,r Muul wv/ //.//i'c^.;! - ^iy^^'l|^ ,„;: iu '....' v.ii y,nn.i ,^1..-KV. li:ri Ml b-S.»0;i
-u,.il iu:.,ti
n,.u..
liori ff'J "ni ■
rjI'iSj
ni .>;.■.■>;, l'■^■■
:v "
ti-l;; iS'/l'.'ii :j-
ri-V5M
iij... h.V,:
fU!l .
hrKlnir.,,,^
■-1, ..••■:
< . ,y:.>i\ :ri
...' r
l.';i.-:l ii!.).
IgJ'.J
'•M'^ ■- "■"•-
. '■•'■ -
vf ;,.■.:<
^a;,.. t.;'j» . ! ,„. -
..I Mi' r.i ".oyitiuiu
i ynilttiJiio
r .i',i..bjo(iin
. m'.-.K!.' (i ili J'lJI.j ntH;\t'A ,i-l II. >.:!,; iM.
;i...>jiri ,t..,i,f ill ijM ji.ii.Tjjijjfcj 'inttUoti
■i •iiii-;..i"; .bi-..!!..-.!!;!/ )li l.lgit Cllj fli
./' I'lU; .lUii.iiiiliM.I ;li .Uii'^jii'l v.il'li.Y
1' .il 1,-1 1 3-111.1 .:ili III) ■.•;iiil)r.Mn':M
..'•l'. '<■»' 1>H!1 VlU lil(( t! Wl( lljVC..* (jU
358
HISrOHY OF JOHNSON
nt flio time of liur ileatli. U|miii tlif uiu-iiinu;
ol' tho Civil will- .J.-sr.,, A. Mf,(H,wun alian-
doiicil iho tuniiery iMisine-sei to enlist in the
Coiit'eil(!i;ite service, aiic] for one year was in
Citptain Hubbard's indepeiiileiit conipmy,
alter which lie joined a Mississippi reiriinent
couiMianded by Cohniel IVrrin. witli winch
lie remained until the close of the war, being
Sergeant of his company. lie was in the
bloody battle of Shiloh, beside., many en-
gagements of less importance, but after a
time hi, company was detached to do scout-
ing duty for tlie brigade an.l still later he
was detailed to make saddle, for the Con-
federate army. At the close of the war he
I'eturned home and was unitcii in marriage
September 2U, IbOo, to Miss Deoliece Uosa-
inond who was born in ISiO, her father being
Samuel liosamond. Mr. ?»Ic(jowan became a
resident of the Lone Star State in 1865
and during his residence in Henderson county
he suijerintended a large tannery. He ne.xt
went to .lohnsuii county, from there to Mc-
J.ennan county, renuiined two years, then
moved to Freestone county. His wile died
in ISli'.l, at the age of twenty, leaving him
with one daughter to care for: LiUie I)., who
is still at home with her father. He re-
mained in Freestone county untill 187(1
Miss Lou Williams became Mr. McGowaii's
second wife in 1S7(). In the same year, first
located in Hill county, on a portion of the
farm on which he now resides, which then
couoistetl of IGO acres; after, jiurchased 100
acres. His second wife died in 1880, leaving
four children: Katie L., Walter li., Jessie A.
Henry I!. The mother of thes
ildi
was the daughter of Joseph and Catherine
(li.,arks) Williams, the former .d' whom died
many years ago, and the latter in 1887.
JMr. Mc(iowan and three of his children are
members of the Metliodist Episcopal Church,
and he is a devoted Christian, taking great
interest in church work and striving with all
his power to bring others into the fold. lie
is one of the substantial men of this county
and his cai-eer may well be emulated by the
youth of to-day.
^,()WKLL L. CUIGGS, a prosperous far-
|raj inerof Johnson county, is a son of W. A.
C-riggs, who was born in Henry county,
Virginia, in 1820. He came to Te.xas in
1857, locating first in Fllis county, and three
years later, in 1800, in Johnson county. At
the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted
ill the Southern army, serving thi-ee years, or
until the close of the war. The mother of
0111- subject was Casrandra F., a daughter of
William Henry Clark. They had six chil-
dren, viz.: Howell I... Sara C., wife of M. L.
IJaker, of Livingston, Montana; Dennis F.,
Alvarado; Silas M. , of Fastland, Texas; Annie
M., wife of John Davis, of Cleburne, and
FtHe S., wife of E. F. Kiblinger.
Ikiwell L., our subject was born in Henry
county, Virginia, May 30. 1852, and in 1857
lu! came with his parents to Texas. He re-
mained at home until 1873, when, at the age
of twi'nty-oiie years, ho began teaching school.
1871 he bought 280 acres ot land at his
jiresent location, six miles east of Ah aiac.o,
which he immediately i^(igan to improve,
:..;■,■ t ■, 1 1/.:') (■<!j; .■lt''';"t. lo •,iMt<(-.^<M;() ii.iJ f.v.V ' ;^.; i.'i ..|V, .'jill (ffijU .-Iji.'jii f»ll lu dfiijj y.ll }n
;,ji), , iv/ 1., r..!!'-.:.1 ')iit /^nr.n^'.l'X (,U-)ft«.J!) ; ,.,:.: it!!YM,>; »■ ]/I .A .-^.'.l. -uiw livi.* •)•!) V> .
.Vi'^'.l '!l MU«l ' il3 I'llJt /'•<.'.<; -'■■• •' .'i: 111 5«!iji«i 4ij atl'.iiiwfiil •('•-•'•*":l '^''^ li'jiiol^
I'M: (nof-il.l-, ti''i to ovuil l>ii)( lU! , 'i,;.^ -ijiu-^ ai;-.i -j-il Liu- ^'jivio-i .iti-'..,i»t;i(i<.0
^;iiv..f^ t'l:;: ,Wuw ff)n(iil;> ii\ itim-fiiii \ ,1 'hlw (iifv/ ,;i!T:-/i f,jnfiio!J v.f bfJlxiJiiiinior)
„:li I'l h-jJbiiiicit, -jt! 'A-yn '(ufd -,0'.-ir.'' «!i! l>nft i .f,-. i(_ii«ii; at.i.i.4d*i .tlvii.!-;-: lo -..li;i,.i (^'.-.kiJu
Vi!! ul To ilJWOV i ,j .,^-^;i j;jj .■i-JUiiUM^ati BRol ^0 6Jn0fit;»>.nH
! -);ioj:4 ob oJ boibal-Jb hhw ^ii«iq«tt>9 ciil J'mU
* ' ' ' afl laliJ !lii« bill. alu:gm( silt 'lol vliil> j^iii
-,i:? ..vj^.i (.1; t ,'liT)WA') .J vlJHV/(>/=^, I -"oO [>iii "'1 i»-ji;ji'iiH a)l*»ii ot IwCt/u-jb rjiv/
A . V/ 10 irO« Lr.: ,',Ml!n'i> I106.I.' >1, U)i-J(ll {'^t ' J«l 1«V/ 3:!j in Ofcvlio tulj JA .IJii:-.^! 'itj( lt..|(«l
.Vi.ii;--!-:. .-.o'^H ri srioj ar-r ■.■!/' .^T^gii'.) ^^ ! ?.'y.";!-i n n; ..jinu «».•■« i..-.!i; siriurl injn (j 3-ji
,.• ;i..;^Vi- oi JfMJ"! -ill ,;ii;/?j (il .t;i:lixn V • "--J '. i^.it- •■^U ,-. U ..J .(iel'U /'S -VMln.^ I, |-;h
Ofviih ; :ii. ./t ,.. ,. i.;li;i j, i.nl --Hin.K! .T^JkI: ; j^iwvmJ --''iM v..i ■Ctt:l r.i m^.! .^,1// .i.! . ln)<.j:f\
,itt ./J. Hi:... r,,,'n(rjl )i OiV^! ill ,v<'*r s;ef.>y 1 « emir-J (.av/.-Os]/: .-^l/i rifl.jeiji".>U IttKinji^
ij-!l;;ilr:- i.ii •!(. '•.■'i'i ■•!!: ■?•/ •*i<..; vi:i^!i'j''- -"'J I ''•'■^■'■'' i" .i3«'ci •i'j:''j rtioJ t»tii i«j liuMsM
■T! ,.i!vi7 -luU Xn\'vJ :■..■■-, f .u-.i trij^lU:-^ ^^^h fil ' ■. I'ri. •,. ifOM';! oa.}? .I) f>Vjnifuw)T •.til •L>;:i'r;;i. i.lL:
;,, ,..,■^ui • 'rl .11;.'/ ■,,!;! "fr .>,.:•' .iP I'Jift i- • > ■■•' X,'''"''^ .^;i-U;i li iivl. .;<);!! '^^i;lft Jii
1.1 riM!-...-.i. i; '•• K-ii. :,;:.rs'.) .,.v. i-,'.i>'ji.; L.o I ;..;/: ■■'• .'ii. i. I'l ,7'iM"0 ^io-ik''!. •^. ir.y^i
lia- zi^ i..-:i V'.-!'!' ..:u,i:.l Yi:;-.:' nt..:!f;V'' li'-il ,..-u. 7 - //3 P'^fi Joii:-. ■ ,yiiniui> '.li.inl'j. \
.A .]> '\c v'::v, . ') ,:-:;:>i ,..) i.-,/..!! ; ■■ : .■ . . !. i'll O'l •' .:>'il ,7l(!i:i..;. y :■: 1fl'V.-,M oJ l.;ivn::i
l.n:' ,;.:n('. .;\! U. ,.^ivla r .i... 1, 1... *>1: .; . J^ ' '^' -11 :-,:!)(it -.jii ;!j(c- y>,. .ni >,i PiU fcl
.ii.;^i.'i;!.:i ''1 .'1 ;. injv,' ,.y :t'!;H I .jV<'J itf'Mf /v;.!'--. M.'..i^i,y-:'.i iii fjuwijim
•(■W-.Ii 111 ,ri ..J f^:' .i-.vj.ll... !U0 ,..'' i.yv/-.il [ ''■■'■'■ "-Af. .lU .JllHJl->;>i' hti d\\\ '!i i;..J fcHJlA
i''>'J rii l.i.c Vo.:; i:;; ,,.]/; ,i.;,,;v.(i7 ..uii..-?! : .-ii ,'■. ji ->nw- jWi ^A .OVHl ni yi'?/ Ifu.i.u^i
■n ■•11 >.A..{ .■: Oil- !...; .;,, i!,r;/ r,-vi.;. -,;f ' •...: .'J :;...■-„; .. -lo ,/n.i.or. liiii. tu !ot..-.wl
(jvr .vil; ir ii-)ilv. ,y.T'r.l ii.;:iii ■>..., .11 ;.i Lu.iiutu . ^^a;;.' ilvni'w .r .l,.ir"jt '.-..« yii il-iiii,.^ .'i'-. iiriut
.' V;,:;:,- v;, ,(.!■. ..^,; ,,,■-: „',.,; ..j,;..-^ Mto /).•■)■:•■! h. i '>i}i Jjy.^.ii''-. .rq /t-jl5a ;-,.j'!^.. '»;jl j . h>:iUi;i..a
Mii ;■: LilJil S. •»!■:: MliU 1 .1 .^:, ...,! f!i I'^fl I ■:j.lu'i:-A ,ii':,-'l i,l \ III' iih'l! 1^'}'.:.:X- >^dl €:flOU
"....1.!/ (.. :.;,.>.-r: ..i-. .,..'.;;,;.,. jl ).t;i,..-lU ^ '• ;: .■:t>l. , .il .-.".,7/ .JoUkW • .l--.i,|i(i.j •1.|.,1
■.■/.■■wMiM ' ...-■■ I .:-,i>.:!.., ■,,..-, „i ,!■),,!// .:';..:i!l.<'yv.Hj to v.. (loiii :ulT ,:i --,,0! 1 ii.i..
AND HILL COUNTIES.
3.TJ
liiiiMiiii,' tlie first wire fuiiei' e:ist of tlie hitter
|.hu-e. Tlie dry weatlior of ISS-i-'Hu su^.i;e^te(l
to Mr. C;ri-os the idea of an artesian well.
He sueceeded hut fairly well with the first
atteiu[it,and drilled anotlier, witii niiudi hetler
succe.^s, lioth of whieli now i^ive an abundance
of water for stock, lie now has a well-im-
proved and well stocked tarni and a fine new
house, the whole valued at $7,500.
In 1880 ho was married to Nannie M.
Griggs, a daughter of i.ouis and Sarah
Griggs, natives of Henry county, Virginia.
Mr. and Mrs. Criggs have six chihh-en:
Jerry F., Annie L., Haymoiid E., Dou Koger,
Kate and Mag-io May. In politics Mr.
Criggs favors the Democratic party. In
early life lie joined the Primitive IJaptist
Church, and showed sucli zeal in tlie service
tliat he was given a license, and is now a
minister in that denomination. He is at
present Clerk of his church, and of the Vil-
lage Creek Primitive ]]aptist Association,
^.ENRY C. FORD, Whitney, Texas.—
f^ As miglit naturally he expected, men-
'^ tion is nnide in the pi'esent work of
many citizens of Hill county, Texas, now
pi'ominent in their diffei-ent callings, init
none in, .re su than Mr. For.l, wlio has repre-
sented the mercantile interests in this section
until recently. He owes his nativity to
Louisiana, his birth occurring in Sabine paiv
ish November 1, 1844, and when but six
years old came with his father to Texas.
The latter settled in Posque county, in
Smith's Rend, arid here our subject was
reared and receiveil his education in the
country school. ^Vhen twenty-one yjars of
age he commence,] learning the saddler's
trade, and worked at tiiis until 1872, when
he went to Towash and engaged in merclian-
dising. He continued in liusiness there until
1878, when he moved to Hamilton Springs,
where he remained until Wliitney was located,
after whicli he moved to that town. He there
built a store and continued nierchandising
until 1890, when lie sold out and is now col-
lecting and settling up his alfuirs. In 18G2
Mr. Ford enlisted in the Eightii Texas Regi-
ment, when but seventeen years old, and
served faithfully for three years. Mr. Ford
was married in 1865 to Miss Angelina Cox,
a native of Kentucky, born in 1815, and
the daughter of William and Mary Cox.
