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 36
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 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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The following account of the celebration of July 4, 1890, is from the Hillsboro Mirror: . An immense crowd of people, variously estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 people, was in Hillsboro the Fourth of July, 1890. That was the day of reunion for the ex-Confederate soldiers of the county, and the laying of the corner stone of the new courthouse by the Masonic lodge of this city. Very early in the morning, yes, the night before, buggies and wagons began to roll into town bearing loads of people anticipating a grand time.
The first thing on the programme of the day was the laying of the corner-stone. About 10:30 the Masons marched from their hall, preceded by the Hillsboro cornet band, to the northeast corner of the new building, where the beautiful corner-stone was laid with ap-
propriate ceremonies. In the stone was placed corn, oil and wine, and coins, letters, papers, and other mementoes contributed by various persons, and lists of members and otheers of the Masonic lodge, list of members of the Cemetery Association, a copy of each of the city papers, etc. Although it was in- tensely hot the vast crowd stood and watched the ceremonies with eager interest. On the north side of the stone is engraved: "J. G. Abney, County Judge; Ike Vermillion, W. P. Cunningham, B. H. Turner, Thos. C. Carlisle, Commissioners; W. C. Dodson, Architect; Lovell Miller & Hood, Builders." On the east side of the stone is engraved: "Laid by Hillsboro Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 196, A. L. 5890-A. D. 1890," together with cer- tain signs and symbols of the order.
After the ceremonies were over the crowd wended its way to Abbott's grove, a cool and shady retreat just guitable for snch occasions. Before the crowd had assembled a rain came on, putting a "damper" on the enthusiasm of many and freightening them home, especially those living in town. In an hour or two the rain eloud disappeared, and the crowd re- assembled. Dr. A. M. Douglass, President of the Ex-Confederate Encampment, called that association to order, and Captain A. P. MeKinnon delivered the address of veleome, and Ilon. Dave Derden made a speech.
Recess was then taken for dinner, for which eleven beeves had been barbecued and an abundance of bread ordered; but the rain so "demoralized" everything that the dinner was not a " success," though it was no fault of the committee. Many people who had pre-
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pared baskets did not bring them on the ground.
After dinner Hon. B. D. Tarlton and Judge J. M. Ilall addressed the veterans, and the rest of the afternoon was spent in social reunion until the roll was called. The officers elected for the ensuing year were: W. G. Beavers, president; Harvey Chenault, first vice-president; J. M. C. Wilson, second vice- president; Smith Powell, secretary, and Dave Derden, treasurer. The new president inade a short speech, and the eneampments adjourned until the next 4th of July, subject to the call of the president.
On the same Fourth some of the Knight of Pythias of Ilillsboro left here on an exeur- sion to Milwaukee, furnished with a chair car entirely through. The car was handsomely decorated with banners along each side bear- ing the following statements: " Hillsboro Lodge K. of P., No. 48 -- Texas." "Ilill county, Texas; Hillsboro, county seat. llas three national banks, two compresses and a $100,000 courthouse." "Value of farm prod- uets, 1889: Cotton, $3,000,000; grain, $3,- 000,000; cattle, $2,500,000; miscellaneous, 82,500,000." These banners were attached to the sides of the car with eleven handsome rosettes made of red, yellow and blue, the colors of the order. The following citizens took advantage of the cheap rate,-815 for the round trip: D. W. Dalton, Captain S. C. Upshaw, C. S. Colvin, W. C. Wear and wife, T. S. Smith, Mrs. C. L. Harpold, Miss Sallie Wear, Julia Sturgis, E. Quickenstedt and wife, J. M. Coley, L. K. Harpold, C. J. Sorrell, N. J. Nagle, P. F. Fox, J. M. Duncan, J. O.
Wright, G. F. Pitchman, J. M. Pratt, W. A. Fields, J. W. Orand, D. Lanman, W. 11. Abernathy and C. T. Crawford.
