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 39
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 39
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The population of Abbott in 1890 was 156. It is remarkable that no building has yet been destroyed by fire in this place, nor has any damage been inflicted by storms. The community is remarkably healthy. The people use rain-water, collected in cisterns excavated in the blue, soft, shale rock ten to twelve feet below the surface, -- a great deal better method than is generally followed by the people of Texas. Very little lime gets into the water. Several years ago an artesian well was commenced here and drilled down 483 feet, when the workmen lost the drill, the loss falling upon the artesian company and Mr. Treadwell.
The physicians practicing here are Drs. F.
AND HILL COUNTIES
B. Wilkes since 1888, and Coleman Carter since 1890. Dr. W. M. Drake practiced here from about 1881 to 1889 -- '90, when he went to Hillsboro; and a Dr. MeDonald was here for a time.
The school building, ereeted in 1885 or '86, is a well built one-story frame eosting over $600. The enrollment of pupils is over 140, and there are three teachers, of whom Prof. Abraham Ruffner is principal. Sehool con- tinues on an average about seven months in the year, most of the time free.
The Missionary Baptists organized a church of eleven members, in April, 1876, at Liberty Grove schoolhouse, two miles south of Abbott, under the ministry of Rev. II. N. Reese and Elder Martin Kibby. The original members were: Rev. I. N. Reese, pastor; J. M. Young, deacon; B. Il. Young, M. A. Reese, C. W. Young, Lavinia Young, Eliza- beth Young, Eliza Young, K. E. Young, Nancy Reese and D. C. Cobb. They wor- shiped there until 1885, when the place of meeting was moved to Abbott. From the be- ginning to the present publie services have been held onee a month.
The pastors have been: Revs. II. N. Reese to May, 1877; John A. Harrison of Waco the remainder of that year; J. B. Puckett, also of Waco, from February, 1878, to October that year; II. N. Reese again until December, 1879; W. S. Ilnif to 1880; T. P. Speakman, 1881-'82; Thomas Hooker, 1883-'84; J. W. Anderson, 1885: A. J. Wharton, a year and a half; R. A. Cox, to September, 1891, sinee which time U. W. Jarrell has been the pastor.
The present number of members is 121, who have just completed a house of worship. Eliza Young is the oldest member of this eluirch. She was born in Tennessee in 1812, raised in Floyd county, Kentucky, married David Yonng in 1834, moved to Platte county, Missouri, and finally, in 1844, to Texas; and her youngest son, J. M., is the present clerk of the Baptist church above described.
The Methodists also have a church build- ing in Abbott, a neat frame, and a parsonage on an adjoining lot. They have a respectable membership, of whom D. C. Brooks is elass- leader. Professor Abraham Ruffner is the superintendent of tho Sunday-school. Local preachers, Revs. Powell and MeMillan. In the cirenit are four appointments, including, besides Abbott, Bell Springs, Scott's Chapel and Willow. Rev. S. B. Ellis has been the. pastor sinee November, 1889.
The Cumberland Presbyterians first organ- ized in Abbott in the summer of 1891, with about fourteen or fifteen members, under the ministry of Rev. W. A. Patterson, of Ilills- boro; at present they have no pastor. The elders are T. M. Conover and L. C. Barnard, and the present number of members is eigh- teen, who hold their meetings in the Meth - odist church.
Previously this denomination bod a church at Antioch, four and a half to five miles north of Abbott, where a society is still in exist- ence, and a church building. Rev. Me- Carty is the minister and Thomas Colvin and Mr. Rutherford are the elders.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
OTHER POINTS.
FORT GRAHAM,
the most noted historic point in lill county, was a Government supply station in Indian times, and troops were stationed there for the protection of the frontier. The fort was abandoned in 1853, but some signs of the buildings still remain, impressive monn- ments of the irresistible westward flow of civilization and the corresponding ebb of barbarism. Two or three stores and a black- smith shop or two was probably as high as it ever reached on the ladder of commerce. Ilere it was that the "boys in blue " stood- n bulwark between advancing civilization and retreating barbarism; and here it was that a tragic incident of intonse interest to the civilized inhabitants of the then sparsely settled county occurred, about the time of the evacuation of the post. This was the killing of Major Arnold, the commandant of the post, by Dr. J. M. Steiner, the surgeon of the post, in a personal difficulty. (See page 296.
