USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 14
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erected in its honor a large stone monument which still stands on the South side of the road near the creek.
ROANE
There was a small log school house located about eight miles northeast of Corsicana which was former- ly called Post Oak School, Beginning about the year 1866 Rev. Leek, who lived at Chatfield, occasionally preached at this little log school house. As families mov- ed into the vicinity the Rev. Leek organized a Baptist church at this point and his congregation was made up of the Beasley family, which moved into the com- munity as early as 1840, as well as the Conners who settled in this district about the year 1855. Joe and Ben Bragg and the Rascoe and Cohagen families also lived in this community.
Among the early settlers who located around Post Oak School were the Burke family and the families of the Beasleys, Braggs, Connors, Ellis, and Fraziers. Settling of the community increased until, in about 1891, members of the community decided they needed a post office. Various names were offered but the name Roane, as suggested by Will Holland, was adopted and thus the town of Roane originally known as Post Oak School became permanent.
One of the first teachers in the Post Oak School was Professor Flint, who was followed some time later by Professor Johnson. Other educators who taught in Roane were Profs. Ellison, Huggins and Homer Carroll.
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The first store and post office in Roane was run by Mr. Cohagen. Jim Estes and his two sons moved from Bazette and opened a store some two years later and the post office was moved to their establishment. The Estes family still operates the store in Roane although the post office is in the Curry store.
Mr. Master is credited with being the first to build a cotton gin and in 1896 a telephone exchange was built with Miss Annie Ficklin as the first operator.
Among the old homes which have a romantic past is the old Beasley home and springs, about two miles West of Roane. This historical landmark was familiar to travelers in the early days of the county and many a travel-worn immigrant stopped here for fresh water and a few hours' rest.
Before the post office was located mail was distri- buted from the old Bragg home which was a short distance West of the Beasley home mentioned above.
Ben and Joseph Bragg married sisters who were daughters of the Beasleys. Years later, Will, son of the Connors, married Miss Mary Ella Burke.
Two of the good neighbors of the community who did much to make life more pleasant during the early days of Roane were Mrs. Shade Conner and Mrs. Sallie Frazier who visited the sick and prescribed for them and helped to nurse them.
The Roane community has long been known for its hospitality and the residents of the community are sol-
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id people whose ancestors helped to carve homes and farms out of the virgin prairie. The old time pioneer home with its wood pile in the front yard, water bucket with a gourd handle projecting, wash basin and roller towel and shelf on the front porch were familiar sights. Saddles and bridles were also a part of the porch fur- niture and the latch string hung out to all friends.
EMHOUSE
The town of Emhouse has grown from several sur- rounding communities, among them being Kelm and King Willow. King Willow was about six miles East of Kelm, which was about three miles West of Em- house. G. G. Owen was postmaster at Kelm. The first name given to Emhouse was Lyford but when it was discovered there was a town by this name in Texas already, it was seen that no post office would be granted under this designation so the name of Em- house was then chosen. Emhouse takes its name from Col. E. M. House, who was superintendent of the Brazos Valley railroad at the time the post office was petitioned for.
The original Kelm settlement was made by T. R. Kelm in 1854. Mr. Kelm was a stockman and farmer and owned several slaves. Charles Lockhart, who own- ed twenty slaves, also settled nearby and farmed in the Kelm community. At this time there were no schools and private teachers were brought in by some families. The Lockharts had a governess or tutor.
From 1854 to 1880 several men moved into the Kelm
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community, among whom were James Bailey, W. W. Williams, Tom Vyers, Jim Childress, Willis Rich- ards, Van de Water, W. Tinkle and John and Tom Allen. John Maggard moved into the settlement in 1876, followed by Charles Brannon, a Mr. Myles, J. W. Sharpley, C. W. DeRusha and T. T. Reid. Chas. De- Lafosse settled there in 1879 and was followed some years later by E. M. Way and Henry Cook. By 1890 school houses and churches were built and the community became thickly populated.
The churches were moved from King Willow and Kelm and rebuilt in Emhouse. A school, a bank, stores and an artesian well were soon added; also a lumber yard. A concrete highway now serves this community.
In 1915 the town was incorporated under the com- mission form of government with J. M. Parrish, mayor, and V. H. Holmes and G. G. Owens, commissioners.
Emhouse is about ten miles Northwest of Corsicana and has the highest elevation of any town be- tween the upper reaches of the Trinity River and Houston and is the center of a very thriving agricul- tural community.
