USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 6
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The school houses were log structures with puncheon seats and no backs. Later came the frame building and long benches and boards upon which the pupil placed his "Blue Backed Speller" and "McGuffie Reader." The patent desk of today and the comfortable busses which
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
transport the pupils to school and return them to their homes are relatively new things in the world of educa- tion but many great minds were developed under the hardships of the old school house with its rigorous curriculum, the main item in many cases being a peachtree switch always close by the teacher's desk.
One of the prime requisites which the first settlers in Navarro County possessed was ingenuity. The sources of supply were always far removed and in many cases it was necessary to adopt substitutes for various articles of food or clothing. When bread was not available buffalo meat was dried and mixed with wild honey. This combination was not only healthful but also had a pleasant taste and had the additional advantage of being plentiful. The wild honey was easy to procure. Bees were plentiful and found flowers and mesquite blooms and grasses and flowers in profusion from which to extract the nectar.
A substitute for coffee was oftentimes made from parched grain or potatoes. A beer-like beverage called Methiglen was made from wild honey. When it was possible to get coffee the bean was purchased green and before becoming usable was parched and ground. To procure coffee meant a trip to Houston overland or purchasing it after it was brought up on little steam- boats which plied the Trinity and unloaded supplies at Taos or Bazette Ferry. Every grain of the coffee was carefully hoarded and used only at special occa- sions such as Sunday morning or when favorite com- pany came for a visit. Sugar was a rarity and the cof-
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fee was imbibed usually in its natural state and with- out the addition of cream or sweetening.
When bread was made it was salt rising light bread of flour or of corn meal. The "corn pone" was a staple article of food made by scalding meal and cook- ing it in a greased skillet. Occasionally a pie or cake would be cooked in the iron skillet or "dutch oven," and while the lack of our modern conveniences doubtless limited the varieties the frontier housewife succeeded in preparing nourishing and delicious menus.
In order to give color to the homespun cloth, dyes were made from oak bark, copperas or weeds of certain kinds. Flax made a durable cloth which became more soft with usage. The clothes for the men were often- times of buckskin which was a favorite winter mate- rial due to its warmth and durability. So well did the frontier mother fabricate cloth on her loom and spin- dle that oftentimes the garment lasted longer than the maker. As the demand for furniture increased carpen- ters became more and more skilled as cabinet makers and beautiful examples of workmanship still exist in some of the old homes. Many of the immigrants brought their own silver and some utensils with them and the supply of kitchen utensils was enhanced by the traveling "peddler" who exchanged tinware for buffalo skins, eggs or any salable commodity.
Rugs and carpets were made from scraps or woven on looms. They were seldom made in any definite pat- tern, the stripes merely coming according to the color of the material at hand. Floors were covered with dried
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
buffalo skins and the bottoms of the chairs were made from the same material. Some chairs were made more restful by being cushioned with sheep skin on which the wool was allowed to remain. This sheep skin also was greatly desired by the cowboys for their chaps as it afforded a protection from the weather as well as from the shrubbery through which they rode. These buckskin pants were oftentimes utilized in odd ways. One of the early settlers* once found a bee tree while enroute home, and having no other means for transporting the honey, removed his buckskin pants, tied the legs at the bottom and with the improvised receptacle carried home a bountiful supply of the delic- acy.
Frontier mothers learned quickly to make effective medicine and render first aid services. Herbs were used and the services of the physician were rare until set- tlements grew to considerable proportions. It was a simple matter to find digitalis, foxglove, balmony or other plants which possessed medicinal qualities, grow- ing in profusion on the prairies. Many of these frontier mothers became skilled in this direction and their rep- utation spread not only through their settlement but to neighboring settlements and they were oftentimes sent for as one would call in a specialist today. When the population increased and this amateur dispenser of home-made herbs was displaced by the old time family
*This man was Harvey Beeman, who came to Texas, partici- pated in the battle of San Jacinto, and settled in Navarro Coun- ty in 1845. He built the third court house-a frame house. His wife was a Miss Wantland. They have many descendants in Navarro County.