But by the year 1890, when it had a popu- lation of 250, it was ambitions enough to take a vote on incorporation, forty-four votes in favor and forty-seven against. Although there is a considerable settlement in that. vicinity, one general store does the local business.
PEORIA.
This village sprang up soon after 1854, six miles west of Hillsboro and on the road to Whitney. Among the carly settlers were
Daniel Boyles, Harvey. Henry and Wesley Young, William Bell, Thomas Bragg, Ford and J. R. D'Armand, etc.
After the war Peoria became the commer- cial center of the county, and for nwhile stood first in population. It thon had some ten or fifteen business houses and a nows- paper, the Hill County Record, edited by R. II. Sayers. The place once contested for the county seat, when Ilillsboro obtained the victory.
It was here that the first school in the county was taught by Harvey W. Young, now Judge Young, of Hillsboro. In 1855 John Patton built a brick schoolhouse and taught for several years, the students coming from Ellis, Bosque, McLennan and Coryell counties.
The first Cumberland Presbyterian church in the county was organized at Peoria, in 1855, with Rev. John Patton as pastor. The so- ciety numbers about sixty-five.
The town is well located in a beautiful seetion of country, on high rolling, somewhat sandy ground, in the cross timbers, and within a mile of where the thirty-second par- allel of north latitude and ninety-seventh me- ridian of west longitude from Greenwich cross each other. The place now has a population of 500, a drug and grocery store, a general supply store, a blacksmith shop, two schools, three physicians, two oculists and a notary public.
The water supply is plentiful and good. AQUILLA
is a small town about thirteen miles south- west of Hillsboro, ou the Texas Central rail-
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road, and one mile from Aquilla creek. It is in the midst of a rich and productive country and a good community, with its complement of schools and churches, a Ma. sonic lodge, etc.
BRANDON.
The old town of Brandon, about twelve miles east of Hillsboro, was founded by Dr. Harrington and Joseph Walling, two respeet- able and thrifty citizens, and such men as R. B. Hlowe and A. J. Jasper and others were conspienous in the upbuilding of the town; but it was finally removed to the new town, next to be noticed.
New Brandon (or for short, Brandon) is a ucat little town eleven miles east of llillsboro and thirty west of Corsicana, on the railroad. It is situated on high ground, in a healthy loeality, and is indeed a beautiful place. White Creek, a clear running stream, runs within half a mile of it, while Richland creek, a very heavily timbered stream, is seven miles east. Good water is obtainable at a depth of eighteen to thirty feet.
The plat contains seventy-five acres, the main streets being seventy-five feet wide, the business lots 20 x 140 and the residence lots 60 x 140. A depot and stock pens were first built here in 1888, and soon the old town was moved to it.
January 15, 1890, a post office, grocery, general store and blacksmith shop were es- tablished here. Now Brandon has ten busi- ness houses, a blacksmith shop, two hotels, a lumber yard, a cotton yard and one of the best equipped gins in the Suite, a Masonic 21
hall, forty-five residences and a $3,000 school- house. Every one who has visited Brandon has to acknowledge that the residences built here are far superior to any they have seen in any town in the State. The reason of this is that the town is mostly built up by the farmers who have lived in the surrounding country for years, and still own farmns near the town.
The school, which is the pride of Brandon, is conducted by Prof. G. L. Bradford, who owns the building. The citizens have voted a tax of fifty cents on the $100 for the maintenance of the free school. To pro- teet this school the people have voted for local option by a vote of three to one. By this means young men who desire an ednea- tion are freed from many temptations. Bran- don has: Three grocery stores, 1 drug store, 1 dry-goods store, 1 barber shop, 1 lumber yard, 1 coal yard, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 wood- shop, 1 lunch stand, 1 beef market, 1 hotel, 1 pieture gallery, 1 cotton gin and mill, 1 schoolhouse, 1 Masonie hall, 3 doctors, 45 residences and 6 carpenters, who are kept busy.
Two churches are convenient at hand.
WOODBURY.
Woodbury is a flourishing village of about 200 inhabitants, and situated in the edge of the cross timbers 8 miles northwest of Ilills- boro. The first business house there was built by T. L Wood in the fall of 1869, after which the town grew rapidly, and did a splendid business until the railroad advent in the county, since which the trado has declined.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
It now has two general mercantile houses, one drug store, a post office, two wagon and smith shops, a steam mill and gin, two well furnished churches, a large well equipped two-story academy, Masonic hall and many handsome residences, inhabited by as social, moral and progressive a population as is to be found in the entire State.