This union resulted in the birth of five chil-
dren: Mollie E., wife of (). II. 'i'oung (see
sketch); William T. : John II.; Ola; and
Edward (deceased). The mother of these
children died in April, 1875. Mr. Ford took
for his second wife Miss Melvia Duncan, a
native of Tennessee, born October 29, 1856,
and the daughter of William W. and Dora
Duncan. To the second marriage were
born five children: Guy W.; Rertha C;
Rowland C;.; Rerrell D. and Charles L. Soon
after his first marring,^ Mr. Ford was atHicted
with rheumatism, ami was a cripple for two
years. This was when he was just starting
and time was money with him. However,
he was not discouraged, but as soon as able
went earne.-tly to Work and soon retriexetl his
fallon fortune, and is now comfortably situ-
Kiiw .l:i;i|_( [(>''. K"' !>'io(! I'tf, ,!i(it«i •: - ■■ ' ■ ' "> ••••-i'; ■• ■■ ■'. . ' li ' >'
Iv ;.!K'-,'{^ .•'>!l0-'(tllf>7O ifidlf .[•).'il''3 ^'lIlllHW ; .l!'V
n^iiw ,£"»"*:' 1 liJitii »iilJ tc l-^Jxjv/ Imu. ,9{ij:ii i Tjjim! (f iniii i!tivr,i9if5o(ifl b'-lii-.!' !.HJ!,i<jiu»J}B
■ n«ili>;'j.i! in !'.->^^iii*!i-j i»»!a i(ai;w.T ol Ui^y/ Oi] ' j-'iirsitiUKlK i(«o/i^j won iWiAn 'u> il<>vl ,B>.'i'rD(ig
JiJiiu nisii: i-'sddfhfjfi .If fiOf'thno.') rM -^cmib ' -iiti-J!-./// n m:.; , ; .. ! ..(-j'.?*! iil\ •i-^.t.?/ 'to
,b5»)B;jol «s;''/ Y;l:iliii?/^ ibfiK f»'<;i!:Hi!'.v(0«i -jltJiivj 1 ■ . . / olo.l n ji',! ,:,>iil\ul
!.MiiilJ a!! ,i5v/i)l J;i:b ot L«-jjuii.' 9ti ilaiili' ijrir ' .i<' olmii»'4 uJ iWr.iuiw fov/ 'iI ••r!*'.! nl
^iiL^ihdJ'iIr.iyn !'vniiij.i)> U-^u ■•>-T'Ha >; Jii'i'i ; i(u-i/>r' Sjuh <;!H0vl 'io I5))iiyiirii> ft .ii.- •■
iV'j 7/1/(1 ai liiu: ijiL) f-ioa u;i ii'viw .OOJ^I liJ.iii ' .>,!ni'^'i!Y ,y;lii;;(>? uiii-iU lo ;.'ivrti-i(
',;l»t'.I til fiiii'fj;! rfiil (jii ^..Ti.MjMo !)!Hi \^i:i!'p..l ■ i:j ii'!M'> Ki« ;)vQi! ai^-^i-iO ..-'iW L
-inyil ,si!/..)T .lJilv4(2( V.!' ill !j:;'li!!i Ivia'i ::V\ j ,iio>^o)l ood ;.T'l .Liio«f^«iI ,.J ■mu\L ,.''l )(ii-'l'
luii .IiUi iMi-i'/ ivj'.Mii, "r.>.. J!.''.i ii,iil7/ ,)noai[ r .•, J/i fiijilvij 111 yi-.li{ .oisi^f: iA '.•on riiiCA
!v>o''l .-1/ .p.iiiLi-^ u'-'iff) ic)* ^!hiliJ3ij!l bpvc-- fil .^JiiKj yilj'.Taofii'."''! 9iJl 'otoihiI 5»;^;;ji-i')
. -.i'..* rrtiifi'^jjii '\ -.'Ir: o! Ciifti iii ivr-iu.ii' 8i;v/ ' jiii(j,;f.I ftvilinu-i'I vh li'-niuj; oif .-jiil -vluij
t.M. .SJ'i^f :;; jrfO'J ,'^,!'i(i!n-/l 'u> •J-/\iy,.i i, : a;>lviiw y.-'i ;:; li-.-.\ i!;.u,- b;/V.'0:i« l.in/i ,(b-uiilO
.■■■o') viJsli !jaii (luiiUivV 'to ;-j;;l^j.i)iii,i 'j.'J i v_ 7/w;! s; Itim ,aH(ionil 2 irivi^^ *. r:' t>d J/nIl
-ii.;-, ','/H "!o rlJ'sid aih ni b9ti««ui mmm hitii" i jj* ii <jll .aoiinuiui.in'jb I"*;!! it; -wliiiiviHi
MI3) ^niifiY li .0 Jo »iiw ,.^4 siHoit uie*!.' -h/ eilJ lo Ijuii .ibiiiaa aid lo ^lal'J Jiitwaiq
^(IB ,8i') J'l (iJol • T fiiBilliV/ ;(ii33d/t« 1 .aabsiacftai. JfeiJqijfl uvi;ii(iif*f jIsaiL* .')^fi;
';»aj(l) 1.' if;ilynf 'wIT .(biJHwii ) itits^ifd I
i;;o«.l I>r.il .'// .rillilK'//' 'l^ -ISJ-lv^aiil. vi;! l'.;., ! ..:.,:,: i-,i-;-,;jXO ^.rl Ylli^T'l'-ii ''iyii" <*/• (Mt
V1-..7/ o;>':i.ui7i biiu" a o.'ij .>! ..i/fMiiiU : ;j i\>j;/ Jiufaiq ai!j fl' eimai ai unit
■..J .v^hivM ; V vi''> tnfi'i^Jf.''-. ov't f.'-iod ! v,Tu -j)/;>T ,vtiiiio-j Uiil "lo flirisiil-. •(ifiiiii
Un>,h ..] «j:.;,,i;/ I'lu, .;f ;i^;,- ■;' ; J i;(l*»iwjil ! JliJ ./tJ^nilf.lO .l,)^.t»flil> 1l»<|j ni JUv.lInK.KJ
l..)1--:!it.. ■>£;■// tiv'i -ilA ■:-:i'y::;i' i.i.i >,;! -'li:'!!: ! -y.-;-,-, >,.i; ...Iv/l-iiVl rU !!r;!i o^ tCKMil 'invif
o^,' •!.•■; -)hf}iu-' )• :>■" !u:.. ,;^.l:,;jnn-i!i :Iiiw ' i;ui;;)-b .;.!' ill hV.-t;.t!ti oliJ.tiiyiont '.lii IrjJiui
^..i-i«Jv. I,--.)' .••..7 j(i li-,.; ;•..'.'; w -ji.-'i; cifii-.Jo.t 7livi.u-.i fell! o'J-"0 ttii .i(lniaM*i (i.tnu
/',',. 7-, -ii nilii :!li(>' ■f.i.-wr, i:.,.vy L.ii.i' ijiiii I .'ijiij UlliOi.H iii •^.nii!li>'>:' il!'li'.l sul ,i!ilj;i6(«u..l
Mf.l;; ... A....1 ^ii ^ui J-j;j.;i;MMfcl!; \m: vf. •< -iI I 'ia In.l ,p<i1.v L,i^ >J-ri .1 vM.>^r.-"'A. i(b/
.ui ;.■*■. l.i-it- ,ir_M ii -■.!(,,;/..,■ ^!n .".;... ,ti.-.v.' : v,.',')' .;', vdiJiil nlif iIJk/ r)ii!,;y hlu h-;(i'.^
3G0
iirsronv of johnson
ated ill the little town of Wliitiiey. iMr.
Foni'e I'atluT, Tiiomas Fonl, was a native
(iiMH-j/iaii, Imji-ii ill ISOT, an.! in ls;i() |u; waw
inaniiMJ 1,, MihS Salanllia Lilcs. lie came to
Trxa, al.o.it IS.-j-l, ^.c-tlled at Smith's Demi,
noMjue e.MiMty, and b.ninht 1(10 ae.e.s of land,
whieh he improved and eullivate.l. lie died
.laiiiiary, 1.S7S, and his wile in 1.S80. They
were the [lareiits of six children : S. W.; Car-
oline, wile of John J. iMosley; S. A., wife of
Dr. Attawuy; Thomas J.; Henry C. (snhject);
and Elizabetii, wife of iN. IJryan. The father
was a memlierof the sehool hoard that levied
the first school tax in Ilill county. Our
subject is a Mason, AVhitney l>odge No. 855,
and is also a member of the Kniirhts of
Honor, Lodjrc No. 3,2U; also a member of
the Jv. of 1'. lodge at Whitney.
AMES M. 0. WILSON, a
ssfui
;f Hi
unity, w;
IS born
"^ Montgomery county, Kentucky, March
22, 1S3;5, the youngest son of Samuel and
Elizabeth (McCullough) Wilson. The par
cuts were of Scotch and AV^elsh ancestry, the
McOullouglis having come from North Car-
olina, and the Wilsons from Virgiio'a. Samp-
eon Wilson and James McCuUougli, the
grandfathers of our subject, were soldiers in
the Revolutionary war, and the latter was
also in the Indian war, was held two years
by the Indians, and during that time was
shot and wouiuIimI ami made to run the gaunt-
let. Mr. an.l Mrs. Samuel Wils.>n had six
children, viz.: Joseph N., deceased a number
of years ago; Simeon, who was killed in the
war; I'atharine, wite of Samuel McKall; Mary
and li.'ttie, who died when young; and James
;M, C., onrsubjcn-t.
The latter caim. to Texas with his father in
1S55, settling in Ilill county, where he
rented land an.l farmed until the breaking
out of the late war. He then enlisted in
(Company C, Sixth Texas Regiment, Ross'
Ibigade, am] was soon promoted First Lieu-
tenant, and next to Captain. He was in a
'number of hard-fought battles, was under
Price in the McCuUough eam]jaign, and
under Joseph E. Johnson and Hood in the
campaign of Georgia, ilr. AVilsoii was shot
and badly wounded four times, w^as near
when the standard-bearer was shot down,
and he picked up his Hag, and was shot
down. With a broken leg he crawled olf the
battle field, draggin;; the Hag with him, thus
saving both himself and the Hag from being
captured. He was the seventh man shot
down while carrying the Hag during that
battle. After the war he returned home ;;nd
was elected Sheritf of Ilill county, but, on
account ot the I'econstruction, he resigned
after a year and a half. Mr. Wilson subse-
quently bought a farm of 3fJ0 acres, to which
he has added until he now owns 2,0U0 acres,
all but 300 aci-es of which is on the Brazos
river. Mr. Wilson is also extensively en-
gaged in stock and cotton raising, having this
year 400 acres in the latter. He has served
as Justice of the Peace of his precinct six
yi'ars, and in 18^8 was elected Rcpresenta'ivo
of his county, which poBiti(Mi ho si: -Is.
i,» n; i-ul!i>) iiii// (uiv.' .iiii'iiiiiP ;i>>j;/: <ii:'>( loj.-il/. . foiilii! #7 1o ir.vi.n -jhi'i' j;!! ki Icjjii
.V,'>i_,l,iH MM. , ' >. iA \ ..I .i:..i:i ;.il .!.-.i.,l M!JiU'.b:K Krt» (/! ,.| l.-.j.,..!..!
, ,,.... ,- , , ,,P ' .l'.:-M .'.('i.rH t.- !.j!M^n .tr;^! JJiu.li; r.i.'-.l'
: I'jiiJjil -111! li'Vii f.s::'.'ji il ■Mir.-j ~i,iU.[ oi\ S. |
i ,!..i.ino":/HJii!<if i.li.i'xx.i i,'n;,^jii;i-v> i,i!|.<j..;!
I 'jioMv/ ,y!.iJ<oo l!t!l 111 j.ii!l.1t'»o .GvT-'f i . ,, ,.■,', , . . , .,
^ " I 111,. 'jIJ A>:>U:n)hl3 blih b/v.>u|(ilt •(! d'Milv/
iii^i^...nl -jiIj liJiiK i..:Hi/i-;'l l>il.: !);ij:' ij.^. ■.•..(■! ,„ ... .
I Y'l' '■ ii'-vU fu ■/'.•'/I will Imi; .'^w-'l ,Y;:i:niiii(.
IwUi.'iij ii'ji!) ',«1J .i/iv; •Ji'/.n' v/iii l2 Jm.j ' .
I --til.) ,;.V/ .c: :.i-,-il.'liily ZiM t.. ^iii.rii;.j !j:,) »,t.w.-
floU ,)n>iiii*-5Ji 8/;y.i/r' ilulc; '.) Ynj;qnio'.) '; ., ,'■,,-, < ir . r . , .
"• ' _ -i.j .)!.''•,. A .d •v.UimJfl .t iiif'.i, .ii; ,v!in ,v!wl()
li>;J JdiiH i'.'ioiinj-ni mo:)- urw liiiJi ,-j!'i'.yil!J .. • , , ,^ 1' 1 I'd ..A ,/
' ^ I ;;Jvi(<!r;iii .-) '(iii'.li :.l*i;;sioil) ; fnv, r!.' A /i',!
fii -Ati'tj oil .olBJuii') ^i; i-f.iiii h<:.; .liy.iisJ ^ ',',.•. ,-.,..- , ..,
' ^ i rjiiit;! y:! I ,;i;;yuj .>'. }o yfiv/ .ihti.:. >.:.,•! I. mi
»L>'ii.i a«-A ,%uiJji.il Ji!''injl Ii^.mI i'j itii;i..;..r, , . , ,, , \ , ,
' '^ I i.S! .'■..! 7<..h l-i«uil )j,.j(l';^' M.I1 li.: ,t.(i-n .ti. ;T «,;7/
,ifi .,.^i..;-.j:ii)rj jii^iKiHiiO^i^ 'J>1; in a-jiVl ; ii-u ■ r , . ^ ,
* ■ ^ ^ I uMi .v)(u;cK» !liU r.'i xk; U.hhI'j i,-.~,(l ■»!!
:j fli !>ooIl Lj;ij; iii.'miiIoi. .3 n*i-J<ol i-^bn(i ;...,''. , , . ,,,, ,.
it(6ci:« (!0-.liV/ .-il/l f;iv,'IU'jL) !■.) JPjis'.ljil'Ji.'j i . ,■,',", , ■ t
^^ ^ ' I 30 :.3nuiiizl t)il.i t.j iocl,'i(yn< r. 'jKii; 1,1 .fnirt
;tji! ■■'■\i ;-va;il lii'-yi iyji-i-liO'".' vJiuM Im!:: ! . 1 ,■■, o ,■ 1 . II
' " I ill 'i:...!..!'*!!! ij oalji ;i-Il.',b i/A onluJ , ■;!■■, h. II
iwoli l.jjiii Knv/ :: j-<i;r>,'-b-it;l)i;>;!rt :)ll! nsil v , '
; .■,';.-■ jlJih N U: !);'4,( '^! . i !•; J o^ll
>'.l8 «j.w in^i! ,^i;Ji ftiii qi; li.'C-i-iiij 'm1 i.xi., ;
i:wj ntoVt ^i.f! xl! i ■■.; li^/^iriiil .Ijoii \,.ii>,:J i'^'i. -I'Mi^ f; ,/u;<JiV/ .^.,1<' ^'Ai/j-TS
Ilk I'lifi! ilM.v.ie. 'iu; ...v, !jli .'.,;-v>:,iu:. ^ ;i :'-i«..i <r.t/ ,,m.:j,.o liiii 1^^ i..;, ;. I -^.^^
ili .Vi<ii-;J.:« V" '-"'^ ■ji-irnj.',' Jtii/.v ..•wuu ' 'i i'i'-i<'' ,y_.luii:»iu.,it .(Jiinu.-j --(cjn'i.'^j/;, i/'. ^''^
1.; yjlioJ l.;ffii;itn :jiI •,■.■,• sdJ v.Vt/-. .'■Dn:.! ^ i-i'R li'.fir^ lo no. 5t".'^;,tfi..-' -ni ' ,i ;> i ,Li'
., ,i,:u ,viii;y-,-. •"!,!] ')</ 'lln-Jjlci .••..Jo:nt> rtt* j ".■i^ f"' i' ii<-v.liV/ (liviii-Du'vyU) ii.t-jUj<sii:-l
'.'iiaidO-! O.i ,iioit:ii.();;iO:;07 J;iJ i'j I:: ii. ..;..■,:' j!.i .-,• ilhajnii ilal-j'// Ul;/; ii.)!i':!'-. 'lo -ii-v/ m.'i.j
iiJjJ,- I,. ■>:'// :\\/. J{..:t .; i'f,.; l^ay j: v,l!.. • -i,;.' ,in...H il'i,-|! v.iiuii ^11 .i;il ..■l;.(i>..!!u'y,]('
■•niv,' ji ,■ u'wii out. I', r;'.!;! ^' ,",(;.•.. i.w.i '^(.tnjiip -qi'Liici .(;uuv;-(!Y mu'ii d;iij.^i! .7 -^i.'j hni; ,ii;i)lo
■m;u; i'Ul),£ ■^ir.vc v/pfi od (iJfii) i»^i)it« Jwiu uJ 1 aalJ ,iigt)oi!r.!'>l/; <.a(.)«I. bui* iuiAl'tl iioa
"Xbi;! ailJ fK> ei Hyni'w 'lo b»-i--»»i (JOii jiiJ IL [ ui c'ljiljioa or. .v ^i-jjuhi^ i!'i< It. '• '-•"■,'. i:.^
.-. Yijsciijf/fi will rti '• ,h!i7/ .•ill' .•Jijvit j ixw i})'i.{ 'iilj .'.Ids ,-|!:7/ ^•■
• !.'>j.::v«:. ,^i>i- i;( ii ..iju-i '.ira -1;j038 .li ttL>^S j <««Si^ Qvl -jJyi! 8i;v.' .•m-i i.i .
^vri;. o«ll >II .iQj.'ti fful !ii aoiOH V)';t tivM ^tW OiuiJ l':'l3 ;jl)!lJl'i Lfij: ,S(;tl)):| jili \ii
i" Iti;-)»ji^ till I.; ii.:-/l 'f! 'It' 'jU.i.l -.til ■ittUi-.y^b.U tiut .>^ b'.^iii:! i>i<i\ {■■y'\iiiij.i iiiti iiuU
•i*..;;|.^'.i,;.i'' f.il.r:;, :■!,■. •i''i^i:',! iii inu! .^-Uoy ! /.;•.. I'S'ii ,i<r.;')'{l tuli-.Viy. .,vii/, Imk .'if/L J;.»l
I .'"'■'.■ I - I
AND HILL COUNTIES.
():i|it:iin Wilsfiii w:
•ieil ill Kentucky,
ill IStJS, to Miss (iuor^^'iu (in-Liiwadc, who
.iicMJ shortly uftLTU'ur.l, and Aii-ust 21, 1S7<»,
1.^ niHiricMJ Miss I'M win 1. Wadu, who was
horn March 22, ISC;}, a daii-htcr of Kdwili
and Mary Wade. .Mr. ami Mrs. Wilson
have had seven ehildivii, namely: .Joseph K.
(deceased), Mary iv, Hertlia, May, Ona and
Ina (twins) and James 11. iMr. Wil.son is a
inemher of the liaptist Church, lias always
hreii itleutitied with the Democratic party,
and is a memlier of the Grange. Airs. Wil-
son is a inemher of tiie Christian Church.
fT.5«r^Ar)[S()N (i. EASTKli, a farmer of
Mf Hill county, is a son of Jasjier M.
''""^" I'^aster, who was horn in Mississijjpi,
in LS12, a son of Colonel and Jietsey Easter.
Jasper i\I. removed to Texas in 18CU, locating
in Hill county, where he died January 29, 1874.
Ill 18t)l he enlisted in the Confederate service,
and was cajjlured at the siege of Vickshuro;,
utter whiidi he was paroled and returned
home. rolitically, he wa.. a Democrat, and
served as Justice of the I'eace a iiumher of
years in Mh.sissippi. lie was a member uf
llieMa..oiiic order, and was Mod.'rator of the
Covinoton Daptist Church. Our suliject's
mother, nee Sarah King, was horn in South
Carolina in 181'J, a daughter of James and
Hetsoy ((iarret) King, also natives of South
t'aroliiia. j\Ir. and Airs. Easter were married
ill 1844. an.l liad ten chihlren, viz.: I'liohe,
wife of C. L. Martin, of Itasca, aiul a sketch
of whom is given in this work; William F.,
a farm 'lill cmiity; Rarhel, wif.^ of W.
li. Maugle; Sarah Thompson, at home;
Martha, wife of V>. T. Major; Madison (i.,
our siihject; John and .Margarette, twins, the
former a tanner of Hill county, and the latter
the wife of Uohert llah:y; Tee, wife of E. V.
Coiisler, of Hill eoiinty and iiiifus M., at
home.
Aladison (r. Easter was born in .Mississippi,
in 1855, and removed with his parents to
Texas, and remained with them until 1880,
when ho located where he. now lives. When
he began life for himself he was 5;(;5U in
debt, and he now owns 245 acres of land
with 200 acres under cultivation, and a gin
worth about $1,500; and altogether he is
worth about §10,000. Mr. Easter was mar-
ried January 1, 1880, to Katie Carr, who
was born in Mississipjti in 1804, a daughter
of Dr. Carr (deceased) and Rebecca Carr,
natives of Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Easter
have six children: William F., Olga, Mattie,
Alaude, Dutchess and G rover C. l^olitically,
Mr. Easter is a Democrat; socially, a Master
Mason; and religiously, both he and iiis wife
are members of the P.ai)tist Church.
