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 29
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 29
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last payment on ninety-eight acres should fall due.
Mr. Wallace rented of the same man sixty- soven acres of Brazos river land. He had for his help his wife and two sons, aged ouly eight and ten years. Ile planted thirty acres in cotton, thirty in corn, two in oats and five in millet. Ile began his erop with two poor horses and a debt of $250. To plant the crop he had to buy his eorn on credit. Soon after planting his corn his horse died and he had to buy another. When his crop was laid by 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: Four tons of millet, 600 bushels of corn and seventeen bales of cotton, averaging 530 pounds to the acre. Ile paid every dol- lar he owed and had $200 left.
E. Severns, who owns 110 acres on Haek- berry ercek, about six miles southwest of Hillsboro, with the help of his two boys at- tended a crop of twenty acres of cotton and ten of corn, during the season of 1889. The cotton yielded twelve bales, and the corn forty bushels to the acre. In the fall the average price paid for cotton was $50 a bale, and for corn 25 cents.
Another source of income is butter anp eggs. Mrs. Severns makes 500 to 600 pounds of' butter a year. This little farin therefore brings in about $1,200 annually. Of poul- try, cows and horses, Mr. Severne has a fair number and in good condition, besides a nice young orchard. lle is a model and scientific farmer. His corn-erib is proof against mice
1
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
and rats. His place is systematically sup- plied with hydrants, so that water is rendered convenient both at the house and at the barns, and everything is neatly arranged.
The Hillsboro Mirror, as well as the Re- Hector of December 17, 1891, gives many other examples equally encouraging, mention- ing in particular G. W. Garrett, who settled near Woodbury in 1886; Jeff. Pritchard, near Hillsboro; John Weich, who located in the western portion of the county in 1872; J. M. MeDaniel, near Peoria in the fall of 1869; James G. Howard, near Peoria in 1880; J. W. Ilowell, near Abbott in 1882; C. L. Martin, eleven miles west of Hillsboro in 1870; Tom Ellis, twelve miles south of Hillsboro in 1880; F. M. Files, in Files' val- ley in 1852, and is now one of the wealthiest men in the county; B. II. Turner, ten miles southeast of Hillsboro, in the autumn of 1878; Thomas B. Smith, near Massey in 1887; J. D. Kendrick, near Vanghan in 1867; J. B. Harris, eight miles south of Hillsboro in 1890; J. A. McGowan, near Hillsboro in 1876; W. T. Moreland, near Rienzi in 1878; W. R. Carr, four miles east of Hillsboro in 1886; 11. G. Jordan, near Abbott in 1879; John MeAdams, a mile west of Hillsboro in 1890, etc., etc.
Rosenbaum Bros., dry-goods merchants of Hillsboro, having several farms in the county, testify as follows: "We bought a farm of about 1,200 aeres, three years ago, in ITill connty. We are merchants, and bought the land for speeulation. We rented it at $4 por aere, cash. The tax on it has been about 880 per annum, and it has not cost over $50
per annum to keep it in repair; and it has netted us about 18g per cent. interest on our investment, and is now worth 25 per 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 had, and usually rent it in July for the following year. We figure-not imagine, but cipher it out carefully on the slate-that a farm of 100 aeres, bought at $20 per acre, payable in ten yearly equal payments at 6 per cent. interest, and rented at &t 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 851.50 per bale, or $15.06 per aere. If we had rented for one- fourth of the erop, as is enstomary, we would have collected $11.26 per acre."
Ilill 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 rato of interest are eagerly sought for by numerous loan companies. This makes it especially desirable for speculation, as it gives one an opportunity to use the most of his investment at a much smaller rate of in- terest than he could borrow the money on any other kind of collateral.
GRAIN AND COTTON.
There have been raised the following pro- portions of grain and cotton to the aere in lill county: Corn, 76 bushels; oats, 115 bushels; millet. 50 bushels; wheat, 32 bush- els; cotton, 1,180 pounds; These figures
243
AND HILL COUNTIES.
are taken from the 1885 report of Prairie Dell Grange about six miles north of Hills- boro. Good unimproved land was then worth about $8 an acre; improved, about $30.
At Hillsboro there was shipped during the season of 1889-'90, 15,000 bales of cotton; 1890-'91, about 19,000 bales; and 1891-2, probably about 22,000 or 23,000 bales.
In 1886 the first bale of cotton was brought to the Hillsboro market August 3, by R. II. Taylor and George W. Watson, from a point about nine miles south, and they received 10 cents a pound and a premium of $14.50. In 1891 the first bale was brought by M. F. Crocker, near Abbott, who sold it at 8 cents per pound, and obtained a premium of $51.10, from the Hillsboro bus- iness men.