On the morning of August 29, 1888, a bright, fine-looking boy, only six years of age arrived by train at Hillsboro, unaccompanied by any one, having come all the way from MeMinnville, Tennessee. On the front por- tion of his coat was sewed a piece of white cloth containing the words: "Please put this little boy off at Hillsboro, Texas." The con- dnetor could give no further information. The boy was interviewed closely, his clothes and valise searched, but no further elue could be obtained as to his identity or destination other than he was to be met at the depot and taken in charge by some one. Mr. Patterson, happening to be at the depot, took him home with him. The next day Mr. John Todd, living near Brandon, an unele of the boy, called for him, saying that the grandparents, who are also named Todd, expected him to arrive twenty-four hours later; and hence the failure of the connection.
September 24, 1881, a daughter was born to Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Fellers in Hillsboro, that weighed only twenty-four ounces, includ- ing even the clothing it wore when weighed! It was born unexpectedly, and showed signs of life when born, also unexpectedly. It was carefully nursed, kept enveloped in a garment saturated with olive oil, and, although appar- ently in a comatose state for about six weeks, it then began to improve. Its arms and legs were so small that a finger-ring could be slipped over them their full length! The whole body was not more than eight inches
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in length, and it could be comfortably placed in a cigar box. When nearly five years oldl she was still in good health and smart intel- leelually, but weighed only thirty pounds. ller father was born in Augusta county, Georgia, February 14, 1831, and her mother in Gillespie county, Missouri, December 20, 1846.
On cirens day, October 31, 1589, when a "parade" was expected, a wild-eyed indi- vidual came rapidly down Elm street looking in at every store and alley as he passed as if looking for something that he was afraid would be missed by him. As he got oppo- site the butcher shop he could contain him- self no longer, and, spying a good-natured man near by, asked him in an excited tone of voice, " When's that des-parado comin' off? ch?"
J. S. Boone, of Hillsboro, has a home-made mathematical work, bound in bear-skin and sewed with buekskin strings. The book was made by Jonathan Boone, in 1787, or at least finished in that year. The maker and author of this work was a surveyor, and on stiff parchment paper he worked out different problems, giving a full explanation of each. The book is divided into several parts, the first treating of " Plane Trigonometry by Natural Arithmetie, and Rules for Laying out New Land, etc."
The book was made in Meade county, Ken- tueky, where the author, Jonathan Boone, a nephew of the immortal Daniel Boone, lived at the time. He gave the book to his grand- son to help him in his studies at school; the grandson in turu gavo it to his son, the pres-
ent owner, mentioned above. It is well pre- served, except that a few leaves have been eut out by a vandal surveyor to whom it had been lept at one time.
THE POET.
BY JAKE H. HARRISON, OF THE HILLSBORO NEWS, JULY 26, 1886.
Ile is one upon this mundane sphere Unlike all others of his kind,
And thinks himself a sort of god With wondrously developed mind.
Ile spends bis time in reading books And wandering round in cogitation,
And usually grows gaunt and thin In feeding on imagination.
lle's blest beyond his fellow men, And somehow always seems to know it.
The world may say he is a crank, But still he knows he is a poet.
lle writes of love and spring and flowers, And birds and bees and such as that; Ile carries tons of inspiration, And a pocket-book that's always flat.
Ile's fond of dogs and wine and women, Of fishing-rods and speckled trout;
Ile's kind to strangers when he meets them, But makes his home folk stand about.
Ile's sad because the world is wicked ; In verse on verse pours forth regrets Because of honor's retrograding, And then forgets to pay his debts.
When mounted on his lean Pegasus Ile soars beyond our reach ; But iu his acts he's like all others Who fail to practice what they preaca.
You may sound his fame in song and story, And praise his genius all you can, And still 'tis true (you can't deny it) A poet's nothing but a man.
A man ? Well, yes, he is a man; And to be plain and speak it flat, . A poet's nothing but a man, And a very common man at that!
