USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 10
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races and exhibitions and some times the fair was held there.
A Jockey Club was organized on April 22, 1882 un- der the guiding hand of J. W. Mitten. This Jockey Club not only was to teach the proper care and hand- ling of horses but also sponsored races and offered prizes for winners. At the inception of this Jockey Club a meeting was held which lasted through five days. One of the outstanding events of the meet was a ten mile running race between Miss Mollie Taylor of Nevada and Miss Nellie Burke who was the United States riding champion. A purse of $1,000 was won by Miss Burke. The judges were Captain Wagley, who conducted a newspaper column known as "Cold Cor- ner", Capt. Garitty, John S. Gibson and R. S. Mabry.
MEDICAL SOCIETY
Doctors began to come into Texas with the first influx of settlers. A call was issued on March 11, 1857, in the first attempt to organize Texas physicians and again in 1859 a call was issued that all Texas physicians and surgeons should organize but no record was kept of the meeting although it is evident that some form of association was effected, because in 1869 through- out the state, another call was issued to physi- cians for "reorganization." On April 15, 1869, twenty- eight physicians responded and the results of this meeting are retained in the form of a permanent re- cord. The first four meetings of the medical frater- nity in Texas were held in Houston and at the fourth
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meeting it was decided that the meeting place vary from time to time. One of the first laws which was fostered and passed by the early day physicians was a statute requiring each physician to register and state the school from which he graduated and file his diplo- ma. This first group of twenty-eight has grown until at this time there are more than 7,000 physicians and surgeons in Texas.
Records indicate that the Corsicana physicians were meeting in the early Seventies and in the coun- ty such representative physicians as Doctors Starley, Witherspoon, A. C. Sloan, J. T. Gulick, Wm. Pannill, W. J. W. Kerr, J. T. Suttle, Robinson, Selman, Blackmon, Johnson, Hodge, Bryan, Kirksey, Matthews, Dean, Younger, Hoffstetter, A. P. Boston and T. F. Driskill. Dr. Driskill was a minister of the Christian church. He and his wife were dentists. Early residents also remember that among the first physicians to locate in Navarro County were Doctors McKie, who married a daughter of Col. Jacob Eliot, Leach, Oakes, Tate, Wooten, Croom, Carter and Dickson. Dr. Dickson is remembered by the early residents because of his spe- cialty of treating by the use of herbs and roots. Dr. Selman lived at Wadeville, Dr. Robinson lived at Dres- den and of the two Blackmon brothers, Ben and Dave, both of whom were physicians, one having lived at Eu- reka and the other at Angus.
The early physician practiced in a day when he was required to do his curing without the aid of any trained assistant or well equipped hospital. There was no
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such thing as a trained nurse and the physician's own saddle bags and medicine case must contain all the ne- cessary equipment and the only assistants upon whom he could call were friends or members of the patient's family. Operations were rare and it is to the credit of the early physician that he attained marvelous results with his elementary remedies and limited means. Modern bacteriologists had not produced a se- rum with which to combat such diseases as diphtheria and typhoid, and lack of sanitation increased the dan- ger of fevers and chills. Our modern hectic civiliza- tion, however, had not come into existence and brought with it the attendant nervous afflictions of today. The early physician was unaware of the real causes of many diseases and had no idea that the mosquito bite was the real carrier of yellow fever and malaria germs. Ap- pendicitis in those days was usually diagnosed as in- flammation of the bowels. The Navarro County Medi- cal Association carried a notice in the "Observer" dur- ing the year 1879 to the effect that there would be a meeting the first Friday of each month and the discus- sion for the following meeting would be "Black Jaun- dice, or malaria-Is It a Disease or Symptom of Dis- ease ?"
Dr. J. T. Suttle came with his father to Texas in 1871 and during the early years of his practice lived near the community of Retreat but moved to Corsicana to spend the later years of his life. Of his four chil- dren his eldest son, Dr. I. N. Suttle, lived in Corsicana until his death in 1931 and established the Suttle Sani-
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tarium on Sixth Avenue and operated this hospital for several years.