PINKSTON
The first business establishment which belongs prop- erly to Pinkston was a store operated by Calvin Hen- derson. Later a gin was built which was owned by D. K. McCammon, Tom Garwood and Arthur Huskin- son. Pinkston was so named for Lucien Pinkston, a railroad man.
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Among the early settlers in the Pinkston commun- ity were the Caldwell, Hunter and Lynch families.
Pinkston was established as a post office about the year 1892. It is a few miles East of Barry in the black prairie land district.
EUREKA
In the Fifties, a short way South of the present town of Eureka was the early location of a log school house which was called Dunn's School House. Some years later at a grange meeting held in the school house the need for a post office was brought up and the name of Eureka suggested. The post office was se- cured and located in the home of P. Anderson. Soon a settlement grew up around the Eureka post office. In addition to the teacher who taught in Dunn's School House, Isaac Bird, some other early residents were Ed Drane, M. H. Bird, Robert Walker, R. B. Mc- Carters, James Dunn, for whom the school was named, the Patton families, Jim Jones, Elisha Anderson, and his son, P. Anderson, mentioned above as the first post- master, the Davidsons and the Montgomerys.
The Dave Johnstons, whose ancestors came from Ire- land, also lived in this vicinity. S. S. Johnston married Miss Lily Pulliam and for many years lived in Corsi- cana.
Dr. J. M. V. Wills lived in this community be- fore coming to Corsicana and Dr. Selman, who liv- ed near Wadeville, extended his practice to include
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Eureka, as did Dr. Ben Blackmon. The Kent family came to Eureka about 1875. Until his death in 1930, Dr. James Hamilton was physician for the Eureka community. Some of the present citizens, J. H. Bon- ner, A. M. and J. C. Boyd, J. A. Stewart, Mattie Gann, the Johnstons, B. R. Bonner, J. A. Brown, W. C. Mont- gomery, F. V. and J. W. Fullwood, B. A. Robinson and the Hamilton family. Highway 22 now runs through Eureka.
The Blackmons in Navarro County were early set- tlers. Dr. B. F. Blackmon came to Texas in 1853 and lived at first near Fairfield. He devoted much of his time to stock raising and farming.
He served during the Civil War, afterward he lived in Navarro County near Eureka, having moved to this county in 1850. In 1874 he was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature. He was popular and loved by his fellow citizens. He died in 1888. His two sons, John T. Blackmon and Walter J. Black- mon, have continued to live in Navarro County. Walter J. Blackmon married Miss Fannie D. Johnston, No- vember 7, 1867, and John T. married Miss Mary H., daughter of Robt. Greenlee and wife.
NAVARRO
The settlement called Navarro several miles west of Eureka came from an early community designated as Hopewell, taking its name from the Baptist church. The first store was operated by Mr. Re and when the
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T. & B. V. railroad was built in 1907 a station called Navarro was located about ten miles south of Corsi- cana and became a prosperous community upon the opening of the Powell-Mildred oil field.
Some of the early families were the Lovetts, Boyds, Garlics, Puryears, Bressies, McClures, Dur- hams, Thomases, Stroders and Foutys.
Navarro is still a progressive town. Some of the citizens of the present who have lived there for many years are the families of H. D. Smith, E. H. Harvard, S. F. Harvard, Wade Harvard, Robert Tatum, Tom Jones, T. M. Fouty and P. Goodin.
Some of the business men and women are H. D. Smith, grocer; Robert Marsh, grocer; Mrs. A. B. Marsh, postmistress; Tom Nash, confectioner; Rev. Henry, pastor of Baptist Church; Mrs. Chas. Collins, leader of W. M. U .; W. B. Middlebrook, ginner; Mrs. O. E. Cowsor, president of P. T. A .; and Miss Mont- gomery, president of Study Club.
RODNEY
There was an early settlement in Navarro County located on Pin Oak Creek called Rodney. It was about eight miles Southeast of the present town of Dawson. The first postmaster at Rodney was Mr. Payne, the post office being located in his residence. The school house nearby was known as Patterson's School House. Some of the early settlers of the Rodney community
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were the above Mr. Payne and the Graham, Williams and Trent families.
Patterson's School House was moved after some years and about 1884 a Mr. McClintock built a store one and one-half miles southeast of the Payne home and operated it until disposing of his business to Tom Stone.
