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 17
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 17
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" The line of battle was formed on the north side of Winston's ridge, between the ridge and the town, fully one mile from the Federal works. In a few minutes the com- mand was under a galling fire from the enemy's artillery. The men were ordered not to stop to fire but rush upon the enemy's works. The first line of works in Cleburne's front was easily taken. This line was some two hundred yards in front of the main line of breastworks. Behind this first line Cle- burne's command halted a few moments pre- paratory to making a charge upon the main works.
"Just at this time I galloped up to Cleburne, who was riding alone immediately behind his division, about the eenter. Previous to this Cleburne had ordered me to locate one of his batteries at a certain point. Soon after I left on this mission he sent Captain S. P. Hanley, one of his staff, to locate the battery and for me to return to him immediately. Upon my riding np and asking what he wanted, he re- replied, ' It is too late,' and directed me to go
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with Granbury's brigade. He then turned his horse to the right and galloped to Govan's brigade. The whole line was thon rushing madly for the enemy's works. That was the last time I ever saw General Cleburne alive. " The space between the enemy's first and main lines was about 200 yards. The ground was level, and I do not think there was a tree or bush between them. The fire and de- struction were beyond description. I went up to the works with Granbury's brigade. Granbury and Govan with their staffs were on foot. About half way between the first und second lines General Granbury was killed. I was within ten feet of him, and I remember well the last words he spoke: 'For- ward, men; never let it be said that Texans lagged in the light.' As he spoke those words a ball struck him in the check and passed through his brain. Throwing both hands to his face he sank down on his knees and remained in that position until his body was taken off the field after the battle.
where his body was found the next morning. " The sun was not over half an hour high when the battle began, and it did not last ex- ereding an hour. Those of the division that were not killed reached the enemy's works but were unable to scale them, and they re- mained in the ditch dng along the breastwork until the Federals retreated, which was about eleven o'clock that night. About twelve o'clock General Downey had guards all over town. Men were detailed and lights were procured to hunt for General Cleburne; but I soon stopped them by being told, by n Con- federate soldier who claimed to have been captured and made his escape, that he saw General Cleburne passing through Franklin a prisoner. One not in the battle of Franklin might think it strange that such a conspieu- ous character as General Cleburne would be killed and his fall not witnessed by any one; but the fire was so terrific and the smoke so dense that one could not distinguish an ob- jeet twenty feet distant.
" Better soldiers and braver men were never " The morning after the battle information came to our headquarters that General Cle- burne's body had been found. I immediately went in search of it and found it laid out on the gallery of the MeGavock brick house, with boots, pocket-book, diary and sword-belt gone. His face was covered with a lady's finely embroidered handkerchief. Who placed the body there I have never been able to ascertain. The general received but one wound, and that was from a minie ball through the body. I proenred the coflins for Generals Cleburne and Granbury, and Col- marshaled than these Texans; and Granbury was in every way worthy to command such a brigade of heroes. Well may the Lone Star State be proud of every man in that brigade. " When I last saw General Cleburne he was going up to the enemy's works mounted on a brown mare, which was boon killed; and while he was in the act of mounting another horse this animal too was shot dead, by many bullets. Then Cleburne rushed on foot to the works. Ile must have been killed between where his last horse was killed and the works, abont I onel Young of the Tenth Texas carried
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their remains to Columbia for interment. . While the remains of these heroes lay in the parlor of Mrs. Mary R. Polk, Miss Naomi Seays, a nicee of President Polk, com- posed the following lines and placed them udon the body of General Cleburne:
"Fare thee well, departed chieftain ! Erin's land sends forth a wail ; And O my country sad laments thee, Passed so late through death's dark vale.
"' Blow, ye breezes, softly o'er him; Fan his brow with gentlest breath; Disturb ye not the peaceful slumber ; Cleburne sleeps the sleep of death.
"'Rest thee, Cleburne! tears of sadness Flow from hearts thou'st nobly won; Memory ne'er will cease to cherish Deeds of glory thou hast done.'