The first hospital in Corsicana was established by Dr. B. F. Houston and began operation in 1908. Dr. Hous- ton specialized in eye, ear, nose and throat afflictions. His original hospital boasted twelve beds with an op- erating room which was considered excellent at the time. It was used also for general practice. Dr. Hous- ton practiced in Corsicana for forty-two years and is succeeded by his son, Dr. Trim Houston, who is a well known dentist, and his son-in-law, Dr. W. D. Foun- tain, who is an outstanding physician.
As the population of Navarro County increased it became evident that there should be a county hospital and from time to time efforts were made to procure the necessary funds with which to erect such an insti- tution. The culmination of these efforts was brought to a head in 1914 under Judge R. R. Owen and Com- missioners Worthington, Medaris, Payne and Slay. A brick residence of one-story was purchased. This resi- dence was located on Ninth Street and by the addition of necessary equipment the county hospital was estab- lished, Dr. S. H. Burnett acting as director and Mrs. A. M. Haslam as secretary.
A nurses' school was started in 1917 in conjunction with this hospital and this training school has grown until some few years ago a two-story home for the nurses was built. This year, 1931, seven girls received their nursing diplomas. At the present time the county hospital is under the efficient direction of Dr. L. E.
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Kelton, president of the staff, with Dr. Mclendon, and Messrs. Garitty, Jester and Banks as directors, and Mrs. W. B. Taylor as head nurse.
The Corsicana Hospital and Clinic was established in 1928 on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Twelfth Street in the building which was formerly the Elks' Hall. This is a completely furnished hospital under the guid- ance of Dr. W. T. Shell, president of staff and business manager. Dr. W. T. Shell, Jr., is assistant physi- cian and surgeon.
The Navarro Hospital and Clinic was completed and opened to the public in 1929 on the corner of Collins and Thirteenth Streets and is a handsome four-story brick building which is a credit to the community. Dr. E. H. Newton is president of the institution and has associated with him Doctors Homer T. Jester, Wilson David, T. O. Wills, W. R. Sneed.
In addition to the physicians who live in Corsicana, Dr. B. W. D. Hill of Dawson, Drs. Blair and Currie of Kerens, Dr. A. N. Brown of Richland, and Dr. Bris- tow of Emhouse and Drs. Ellis and Kelsey of Bloom- ing Grove, Drs. Rice, Knox and J. R. Matlock of Frost and Dr. Russell of Purdon, have given long and faith- ful service to their communities. Dr. Hanks years of service to the Corbet community were ter- minated by his death in 1931.
Doctors S. W. and Clay Johnson were prominent among the medical fraternity in Navarro County dur-
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ing the Nineties. These brothers practiced until Dr. S. W. Johnson moved to Dallas. Dr. Clay Johnson moved to Fort Worth where he now resides.
Dr. J. M. V. Wills came to Navarro County in 1874 and first practiced in Eureka before moving to Corsi- cana where he continued his work until forced to re- tire because of ill health. Dr. T. A. Miller started prac- ticing in April, 1889, and deserves credit for his many years of service to the community; also for rearing a large family of worthwhile children, one son being a minister of the Church of Christ and the other four being physicians. Dr. Kelton has practiced continually for 35 years. His son, L. E. Kelton, Jr., has recent- ly completed the necessary study and is now associat- ed with his father. Dr. J. S. Daniel began the prac- tice of medicine first at Chatfield, thirty-five years ago and has been practicing in Corsicana for the past eighteen years. Dr. Daniel is known as the first phy- sician to bring an X-ray machine into use in Navarro County.