Joshua Graham received his farm as a bonus for hav- ing fought in the Texas Revolution, receiving a league and a labor of land for his services. A romance that would follow the conventional moving picture style was true of Joshua Graham and Miss Matilda Clemmons. The Graham and Clemmons families met enroute to Texas when Joshua and Matilda fell in love with each other and were married by a Mexican Alcalde in 1834. James Graham, Jr., one of the descendants, still lives in Dawson and owns land inherited from his father and grandfather. This community is called Eldorado-and is Southeast of Dawson.
The Williams and Patterson families in 1882 owned 13,000 acres of land, which since has been divided into farms. J. Frank Williams, now of Corsicana, is a son of the family of that name.
BRUSHY PRAIRIE
The community a few miles Northwest of Dawson was referred to by the appellation of "Brushy Prairie," so called because of the bunches of cedar elm trees which dotted the prairie landscape.
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Brushy Prairie was at one time quite a thriving com- munity with a church, a gin, a store and a blacksmith shop.
Possibly the greatest claim which Brushy Prairie has to prominence is that it was the home of the French family, one of the members of which was "Uncle John" whose column in the leading semi-weekly paper was a well known feature for years.
Others of the early settlers in and around Brushy Prairie were the A. M. Pruitt, T. S. Slater, Frank Johnston, Frank and Joe Hagle and Terry families.
EMMETT
A community called Emmett developed on the ex- treme Western edge of Navarro County and had a general store, church, gin, blacksmith shop and post office.
This little community thrived as an inland village until the Cotton Belt railroad came through in 1881, leaving Emmett "off the beaten path", whereupon the business houses closed up and the owners moved away until today Emmett is only a rural community peopled by sterling citizens.
Two of the early families who might be mentioned as having helped in the development of Emmett were the Osburns and Goodmans.
ANGUS
The beginning of the town of Angus dates back to a switch track on the railroad erected in order that Capt.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
A. Angus might load hay which was shipped up and down the new railroad to feed the contractors' teams. Capt. Angus had the first hay press in this part of Texas. He was formerly chief clerk to Mr. Quinlan, vice president of the H. & T. C. railroad, previously having been terminal agent and advancing as the railroad came northward in 1871-72 from Hous- ton. Capt. Angus lived in Corsicana many years and his family was reared here.
One of the early settlers in the Angus community was John Carr who was a brother-in-law of "Uncle Jimmie" Kerr. At this time only a few families lived between Pisgah Ridge and Corsicana, among them the Powells, Williamsons, Tatums, Pettys and Storys.
Cattle and stock raising was originally the means of livelihood of the residents of this community and cot- ton and grain cultivation began at a later date. There was very little land in cultivation or fenced until after the coming of barbed wire, what fences there were be- ing made of rails. Barbed wire was introduced to this part of Texas by John W. Gates and with its introduc- tion farming increased.
The railroad came to Angus in 1871 and immediate- ly the community began to settle around the station and by 1874 there was a school under the tutelage of Miss Lila Blackmon. This school building was moved from time to time. The present Angus school is an at- tractive brick building which was built in 1921. 1
The first church at Angus was called Storey's Cha-
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Captain and Mrs. A. Angus, for whom the town of Angus was named, and who were citizens of Corsicana for many years. Throughout their lives these early citizens of the county did much toward its development.
TOWNS OF NAVARRO COUNTY
pel, built in 1872 about one mile from where it now stands. Five of the early pastors in the church were Revs. Groves, Stepp, Thomson and King.
Some of the early settlers in Angus were the Stor- eys, Pughs, Lattas, Whites, Meadors, Dunns, Peacocks, Powells, Campbells, Soapes, Tiltons, Stewarts, High- notes and Knotts.
The first physician in Angus was Dr. Dave Black- mon and the first gin was owned by another member of the Blackmon family.
The names of the Angus postmasters in order of their service are as follow: P. P. Powell, Thomas Soape, Lee Stewart, Thomas Soape again and the pres- ent postmaster, Thomas Ware.
The Kent-Middleton Refinery was erected in Angus about 1908 and in 1931 is still in operation under the superintendance of Herbert Soape.