"Funeral rites were performed next day by Rev. Bishop Quintard. After the burial in the Columbia cemetery, I discovered that those gallant men were buried in that portion of the cemetery known as the 'potter's field,' between a row of negroes and a row of Fed- oral soldiers. I felt very indignant, and so expressed myself. General Lucius Polk, brother of General and Bishop Leonidas Polk, was present and most kindly offered me a lot in the Ashwood cemetery, six miles south of Columbia, which generous offer I most thankfully accepted; and accordingly the bodies were buried in a most beautiful spot. In 1869, at the request of many friends and of the Ladies' Confederate Me- morial Association of Phillips county, Ar- kansas, Dr. Il. N. Grant, an old friend of General Cleburne, and myself brought the remains from Ashwood to Helena, and buried
them in the Confederate burying-ground, satisfactorily to General Cleburne's friends. No monument has | up to 1885] ever been placed over his grave, the only marks show- ing the place being the marble head and foot stones brought with the remains from Ash- wood, where they were placed soon after the war by the ladies of that neighborhood, with this inscription: . Major-General P. R. Cle- burne, of the Confederate Army, born in the county of Cork, Ireland; killed at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864.'"
BEGINNINGS OF THE TOWN OF CLEBURNE.
The first house in Cleburne was erceted by Mrs. Josephine B. Wren, who owned a farm southwest of the place. This building was a one-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, she kept no whisky. A full account of this old hotel corner will be found further on.
The next two houses in Cleburne were also log cabins, on the corner south of the Cleburne House, one built by Mr. Harrell, and the other by Joseph Shaw. In one of them a ten-pin alley was kept, and in one or the other whisky was sold.
N. Il. Cook, a native of Tennessee, at that time the county treasurer, and terined the "first settler" of Cleburne, built the next house, a log structure, on the site of the present Glen Lea saloon, at the southwest corner of the public square, for a dry-goods store. Ile was the first merchant, and some
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time after commeneing business he admitted a partner. He died about seven or eight years ago. The second merchant was Lyeur- gus Wren.
The next buildings were a small log cabin erected by Joseph Shaw, where Compton's drug store now is, and a box house for a gen- eral store, on the corner sonth of it, by J. A. Willingham. In the rear of the latter was a two-story house, built for a hotel, and is the present Kentucky House.
Then a one-story house at the southwest corner of the public square, where the John- son County Review office now is, in which was kept a dry-goods and clothing store, by Henry and Morris Levi, Hebrews. Next were cabins east of them.
The above were all probably put up the first year. Meanwhile buildings were moved from old Buchanan to Cleburne, from the old county seat to the new.
Probably the next structures were the courthouse and jail, where the Bank of Cle- burne now is. The former was a frame, and the latter was a log building at the rear of it.
The next building for business purposes was ereeted at the northwest corner of the publie square, now occupied by Taylor & Co.'s clothing store. This was at first a story-and-a-half structure, built by Dr. T. D. Lorance, in the early '70s.
Before the close of 1869 it was estimated that Cleburne had a population of about 200; this was before it was two years old.
The new town was supplied with water from a copious spring in the bank of West Buffalo ereck, owned by " Unele Joe " Shaw.
For the early rapid progress of Cleburne, a correspondent of the Galveston News, in 1875, gives great eredit to " Nat. Q." Hen- derson, (probably a relative of W. F. Ilen- dersou, formerly referred to), then the editor and proprietor of the Georgetown Record, "who donated half of the town lots to the county, and the other half to the Alvarado Baptist Association for college purposes. Henderson's well-timed and liberal dona- tions at onee gave character to the town, and it became the point of attraction to emigrants from all parts of the South." The first set- tlers of Cleburne were indeed very courteous to people from all parts of the world.
Daily mail was established between Cle- burne and the Texas Pacific railroad Novem- ber 14, 1874.
Even before the railroads reached Cleburne it was a place of considerable business, while Fort Worth, Dallas and Waxahachie were all doing their best to draw away trade from it. There were, in 1879, not fewer than fifty wagons arriving in town daily, freighted with cotton, which was taken freely by local buyers at ruling prices. There was also a brisk trade in all farm, dairy and poultry products.
THE CLEBURNE OF TO-DAY.
Cleburne is still the geographical center for a large and riel agricultural area. Un- like most other places, the town ean never ontgrow the country. A more favorable spot could seareely be found in this part of the State in which to build up a town. There is an abundance of timber on the one sido, rich prairie on the other, and the place is the seat
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of justice for a large county, almost every square rod of which is tillable. To take a rapid glance from the early status to the present picture, we will say, in the language of the Johnson County Review, that " Cle- burne has a population of 5,000 bona fide residents; 1,000,000 gallons of water per day; a railway pay-roll of $35,000 per month; a hustling class of people; the end of four railway divisions; a round-house with thirteen stalls; railway machine-shops; a set of people who know a good thing when they see it; a 100-barrel flour mill; an ice factory ; foundry and machine-shops; an enterprising class of people; good system of water-works; an electric-light plant; three ward school buildings; a wide awake people who are will- ing to assist enterprise; a $35,000 compress; high school building; a conservatory of musie; a select school for young ladies; eight church buildings, and a people who are ever working for Cleburne.