Membership of the Navarro County Medical Asso- ciation now comprises sixty-five active members and their names are given herewith :
J. C. Blair, S. H. Burnett, W. C. Bristow, W. W. Car- ter, W. D. Cross, D. B. Currie, R. C. Curtis, J. S. Dan- iel, J. Wilson David, J. R. Dickson, J. H. Edgar, E. B. Ellis, T. V. Fryar, Dan B. Hamill, J. J. Hamilton, M. L. Hanks, F. W. D. Horn, Homer B. Jester, J. A. Jones, W. K. Logsdon, J. E. McClung, W. O. McDaniels, T. P.
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McLendon, John W. Matlock, Dubart Miller, T. A. Mil- ler, E. H. Newton, B. W. D. Hill, B. F. Houston, L. E. Kelton, E. B. Lowrey, K. W. Rowe, T. B. Sadler, Hugh Sloan, E. P. Norwood, H. H. Panton, W. R. Russell, I. N. Robinson, A. D. Sanders, G. H. Sanders, W. T. Shell, K. W. Sneed, W. R. Sneed, J. C. Stevens, I. N. Suttle, C. L. Tubb, T. O. Wills, A. B. Worsham, T. W. Wade, H. R. McMullen, A. W. Rogers, Trim Houston, R. N. Hollo- way, F. B. Owens, H. E. Ezell, H. B. Love, L. C. Polk, O. C. Bowmer, J. T. Carter, W. M. Ellis, W. D. Foun- tain, J. J. Smith, W. H. Walker, J. P. Worsham, W. W. Williamson, W. T. Shell, Jr., L. E. Kelton, Jr.
STREET RAILWAY
The Corsicana Traction Company was organized in 1902 under a fifty year franchise and street car serv- ice was inaugurated on June 19 of that year. For sev- eral years the street car line followed Main Street but after a few years' operation it was removed to Beaton Street. A loop originally extended down Fifteenth Street and around Mineral Hill, coming back to Fif- teenth Street South of the Cotton Belt Railroad. The franchise was acquired by the Texas Electric Railway Company in 1913 and street cars were operated in con- junction with the Corsicana-Dallas interurban. Due to the influx of automobiles and changing economic con- ditions the street railway company found it impossible to earn expenses and the operation of street cars was discontinued on September 30, 1931. The interurban line to Dallas, however, continues to operate.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Women's Clubs of Corsicana, under the direc- tion of Mrs. Rufus Hardy and Mrs. Maud W. Gordon, began work toward securing a library for Corsicana in 1901. During that year $1,720 was raised and the first library was opened in the Hardy-Peck Building. The patrons paid $1 a year membership to have access to 1,270 volumes which were on the shelves shortly after the library opened.
The ladies from different clubs alternated as libra- rians until Miss Hettie May Leonard (Mrs. Pat Log- gins) was appointed librarian. She served for some time until Mrs. Mattie C. Houston was appointed to the post.
Through the interest aroused by this initial effort a tax was voted for maintenance and Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 toward building the present Carnegie Library which was opened January 1, 1906.
The present library has about 21,000 volumes and with the exception of two years, during which time she was attending the University of Iowa, Mrs. Houston has been librarian and has served with the greatest efficiency. Miss Zoe Faddis was librarian during the time Mrs. Houston was taking her course in library work.
The first library board was composed of: Mrs. Ru- fus Hardy, Captain C. H. Allyn, J. H. Woods, Frank Drane, Mrs. F. J. Halbert, Mrs. W. J. Gordon, Miss Louise Pace, Miss Hattie Kenner and Miss Zoe Faddis.
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CORSICANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Corsicana Commercial Club originated in the Nineties, and operated without any definite organiza- tion. It met upon call of the president, having no regular time of meeting. It met in the Merchants Opera House. There were approximately 65 paying members. The dues were $1.00 per month. J. B. Slade was the last secretary of this club. This club was composed mainly of the older citizens of the town among whom were, Capt. Allyn, James Garitty, J. E. Whiteselle, Steve Smith, W. M. Tatum, H. G. Da- mon, Ralph Beaton, J. H. Martin, J. D. Cunningham, R. M. Collins, F. N. Drane, P. C. Townsend, E. A. John- son, C. W. Jester, W. H. Staley, J. S. Cullinan, J E. Butler, J. T. Coulson, Fred Fleming, Allie Templeton, S. A. Pace, W. M. Wilson, Ben Fortson, J. B. Slade, Rufus Caldwell, E. H. Church, James L. Autrey, W. J. McKie, John L. Lee, Sam R. Frost, J. S. Callicutt, E. O. Call, B. Marks, I. N. Cerf.
