USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 4
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"To the Hon. County Court of Navarro County: We the Commissioners, appointed by an act of Legislature passed the 12th of Jan. 1848, to establish the Town of Corsicana and perform all acts and duties appertaining there unto, as set forth in said act, do, in compliance with the Fourth Sec. of said Act, requiring the Com- missioners to make a full Exhibit of all their proceed- ings in the premises to the County Court within eight- een months from the passage of the Act, make the fol- lowing exhibit, viz: "On the 25th of Feb. 1848, the Board of Commissioners met and after due examina- tion, selected for the Town and accepted a donation of one hundred acres from Thos. I. Smith for a town site, said Smith executing a title Bond for same.
"C. C. Taylor was appointed to survey the Town and make the necessary maps, and for doing which, he was to receive $125.
"The contract for building the temporary Court House was taken by J. A. Johnson for $100. This sum was to be paid out of the first money arising from the sale of Town lots.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
"On the 1st of May, 1848, a sale of Town lots was had, at which lots were sold, to the amount of seventeen hundred and eighty-five dollars, for which notes with security were taken, falling due 12 and 18 months from date: Some time last May we had a reason to fear that the School League conflicted with the Campbell survey, enough to include the tract donated for the Town, and it has since been ascertained beyond a doubt, by a survey of D. R. Mitchell that the School League is run by courses and distance does include it. Under these circumstances we thought it best, for the inter- est of the County, to postpone bringing suit against the estate of Thos. I. Smith upon his bond, until next District Court, upon D. R. Mitchell's promising to get an order from the County Court of Robertson, to float the part of the School League covering the Town, and locate it elsewhere. When this is done, we think an Act of the Legislature validating the one of the County Court Robertson can be obtained, and that the Title will then be safe.
"We would further report that a contract was enter- ed into by the Commissioners with Charles Wantland and Charles Young to dig a public well, the water to be obtained, and the well curbed, etc., for $100, but the work was so badly done, that the Commissioners re- fused to allow the full amount stipulated and it was finally referred to arbitrators, who brought in $68, as the sum to which they were entitled, which amount was allowed.
"In conclusion we would state that the Act of Legis-
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A 351
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D SCHOOL 3/8
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West, Ist. Ave ._ then Washington St.
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2638
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SCALE I-inch = 300Ft.
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Old Town Plat of CORSICANA Part of J. Ortez Survey
11th. Street, then Bois d'Arc.St.
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25
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Mulberry St.
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Cedar St.
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FIRST COURT HOUSE SITE
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ORGANIZATION
lature provides that the function of the Commissioners shall cease at the expiration of eighteen months from the passage of the Act, unless the County Court shall deem it necessary to continue for a longer period.
"Owing to the uncertainty about the Title, scarcely anything has been accomplished by the Statute and we think it requires at least eighteen months longer to finish the sales, collect the proceeds, and apply them to the erection of County Buildings. All of which is respectfully submitted."
(Signed) : WM. F. HENDERSON, JAS. M. RIGGS.
The land on which Corsicana was located was orig- inally granted to a Mexican settler Jesus Ortez, by vir- ture of his certificate of settlement, dated March 16th, 1838. This certificate was traded and passed through several hands, prior to its final location; being at one time owned by G. A. Campbell, and finally passing to David R. Mitchell, who was Surveyor of Robertson County Land District.
He held in his name the title to this for himself and associates Thos. I. Smith and J. C. Neill.
The title was finally cleared, and the hundred acres known as the "Old Town Plot" was conveyed to the Commissioners on June 30th, 1850.
The years of 1848 and 1849 saw the original Navarro County considerably reduced in area.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
In order that a new county might be formed from portions of Navarro, Freestone, Limestone, Hill, Mc- Clennan and Bosque an attempt was made in 1876 to take part of Navarro County but this was defeated and the outlines of Navarro remained as originally formed.
Navarro County is slightly Northeast of what would properly be called Central Texas. Its deep, black loam and mixed soils, make it ideal for many forms of ag- riculture. The entire county is well drained by two streams, Richland Creek and Chambers Creek, togeth- er with their numerous tributaries all of which flow into the Trinity river along the Eastern boundary of the county. Both of the two above mentioned creeks play an interesting part in Navarro County's early his- tory due to the fact that many of the early Indian bat- tles and skirmishes between contesting land owners oc- curred on the rich bottom land and the various farms which are peaceably tilled by their owners today, have in days of old, changed hands under very exciting cir- cumstances. Much of the central western and north- ern portions of the county is prairie. Nearly all is now in cultivation. In early times many kinds of small game were plentiful in Navarro County but the on- ward march of civilization has taken its toll and today only the innocent dove remains to intrigue the hunter. The dark brown buffalo and the predatory bear and wolf have long since succumbed to the onward march of the tractor and while an occasional wildcat is killed in the bottoms, Navarro County is today lacking in the excitement out of doors which it afforded those who came with their long rifles in days gone by.