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AND HILL COUNTIES.
ITASCA.
This enterprising little town is beautifully situated on a high ridge of land half way between Waco and Fort Worth, forty-four miles from each place and about eleven miles north of Hillsboro, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad. The surrounding country comprises as fine farming lands as are to be found in Texas,- rich, black land that will produce anything eatable that can be grown in the United States. The country is com- paratively thickly settled by as hospitable, honest and industrious people as can be found anywhere.
Among the first settlers in this part of the country were Messrs. Files, Gathings, Majors, James Lawless, R. A. Gee, John Stephens, etc., before the war, and Wetherred during the war. The Files and Gathings families are often referred to elsewhere in this volume.
In the latter part of 1881 the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, imme- diately upon the completion of their line through here, purchased through their agent, G. M. Dodge, of New York, 100 acres of land from Anna M. Brower, and platted the place, naming it, from mero fancy, after Lake Itasca, at the head of the Mississippi river in Minnesota. The first sale of lots took place October 10, 1881.
W. I. Hlooks and J. Il. Griffin, from Har- rington, Tennessee, erected the first building on the ground, as a general store. But it was not until the summer of 1883 that the town got under full headway. At this time the town plat and all the surrounding country
was a vast prairie, almost unocenpied. The first settlers there had actually to plow around their little town to protect it against the sweeping prairie fires. Messrs. Hook and Griffin had, therefore, a rather tedious time exercising their patience while they worked their way steadily along. Some houses were moved here from Covington by Frank Wear and Mr. Watson. Mr. R. L. Dunn started the first hotel.
From 1883 to 1885 the place grew at the proper rate of speed, so that by the latter year it was large enough to be chartered as a corporation, which was done, by a vote of thirty-seven to thirty, September 19, and the following city officers were elected: R. F. Vinson, mayor; W. E. Anderson, W. J. Prnitt and J. C. Clark, aldermen.
Again, during the early part of 1890 they realized that their charter was not full enough and that they were assuming the proportions of a city, and applied for a new one, giving them all the advantages enjoyed by their sister cities. This charter was granted on the 7th of March, 1891, and now Itasca stands forth a full-fledged city, bidding you come in and enjoy a share of her prosperity. The present city officers are: C. C. Weaver, mayor; W. I. Hooks, W. J. Pruitt, J. Z. Noble, T. L. Sholls, J. Il. Wombwell, alder- men; L. F. Stanley, secretary; J. E. Clarke, attorney, and G. F. Stanford, chief of police. These gentlemen are all men of high stand- ing, which is a guarantee that the interests of the city will be well guarded. The bonded indebtedness is only $5,500; the bonds have just been issued for the purpose of boring
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an artesian well and draw only six per cent. So, not like some other cities, Itasca does not require all her taxes to pay the interest on her bonds.
The city is not yet divided into wards. The conneil has taken measures for the im- provement of the streets and sidewalks.
PRESENT STATUS.
Itasea has twenty brick buildings and thirty-odd merchants, and at least 250 dwell- ings. The Baptist, Methodist and Cumber- land Presbyterians have elegant places of worship, while the Christians and old-sehool Presbyterians both contemplate erecting church edifiees in the near future.
Now let us take a walk up and down the main business street, commeneing on the south side at the depot: Vinson House, J. W. Gilliam, proprietor; post office, James Messimer, postmaster, where there is also a store of confectioneries, eigars, ete .; saloon and restaurant; First National Bank of Itasca (see sketeli further on); the Thompson build- ing, where there is a general store kept by I. K. Watelsky; in the second story, J. E. Clarke, city attorney; Vinson & Wetherred, real-estate agents, collectors, etc .; R. B. Brown, general hardware; J. P. Belk, gro- cery and drug-store; Dr. G. W. Martin; MeLean, Miller & Griffin, drug-store; Dr. W. S. Mclean; clocks and jewelry; J. A. Townsend & Co., groeers; Mississippi Store, dry goods, J. J. Price; Roulhac & Co., dry goods, groceries, hardware and queensware; Itasca Mail newspaper and job-printing oflice; Dr. C. C. Weaver, dentist, and Dr.