About 1905 or 1906 among the younger men of the town there was organized the Corsicana Booster Club. Cal E. Kerr who had been greatly interested in a more active organization, particularly for the younger men in the city and who had fostered the beginning of this club, was made the first president and Lowry Martin was made secretary. The club was highly am- bitious and to quote the first secretary "was filled with zeal, energy and conversation, plenty of everything but money". This club had between three and four hun- dred members paying monthly dues of fifty cents each.
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There were for a time two clubs, both interested in the same object, namely, the growth and betterment of Corsicana as a business center and better place in which to live. The Booster Club was later changed to the Corsicana Business League. The first secretary of this organization was Fred Walker and among the presidents of this club were John W. Carpen- ter, A. A. Wortham, Cal E. Kerr.
Guy Gibson first forwarded the project of hav- ing the Corsicana Business League and the Corsicana Commercial Club combined into one organization, in that way concentrating the man-power of the city as well as the mature experience of the older club and the youth and enthusiasm of the later organization. This was done and out of this consolidation was created the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce. The Business League had offices at this time on Eleventh Street, up- stairs over the Western Union Office, which place re- mained the office of the Chamber of Commerce after its organization.
As an expression of appreciation for the time and effort and work which he had given to the Booster Club and Commercial League, Lowry Martin was made first president of the Chamber of Commerce. Ralph Walker became agricultural agent and C. N. Olsen, district representative for the State Life Insur- ance Company, became first secretary.
The past presidents of the Chamber of Commerce are as follows :
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Lowry Martin 1917-1918
T. J. Walton 1919
J. Frank Williams 1920
J. N. Royall 1921
R. J. Jackson 1922-1923
J. M. Dyer 1924-1925
Sydney Marks 1926-1927
C. L. Jester 1928-1929
Officers and directors of the Chamber of Commerce for 1930-31 are: Ted B. Ferguson, president; W. O. Harwell, secretary; J. N. Edens, treasurer; R. J. Jack- son, national counselor ; vice-presidents : F. N. Drane, A. G. Elliott, Lowry Martin, W. P. McCammon, C. C. Roberts, Clyde Foster and R. J. Jackson. Directors : O. M. Boynton, F. N. Drane, J. M. Dyer, J. N. Edens, Ted B. Ferguson, Clyde Foster, R. J. Jackson, W. A. Lang, Lowry Martin, W. P. McCammon, C. A. Middleton, E. M. Polk, Festus A. Pierce, C. C. Roberts, W. C. Stroube, W. M. Spear and Max Wolens.
CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS
Corsicana now has a commission form of government with a mayor and four commissioners, all elective. The election is held on the first Tuesday in April of alternate years. The present (1931) city officials are J. W. Edens, mayor; Commissioners : R. D. Fleming, E. M. Palmer, W. C. Stroube and J. W. Jefferson; J. P. Welch, secretary; Chas T. Bannister, attorney; J. N. Garitty, treasurer; H. S. Melear, judge of corpora- tion court; J. M. Pugh, assessor and tax collector; E.
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L. Keith, chief of fire department; W. S. Knight, chief of police; W. R. Sneed, physician, W. W. Mcclendon, engineer; G. M. Crook, sanitary engineer; C. B. Lewis, superintendent of water works pumping station.
