USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 16
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 16
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There was very little competition for the cotton premium or among thegrain-producers, owing probably to the drouth and the con- sequent shortness of the erop.
On Wednesday occurred the " Great Inter- national " menagerie and circus of James A. Bailey & Co., which took out of the county more dollars than would have been required to make two sneh fair-grounds as the county had at the time; but notwithstanding this the attendance at the fair was good. The display of fruits and vegetables was beyond the expectations of any one, as the summer had been so dry and hot. The floral display, too, exhibited much taste and labor. In fact, the pots and boxes were so arranged that the area occupied appeared like a tastefully laid out flower garden. More room was wanted.
The number of entries for the premium hog was not large, but the animals exhibited in this department were good specimens. The Berkshires outnumbered all others; they are considered the best class of hogs to be raised in this part of Texas.
The display of cattle was very satisfactory, but it was generally admitted that the modern shorthorn breeds would be an improvement upon the old longhorn style.
On the third day occurred the exhibition of horses and mules, which showed great improvement in quality upon former times, although the display was not great. On Sat- urday the attendance was a " perfeet jam." Everything was pleasant but the dust, which at times was almost beyond endurance.
The marshals succeeded in keeping good order during the fair and a general quiet prevailed at all times. The Cleburne brass band was on hand promptly every day and discoursed lively musie. G. II. Maxey, the secretary, labored indefatigably and success-
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fully during the whole week to make the fair not only a success but superior to the previous ofe. The first fair on their new grounds at Cleburne they held in 1876; but, although the exhibitions already held were good, yet, tor the want of sufficiently attractive new features, these great occasions began to be- come " an old story," the people neglected them and they went down. More recently, however, the cause was revived by the " Agri- cultural and Fair Association," who held one fair in 1890, upon their grounds in the northwestern part of Cleburne, which they improved and fenced, but for the lack of suf- ficient popular support they sold the grounds to pay their debts, and thus the " fair" chap- ter of the history of Johnson county for the present is ended.
FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.
The Patrons of Ilusbandry began to estab- lish themselves throughout the United States about 1868, and with the commencement of the hard times of 1873-'79, they were at the highest tide. They organized granges in almost every neighborhood in Johnson county. In 1874 there were lifteen, and October 6, that year, they organized a county council. At this 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 stock shall be - dollars, divided into shares of $5 each.
3. No grange or member shall be allowed to subscribe for more than one-tenth of the capital stock.
4. Each stockholder shall have one vote, which may be voted by proxy.
5. That portion of the council who are stockholders shall be the board of directors, who shall have full control of the business of the company.
6. They shall eleet 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. Ile shall be permitted to select his own assistants, and as many as shall be deemed necessary.
9. Ile shall give bond and good security for the faithful discharge of his duty.
10. There shall be an executive committee, consisting of five patrons, whose duty it shall be to superintend tho 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. Goods shall be sold to those who are not patrons at twelve and a half per cent. above 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- seribed any patron may become a member by paying the sum of 50 cents, but not receive dividends in money until the full share of $5 has been paid.
15. The dividends accruing upon sums paid in sums less than $5 shall be cumula-
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tive, and thus go to increase the sum paid until it reaches 85.
16. The net profits shall be divided as follows: stockholders shall be entitled to in- terest at the rate of ten per cent. of the stock paid in. There shall no interest acerno except on paid stock and from date of pay- ment. The dividend shall be declared only after interest is allowed. The dividends shall be declared by the following plan: One-half to be retained by the company as an acenmu- lating fund, and the other half to be divided among the stockholders pro rata.
17. Agents and their clerks shall receive for their services a stated salary.
Under the above arrangement a few " co- operative" stores were established, one of which was run at Cleburne for ten years, but in course of time abandoned. But in many other respects the granges continued to flour- ish, as their functions were manifold.