,Ij'KUS M. EASTER, a successful farmer
of Hill county, Texas, is a son of Jasper
' M. Easter, whose sketch is given in tiiis
k. He was born in 1804, in Mississippi,
when live years of age removed to Te.xas
1 his parents, and still continues to I'cside
1 his widowed mother. He began life
himself >vheii tweiity-tive years cd' age,
eighty
;s of laud, and he now owns
acres, with 200 acres under cultivation
well stocked an.l improved. Altiiougli
twenty-seven years of age. Air. Easter
•oMiJoilj iwui ,(J!!;i<i'.( lit!! 1(. ia<!i'ii!t «-!'!ar!.M I ,ljVHI , j ; ■ jtjiiyjiA (-dft .Inxvrj-.uli: -fUioA:, !,.'.«ii>
,V .:< i<> .;!•// ,--'T ;r.'!ii!l l-MxIoM lu'Sliv/ -jii.! I v,;v/ ,,,h, ,u\,i:H .[ nivrLM ^^;i/! l)";.',:*;;.. ...I
1« ,.M Mih.M 1)11)! vJ.i'fO'. l!.!l •(.; ,-v>is:M-'> ' Mi. „!,:•{ '1., ■,.•,). ivr.ub « ,;:a>' 1 ,i.'l; liyiiiW i.urtJ
,;,ji;ia.;-!S,(!i^ iii (iU.J .-kv/ -.oJ-i !•} .iJ i!i.>^ii.ijM f >! iii|ii«'i, : •^1'..:;,;,! .uvibliii') nivvi Li:.! ;^;jiiI
•j> .-;.Ma-(i;,j Alii /()!■// "■f^/oi r: \,:\ix J.C-t' l r-'i ' LuTi! »,iiO .yjiM ,Biitiy>i , .'•i v;ii.t/l ,(l'i»t«J'-i'jli)
,U<<8f Ii!fi!i ir^ti! ilhv/ 1).,:." ,!.!i-! t^ii/l ,%^x:;r : X s; :,oAt\'f .-iM .1 1 ,-:.inia.ij" ; (giiiv/J) i.iii
ui llcOt «(iv/ 'J.J ^Ij-.ii.iii -'o'l alii j!K»y>.' r;il 1 /fji^ii ■}i]i:v:,inu',ll !ji!; .;.: '- ii-.'liiMvui iimiJ
h..i:l N. ■■/•;»• aiy ■■■aV.-'-. VwH J(I li:„ ,J.ioi. j |iV/ . ; !/l C.V"ft->«' j;:' 1o -ri^ll,r.;,i ,; si l.llt.
Ilia r hn/i .iioIxwiJ.'//! -I'-I'ii;; t^i.vjfi OO',' :i!i;/ : .iiy.,i !0 n^iJai'ui J oiij 1u v^nli'ioci ii <i lun
:^ .1^ .I'OW.OiV :i M .U '
f/|
; iqM'-.-r:-;)/: ni a-!i.'.i v-s/' c.i^/ ,-ji,i!:-r ^^■
,..;;;> /.■J'j.i.l^ji I i.d.s (t,,f.i;'o,i'. Tif.O .itl !'.■:'■■ , , .
,.:'lKi.:.l V-Mjv.'i I,::; :m!;..!<.M'( ; v .SlHl lu
'■^""■"?'"' ' '"'" ^-'■'■■'- "■■"■ K.; ..,,.„.,„:.,.„... ,.,,.,.,..„;!, „i
«''"■'"'''■■■' ■'"'■'■'" '"''"■" '' •' • :..:,..„=:,,,^, •..,,.:;„,,,. „,,,;«, „1
iw. «iii '>.f ■■;! •:,.:■; /Uiii^i^.il/' '.i'K •-■-o):!'' ! ■"■
I ,;;,„>/. L>it., I • i..ui.| „i;;/ :•;( :!w(lv, io/l«
:,:,;. .'...•.•icur'' I J. .,..:V/ J^l ,'.l)i..;liU.'l .'uilijli
,,_..,,-...,.-. , .^ ,-,.li:,,(,: ,; ;.;■!'! -■!) l. L.ji,*ijiL ^^ li'jvrja
Mj ,:i MV" -1 .:,.v . -..,!//, -I u, -;,;'! .[A ^"^ :K>:.i.i!i-. :;iU .1 ivni:; i-:! Iq;.: ' ,trj|./,i7o:.>
l.i:,: -:^-,;,' ; . ,,;r!oi .,| ;-i.,-j -..-;; M ;1'K.v- : •l':;.^- ;■[ ,:!■..! •;..', ,-^n.>i ,11,-j/r' -^VA ,IVii)' 11!
//j1 ..• l-M-.'ii;n uu'^ !o c.'i--j, 'ivii ici.U/ '■«;;. \ K'iii: -lyii j; L. b -K.i.i.'ij;;!/ i. ,<:\.C.\ Jii i;iiilu!.i')
ii:j.-l ' .■- i'M.: I'll. !.-:;.. ; i;., .hi ..h- ' .\\V;-, L. ^.wi;o.., ^,«:i: ,;.M/^ (j/iuiil) V'-l-^'l
•(i ...,,;.! A\ .-. . i;..>!. |.,.;;.:lu.y o;,i ilJi a ' 1. -.,-•.'■: ■■•io^/ Mok-.M v. 1(1 l-iu .'i lA .M'.ilya.J |
• ;.,.';.) .vg._ ■ vi: v,;.i/),-i if:ii// ''Ij^jj.i;! loi j , jot-li i ;.\.v ,iy.jA'nii' m-S i-v.; I.ii.i Jl-.^I fif |
iiv, , •,.! ;.;p; ,1,,,,,; '!,. ,-..:■-;- fllivi'J isiw I )!-»jM>ia ), illlJ. .1;'>'-J!ll lO ,l!.'3'lli!" .J JJ t" M^iv.'
•. it.;VM!uv ij].;:.. <jMr>JiOV- .III .7 ,<,-|-.i! •' ti'v. j ,.'1 lilJitiii ^ : du.W ollll 111 (I'AVt;^ ''i "Hilt'« !u
'i,;^..,l,i/. '...:,i,<!;li L.;'*; ,,.,;l'i,^; f!;,7/ l.i'., j V/ V, ,.1i'w ,b.l";;^! ;l(3iUiu-, Hi I ' (inn'} I!
HISTURV tiF JoHysuX
tij eooiioiny and close attention to biu-ine.-s
tliat would he a credit to u ]ieiri(.ii twice liis
ao.j. He iaajduny man, of exeinjilary lialiits,
and a Democrat in his political siews.
fOIlN A. IIAKKELL, one of tlie leading
citizens of Jolmson coiinfy, a farmer,
stockman and ginner, was born in Scott
county, Mississi])pi, in 1851. W. R. and
Minerva (J[oore) Ilarrell, hie parents, liad
eio'lit sons: Thomas, deceased; John A., tl)e
subject of our sketch; Louis, of this county;
Itobcrt, Diijral, an.l Alliert, deceased; .lames
and l.ee, resi.ients of southern Texas. Of
these, our subject was the second in oider of
birth.
W. R. Ilarrell, the fatlier of our subj,H-t,
left Mibsissi
ppi
I8t;7 and moved to Frank-
lin county, Arkansas, residini/ there for
several years, from where he moved to this
county in 1873. He has also lived in Cook
County, 1'exas, foi' a time, and is now a resi-
dent of tlie Chickasaw Nation, Indian Terri-
tory. During the late war he served for a
while in the ConfedcJ-ate army. In 1^72 the
mother of our subject died, and the year
following, the father married Mi^s Dora
Thomas, of this county. They had four
children: Stan, Mollie, lienjamin and Krva.
Several years ago his wifc^ died, and in 1888
he marriei! Miss Ella liouhl, of Hill county.
Th.ty had two children, both now dead. Mr.
Ilarrell is now in his .MXty-.-,ixth year.
Our subject was educated in the common
BchooU of Mississi]>pi and Arkansas. He
coninieiu'cd life f,u- him.self at the age of
twenty-one, at which age he came to Texas
with his father. Here lie rented land for
three years in the neighborhood of Grand
View, and then jjui'chased a jiortion of the
farm which he now owns. This consisted
then of sixty-live acres of eliglitly improved
land, for which he j)aid $15 an acre. To this
Ik: has since added, until he now owns 187
acres. Of this, 120 acres is highly improved,
on which he has erected a handsome resi-
dence, barn, outhouses, etc. Mr. Ilarrell
:dso owns 173 acres of fine land, which he
purchased in 1891 for $25 an acre. Sixty-
live acres of this is uiuler cultivation. He is
also interested in four steam cotton gins, on
which about 3,()()0 bales of cotton is ginned
annually. One of these gins is on his homo
farm in CJrand View, and another is on Mr.
Louis Han-ell's farm, west of (irand View.
Mr. John Uarrell landed in Texas in 1873
with his wife, a wagon, a pair of ponies and
$30 in cash. vVU he now possesses he made
own industry and jierseverance, li
aviui;
bought his first home on credit. He raises
most of his horses, cattle ami hogs, himself,
and sometimes has a surplus. He restricts
products to corn, cotton and
his agricultural
oats, in the cultivation of which he is more
than ordinarily successful.
He was married in Crawford county, Ar-
kansas, in 1873. to Miss Lettia Laiid, a native
of xMisMSMp|,i. Her parents, (i. Thomas and
Kli/abeth (Caldwell) Laird, are both dead.
Her bn;thers are prominent farmers of Jol.n-
^.on county, Texas. Mr. and Mr.-,. Ilarrell
have live children: Lulu, Klla, W. T, Allie
O .'.\\..\. \\
,il 1^ 11:.>if{i/! -mr '.ill f,-!.,!!-.
.'('■i-J-l"-! '•
.\ui,:,i'>M.
Toll.iMri 3:1 wop ;h\i\'.'r in .snO-YJr.HV/j | /:■■..:!■-,, .J Ot (TOilliaJb; 'iaAj \<
:t) to Lo»>.hi'Jii^i3ii otf' ui 8t>5t>^ •.'■nil*-
UdOi 'K'T ia^G 7/on i»if rioirfw .u'lfli
enw.: won ud Uh.u, ,l,M.:-. ^:;.iU 8«!t Hi j ^.^.,.,.,^;j ,, _.^,,,,,,,^ ..uaiTffol V. ^j.f.5-h;'.
.8Woi. ii'ji3il'.v; 8i:l ui Jirf.)Ciif&Cl it Liui
■AxMill b LH;.1'i-ri;.' 6Kl{ -/.! liyiiiw
•■'.<A'
i'// .!ir>e i(« O'ii'J lo't f^';'I ri; ir-.<;,ii'.
il .iiuiliiviiSi.^ -.".lid,, «i sill! 1.. i-.n;:
ii.i^ (i-i)t)'/ :i'.!i/ti- 111;.-'! (li i:>;.-:'njj!i'
lig -j"; iMjiOy i>.' ....i;/:^l i'')i>\!; .li.<i..'i,' li-
l! liifi MO^ii :.t.H, •:.-:..lt tocMiO V'li:;,('^n; |
ISU >;i •1'><1:;1W! i.'-.; ,.v.>iY L.i:..-.i ,u iUW:! ' ,,,,
V 1, ■;,;■( ^^ io )„- V ijiv:! s'llo'ii,:!! !;ii;",.i I ,,<,
j;i' ,.■■.>.;;■■•.• "j^.i'.h'j Iku- n'-iui;!'! Kv/o. ■•■( 'J
tjjil .-ilnnnq »itit ,{Idn«1[ (»;©olif") KnaMfl'!
Ilijf .fJiMli i..'/; ..ij(r;:i ,S-.^ 'Ol! ;:i.l ^J i :v ..;
.i !.;! liiJiil,/ !■
Il.-lll
• ! ,i!Tv;. ;,.';) il!i,.,Jt..,lj| I .11/ ,i,
liiliii'
1 ! ; ^JiT «^v >!.!; '!'. .f^iii.'.l .li-io/Js 'icw ''i' isoi^ilii^!
'• ho ,.,;/. .r |-,-ll.;.., lo M,!;4.i.->-i ,:«,! I)...!
' I '\<, ■!•■!- .0 (li J.n.i-;.-. -idJ w,>/ 3.v'..i_tii,« Hi.. ./.-i'jiU
•-■I ilv^f
! -Mi't •.■f,j;;t ijijiu;.,.,! ,;-j::.i\iihjl ,vi!:ii(o i.;i
; ;i<^o:- -.il Ij.]\ . Jf -Mi y!) .er-'I .:i y^.ik.:i
• -i;,/i ., ■;;.;:■ ^i Uit-; /,i;ii! .. iw! ,::;;/■) I' , r;, .|..v
: l-.yC „Jl.!.l .,!uii.;/l .yi;.i;;iv<iir) ,;,M '!o *,..!,.
j i: li.' !-wi^^ O'l t/jY' j'l:! :><U ^..wi.M .'n<.J
, -iiiw^ v.: I i..;,) ,lr.i!> .;v.;i.liii Di.. •*. ViiilJui.;
jjiLvC c.lW l;jMlUlli ■ivli.i.l ftlli ,x.ll'w(.i|nt
I -iii ■•' (-..il 'r..i T ■x-'-'-'-'^ ^^''-' '^ ■MU'.il'V
,K:>il. o*.Vf ^i.i i,^.^ ::.-uv>i J/ru /■-'•;
' . .:.(.. ..M,ii.i ^.;M lr,ir./;', -.n
■ ■r. ,'UJ ,i|-.)|[iinlv 0//I !;t:il fvXV
.■li.vv i(.i.M. (.f.v ' ^il! Jli W(.ll i,i !i;j-ir:!l
■„:;;.< i!' •.! iv,)r.;!ri... hiw, J'>ui;Iit« wO
^.^m^yi^
'^^'W^^
h V.
\\---'1
;^;^~^^■^^.KS^.
AND HILL COUNTIES.
A. 1111.1 Amiie A., twins. IJoth Mr. ami
Mr=. ILirrell iiro iiiciubei-s of tlie Missionary
Baptist (Mmrcii. Socially, Mr. Ilarrell is a
iiioinbiM- uf Grand Viuw Lod^e, No. 260,
A. F, .t A. M.
I^ P. M.'KrNNON, attorney, [lillshoro,
//Mj Te.xas. — IMr. Mclvinnon is one of
^' those men, too few in nnnilier, wiio
fnlly recognize the ti'iitli so often nrL^eil by
the sages of the law, that, of all men, the
reading and tboiiyhts of a lawyer should Ije
the most extended. Systematic reading
gives a more eoniprehensive grasp to the
mind, variety and richness to thought, and a
clearer perception of the motive of men and
the jjrinciples of things, indeed of the very
spirit of laws. This he has found most es-
sential in the prosecution of liis profession.
lie was born in Thomas county, Georgia,
December lU, 184'J, and his parents, Daniel
and Sarah (McMillan) McXinnon, were
natives of the Old North State, lie was
reared in his native county, and edu-
at the high school ut Monticello, just across
tiie line in Jelferson county, Florida. In
1870 he began reading law in Monticello,
under Simkins & Simkins. and was admitted
to the bar in that city two years later. In
May, 1S72, he came to Texas, stopped for a
short time at Gorsicana,lmt in January, 1873,
lie hicatedin I! ill.-,b(u-o, t^itered immediately
upon his practice, and has reside,! brrr ever
sim'.e. lie h,
oved a hi
•ge p
lias ever been engaged on a numlier of the
most important casus which inive been tried at
the Hill county bar. He has always refused
to entei- politicks as a business, [jreforring the
law to the unciu-tainties of public life. He
was County Attorney, however, of Hill
county in 1878-'79, and tilled tliat position in
a vei-y creditable and satisfactoi'y manner. .As
a lawyer he combines ability and thorough
training in legal principles with industry
and close ap[)lication to the interests of his
clients, and enjoys genei'al esteem as a schol-
arly gentleman, a valuable counselor and a
useful and intiuential citizen. He is a strong
speaker, making no especial pretentions to
oratory but able to exjjress himself forcibly,
relying more on matter than manner I'or in-
thience. He is an exact logician and per-
fectly at home even in the midst of the most
complicated state of facts. He is calm in
address and strictly methodical in the ar-
rangement of iiis matter, terse and vigorous,
pointed in phraseology and accurate in the
choice of liis words. Having a world of
good nature in his make-up, he is never ini-
politeor captions nor yet boisterous or egotist-
ical. He always exhibits the nicest sense of
professional prujiriety, his bearing toward the
court being always respectful, and toward ad-
verse counsel courteous. To the younger
members of tiie bar he is ever willing to ex-
tend a hel|)ing hand, and no one is (piicker to
recognize merit or give an encoui-aging \v'or(l
to a struggling young brother than he. He
possesses an abundan.-c. ,d- patienceand energy,
and th.'.so he bus never ceased to exerciso
throui'lioilt bis career. Whatever u[ success
.'»; iiolij iio.o<-i svijd iIm'jIv/ --•...-jo liir.nnqrui Uoc- ) VM;(ioi3aiM oti.1 'lo EnrM.hiiufri tj-»«, j|-..-i-i.:ll m!'
oil yii! :.1Mp.^ u. ^oi hMinv:>niui r>,!i .U w»l j .W .A :^'
r(A. .•JJiiiii'.m <('Ki)'.);;l.-''bii iiJIiJ olJii-libl> !:■ V'MV t. j
H{< 10 .;lK"-ir))it! iji'J >.>J HiMji.' i)oi.)A afiol-iv ;ii..-' I ,:,(|7,' .•i;,<<:iiiji! ii: w-j; <.",» .c.a.!', 'iHD'M
,y;!i;;3-;.;i ^(f-ifdiiii ^;i;n.!/j
-VKI Liw. o..',;
I
3 }^-M\ ..It
!■ :.-i nn(.5 ^>- MviifMii -j/h lo muni;' -i'.'! ■. i':;vj1j
■ !Icruo.i_..
i;l 't.j liii.ja
"to l/)iov» j viii/iil!