County officers during 1931 were Hawkins Scar- borough, district judge; Clay Nash, county judge; Cleo Miller, county attorney ; Christopher L. Knox, as- sistant county attorney; Mrs. L. E. Hervey, district clerk; L. C. Morgan, county clerk; Dan Hanks, super- intendent of county schools; county commissioners : George Boyd, D. D. Sawyer, J. W. Harris and J. O. Ses- sions ; Rufus Pevehouse, sheriff; justices of the peace : Joe Cox, Prect. 1; Sam Jordan, Prect. 1 *; Carl D. Heather, Prect. 2; T. A. Crowley, Prect. 3; Dalton Westmoreland, Prect. 4; John B. Jones, Prect. 5; C. Healer, Prect. 6; S. A. Johnston, Prect. 7; L. W. Var- nell, Prect. 8.
*Sam Jordan succeeded W. W. Clopton, deceased.
SION
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CHAPTER VII TOWNS OF NAVARRO COUNTY
SPRING HILL
T HE town bearing the distinction of being the oldest in what is now Navarro County is the town of Spring Hill which was settled by Dr. George Hill many years before the county was organized. Spring Hill is located about twenty miles West of Corsicana near Richland Creek and the plentiful water supply from springs and from this stream doubtless influenced Dr. Hill in forming his settlement. The hills covered with beautiful trees and grassy prairies for grazing on all sides make the location of Spring Hill one of sylvan beauty.
Dr. George Hill was born in Tennessee on April 22, 1814. He attended college both in Wilson County, Tennessee, and Transylvania University, from which institution he received his degree in medicine. He came to Texas when he was only twenty-three years old, locating first at Old Franklin where he began prac- ticing medicine and he soon married Mrs. Matilda Slaughter, a widow with two children. President Houston made him Indian agent and records indicate he moved to what is now Spring Hill about 1838. Dur-
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ing the early days of Dr. Hill's residence at Spring Hill hundreds of Indians camped near his house. The spring around which they camped was a short distance Northwest of the house. On only one occasion did they cause any trouble, that when a fight occurred with a surveying party.
Dr. Hill lived in a double log house when he moved to Spring Hill but many years later this was torn down and a frame house built a short distance from the old residence. Of the early home nothing now remains ex- cept a few scattered rocks which were the foundation *.
Dr. Hill served in the Texas Congress in the years 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842 and in 1843 was Secretary of War under President Houston, and in 1844 was reap- pointed by President Jones and held this position until Texas was annexed by the United States. He died in Spring Hill and was buried there May 29, 1860.
Spring Hill is also mentioned in the early records as being the first point at which a raw-hide building was constructed. This building was erected in 1850 and used as both church and school, the first teacher being a Mr. Finch and the first preacher, Tom Wil- liams. This raw-hide building was in the nature of an experiment, since hides were cheaper than lumber, but it served only as a temporary building.
Among the early settlers of Spring Hill were the Ritchies, Treadwells, Onstotts, Fullertons, Stockards, Matthews, Sidwells, Garners, Wilkinsons, Lawrences,
*His step-grandson-in-law, Will Matthews, now lives there.
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Dawsons, Lees, McSpaddens and Cheathams. Both Wil- liam and Samuel Wright located near there. The Jer- ry Johnson family also the Ruckers and Mount fami- lies moved here in later years and two doctors made this community their home, Doctors Dean and Younger. Britton Dawson moved into this vicinity in the year 1848 and on his land was the location for the town of Dawson. In 1859 he brought lumber by ox wagon from East Texas and built the house on his farm which still remains in an excellent state of preservation. Britton Dawson married, for his second wife, Susannah Can- non, who came to Texas with her stepfather, William Ritchie, and family about the year 1843. This William Ritchie was county commissioner and his home and trading post were about two miles from the grave of the Battle Creek victims. Records indicate that about the time the Ritchies arrived in Navarro County there were only five families living in the community, these being the Dr. Hill family spoken of previously, the Treadwell family and two of the Onstott brothers. Let- ters which still are in existence describe the method by which the Ritchies and others built their cabin. They dug holes in the ground and set posts into them, then nailed boards on each side of the posts and filled in the hollow spaces between with dirt. Mr. Ritchie and his two stepdaughters, unaided, erected the house, sawed the logs and blocks with which to get boards, smoothed these by hand with drawer knives and thus erected a livable habitation.