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doctor, he found his time divided between administer- ing to the sick and covering intervening miles of trails on horse-back. The early physician deserves a great deal of credit as he gave little thought to riding fifty miles over a rocky trail, to become worn and exhausted and with the realization staring him in the face that his pay might be a few bushels of corn or a side of meat. The call might have come to him in the middle of the night and although faced with a long and weary ride through a bitter Texas norther, never did he falter in his mission to preserve life and lessen human suffering.
To get a clear picture of some of the conditions which existed in Navarro County in about the year 1844, we will quote from a history of this section written in 1892 by one of the early residents :
"Deer, antelope, buffalo, wild horses, bears, panthers, wolves, Mexican hogs, wild turkeys, prairie chickens were in great abundance. The deer in herds were to be seen in any part of the country. The antelope were not so plenti- ful as on the plains. The buffalo came and went like a mighty torrent. They always traveled against the wind even though it car- ried sleet and snow.
"The wild horses were seen in droves of from two to fifty. There were a great many on the prairies but more to be found in the cross timbers.
"Bears prowled around the thickets and the panthers' wild screams and howling of the
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
wolves made night thrilling. The wolves in those days were large and known as the 'loaf- er.' They gradually disappeared and gave place to the little common prairie wolf of la- ter years.
"The creeks and branches did not dry up then as they do now and fish were plentiful. Honey from wild bees was plentiful and about the only sweetening the settlers had. The lack of salt was a great trial as it was hard to obtain.
"There were no roads and they traveled over the country by course and by prominent objects such as lone trees, clusters of trees and points of timbers."
The first fair in Navarro County was sponsored by Navarro County Agricultural and Mechanical Associa- tion with J. B. Jones as secretary.
The fair was held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 16-18, 1860.
The place was "back of Mr. Neblett's house." (W. H. Neblett's home stood near the location of the present home of the Misses Freedman, on South Twelfth Street).
This fair was held on the grounds near the present location of the union depot. This was largely a live- stock fair and Marion Martin of Wadeville, Nicholas Graham and a Mr. Finch of Chatfield and many others exhibited fine stock. There were exhibits of sewing,
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cooking and other fields of domestic accomplishment. In various ways it was an interesting fair but it was the last for several years due to the war between the states.
There were many varieties of amusements held in conjunction with the early Navarro County fairs. Tournaments were very popular for several years af- ter the war. Participants in a tournament chose the names of ancient knights. The knight who caught the most rings on his lance rode, with a great flourish, up to the gallery where his lady-love was seated, and she was crowned.
During the latter part of the 1850's the life of the pioneer was enlivened by heated discussions of States rights, extension of slavery and other political questions. Texas was a divided state on the question of slavery and the inhabitants did not fully realize the fury of the approaching storm, while this issue was argued pro and con in every store and home and on ev- ery corner. Soon Texas was drawn into one of the most terrible conflicts the world has known and, after the South was vanquished, the inhabitants accepted their untold deprivations and humiliations and forged ahead with courage and determination. As the Union became more firmly welded the Lone Star State accept- ed its part of National responsibility and inhabitants of Texas no longer remember, except from an historical interest, the conflict which raged between the North- ern and Southern geographical sections of our com- monwealth.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
About the year 1860 the town of Corsicana had a population of some nine hundred white people and about three hundred negroes, while the population of Navarro County as a whole was something like double this figure.
When the citizens voted on secession in 1861 two hundred and thirteen favored it and only three oppos- ed it. The question of secession was not the only one in- volved between the North and South, since there were several political matters upon which there was a dif- ference of opinion. The slavery question, however, precipitated the final dissention. A meeting was held in Corsicana and the resolution to secede was adopted, the signers of this resolution being C. M. Winkler, Wil- liam F. Henderson, G. L. Martin, W. H. Neblett, Joseph Clayton, Elijah Melton and J. P. Anderson. This reso- lution was voted upon with the results enumerated above.