Naturally the grangers have given many publie demonstrations. The first of the kind was given at Lee Academy, east of Cleburne, on the first anniversary of the birth of their order in this county, December 4, 1874. That point has always been, up to date, one of their strong-holds. About half-past 9 o'clock on the day mentioned, the audience began to assemble, and by noon there were upward of 400 persons on the ground. The local grange, in connection with visiting members from other granges, met at the house of Mr. Rob- erts, a short distance from the lodge hall, and marched to the hall under a floating banner upon which was inscribed the word " Friend- ship." After an appropriate piece of vocal
musie the grange was opened in due form by the master and a prayer by the chaplain; then for more than an hour D. R. Carmichael entertained the audience by an address on the " Evils Arising from Monopoly, and the Remedy."
Bountiful tables were afterward served, reminding one of the good old days of yore.
Next, for an hour, the people were addressed by Rev. Thomas Gaskins, on the " Farmers' Wrongs and the Internal Workings of the Order." After this there was a brief review of the intentions of the grange by S. A. Daniels, of Rusk county. Then the audience was dis- missed and all returned home well satisfied with the day's entertainments.
July 3, 1875, they had an extraordinary celebration at Cleburne, the attendance being over 5,000! Colonel Lang delivered the ad- dress, a remarkably good one. The day passed off without accident or rowdyism, and every one went home satisfied with the entertain- ment.
In 1878 they reported that their order in this county was as strong as ever, and on a firmer foundation than ever before.
A few granges are still living (1892), and working zealously, and still have a county eouneil. The State grange has an annual fair and an experimental farm.
Within the last ten or twelve years the " Farmers' Alliance" movement has been under headway; but 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. Hlouchin, a vory popular man, was elected
.
.
Ben Barnes Ir
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president of the first alliance in the county. At one time there were twenty separate al- Lances in Johnson county, with a membership hanging from thirty to seventy each, thus aggregating about 1,000 members. Their influence in polities is very strong.
.As a representative farmer of Johnson county, we give here a sketch of the follow- ing gentleman:
BENJAMIN BARNES .- This gentleman is a son of Benjamin Barnes, Sr., who was born in Georgia in 1803, passed his life in that State, and died there in 1885. He wasa wealthy and influential planter, owning a large number of slaves, and about 2,000 acres of land in Craw- ford county, besides saw, flouring, woolen and rice mills. Before the war he was estimated to be worth $100,000. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Democrat. For some time he was a justice of the peace in Crawford county, and while acting in that capacity he performed his father's second marriage cere- mony. He was an earnest Christian man and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which for a number of years he was a class-leader and steward. He was twice married. In 1820 he wedded Patience Spears, a native of Stewart county, Georgia. By her he had ten children, as follows: Moses, a capi- talist of Alvarado, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work ; Sarah, widow of Robert Vinson, is a resident of Johnson county; John, deceased, was the founder of the village in this county named Barnesville, and was a stock-raiser and speculator; Martha, the fourth-born, has been thrice married; her first husband, Henry Hardison, of Houston
county, Georgia, died, leaving her with one child, and her second husband, John Cowart, of Bibb county, Georgia, was killed in the Confederate service; her present companion, W. W. Hardie, is a large property owner in Burnswiek, Georgia, where they reside; Pa- tience, deceased, was the wife of Benjamin Lightfoot, of Johnson county; Benjamin, the subject of this sketeh; Andrew J. resides near Barnesville, Johnson county, Texas; Eliza, of Montezuma, Macon county, Geor- gia, is the widow of John Adams; Remele- son, who was first married to William Adams, now deceased, is the wife of James Adams, of Johnson county; William and James Adams were brothers and were from Macon county, Georgia, the tenth-born died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Benjamin Barnes, Sr., married Mary Hamilton, by whom he had seven children: Joseph, a resident of Ilouston county, Georgia; Lou, the widow of Daniel Smith, Macon county, Georgia; Eugenia, wife of L. Evans, of Ala- varado, Johnson county, Texas; Anna, wife of Joseph Adkins, Crawford county, Georgia; Adin, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Elizabeth, who died when young; the seventh died in infancy. John Barnes, the grandfather of Benjamin, Jr., a native of Georgia, was killed by one of his slaves (who was hung the same day).