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ORGANIZATION
From the time of the organization of the county, settlers and home seekers poured in-halted for a few years by the Civil War but only for a few years. They came from Northern, Southern, and Eastern States, trekking toward the new land, trusting that, through their effort and sacrifice, they might find conditions which would be better for their children.
They came to the new country-so much talked about,-a land infested by marauding savages, but which promised better things for the future, than the places they had seen despoiled. Texas !- The very name held for them romance, adventure.
Along with the stories of scalping and hardships, blue northers and sandstorms, the wild cowboys and the boundless plains, were also tales of the wonderful fertility of the soil, the numberless buffalo and cat- tle, game of all kinds, the generosity and kindness of its people-and land almost for the taking.
They came-old and young-people of all sorts, but the true spirit of the homeseeker was predominant as the development of the State has proven. Those who were unworthy and dishonest were soon made to feel that Texas was no place for them.
With the opening up of a new rich country like this, the tide of immigration began again, after the war. Hundreds and thousands of people came from Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, the states to suffer most from the terrible Civil War. They gathered the little remnants of money and their
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
families, giving away much of their precious treasures of home and sacrificing what little property they had left from the dire trials through which they had pass- ed; bringing just what they could carry in covered wagons, they set out on the long arduous trip to Texas !
Those were not just pleasure trips, although there was an element of romance as well as the gravity of life and death in the undertaking. When they said "Goodbye" to their friends and relatives and the places they loved they knew it probably was for the last time as many had passed their youth, but they had suffered so much that getting away seemed a relief. They be- lieved that the future in a new rich country, where land was to be had for almost the taking, would be better.
The story of that emigration was not that of the gold hunters, or adventurers, but, in the main, home- seekers.
Many weary mothers cared for their little ones on that long trek, camping at night and cooking over the camp fires and planning for the day ahead. Fathers looked out for provender and good water for their fam- ilies and stock. Generally there were several wagons in a group for mutual help and protection. Frequently a horse, a mule or an ox would give out and the whole party would be delayed until another could be procured.
Navarro County has had six court houses, the first being William R. Howe's residence, which was located in what is now the town of Forreston in Ellis County. This served as a court house during the years 1847-
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Fifth Navarro court house built in 1880.
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ORGANIZATION
1848. The second court house was a log house which was built in Corsicana in 1849 and used until 1853, at which time a two-story frame building was erected and utilized until 1855. The fourth court house was erect- ed in 1855-1858 and was made of brick. This court house was the seat of government until 1880, at which time the fifth court house, a brick structure, was erected. This edifice was used until 1905 when the present brick and granite building was finished .
Many court records were destroyed when the third court house was burned in 1855. It is interesting to note that the fourth court house*, which was built in 1858, was laid on a foundation of heavy cedar timbers and when excavations were made for the next court house about twenty years later, these cedar boards were found to be in good condition.
The County Judges of Navarro County have been : Dr. John A. Young, Gen. E. H. Tarrant, S. C. Cross, J. R. Loughridge, Samuel Wright, Presley Donaldson, John L. Miller, T. L. Haynes, S. H. Kerr, W. R. Bright, F. M. Story, R. C. Beale, James L. Autry, J. L. Harle, John H. Rice, M. L. Shelton, J. F. Stout, A. B. Graham, C. L. Jester, J. M. Blanding, R. R. Owen, H. E. Traylor, A. P. Mays, Warren Hicks and Clay Nash.
The District Judges of Navarro County were in or- der as follows: R. E. B. Baylor, Bennet Martin, John H. Reagan, Henry Jewett, John Gregg, James Walker,
*The photograph of this court house shows citizens voting un- der the guard of negro soldiers. This was immediately after the Civil War.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
Robert S. Gould, Nat Hart Davis, F. P. Wood, D. M. Prendergast, L. D. Bradley, Sam R. Frost, Rufus Hardy, L. B, Cobb, H. B. Davis and Hawkins Scar- borough.