W. D. Fountain, physician; T. W. Lewis & Co., blacksmiths; J. T. Gilliam & Co., lum- ber yard, sash, doors, lime, eement and paints; N. F. Duff, photograph gallery.
Returning west, on the north side of the street: E. F. Lenox, boots and shoes; R. L. Bettison, boots and shoes; G. W. Briggs, Lone Star blacksmith shop; A. M. Howard, watelumaker; saloon and restaurant; Nieco Bros., dry goods and groceries; S. S. Massey, saddles and harness; J. R. Thompson, hard- ware and stoves, J. J. Hatcher, manager; Wombwell & Williams, general merchants; saloon and barber shop; Roper, Coffin & Simmons, hardware, tinware, saddlery, har- ness and farm implements; confectionery and fruit store; Moulton & Sims, dealers in grain, hay and produce; barber shop; saloon; meat market; Tipton House.
North of Main street are the following: J. O. Files' furniture store; warerooms of J. R. Thompson & Co., hardware and agri- cultural implements; the " Racket " store: artesian well and the school building.
South of Main street: Millinery store; Mrs. Stone, manager; Clinkseales & Aber- nathy, an immense lumber yard, doors, sash, paints, oils, ete.
About the depot: Four gins, with corn- shellers attached to two of them; tivery, by Wetherred Bros .; Nowlin & Belk's black. smith and wood shop; Burks & Riggins' cotton yard.
Drs. R. R. Weir and W. II. Orr are also practicing physicians in Itasca.
The total business done in Itasca during the year 1891 was 8550,000. Over 13,000
AND HILL COUNTIES
bales of cotton were brought here for ship- ment, eight car-loads of wheat, forty-eight car-loads of corn, twenty-six of hay and other produce, 230 car-loads of beef cattle, etc. Twenty-two residences were built during the same year, and three new business houses, an ice-house and many other additions and improvements.
Under a contract for $5,500, the city of Itasea is having an artesian well bored, to reach 2,000 feet if water is not obtained sooner; and at this time (January 27, 1892) the workmen have reached a depth of 1,150 fret. For strata gone through, see section on geology, in this volume. Seven-inch casing is used for the first section of the well. The contractors are the MeLeod Artesian Well Company of Keokuk, Iowa: Norman J. MeLeod, manager.
The Itasca Banking Company, with a cap- ital of 825,000, was organized on January, 21, 1890; the business grew to sneh propor- tions that November 21, 1891, they found it necessary to increase their capital to $50,000. Thus the Itasea Banking Company was merged into the First National Bank of Itasea. The following gentlemen were elected to manage its affairs: W. I. Ilooks, F. M. Files, R. P. Edrington, J. II. Griffin, J. M. Coffin, C. J. Calfee, E. E. Griffin and R. B. Brown. From these gentlemen Mr. W. I. Hooks was elected president, Mr. F. M. Files, vice-president, Mr. R. P. Edring- ton, cashier, and Mr. J. Il. Griffin, assistant cashier. From the 1st of January to the Ist of July, 1891, their net profits were $6,800; surplus, $12,500; thus showing that without
any pretensions they were doing more busi- hess than a great many banks throughout the State that are crowing about the business they are doing.
The bank is kept in a neat one-story brick building erected and owned by the company.
The Itasca Mail is a first-class newspaper, published by Weaver & Orr and edited by Dr. W. Il. Orr. It was first established in 1886 as an alliance paper and named the Alliance Mail, by J. B. Murphy, but in a month or two P. II. Pardne took it and changed its name to the Itasca Mail, and ran it as a general newspaper until November 1890; then Rich & Hartson had it until June 1, 1891; next Rich & (C. C.) Weaver until October 1, following; then Weaver & (F. L.) Orr, the present proprietors. The paper is of good size and all "home print." Also a good job printing office is run by the firm, in connection with the paper.