In the fall of 1891 three sons of R. Il. Taylor-Arthur, Sid. and Willie,-aged re- speetively eighteen, twenty and twenty-two, picked in one day a total of 1,525 pounds of cotton, quitting work when the sun was an hour and a half high! In 1890 they had made a record of 1,485 pounds in one day, and their father gave them a premium of $5 for their exploit.
October 13, 1891, J. V. Hampton, who lives on Little Aquilla ereck eight miles west of Hillsboro, brought into town a specimen of a cotton plant grown on his place, that was six feet high, ten feet wide and had 300 fully developed bolls. The main stalk measured two inches in diameter, and bad six large limbs, springing out six or eight inches above the ground, any one of which was larger than an average stalk of prairie cotton, and con- I land farm near Brandon February 8, 1888,
tained an average of thirty-four bolls each! Every boll on the bush excepting one was fully developed. This particular species is known as "Long's Improved," and is the re- sult of eight years' experimental work on the part of Mr. Long, its original propagator. It is strictly a Hill county production, having never been raised outside of this eounty.
Mr. Hampton has, in addition to several acres of this cotton, two particular acres, which he eared for as a special test of the claims made by Mr. Long for it, and as a re- sult Mr. Hampton says he will never raise any other, having already pieked 1,627 pounds from these two aeres as a first pick- ing, with a prospect of gathering a total of 5,000 pounds from the two acres. This patch was not planted until June 2.
The "Ilill County Giners' Association" was partially organized May 3, 1886, but we failed to learn further particulars concern- ing it.
CORN AND OTHER PRODUCTS.
During the month of May, 1889, as the people were preparing for an exhibition of their products at the Spring Palace, J. M. Moore, near Woodbury, furnished a beet fully seven feet long and ten to twelve inches in diameter! Ile also raised red corn the pre- ceding year averaging sixty tivo bushels to the acre. G. W. Powers, four and a halt miles north of Ilillsboro, raised white eorn which averaged by weight eighty bushels and sixteen pounds to the aere. Green elover, sown by Dr. J. W. Spalding on the black
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
was cut May 8, 1889, and by the 28th of that month was six inches high. A sample of clover hay from that farin was presented averaging two and a half tons to the aere. Radishes, raised by J. V. Reed near Blanton, were six inches in diameter and fifteen inches long.
The "Hill County Beekeepers' Associa- tion" was organized in the spring of 1886, with a strong membership. In their meet- ings important practical questions were prof- itably discussed. T. B. Smith, president; II. A. Goodrich, secretary.
LIVE STOCK.
This is not now what was formerly re- garded a stock country, though the stock interest is becoming far more profitable than it was in the days of extensive pastures and large herds of Mexican ponies and " long horns," or Texas cattle. The tondeney now is to improved stock, and the stock interest is still an important one, though subordinate and only auxiliary to that of agriculture. At present the supply of every variety of stoek is far inadequate to consume the vast products of grain, seed, hay and pasturage, so abundant in every portion of the county. In fact the growing and fattening of stock is the key to snecess for the producer, as every animal thus becomes a vehicle to carry the products of the farm to market. At present the general grade of Hill county stock will compare favorably with that of mnost others in Texas, and the purchase and breeding of fine stock are constantly becoming more gen- eral. There are now many breeds of fine
horses in the county, such as Norman, Clydesdale, Percheron and English draft, run- ning and trotting horses. The supply of jacks is limited but the quality is good, as most of them are either imported from Spain or are the offspring of the Black Spanish jacks, produced either in this country, Ten- nessee, Kentucky, or Missouri. The quality of cattle is also being 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 ean be found anywhere, and such a thing as dis- ease among them is hardly known. The average values of stoek are as follows: Draft horses, $50 to $100; saddle and buggy horses, 875 to $125; mules, $75 to $125; unbroken ponies, $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 Hillsboro the most brilliant display of horses and jaeks that has ever been presented in Hill county. The number of animals and the splendid manner in which they were prepared for the exhibit testified in an unmistakable method the great interest of horsemen on the veca- sion. There were heavy draft horses, the graceful saddler, the swift-moving trotter and the thoroughbred. The jacks were well represented by imported animals and others that traced their descent from some Spanish grandee of their race. Several individuals among the splendid array of speeimens were valued at thousands of dollars. They were
9.15
AND HILL COUNTIES.
ull tine, Tor there was not a common horse or jack on the ground.
