A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 33

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Texas > Henderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33
USA > Texas > Freestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33
USA > Texas > Leon County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33
USA > Texas > Anderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33
USA > Texas > Limestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33
USA > Texas > Navarro County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 33

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).

" In 1843," writes Colonel James S. Hanks in a recent letter, "James R. Ful- ton and Charles Shelton sold goods in an old worn-out field. Their storehouse was made of small black-jack poles. They hauled their goods from Shreveport, and sold them for deer-hides, buffalo hides, etc. Levi Hopkins, Major J. I. Pinson, C. T. McKinzie, Holman Duncan, Buck Hiffin, Thomas Berry, George Hanks, Thomas Hanks, Wm. Wright and myself, lived near by this pole storehouse. This stood where Palestine now is."

In 1846 this site was chosen for the new county seat, as has been elsewhere de- scribed, and the people about Fort Houston, at least those located there temporarily,

mnoved to it. By 1852 the stores were in full blast about the square with such old vet- eran merchants in charge as A. Joost, thie first old Fort Houston merchant, J. W. Scott, old John Murchison, Brantley Cox, Colonel Howard, E. M. Stackpole, and others, chiefly on the north and west sides of the square. In what is now West Pal- estine, there was only a few residences, as those of Judge Reeves, and a few others. The trade was good because Palestine got all that came from the large cotton ship- ment at Magnolia. Of course all her build- ings were then of wood. The little town spread slightly in all directions except toward the ravine. During the war and for about a decade thereafter nearly all sides were burned; the town has had more than its share of fires, and that accounts for the large amount of brick in that old quarter.

The war had hardly well closed when the Anderson county leaders, prompted no doubt by the prospects before the Houston & Texas Central Railroad made plans to the west of them, began making arrange- ments with leaders of other counties to secure the new form of commercial outlet that so surpassed the old Trinity's boats.

The oldest copy of an Anderson paper now known to be in existence is Mr. Ew- ing's copy of the Trinity Advocate, of August 8, 1866, at Palestine. In this is a call for a railroad convention at Tyler, in which is plainly seen the beginnings of the Great Northern. Among those who call the convention are: E. F. Swann, George Yarbrough, J. C. Robertson, S. H. Boren, J. M. Douglas, O. M. Roberts, M. A. Long, J. L. Earl, W. Roberts, T. B. Erwin, R. B.

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Hubbard and others. On the 25th, at a public meeting in Palestine, presided over by John H. Reagan, the following repre- sentatives to this convention were chosen: W. F. Hamilton, A. E. McClure, John H. Reagan, J. M. Perry, W. R. Miller, E. W. Smith, Dr. J. H. Decherd, R. M. Mynatt, W. H. Lawrence, J. G. Caldwell, T. J. Word, B. F. Durham, J. M. McKnight, W. S. Wilkinson, I. N. Green, E. S. Jennison, E. H. Howell, J. G. Stuart, D. A. Akin, and A. G. Cantley.

Says the Advocate again in 1866: " There are twelve dry-goods stores in the place, and all doing a good business; six grocery stores, where anything may be had from a stick of candy to a barrel of Bour- bon; and three saloons; there are three drug stores, one hotel, one cabinet shop, one wood shop, one watchmaker's shop, three blacksmith shops, shoe shop, barber shop, saddler's shop, tailor's shop, two printing shops, any number of doctor's and lawyer's shops, etc. We can't boast of any very fine brick buildings as yet, except the court- house and the clerk's office, and three or four other brick buildings."

In 1875 the editor said: " Our's has been a one-horse town long enough, and now it is about time to become a four-in-hand team. In less than eighteen months from date the population of Palestine will have doubled, and instead of having a popnla- tion of 2,500, as at present, we will have 5,000 or 6,000." Then he pleads for larger plans and united action.

In May ('75), he says: " That the Inter- national headquarters are to be removed from Houston to this place is a fixed fact, and preparations to do so are now under

way. This removal will take place as soon as the required buildingscan be constructed, and in their construction there will be no delay." This he gives as the explanation of his prophecy above mentioned.