"As a business point, Cleburne is without a rival, by towns of like size, in north Texas. To substantiate this it is but necessary to refer to the last semi-annual report, sub- mitted dune 30, 1891, of the amount of busi- ness handled in the yards of the Gulf, Colo- rado & Santa Fe here:
Number of cars loaded and empties handled. 92,800 Cars of merchandise handled. 2,926 Commercial business handled, iu pounds. . . 11,521,509 Company material handled, in pounds .. 71,521,450 Freight tonnage forwarded from Cleburne,
including miscellaneous merchandise,
live-stock, flour, bian, grain, hay, bides and tallow, in pounds 5,353,980 Local cotton 1,576,800
"To further substantiate the above state- ment it will be appropriate to state that the bills of exchange drawn on the Cleburne banks for the year ending August 31, 1891, amount to $5,001,082.49. The volume of business is truly great, and is rapidly growing."
The following facts and figures tell a more definite story than we can otherwise write:
The tonnage of railroad loaded and empty cars handled at Cleburne from October, 1890, to June, 1891, inclusive, was 119,000 cars. Of these there were 4,381 cars of horses and cattle, 316 cars of sheep and 36 cars of hogs. Total number of head of live stock shipped, 194,745, most of this within three months. This statement of cars does not include any of the passenger trains handled at this station.
The cars of merchandise handled and trans- ferred at the Cleburne freight depot from October 1, 1890, to June 30, 1891, numbered 3,302. The amount of commercial business handled at this point during the same period was 18,216,911 pounds. Freight received at Cleburne during that period, 2,170 cars, or 71,521,450 pounds. Freight forwarded from January 1, 1890, to December 31, same year, 1,500,000 pounds, consisting of grain, hay, flour, bran, hides, tallow, bones and bagging. Local cotton forwarded from the station prop- er, 6,135,800 pounds; miscellaneous mer- chandise, live-stock, etc., 3,753,440 pounds. Company freight billed and forwarded from the station proper, 28,134,215 pounds.
From January 1, 1891, to June 30, follow- ing: Freight forwarded in miscellaneons merchandise, live stock, flour, bran, etc.,
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3,703,950 pounds; in grain, hides and tallow, 1,650,000 pounds; company freight forwarded from the station proper, 14,293,996. Local cotton forwarded from the station proper, 4,756,500 pounds. Although the cotton erop was but an average one, and the shipping period referred to rather a dull one for busi- ness generally, yet there were 16,788,600 pounds of cotton shipped from Cleburne from September 1, 1890, to June 30, 1891. Be- sides this, of course, there were shipments from other stations throughout the county.
These facts show that Cleburne is one of the principal railroad points in the whole Santa Fe system ...
BANKS.
The fact that Cleburne has three flourishing banks is another evidence of the substantial prosperity of the place, in keeping with the foregoing railroad figures. The official state- ments recently published show an aggregate deposit of 8388,276.17, as follows: The National Bank of Cleburne, all demand de- posits, 8200,818.84; First National Bank, time and demand, $107,130.57; Farmers & Merchants' National Bank, time and demand, $50,326.76. Not only do they show up well in deposits, but in cash available for use on demand they, taken collectively, appear quite strong, having a total of 8238,363.45, as fol- lows: National Bank of Cleburne, available cash, $149,017.80; Farmers & Merchants' National Bank, $57,902.81; and the First National Bank, $31,412.84.
indeed they were the first in the county. They were succeeded by Brown & Chambers (J. W. Brown and Colonel B. J. Chambers). This firm went out of the banking business during this year or next. In 1878 W. F. Heard, S. B. Allen and A. A. Barnes established a private bank, in a brick building on the corner of Main and Wardville streets. Further par- tienlars are given a little further on.