In order to show the names of some of the early families in Navarro County, included here is a list of the jurors for 1848:
Jesse Ammons, Elijah Anderson, I. N. Anderson, George Bragg, Thomas Bragg, Joseph Bragg, Henry Brown, J. B. Barry, Thomas Bell, Joseph Bell, Daniel Billingsly, Nathan Billingsly, John Billingsly, Johna- than Billingsly, James Billingsly, J. S. Berry, R. F. Berry, Reuben F. Cox, Jesse Bolin, Armsted Blevins, David Boyle, Adam Beaty, Shepherd Bailey, William Barrett, William L. Browning, Samuel Bowman, Jack- son Blevin, J. M. Bartlett, Benjamin Cox, James Cox, Isaac Cline, Henry Cook, John Carr, William Crabtree, Jeremiah Crabb, S. A. Carroll, Elias Carroll, David Cad- dell, J. W. Caddell, Joseph Carroll, N. H. Carroll, J. C. Clark, Nelson Coburn, Alexander Dickson, James De Ar- man, Jonas De Arman, William Donaghn, Aaron R. Es- tes, John Eds, Hiram Estes, David Evans, M. T. Fla- herty, D. P. Farris, William W. Fullerton, William Frost, J. L. French, William French, James Fletcher, Monroe Flemming, Philips S. George, Edwin Garlic, R. D. George, Owen Humphrey, C. Hodges, Jackson Haines, D. Hamilton, William Hogan, B. F. Hain, John A. Martin, Henry Hartin, Nacy Howard, William How- ard, Nathan Hobbs, James Hogard, William Hogard, C. C. Haynes, John Wilburn, Andrew Hamilton, J. C. Han-
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ORGANIZATION
ly, Henry Harrell, John Wilburn, Andrew Jackson, J. C. Jones, J. O. Jones, Reuben Jones, Elijah Jeffries, T. L. Jordan, R. R. Jackson, L. C. Jones, James Jackson, E. R. Johnson, Henry Lee, L. R. Lee, L. Loggins, William Meador, William H. Morrell.
Navarro County originally embraced what would, to- day, be considered a rather large area for a county, but since Ellis, and other counties were made up from some of its original territory, it is today a rectangle of approximately forty-eight by thirty-three miles, and embracing an area of some 1,190 square miles or 697,600 acres. The highest point in the County is one and one-half miles Northwest of the confluence of Free- stone, Limestone, and Navarro Counties. This is a ridge which has an elevation of 581 feet above sea- level-Corsicana's elevation is 445 feet.
Old Springfield Road* which was the main line of travel between Houston and North Texas, came by way of Navasota, near Bryan, and thence to Springfield, in Limestone County, and thence along the westerly slope of the Tehuacana Hills. It reached the South line of Navarro County South of the present hamlet of Rushing and, passing by Rushing, it followed the high ground of Pisgah Ridge, crossed Richland Creek at about the site of the present "Love" bridge. It cross- ed the prairie through the old Highnote settlement, and reached the present Southern limits of Corsicana at about the corner of what is now known as "Thorpe
*From researches made by Mr. William Elliott, Navarro Coun- ty Civil Engineer.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
Addition" just West of the residence of the late Judge Sam R. Frost. From here it ran East with what is now West Thirteenth Avenue at its intersection with South Twentieth Street, thence North with Twentieth Street back of the present high school building, and between the homesteads of the late S. A. Pace, and A. L. Lot- speich, and on to Old Main Street (now West Second Avenue), and thence East with Old Main Street to the court house.
Over this road much of the hauling required by the early pioneers was done. Within a short time roads were surveyed in many directions and were kept in a state of repair by overseers who were appointed by the County Court. These overseers in turn "warned in" workmen; every man between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years of age being required to do his share of work or hire a substitute. A definite record as to the opening up of a road is the record of the County Court for August 16, 1852, and is as follows :
"Presley Donaldson, Chief Justice, F. R. Kendall, A. M. Sloan, A. Barry, Elias Carroll, Commissioners, William Stokes, Sheriff, R. N. White, County Clerk. A petition for a road leading from Corsicana to Wild Cat Bluff on Trinity River. It is ordered by the Court that James Wilson, Corban Jones, J. H. Parsons, Frank Owen and Elijah Anderson be and they are hereby appointed to review and make a road the nearest practicable route from Corsi-
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ORGANIZATION
cana to Wild Cat Bluff on Trinity River and make returns at the next Term of Court."