Benjamin Barnes, the subject of this sketch, was born in Crawford county, Geor- gia, in 1833, and there worked on his father's plantation until he reached his majority. lle then came to Texas and made his home with his brother Moses for ten years, during
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which time he speculated in live-stock. May 27, 1865, he married and settled on the Robinson farm near Alvarado, Texas. In 1569 he drove about 1,400 head of cattle to California, and in this business venture he lost about $10,000, and two and a half years, hard service, dry weather and failing erops having eansed the price of cattle to fall; there was no grass and cattle were fed on sage brush in the mountains; during this time he was accidentally shot through the foot with a Henry rifle. 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 ent the rope and stole his horse, leaving him to herd the cattle on foot. The most of the cattle he had bought on time, and his liabilities amounted in all to $10,000. All he asked of his ereditors was time, and, that being granted, he paid every cent of his indebtedness. This and other losses he has met since coming to Texas have amounted to 835,000; but, notwithstanding these difficul- ties and embarrassments, he has risen from a poor young man without means to a position of wealth and influence. Hle is now the owner of 1,032 aeres of land, well stocked and nicely improved; and is vice president and a director of the First National Bank of Alvarado.
During the war Mr. Barnes enlisted in the Confederate service, becoming a member of Company C, Twelfth Texas Cavalry. He went in as a private, and came home a first lieutenant; was wounded at Searey Lane, Arkansas, and Yellow bayon, Louisiana. Politically he alliliates with the Democratic
party. He is a member of the Royal Arch Masons.
Mr. Barnes, like his father and grand. father, has been twice married. In May 27, 1865, he was joined in wedlock with Mattie Sigler, daughter of George and Elizabeth Sigler. She died in 1867. They were the parents of Cicero and Mattie. The former is deceased and the latter is the wife of James P. Fielder, a druggist of Alvarado. Septem- ber 27, 1874, Mr. Barnes married L. B. Arterburry, daughter of Thompson and Elizabeth Arterburry, of Monroe county, Kentucky. This union has been blessed with five children: Alice, Walter, Lce (deceased), Lula and Willard.
EDUCATIONAL ..
In noting the progress of school education in Jolinson, one should recall the period of the first beginnings of settlement here, and the progress of immigration sufficient to sus- tain schools, and then compare with these the statisties of school progress from time to time in order to see that the class of people loeating in Johnson county is as greatly in- terested in intellectual progress as any other community in the State.
During the school year ending August 31, 1875, there were seventy teachers employed in the county, who taught 2,643 children. The entire cost for four months was $15,- 099.96, which made the average salary of each teacher $53.92 per month; average number of children taught, 37.7, and the av- erage cost per month $1.43. About $5,500 . of the above sum was paid by the State ap-
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propriation. The one-fourth of one per cent tas levied by the board of school directors for the scholastic year ending August 31, 1>75, and ordered to be collected during the ensuing fall, amounted to 81,933.06. As the school directors refused to levy a tax to make up the deficit it was advised that no free schools be reorganized for the ensuing year.
The above serves as a sample of the con- duet of school interests in Johnson county for many years. Some years, as already im- plied, a special tax was levied to support free schools.
To exhibit the total progress of schools to date, we select the following figures from the list report, 1889-'90: There are in Johnson county seventy-six school districts. There ure seventy-nine white schools tanght and three colored. Number of graded schools, four; of high schools, one. The total seating capacity of the school buildings is 4,682 for white children, and 110 for colored. Aver- age ochool term 5.1 months for white and 3.5 months for colored. Number of pupils of scholastic age (eight to sixteen years) actually enrolled in school, 1, 112 white and ninety- right colored. Number of pupils under scholastic age enrolled, 502 white and six colored; number over scholastic age enrolled, 492. Average daily attendanco of pupils of scholastic age, 2,445 white and seventy-nine colored.
