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 24
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 24
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The first Mrs. Walker died in 1867, at the age of forty years, a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, and in November, 1874, he was married to Eleanor Laney, a native of North Carolina and widow of Squire Stephens, but has no children by his second wife.
Hle is a Democrat, a member of the A. F. & A. M., of which order he has been a mein- ber for the past thirty years, and in the sup- port of worthy enterprises has shown himself to be a liberal patron. He saw his first railroad train in 1835, at Decatur, Alabama.
Mr. Walker's early life was marked by many adventures of great interest, but space forbids a detailed mention of them: suffice it to say that he has seen the ups and 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. Ile 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 buffalo, deer, wild horses, etc.
OTHER POINTS.
While Grand View and Alvarado are probably the oldest towns in the county, per . haps we may count Wardville, the first county seat, the third in order. The principal pro- moters of this place were W. II. S. Verstille, its first merchant, Dr. T. D. Lorance, its first physician, and John W. O'Neal, its first hotel- keeper. No vestige of the village now re- mains.
The next in order of age was the next county seat, Buchanan, five miles northwest of Cle-
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burne, where nothing now remains. Mrs. Angusta Hoyler now occupies the log cabin which was the original courthouse at that place.
Chuddo Grove is situated on an eminence that overlooks the surrounding country for miles away. It is located on both sides of the highway from Cleburne to Fort Worth, nine miles from Cleburne, and in the center of a large and well cultivated district. The village was started by the erection of a store there by Major E. M. Ileath in the carly part of 1869. North and west of it is an open prairie, and on the east and south are the Cross Timbers. The soil is generally of the black sandy variety. On the " breaks" the limestone rock erops out in full view. The place derives its name from the mount close by called Caddo Peak, and this was named after a tribe of Indians who used to live in this region. The peak is estimated to be 350 feet above the level of the surrounding coun- try. This place was long the seat of an academy established and conducted by J. R. . Kinsey (or Kenzie), a pioneer of this section, who also owned a saw and flooring mill here. Other prominent business men of the past was 11. D. Goodloe, nick-named " Our Har- per" by the boys of Colonel Parsons' regi- ment. Ile was a sprightly and active soldier, and a member of the brigade staff. In 1876 the place consisted of one general store, one blacksmith and wood shop, three doctors and two or three resident families.
The academy building referred to was also a place for religious and secret-society meet- ings, but it is now ouly a public-school building.
The postoffice was named Caddo Grove instead of Caddo Peak, because there was another Caddo Peak in the State.
But since the establishment of the railroad town Joshua, near by, there is very little left at old Caddo Grove, -- not even the postoffice.
Marystown, a " paragon of loveliness," was first christened Maryville; but when it was afterward known that there was another Maryville in the State, this name had to be changed; and the present name was given to it by Thomas W. Hollingsworth, in honor of his wife, whose name was Mary. Although he did not own the site of the village he erected a flouring-mill there, and the village grew toward it. The mill commenced busi- ness for the publie in October, 1869.
In 1879 it had two churches and a good school, two stores and a drug store, ete., and the population was abont 100. The place has always borne a good reputation as a peaceable, industrious community. It 'is situated in the midst of a densely timbered tract of land, from which either east or west the prairie is at least five miles distant.
Rev. J. S. Wilshire, Cumberland Presby- terian, was perhaps the first settler in that part of Johnson county, having opened a farm there in 1853. lle raised a family of seven children.
The water in this vicinity is abundant, although somewhat impregnated with iron sulphate; but it is said to be very healthy, for both man and beast.
At this point there are now one general store, kept by T. W. Hollingsworth; a flour- ing-mill kept by W. DeJarnett, with a thirty-
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five-horse-power engine, with a corn-mill and cotton-gin attachment; and there is a good public school. But, being only one mile from Egan, a railroad station and postoffice, it cannot grow as a village.