For Woodbury's part in the late county- seat contest, see pages 216-7.
BLUM.
The town of Blum was laid off and ushered into existence in the latter part of the year 1882, immediately upon the completion of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe railway to this point, and named after Leon II. Blum of Galveston.
The first business houses were opened by Taylor Brothers, J. M. Pogne, A. Thames and M. L. Marsh. Afterward G. R. Jackson, A. T. Mann and others entered business there.
The population at the present time is something over three hundred. The people are generally moral and refined, and have a high appreciation of the advantage of edu- cation and are laying the foundation for n splendid civilization. A school building of ample dimensions and comfortably furnished with all necessities is a feature which is the especial pride of the citizens. With the aid of the public froe school fund a session of six months is held each year. The enroll. ment the present year is 150.
Four churches have organizations here, three of whom, the Baptists, Methodists and
Christians, have neat and commodious church buildings in which to worship. The Presby- terians contemplate building soon, and the Masons have a strong lodge.
The town is picturesquely situated in the Noland river valley. When seen from some of the surrounding hills it reminds one more of some fancy sketch in a frame than it does of a view of actual scenery. In the im- inediate vicinity the land is broken and hilly, but within a few miles is considerable fine agricultural land. Four miles to the west is the celebrated Brazos valley, while nearer by is the fertile valley along the Noland. A few iniles to the east is a fine body of black prairie land lying parallel to the cross tim- bers. This land when cultivated has proven to be well adapted to the growth of all the staple products of the country, and is settling up very fast. All kinds of fruit succeed here better than in most portions of the country. The Noland river is deserving of more than mere mention. The beauty of this stream is the common remark of all who see it. In spring and summer it affords fine fishing. The fine groves of pecan and wal- nut timber growing glong the banks and the numerous fine springs are inviting, and is often visited by parties from the cities.
The river took its name from a trader of the same name who made frequent trips from " the States " while this country was a Mex- ican province. On one of these expeditions he and his party were attacked by bandits and destroyod. The scene of the battle is near where the town now stands. Men continue
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yet at intervals to search for the treasure that it is said was buried by the trader, but whether any one has ever succeeded in find- ing anything valuable or not is not known. In an appendix to the second volume of Yoakum's History of Texas, will be found a full account of the circumstanee briefly nar- rated above.
The trade of the country tributary to this place would support a much larger town, and it is confidently expected that the population will double in a short time. The distance from competing towns, the healthfulness of the location, and the excellent school privilege may be mentioned as proof of this eonelusion. Although nearly every line of business is represented, still the amount of capital in- vested is inadequate to the requirements.
DERDEN
is a post office and small business point in the northwestern part of the county.
COVINGTON,
also in the northwestern part of the county, was left " out in the cold " by the railroads, and hence lost its prospective trade and ceased to grow, except by the slow and steady growth of the respectable community which surrounds it. The location is simply grand and lofty, and is noted for its splendid college buildings and noted citizens. Colonel James J. Gathings was an early settler in the viein- ity, an account of whom is given elsewhere; und Hon. A. M. Douglass, a physician, is one of the well-known statesmen of Texas. Find sketch of this gentleman by the index. There
is a Cumberland Presbyterian church there, organized in 1889, with thirty-five members; but they have no pastor at present. There are also other churches in the place.
OSCEOLA
is a pleasant little town about five miles west of Itasca, having good society and a church or two and a school. See under head of Itasea for some account of the churches. Dr. J. S. MeKown is, or was recently, the praetie- ing physician there.
FILES' VALLEY,
one of the oldest and best settlements in the county, has its eenter about six miles east and a little north of Itasea. It takes its name from one of the oldest, wealthiest and most influential families in Ilill county, that of D. S. Files, who settled there in 1855, from Grimes county, Georgia. Ile died in 1879. The previous year James McCullough had settled in the vicinity. Ile was a brother of General Henry MeCullongh, and died many years ago. N. J. Witten was another early settler at that point, and is still living there. Judge Weekly, deceased, was another, who also came from Grimes county, Georgia.
For Presbyterianist at this place, see under head of Itasea.
In Files' Valley and vicinity are several good artesian wells, flowing to the surface with pure, soft water, excepting that it is slightly sulphurous.