Patriotic demonstrations were immediately held af- ter the voting, Confederate banners were raised over the court house and a company of men trained for emergencies. Communications were immediately made with Montgomery, the capital of the Confederacy from whence an appeal had been made for volunteers. About ninety men responded to this call and William Melton was elected captain, J. R. Oglebie, First Lieut., and J. H. Hill, Second Lieut. Capt. Melton felt he was too old for service and resigned in favor of C. M. Winkler.
In the Navarro Express of Thursday, August 8, 1861, was a roster of this group of men who were
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banded together under the name of the "Navarro Ri- fles."
A LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE NAVARRO RIFLES, AUGUST 8, 1861
C. M. Winkler, Captain.
Officers
State of Nativity
Captain, C. M. Winkler
N. Carolina
Ist Lieut. Loughridge
S. Carolina
2nd. Lieut., J. R. Ogilvie
Tennessee
3rd Lieut., B. J. C. Hill
Tennessee
1st Sergeant, Mat Beasley Mississippi
2nd Sergeant, C. W. Pinnington, Commissary .... Virginia
3rd Sergeant, Wm. G. Jackson Texas
1st Corporal, J. T. Beasley Mississippi
2nd Corporal, J. D. Stewart. Tennessee
Fifer, J. E. Melton Georgia
Drummer, J. L. Utzman Tennessee
Privates
J. W. Duren (Mississippi), H. Harrison (Mississippi), J. W. Simmons (N. Carolina), J. H. Austin (Alabama), R. C. Armstrong (Louisiana), J. R. Beasley (Missis- sippi), W. G. Platt (Mississippi), J. W. McMorris (Ala- bama), B. F. Harper (Mississippi), J. T. Green (Missis- sippi), J. W. Crabtree (Missouri), P. Smith (Alabama),
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
A. M. Lemmon (Missouri), T. L. Pursley (Arkansas), J. H. Hill (Tennessee), Jack Hill (Tennessee), J. C. Welch (Texas), Thomas Alfin (Alabama), T. J. Ses- sions (Mississippi), Ira Duncan (Tennessee), W. R. Jefferson (Freestone County), W. A. Fondren (Young County, Texas), R. H. Miller (Missouri), J. B. Owens (Alabama), R. N. Rice (Georgia), Joseph Hagle (Ger- many), E. S. Crabbe (Indiana), James H. Massey (Mis- souri), James Franklin (Kentucky), Charles Turpin (Kentucky), James Fagin (Tennessee), G. W. Hender- son (Illinois), J. Q. Harris (Georgia), L. W. Rice (Ala- bama), E. M. Greer (Alabama), Dr. N. J. Mills (Ken- tucky), R. C. Holloway (Virginia), W. W. Fuller (N. Carolina), S. B. Terrell (S. Carolina), B. F. Childress (Alabama), J. A. Caddell (Alabama), J. W. Westbrook (Mississippi), J. H. Barnet (Alabama), S. Weil (Ger- many), John Holdeman (Tennessee), James Herbert (Tennessee), J. M. Polk (Missouri), J. J. Harrison (Alabama), James Hamilton (Texas), W. M. Temple- ton (Alabama), Wm. H. Mitchell (Tennessee) J. A. Fos- ter (Virginia) J. H. Westbrook (Mississippi), A. L. Meador (Texas), H. L. W. Killean (Tennessee) ), James Treadwell (Alabama), J. L. Anderson (Arkansas) M. L. Foster (Texas), T. A. Osborne (Alabama), Ira C. Jordon (Mississippi), Ambrose Barry (N. Carolina), E. G. Sessions (Mississippi), S. H. Neal (Mississippi), John Green (Kentucky), J. C. Walker (Kentucky), A. J. Brewster (Illinois), W. H. Boles (Nacogdoches Coun- ty, Texas), G. S. Boynton (Ohio), John Pickett (Ala- bama), Wm. T. Smith (Hill County, Tennessee), F. P. Dillard (Virginia), T. M. Lummins (Limestone County,
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Alabama), H. E. Walker (Texas), W. P. Spence (Rob- inson County, Illinois), S. M. Riggs (Missouri), W. C. Towers (Georgia), M. Barry (N. Carolina), J. H. Neal (Mississippi), P. H. Osborne (Alabama).