Burleson is a game little town of about 150 inhabitants, situated in a rich portion of Johnson county, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, fourteen miles north of Alva- rado and fourteen south of Fort Worth, and started iu 1882. It was named after Doetor Burleson, a distinguished Baptist minister and successful educator, whose pupils are found in every part of the State. But ac- ccording to another account it was named in honor of General Edward Burleson, an early Indian fighter and Texas patriot in the wars with the Mexicans. Born in North Carolina, he came to Texas in 1831, and soon became noted as a successful fighter of the Indiuns, with whom he had many engagements. IIe participated in the final battle of San Jacinto, which secured independence to Texas. IIe died December 26, 1851, while a member of the Senate then in session, one of the most highly respected citizens of the Lone Star State.
The first business house was started by M. Bailey, and the first settlers were J. C. Jones, Dr. Charles Pickett, Dr. James Olive, P. II. Goodloe, F. J. Boothe, James Lowe, William Williams. The first dry-goods merchants were P. HI. Goodloe and William Williams. There are now in the place three dry-goods and grocery houses, one drug store and one grocery house. There are also two wood and blacksmith shops. No whiskey is sold in the place.
Soon after the town was started, a Baptist Church was founded, followed by Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian churches. There is quite a flourishing lodge of enthu- siastie Masons, who have just completed a large lodge-room. In the year 1885, in con- neetion with Crowley, Burleson erected a fine college building, a mile out. Last fall they built a fine $2,500 college building, within the town limits, in which a splendid school is being taught by Rev. R. L. MeElree and wife. Over 100 pupils have heen enrolled. Burlesou is the center of a fine wheat-growing region, and does a vast amount of business. Dr. James Piekett is the most prominent physician of 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 Cleburne. This village was founded in 1875 by Mr. Russell, when a storehouse and mill were erected. Soon afterward a postoffice was established there, and the number of dwellings increased with - the rapid growth of the surrounding country. Russell and Ballard were the pioneer mer- chants of the village. Dr. Wilkes started a drug store, and R. N. Boss a grocery. lu 1879 there were also two blacksmith shops and a church building.
Surrounding this point, north, 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 region has some mineral substances it
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. neither unpalatable nor unwholesome. Standing in front of Pleasant Point on the large timber break and looking eastward, the landscape presented to the view is highly picturesque and beautiful, with a background of Cedar mountains lying far away in Ellis county.
Gathings' Point, about a mile south of Caddo Grove, is the identical spot on which the first house was erected in that part of the county. It was a very rude structure, which Was soon superseded by a better one.
Hibbard's Point, another noted locality, lies about five miles north of Gathings' Point, and was the first place in this portion of the county where merchandise was sold. Hib- bard was a Frenchman, an active and enter- prising man, but both he and his business faded away many years ago.
Both the above points are points of timber that extend out into the prairie eastward, and therefore from point to point the timber tract here is erescent-shaped, giving rise to the name of Half-Moon Prairie, intervening. This is a rich, waxy land, all in cultivation. Overlooking this rural erescent, Caddo Peak rises grandly up in the forest background. From this section some of the water-courses flow into the Trinity and some into the Bra- zos river. At the base of Caddo Peak, on the south side, Buffalo and Village creeks take their rise. Buffalo creek meanders southward, runs through Cleburne, and emp- ties into Noland river a few miles below; and Village creek courses From the park northeasterly until it reaches the Trinity river.
Joshua, on the Fort Worth Railroad, seven miles north of Cleburne, is a lively, growing, railroad village of nearly 100 dwelling houses, and a population of nearly 300. The plat was surveyed and recorded in 1880. It is a mile or so from the Timbers. Here there are six general stores, one drug store, one hotel (kept by 11. H. Parsons), and several neat church buildings. The three strongest church societies here are the Missionary Baptist, Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian. The Baptists put up the first church build- ing, and it has been used by all denomina- tions. The Methodists have also a parsonage. Rev. C. W. Berry, Cumberland Presbyterian, resides here and has been a resident of this vicinity for many years. The Primitive Baptists and the Christians also have organ- ized churches here; and there is one good public-school building.