In 1848 there was a public road of well defined pro- portions running from Taos out to Chatfield and in the same year Joshua Hanley was overseer of the road and he had working for him Messrs. Jonas, Mat- thews, Johnson, Fisher, Miller, Hanley, Bartlett, as well as Sperlin and some of the slaves be- longing to this gentleman and also Messrs. Wade, Lieze, Box, Brown, Goode, John Matthews, Chatfield and Killiam. The Commissioners' Court instructed Mr. Hanby to "open up this public road, following the near- est practicable route and to make returns at the next term of court."
In July, 1848, Robert H. Porter was made overseer to work the road between Corsicana and Taos and under his jurisdiction William Mitchell, Joseph Boren, Robert Jackson, J. V. Session, Thomas Herrin, William Noble, and the overseer himself came with their slaves to engage in the road work. Survey was made in 1848 for a road from Corsicana to the mouth of Pin Oak Creek where it emptied into Richland Creek and this survey was made by M. Johnson, John Raines, J. Petty, N. Matlock, L. Choat, J. Randle, William F. Henderson, A. Henderson, T. H. Mckinney, J. I. Mc- Kinney, Dr. Augburn, J. A. Harlin, William Hamilton, R. Goode, J. Brown, R. Ellis, H. Beeman, L. Parson, John Harris, Robert Ray, H. Hogard, Fletcher M. Flemming, William Roberts, Harris Paris, E. Wantland, F. Young, A. Highnote, H. Highnote, and N. C. Hodges.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
In 1848 records indicate that Eleazar Nash was ap- pointed overseer on the road from Corsicana to Spring- field while in the same year Joshua Hanley was over- seer of the road from Chatfield to Taos, Jeremiah Crabb was overseer on the road from Corsicana to the county line in the direction of Pine Bluff, and in 1853 Henry Fullerton was appointed overseer on the road* from Dresden to "Waco Village".
Waxahachie Road was the principal road to Dallas and North Texas, via Waxahachie and Red Oak. It started from the West side of the Old "Square" (Corsi- cana Court House), and proceeded north along what is now North 13th Street, intersecting the present "Em- house Road" just South of the Trinity and Brazos Val- ley Railway crossing. It continued, passing the Zion's Rest Church, and on about the same course, North- North-West, through what is known as the "Farmer Settlement," leaving the present Town of Rice some two to two-and-one-quarter miles to the East. It there crossed the Navarro-Ellis County line about where Cummins Creek crosses the line, and swung West in a fairly straight course towards Waxahachie.
The travel over these early roads was by horseback, wagon, buggy or stage coach and in the Navarro "Ex- press" of 1860 this news item appeared :
"Recently the new line of four horse coach-
*This road was part of the historic "Cow Head" road which extended from Corsicana to Waco. It was marked originally as a trail with skulls of cattle so placed as to serve as route mark- ers.
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ORGANIZATION
es on Colonel G. W. Grant's line via Corsicana, Fairfield, Centerville, Madisonville and An- derson shortens the line nearly forty miles. When Grant's line becomes a little more known it will attract a great portion of the travel.
"At Waxahachie, Van Metre mounts the Box: it is after midnight: you go whirling down the beautiful Waxahachie Creek, pass- ing well improved farms and many evidences of thrift and industry.
"Passing on down you cross Mustang Creek, a small stream. At Corsicana, Charlie Lyons takes the strings and you go whirling South at the rate of six miles an hour. He puts you into the careful hands of Joe Cushion. Joe takes you to Centerville and hands you over to Hezzleton; Hezzleton gives up to Mays, and Mays sets you down at Fauthorn's in forty hours from Waxahachie!"
The Civil War doubtless caused some interruption to travel in Navarro County as well as in all other parts of the South and with the coming of the railroad the stage coach with its picturesque driver and foam- ing horses passed. The coming of the automobile ne- cessitated smooth, level roads and the old time over- seer with his team and his "hands" recruited from the
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
adjoining farm have been replaced by an efficient State Highway System which acts in cooperation with the Federal Department and Navarro County will soon be criss-crossed by both National and State highways.
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CHAPTER IV
YOUNG CORSICANA
O NE of the first requirements of any town is a place for boarders, visitors and travellers to rest. The first hotel opened in Corsicana was operated by the family of Hampton Mckinney. It was a log house, with two big rooms, and a long gallery in front; in addition to the two big rooms, there were two small rooms add- ed at one corner, and a long "L" at the back for a kitch- en and dining room, and for store room. The upstairs was simply one big room. Nearly all of the rooms had fire places. The first cook stove seen in Corsicana, was said to have been in the "Mckinney Inn." 1
Rev. Mckinney, who operated the hotel, was a min- ister who came with his family to Texas from Illinois. They arrived in Navarro County before Corsicana was in existence, living first at Richland or Dresden.