MOIS D'ARC
is located four and a half miles northwest of Itasca and about five miles west of Grand
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
View, and is therefore near Covington. It is surrounded by as fine a farming country as the Lone Star State contains, and comprises an energetic class of people.
MOUNT CALM
is a nice little town southwest of II ubbard, on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas railroad, one mile north of old Mount Calm in Lime- stone county. It has abundant water and wood supplies and favorable school and elnreh facilities. The community has an excellent reputation.
August 30, 1891, at 4:10 r. M., a wind struck the place more violently than had ever before been known, carrying everything be- fore it like chaff. First the large two-story schoolhouse was torn into fragments, which were scattered for a long distance. Fortun- ately there was no one in the building at the time. The next building to go was a resi- dence owned by Terry Wiley and rented by a lady musie teacher who had only an organ in the building, using it only for teaching. The house and organ were completely wrecked. There was a terrifie erash at the depot, and immediately the west hall of that building was gone. Then went the meat market, the lumber-yard, ete. At the Baptist church, where services were in progress, carriages and horses were thrown up into a confused mass.
IRENE
intelligent moral community. A prominent citizen residing in this part of the county is
EDWIN C. ZOLLICOFFER.
To those men who lived prior to and through the civil war in the United States, the saying, " These are the times that try men's souls," was just as true and fraught with the same serious meaning as it was when uttered almost 100 years before; and the patriot, be he of the North or South, will not lose the opportunity to pay a tribute of respect to those heroes who suf- fered the horrors of warfare and the sacrifice of all their worldly possessions in defense of what they believed to be the best interests of the Republic. To one of those great armies belonged Edwin C. Zollicoffer, and the Con- federaey never had a more loyal subject. A history of Hill county would be incomplete without an outline of the career of this gen- tleman. Ile is a native of Tennessee, born in Maury county, March 7, 1822, the son of George Zollieoffer of North Carolina. ITis father came to Tennessee when a young man, and afterward went to Mississippi; when a resident of the former State he engaged in merchandising in connection with his farm- ing interests. He married Miss Abby Nicholson, a daughter of Malachi Nicholson, who was a cousin of A. O. P. Nicholson, State Senator of Tennessee. Of this union seven children were born, of whom Edwin C. was the fifth; he is the only surviving mem- ber of the family; his sister, Amanda, married Nicholson Sims and removed to Ellis county,
is another fine little placo near the eastern border of the county, surrounded by a mag- nificent farming country inhabited by an I where she died; her husband is still living
.
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there. The father died in Mississippi, about the year 1840.
Edwin C. Zollicoffer came to the Lone Star State in 1854, and settled in llill county where he has since made his home. Ile pur- chased 2,100 acres of land, bought a number of slaves and at once began the task of plae- ing this land under cultivation. For three successive years he broke 100 acres of land, und at the same time he handled large num- bers of live-stock. Ile furnished horses and beef cattle to the Confederate Government, receiving the currency of that government therefor; this be held, and the loss was about $20,000 and in addition to this misfortune, forty of his slaves, the entire number, were set free.
After the war was ended he sold a farm of 600 aeres, sold off his live-stock, and built a steam mill and gin; this proved an unprofitable investment, and at the end of eight years he disposed of this property at a sacrifice. Ile then resumed the quiet life of u planter which had been interrupted so many years before. Ile still has an immense aere- age in Ilill county, the cultivation of which is superintended by his son, Edwin A.
Mr. Zollicolfor was married to Miss Lucy Mosely, a daughter of Archie Mosely of Bedford county, Tennessee; her father died during the war, broken-hearted, the woes that overtook and surrounded him at that period being utterly beyond his endurance. Mr. and Mrs. Zollieoffer had born to them seven children, two of whom died in early childhood: Sallie has been twice married, --- first to Dr. Key, who died leaving two dangh-
ters; she then married Jo Rochel), a native of South Carolina; Mary married James Maddux of Alabama, who died in 1888, leav- ing two children; Mrs. Maddux is now living at home with her father; Callie is the wife of William Spark of Alvarado; Lulu is a student at Hubbard City; Edwin A. Sharpe, the second child and only son, has charge of his father's business, as before stated. Mrs. Zollicoffer died August 4, 1890; she was for many years a member of the Baptist Church, and died in the full assurance of that faith. Mr. Zollicoffer is also a member of the Bap- tist Church, and he has belonged to the I. O. O. F. for many years. Politically he has had no aspirations; ho has served as Justice of the Peace for ten or twelve years, and has been a faithful and efficient officer. IIe is a man of great force of character, and during all the years of his residence in Texas he has given a hearty support to those enterprises best calenlated to elevato the community of which he is an honored member.