The place has met with no great reverses by fire or otherwise, excepting that one gen- eral store has been burned. The first settlers here were Dr. D. B. McMillan, who estab- lished the first store and postoffice; Rev. T. W. Berry, who preached at first in the depot, before any church buikling was erected, and Captain W. L. West, who has been post- master here since about 1881. J. M. Townes is the physician here.
Improved land at a little distance from town is $15 to $20 an acre; unimproved, $10. The soil is somewhat saudy.
Hopewell is a point five miles north- east of Cleburne, where there are a church and burying ground, the land for which was donated by O. Perry Arnold, after which
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the place was first named Perryville.
Barnesville, in the eastern part of the county, was started abont 1866, deriving its name from the Barnes family, who were the first settlers on what is known as the Barnes' League of Land, but it was named more par- tieularly in honor of the late John Barnes. The town site is located on and near the west boundary line of the Galen 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 elosely to the woodlands along both banks of the creek, and on the Waxahachie and Cleburne stage road. It is a picturesque spot. The grounds for the town site were originally the property of Mrs. P. A. Barnes, widow of John Barnes, or " Jaek " Barnes, as he was more familiarly known. In 1879 there was one general store there, one drug store (selling no medi- cine scarcely, however), and an agricultural warehouse. The farming land in the vicinity is first-class. The Shropshire family has also been noted in this vicinity.
Lee Academy is a noted point on the rail- road between Cleburne and Alvarado, six miles east of Cleburne. The grangers have probably maintained their strength better here than at any other point in the county. Buel is the postoffice.
Cuba is a point about seven miles southeast of Cleburne, on the road to Grand View, having a store, postoflice, and church and schoolhouse. Ten or twelve years ago a drug store endeavored to maintain itself there.
Godley, the first station on the railroad to Weatherford and ten and a fourth miles from Cleburne, and on Noland river, is a creature of the railroad, made in 1886, and named after R. B. Godley, now of Dallas, who owns the land and donated eight acres for the es- tablishment of a town. Here there are now two stores, owned respectively by W. H. Griffith and J. II. Bowen, a postoffice and seven or eight dwelling-houses. A fine eoun- try surrounds this place, and the water of the well is comparatively soft and is of first-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 Worth & Rio Grande railroad crossing here, which was built in 1882. The place was named by some of the officers of the rail- road. The present population is about 800, and the place will continue to grow for a long time to come, on account of its remoteness from other large places. It now has six stores, postofliee, etc., and a school builling, erected in 1890, 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. Bobo keeps the hotel.
The land in this vieinity is very fine, and grain is the principal crop. Water is plenti- ful and of good quality.
Rio Vista, about eight miles south of Cle- burne, on the Santa Fe road, is an initial vil-
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lage started about 1883, on six acres of high land, donated by W. H. Hughes. A depot was established here two years after the rail- road was built. Considerable side track has recently been put in and a large public well dug. Besides the station house, there are a dry-goods store and a postoffice, and three or four families reside there. Noland river is one mile west, and the timber two miles east.
At Russia Knob, six miles east of Rio Vista, are a store and postoffice. Rock Tank is the name of a schoolhouse situated on the Cleburne and Grand View wagon road about four miles west of Grand View.
MISCELLANEOUS.
CENTENNIAL.
The centennial year, 1876, was duly cele- brated by the citizens of Johnson county, on the 4th day of July. The day was bright and pleasant, not being unreasonably hot, but a few light showers fell at intervals, at Cle- burne. There was no procession, no display of fireworks, no outburst of enthusiasm, and there was a strong sentiment prevading the community that seemed to be in favor of an appropriate but undemonstrative observation of the day. The memorial exercises consisted of addresses by some of the leading eitizens.