The old Mckinney tavern was an example of the carefully built log house. The logs forming the main part of the building were first put in place, then these were covered with riven boards. These riven boards were made by splitting blocks first into halves and quarters and later with axes and wedges, split-
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
ting out boards which were piled in square stacks and allowed to season for a time before being nailed into place. These boards were oftentimes smoothed with carpenter tools and then nailed onto the logs and the interior spaces filled in with mortar. In some cases these boards were whitewashed but in most instances they were left in their natural weatherbeaten color. During the winter quilts and buffalo robes were often tacked up inside to keep out the cold.
The Mckinney Inn was located on or near the pres- ent location of the jail, and was a busy place, as there were regular boarders, besides a continuous stream of travellers. When the courts were in session, many of the legal visitors had the Mckinney Inn as headquar- ters. The photographers' galleries were located there at times. For a while Daguerreotypes were made, and a very good kind they were.
Several young lawyers boarded there, among them Alexander Beaton, who married Miss Jane Mckinney, and John L. Miller, who became the husband of Miss Mary McKinney.
The Miller home for many years was on the corner of Jefferson and Church streets, and now on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fifteenth street, is the home of their daughter, Miss Ursula Miller, and their son, Bea- ton Miller.
Major Beaton and his wife for many years lived on "Gem" Hill South of town about a mile.
The post office in Corsicana was not established be-
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YOUNG CORSICANA
fore 1849. R. N. White was first appointed postmas- ter, but as he was County Clerk, Hampton Mckinney was made postmaster, and the post office was in his Inn.
Contemporary with the Mckinney Inn was one kept by D. R. Mitchell, located about midway of the South side of Block 263, of the "Old Town Plot." This was called, sometimes, the "Lower Hotel." D. R. Mitchell was at one time surveyor for Robertson County. After he had chosen Navarro County as his home, he was a prominent and popular citizen. After his death appre- ciative citizens of Corsicana placed a monument over his grave in memory of his loyalty and generosity. His daughter married Dr. W. F. Seale, who lived in Corsi- cana. Mrs. F. J. Lindsay, a daughter of Dr. Seale, and granddaughter of D. R. Mitchell, and many other of his descendants now live in Corsicana.
Following is a list of Corsicana postmasters in the order in which they served:
Hampton Mckinney, June 21, 1852; Joel D. Hicks, February 7, 1853; M. V. Powell, February 18, 1854; Lucious T. Wheeler, August 15, 1854; Robert G. Leetch, September 17, 1857; David B. Smith, March 19, 1858; John Miller, January 24, 1859; R. A. Van Horn, August 17, 1859; Turner W. Garner, September 29, 1859; William M. Mckinney, April 9, 1860; Julius A. Oakes, June 16, 1860; Harriet A. Trent, January 26, 1866; Alex H. Davis, October 8, 1866; John T. Parrish, April 23, 1868; William P. Parrish, December 3, 1868; David I. Page, June 9, 1871; George W. Smith, November 10, 1871; R. J. Shelton, June 12, 1872; L. P. Barton, July 12, 1872; Robert J. Shelton, August 12, 1872; Isaac Baum, April 3, 1876; Mrs. Pauline Wood, January 29, 1879; Henry M. Ryan, June 15, 1881; Adolph Zadek, November 18, 1884; Andrew F. Wood, April 20, 1886; Adolph Zadek, Au- gust 29, 1889; Nathaniel J. Mille, December 21, 1893; Louis C. Revare, February 2, 1898; James W. A. Clark, January 13, 1902; H. E. Kinsloe, February 5, 1906; Archie N. Justiss, March 10, 1914; Pierce Mayer, February 14, 1923, still serving.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
The graves of Hampton Mckinney and his wife, and that of D. R. Mitchell, are just within the Oakwood Cemetery, near the front gate. They are on a part of the original one hundred acre tract donated by Thos. I. Smith and D. R. Mitchell, to the City of Corsicana.
About the year 1850 much of the social life of Na- varro County and surrounding territory centered in the Haynes Hotel and a copy still exists of an old invi- tation to one of the Christmas Balls held in this fron- tier hostelry.
"The pleasure of your company is respectfully solicited at a ball to be given at the Haynes Hotel in Corsicana on the 24th inst., at 5 o'clock p. m.
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