MASSEY
is delightfully situated about eleven miles southeast of Hillsboro, on the three tribu- taries of Ash ereek, in one of the most de- lightful counties of Texas and in a refined community, with four church organizations, good schools, ete. The churches are the Primitive and Missionary Baptists, Method- ists and Presbyterians.
August 24, 1886, T. Collier's residence was burned, with all the contents, and one of Mr. Collier's children!
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
TOWASH,
on the east bank of the Brazos, is an old point, whose prospective future was wiped away by the railroad; but there is a fine water-power there, which has long been utilized in running a flour mill.
PRAIRIE VALLEY
also was onee a thriving town, five miles west of Whitney. It yet retains a splendid church and a good school.
BLANTON
is a postoffice and village in a good seetion, in the northwestern portion of the county.
Samuel K. Davis.
AND HILL COUNTIES.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
AMUEL K. DAVIS resides one mile east of Grand View, Texas, but was born in Lawrence county, Alabama, in 1822, and removed with his parents to Madi- son county, of the same State, before he had attained manhood. Ilis parents were Will- iam and Ann (McDaniel) Davis, and were well-to-do farmers. In the subscription schools of Madison county Samuel K. Davis obtained his early schooling. He was one of the following family: Jane, the deceased wife of John Clum, of Madison county, left ten children; Elizabeth married Smith Criswell, and with one child survives him; Samuel K .; James W. (deceased), first married Hannah J. Damron, by whom he became the father of four daughters and one son, and afterward Penelope Norris, who bore him one child; Anderson married Eliza Martin, who with one child survives him. Ile was an able physician and was in the Confederate army, and some time in 1862 died at Knoxville, Tennessee; William resides at Newmarket, Madison county, Alabama, and is married to Nancy Jane Scott, by whom he has five living children; Robert L., a farmer of Arkansas,
married Eliza Henderson, by whom he has three children; and Holbert S., who married Fannie Strong, by whom he has one daughter. He enlisted in the first company to enter the Confederate service from Madison county, but was taken sick about the time his command started to the front, and died; he also was a good physician. William Davis, the father of Samuel K., was a pioneer of Alabama, and served in several Indian wars or campaigns in that State.
From Madison county, Alabama, Samnel K. Davis came to Texas, having previously married, in 1844, Rebecca Jane Criner, daughter of Granville and Martha W. (Barnes) Criner. Upon reaching this State he rented land for one year in Hill county, and then came to the locality in which he now resides, at which time there were but few settlers in the region. Ile at once purchased 420 acres of land, of which 150 are covered with tim- ber, but has since increased his acreage, and at the present time has 400 acres under eul- tivation, and in all owns over 700 aeres, on which he raises cotton, corn, wheat and oats, and stock to some extent. lle has one of
the best improved farins in the county.
The last year of the war he entered the Confederate service, and was with Parsons' regiment in Louisiana and Arkansas nutil the war closed. About 1883 Mr. Davis served as County Commissioner for two years, being chosen to this position by his Demo- cratic friends. lle made an able official and many improvements were made in the county while he was in ollice.
lle and his wife are the parents of the fol- lowing children: William G., married to Ella Chambers; Martha Ann, wife of Hamp- ton Savage of Grand View, Texas; Mary Edna, wife of William Harrell, of Grand View; and Finis E., a farmer and who married Sallie Wade, a daughter of Squire Wade, of Grand View, has two children; Eula E. and llenry. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Davis, was a Revolutionary soldier and the youngest of eight brothers. He was married to Jane Allison, a lady of Scoteb-Irish descent, which blood also coursed through his own veins. The family worship in the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church.
R. BOYD, of Hubbard City, Hill county, was born in Oktibbeha county, Mississippi. in 1853, the youngest of nine children of David Boyd, a native of South Carolina. The latter removed to Mis- sissippi in 1835, where he remained until his death in 1856. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and during his residence in Mis- sissippi he held the office of County Supervisor of Oktibbeha county. His wife, the mother
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