The First National Bank of Cleburne had its origin in the Johnson County Bank, a private concern, founded in 1881 by C. W. Mertz, E. M. and O. S. Hcath, with a capi- tal of 825,000. It continued as such until June 7, 1883, when it nationalized, with a capital of $50,000. The directors at the organization were E. M. Heath, James A. Easterwood, A. D. Kennard, Edward Heyder, J. II. Mertz, O. S. Heath and C. W. Mertz, the officers being C. W. Mertz, president; E. M. Heath, vice president, and O. S. Heath, cashier. In 1884 A. D. Kennard died, and his place in the board of directors was taken by T. W. Hollingsworth; in De- cember, 1887, O. S. Heath died, his place ns cashier being taken by Chester L. Heath; Ed- ward Heyder died in September, 1889, and his place in the board was taken by C. Diek- son; Hollingsworth resigned, and his place was taken by J. N. English.
When the bank nationalized the capital was increased to 850,000, and in October, 1889, the capital was increased to $100,000. The total surplus at his time, September, 1891, is $12,000; total dividends declared since Banking was commenced in Cleburne by organization, 870,500. The bank has declared S. P. Hollingsworth and his son J. E., und ! a dividend of six per cent every six months
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since its organization, and its undivided prof- its are $2,612.98. There are between thirty and forty stockholders, the stock being held mostly by local parties.
The National Bank of Cleburne had its origin in the private banking house of Heard, Allen & Barnes, called the Bank of Cleburne, which was established in August, 1878. The proprietors were W. F. Heard, now deceased; S. B. Allen, of the Farmers & Merchants' National Bank of Cleburne; and A. A. Barnes, of Cleburne. The Bank of Cleburne began business with a capital of 843,000, and eon- tinned to do business on this capital, and under the firm name already given, until April, 1883, when John W. Floore, then of Tyler, Smith Co., bought the interest of A. A. Barnes, the firm becoming Ileard, Allen & Floore, at which time also the capital was increased to $60,000. January 21, 1888, Mr. Ileard died, his interest, however, con- tinning in the bank until December, 1888, at which date S. E. Moss bonght S. B. Allen's interest, the firm name being changed to Heard, Moss & Floore. May 21, 1889, the bank nationalized. the capital being increased to $75,000. S. E. Moss became president; S. B. Allen, who again took a small amount of stock in the concern, became vice-presid- ent; John W. Floore, cashier; and W. J. Rutledge, assistant cashier. The board of directors were S. E. Moss, John W. Floore, W. J. Rutledge, E. Y. Brown, B. L. Durham, S. B. Allen and W. II. Stratton. Not long afterward Mr. Allen withdrew his interest, and the vacancy in the board was filled by W. J. Hurley, and his position as vice presi-
dent by B. L. Durham. This bank is at the southeast corner of the public square.
The best idea of what the bank has done, and is doing can be obtained from a glance at the following figures taken from its regular reports since it nationalized. July 12, 1889, its loans were $63,718.52; profits, $2,210.08; deposits, $79,335.54. September 30, 1889, loans, $88,498.13; profits, 83,393.03; deposits, $80,194.12. November 11, 1889,-loans, $116,691.98; profits, 88,299.11; deposits, $125,043.65. February 28, 1890, loans, 887,- 200.29; profits (less expenses), $13,508.38; deposits, 8145,211.64. May 17, 1890, loans, $108,415.41; profits, $17,477.58; deposits, $103,326.09; July 18, 1890, loans, ยง110,- 153.01; profits, $14,623.88; deposits, $112,- 192.87. October 2, 1890,-loans, $116,- 061.88; profits, $20,137.55; deposits, 8196,- 452.81. February 26, 1891,-loans, $98,- 850.06; profits, $24,219.76; deposits, $137,- 885.08. May 14, 1891, -- loans, $119,723.81; profits, 828,828.90; deposits, $135.014.31. July 9, 1891,-loans, 8134,095.99; profits, $29,077.22; deposits, 8140,266.14. The bank's correspondents are The National Bank of the Republic, New York; The Continental Na- tional Bank, St. Louis; The Louisiana Na- tional Bank, New Orleans; The National Ex- change Bank, The City National and the American National, Dallas; The State Na- tional and the First National, Fort Worth; Ball, Hutchings & Co., Galveston; and J. II. Raymond & Co., Austin.
With the exception of Mr. Moss, who may in fact be said to be a citizen of this county, as he spends most of his time here, the stock
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of the bank is owned by residents of Johnson county. The bank owns the handsome, two- story brick building which it occupies, this in itself being a source of revenue, as the results from offices yield six per cent. on the invest- ment, besides furnishing banking room free. The banking part of the building is well furnished, having Hall's time-lock safe, fire- proof vaults, etc. The board of directors as now constituted are: S. E. Moss, John J. Floore, B. L. Durham, W. J. Rutledge, W. 11. Stratton, J. Wesley Smith and Coon Williams.