Reid Bros., the enterprising horsemen of Hillsboro, had their three splendid draft ani- mals there, and they made a showing that could hardly be excelled at any fancy stock show in any country. Chauvin, the import- ed French draft horse, was greatly admired, und was by many considered the finest horse of the kind on the grounds. Texas Glory was there in all his "glory." Ile had taken the blue ribbon in several States in the North.
R. P. Lynch was another prominent ex- hibitor, having at the grounde Washington Denmark, Bay Donald, A. S. Collier (half Norman and half Leviathan) and Lilliputian, the smallest stallion in the county, five years old and weighing only 162 pounds! It is said that he bought him of a camper on the creek near town, paid 40 cents to have him shipped to Brandon and 35 cents for a man to go along in the car and hold the horse to keep him from blowing through a eraek!
Other horses and jaeks were Duplex, owned by W. G. Dunean and Mr. Posey; Grover Cleveland, by J. S. Woodward of Massey; Montrose, by J. C. Simmons near Itasca; Young Madrid, an imported Spanish jaek, by A. R. Faneher; Beccher, by Dr. T. R. Dean of Itasea; Rolland Me, by W. F. Snow; Ned Lee, by J. E. Martin on Ash creek; Charley, by R. C. Mathews; Prince William, by S. Il. Clarke of Peoria; Black Hawk, by J. L. & J. S. Terry; Porter, by A. J. O'Neal near Itasea; William, by T. O.
Wells near Itasca; Prince, by Dr. J. R. Har- rington of Brandon; Archie, by J. B. Wal- lace near Peoria; Starlight, by J. D. Miller and R. B. Porter; General, by S. II. Clarke; Vulcan. by W. W. Glasgow; llannibal, by James lagan; Clyde, by Weatherby & Swendell; King George, by J. F. Pritchett; Denmark, by J. S. Terry five miles south of Hillsboro; Master Clyde, by L. F. Malone six miles southeast of llillsboro; Joe, by Rusk Jourdan; John, by I. C. Byerly five miles north of Hillsboro; Diek, by S. R. Jones near Peoria; Button, by G. L. & J. M. Higgins; Lawrence, by Mrs. Rhoda Schofield; and Wanderer, by Weatherby & Swendell.
FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.
The Patrons of Husbandry established a number of granges in this connty during the years 1874-'78, a few of which still exhibit some vitality.
At present the Alliance movement seems to be the most lively, especially as its votaries are inclined to take part in polities, which somewhat disturbs the regular old parties. There are now forty-seven alliances in Hill county, and one district alliance, with head- quarters in Hillsboro. These lodges eem- prise about 300 members. The organization is a very seeret one, and scarcely any partien- lars, even names of leaders, can be obtained . for publication.
POPULATION.
In the matter of population the progress of this conuty has been almost marvelous. From a sparsely settled territory a few years
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
ago it has become one of the most populous counties in the State. The census reports give the following statistics of its popula- tion :
In 1870 7,453
In 1850 10,554
In 1890 .27,583
Of the above, 25,429 are white, 2,149 colored, 3 Indians and 2 Chinese. Thus we sce how nearly the whole population are white Americans, in contradistinction to most northern communities. The great body of the negro population of Texas are in coun- ties further south, especially near the coast. Ifill is the tenth in the State in order of population. The total of the State is 2,235,- 523.
POST OFFICES.
Following is a list of the post offices in the county :
Abbott, ten miles south of Ilillsboro, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad.
Aquilla, on the Texas Central railroad, eight miles southeast of Whitney.
Blum, northwestern corner of the county.
Blanton, fourteen miles northwest of Hills- boro.
Brandon, nine miles east of Ilillsboro, on the Cotton Belt railroad.
. Bynum, fifteen miles northeast of Abbott. Covington, eight miles west of Itasca. Derden, five miles east of Blum.
Files, six miles northeast of Itasea.
Fort Graham, on the Noland river, seven miles northwest of Whitney.
Hillsboro, near the center of the county.
Hubbard (formerly Hubbard City), in the southeastern corner of the county.
Irene, eight miles south of Mertens, in the eastern part of the county, near the railroad to Corsicana.
'Itasca, ten or eleven miles north of Ifills- boro, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail- road.
Massey, six iniles northeast of Abbott.
Mount Calm, on the St. Louis & Arkansas railroad, southwest of II ubbard.
Osceola, twelve miles northwest of Ilills- boro.
Peoria, six miles west of Ilillsboro.
Tyson, five miles south of Aquilla.
Rienzi (formerly Halfway), twelve miles west and a little north of Hubbard.
Vaughan, nine miles southeast of llills- boro.
Whitney, in the western part of the county, on the railroad and on Noland river.
Woodbury, eight and a half miles west of Ilillsboro.