At two o'clock a large company had assem- bled in the courthouse. Judge Barclay as- eended the rostrum and said there was a time when this was a day of rejoicing all over the land, when every town, city and hamlet and village of this country had its Fourth-of-July celebration; but a period of strife of war and bitter feelings had intervened and brought
discord between the sections, and dampened the ardor for the day; and that its observanee had become almost obsolete in the South. This, said the speaker, was not right; for the feelings that prompted the immortal Declara- tion of Independence were common to the men of all times, and the principles there enunciated were the common property of mankind. Our forefathers had gloriously won their freedom under that declaration, had submitted it to us, and we are entitled to claim those immortal men as part of our American personnel, and share the honors that patriot- ism has united with Independence Day.
The Judge then read the Declaration of Independence and pronounced once more the immortal names of those who stood sponsor at our country's birth.
W. Poindexter was then introduced, who delivered a brief but comprehensive address. Ile said that some claimed that we of the South had no part nor lot in the day; this was a mistaken idea. The day is emphati- cally ours. On the 4th of July, 100 years ago, the colonies were declared to be free and independent States. This independence was afterward recognized by the Constitution; and the States, according to the spirit of that institution, had never ceased to be free. The South had never departed from the Constitu- tion, had always loved it and stood by its re- quirements, and had ever rovered the grand and eternal principles embodied in the Dec- laration of Independence. The South. even in secession, did not abandon the principles, but seceded that they might be the better maintained. The opponents of the South
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left the Constitution, but now, when the country is united, we ought to give it the glory which this day commemorates because those who onee saw fit to oppose its principlos now also unite in its celebration.
We have much cause to rejoice; we are in fact the freest people under the sun, the only nation where the people are the sovereigns. We may have been wrong in the past, but for the future let us all stand united under the same laws. Our prospeet for the future is glorions, and Texas has all to gain. We have been oppressed, but that was our misfortune. The day of oppression is ended, and to our State is open the widest career of prosperity and greatness under the new order of things.
Colonel Amzi Bradshaw followed with an excellent address, all good sense and sound logie, and his words well and carefully uttered. Ilis leading idea was the system of principles commemorated by the celebration of Inde- pendence Day. Principle was everything, and the political philosophy enunciated by Jefferson would be the right one while rivers run and mountains raise their peaks to the clouds. Concluding, he said that all ean unite in principle. Let the news go forth that Texas points to her many battle-fields to show her work of liberty. Her heroism en- titles her to a home in the Union and her constancy and loyalty to the principles of 1776 make it her privilege and her glory to celebrate this, the one hundreth anniversary of American independence.
S. C. Padelford next delivered a short ad- dress, saying that the glorious deeds of the past recounted inspired his thoughts and
caused his heart to throb with patriotie emo- tions. The meetings of to-day would revive the love of country. The mouth- bells of lib- erty were ringing out from all over the land and calling the people back to the principles of the Revolution. Streams of patriotism were flowing out from Fanenil Hall mingling with the feelings of the nation and intensify- ing the love and pride of the citizens for the principles upon which the government is founded, and the institutions and laws that have for a hundred years offered freedom to the human race.
William Ramsey, in a few well chosen words, referred to the fact that every part of an immense country was at that moment celebrating the day, that the land was swelling with one immense throb of patriotie senti- ment. He recounted the one hundred years of progress, and spoke of the native American " push" that had hurried the country to the front rank of National, commercial and pro- ductive greatness.
Judge Prendergast closed the exercises by saying that he had a presentiment that the patriotism aroused by the universal celebra- tion of the day would continue to grow and intensity and widen until finally the corrupt party now in power would be overthrown and honest and good government would once more assume sway.
Thus ended the celebration, with the sedate and the undemonstrative, although the " boys" fired a salute of one hundred anvils to the parting day.
OTHER CELEBRATIONS.