The county appropriated $2,500 for the purchase of arms and ammunition and a training camp was estab- lished at Spring Hill, being located a mile or two North- west of the town.
President Davis sent an urgent call to Texas for three regiments and this company of Navarro Rifles was the first to respond. Before going to Harrisburg for training several of the older men who had not ex- pected to serve more than one year were allowed to withdraw and the company was reorganized with the same officers. There were three training camps in Navarro County, located at Spring Hill, Corsicana and Raleigh. The captains of these companies were T. J. Haynes, Elijah Bishop, L. D. McConnico, F. M. Martin, Joseph Clayton, Henry Jones, B. J. Carroll, M. L. French, R. H. Matthews, Samuel Wright, Clin- ton Fouty and M. Fouty. In 1862 three companies were organized of which two were cavalry troops under the leadership of Henry Molloy and B. D. McKie. The third company was a company of infantry, under the guidance of Capt. J. H. Halbert. This was called the 18th Regiment of Texas Volunteers. Following is a roster of Capt. Halbert's company :
Capt. J. L. Halbert; First Lieut., James Talley, Cor- sicana ; Senior Lieut., C. F. Fain, Milford; Junior Lieut.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
W. H. McElwee, Corsicana; First Sergt., A. M. Mil- ler, Milford; Second Sergt., N. H. Butler, Corsicana ; Third Sergt., E. H. Carter, Camp Speight; Fourth Sergt., J. H. Melton, Corsicana; Fifth Sergt., J. E. Smith, Corsicana; Corporal, H. L. Caldwell, Milford; Corporal, L. J. Thomas, Corsicana; Corporal, Champe Carter, Milford; Corporal, A. J. McCrary, Milford.
Following are the privates: W. J. Adams, Patton Anderson, and V. E. Burdine, Milford; William Bru- ton, Riley Beebe, James Bryant, Corsicana ; H. G. Bost- wick and R. E. Carter, Milford; P. E. Carter, Camp Speight; John Carr, William Clapton, J. S. Cull, Corsi- cana; G. W. Couchman, Milford; P. R. Dean, Coryell County ; J. E. Dunning, Milford; Jonathan Fowler, Cor- sicana; S. G. Fuller, W. F. Graves, W. H. Graves, Cor- sicana; J. T. Graves, Milford; J. N. Graves, Milford; G. H. Graham, J. T. Graham, G. W. Goodman, C. H. Harris, A. B. Highnote, J. H. Highnote, William Hun- ter, Levi Hooper, Corsicana; R. S. Hilburn, Milford; Frank Hensle, Galveston; William Hooper, Camp Dan- iel; Richard Ingraham, Corsicana; B. F. Jackson, Mil- ford; T. B. Jackson, Milford; J. P. Jones, Milford; J. H. Kutner, Camp Speight; Jacob Lorley, Corsicana; J. Malone, G. W. Mantooth, Felix Miller, M. W. Miller, L. C. Miller, Milford; James Maiden, W. M. Mckinney, Corsicana; J. P. McElrath, Galveston; F. M. Reed, Cor- sicana ; W. O. Rankin, Corsicana; David Reno, Milford; Thomas Ramsey, Texarkana ; Charles Ramsey, Texark- ana; Jepe Rector, T. J. Robinson, Milford; J. S. Roger, J. M. Scales, W. J. Smithey, John Westbrook, Corsica- na; R. P. Stringer, Milford ; T. J. Wilson, Corsicana; W.