Mr. F. L. Orr and Dr. W. Il. Orr, brothers, are natives of Mississippi and came to Itasca in July 1891, -- the Doctor, however,, more directly from Memphis, Tennessee, where he had been practicing medicine two years. He has had many years' experience as a journal_ ist as well as physician. Mr. F. L. Orr, who has generally been a newspaper man during his life, started the Lexington (Texas) Tel- egram. Ile is unmarried, while the Doctor has a family and owns a residence here in I tasea.
While on the subject of journalism we may here cite an amusing instance of local correspondence, in which Itasca wit closed the sally. First a writer at Prairie View
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
published the following in a Hillsboro paper: " The young ladies of this community met on last Saturday evening for the purpose of organizing a elub opposing the batchelor club [that had been organized a short time pre- viously.] The following young ladies were present: Missos May Webb, Ida Woodard, Nora MeClung, Katy Simmons, Arrilla Leg- ate, Ellen Spassard, Sally Watson, Lorena Rodgers, Lilly Hewitt, Laura Hewitt and Emma Todd. Miss Ida Woodard was elected president and Miss May Webb secretary; and as time was precious other officers were de- ferred until next meeting.
"They passed a few resolutions, among which was this: ' Resolved that no member of the society keep company with any mem- ber of the so called " Batchelor's Club " or- ganized here last week.'
" Miss Simmons on being called to the floor, said: Sistern of the sisterhood: I am glad that none of the lower class is repre- sented here to-night,-I mean old batchelors, those incorrigible old batchelors who not only are not but never mean to be married-ina- licious despisers of life's lawful sweetness and contemners of the divine rights and diviner charms of our own fairer sex. Angustus Cæsar laid a heavy tax on all who were found unmarried after the age of twenty- five, and Ben Harrison ought to do the same thing in the United States. Simonides said that the man who does not marry shows bim- self to be so selfish a coward that he shrinks away from the most sacred responsibilities of life. So, if this famons old poet Simonides is right, the man who gets married is as
brave as a soldier. A word more and I am done. I want to say to this society that the best union pacific bonds in the market are marriage certificates.'
" Miss Webb then arose very solemnly and said: ' You just tell those old batchelors that heaven is fenced in with girls, and it is bliss, too; and by woman paradise was re- gained.'
" Miss Sally Watson then arose and said: 'Ile who loves not women, wine and song will be a fool his whole life long.'
" Miss Arrilla Legate said: ' I tell you what: let's advise those men to break up that society and just be as they have been here- tofore.'
" Then they broke up with the song, ' Old Batchelors are Nanghty Things!'"
The next week the local correspondent at Itasca said: " If those boys down at Prairie View havn't enough get-up-and-get in them to keep the girls from clamoring against them we would like to take a contract to fur- nish a car-load or two of fellows for those girls. Our stock is well selected, including the best varieties on the market, and we will not be undersold, even if we have to 'give them away!' We are overstocked in kids: also have a full stock of old batchelors, and the latest variety in the way of widowers. All these are guaranteed to hang upon the gate as long as any girl that ever looked at the moon. Be sure to examine onr stock before purchasing elsewhere."
The public-school building is a large two- story frame north of Main Street, erected
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AND HILL COUNTIES.
about 1887, at another point near by, and afterward moved to . its present place. Its cost was about $3,000, and the Masonic order paid 8500 additional for the upper story as a lodge room. The lower story is divided into four rooms, for school purposes.
Previous to the erection of this building the citizens had some primary schools, ranging from about fifty to sixty pupils to the school. For two years these were kept up by private donations, some individual subscriptions reaching as high as $100. The school is now kept nine months in the year,-free for five months. The attendance at the subscription school is 125 to 150, while the enrollment in the public school was 305 for the year closing in June, 1891. The attendance therein has reached as high as 248. Prof. N. J. Foster has been the principal here since the autumn of 1887, and he has four assistants.