-:ibovj9 1-' '.ilvr-i-jlaioi* ;.;•( vi;
. ..:;:. bu'Mf ,■.■.. I. I.M'JH :./il ^-' il'HjJji*:!) ill htjIiCl'
•irri! 'j.!i t.. ii<>«{rj!yiu . t-jcJuuJ ,-a'.v I.)iU: .tiiijlBU'V A «.iiiVi:iii
r/ (/■v) 'I".: J Ir/I' ili'lJiiJ Ullj i^J
rl. ..•.,;
Ir;i:.,i,n, ,,
..'>.!/: :.<,ui J-iojI.?
lli .r; l,..,l4V>..l fu(
,!l'.j'-!ll "ill IH.<>)I)
(• ■. i,j :.;^•l^.! (! h-.i'^iii.iij >(r.l ;j1I
IllU'Wny OF JOHNSON
lie has attained lie attributes to hard, persist-
ent labor and to irstriut observance of the
ethics of his jirot'ession.
fOCTOK N. B. KENNEDY, physician,
Hillsboro, Texas. — Few, perhaps none,
save those who have trod the arduous
jiaths of the profession, can picture to theni-
Eclves the array of attributes, physical, mental
and moral, the host of minor graces of man-
ner and person, essential to the making of a
truly great physician. His constitution needs
must be of the hardiest to withstand the con-
stant shock of wind and wcatlier, the wearing
loss ol ^Icep and rest, the ever gatliering load
of caic, the insidious ajjpi-oach of every form
of fell disease to which his daily round of
duties expose him. Free and broad should
be his mind to seek in all departments of
human knowletlge some truth to guide his
hand ; keen and delicate the well tiained
sense to draw from nature her most ti'easured
seciets, and unlock the gates whei-e ignorance
and doubt have stood sentinels for ages.
yuchaum.weliudinlhc,,cr.MM,oll)r. N.I!.
Kennedy. This gentleman was born in Sum-
ter county, Alabama, December 24, 1837,
and is a son of John and Harriet A. (Isler)
Kennedy, natives of Noi'th Caiolina, and both
descendants of ancient and honorable families
of the Old North State, the mother being
a daughter of Major John Isler, a gallant
Kevolulionary soldier. Dr. Kennedy's par-
ents settled in Alaiiama, in 182G, and there
resi.led the remainder .if th.ir.hiys, rearing
a family of live sons and two daughters
These were : Jane, who became the wife of
Dr. E. T. F^asley, of Satartia, JMississippi, both
now deceased; John F., who became an emin-
ent physician, having prepared himself for his
profession both in France and Germany, and
who died in middle life, at Lauderdale, Mis-
sissippi ; Thomas II. became a fanner and
died at his home at Little Rock, Arkansas, a
few years ago ; Sidney P., who became a
physician ami is now deceased; William A.,
who is now deceased; Nathan B. (subject);
and Mary A , wife of George IL Ilibble, of
Terrell, this State. The mother died in 1866,
at the ago of si.>ity-nine, and the father in
187-4, at the age of seventy-eight; the motiier
at her old home in Alabama, and the fatlier
at Lauderdale, Mississippi. The mother was
a woman of very superior attainments, but
not well educated, yet possessing great refine-
ment. She was a great believer in education
and looked ])ersonally after the training of
her children. To her the Doctor is indebted
for all he is and all he has in tiie way of edu-
cation and correct training. Dr. Kennedy
was leanul in his native county and received
his earlier education there. Jlis later liter-
ary education was obtained in the University
of Virginia, from which he graduated in
18(30. lie read medicine under his brother,
Dr. S. P. Kennedy, at Lauderdale Springs,
Mississippi, and subsequently took medical
lectures, both at the University of Virginia
and the University of Lnuisiana, graduating
from both.
lie located for the practice of his jirnfession
at Sumt.Tville, A lainima. and contiuurd tliero
Y.'V;'.YV,i)V, %o rw?»\tt
iv ndi oui! 3'i'.i -mIn ,3n«Ti : -rr-jv* •j'&iiT
^ ■ .'• ■ uo s'; i '.,:; II ; ■■■•
A'. ■j'tCiOa c) lo o'Hw , A p
vV^^1%>$SvSv'vJ- ^
t-j Haw Vhi '-'''■■'''• l">0!'I bill! '-■■j'i J. .nflii fjhO'i-'''-) ■'■/ihib
'■ ,.:r,ilif>;'/. Lb. Ill A;-Ac <■; biria, ,^i,! .■)
i>:\i\t ■>1 :iti;il -.ihu.-a cj-y;,''!! ■-'.ui;.! 'i/iiiiiH!
■/>U»,-|'Hr;5f ^TJliv,' WllSy ■1(1! ..iMOj!..! i^U S ,- 1 v f,-,
.■■:■-■■'•■' I'.'" -:>j;iii'.ua iit/i.)'') jvjii! iiiiHiL tm
'Ir, frit •ii!l ij; s(i.' .-'! lii. L'liH Si ^il !;« i!'"';
■s,yi I'f!.' ■.itii ;:> '/h.'ii ^ilJ I': *■;);;;'■ (•:^■w
1 ■. ,)..i ilii n,.,(:j ,i>..:ru;lH... •..;!!,, Mil i ■■; - "■ i'.u.,„T.,|-.a)MilMi.l„v'. ,...,: !!•,..>:;
) J;l,l i..iri; o!i.vi — !.i Uci:>!l (t^ia! i (:oMi -■'. .. .ir(i,}| biu; nifol.'iu u.-ji ,i al b.iH
ri.j:'. lii-l'iyl' 1;) I. -/• ,■;(.. 'i(':'i/i .'i 2. .\'\ 1 ''''"'i 'f.'.i. .niMbrin'.J uVloU '!'> «y /ii.';iF ,vt)'j.;'t»9>l
.■;.:i ,,,oi Yi<i!M,)|i-.',: I,, iv.i. ,;ij..ji,,U!!-i(>.i ( --.-(iii.ll.ii yl !iri" '..m1 Miiii ji.fji-jiJW 'lu nlililbu j:.- il<
.'■; "/' lij v!i.Mi-v.j!;; .-^.U JB ,!,..>') ,?.:*r.|J:jO; j vtiijd -Liiin'iiJ y.!j ■,\iU-i (lie./: LJi) y.lJ 'lo
.lU\}<i iiirsV! -li.i>( "''(l)'Jil. ).■»/) tM •i;-(ifjl.i1 Y;iiifH'!,iuli,w-.-U
.11 ■ut. l«OJ.
J/, /:i:rn
'!.. •l,lilll«:l.'')-. Olll bli,i,
ND HILL CUUHTIKS.
until Miirch, 1801, at wliidi tiiiiu Ik; unturcd
lliu Guiil'wlcratu ai-iny, eiilidtiny in llic
Twenty. .■iuvciitli Alabiinia Ui-j,rinuMit, lu which
ho was a|i[)oiiitcd .Vssi.^taiit Siii-n;eun. Ilu was
alter wiiich hu was oxaiiiinud and placed in
hoo
larsTc oi the ullici
uspital at Laudcnlalc Sprinirs, Mi
id at LIuiunluwn, Alahania. lie «
■r\dce and on active duty from tl
va.-, in the
ho date of
Ids enlistment in March, I8(il, until the sur-
render in April, 18(35.
Wiien the war was over he went to (iaston,
Alabama, and at once heyan practicint; ids
i)rot'ession. lie reujained there until 18U7,
when he moved to Meridian, Mississippi, ami
there resided until 18(1'.), when he moved to
New Orleans. in 1871 he moved to Texas
and settled at Ilillshoro, Hill ccninty, which,
with tile exception of two years spent in
Dallas, has continueti to he his home since.
Since reachini;- maturity Dr. Kennedy has
practiced medicine and has made money uiul
won considerable distinction. He has been
a hard student and an industrious investiga-
tor, and works as diligently now as in former
years. Ho has indentitled himself with all
the medical socities within his reach and has
been a liberal contributor to many of the
leadinir medical journals. He assisted in the
oro:anizinfi; of the Hill County Medical and
Surgical Association, and has been several
times j)resident of the same. lie is a mem-
ber of the Texas State Medical Association,
the American Medical Association : and
th
I' est I
(urtesy of Sir rhili|i liailey,
rectdved an honorary
membei'ship in tin; S(jcii'ty of Science, Letters
and Arts of l,ondon. He has contributed
extensively both to the meilical and secular
press during the past twenty-live years, \itd-
'^\mihv^\\-a\ii:,\iiUo,cti.Ioarn..dan<iSur,jlc,d
liejMrtcroi I'hiladolphia, in LSO?, and com-
ing down to the present time, the list embrac-
ing such periodicals as the Atlantic Medical
Jdiirnul, the iVcw Orleana Medical and
tSutyicalJournal, Jiriggs' Health Journal of
Dallas, Texas, and Dauieh' Texas Medical
Journal of Austin, this State. The Doctor's
liter;iry etforts have extemled over a wide
tield, covering a variety of subjects, some of
practical moment, others belonging more
strictly to the domain of liellcs Litres. He
is regarded as the most accomplished literary
man in his county, possessing a line library
and keeping up with all the literature of tho
day.
Ho has carried on his literary researches
wdtli his medical studies, not allowing either
to interfere with the other. He discovered
and made known the use of the injection of
carbolic acid for the removal of hemorrhoids,
carbuncles, etc., making the discovery in
1875, and promulgating his views in 1881.
In 1806 he maile a discovery equally as im-
portant : that of rendering the passage of
gall stones easier by first softening them with
sweet oil. On the 27th of July, 1802, Dr.
Kennedy married Miss Susan ^V. L. Martin,
a daughter of James II. Martin, of Sum-
ter county, Alabama. Mrs. Kennedy's mother
bore the maiden name of Sarah I.ee and was
:i near relative of the distinguished Kobert
\']. Lee. Mrs. Kennedy was born and leared
ii:| ijl ilioiJ -^l
.1:..^!V/
;lj;l/ il;,.'
•jil jbJLy^ .'Jvil'/Jiuv.-I Jiii.ij jiij ^^iiillll) fcSOT.j j 6j;V< -jH ,lKrjyil.'^4 Iiw:i6ira^ b'jJliJiyjlji; r.i,V.' -jj!
■ llli'f 1')!.'; .f''''— ^ !H .Jlil'.'j Lil,i.'.C.'i 3 ; ■S.siMilVJIJi'A ■ i. i I'.l 'ili-j I'liJi ll'JII j !tl ," /T (> '.IIV/'diI li'iili'.V i'jj'ill
^... ^^«•\r^^\,;■-^V.,\\^V:\:■, "'^ Aj.vvv^A, \^,>^.^.ilV, ; >-. O;.;!) Mii! J..<m '(ill!. UViJ:v! ill. f.u: 'jr.f-.'n
, .; I.-.,7om; ^:! ,.-;flv/ .0;iiil lUm, i...l...-j, oioiiJ
!£.!)(3-.
1 ■•/':■
M. .i i.olrt/.:
■\-Ji.\''., -II
wsllr
i.-n'j7a:!i.il
■J 11
lo .;.k;.tv,i_
u ....
,(.!/i</.-'.i-'.i.
r:':i )
:.; >^.UV:,:
-■r. .
.1 ''■:•; .ii>'
■iV.' .1
jr.i.i.i],-! I,.-), I '
»'■: Ml. :.»■ I'i );- :i''oi/l>i!^
li^l/.hr ,.-;.j .-;i ,.i,,i-i.;j-
wlu j^ i.h.:ri( . il UOHl (It
:'; .::a-'.t .^fni. :o -mt- -.m ;,•) .u.; i-m<B
:!;■< iu .-r.d/: .'i . .finu. ) .■ ••*J.h^,(;;b t.
[(/::! '.-ii'jiMrjyi /lU Y'<ii'J'
1 j-'iiiW
y,; •(;,
l> '.'i 7;';i' .", ■ '/jnii «j;i( i.'iji ;•,!. lil-i.uit i::..L>i.l.O(.-!<i
.I..'-; -ii'l jj! .iU}'i:-_'n\riV: :>!c!KiL(I>;-n():> -mj^i
■;wril-;, ,j V .ill ,Vi.ll '^1 ?l(!.lj.jilir' rjl rv',10 -7 tlllK ."<>[
11-; .il:-/.' Jlv-'hiii |.7hli.;;.lnu 5<-/l ^>I! .e-ut;*-^
^f.! J 'M! ;i;!, ,j J..H) liiilii.'/ i;/(ii.H)a (;,Dii..-j(ii fil?
-i '. ■'.. ,|ifi^i(l Ol n:.ii!'): IJil.i . i;i-,trhl Ji rlJtxJ
:>■'<.; !.i !^)id)^^-:: :«}l - :.;ir-r;")! liV.r\yjni ;>(iih;:oi
Inl
■.;'. -(.':!„o...; iNu -.nil ,() i.ti!Miii;i4-io
:-,VV:;. m-.kI ^/:jI I.I... (;..f; J;.i-JU:ihA l/W^t-MiH
fC'.'fi ;: li r ;i .a/ii.i!- 'jii.; ^o >iii>l>!'.:j.<i ^ >iniJ
;;ii e>i3 o-!itd | bft
o«t« ; n
.};.'. '8*iA lti'jib«}/l Jrjf)i'l;ini/. :j,IJ
niSTOUY OF JOHlHiON
Sumter county, Ahil)aiii:i. Four cliililroii
.\() dead) liave been born to tliia union.
The Doctor joined tlie Masonic fraternity
iSGa and lias been actively identilied with
since. lie is also an active uioniber ol tho
nights of I'ythias. He has never soui,'lit
ilitical distinction, being ol' a retiring dis-
isitiun and much preferring the duties of
.s profession and tiie phnisures of literature
the turmoil of [lublic life and the now
iesti(jnable honors of political jjositious.
fF. DABKEY, a merchant of Cleburne,
was boi'n in Newton county, (ieorgia,
** in 1802, a son of Tyre (i. and N. II,
(Smith) Dabney, natives of (ieor-ia. The
father died when oiir aubject was twelve
years of age, and the mother aftei'ward
married Wow. Dr. Bridges, of Newton,
county, Georgia. Mr. D.dmey located in this
city in 1876, and lirst .soM go.,Kls for Heard
ct Allen sixteen months, and for N. II.
Cook tliree years, and in November, lS7li, in
company with J. T. Williams, ojiened a stock
of groceries in this city, and the partnership
existed three years and four months. Cur
subject then sold his interest to Mr. Williams
and moved to tlie north .side of the [jublic
square, where he openeil a stock of got)db in
tho same line. He carries a stock of from
$8,000 to $10,000 of staple and fancy gro-
ceries. Socially, he is a member of the
Masonic order, of the K. T., and is Noble
(irand of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
Mr. Dabney was marrii^d in this city, J une
15, 1S7'J, to Miss Georgia A. Picket, a
daughter to Dr. C. and C. (Norton) Picket,
natives of Alabama. To this union has Iteeii
born si.\ children, four now living, \iz.: Ilallie,
Kva, Tyre (ileti and Herbert. Mrs. Dabney
is a member of the Methodist Church of
Cleburne.
fj. SOKPFLLS, one of Ilillsboro's
most highly esteemed citizens, was
born in AValton county, Geoi'gia, in
1850, to John P. and Jane (Tribblc) Sorrells,
who were born in Geoi-gia in 1832 and 1831
respectively. The father was an extensive
planter before the war and succeeded in ac-
cumulating BulHcicnt means to be called a
wealthy man, but tluring the momentous
Btrnggle between the North and South he lost
all. He was a Lieutenant in the Confederate
service in the Army of theTennessee, and witii
(ieueral l''oriest's Cavaliy participated in the
Kentucky raid and was at the battle of Stone
Uiver. He left the army in 180-4 and was
elected Sheriff of his county, which otiico he
acceptably filleil for tluee terms. He was
elected a member of the Constitutional Con-
vention, which framed the present constitu-
tion of (icorgia, and in 1809, by choice of
the peo]ile, became their representative to the
Legislature. In this capacity he showed
himself to be a man of decidedly intelligent
and progressive views and his record as a
legislator of the very best. The subject of
this skeich is the third of eight children and
leceiveil his scholastic education in Johnsovi
institute, butat the age of eighteen years Ictt
this institution. After farniii\g one year ho
'■ j l!3-.i.iili-. -
*£-5K-^,<-
^|r!!HloJL» t Jlt-J(iOfc
,i!i-_Tut)t') .vJi'ijoo (Ki)irV/ n; tnoii " *" I .ttw.'ijjtuq lar Mti-Kf lo p-onofl EWi.'ituttsoin)
8(iitJZ'j lu ■.;•'• I'lil'^t ijifT .■(^^.vii^^H;i^:yr ; ,»i;tiK''&rj '1<j JiiiuJ'ri'jiii ii 73 '.'jH AG ''J ^
III 1>'.IU.'J^'.1M1-. i.ilJ.: 1J.W o;,.t ^.■iu\^l\\ ■l:>Uu:k] j ,J-i>j1-">f > .YlM'i.O i'.0»V/^jV» 4li n'KM,' ,;f.7/ |K-j
^t>Usv. -j'i oJ '.(!f!.,i;i Jfioi'jfHj';. ■,:■;!.-.■,.■ iiiu-. } ,H ./. u.u. .0 ■.■.(■{' 1<. m.s i; .HObI ni ''^'
jljH.'diutu ..lU j;fir!i;.'j Mni .imiki •^.IjIji.-..// j yii'i" .nivi.-->i/ (., nu/ilwii .■{i>ii(i«(l (u.iim^/)
i| yd f!Ui.-.<^ Imij- iitiu'r'i, :j;'i .i-j-j/'l^u ■jly^i/iJa J .-jvi-j'/ij f-.f^ J-r.'i.,iii;< i;jo aj.-slv/ (mU' •iJilui'l
a,oli-ji!;(.n i,ii; .'.1 Jii/..i:;1ll')i.[ ri KU// vll .I(j; j i .•■ fiVrKJ.il Jl Tj<1;".-)1 oiIJ 1>H« ,;*i;» '1'> •'UVJ^
) ill b3J;u[i\'»l-ir.*j v.iii'.vi;.') h'l-^rr.y'i ;.s-i^:;!yi> i i-iiJ) in i'vliuv' vniiija;"! .il/l .>-i;: uui > , /Hiip>'j
[Ha'»o ilhii'! -i.li ij, t,;v iwui i.ii.i v>lo:ii!i->/i } Lnj;t.!; ^^.1 ^l-.i;; Im>.m .i.-fil umj) ./iFi^l ui >;iif)
'.• bfu; tci^i i-; ■■■i.A'u ji!) JVil '^n :\-j/iii ; .-i '■ 'oi .l>;i.. ,sH);iu(i[ ityoJ;^;'- :i -lA ::/.
ti'.iiii) tbciv; ,vj;)ii;;'i -I'i !o ■fjc;' /i;- IhiS^A;) j lii ,>«Toi ,-|rji ii. :-.... K :(i Lii;; ,fc!i;',^ ;iviil! .luoL'
[ilil-.'.-j ):!V-!-I'| :/'
rrji..,.!'- /^! ,^0^1
/.'■.ii.i till / 'iDf'ijyj -i:!^ nl
. ! .,ui«-i-.;;li.-.(
'1
i I ,li Jh..