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HOUS, CONDON,CO
UN LEESTA DATE LEELCOKG
ROUS CONDOM.Co GROCERS
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Top: Allyn's Corner, Beaton and Collin Streets in 1872. Center: Third Navarro County court house, built in 1858. The picture shows negro Federal soldiers guarding election proceedings in about 1869 or 1870.
Lower: Present Navarro County court house, built in 1905.
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J. Graham, Hillsboro; H. P. Pippin, Camp Daniel ; J. M. Zachary, Corsicana.
Navarro County sent practically all of her able bod- ied men to the War, there remaining only a home guard of men too old for service or disabled soldiers who had returned from the battlefields. Of these elderly men and disabled soldiers patrols were formed which held misdemeanors in check and preserved law and order.
Texas did not suffer so much from the Civil War as the other Southern States. The farms were neglected and business in general suffered but the fact that Tex- as bordered on the Gulf and had several ports, which remained open, kept up a certain amount of commerce during the conflict. Women and children did the work, spinning and weaving clothing for the soldiers and do- ing all possible, to hold their homes together. The War lasted four years and these were four years of frugal living, hard work and much sadness and distress. At the end of the War the survivors returned to find their slaves freed, their farms neglected and fortunes dis- sipated. The reconstruction period required as much stamina as did the years of the conflict.
After the War, Union soldiers, some of whom were arrogant and abusive, were sent to Texas, but some of these men were of the highest type and records indi- cate that one captain in particular, A. R. Chaffee, won the respect and appreciation of all Navarro citizens for
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
his many good qualities. Capt. Chaffee later became a general in command of United States troops in the Philippine Islands.
In 1870 Texas was readmitted to the Union. In 1874 Federal soldiers were withdrawn and Texas again pass- ed back into the hands of Texans.
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CHAPTER VI
DEVELOPMENT
P ROGRESS, regular and continuous, was the portion of Navarro County in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties.
More brick stores were built as were banks, hotels, churches, paved streets, water works, telephone, tele- graph, electric lights, fire protection, public library, and Y. M. C. A., more newspapers, more mills, gins, oil mills, flour mills, and a new court house, a city hall, and there were improvements in the city government.
The citizens of Navarro County were beginning to feel "at home" and enjoy a measure of prosperity in all lines. Large pastures were cut up into farms and fenced with barbed wire. Cotton was raised extensive- ly, and it brought a good price on an average.
Fraternal orders became more numerous, social clubs were organized, literary clubs and musical clubs follow- ed and Navarro began to have that complacence which comes of long residence and prosperity. Progressive, yet conservative, people had time to enjoy some of those things which make life richer with time for cul-
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
tivating some of the social pleasures as well as busi- ness successes.
Two "Fish Tanks" afforded much enjoyment to their organizers. The Corsicana Country Club now oc- cupies the place of Fish Tank No. 2. For fishing, others went to Richland Creek or Patterson's Lake, to Trinity River or Daniels Lake (East of Kerens). All of these places still contribute to the pleasures of Navarro citi- zens.
Instead of general camp meetings, each denomination had its revival in the different churches. An opera house supplied a place for the histrionic pleasures, as well as a place for public gatherings, lectures, and high school commencements. People had time to devote to style and personal adornment. The hair was worn in pompadour, which was to roll the front hair over a "rat". The back hair was twisted into a "psyche" or an "eight," on the back of the head. On top of all of this was perched a "concoction" of silk or velvet, adorned with ostrich plumes, birds or wings and pin- ned on with long and much adorned hatpins. If it caused headache, the complaint was not made public.
Sometimes a broad sailor hat was worn, so broad that it sometimes required skill to enter a door or the train. High heeled kid shoes, laced or buttoned, some times to the knees, were correct. The toes of the shoes were pointed and the more pointed the better. Stock- ings were not noticed or thought about except as stock- ings. They did not become "hose" till some years later.
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DEVELOPMENT
Dresses were long and circular, many gored, having sometimes, three linings or crinolines, which gave them a distinguished sweep and under them from one to three underskirts were worn. In summer organdies and silks were ruffled and trimmed with yards and yards of lace or stitching and tucks. All seams were bound.