In 1875 again the Advocate says: " Lo- cated as we are on the southwest corner of the public square and Avenue A, which leads to the depot and what may probably be called ' West Palestine,' we go west and take our way down Avenue A toward the depot of the International & Great North- ern Railroad Company. The avenne leading from the public square, where business men do congregate, to the depot, is in fine condition. Wagons of all sorts and sizes, loaded or unloaded, and pedestrians have ingress and egress there at all times and hours. This avenue is an institution. It cements and links the two hills and all other hills together, so far as relates to Palestine and its present and prospective prosperity. The mill men on the Neches -and they control more than fifteen mills - say they sell more lumber to Palestine people than to any town on the road."

How did this change come about?

On October 22, 1866, the Houston & Great Northern Railroad was chartered, and the main line opened to Palestine in 1872. Meanwhile its Huntsville branch, chartered on April 4, 1871, when the Houston Tap & Brazoria Railroad Com- pany (organized September 1, 1856, and completed in 1860) was purchased, was now completed also in 1872. Two years before, on Angust 17, 1870, the Interna- tional Railroad Company had been organ- ized, and by December, 1872, this road also was completed from Hearne to Long-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

view also. The year 1874 saw these in- terests tending to unite, and on September 22, 1873, the two were consolidated under the name of The International & Great Northern Railway. This was the real begin- ning of Palestine's awakening. The line went on improving. In January, 1874, it was extended to Rockdale, and in April from Troupe to Mineola. In 1876 in was extended from Rockdale to Austin, and in 1882 to Laredo. The Georgetown line was chartered on May 31, 1878, and com- pleted on December 11; and the Hender- son & Overton road, which had been chartered April 6, 1874, was opened May 8, 1877. This makes a total of 826 miles operated by the road, all but fifty of which is owned by it. The mileage is distributed as follows: Longview (via Palestine) to Houston, 232 miles; Palestine to Laredo, 415 miles; Houston to Columbia, 50 miles; Phelps to Huntsville, 8 miles; Troupe to Mineola, 45 miles; Round Rock to Georgetown, 10 miles; and Overton to Henderson, 16 miles; and the leased road, Galveston, Houston & Henderson, 50 ıniles.

"The legislature had granted to the Houston & Great Northern the usual land subsidy," said Mr. A. R. Howard, the secretary and treasurer of the present com- pany, and the oldest in service of the com- pany's employes, recently, "and to the International it first gave a bond subsidy of $10,000 per mile, but afterward snbsti- tuted for this the land granted with twenty-five years of freedom from taxa- tion. The total grant was not less than 5,000,000 acres and was vested by pur- chase in the New York & Texas Land

Company. In April, 1878, at the suit of the second mortgage bond-liolders the road was placed in the hands of receivers and sold to a committee of bond-holders by whom it was reorganized. During the year 1881 the road was purchased by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Com- pany, the shareholders of the International & Great Northern receiving two shares of the stock of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas in exchange for each share held by them. Since the reorganization of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas in 1890 one-half of their stock was sold to the Missouri Pacific. The Galveston, Houston & Henderson is leased for interest on its bonds and any surplus over interest, taxes and expenses. Possession was taken January 1, 1883. On May 1, 1888, default was made in payment of interest of first-mortgage bonds, and this was followed by default of pay- ment of the interest of second-mortgage bonds. In each case, however, the coupons were subsequently purchased for account of the company or parties in interest. Ou May 2, 1888, the lease of the International & Great Northern to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas was canceled, and the Interna- tional & Great Northern and the Galveston, Houston & Henderson were operated by the International & Great North- ern with headquarters at Palestine. On February 21, 1889, the road was placed in the hands of receivers. Suit was brought in 1889 by the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company in the district court of Sinith county to foreclose the second mortgage. The company was reorganized in 1892 without foreclosure under the plan of January 27, all suits being withdrawn.

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" According to the general balance sheet of December 31, 1890, the cost of the road and equipment is given as $28,544,348.47; real estate, $5,774; and stocks and bonds, $244,922.