I 'Ills « );-i>i>fjO 3(1 '>imi-,v /yDiiiiia
,; t.>: .-w. «i;i l.M/i ^v^-i ; jvioS';!^.in:j 1-,:;) i -i)-!;^ vn:;'M,.n^ :l,iiiJ^ lo (XM},01* o) 000,)?*
•!Mf(l!ia .-.li'l .I--:;.:- /-. w viti '>■. ■io.tci^iSi.ij' y=iJ lo lodfiMiu Ji .U oil ,/ji»:i->ifc ,ft;ii-|90
, n:iU.i:.;:; 1.t!;ii> '■.; [■•':M ■jdi y.i ihuiA-'. n'ltii '.Mu/ iii i'lii: ,.'1' , .i :)ii.l '|o /iv'mu -Jilioii-.K
>■!., , 0jo.i.h\::''.n ■,,;,■.■.. !l hi 'i'l' ./Jtitli&iit j yiuil, ,v.}i.'i hill! HI 'y'rur.'..! i.iwi i^oiiibO .i)/
XL) HILL >: y/yr:
turia.i l.ii lAWv.uoM X.J x.:AiVA^ ;n tlie vil- .,-c. in il.c \v,.r ..f I^IC. He w... l...rl_^a
lii.'>- uf Jiiir Tiivcrn, ami this LicoujiLUioii oc- 1 1754 ami diuJ in ISol. llis uucostur.- i/t-
mpit.i llis time aiiJ eiier.,'ios until hii re- camo rc-i.U'Uti ol' Virginia during oarly l,V.
m.n.,1 to T^^a^ wliui alvuit twcuty-tuo yoar.^ ' oni.il daNi.
ola^c. F.ranan.l..r..f yv.r. li.cr.di.rU. - ^ <^ / / ^^V^^i-
continued ^K'da^^vigniniT in Collin ooui.ty.
ilun i..^an s.. pin^ i .k k~ wr ;:... :lr:n .: C. --^^ ^, PU N C A N. Oo.uty C>or .. -^
W. Jc.tcr ^ Co., at Shcrn..n, wi.ole- .;^\M Anunig ti;e .vpro^.■nl.aivo, thar.
bale .addlcri. In ISSl he beeanie book- ! i S^ ^ oughgoing and ollioiont otlleials of ,
keeper ku- Eninian .V Co.. eotion faeior. nm ..ounty, Toxa;. there is no one more >.
deservinir nt' nientiLiu than Mr. l>uncan, t'ur
lit lirenhain, with which tirni li^
led
one year lie ne.\t euiierintonded tiie ollicc
w..rk for ]]. II. Sanders & Co., at Cle-
burne, and at this tiiao began to class cot-
ton. In 1883 he opened an ollice of his own
in the same town and lor two years was quite
a heavy purciiasor at tiiis point. Since then
he has been a resident of llillsboro, and the
tirstyearoi: his residence here (1885) handled
about 5,0U0 bales. Mr. Verber is a mem-
ber of the lirm and they buy f.jr New
England dealers as well as for export, and
the coming year will handle at least 15, QUO
bales. Mr. Sorrells is al.so sjieeidating in
real estate at dilferent p>Mnt6 in Te.xas, and
throughout Hill county he has the coniidence
highest standing and judgment, whose suc-
cess has been developed upon the sure basis
of eiliciency and integrity. His estimable
wife and foi'inerly Miss Josie Kimbrough,
wlnj was born in Athens, Tennessee, and
wheui ho married in 1885. They have one
daughter, Annie. Mrs. Sorrells' father was
I. 15. Kind. rough, a llaptist minister. Mr.
SorrelJH' paternal grandfather, Charles Sor-
rells, was a (Jeorgian by birth and was Col-
his residence within its borders has extended
over the greater portion of his life. He is a
son of William ^V^. and Dora Duncan, both
natives of Tennessee, in wliicli State they
were reared and married, and from whi.h
they removed to Texas in 1854, settling in
liurlcbon county. There they mado their
home until 18G0, when they moved to Port
Sullivan, Milam county, where the father
died, in 18G-1, on the bi.xtli day after his
return homo from the war. Mrs. Duncan is
still living, being now in her seventy-third
year. Mr. and Mr.-.. Duncan had nine, chil-
dren, seven daughters and two sons, and tiie
eldest, (Miarles !)., died at IJremoiui, Texas,
in 1871). He also was in the Confederate
service. 'J'hc daughters all reside :.. U,d
county, as does W. (i. Duncan, the subjivi ot
this notice;, who was the youngest ineiatjor of
the family. He was born in IJurleson county,
December 23, 185'J, and was reared in that
county and in Waco, whither his motiier
moved in 1870. Tho war freeing the slaves,
an.l the (Jentral railroad breaking nj. their '
town, tlKj w.u-e left in limittnl cii-cum-
stances. The family tiieii comjjri.sod eight
'•l\'U
•3tj <.iciir-yMii, elil ICcI iu Uti'iL inn irt"l
lOffl .'J(i.'i.;i! ..-.'jlrj'/l ..:') i;i!' '.'
. Ill 6iti:/J "J l^cw
ivu: piU ll-JliV( ,01WI liillH
7 io (in... "J :r :c»i jd'Aij jjii.(|v,.>. .u.-urti (j-iI.'
iilri i'llj LML,i'i).ii-|0!|ii8 J/:">/l .'Ji'J /iji-r/ -jdu
.J Jii ,.^^
. '-ul (JfUfd!<i[i ill
> hriu ,0'iO(ieiiIiii Ju 2iioi>it.u'i a. i.;;'j ■: «j!il uii
•i'.iiTi! iur.'^:J ) '>■• i;! o•Hll^^i6:)l aiJ iv icav uth
.,:...i (! I.J •i/..l-'i'.' ■!]/; .bolj'J <.'00,a !.lO./«
l),r
-/ihr.) 3llJ t»1£'l!'.V ,yii|i..>;.< !|ti;iiM ,iu./;/!()8
w'v villi. '.«'' liJ.^lllHl ...J/ I..;,: .-.If l:.-i( i "^
\) hr.a ,fc!iu^ owJ (uu: i■,^tll'\^:^',lt■^> iif,',"^a .inih I ~
-i .: t.i.i;-j( IL: .•-.iM-dHb UilT .:<.-iv(o.^ I •-";• ^-'^ '•!'" , 'I'y'";;!'"! I'll.; yiiaMl-.J*. ,!<-;„!jjl,!
;jI .vMTuMtut Inlii y;yi!-,'i5lfi'j 'iu
.iiiiin.fti'ii;i.''i vLvji, HAiiA vi'uuin"! I.'iih 'jliv'
litf); ,'.'H.K :l!llf/r ,iil|f;;! t ^'i fU il'.yj t'JiVV u)lw
•j.)]:iiuV(-..* ynl'V .t;K''J iii L-j'iU.t\i :>;! n;uilv/
-jvnU o;l) 'j.-ii-jtril ■;,.■// i;.;'!' .Of^'f (i> i.ctvoni I 'i*^' ■♦wj'-^'- .^ii^jri'v', ^-i Ifi .i.i-iu/.. ,-;..Ji!>^;i«f.
;0:I' ■;.; jiiihliivi.l ;,;,>v>ii:;-< liiUiv-.) uJ) l>iu:j--'t'^ .•|>!-Miuit J,-.,iq.,;l ji ..Ijj.arul.iii >i .H ,1
ui.'-.i'i l>-.Jii;!,t iii j'lvi IV, vv ,■;).'!! ./iv/o.( i --n.y ^tji-i*!>l ; ,-, ji/ tjill)(W.P^ iitin-jicj '«|!.-,,i-,or!
'>^i.-j (.>.il'(.'lu'.) .Ivill yhiMi-l ;>:i'r V)'jiii;,t:^ j -loM /^V* |..lr. (i,lli<l •(«( (l/;ri^-<>V); > IS Sim ,*il:yi
■;•;.: w'.iK'. JflV,.'iu,i(iy iill r-;-.7' i'liv/ ,']r)i,f'.;'! yiii!
', villi!,
UlUTUHY OB' JOUNHON
claii!j;littTS ami two sons, W. (■., our suliject,
souri, but was reared in Hill county, he'"
being tlie only protector lel't to his widowed
parents coming to this section a ninnber of
iiiotiicr and sistt^rs, aitiiouirh liu was the
years ago. Mr. Duncan is a member of the
youngest of all the children.
A. K. and A. M., the 1. O. O. F., the K. of 1'.
He came to llillsboro on the 1st of Jan-
and the K. of 11.
uary, 18S7, anil secured a position as book-
keejier with Iluynes A; Files, remaining in
■■^--^yiyLfb~y.c~^l/uu-i^^
their eniph.y uniil he Wa,- elected Clerk of
,;^AMES PICKETT, a physician and sur-
the llii; c.uiity t'..i;rt, in Xuvcinher, l^?->.
-ji geuu of Johiiiuii CLiunty, wa.s burn in
lie ua. re-elected to the -aine office in Xo-
""■- IJarbour county, Alabama, December 10,
\euiber, IS'JO, and is :-till hulding this po,-i
1S53, a son of Charles Pickett, who was born
ti.-n. iJuri/j_' l.ii lir-t CL-ulL-t In- the otHce
he had considerable oppcL-itiim, there being
two other candidates besides himself in the
field, 'i'he total V(;to cast in this electioji
was 1,.S50, of which he received a safe ma-
jority. At the iNovember eleclion in l^UO
he had no opposition, and pulled a vote of
4,tJ()y. Although Hill county has long been
well and justly noted for the sterling honesty
and superior capability (if liei- pul)lic utlicials,
this enviable reputation has l)een fully sus-
tained by Mr. Duncan. He is able to lill any
position within the gift of the people, but he
aspires to none higher than the one he occu-
pies, and the functions of wdiich he most
certaiidy tills to perfection. His otlice Ib a
model of neatness and order, and in every
detail is manifested the most perfect arrange-
ment, showing the woi-kiugs of an intelligent,
well directed mind. Ho is a beau- ideal pub-
lic servant -eHicient, puiu'tual, industrious,
lionest and uniformly courteous to all with
whom he comes in contact.
He was nnirricd in this county, J nne 23,
1883, to Laura J., daughter of Dr. William
E. h
'g-
Mrs. Dum
Mi
in Chester district, Suuth Carolina, 1-ebruary
23, ls23. The latter was reareil on a farm
in Sumter county, Cieorgia, and in 184(5 he
removed to Kulaula, Alabama. He received
his medical ediicathm at the Kelbrmcd Med-
, aftei- which he i)rac-
d C;ollege of (-1
ticed his profession in liarbour county, Ala-
bama. In ISOtJ he moved to Prairie county,
Arkansas, in LSIl'J to Waxahatchie, Ellis
county, Texas, in 1871 to Johnson county,
and in 1582 to liurleson, same county. On
account of ill heahh he abandoned his pro-
fession in 1885, and is now living a retired
life. He is a Koyal Arch Mason, and has
been a member id' the Methodist Church
South for about forty years.
The subject of this sketidi began life for
himself as a school-teacher in Ellis and Tar-
rant counties, and later was engaged as clerk
in a dry-goods and grocery store for W. L.
West, a sketch (d' whom apjiears in this work.
Durimr this time he was also studying meili-
cine, and in 1878 he began practicing under
a State license. In March, 1882, he gradu- ,
ated at the Vanderbilt University of Nash-
ville, Tennessee, after which he returned to
VJ.)'',Y.1ioV 'AO 'tiUVVH\'i
(i{ ,\i!ifi'jj Hill .(i li'Tiivn hmi :!:id .hif'M
I v.»\i\iuii li Koii'JOi oiiii ui yitinio.'i i')"'iif«j
['I..-'.! .9,'.j , 'J O.O .] ml} ,.U .A hiw: 'I ./i
■Mil '.■.vm ixl i|^^l!(^:lJ
ibliihi yiil ilu 'lo J?.-Jjjii.',..i'(
,11 lo ./I uiil f>i!!t I -(I..I, 'to .l-ij oill tfo oniil>.|!ill 111
-^>\jv"AV--^— i\;'v^-
I ni •'^iiiuiiimo'i .S'jli'l i<» S'.u!-(;»I1 :lJiM -fHCJOjI
I fn>.-; 'ivM ,v3;i;) '■; i!.)%i!ii<jl 'V-> ci.'.m Jty, ' ,.'r'"l' .iu''!fjvvZ \V. Ji'.i.'J v)i:i:>.-. Ilil! , •)
It '!9l,U!lf»-"-'jO. ,;it!|r.<ls:l/. ,'(_'t!IR':) 'IftQliliul "^' , -i,./ ill frji'-hj :J.i!;;- 3l.!i Ol bjl'i j1 .*■>■! '-i.;/ j i }.
tod fefcJf uilv.' ,*J:iJjri favlw.;!".) v.. lii;.; >;,6c.<'£ ' i-.n( rin', -^ilil-loll liiji ei liiif. .i/O^'I .■■•j'iai-jV
•"■■:'•'•/•• .taitu-u-O iil(ji-'< ,i-)h3-il- ' ,;: 111') iii u ..il.. ,ii lot ;-jli!..o )-; ,t -i.i ^..inuU .:i.'it
■ ij'JU'i^i rj'.v/ ■I'.fxi! siiT .iitKi ,fit.' I ^.^.ii'ji! ■j-i-jii.t ,.ii.H5i-..-.jc]n ni.lt r.>!i'ii,iu,v iutii uJ
-.11 ,«..(w!»i>A ,nl;i*t'Jii;i o) l.-jvuiiun | iH'ilr;i;> bii!) ni ?...;, •fk>v '.i.JcJ -ilT i-l.'iil
ii!>l:
i! k
JiKI
[vi.-.iLne'ir. wi <lii«'»fl Hi 1.. h*h ■
.. -^i''"i\ ■viQii ni bin: ,i,6c,l ui no
III 'jua ,iT'>8j,l£ jbiA l«/<H;i r. »j 'jlt .stii
it o'lii iM!Sj0(J . i(;)l-.'>f.i (,,i(j '.0 jjU(,d((,i 9(!T I V"r''V9 ni {>nn
bT iiiifi siU.jl (li iiiif-j."oJ-!"i..i;ift .; «f! t4«»tftt(i -'j^aniii' r^'i-cij jsorn 'jiu irajs'..i!("!m er i'
1 I'ik;
• 3:>fX sii ono ertJ imil; lyiiy
8 ar !','iiti. .jill
■l:ji ) cn lr..i,;arji;v «, ;. I'llui !hi! ,.R;jitiUiii;i Ii!jn ! JH)-g'il\ ^ii\ :v to ayn'flwn 'Jill j^iiiy/Oiis ,l!!:ii<(
1 ,V/ lo! /•■1..1-. i,;^t*Qi>,; t)u« etojj v lb <: iii j -««(j!t; vni-((r.*' fl oi oil .('ifjiii (lotytni/'i How
liifw j:i;!j ,'ii ^-ifvi,!;;!' liiiuiw 'i<j ii>tj>lrt i; .),.-_> VV i (fiijcriih.i'f.iiii .h.ui-.i.iiiij ;■ ' '" ■ oi
hihU J^nixhilJr. J.-.'.: .^J .V •;,! M!Mil Mill ^^VlfiiHii llJiV Hit 0.1 '»roS).t1 (If VJ :{
t\ ^V'^r'.i ,!.■•>■;,,;,(/' ii! .tifeicj m1 Liv,'.'>.r.^ H ( ,J;;,' •.(Till ,/ii'i'.i:) aliJ.i iii I-'jitukii khv/ trii
*t.:JiI
.„..;i- ...ih
...I/;
.V. ..k:.mi)(» .riU .tj„...l .a
.UVD IIILL COUNTIES.
Joliiisuii county ami ciij^iij^od in practice at
liurloson. On account of his wife's health
Dr. I'ickett renujved to his farm in 18'J0,
where he iiaa over 2()U acren, 110 acres of
which is iHuler a line state of cultivation.
