USA > Texas > Montague County > History of Montague County > Part 11
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
182
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
the privilege of attending one of three State Nor- mals-the Sam Houston Normal, located at Hunts- ville; the North Texas Normal, located at Denton, and the West Texas Normal, located at Canyon City. The third grade certificate which once existed in our county has been abolished, and each year makes it harder for the teacher holding a second grade certificate to obtain a school. All teachers, before they are qualified to teach in the high school grades, must possess a first grade certificate.
The scholastic population of Montague County in 1911 was 6,156; in 1910, 6,233. There is every evi- dence of progress in the school life of the county in the numerous, modern, well equipped school build- ings in various parts of the county. Montague Coun- ty's apportionment of State school fund in 1911- 12 was $41,860.80. Twenty years ago local school tax was unknown in Montague County, now the school tax approximates $50,000 per year. This money is paid by the people for the maintenance of public schools. The local school tax was first voted in this county in 1886. Liberty Chapel was the first school in Montague County to take this step. The average school term has increased from seventy-five days to one hundred days, showing an increase of twenty-five days over the old terms. Montague County boasts of a splendid business colloge. This school is located in Bowie and is known as the Bowie Commercial Col- lege. They have an actual business system that is
183
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
invaluable to the pupil. The youngest bank presi- dent in the South is a graduate of this college. A distinctly modern innovation in the public schools is the organization of the Mother's Club. This organ- ization co-operates with the teachers and pupils, striving to bring their interests closer together, and enleavoring to cultivate a spirit of civic pride, and, by the assistance of the teachers, create within the child a love for the beautiful in surroundings. This county has a number of towns, Bowie being the larg- est town in the county, having a population of five thousand. Other towns of the county are Sunset, Fruitland, Denver, Ringgold, Stoneburg, Belcher, Nocona, Bonita, Mallard, Forrestburg, Dye Mound, Uz, New Harp, Hardy, Gladys, Spanish Fort and
Montague.
Montague is the county seat.
Mon-
tague County is bordered on the north by Red River, but has no rivers flowing through the county. There are a number of streams in the county-Sandy, Brushy, Elm, Denton, Clear Creek, Mountain Creek, Belknap, Salt Creek and Farmers' Creek.
When we review the history of Montague County from its organization in 1858 on through the various changes down to 1912 we ask ourselves the ques- tion, Why should we be always looking back into the past ages for examples of heroism? Why not study some lessons of patriotism at home? These lessons are taught in the lives of our own fathers. Such is the history of Montague County.
184
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
Years have passed since the first settlements were made. Now it is filled with beautiful farms, and teeming with towns, railroads, schools and churches.
Discord and contention, though bitter while they lasted, have borne only the peaceful fruit of har- mony, and one of the greatest of the Texas counties has entered upon a splendid career and the ample foundation of a prosperous and successful citizenship has been securely laid.
PATRIOTISM.
This book will have lost its purpose if it fails to instill within our growing citizens a feeling of pa- triotism for their county, their State and their coun- try. When it is said that patriotism is an important question, it is said in the fullest expression of the term. It is important because it involves principles of home and national pride.
Patriotism is a rich heritage, and it is upon this in- heritance that the security of our nation is resting. On it depends a happy people.
Unpatriotic people are restless, dissatisfied, hard to please. Look, for example, at the mass of foreign element constantly pouring into our country. They come to our glorious shores for freedom, glad to leave their mother country, to breathe the patriotic air of America, where they train desirable citizens for wor-
185
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
thy missions. The time has come when the faith of the boys and girls must be strengthened by thoughts of constancy. This virtue is taught in the annals of the early settlers of this county, and in the lives of the first defenders of this country. We should never lose an opportunity to show our appreciation and re- spect for what they have done for us. Bancroft Library
Loyalty to one's country is a beautiful sentiment, and the question arises as to how many of our boys and girls know "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," "Co- lumbia" and "The Star Spangled Banner," and how many of them rise when our national hymn is played in their hearing ?