" The first superintendent of the Hous- ton & Great Northern was S. H. Shock. The first superintendent of the Interna- tional was H. M. Hoxie. On the consoli- dation of the roads Mr. Hoxie became the general manager and was superintendent of the road for many years. He was suc- ceeded by J. Herrin, and he by Henry Fleming, and he by J. W. Eddy, who re- turned with the company, as its general manager, when the headquarters were re- established at Palestine in 1888. In 1889 J. W. Eddy and T. R. Bonner were made joint receivers of the road, and both died while connected with the road in this ca- pacity, Eddy in Jannary, 1891, and Bon- ner in September of the same year. Mr. Eddy was succeeded, by T. M. Campbell, who co-operated with Colonel Bonner in the management of the road until the" lat- ter's death, when he was made sole re- ceiver and continued as such until the road went into the hands of the stock- holders in 1892, at which time he was made general manager and so continues now.

"The first auditor of the road was George Pollock, now of the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas. He held the position until the offices were removed to St. Louis. When the offices were brought back to Palestine W. L. Maury became auditor, and is the present incumbent. A. L. Bow- ers has been the superintendent of bridges and buildings since the consolidation in

September, 1873. The first general freight agent was Allen McCoy, who was suc- ceeded by his chief clerk, J. E. Galbraith, the present incumbent. The first general passenger agent was named Page. He was succeeded by B. W. McCulloch, who was the general passenger agent of the Texas & Pacific and the International & Great Northern at the same time. The offices of the general passenger and gen- eral freight agent have been consolidated and are now held by J. E. Galbraith. D. J. Price, who has been with the road for a number of years, is the assistant general passenger agent. The present general claim agent of the road is Henry King, who is also its vice-president. J. J. Huff- smith is the present master mechanic; W. P. Siddons the present master car-builder, and J. D. Trammell the resident engineer.

It is no wonder in the least that the Palestine public should grow enthusiastic when speaking of the plant of the Inter- national road within her borders, for, if it is not the father, it is the mother of the thriving county seat of Anderson. After a score of years with the railway's aid to growth, it may be well to let a local writer picture it, not as it is now, when all can see it, nor as it was twenty years ago when it was first located here as to its headquar- ters, but a date midway, when it was fully established with a broad foundation for its later improvement.

"The interests of Palestine," said a writer about Christmas, 1882, "are so thoroughly interwoven with those of the I. & G. N. R. Company that no sketch of the city would be perfect without a review of the present condition of the railroad

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

business and property here. How many of our merchants there are who remember and talk over the old days of ox teams and kindred transportation, when the departure or arrival of one of those slow-moving caravans was the single topic of conversa- tion for weeks before and after. What an unwelcome change it would be even to the most conservative and unprogressive amongst us to turn back now from the quick-pulsating, wide-awake energy that characterizes the business and business men of our city to the quiet monotony of those pleasant, sleepy days. Happy and jovial recollections haunt the memories of those years; and though they yet find a place in the quiet corners of the hearts of many of us, none wish for their return, no one calls them back from the dead past. Through the calm air of the summer morning, through the bracing air of win- ter's early sunlight, from year's end to year's end, the sharp, shrill sound of the shop whistle, ringing out and reaching all over our city, awakes sturdy workers from the solid homes of 'old town,' from the newer dwellings about the depot, and from the pleasant, cosy cottages that dot the surroundings of West Palestine. That whistle is not only the evidence of the progress we have made but it is the daily reminder of the prosperity that has grown up and increased in our midst. More than 300 men, mechanics, laborers, etc., answer its loud summons daily, and probably 1,000 of our people, young and old, de- pend for their ordinary wants on the labor thus called, and the wages thus obtained. And so the International shops have come to be a very component, a very essential,

part of the daily life and business success of Palestine, and everything that affects them favorably is a matter of congratula- tion, not alone to the business view of the city but to every citizen in looking to the present thriving condition and promising future of our town. Nor is this matter viewed from a money standpoint only. True, every month when the pay - car swings over the Neches bridge, its bell- ringing seems caught up by the hurrying breezes and before the panting engine has rolled over Sugg's switch the air all throughi Palestine seems echoing with the pleasant jingling of that coming train bringing monthly into our midst an average of at least $25,000, and the face of every mer- chant in town glows with quiet satisfac- tion-every one of them-from the solid, sober-sided square of Old Town to the tiniest green grocery that nestles under the shadow of the stand-pipe. And, yet, as stated, this is not the only nor the most pregnant reason why these works are a source of pleasant solicitude to our people, but they are so principally because they have brought and continue to bring to us an industrious, thriving and intelligent population, quick and apt at their varions occupations, building up their homes with and around us, and becoming with us one people, as anxious as the oldest inhabitant here for the well-being of the city and the State.