A mail stage makes three trips a week from Ilillsboro to Vaughan; daily to Wood- bury, Osceola and Covington; daily to Peoria and Whitney; three times a week from Blum to Derden; daily from Itasca to Files; three timos a week from Abbott to the post offices easterly; three times a week from Aquilla to Tyson; and three times a week from Whit- ney to Fort Graham.
THE COUNTY'S WEALTHI.
TAX VALUES.
From the tax assessor's rolls for the year 1883, we take the following exhibit:
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AND HILL COUNTIES.
VALUE.
Acres of land rendered for taxes, 388,556 ... $1,833,520 City and town lots 274,150
Wagons and other vehicles. 98,080
Tools, implements and machinery 97,620
Horses and mules, 13,446 head 441,500
The assessment for 1891 gives the follow. ing figures:
ITEMS.
Resident. Non-Res. Total.
Land
$3,113,595 $671,515 $3,785,110
City and town property . 880,340 121,225 1,001,565
Manufactured articles.
100
100
Carriages, buggies or
wagons .
123,160
123,160
Manufactured tools and
imple'nts, m'chy, etc.
65,980
65,980
Steam engines
42,880
42,880
Horses and mules ..
674,840
5,840
680,680
Cattle
222,560
28,900
251,460
Jacks and jennets
13,365
13,365
Sheep
7,965
200
8,165
Goats
700
700
llogs ...
18,755
18,755
Goods, wares and mdse.
442,890
412,890
Money on hand
234,160
234,160
Miscellaneous property.
226,075
10,045
236,120
Total $6,067,365 $837,735 $6,905,190
Unrendered roll (land and town property). 453,890
Railroads, telegraph and telephone lines. . 1,008,290
Grand total.
$8,367,270
Assessable property for 1890 7,938,370
Gain for the year 1801 $ 428,900
Considering that the assessment is only about two-fifths of the real value, we see that the total valuation of property in Hill county must be about ยง20,000,000.
The special school tax assessed for 1891 shows the following apportionment: Wilkes, 868; Willow, 8121; Mountain Springs, $235;
Dougherty, $140; Union Valley, $26; Itas- ca, 8619; Osceola, 887; Bois D'Arc, $154; Mountain View, 858; Abbott, 8343; Me- Gowan, 847; Aquilla, 8156; Grove Creek, 8162; Brandon, 8312; Union IIill, 8146; Mount Calin, $313; Richmond, 855; and Hubbard, $145.
State taxes are as follows;
For general purposes. 15 cents on the $100 For school fund. 1212 cts. ou the 100
Total .2712 cts. on the $100 The county levies are as follows: .
For road and bridge purposes 10 cents
For general purposes 20 For interest and sinking fund 10 46
-
Total 40 cents
Total State and county taxes, 67g cents on the $100 valuation of property in the county. School 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 length of sessions, seliolastic age of pupils, etc. The total State and county taxes levied last year, including special district school taxes, amounted to 868, 526.99, and for this year it is 870,421.02. The entire cost of the new courthouse will be 887,145.
FINANCIAL.
The bonded indebtedness of the county is as follows:
Courthouse bonds $82,500
Road and bridge bonds 11,000
Juil bonds 13,000
Total
$106,500
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
Of this indebtedness, the sum of $21,500 is held by the county in trust for the school fund, and of the balance about $10,000 will be paid this year. The registered indebted- ness is 82,000, being balance due on the fire- proof vault.
The exhibit of receipts, expenditures and indebtedness of Ilill county for the years 1890 and 1891 gives the following grand totals:
RECEIPTS.
1890. 1891.
Collection on the rolls of the two pre-
ceding years $32,459 $30,713
Occupation taxes. 2,821 3,823
Sale of poor farm products 2,778 1,193
Fines and forfeitures 2,745 1,793
Jury fees 129
173
Stray animals 686
435
Deposits by road overseers 15
Sale of courthouse bonds
33,500
33,500
State school fund 15,000
Miscellaneous 462
Tolals. $89,881 $71,631
EXPENDITUREB.
General fund $10,783 $3,766
Road and bridge fund 12,170 9,268
Pauper fund
2,724 3,772
Jail
3,711 4,061
Jury
5,281 5,101
Courthouse 53,417
36,062
Commission on sinking fund
19
Totals .$88,086 $67,620 The last exhibit compiled by the deputy county clerk gives also the following items:
INDEBTEDNESS-COURTHOUSE BONDS.
To McLennan Co., school fund $10,000
To Shelby Co., 10,000
. To Robertson Co, 10,000
To Austin Co.,
5,000
To Hill Co.,
3,500
To City of Hillsboro, school fund 1,000 To State, school fund. 43,500
Total $82,000 These bonds bear interest at six per cent., payable annually, and due on or before 1904.