The Doctor was married Fehruary -1, 1883,
to i\liss I'ermelia, a daughter of Major Will-
iam N. Warren, a native of Missouri. He
was a Major in the Confederate army, and
latt'r represented his people in the Legisla-
ture of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. I'ickett have
four cidldreu: Eula C, Charles W., Anna L.
and (iustavus E. The Doctor is a member
of the I''arinei''s Alliance and of the Demo-
cratic party, and his wife is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
-t>^— ^<;D■:
>
(ENJAMIN F. JACKSON, a leading
i fanner and an old settler of Johnson
IS bori
rg:;
Auirust
11), 1840. His i)arents were H. L. and Ann
(Holland) Jackson. The father moved from
North Carolina to Tennessee early in life, and
thence to Geor;.^na ami Te.xas. His mother
was a dauo;hter of John Holland of Georgia,
who at one time owneil tlio land ami old mill
where the battle of Cliickannio;ua was foniflit.
Her father came to Texas in 1840, before the
State was annexed, and located at Dublin,
where he s])ent the rest of his life. The
mother of our subject died soon after comini:f
to Texas in 1853, leaving nine children, viz.:
John, of Ellis county; Andrew, who died in
Austin; benjamin F., our subject; Thomas,
a farmer of Ellis county; Elizabeth, wife of
E. l''ullertou, a farmer of Jjos(p
11.
B., deceased ; Martha, who married J. F.
Cam])bell, a fai'mer of Ellis county; Josejjli
r., clcceaseil at Austin ; antl Ilebecca S-
Jones, of IJosque county.
After the death of his lirst wifo the father
married Miss Presley, and they have seven
children. Mr. Jackson died in Ellis county,
December I'J, 1880, and some lime after the
stepmother of our subject passed away, and
the whereabouts of the children are unknown.
IJenjamin F. Jackson was educated in the
common siihools of his native State, com-
mencing lil'e for himself at the age of twenty
yeai-s, as a farmer, in the year previ(;us to tho
late war, when, in lSt)2, he joined Com-
pany E of the Fifteenth Texas Infantry, under
Colomtl Sjieight, and served in the Trans-Mis-
•l)i \h
cut. He was m the battle
of Fordoche, Louisiana, where he ' was
slightly wounded. He was also in tho bat-
tles of Clarnes' liayou, J\Luislield, I'leasant
Hill, Yellow IJayou, and in <piite a number of
minor engagements. His regiment surren-
dered at liichmond, Texas, in June, l8tJ5,
after which he returned to his chosen occu-
pation, that of farming and stock-raising in
Ellis county, where he continued to reside
until the fall of 1874, when he came to
Johnson county, locating on the farm where
he now lives. His farm here originally con-
sisted of 202 acres of slightly improved l-- i,
for which he paid $18 an acre, but \^- wl . b
he has since added until it now coi.i .!; c- ■ U
acres, 350 acres of which are under , liigh
state of cultivation. Commencing lifi; in
I'.llis county, in 18()5, with little money,
purchasing his land on credit, he exemplilies
■...KvvfM'.^X'i xww avii.
• b <w.it><inH ln!u ; iiiiaiiA Jd j-jnu'jwt) ,.'1 ,0tJ81 ni .>;
it>(It/i'l t-'ili 'j5iY/ }«Ti1 B'i{ li' (lJji)l> 'jiii T..,tlA I .noilp.viilivj lo oJtiJ^ yiifl *; -lolnri/ •ji ilniilv.-
(^;)•/.^>jl OViiil ^Dll.t Iitlfl ;''0ldU-|M ebllA irjhiiiCH j ,£(3i<I ,i- 'CiiilCjiia''! ti'.i'illjul eiliW 'lOluud !j;l'r
.i^^JpiiJvo «il!3. lii ljui!> nOifJyiiL .-iM .ifoilifiity ; -IliV/ loj;.!^; 1o -i^ilyir/iii y. nfi-jiii-i-.i'l n*iil/! ol
tjilj -itiitn oiriij oai(.v« br>: .tWSI ,UJ '('nJiiiaa-ovl 1 :<il .i'uiobrtiM lo uvbcii « ,iisTiiiV/' .H (ii«i
t>i!« ,-(Ji'Wif baaauq 1wit((i«. iwo lo J-xfJciiiq'jJ* j i-'Hi: ,-iiir\t: nim^MiS'/y) :)i(j /ii 'K.^riJ* r, mw
.nwoii/i(t:i fl-m nt>-il)l(t!u iiiU "i'j 3Jf)'.»fiif)ii>!lv/!>il.f j <.l'i-4»..i iiift ui i,I(j<wij b'ni i.y)n.';i.i')i.|.ii luJiil
•jiil di b;iJca(il)o fi^v/ jioajJriiL .'•} niuMj^iifiH i 'iv/uf J.i-»il;)i*i .3il/[ !)(!« .il/i ''■i.iio>i;(iIf'i 'In aiiit
(iios ,o1r„l>^. ov/j£iit iihi ki bfouii-Jft «yni;i!oa .^1 .'.urMA ,.'(V sa'-HiJO ,.0 fii..i>( "'iiiiiidy 'uto'l
^{Jiiowj lo ii^is ttiij ofc iu»!.iiii({i.>7 olil j^iiJ>ii.>m 1 i;kIiiiv»iii /; i.' ivJ.wvl j/H ..-I ey^ntMn) biui
oiii oJ hi;ui7ui'j i/itj-^ yilJ tii ,ii'ari£\ n au ,ai/i;)'^ ! -o/iiti'l •■'iJ Jo luift r^aiuu!' A f'wan«''! «»i(l !(;
-DLiH [j'KUuj^ oil Midi ill ,i!Ui!'« ,•!/;■« 'jIjj! yjiJ "li. noiltiiain « f.f oliv/ eii.' ii.'u< ,vJi;jq yilei-j
-silA-fiiUnT t)li) oi t'lj/ I'ja Liin ,lll;;iljtji! luiloliA) I _^
-jj;d oilJ jii »,■!« «i!V/ fjlJ .:i-j!.iii;ov/ Yf)ii;i^il8 I iu.HiKiit. ■!.) ■3;^l(i,.}< l.iij ii« Lur, 'luiii-
3Ui'.'ii:')!'i riii'j.'Iriiir.M .iioVJiH, 'toirus:.) It, ;:olJ j j-ui^iuA .nivj-ii/i,'!) lii inoi! .uv/ ,7!iu.i ■.
lo lydiKjiii « Nhiii-i'i i,.iiM,u;>^!::i w..!l!>Y .!IUl I i,;:A. bu« .J .11 f*'wv/ ahi^mj Kill .Oir>'l ,U1
■ lioruiy :i:!'.ii:i^;y! .ill /c>hia,!V)yiy,^,K' tuci'tcj ] :<\o-i\ Ir.y' ><•.■. vjihal tnl'l" .fi;.,-;.f; '
-ir.w. i:jso<i'j hxd oi U-nvniiyi .,,'. iLult/ ■.■•ue I i: .1,'. ,;i .,1] f-K/i/f l.:ii^ nij^-n
.li ^j.iciri-jivL-iii l)ii« yniiin..;! i.j IjuiJ ,j.->(1;i,j | ,),iv.ioa;) U' lj/n£i!(..IJ f^ilul. )o ;
f.'ijifj'i 111 b'jj,i;;iii.jfj Ol! 'j-!jilv.' 'I Uinihioii. ' '
• :i ■ ;iii.j ■.j'\ >:mJ.v jrsi 'to ^ Jil^^nul ..j;
•vii>;h/ rrna'i. .Hill Hv ;ji<,;{J«:)or ,\_iiiiJi.'j n )«■ n- ;, i iiJl •noi*! ui , f j'. m i /• ■ 'r^., , ii, ■ ..:
Ml..;, /_!lj;ii.'yno OTjfi ..ni'') riill .aevi! ^-/oit od | „.i:ui.KJ Ji; l,i!»,)«(jol i-iu ,l.>t);vj/ih<-i wiw-oljiiy
,, il bf>vo-iq(iti v't ■ ' • • .jilT .■/lil i..W. Aj ■Jh':^! 9jU la-jqa 'K'
i . !'« .M Jii«< ,wv yiiiiU->;> I.,:)!;; nv.Ofc hull 1-}u{;!wh •jug k
k.. V .L-.M.^, won -, -M . . • ' ' . )^uv«e^ .mi Hi m:^v; »-.:
ilyirt , ■?'>hnw ow ibhi., A. .x^nmj} s\m 'to .nrfol
Ml (Ail ^f.i'jr.-itiMUoO .v;:!,.,
.V''IO»ll a'l'if tli^W ,c:ri^r t;i
'.-,j lil([CUt>/.tJ .-A ,l!^'J-l-.i u'J l)f(>il hi,. Ill'' ••!■ j I, . , ,r| i- ..; i,n, ,;■■ i«, ■ iM'.l/;) • .1 .( ! '" ..
HISTOUY OF JOHNSON
what a mail of iiuiustry and ])ei-severaiice can
accoin[)lisli. llo is now onu uf tliu most
pros]>c5roiis fariiier.s in tlio county, and liaa
gained the est.^uni ut' all by ills holiest and
upright dealitigs. He is generous and |niblic-
spirited, and ever ready to contribute to
public enteriirises tending to benefit liis
country, lie is not now raising cattle and
horses as extensively as in the past, but is
rather lending his elforts to the improvement
of his htock by breedin^r to standard-bred
horses and graded cattle, lie is part owner
of the largest Clyilesdale horse in the county,
weight 1,8U0 pounds, seventeen and one halt'
liands high, which cost !?2,00().
He was married in ISUG, to Miss E. E.
Swottbrd, a native of Nortli Carolina. Her
parents were J. II. au<l Eady(Pi-uitt) Swotibrd,
both natives of North Carolina. Her father
luovi-d to Texas in 1857, settling in (ii'ayson
county and engaging in I'arniing and stock-
raising, thence to Johnson county, in 18tJli,
where he died, in December, 1880, at tlie age
of sixty-six years. Her mother died in
187(J, at the age of fifty-eight years. They
had eleven children: Su.tin, wife of Lynn
Adam^, ..f Marion county, Arkansas; Jonas,
of i'alo I'iiito county; Sarah A., deceased,
wife of Jeplha Miller; Nancy, deceased; G.
W., of Concho county; Eady E., wife of our
subject; May E., deceaseii, wife of James
Clark; John !•'., of Parker county; T. C^., of
Waco; Ebther E., wife of John Scott (tii-bt bus
band wa.^ James C. Cobb); Charity T. .A.,
wife of Noah Kite.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson iiav., had fuurUvn
children, as foll.iws: John E., born December
2. 18(iG, died October 22, 18G8; Eady A.
born July 21, 18«8, wife of L. Copeland,
and died March 5, 1888; Esther D., born
December 27, ISf/J, wife of Joseph Davis;
George C, born August 3, 1871, died Sep-
ti;mber 2-i, 1883; Wycliff G., borii Eebruary
3, 1873, resident of this couniy; Benjamin
J., born September 18, 1874; Ewell S., Sep-
tember 23, 187t]; Koda L., January 5, 1879;
Amy J., January 11, 1881; Ira P., April 1,
1882; Luke 15., August 29, 1884; Jennie E.,
August 18, 1887; Ethel B., Decetnber 24,
1888; AVinifred K., September 30, 1891.
The parents are both members of the Mis-
sionary Baptist Church.
tW. MEKTZ, President of the Eirst
National Bank of Cleburne, was born
at Erankfort-on-the-Main, Germany,
son of Henry and Louisa Mertz, also natives
of (iermany. Our subject was brought by
its to the United States when seven
years of age, and was reared in Beardstown,
Cass county, Illinois, and educated in the
public schools of that place. After leaving
school ho started for the West to make his
fortune, and made his lirst stop In Kansas
City, Missouri. In I8GS he went to Holden,
Johnson county, Missouri, where he secured
a position as bookkeejier, and later as assi^it-
ant cashier, in the P.ank of Holden. He
remained tliei'e until 1871, when became to
Texas, locating at Paris, wluu-e he interested
(■rprise, and
bant.-,' iiank
Line cashier.
b.cal
banki
;ani/.ed the Earmer
that place, of whi
iJiii'XjoO ,J >o OmV/ ,8iV^,! ,Ii; i(^i;is nio<j laofr; yd! io i>iiy woo i-'s oil .ils;.lfj(iic«<0B
. «j ,.(1 ihtih-jf ;88a/ .3 itoiBa ' I. , . , • . 1 . ' -I *ii.fnt ^r ' ' •- -t
i/Ml ilqoc-.l. '„. i.r.w ,ija?X .Tf' 'U lli: K. ,
rf.uii)y''l irK'ii , O '1!ii!j/V/' ,iiyil :.jijiJiiJii'.«-'.i oJ ^lui-n TiVt) Lun jL-aJi-nqs
■'' J'^i'lH-o ^iill 5<j .»(!ti!'icv. , ■; .liUj.-itxl 1,1 mulni^l i«^rhy\VJUi(> uiliJjK;
.'. ,L' •■(■liioi!'.. t- ,...] »'.t)'.-Jl ;i)T.;'i ,i;i: -nKfrnv) j i-i i.jj Jop.j m.II ni tm I'rjnii.i^ir/.' t>, flOhi^ul
i 'jMUCjl- ;1381 ,(!L 3„..-ji;A. ,.H -.,4,;.! ,i:«^l I !iv-iu-i.-utl,.:-.3A ■>) )jtti!.;.'yi.! y,| .JkjJ« ei,i l.>
:V Mil3 'o ;:;-,wij.yj(; lilod '«■;.<: «;l!U.Tr,i] -odT | '7ij,! uiiu ijirc raii'irj/na .ziyiiiioq 0()H,i JiiTiiu'//
jiyoiii' > 1.'-1JijbM Y'lmioi I j ,')00.S^ Iomo ilntil-// ..i;;;il ab'Uif
i ■ hI ,.,r,,lv-U-J' ^fj-loK v., .r;i.:i'.I i: l.io!!'.//S
'v/ ajjj,;!- L'.jiif'J m'.l v' -..'i'- uki <:(;l j ".:- '■"••' ''"■ .'''-'^j .-i-Kin'iU'.al.l iii '^ .';i> j;! ytv-ilfi
liv.wi v-IiA .;..'>; Jr. I; In -.^..Mi^.i ^,i='.^■^ ; n:i- . V. :>)•■« ,.'j;>'u;-; ::w.!'!ii;-. ii ..• .:» U.l
i! ■,. !■;[.! ■■; ;<ioV/ ■>.!> m;! l.o;..:., .'■.; i'>':ii-)i- \ ,■-■•■. ■■ ■ .'.r^.u-JiL ,-iU'^"-'' "<>i'''<^ ''' ,i; n.?'/..
J,U>'.\ u> :<v:: ■:■■: i^Ui\ .t1 viLr>^^-\ii yjO ! '< ,!■■' '^'^-al. ,^:,iij./ , s-liii^ .ii.lui^!. 1.. uliw
.: :■: h> ■! :-h\ '■';j' .-i--. •j^..bi. ■.»'.! -.■ ii..ii:L.i| j; j •■•juihI. V •■ii'// ,h-j.:y.xvjh ..A '{i-M' ; JjojiiiJrf
1 ,::;!. :..il ).. ■L\:'\ 'j.i; .;: .■.Mi., = rt, j;ij, i i.. .;> . r , rj.-ijw loJ-iu.' I 1.. ,.'•! i. .:...'.; JuilU
;>,:H.'>-il .;,..lv; ,)i>! iilfu) ■Vnli ':..••)...;•.-, j ;-:,.! i.v- !;; ■Moi^'Ti luiuf. J. . ;;1 >./,.''! rulit^ii ;uv>.'//
.W.M ',ii,i;:ilyi-r/; ...:k ,'.•.,. ,-i/;''l •u:; !'0^;..Ji-■M. j M.jri!i..» iu-.A ..';,,( -.w^'uii,
.l.VX' niLL VOUJSTIES.
;!7i
Mr. Mertz hold this position until June 1,
18SU, when he re»if^nie.i, being advised by liis
pliysician, Dr. J. K. Hooks, of I'uris, tiuit he
it h
of emjiloyiiient, ow
temporary ill iieulth. lie tiien, to secure
out-door lite, closed out his interests there,
and took a herd of cattle to the Pan Handle
of Te.xas. His health there was soon com-
pletely restored and ho came to CJlehurne,
Texas, having obligated himself not to engage
again in the banking business in Paris, Te.xas,
for several yeai'S. After coining to t'leljurne
he, in company with O. S. Heath ami iMajor
E. M. Heath, organized the Johnson County
Dank, and continued it as a private enter-
prise until June 7, 1883, when it became the
First National Hank of Cleburne, of which
Mr. Mertz became president. Ho has given
his time wholly to this institution, and its
success is largely due to liis ell'orts. (See
page 115 for an account of this bank.) He
has also some outside interests, and among
other things a tine ranch of 2,8(W acres, near
the Prazos river, Johnson county, sixteen
miles south of Cleburne, which is stocked
with thoroughbred and high-grade cattle and
.1 li
ja.-ks.
This
be the linest ranch in the county, and is
known as liuby rancli.
Mr. Mertz was marrie.l in Sherman, Texas,
in 1870, to Miss Mary Pelle i'hillips, a
daughter of David Phillips, an old resident
of Kansas City. Mrs. Mertz was born in
Kansas City, graduated at the Illinois Female
(College at Jacksonville, and is an accnm-
plished la.ly. Mr. Mertz has been cmnecled
with a number of local enterprises, and is a
j)ublic-spirited citizen. He is now a mem-
ber of the School Poard, and takes a great
interest in education. IJoth he and his wife
are members of the Cotigregational church.