The Farmers & Merchants' National Bank was established September 1, 1890, with a capital stock of $100,000. E. Y. Brown is president; M. L. Kennard, vice-president; S. B. Allen, cashier; and W. A. Jennings, as- sistant cashier. The directors are the three first named here, with II. S. Wilson, W. C. MeFarland, B. F. Frymier, D. J. Boatright, P. J. Norwood, O. P. Arnold, J. M. Milam and J. C. Conway. At the close of business December 2, 1891, this bank had as loans and discounts, $125,105.36; United States bonds and premiums, 829,250; cash and sight ex- change, 857,902,81; undivided profits, $15,- 237; circulation, 822,500, and deposits of individuals and banks, 880,326.76.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
The Cleburne Ice and Cold-Storage Com- pauy was organized in the summer of 1881, with S. E. Moss, C. Dickson, B. F. Frymier and Coon Williams as the charter members, and a capital of 812,500. The factory and storage rooms are in the eastern part of the
city, near the railroad. The factory has a capacity of five tous per day. The main building is 34 x 44, two-stories high, and the engine and machine room 22 x 34 fect. The well is ten feet square and thirty feet deep, furnished with artesian water from the mains. Coon Williams is the manager.
The buildings of the Cleburne Foundry and Machine Company ure 36 x 50 and 35 x 40, and the propretors are J. C. Norris and William Clarkson, of Cleburne, and lle- riot Clarkson of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The $35,000 cotton compress has already been referred to, as also the roller mills at the depot, Anderson Brothers, proprietors.
The Cleburne House has had probably the longest and most varied history of all the institutions at Cleburne. First a one-story log cabin, built by Mrs. Josephine B. Wren, it was afterward kept by Joseph Shaw, Rice . Brothers, Major Sparks, Daniel Taylor, Till- man Fowler, D. D. Myers, P. M. Gatewood, -- Goldwire, Thomas B. Archer, John T. Leigh in 1879, -- Thurston, W. H. Brown six years (the longest of ull), Mrs. C. M. Brown, John Maxey, - Merrell, -- Reese, Evans three or four days only, Mrs. Wood- ward, T. A. Scurlock and R. K. Craft since May 1, 1888. We are not certain that we have all the names of the proprietors in their proper chronological order. Sparks was twice proprietor. The building, of course, has been enlarged from time to time. Succeeding the original log cabin was a one-story brick, to which additions were made on the north side, and Mr. Fowler put on the third-story.
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It is worthy of note that the time-honored business men of Cleburne, T. Lawrence, the jeweler, etc., has been a boarder at the Cle- barne House for seventeen years; and for the last two years Rev. Joshua Cook (" Boone"), one of the most famous hunters and gunners of America, who has been a copious contribu- tor to various sporting journals for many years, being an authority. His instructive, cheerful conversation throws naught but sun- shine over one's mental sky; is one of the most respected citizens of Cleburne.
The Hamilton House, another two-dollar- a-day hotel, a neat two-story brick, a few rods south of the southeast corner of the publie square, was erected about 1874, by B. J. Chambers, and the landlords have been Mr. Pennington, Dr. Hamilton, and sineo May, 1889, 1. Davis. It has twenty-five rooms, besides three sample rooms, office, etc.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
In regard to schools in general, Cleburne has always kept up with the times, the free- school system being of more modern growth. The most conspicuous early educational in- stitution of the city was the Cleburne Male and Female Institute, familiarly referred to ns the " Baptist College," on the ground now occupied by the Central High School build- ing, on the west bank of West Buffalo creek and on Buffalo and College streets. This school was established under the auspices of the Alvarado Baptist Association. The first building was a two-story briek, not subdi- vided into smaller rooms, and was erected in 1868, at a cost of about $12,000. The cur-
rieulum, continuing until 1872, comprised a thorough collegiate course. Rev. J. R. Clarke was the first principal, succeeded by W. B. Featherston, with W. J. Browne as viec-principal. The patronage at one time reached a number as high as 250 pupils, some of whom were from other counties.
But in course of time the property relapsed into the hands of B. J. Chambers, the origi- nal owner of the ground, and he then donated the property to the eity in 1882. The old building became dilapidated and was torn away to give place to a new one, also a brick structure, which was afterwards burned; and with the insurance money the present build- ing, a neat and imposing frame structure, was erected in 1886, at a cost of $15,000. It is now the property of the city, being the " Central High School" building, having eight rooms.
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