A flour mill was located at Spring Hill and it operat-
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ed late as 1884. The farmers grew their own wheat and had it made into flour, shorts and bran.
Spring Hill was a thriving village until the railroads came and left it to one side. Some of the merchants moved to Dawson, others went to Corsicana and Dres- den and the town of Spring Hill remained a village but the countryside is still inhabited by people of sterling character.
A great-nephew of Dr. George Hill who first settled Spring Hill lived near the place where his fa- mous ancestor settled until death. Dr. B. W. D. Hill came to Navarro County in 1886, living in Spring Hill for one year, then moving to Dawson where he died in 1931. Dr. H. L. Matthews also lived in the Spring Hill community for forty-two years, moving to Dawson in 1911 where he died in February, 1924.
Spring Hill will retain an honored place in the his- tory of Navarro County due to its having been the first important settlement.
DRESDEN
Shortly after the settlement of Spring Hill by Dr. George Hill, Ethan Melton arrived on foot from Hous- ton and came to Dr. Hill's home at Spring Hill. His entire belongings were a gun, a pack of clothes and a blanket. Taking a liking to the country, he settled nearby and was married to Dr. Hill's sister about 1843.
Mr. Melton's first home was a log house and was the first distributing point for mail in this community, the
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Top: £ Lisman home near Chatfield, built in 1857. Bottom: Dr. W. S. Robinson's home at Dresden.
TOWNS OF NAVARRO COUNTY
mail being brought on horseback. Letters in those days were not always in envelopes, sometimes they were tied with a string, sometimes folded or sometimes sealed with wax. Postage was usually about 10c per letter. The post office was first designated as "Spanky" but when on May 22, 1846, a regular post office was established it was recorded as Melton and was the first post office in Navarro County.
Mr. Melton was a prominent citizen in the early days and a slave owner since among the records were found a notice where in 1848 he bought a negro girl, 14 years of age, by the name of Mary, from A. Barry of Raleigh. This transaction was witnessed by Henry Cook and John Tucker.
In March, 1847, three acres of land were acquired for church, school and burying ground with Jacob Hartzell, Ethan Melton and Henry Cook as trustees.
Ethan Melton's first wife died at an early date and he later married a Miss Welch. Of the six children living to maturity, J. E. Melton, Angie Melton, who is now Mrs. Blayston, and C. C. Melton still live in Na- varro County, the latter residing in the old home place in which he was born seventy-odd years ago. One of the historic spots in Navarro County is the Melton pri- vate cemetery which was originally the garden back of the house.
The name of Melton was changed in 1849 on the re- cords of the county clerk's office, to Richland, the town of Richland which was about a mile south of
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
Melton having been plotted on land set aside by Jacob Hartzell, D. B. Hartzell and J. A. Roark. Many lots in the town of Richland were sold. Numbers of the ear- ly residents of Navarro County settled first at this point which was at that time one of the leading towns in the county.
Jacob Hartzell or Dr. W. S. Robinson, or both, were credited with the name of Dresden, but that name has become permanent.
Jacob Hartzell and wife, Elizabeth (Berget) Hart- zell, were born in Pennsylvania. They first moved to Canton, Ohio, where their son, Dan, was born and in his youth they moved to Texas and settled near Melton.
They were prominent in business and social affairs of the county. Dan Hartzell was married to a daugh- ter of B. F. Carroll, who lived near, and made his home in Dresden. His children were Ben, who married Clem- mie Haden; Dora, who became the wife of Fred Flem- ing ; Mollie, who married Mr. Sullenberger ; Carrie, who became Mrs. Lutterloh; Jacob, the youngest, still lives in Dresden.
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