#;^^ILLI AM F. EASTER, one of the rep
WMf i'6*^'"t^tive farmers of Hill county-
"^^ was born in Mississippi, in 1846, a
son of Jasper M. Easter, a sketch of whom is
given in this work. Cur subject remained
at the home larni until 1803, when he en-
listed in the Confederate service, in a com-
pany of independent scouts, under Captain
T. L. Duke, whore he remained until May,
18G4. Mr. East(ir was then put into the
regular service, in the Nineteenth Missis-
sippi Regiment, Company (i, commanded by
C!olonel Dulf, under Cieueral Forrest, and
served to the. close of the war, after which he
returned home and attended school the re-
mainder (>{ the year. He continued to work
on the home farm until 1871, when he mar-
ried and settled where he now lives. Ho
began life for himself at the age of twenty-
live years, and now owns 212 acres of land,
with 135 under cultivation, and well stocked.
In 1871 he married Prudence P. Major,
who was born in Kentucky in 1855, a
(laughter of Walter S. and Jane E. Major,
natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Eas-
ter have had eight childien: liaxter P.,
Sarah T. (deceased), John P., Eillie M., Jen-
nie I.., Edward E. (deceased), Kufus M. and
Haiti
Foliticallv, Mr. f:aste
lly, a tnember of the Masonic
iiiuii.* J-. v/oii r.i Al .afJSUi;> '.il: V
e'ii'it sill biiB oi( iljo'l .1:
li- !j
Cj6i »ti) It'
fei i
1.:hi
gft/mo'j ■i.^iiA ■;■.-'.■
no/'.<a i>.il
.(•■a ■jii irjdi, ,;i<y6i iiJjui iif.k'i :j:i;s>ii 0)li 14 i •ioi_i;!.1. Lim tU<..U .A J} liJw. '^iiiifjwKvni r^al
-rrori t, /,;.•- //m^ '.tM/iglialiioO '.li.' i:i t.oJ?!/! YlnnuO f'OP,fnf<..l,. rj.it f-.PNin-iU-iL. ,il?ji3U .lA .3
.V/:l/l liJiMi i.-. ;iucr.-i !.-! ■■■f>l[fl ,vA:.< ^^ .A 'i' j t'.!) .;i.u:')-.(J . i ■>.'„iv/ ,E>;8 1 ,T -Mi (, lij.iu 0«il.|
m;!; ...Jill i(i([ iriih rfjiv/ K,!'.;.-'! /i l/i .JfJ-? j iIhiIv/ 'hi ,,„r«irl')i:.) 1.> dii,..'' !,.r,./iii/i Jsii'i
-fis.ii; ,i3,u.JvMw^ ■'.13 m ,<oiv!^. •i,i;,--.i j "^«ij: *"'i -" .jr.Msyui ■.:•;■:...! ■.)•.;!' .-,14
-J-Vo.-J ) loiMiL;.)-. .m! 1-..'. :i;!! U. loiinii'Mi i ■■•'"' ,^;ii'<(i i!(^-^;; '.j .lOiHr. yiii; K fl^inijj IsJlo
-itii., V.I :i':;il7V ,rrr.( lUiitt i;:'i:;! j.-lu:; :>ffj
oJi ..'Uvil VMil -.Ii ,,'(i)li'// !•• Wtjr I'.fl/. h
J,. :;...;„ lb',; 1,.UI
;.,,,, ^j;j . !,;,,,: t: liiu, , ,_/;iiJ'.':. i-ill ill ii:jiU:\ M'.nil ■/'ll u^l
h'.LJi
L lu.M .f^ r..Ih,V/ ),. -.jn%.ii«l;
.wi i7. bil«
.(_,■<,■
/i 'iu
.; ,«(iil.:.( I Mb!! I'V.'U >::ni uJ ,OTHi (U
Jir.'ii(''/i M.J r;.,; .x,!ili'i,!'i liv(i(| 'lo rtUi-^md}
ty'i .n.jtl -» .'i l»Jt;>1/[ .k-iU .yJrO ab'i:^/! '!y
ir" .;•. ; ,. ::,. hiii- .'.||;v(lo«>luj[;l •). .*iyiiJK>0
(...t'wiMi.i.j 1; ...l ,;;!'( .vlrjlA .il/l W.fif >M<I»il(j
UlUTOUY OF JOHNSON
onior; and roligioiibly, hutli hu iiiul
leiubers
1 he l,a:
tlio liuptist CMiui-cli, ill
311 a IJeaeun for suvciiteeii
..^AiJL'EL S. IJAAISEV, a memljei- of
tho tirui of Walton A: Kainsey, general
niercliauts of Gi'and View, was burn in
Temiessee, in 1850, Ijcing tlie secoiul ciiikl uf
a family of tivo cliililreii. His parents were
Jidin L. aiuJ l!arli;ira ( I'razier) liaiiisey, na-
tives uf Virginia and yoiitli Carolina respect-
ively, but who came to Tennessee before their
marriage. The paternal grandfather of our
bul/ject came to America from Scotland in
about the year 1785 and settled in Virginia.
lie fought in the war of 1812 un the Ameri-
can (side, lie married Isabella Scott, in
llockbriiige county, Virginia, in 17'J5, mov-
ing, in 180t], to ivist Tennessee. They raised
a family of four buys and two girls: Samnel
M., born in 18U3, was a farmer; James, born
in l.sOo, was a minister of the old-school
Presbyterian Church; William, born in 1807,
was also a minister of same denumination;
Jane, born ill ISIO. never married; Mary,
burn in 1M2, married John Sheerly; and
John L., father uf uur subject, born in 1811,
was a farmer. Ifost of their descendants
now reside in Tennessee.
The maternal grandparents were early
settlers of South Carolina, and the grand-
mother's maternal family came originally
from (iermany, while tlu! paternal giand-
hither'H I'amily was from Scotland. Mr.
Kra/.ier's father, Samuel Kia/.ier, was of
Scutch-Irish descent, and came to America
and settled in South CJarolina, before the
Kevohuion and t'ollowed General Francis
Marion through the ciuire war. After that
contest had clu.-ed, he remuved to (ircene
county, Teniie.-jee, where, in ISOIJ, he married
Barbara Gibbs, a daughter of Nicholas Gibbs,
formerly of CJermany. Mr. Ciiblis, served
during the whole seven years of the lievohi-
tioiiary war, and was with General Jackson
throughout the Indian wars, and was in com-
mand uf a battalion at the battle of the Horse
Shoe.
Mr. and Mrs. Frazier reared a family of
eleven children: George W., born in 1807;
Uebecca, born in 1808, married T. A. Mooro,
and died in 18S2; ranlina, born in 1810,
married \l. K. (iist, and died in 1857;
Nicholas G., burn in 1812, was twice a
memlier uf the Tennessee Legislature, and
was a di.stinguished physician: he died in
1850; Ann, born in 1811, married Valentine
Allen; Sarah J., born in 1817, married Henry
Mexican war of 1846
ward married Joseph
Love, wlio died in th
-'17, and she afte
Parks, who died in the Civil war, a Confeder-
ate soldier; Julia Emily, born 1819, married
M. 11. Whaley; Abner White, burn in 1821,
served through the Me.\ican war uf 184:6-'4r7,
and the Civil war; Mariah Louisa, born 1821,
never married; IJarbara S., mother of our
subject, born in 1826, married John L. Uam-
sey; Heriah, Jr., born in 1832, was a Cum-
berland Presbyterian minister of high rank,
was CJiaplain of the Third Teniie.s.<ee Kegi-^
ment, (Junfederate Army, and died aKiaines-
ville. Texas, in 1872.
'iiutj;T ft h')7/?"'T ''9iSKi''i .«-iic Lui> ..lit.
Jill/. .') oi'.ir.j" Liiii ,liit')rj[» ilsiil-ifjJ'tvg i oliw aiii ! in; mi ihivJ ,'(l.'<iioiv!i '•
..n.;!>j<] ,iiiii!'riiJ.) ihtji.<5 ^r (-■jIJijs l>iui ; mj ,iWaiti ) liir^i.}!, ...-Il lo
j:l'i l>;'ty<l'JTJ (/>V/;7Ui''t l.'lili j.oJjijIOV'ijI ' "••'^In-.i .';lii lot /!(->i'!.'' 1 iS tl.'J'xi ;.. - • ■ ■
irdlA -inv^ •yiiiii'j .'il) tlj^;;n::(( nui-iii)^. j .ntnti
ii'jjllj.l (iJlJc'.f lir 3-!-Jl!v/ ,;'>r-Vi'H-.. L .VfililO;. j
.. 1 -i- ■*-'"•
•lij "li .'(lUnil'l'jD 'l.j f!i'. ■.-i'.-i ( i.v! .tv,;, ,(,.rii»-Jl ;^ linlitV/ 1o !;n-J ti;U {fry*?
'<o diiib^ iiyvi.8 d/loiiv/ vo ' ■ ;ij aii-.v jv.a' ' ' ^'
■.[;;,;:.> llilv; fci.v/ l))rii,;ii:, tl.^p l..,.Mr»'.j» ■ utiiyT
. ■■ Lii« ,6i/;y/ n.,!!jt4 4)ri-l li' ■i^'i'-i '3 v iJifuJKj iU! n ,i j vf .j ■tii/njii-B
n Jiiriooit:i,J'.<i.5J5: riouKJli^U /1..ii,Hi;: 1 .„,, .p-v.iJ! (luis.,,-. •( ) y,->c,rui!l l-'ii ..1 iitl.'l.
yH«j-i ..iiii'viXi'! '.hjioc'. iMUi Kuih^-i^''^ '\v -jvil
.1; ...•■.u'^/'l 'K.^vonEpiTyl .ir.r.i'} vtl '■ imi ,71;, 'm
,y--;'.' v:v . -'- i-'. ■ 'i : ■' - ■ ■'■ -■ , '.' . '■•-
IryJ. .,A :/r::i .ivfdq UiM^-Ufj^tlU -^Ur-t, g^-fy :^ l-^irx '^'^.:' .i 'Hi ji^
fi.ibi'/ bjinciii ,1'i- 1 ilf iriiyj ,,i:iA ,Os;>'i j ijWM.,;;'- .-r'j.jht iuUi :-/^; i! U'o't lu yil.lo.-l 1;
I 1:. nrv :uiv.:/J/: %<{» (M i,)il. ci';^ ,i!V.:J ' S.r.;.; 't-u i^ill \:-' riUhAm 1: ..:v ,Cr!.'( a^
lalilC't-^ 4,i .'iii' !;v"0-)'l) iii tiMi.. f/!,7 ,a.>|'j/lM i ;ii. .''= 'ii'<-.jii,jIj yd!;-;;; 'lo -('jJ.-.i !,:: / ("i^P ■•;/.'.
ril i'i ,iii...; ,Hj;.!7' -..juil A .-r-jiiiV.' .i! 1^ | t.ij; ;v'-r.,j,i^: ,u!wf. (,'.: r:i-\i!' ,!;['.l m inuii
OJ-e-l '!. ,.-v .;.:■ .■_,,/, !,.\i .!>,.;„•:, !.t :>vvi(,y ! .tl^-l :;i ,,u:.I ,jJ^; il.c, -tJ.o to !,..!uil , J .lliul.
M .nc"! ,ji-'. ';...' .i"i:-U''l ,■!'■« ':'i;;"i '-il! iiKi': I H)r..;t<i;D-)'o; li sij 1^ JtoM :::Hu:y.\ :, Kiiiv
■(o ••ji':vi,;i , V i!-;iM-;;;i ;[iciiT;;M' •.•.v-jj; j .•jviet;')!;/!')! ai ■.biu^Ji W«.ij
;i vi iiii^-l. !.■■.'■.'. If ,<;'.;Ki in i;'...i' ,l.>:.'i;:' I'l | \._l-ii-,. jJ-jw ":;; .•'jii(|iiuri>! i)..ri;))i!i!i 'xlT
'J >; .j;7,' .i-J.^; il) :;... J ,.-ii. ,;!.-,■! iM ; pa j i.-.j •.^ jii) l-u: .:■!;, !v,V;; > iljiloy 'lu Sii-jijI'-U
1 ,.,>.:.ii!i'i't i';,.n'
'/'f.'iiii^ i):':).
'•IDllJO
..■i! i,lii\-/i ,y.,li:;iniji> mod
l:nnlu:^' .•K>.l!.;i d'v.;>.'V'l
AND HILL OOUNTfUS.
.John \j. Ivaiiisey is a furmer, and at
present resides in Tennessee, aired seventy-
eight years. On coming to tiic State in iiis
yoiin^rer days, lie joined tlie United States
troojis in tii^litino; the Indians in Alabama
find Florida, and in 1863 espoused the cause
of the Soutli, serving until the cessation of
hostilities. He participated in many hard-
fought battles, being Orderly of the conipany
to which lie was attached. He belonged to the
Army of the Tennessee, and was at Chicka-
mauga, also at Atlanta, during the forty
days' fighting in and around that place. His
regiment surrendered at Cireonsboro, North
Carolina, aftei- which he ininiediatoly returned
to those duties which he had laid aside in 18G8
in order to fight for his native country. He
has always been a farmer. He and the
mother of our subject reared a family of
three children; William, deceased; Samuel S.,
our subject; and Louisa, deceased, wife of L.
P. Dlack. Mrs. Ramsey died in 1858, age,l
tlnrty-two years; two years afterward, in
18t](), Mr. Uumsey was married to Mrs.
Denirah Ahart {nee Wilson). Mrs. Ilam-
hey's great-giaudfather, James AVilson, was
fornuily fn.in S.-otian.i, and .rttlfd in Tcnn-
sylvania. He was a Cohniol in the Uevo-
lutionary war, a member of the Continental
Congress, a signer of the Declaration of In-
dependence, and a Supreme Judge of the
Uiiite.l States Court. The family have fig-
ured prominently in the history of our
country, ilr. and Mrs. llamsey have had
two children, James, of ltockwo<iil, Tennessee,
and Hello, deceased, who married L. Af.
'J'ho paternal gran<lmother of our subject
was a Miss Scott, whose family was among
the earliest settlers of America. Her broth-
^■rs served in the war of Independence, and
Captain William Scott, of Vigiuia, mentioned
in the histories of our country's struggle for
independence, was her lirother. He was also
a recruiting officer in the war of 1812, and
died in 1840, aged 100 years.
Samuel S. Ramsey received his education
in tho common schools of his native county,
in Tennessee, afterward attending the Cum-
berland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee.
Leaving school at the close of his junior
term, he returned home, and engaged in
mercantile pursuits at AVashington and Chat-
tanooga, Tennessee. He continued in this
business until 1878, when he came to this
State and this locality. He arrived in this
village in August of that year and purchased
some pro])erty, on which he engaged in farm-
ing and in mercantile business. He con-
tinued alone in the latter occupation until
1888, when the present firm uf Walton &
Ramsey was formecl. This firm carried some
$15,000 wurth of stock, consisting of dry
good:., b.-ots, shoes and grocerii'S, togiither
with a large line of farm machinery. They
do the largest supply business of all the
houses in the village, the sales averaging
from $-10,000 to $50,000 annually. They
employ three salesmen, besides each partner
doing his share of work, which makes five
men, who are all kept busy most of the time.
Resides this he is interested in agi'icultural
pursuits, and owns a tine farm adjoining tho
village containing 201) acres, 110 acres of
Jv.JMIi'i ii'O I..' I 't'lvfiiliiai-. •11,, ,,'r ),i jji!,-. ,-ifj(iiiij'1 « Bt ^;iRM((:Jl .J III
-ii'-iy;ii j.,ll ,(e,iia(iiA in :... MLt I niii iti- •jiAJ-ri ail; i;,' )animo:> iiO .eurj-^
-■'i; ,-c.|l-,!,(|3>]|f)imI 1^. -u;// '.•') (ll !"..-., <:■, 1 vOrlCi j.^jlhlU 0,f! l.'HiK^ ■ill .«Y;!h rr
)i.r'uihl;Ma,M,i;;^.V ■i(^J(u;.c^ ,M4ii(fiV/' l3i:;U|rtU Jifi'Jtxi^fA 'fii -, : :, ;
.,-•1 'jl^gir;:!-. t' ^-iKiiJoo ;ii'- • ic' e-jJ-U'loi'' 'iJ "li i !>:ii.'wy 'nJi, U'.
mini') :id io pv.ii;; jidl ;/ if-oji.od j(.;
, i !,;■•, , , . ■ ■ .., ,r ^r'
>■.' . .1)! j li.:^< I ul-.r.ui I' fM'^^ mill
;;ii''. -I .viii^s t"! fiyffv.' -,r5T- 1 titoi; cUdim^^d Ivxii buy. ^\>V .•loflrr. k) r .t •-;(
L'i.-.i.i!ii'ii'^; I ii.i; -ui'jv i.u\i To Jtifl^^ifJ^ ni .•.•'niriv j ,.ft hitrm-';!
V „olin'" )■:■ .:'v! '.!■., ^v:.! :.ili n^.l . ''^;;'I j .v,}/! o> ^r-.v.:" .• ,• ._-.., ril .,1^ ,1)1)81
■,'"'i;' ^■^r-iij.. M.iJ viii !' I;r:;i'i..'? cj;w -^ :i :..^1 j iiu:/] .i.\U'i .;!!Of'i;Y'' ■■^""; '■;jilA ilJf'inoU
■ „...■:■.,, i:,]i'r)j;'j. \„l,: vi.iiU ..U-a) ,-.■■..■: I ^,,,.1 !u :- .i P ,;. I a:: .l,.j)iU.,'.>; !;i.,ll -^I'l jiin.a
^p'T .■,'':vn;iljj.';, iii-iii'l ^■.:,;i.l ■;:!,,! j <; ■ - ;..•;:) oil! o, ! .,u.!..l ; j: ci:,; jI. ,iu.iji/|-^a
.> - ,,;! ■■'■■ ^c.-:>ji; ::.' /I.iqiii :i,^;/.i;! Oi'i ■• :■ . ' •i:i!(li..O :ji\i 'U: .-"Un-ji.: a ,t;;/ yijinO' i"f
■;,:i;'j,r. .VJ /i; -^.■■!>r.i 'j:!! ••Jji.iii-. :jiI; uj .i'-r.r. ' n! U_ i\y.\\n-ii\[v,j^ '. ''■i< "!■.■ Tjir^i-i ,f. ,«ftdT\i. .
ji!V,i:q jI.':is:'. K;,i.i-.i! ^,'-..;.,.!i .n. llM yt.!<j h:'. j '--i'l .vm! vll'i'itt I'liT Jldw") ii;j'ft.X iijiixli
il •<.-.;;.',•: li-.- 1 .' ..■■ii.r.',- i'j '.«fi,ilv ,ji,i ^^,11,^;. ; i.i., V. y 'tsiii ^'1^ 'li '»J;ii'»(iiii;o-jq l^rio
■...in. M:l- ■- --.li ,; r..> ',p.i pfs .-,! ,,li.^■ ,:k..;m ; f ,„; -,, , v:,A„.;i;l ..-M inu: . Afi .v'iJ((.;<.y
:;! ,:m,. ,!w. -w,i lit:;...-;.'. I.;'.; .'; I' IJ - H - ; f , !/ ..i l..rni.ol .■'';■' .r'.K,:-V,;. ,o;i:.a I.IW
374
IIISTOHY OF- JOHNSON
wliicl
ill :i liii,'li stiitu of ciilfiviiliciii.