Jail bonds, to Hill county school fund, $13,000. These bear interest at seven per cent., payable aunnally, and due 1901.
Road and bridge bonds, to Ilill county school fund, $11,000. These are at six per cent. interest, payable annually, and dne in 1898 and 1899.
Other registered indebtedness, $8,470.
The Hill eonnty poor farm, in account with Ilill county, gives the following credits for 1891: 28 bales of cotton, $1,085.88; 628 bushels of oats sold, $237.50; corn and oats sold, 832.70; 30 beef steers on hand, $750; balance, $694.50. To the credits here given might be added 23 bales of cotton burned, worth at the time $35 per bale. Were it not for this loss there would have been a balance in favor of the poor farin of $110.50.
The cost of the new courthouse, $83,000; W. C. Dodson's commission as architect, $4,- 020; elock and bell, $1,325; furniture, $1,- 692.00; vault in clerk's office, $4,600; fence around the yard contraeted for, $1,500; car- peting, $150; other items, about $800. To- tal cost of courthouse, $97,000.15.
LAND VALUES.
Land values have been advanced to an almost marvelous extent during the past few years, and in many instances persons who have purchased within that time would not to-day sell the land at four or five times the
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AND HILL COUNTIES.
price paid for it. Of course the prices of lands are governed in a great measure by the amount of improvements they contain and their proximity to towns and convenience of railroad facilities. With six lines of railroad running through the county there is very little land in it that is not conveniently ae- cessible by means of railroad communication und transportation.
The present value of farming and pasture lands range from $5 to $30, according to location and improvements, and there can be no safer or more remunerative investment made in Texas than in Hill county lands. While purchasers can now realize most liberal profits in rents, the greatest advantage con- sists of the continual and certain appreciation of values. A fair indication of the values of land and other property is shown by the comptroller's report of taxable values. This is the best evidence, for while the tax rolls of a county fail to show the full value of the property, owing to the disposition of people to render at the lowest figures that will be received, yet as a comparison of the relative values in different sections, the official assess- ments can be depended upon as a test, the tendency to render at the lowest permissible figures prevailing to no greater extent in one section than in another. The following com- parative statement of the assessed values for the past six years will give a better idea of this county's growth.
Year. Total Valuation.
1885
$4,615,620
1886
6,662,350
1887
7,044,130
16
1888 7,305,050
1889 7,572,620
1890. 7,938,370
The increase within six years as thus shown amounts to nearly three and a half millions in taxable values.
RAILROADS.
Six lines of railroads traverse the county, three of which are trunk 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 first named traverses the center of the county in nearly a north and south diree- tion. The main line of the Cotton Bolt ronto passes through the southeast corner of the county, its direction being from northeast to southwest. The Corsicana and Hillsboro road is a branch of the Cotton Belt, and doubtless will eventually be extended further west. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from Gal- veston to St. Louis and other northern points, passes through the northwestern corner of the county; and the Dallas and Hillsboro branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas is completed.
This may become the main line of that road. The Texas Central, which is the prin- cipal branch of the Houston & Texas Central, connects with the latter line at Bremond, thence extending northwest to Albany, Texas, and passing through the southwestern portion of the county.
All of the above named lines of railroad are actively in operation, giving the county 4 total railroad mileage of 90 1-5 miles, valued
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
on the tax rolls, a very low standard of valna- tion, at 8882,150.
The first railroad which the citizens of Ilill county aimed to have built was an ex- tension of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas railroad, which eventually turned out to be the present "Cotton Belt " road. At a rail- road meeting held in Hillsboro March 18, 1877, 820,000 was raised for the purpose of proceeding with the construction of this branch, thus " insuring " the building of the road, John D. Warren lending, both in mak- ing the most enthusiastic speech of his life and in heading the subseription list with 82,000. The citizens of Woodbury eo-oper- ated in this move. But we notice nothing more in the papers concerning this enterprise, and conclude that the effort died down.
During May and June, 1886, several quite railroad meetings were held in Hillsboro, in order to devise ways for building a railroad from Dallas to this place. At the first meet- ing a committee consisting of C. E. Phillips. J. R. Patty and S. C. Upshaw was appointed to visit Dallas and consult with some of the Missouri Pacific officials then in that eity, The latter agreed to have their engineer run n line within the next few weeks. While the officials disclaimed any thought of building a road to Ilillsboro, they seemed to be better posted as to the route and distances than even the committee itself, which faet indicated that they really had investigated the subject.
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