In the early days the territory south of Angus along Pisgah Ridge was the habitat of a group of the most notorious cattle rustlers in central Texas. The Edens family lead in trying to get positive evidence of their malefactions and exterminate these cattle rustlers. Due to the great number of cattle roaming the unfenc- ed plains it was difficult to get actual proof of their cattle rustling. Until they were caught with some of the hides and heads from several muley cows, which were known to have belonged to Capt. Angus, positive evidence had not been secured. But
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upon finding this evidence, when they were caught red- handed, they were either killed or driven from the country, never to return.
Jesse Pugh was one of the early settlers in the com- munity which is now Pleasant Grove. His two sons married daughters of Daniel Story, and for many years lived near Angus. A daughter of Jesse Pugh married Thomas Soape, and they also lived most of their lives in Angus. Many descendants of these fam- ilies are now citizens of Navarro County.
POPULAR NAVARRO COMMUNITIES
There are several thriving communities in Navarro County which have been the outgrowth of settlements made at favorable points through the years.
There are two communities in the Southeastern part of the county known as Round Prairie and Long Prairie which have merged into a unit since the consolidated school was located about half way between them. There is no post office to serve this community but there are stores and gins and the excellent soil and a good citizenry make this one of the substantial parts of Navarro County.
For many years picnics and various kinds of public gatherings have been held at Alligator School House and along the banks of Alligator Creek. Many of the pioneer settlers of Navarro County are buried in the cemetery which is near the school house and church.
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Among other prosperous communities in the county having stores, gins, schools and churches are Black Hills, Farmers, Buffalo, Cade, Birdston, Montfort, Picket, Eldorado, Jester, St. Elmo, White's Chapel, Drane, Hester, Tupelo, Pursley, Brown's Valley, Neil's Valley and Rushing.
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CHAPTER VIII
PIONEER FAMILIES
T would be impossible to enumerate and cover in de- I tail all of the many pioneer families who helped to make Navarro County the thriving, pleasant and liveable community which it is at the present time. So only a few of the representative families of the dif- ferent periods of the county's history may be given.
Thomas I. Smith was among the first settlers of Cor- sicana and donated to the Baptist, Cumberland Presby- terian and Methodist churches a half block of land each which was to be used in erecting houses of worship. Cumberland Presbyterians built on their lot first after having used the old academy and court house for two or three years. Funds were subscribed by all the de- nominations with the understanding that the church was to be used alternately and the Sunday School was to be attended by all faiths. This arrangement work- ed out to the satisfaction of all concerned, and when the Civil War came on sewing and knitting was done here for the soldiers.
Thos. I. Smith came to Navarro County the year be- fore it was organized and later married Mary Louisa Neil, a widowed daughter of J. L. Bartlett who made
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his home at Taos for some years. A little son of Thomas I. Smith, who died, was buried just north of the school, on what is now First Avenue in Corsicana and his grave has been located by William Elliott, county surveyor.
Thos I. Smith was a Texas Ranger in command of a company and helped to protect the frontier from Indians and also helped survey many of the tracts of land in Navarro County. He died in Austin and Mrs. Smith later married C. M. Winkler, a young lawyer of Corsicana. Two daughters were born of this latter union, one of whom became the wife of Judge Sam R. Frost.
Daniel Story moved to Texas and bought land near Corsicana in 1845. His tract of land extended from the vicinity of Pleasant Grove almost to the brick yards. For some years he lived near where Edgar Young's home now stands, later buying a farm near Angus and remaining there until his death. He and his wife reared a large family of sons and daughters. Many of their descendants still live in Navarro County.
The widow Hamilton and her family of five sons and two daughters came to Navarro County in 1846. Until they could find a suitable location they camped in the yard of Harvey Beeman and one morning Wil- liam, the eldest son, rode a horse to water in the Bee- man pasture. Upon reaching the tall grass around the creek, a bear rose up, frightened the horse, which threw William Hamilton and broke his leg. From this accident he limped the remainder of his life. The
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Story and Hamilton families intermarried and these two families are intertwined into much of the early history of Navarro County. The Hamilton farm was a few miles Southwest of town, and is still owned by members of that family.
Clinton McKamy Winkler, born in North Carolina in 1820, came to Navarro County to live in 1847, and made his home at the Mckinney Inn. In 1848 he was married to Mrs. Mary Louisa Smith, widow of Thos. I. Smith. He was elected as a member of the Second Legislature of Texas and assisted in organization of Navarro Coun- ty. He served in the Civil War, was promoted for bravery and service. Returning to Navarro County he became Judge of the 13th District in 1866, and in 1876, was a judge in the Court of Appeals. Judge Winkler was a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife died in 1861, and in 1864, he was married to Miss Angelina V. Smith. He was the father of three children by his first wife, and six by his second. Judge Winkler was a successful and dis- tinguished lawyer, vital in his acceptance of life's vi- cissitudes.