SOCIETIES.
Robert E. Lee Lodge, No. 449, F. & A. M., was chartered June 10, 1876, at Osceola, with thirty-two members; and the officers were: W. P. Pardne, W. M .; E. T. Pruitt, S. W .; W. Il. Webb, J. W .; R. A. Tanner, Treas .; J. J. Serivner, See .; David Hunt, S. D .; J. L. Hearn, J. D .; R. A. Gee, Tiler, The lodge was moved to Itasca some years ago. The present officers are: W. Il. Webb, W. M .; G. II. Abernathy, S. W .; W. J. Pruitt, J. W .; T. K. Miller, Treas .; J. A. Townsend, See .; W. B. Hadley, S. D .; L. O. Clinkscales, J. D .; J. S. Watts, S. S .; M. II. Matthews, J. S .; A. W. Kuykendall, Tiler. The present number of members is seventy-
nine. Lodge meets on Saturday night before each full moon.
Itasca Lodge, No. 3,553, K. of Il., was or- ganized in June, 1590, with about twenty- seven members: N. J. Foster, Dietator; W. I. llooks, past Dictator; R. A. Johnson, Re- porter; M. B. Palmer, Fin. Rep. There are now thirty-five members, and the following officers: N. J. Foster, P. D .; B. F. Vinson, D .; J. A. Townsend, Ass't. D .; L P. Mead, Vice 1) .; J. II.Griffin, Fin. Rep,; R. P. Edrington, Treas .; R. II. Brown, Rep .; J. B. Wiseman, Chaplain .; Jeff Bratton, I. G .; I. K. Watelsky, O. G. Lodge meets twice a month, in the school building.
CHURCHES.
Methodism was first established in Itasea in 1882, with about thirty members, under the ministry of Rev. C. G. Chutt. The class had been previously organized in 1881, at Union Vulloy, a mile and a half west of town. There are now about a hundred members. J. W. Ansley has been the elass-leader from the beginning to the present time. The present board of stewards comprise J. T. Gilliam (who has served in that relation from the beginning), and J. W. Ansley for the last four years. II. Gilliam is a local preacher residing here. The present superintendent of the Sunday-school is Prof. N. J. Foster, and the attendance is about sixty.
The pastors have been Revs. C. G. Chutt, -- Carson, W. W. Henderson, one year, Sam J. Franks, one year, W. E. Caperton twe years, S. B. Ellis, three years, and -- Galigher since December, 1891. (We are not certain
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that the foregoing list is complete or in proper chronological order.)
The church building, 30 x 50, was erected early in 1886, at a cost of about $1,700, and is located in the eastern part of town. The society has also a parsonage in Itasca.
In the Itasca circuit are also societies at Union Valley, Salem, Barris Chapel and Pleasant Hill. At Union Valley there is still a membership of about sixty, the class being first organized there under the min- istration of Rev. Ellis. Salem is about five miles south of Itasca, Burris Chapel eight miles east, and Pleasant Hill four miles north. All these country societies worship in schoolhouses excepting the one at Burris Chapel, which has a honse of worship of its own,
The old- school Presbyterians first established themselves as a society in Itasca in January, 1887, under the ministration of Rev. Cooper of Waco. The first pastor was Rev. J. R. Jacobs, who served three years; the next was Rev. W. M. Eldridge, of Ilillsboro; but for the last year they have had no minister. The membership at first was only fifteen, but it has increased to twenty-seven. The el- ders are J. P. Wiseman (who is also super- intendent of the Sunday-school), J. II. Roper and R. I'. Edrington; and the deacon, Lewis Simmons. Average attendance at Sunday-school, about thirty, with about forty-five enrolled. This school is kept np still, although there are no regular public services. The place of meeting is at the school building. The society is collecting
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