Number of pupils of scholastic age who could not read when they entered school dur- ing the year reforred to, 1889-'90, 802 white and thirty colored; number who could not 9
read when they left school that year, 174 white and twenty-one colored. Number who could not write on entering school, 1,478 white and fifty-eight colored, and could not when they left, 352 white and fifty-one col- ored. Number who did not understand the four fundamental rules of arithmetic when they entered school, 2,482 white and eighty- one colored; number who did not understand when they left, 1,480 white and sixty-nine colored.
Number of pupils who have been instructed in history, 960 white and seven colored; in algebra, 440 white and one colored; in geome- try, eighty-two white; in natural philosophy, 162 white; in physiology, 174 white.
Number of white male teachers holding certificates, fifty-eight, of whom twenty-four had first grade; colored, one. White female teachers holding certificates, twenty-eight of whom one had first grade. Grand total number of teachers employed, eighty-six white and two colored. Teachers holding diplomas or eer- tificates from Texas normal schools, three.
Number of schoolhouses in Johnson county, forty-one, all of wood, -twenty-four good, seven fair and ten in " bad " condition.
Amount of school funds apportioned to dis- triets, $19,276 for white schools, and 8432 .- 64 for colored; per capita, 81.16. Value of public schoolhouses and grounds, $15, 039, white; none reported for the colored. Value of school furniture and apparatus, $3,000.
Total amount paid to teachers from the public funds, 820,172.79, white; and 8356 .- 46, colored. Average salaries of teachers- male, white, 851.90 por month, and colored
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
$50; female, white, $12.25 and colored $30. General average salary of teachers, $48.21. Average rate of tuition per month as per act- ual attendance, $1.61 for white, and $1.28 for colored. The above account does not in. clude the city of Cleburne. For the city of Cleburne see under that head.
During the scholastic year 1889.'90, there were nine teachers' institutes held, with an average attendance of twenty-eight. These institutes are well kept up, by modern, live teachers.
The public schools of Johnson county are in a flourishing condition, showing unmis- takable evidences of improvement from year to year. The course of study in many of them is not confined to the public-school course but embraces still 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.
CLEBURNE.
Cleburne, the "City of Roses," -- so named from the abundance of roses cultivated within its limits, --- is beautifully situated on and be- tween the banks of the two Buffalo creeks, which run clear water a large portion of the year. The site is abont 800 feet above the level of the sea. Surrounding the city on the north and west is a range of elevated ground, com- mencing at the Cross Timbers and forming the eastern boundary line of the city and sweeps around first in a northerly direction and then sontherly until the portion of the
town that nestles in the valley of the Buf- faloes is overlooked by an amphitheater of hills. The city has a clean, sunny, healthy 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 perfeet. No epidemic has ever prevailed here.
The city of Cleburne is located on the two- thirds league of C. Chaney; and B. J. Cham- bers and others located, in conflict with it by mistake, 1,280 acres under the Herron sur- vey. After it had been a long time in the courts W. F. Henderson of New Orleans ob- tained possession of it; and they finally set- tled by comprising with the Chaney heirs, by keeping the 1,280 acres and permitting them to have the certificate, which they located elsewhere.
The dividing line between the Chambers and the Ilenderson lands ran through what is now the center of Chambers strect at the southwest corner of the public square, and thenee straight ont to the old Alvarado road beyond the Anderson Brothers' mill, Cham- bers having the southern tract, 640 aeres.
The site on which Cleburne is situated was first named Camp Henderson, on account of its being the place of rendezvons and en- campment of Johnson county's first volun- teers to the last war, and it was on lender- son's land.
The county seat was located here March 23, 1867, as noted elsewhere, and the plat was immediately laid out by the surveyor, al- lowing of course for a publie square, with the blocks, lots and streets running with the
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cardinal points of the compass, a half mile each way from the square. Since that time several additions have been made to the town plat, especially West Cleburne, on the west side of West Buffalo ereek,-often called the "Arkansas Addition."