"Here is a list, hastily compiled, which may serve to give our readers some idea of the work and men who manage it: In the dispatcher's office you will find J. W. Egan, local dispatcher; J. E. Walters, chief dispatcher; J. M. Daniel and A. M. Clark,

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assistants. In the baggage department, F. M. Taylor, who never sleeps, presides," and thus he goes on with multitudes of the officers of the various departments, too detailed for service in so limited a space. He tells also of the round-house capacity, the boiler works, machine shops, round- house and the like in their many multi- plied details, the car department, and all the scores of squads of workmen, and their leaders.

"The I. & G. N. Company have estab- lished at Palestine and maintain a com- fortable home for emigrants, who are looking for homes in Texas." "The In- ternational general office building is con- ceded to be the best railroad building in the State, solid, substantial, roomy and comfortable. It was built under the per- sonal supervision of Captain Hayes and Major H. M. Hoxie, and is an ornament to the city," and he closes with tracing a visit to the scores of offices that the build- ing contains.

Of course, ten years have added multi- tudes of developments, not the least of which is the splendid proportions of the cream-brick depot whose lofty tower over - looks one of the finest rock-paved grounds of which any railway can boast, or the beautiful elevated lawns of the general offices and residences that overlook the vast bustle of the busy armies of the shop, and yards.

The effect of all this on Palestine was to make the years 1875-'76 and the latter part of the '80s the banner growing years, with a growth from that on to the present that shows no lagging.

In 1881 the Advocate tells of a two- block fire in West Palestine, saying: "This is the third great conflagration Palestine has known," and indicates how the wooden buildings were burned out and replaced by brick.

Business started down the avenue from "Old Town" to the depot, and spread itself along Spring street, which has so far been the leading street. It shows vigor- ous signs, of late, of its intention to also spread to Main street, and even to Palmer.

Note the contrasts: On the 8th of March, 1847, the first post office in the county was established here at Palestine, in that old black-jack-pole store-house of Charles Shelton, who became its first post- master. Thirty-three years pass, and the census of 1880 shows it with 2,997 popu- lation. Then a decade passes and it doubles itself, the census of 1890 showing 5,838, and the increase has gone on ever since.

The railway's arrival in 1872 necessi- tated a city government, and Levi Hur- baugh was made its first mayor. Among those that followed him were G. J. Gooch, S. N. Pickens, W. Y. Lacy, J. F. Watts, G. R. Howard, W. M. Lacy, J. J. Word and George A. Wright, the present in- cumbent, a list believed to be complete. Of course one of the first things needed was provision against fire, especially for the large railway property, and when they undertook it, it was carried out on broad lines.

"Early in the summer of 1871," says the Advocate in 1882, "Mr. Carroll E. Gray, of St. Louis, Missouri, by request of

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several of the leading citizens, visited Palestine with a view to building water- works. Being favorably impressed with the situation and prospects of the city, on his return to St. Louis he sent his engineer and assistant, Mr. J. T. Jones, now so well known to our citizens, to further investi- gate.

"On June 7, 1881, the city council granted to Mr. Gray the necessary fran- chises for building the works, and con- tracted for the hydrants for the protection of the citizens' property against fire. Lead- ing merchants subscribed for fifteen other hydrants. Through Mr. Gray's efforts a company of St. Louis capitalists was formed, who furnished the funds for the construc- tion, and August 5, 1881, work was com- menced, with Prof. C. A. Smith, of Washı- ington University, St. Louis, as consulting, and J. T. Jones as constructing, engineer. Soon after the commencement, Mr. J. T. Jones' attention being required in other works being built by Mr. Gray, Mr. J. A. Jones took charge as superintendent of construction.

"The works, as originally designed, con- sisted in corraling, by tile-pipe lines, the waters of nearly 100 large springs, situated in two valleys, about one inile and a quar- ter west of the city. These tile-pipe lines joined each other and delivered their water into a brick receiving well, near the pump house.