Ik'i-e lie lias built a luiiulsoirio ivsi.loiice, with
cuiniiiodiutis Ijanis for hi.s grain and btoc;k,
Ih'M.I.'S other i.unlerii improv.Miieiits. His
wih. u-as the original owner of ihe land on
which the town of (i rand View is hnilt, hav-
ing sold the first lot in the jilace.
Mr. Kainsey was niarrie<l, in 1881, to Miss
Adella IScurlock, of this county, who is a
daughter of James F. and Kebeeca (Oriner)
Scurlock. (See sketch of A. C. Scurlock, of
Cleburne). They have five children: Lon, a
daughter; Samuel, Kayniond, Due and Kns-
sel. Mr. Ramsey is a menibur of the Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs.
Ramsay belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. lie atiiliates with tirand
View Lodge. No. 25t5, 1. (.). (). F., of
which he is Noble Grand. lie was elected
Alderman from bis ward in the last elec-
tion, on April G, 1S'J2.
II. CAIN CUIFKIN, of Cleburne,
^41'^ Johnson county, was born in Jackson
■^^ ** county, Alabama, April 27, lS-10, a
son of 1'. !.. and Mary J. Miller (irillhi, na-
tives of Misbissipi and Virginia respectively.
The parents both died in Marion county,
Texas, the mother in 185'J, at the age of
forty-three years, and the father in I8(i0,
aged f..rty-live. They left a family of ten
children, seven boys and three girls, all of
whom becanu^ grown, and eight are now liv-
ing. All are n.sidonts of Texas, and mosi of
them rcbide in Dallas.
The .subject of this HJa^tch was bi-ought by
his parents when si.v nujntha old to Texas,
the father making his iirst atop at Clarksville,
Red Kiver county, and later moved to Jef-
ferson, Marion county. Our subject was
reared mainly in Jelferson and vicinity, and
his people being poor he received but little
education, having t(j help keep the family
from the time he was old enough to work.
lie entered the Confederate army in tho
spring of 18(31, enlisting in the first com-
pany raised in Mai'ioii county, this being
Company F, commanded by Captain \V. F.
J Uincau. He served in the Trans-Mississippi
Department, and was in active service up to
the battle of Pea Uidge, in which engage-
iiient he lost his left leg, and was compelled
to retire from active service As soon as he
reco\ered, however, Mr. (-irillin joined an in-
dependent force under (yaptain Fitzwilliams,
and spent the remainiler of the war in the
field, mo.stly in Arkaiysas, where he and his
Comrades ga\e the Fedei'al foices no little
trouble.
After the surrender he returned to Jeffer-
son and left soon after, and in October, 1860,
moved to Johnson county, where he has since
resided. During the first years of his resi-
dence in this county he was engaged in farm-
ing, and lias at all times since been identified
with agricultural interests. lie settled in
Uuchanan, then the county seat, and lived there
one year. Then the county seat was moved
to Cleburne, where it now is. He was one
id' tlu- clerks of the election on that occasion
and can give the particulars how the county
;apitalcanie to lie moved as it wa.^. He was
,):!vituitl hi;v/ )1.'.J;,.U. n.i.li tn I ^-.j^Ji/i r.ilT j .i(.M».!vi!lii.> )., iil.ifH ilyi,! 4t iii ret;) ibi«lw
xo'l' o." i)li> iJiiimiiM xio ci-jilv/ nJiriii^q «iit lUi'w ,tJi>iitJ/i*n ctiiiOiifMtflil c lliiJtl :-:ji»il 'jil •/Till
ivfc.v|-ijjj;> 3it qoJ8 Jt:')!J ?iil >jni>f/;({i wjfml oili 1 ,;[;H).1a iiiiw iiijjny. nil! lol «iru:J stiM/ilnnKmo.')
1, ol ij'.i7ti)n -jviJ);! I'fUi /,'.'; iKi'j -iitviit li!>}! j ,<;n >!it;>(ic.;'-i.ujt(ii (niUnxii ■nuiJo .•^rllIi«K^
^ J'-jj^ili/d •iu<t -^Jiijioy ncrii;!/ ,!.u>/i'jM ,i., Ldsji ;i(l; 'Iw •i;j;iv/u (r.iiiyiiu r)i!) icv/ oli /v
B ,ylIiii;j)J f):iii iuihv.i?!-;!. ri vliiin"' hrru/s; \ -vj;il ,jliii.! %j v.'-.ii 7 fsr'Hii > fo (iwol Oiil il'>iilw
Jil i!)d liyvjaf.'.i M.f M u<i jjiji'jii (.<i(|Of)(j[ fciii .■.oj.l.j »iii ni lol iti-'i; silj blofl giii
(lie) tiiiJ <K.'-':-l (l''*l >'J /^iiivKiI ,i!f)il/iiu;Irj j S^iM «J .li-'HI iji ,K-)inj:iii WiV/ Y;'>/iiii}l .-iM
o* (.! iiyiioiis liio ^'-r/i o^jl uiiin 'idi ntcnl j s .n cilw ,vi.i;..ri i'uli 'io ,ji/)of-;ij'j^i »;lbtiA
t 111 Ynns o!jn'..ii-;.1iu.)0 :.iJt iwnoln'j ol} \ ivn^W-)) ij'iri'uh'.Jl L;!/: /"f 8!.M:ii!]. 'iy vilil'^iMb
lof) 3 r.'ih OilJ !!i >^(iiJoii!rj ,1081 'la MiuKp. jly .-/bM.'-njoS .'v> A io jialyiia -t.-^c-l) .Avol-nifjd
io<J aiiU .•^inj/i/ij nci'ir.M iii LacUri '^aftq ! a .siuJ :iit/(!-ii<''i yvti ovwi y-./t'l' .(Kiri'.jJ'.dO
.7/ ni'.Ocjii.i >(<r lv;.b!u;ur'-f)«)-j /'i -^ituqiinjO i -ariJi l>.'iji >•; 0 .''Doaivn}! ,{'>:.! c,i<y. pyJilviutb
]i»*ii«^iIii-L<"i:Kl'yii.' .If l>'jv-jutt '.iM .iuVHiu(l j .i,;d:_) f)tlt ']o r".!iirjii: b ai yaafiiiiij .iM Aoi
qi.' -vjjvTJt avii'j;: '■[ -u-.v: hiis; ,.Uiy/iiVin(jo<l ' .?iM udh ,..' jUiiir) n/ingJ^fii^^vM ixinJiTicI
i)(;i.ly ih'u'.l' r.'i /.vlliil ft;)'! k iifjIiM* :MiJ I li;ij' •v-iqjl HrliOiiitjtA u:lj oi fej^.i^i-iJ •(iwauiiT
il'^jiiioy .^(iw I.im ,t»'_.l !l!..Ui;i Js.-I ;j,i Kmm:. j b/;i;'i ;; liij;; .-.MJiiiJiC; »Ii .iiir.>;-; .il:--iinl^>
fefi iifx-.-. 1- /■. x-i"-!v^ uviJiii; iiMil :''tiJ-;)-i '.'f !';,. ,.'>! .U .<.' .1 M'i' .'»V1 .'j;:!)o.l -v-dV
I !t,: Li>iiu»i_ liilliv) .-liv' ,Mav:.,v^j]i J.'Viov.>oyi ; i.H-r^'ih ■.-.;,' mU /Jllii-ij v.do'A fi :,ii ji:)!,iv.
UJiiili/'Xji'l IH!-.''I»>'J iiA'it-l h-ylS'. iilslim'U'Aj i ■,:jl, 5i:,.ii ;n;! I'' f)!i;.V i'.A liviO i:>}iirf>ijl ^L
I bi).) ...! «lvi!-« .<.i:i.U!.hA ni '(l^. .o' .i-i.:! 1
jBI ,-iyuol:,0 ..i f,..,, ,,^|-t« v<yn: '.U,\ '„■ ■ n, . : '^'--i-^^' "' '-■"' ^^■•' -'^"''-^ .luMi>|..l. ^|J^^
<on;u3o'"i.', ^'.iibg^^n.'rj.aii.J!r -''^-^ vuha .1-.....^ ..„: j ,'n<.„o.
i;j''! ni i"j'^,i'i,,-i kj;,'/ (ii! 7).!ii..':) hi ■ ' ' '■'■ /iJ:>uiSO,> •ii((iii-.;1JV liiiJi iqi-iJssil^; 'l*- r-.y/iJ
nvin J:i,7^ 3.-M (_'.ii.u^, ',,'3 i.vrl'i' .uDV ■.„(.! cKM lu Vi. '.1 ,1 ,. Jl .1 I'Mn .;.v i) ■ V J'lut f.L.-:
/I i.^-K) Mi .i^ liuiJ^yiv^ y,!!"io oirji!; '.lb 1" j-vi-J v>^.i ^nir i;;;,::. Lib; - • •■■' — '
'l\'.<,K> mJ! V-Lm! trtJl'imill)..) (Hlj uvij^ HIK) i'H/J ,10 >Jl<n(! 1»<1A ,WI/UT"»«> ^
..•/. .'jljl ii'V; li ei; l^OVMi;! ■><:' oi ia«l!l)i) l<lli'|iiU ■ " •' ■ ■■ ■
AND niLL COUNTIES.
Hliiirtly afterward elected Constable of his y
iving
as such four vears. lie was tlic
clcrtcd .1 iistice of the Peace, and served in
Ihiit .-apacity two years, and I\lr. (irillin also
froijiiently lield other jiositions of rc^ponsi-
hility. In Moveinber 18s7, he was eleetud
Tax (Jollector of the county, and was re-
elected in November, 188'J, and is now
serving' under this election. He lias the
reputation of being one of the best collectors
in the State, and has also the reputation at
the State Department of Austin of being une
of the best settlers in the State. Air. Cirillin
still claims to be a farmer, and is sound on
all the cardinal doctrines of the Alliance,
being the farmer's friend an.l staunch ally.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but, at least as
respecting the two great parties, rarely ever
enters into an election here.
Mr. Gritiin was married at Alvarado,
Johnson county, September 1, LSIJ'J, to Miss
Klleu Kobefson, a daughter of W. J. Kober-
son, an old settler of this county.
W\ M. I'LDKK, of Whitney, Hill cunnty,
i rvti uas born in Lincoln count v, iventiicky,
UXVa •' ■'
"^* June 5, 1831, a son of Kobert Elder,
a naii\e of the same county, b(jrn in 1797.
He was nuirried to Miss Jane Pentley, who
was born in the sanu- year as her husband.
The father lived in his native county all his
life, and was a tra<ler in the South, and died
in New Orleans, of cholera, in 1850, at the
A liftv-tlirc.
His wif...
ltd IS7'J, dying at th
five years. Mr. ami Mrs KIder were the
parents of nine children, viz.; Henry, de-
ceased; James IM., of Kansas; Mary, also of
Kansas; Elizabeth, wif.: of James .Montze;
J\I,irtha, widow of Salon Wray; K. AI., our
subject.; John 1!., of Kentucdcy; and Uebecca,
deceased.
After reaching nuiturity \l. M. Elder went
to Mississippi and completed his education,
and was then employed as clerk by a supply
company until the breaking out of the war.
In 1^01 he enlisted in Company I, Eleventli
ilississippi Regiment, and after the battle of
Seven Pines he was detailed in the Quarter-
nnister's Department, aiul served in that ca-
pacity until the close of the war. Mr. Elder
then retui'ne<! to Kentucky, where he visited
si.\ months, and then, in November, 1865,
came to Texas, and was lirst engaged in
teaching school and other employments. He
subsequently bought a farm of 200 acres,
which he afterward sold and bought his
present place of 145 acres near Whitney,
seventy-tive acres of which is cultivated. Mr.
Elder was elected a Justice of the Peace in
1878, and held that ollice ten years, and was
shortly afterward re-elected. He was also
appointed Notary Public in 187t), and still
holds that position.
Mr. Elder was married August 18, 18t)8,
to Miss Emnra Hamilton, and they have had
nine children, six now living, — R. S., J. P.,
Lottie, Princes, Etna and Ella R. Mr. Elder
began lile for himself wlien twenty years of
age, with conijiaratively nothing, but is now
in rumfortable circnmsliinc.^s, and can live at
eaM. in hi,, old, n- day.s. Mrs. flhlcr i.. a mcm-
4 '^-$^i^_
I)I'»J ■.ll>il)l:->'A 1.) ,.i! !!■ (.liil'l
^.-r ..... -: .. . .,. ,, : ..Ad) y.R?
iii-jv,' i'jblJl .M .il ^^i'liiJii"! ;;4t''.I >«iri •i'rft.'. j won hc bjiji .'JbHt ,-i'ji(fiir>70»1 ni !.':>! v.ilo
' ' i;; i'j(^f;^:i;si(.iiC oJ , oil.J sn' '-lil .riMiJfjalo >jiill lyl'iiu j^civioa
■ ;i3 i(siii.J 6CV.- tin.'! , s'i..,'j-jllo'j .'av'.J •■)){;; '\o otj.i ;|nL'i.i lo auiJ«liiqa-t
.11 '>fl!«:ii.fj ;<.l lii^i fil '. -XK. ;.>;:■:).; !u ,.L'2iiA'to J(i'»(iU:j:q-j(! • l.!.'^ 'Jill
yil3 i)i L-.tiiciLjb 5/7/ 'ill :^:i.iiM fOv-iS | lid bnnns f.i i/iiis .Tjid-j/'t « !iij ■:.' r,Lf'ln\'> ilny
H li'jvioi !.'(i;: ,!i:ii(i1-u:.|aU fi'ialK'aii ; ,i^)i,; ifiA ,,!j V,. riviiiir.wjb i/inil.i;;/ t>ilJ l]»i
'I .-inv/ Oih !>> 'jMi!..' aill iiJtiH Yli'ji'q ' .-^llji i!'ji!(iiit.i l.r\!i Ijm ),it i'-i;jiii(i."i ■jil'' -^ifi-,*!
! yidil-ff ,vji'ji(liiy>l 0) lioiriiii;*! ,:i;lj | >:;; joitol ',j; ,}im.I ,3;>-.70iiiu'l /i «>i :./! /^llMiJilo'i
. .i!in.>vn/i t'i .(luil) t.nii ,aii5i(oiii X!^. I i-.v., fiam-i ,Hai.*-u«j Jii .•;;.; nv/J vili yoii: -i;..!)-!
,j W/fl! I'Mf: ,ii;>-jT ■•! oiii»;3 » :>i..,ii i.iii1:j-jit) (u: oiili .iiohl'j
(h( b.ui ',!.,« i,m:A!i)j>/! ..a ■i.i.;^ ; ^,^,^^,^ .., ,7/ ^uM-.;jji.,.bii .H...i>K.:! ...nil
...;;v'llU-:. .:! ,i.il(v/ l.'..ru; ■..i^•^>l!■"^.^. '
.iru hiui ..-li. V ir.' 'OiO.. U:U LirMi Ikix ,:^r><l I
v/m!1 ' .<,vu,-A-..-:-x ln>,Y/n.n. (!?■....!. i ,y>.""^ liiH ,v-..<nlW lu ,;L!'i.i:i .)/ - ^
.i5...!{i.-u.-| 'Dili ai>|...,; f .:Aiyi ;)-ia.Jv4i ^o tiosji .liiBi 0 -^a.;!. *" '
,>.;:*(•! Bl jj.ii:))/. loi'i-mm -v.^/ -;)ji::'( .W j .TtTM Jii ru..l ,vtiHi(/> riinjiia .a) !i, •,.'i;!;ii n
ijl.-i/J /rM il i.li.'-< Imis «'.(::>;! <r.r>rtii'i ,Mii<jA \ <in iU- vh;r..-r' avo/.ii fh! iii bovii r..iiJ«i ;.(IT
lo .!i>''.Y ,-"r.v,t ':o/l'.' 'l!?-)i!in:t !•>'! oir! i.ii-... -'.: i i-'jilJ i'l"!' -il'fJ"'^ <->'!•) "w I'lliK'tl «!>•"-•'■ i>H»i ,ylil
v;ui oi .UhI ,v;iii: 1 vl',,iJi;ij.i|:i)i>;. di'.^i ,:.;;j; j '..;!) 1'. .O'?-"'! mi .in-' '•' •>'
U 1>V.I <lif> f.lii. .m.-n,r1 MMIV...; .,!<;/. h..l, ...... ,rf j t.-.V.TUI^ -! H/ Mill
-(i.ji.iJ;^iM''M:'i .».iK .oviil. i-.!.l.. ui.l iii ■--i:-- ' •(_iu'.v.. 'lu ,^,: .,iU ,.. ;i<l
U%h^ 1
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11