Judge Winkler died in 1882, and his body was buried in Oakwood, a part of the original one hundred acres deeded to the city.
John R. Ransom arrived in Navarro County about 1862, making his home near Chatfield for a while. He engaged in stock raising and farming until he moved to Corsicana during his later years. Here his family of eight children grew up, two of his sons, S. M. and
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William A. being in business in Corsicana for many years. The Ransom grocery business in Corsicana for forty years is still represented by members of that family and name.
Judge Walton came to Corsicana in 1866, living the remainder of his life here. He was elected justice of the peace in 1878 and the records indicate that he per- formed almost one thousand marriages. His son, Charles C. Walton, who is a stockman and farmer, still resides in Corsicana.
R. N. White, from Alabama, settled first near Wm. R. Howe, later moving to Corsicana to become first county clerk. Cyrus, his son, is said to have been the first white child born in what is now Corsicana al- though the son of W. F. Henderson, surveyor and In- dian fighter, was born here about the same time. Fifth Avenue was originally called White Street in honor of Mr. White. He was county clerk for eight years, as- sisted in securing a railroad for Corsicana, and later was a member of the shoe firm of Bates and White.
Chas. H. Allyn came to Texas in 1868, the same year he had married Miss Angela Aldritch. He engaged in the mercantile business and besides being engaged in many other developments in Corsicana in the succeed- ing years-he was deeply interested in the schools, library and Orphan's Home. Many remember his kindness and sympathy to those who were struggling to better their condition. His wife and two daughters, Mrs. Harry Johnson and Mrs. R. L. Hamilton live in Corsicana.
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William Bright, an early resident of Kentucky, set- tled Southeast of Corsicana and married Miss Eleanor Crabb Drane. His son, J. M. Bright, married Miss Jane Storey in 1855. He operated a store on what is now Second Avenue and Thirteenth Street, carrying a full line of general merchandise. His home was about two blocks away in a beautiful grove of oaks, some of which are still standing. This house was moved to First Ave- nue and Eighteenth Street where it stands today. His children were Alice, Florence, Elizabeth and Thomas.
Mrs. Elizabeth Story, a widow, moved to Corsicana in 1851. In addition to two boys, Harry and William Preston, who never married, she had two daughters, Elvira, who became Mrs. John McCuiston, and Cle- mentine, who married Jubilee Mckinney.
Among the early settlers in Corsicana was William Croft who began practicing law in 1850. Some of the early residents remember Mr. Croft and recall his hav- ing mentioned the fact that one of the few cases tried at the first term of court at Corsicana was a charge against a young man for stealing a bridle at a camp meeting. Fortunately for the young man the case was dismissed.
Attorney Croft first married Miss Roxana Eliot, daughter of Col. Jacob Eliot, but she lived only a few months after their wedding and Mr. Croft later married Miss Rebecca Lockhart. Mr. Croft lived for years at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Twelfth Street where the W. E. Pugh home is now located. When it was built, the Croft home was one of the best in town.
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In fifty years of legal practice Judge Croft left be- hind the reputation of rarely losing a case, fighting them through the courts until they were finally decid- ed in favor of his clients.
Adam Byars has the credit of being the first mer- chant in Corsicana. He hauled his stock of goods overland from Houston. In 1859 he moved to Mount Pisgah, bought a tract of farm land and on it erected a store. This store was the beginning of Richland al- though it had changed hands several times and was moved once or twice. During the early days Mr. Byars had considerable trouble with the rough element and his store was broken into from time to time and burned on one occasion.
J. E. Byars, the son of Adam Byars mentioned above, served through the Civil War and returned to Navarro County in 1865. He married Miss Mary Nash and ten children were born to this union. J. E. Byars operated a store at Wortham for some years in addi- tion to owning a stock farm.
One of the early settlers of Navarro County was Ma- jor Alexander Beaton who was born in Inverness, Scot- land, in 1820. Major Beaton moved to America in 1843 and settled in Navarro County on March 16, 1850. Cor- sicana was then a village of about one hundred inhabi- tants.
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