In the vicinity of Lone Prairie schoolhouse
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the citizens, particularly the grangers, cele- brated the centennial anniversary in good old Fourth-of-July style. About 600 were in attendance. The Lone Prairie Grange ap- peared in their regalia, and in procession marched to the arbor and seated themselves around the speaker's stand. The Declaration of Independence was read and Rev. Mr. Gaskins delivered a half hour address directed especially to the farmers and grangers, giv- ing a brief history of the original grange movement and answering some of the objee- tions urged against it. llis remarks in relation to the practical workings of the co- operative plan of the organization were plain and convincing. Ile alluded to the large profits made on farming implements and ma- chinery by the present system of middle- men, ete. Combinations have been entered into in all ages to make money out of the farmers; now, through the grange movement, farmers were enabled to combine, do away with the middle-men and save at least a part of the large profits heretofore made. Ile coneluded by saying that the farmers intended to reform the government as well as to make reforms at home.
Dr. Andrew Young then made a brief but good Fourth-of-July speech. After naming the usual references to the Declaration of Independence and patriotism, he coneluded by saying that both North and South efforts were being made to bring about a reunion of sentiment and feeling. Ile was happy to say the result was about to be consummated; that we were again to be one people with one ommon interest, only vieing with each other
as to which shall best support and maintain the integrity of our national honor.
Following Dr. Young's address a sumptu- ous dinner was served.
The Fourth of July, 1877, was humor- ously described in the Chronicle as " ushered in at midnight by anvil firing, disturbing the peace of the slumbering publie, 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 by at least 5,000 people, by a grand barbeene, and addresses by II. P. Brown, William Poindexter and M. M. Crane. Major E. M. Heath read the Declaration of Independence.
MINOR ITEMS.
The Cleburne News some years ago pub- lished the following item:
"Johnson county's popular teacher, Prof. L. R. Smith, has left in our office 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 head is the faco of a woman. One ean plainly see the eyes, nose and chin and a part of the bust. The two snakes were found in an apple tree, and there is no record when a rattlesnake was ever found in apple tree before. The scientists of Galveston, New Orleans and St. Louis have tried to solve the mystery, but in vain. A number of gentlemen in our office were unanimous in delaring it to be the most wonderful freak of nature they had ever wit- nessed. Professor Smith says this practical
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demonstration completely dispels all skepti- cal views that any one might have heretofore held in regard to Mother Eve's temptation to pluck the forbidden apple!"
In the summer of 1878 tho Sand Flat De- bating Society was organized, and selected for their first question, " Resolved, that the love of money will yield greater influenee over man than the love of woman;" but before the evening arrived for discussion the afliirma- tive gave up that they could not defend their side, and the society had to select another question.
Deputy Sheriff James V. Iliggins was accidentally killed May 17, 1875, in Earle's saloon, by the discharge of a pistol in the hands of Oliver Lester, who was not aware of the new arrangement that would render pis- tols liable to be fired by such handling.
The total eelipse of the sun of July 29, 1878, embraced this region of Texas. It was
visible most of the time at Cleburne, except during the central portion of the period, when clouds intervened. Great interest was taken in viewing the phenomenon.
A. J. Byrd published a brief history and description of Jobuston county in 1879, 232 pages, bonnd in black eloth. About half the volume, however, is devoted to directories and advertisements. Mr. Byrd died some years ago.
In 1888 R. M. Hall, Commissioner of the General Land Office of the State of Texas, published a very elaborate map of Johnson county, on a seale of about a mile to the inch, on which is very exactly indieated the names of all the proprietors of land. A copy is to be found at the county clerk's office.
Johnson county probably excels in " tall timber" of the human species. Abner Ste- vens, a resident, is seven feet four inches tall, and Gus Powell is but little less.
AND HILL COUNTIES.
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HILL COUNTY.B.
ILL county is bounded on the west by the Brazos river, which separates it from Bosque county; on the north by Johnson county; on the cast by Ellis and Navarro, and on the south by Limestone and MeLennan counties. It contains 1,030 square miles, or 659,200 aeres, and is capable of allstaining a population of 200,000 people. The grand old State of New Jersey, having about the same area, has already a population of 300,000, but it is true that many of them are in cities, sustained by trades which have for their patronage the outside world.
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