Is it not time that the American people direct the thoughts of our future citizens along this line of education in order to encourage that feeling of "pride of country" so essential to our public wel- fare ?
A group of foreigners were standing on a crowded thoroughfare in one of our American cities when the band struck up "America." One of the group re- marked that the American people displayed so little enthusiasm over their national music. In foreign countries the people have to pay every respect to their national airs to please their rulers, but in free- dom-loving America it should please the American people to accord honor to their country on every occasion, for it is the greatest of all the great coun- tries of the world.
186
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
It is hoped the time will come when every boy and girl in Montague County will sing "America," "Hail Columbia" and the "Star Spangled Banner" with the "spirit and the understanding." It will interest the boys and girls to know something of the origin of these songs, a brief history of which is as follows :
The author of that grand, soul-thrilling song, "America," was Dr. Samuel Francis Smith of New- ton Center, Mass. Not long ago a movement was started to preserve the old home of the author, and to make it a place where souvenirs connected with the poet and song writer may be gathered together, to be viewed by both the present and future genera- tions. Dr. Smith was nature's poet, as may be im- agined by his songs and poems. As he contemplated the beauty and grandeur of his own, his native land, his patriotic soul burst forth in song and he gives to the world these glorious verses :
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of Liberty, Of thee I sing : Land where my fathers died,
Land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every moun- tain side
Let freedom ring.
"My native country, thee, land of the noble free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, my heart with rap- ture thrills, Like that above.
187
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
"Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees,
Sweet freedom's song ; let mortal tongues awake, Let all that breathes partake, let rocks their si- lence break,
The sound prolong.
"Our father's God to thee, author of liberty,
To thee we sing ; long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light! Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.
This hymn was first sung in public at a children's Fourth of July celebration in 1832, in the old Park Street Church, Boston.
"Hail Columbia" was written by Joseph Hopkin- son in 1798. The writer claims for this song the dis- tinction of having brought about peaceable relations between France and America, when war seemed in- evitable. The poet tells in the following words how he came to write "Hail Columbia :"
The contest between England was raging and the people of the United States were divided into parties for the one side or the other. The object of the au- thor was to create an American sentiment which should, independent of and above the interests, pas- sions and policies of both belligerents, cause them to look and feel exclusively for our honor and
188
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
rights. The song found instant favor with both parties, to which the author, whether wisely or not, attributes the most gratifying results. The words are :
"Hail Columbia, happy land, hail ye heroes, Heaven-born band,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
And when the storm of war was gone,
Enjoyed the peace your valor won ; Let independence be our boast,
Ever mindful what it cost, Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its altar reach the skies.
Chorus-
"Firm, united let us be, rallying round our liberty, As a band of brothers joined,
Peace and safety shall we find.
"Immortal patriots, rise once more, Defend your rights, defend your shore Let no rude foe, with impious hand, Let no rude foe, with impious hand, Invade the shrine where sacred lies, Of toil and blood, the well earned prize, While offering peace sincere and just ; In heaven we place a manly trust, That truth and justice shall prevail, And every scene of bondage fail."
,
189
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
"The Star Spangled Banner, another of our na- tional airs, was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, under the most trying circumstances. The writer was being held a prisoner on board a British vessel while the British were bombarding Fort McHenry. As he paced the deck in doubt as to what would be the outcome, he drew out an envelope and scribbled the outline of the "Star Spangled Banner." It has been often said of this song that it breathes the purest patriotism. While "America" is called the national hymn of the republic, the "Star Spangled Banner" is called our "National Hymn." The words of this inspiring song are :
"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at twilight's last gleam- ing,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming ?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Chorus-
"Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ? On the shore dimly seen, through the mists of the deep,
190
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence re- poses,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses ? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: 'Tis the star spangled banner, oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more ? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave. And the 'Star Spangled Banner' in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand Between their loved home, and wild war's desola- tion ;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heaven's res- cued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
191
HISTORY OF MONTAGUE COUNTY.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto,
In God is our trust ! And the Star Spangled Ban- ner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.