NAMING THE NEW TOWN.
The town of Cleburne, the new county seat in 1967, was named in honor of. one of the best men and greatest heroes of the last war, General "Pat." Cleburne; and at this junet- ure is probably the best place to relate the particulars of the last fight in which he was engaged and in which he foll and which ren- dered him so famous as to become the sub- jeet of the naming of a beautiful city.
On the morning of November 29, 1864, Cleburne's division crossed Duck river at Davis' Ford (Tennessee), and by a eireuitous road marched rapidly to Spring Hill. Ilis division was composed of four brigades,- Granbury's Texas, Govan's Arkansas, Low- ry's of Alabama and Mississippi troops, and Mercer's of Georgia, commanded by General J. A. Smith. The last named brigade was .Jeft at Florence, Alabama, and did not reach the command until after the battle of Frank- lin.
It was late in the afternoon of the 29th when Cleburne reached the vicinity of Spring Ilill, a village on the Columbia and Franklin pike, twelve miles from Columbia and eleven from Franklin. The division was the advance of Hood's army. It approached the village on a road running at right-angles to the pike. Upon crossing MeCutcheon's creek, a quarter
of a mile from the pike, Cleburne was or- dered by General Hood in person 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 breastworks just over the brow of the hill, built principally of rails.
Cleburne executed this command rapidly, and in less than fifteen 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 yards from it. Ilis loss in the charge was four killed and forty -five wounded. The Federals had time to fire but one volley when Govan's and Granbury's men were on the works.
A Federal battery on the pike then com- meneed shelling the command. Govan's and Granbury's brigades, that were in the charge, becoming more or less scattered in running after the retreating Federals, Cleburne or- dered General Granbury, who was on the left of the line, to forin his brigade along a fence running parallel with the pike and about 200 yards from it, so as to be prepared to move on the pike, remarking at the time, " I will see Govan." Just then a shell burst forth and wounded Cleburne's horse, "Red Pepper," in the hip. Hle reared furiously for a while. Mr. Mangum, who relates this account as an eye-witness, says: " I remained a moment to see if the General was hurt. Upon asking him I shall never forget his reply and man- ner, both showing how determined he was to take the pike, -. No; go on, Mangum, and
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tell Granbury what I told you.' I delivered the order, and Granbury in a few minutes had his brigade formed along the fence. I then returned to Cleburne. In the mean- time Govan's brigade was formed, and the Federal battery on the pike had retreated. As I reached Cleburne, Colonel Bostwiek rode up with an order from General Cheat- ham, directing Cleburne to remain where he was, and not move upon the pike until further orders. This was near sunset. But for the order delivered by Colonel Bostwick, Cle- burne would have been on the pike and had the position of Spring Ilill in less than ten minutes; then there would have been no bat. tle of Franklin.
" On the morning of the memorable 30th of November, 1861, after considerable delay, Hood's army moved toward Franklin. It was afternoon before the army reached Wins- ton's ridge, a high ridge some two miles south of the town. There a council of war was held, and General Hood, against the judgment of his best generals, decided to take the almost impregnable works around Franklin, and, what was even worse, take them at their strongest point. Cleburne op- posed an attack; but was too blunt and frank to have influence with Hood. Cleburne eon- sidered the removal of Joseph E. Johnston and the appointment of General Hood in his stead as a disaster to the army, and that it was exceedingly unwise for General Hood to accept the command under the circumstances. Cleburne had too little of the political gen- eral about him to conceal his views; hence Hood had no good feeling toward him.
" Hood thus commanded Cleburne: ' Gen- eral, form your division to the right of the pike, letting your left overlap the same. Gen- eral Brown will form on the left, with his right overlapping your left. I wish you to move on the enemy. Give orders to your men not to fire a gun; then press forward and shoot them in the backs as they run to their main line; then charge the enemy's works. Franklin is the key to Nashville, and Nash- ville is the key to independence.' General Cleburne smiled and said, .General, I will take the works, or fail in the effort.'
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