" The pump house, of brick, comprises, under one roof, boiler room, engine room and dwelling rooms for the engineers. Two large steam boilers and two Wortham pumps, each independent of the other and each capable of pumping 750,000 gallons

of water per day, take water from the well and force in through cast-iron pipes of different sizes to the city, where it is distributed to the consumers. There are about eight miles of these iron pipes now laid, and midway between the pumps and the city, on an elevation of some thirty- eight feet above the city, is a stand-pipe of boiler iron, 2 feet in diameter and 150 feet high, which, in connection with the pumps, furnishes the 'head' or pressure necessary for the delivery of fire streams, etc.

"A telephone line connects the pumping station with the fire company's house and with the offices of the water company, to enable the engineers at the pumping station to be immediately informed of a fire in town, so that they may increase the press- ure in the mains. This system, costing nearly $100,000, was successfully com- pleted and in operation on April 1, 1882. " Mr. Gray, however, before turning the works over to the company for which he had built them, having felt some little fear that in future years the tile-pipe lines might not furnish water sufficient for the needs of the fast-growing city, decided to build, at his own expense, a large dam across the valleys, so as to formn an im- pounding reservoir, to store up a quantity of water as a reserve.

" This dam was begun in June, 1882, under the charge of Mr. K. P. Corbyn, and was finished in September, at a cost of about $15,000, and has proved itself a complete success, already over 20,000,000 gallons of water being stored up.

"On October 23 the city council at a special meeting formally approved and

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accepted the works. There are already 125 consumers." This was in 1882.

With all the supply that they had in 1882, by 1886 they put in a new 1,000,000 gallon reservoir, and in the fall of 1890 they prepared for greater facilities still by selling the whole outfit to the Palestine Water and Power Company, which they did in February, 1892. This company put in a new power plant of two eighty- horse-power boilers and a Dean compound duplex pump of a daily capacity of 1,500,- 000 gallons. They now have over seven- teen miles of mains. The president of the company is C. S. Greeley.

Contemporary with this work was the organization of the present fire departinent, to replace the old hand-engine companies of the '70s. The new department was or- ganized by Chief C. A. Sterne, and his successors have gradually developed it. These are Joseph Amson, Martin Himzie, G. W. Burkitt, and the present incumbent, Chief A. L. Bowers. The companies are three in number, and are so thoroughly public-spirited and devoted to their work that they own the most of their outfit themselves. The assistant chief is Daniel McGowan, and the recorder I. W. Trelford. Palestine Hose, No. 1, withi C. Bowdon as · foreman, has two hose carts, building and furniture; Hope Hook and Ladder Com- pany, of which John Kelley is foreman, has its truck with outfit for horses, and building and furniture; and Burkitt Hose, No. 2, is outfitted with hose cart and mule. By their system of service they now have one member exempt, the only one so far, -O. B. Sawyers. Of course this force does not include the railway shop hose

company, which is a private affair of the railway management. The city owns about 1,600 feet of hose and forty-four hydrants, while there are half as many more private hydrants.

The city has no city hall of its own.

" One of the most important, perhaps the greatest, recent improvement taking place in Palestine," said a local writer in 1882, "is the Howard Oil Works, which involves an immense outlay of capital, and will prove a highly beneficial enterprise. The land was bought from Mr. A. R. Howard, of the I. & G. N. Railroad. The seed liouse is of frame, 500 feet long by 100 wide; the press-room is 85 feet long by 45 feet wide; the engine-room is of brick, 40 x 22 feet; and lint room 100 x 55 feet. The machinery is all in the house, and will be ready for operation by Jannary 1, 1883." It was to employ as high as seventy-five hands, and did a big business for several years, until the oil combine led it to rest somewhat from its larger labors by absorbing it.

This shows on what a scale the new en- terprises of the '80s began, and how vigor- ous and hopeful capital was of the pros- pects of the new railway city even at that date.

At present the more characteristic en- terprises of Palestine are allied in some way to the railway, the cotton, the lumber and the mineral interests. The railway shops and headquarters and the large num- ber of supply stores they require would undoubtedly take the lead. Closely allied to these come the water and power com- pany and the electric-light plant, and pos- sibly the ice factory. In another line is

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the Dibley's foundry, and the cotton-gin factory ; also a mattress factory, all doing a large business. Then again there is the cotton compress and the large oil mill, de- pending upon the cotton interests, while the large Inmber production is well repre- sented by a lumber and planing mill. Of course there are other smaller factories, but these are representative.

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Author: Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 954

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954