The waists, or basques, were close fitting and all seams were boned. Sleeves were leg o' mutton and contained yards of material. Corsets were things of punishment and when a woman was fully dressed in hat, shoes, and dress, she was fearfully and wonderful- ly accoutered.
As the years went on and "hobbled skirts" came in, Navarro did her part as usual. But that could not last. When skirts began their recession, the "rats" disap- peared. "Hose" began to be noticed and this continued until a rumor of "Health and the Liberty and Common sense" evolved the present costume of woman. Those who adhere to it are modestly and comfortably dressed. The extreme bobbed hair has passed and the present coiffeur is a soft wave and a soft knot at the back of the head.
Many of the children of the early pioneers were al- lowed to call their parents, "Mammy," and "Pappy," es- pecially the children of Southerners in the Seventies and Eighties. "Pa" and "Ma" were sometimes the appel- lations, but as conditions became more prosperous and the population grew more sophisticated "Papa" and "Mama" became the accepted terms.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
Then as women were liberated with "equality", a much-used term in thought and reality, many children were taught to use the given names of their parents, while others say "Mother," and as the male parent has so far as he knows, achieved no great liberty, is called "Dad" by his family.
In 1886 important changes were made in the map of Corsicana; street designations being completely chang- ed by numbering all the streets which ran North and South and designating avenues as running East and West. In this transition Church Street became Fift- eenth, Jefferson became Third Avenue, while Confed- erate Street was changed to Seventh Avenue. Bois de 'Arc Street was changed to Main Street and Pecan Street was changed to Twelfth. White Street was changed to Fifth Avenue. Cedar Street was designated as Thirteenth and Mulberry was changed to Four- teenth. Originally the first street East of Beaton was known as Marshall and was followed in order by Belk- nap, Decatur, Milam, Dresden and Rusk. Washington Street was changed to First Avenue and Main Street was changed to Second Avenue while Jackson Street was changed to Fourth Avenue and a new map of Cor- sicana was made with pictures and locations of build- ings.
This map contained correct pictures of the streets, and of residences and business houses, especially those on street corners.
From the American Sketch Book published by Mrs. Swisher in 1880 and now kept in State Library in Aus- tin :
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ELLIS
C OU
N
T Y
MAP OF
ERK
CHAMBERS
CREEK
FROST
ST. L.
BLOOMING GROVE
CRYAR
KELM
CREEK
S - W.
R. R
EMHOUSE
O
BARRY
CARY
CHATFIELD
COUNTY SURVEYOR
BAIXA
EMMET
PINKSTON
DRESDEN
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
ROANE 0
RALEIGH
DRANE
CORSICAMA
BAZETTE
SPRINGHILL
POWELL
CORBET
DAWSON
PURDON
ST.L.
KERENS
CRK
BATILE
RICHLAND
ST. L. SV R. R.
CREEK
PURSLEY
CREEK
RICHLAND
RODNEY 0
RURAL SHADE
A
RICHLAND
CURRIE
RDSTON
WINKLER
CADE
0
1
STREETMAN
WORTHAM
FREESTONE
COUNTY
AUGUST 1932
LIMESTONE
PISGAH
R.
GREEK
HENDERSON
NAVARRO
CHAMBERS
RIVER
PIN OAK CREEK
OLD SPRINGFIELD
RE
EUREKA 0
COUNTY
ROAD
MILDRED
RUSH
ANGUS
POST OAK
ELM
RUSH
S-W. R. R
OLD WAXAHACHIE
H. &
TUPELO
FROM OFFICE OF
WM. M. ELLIOTT, C.E.
MON FOR T
SCALE: MILES
HEST ER
TRINIT
COUNTY
U
C -
TEXAS
PORTERS BOUFF
NAVARRO COUNTY
T. & B. V.
ROAQ.
RICE
TAOS OR
MILL
COUNTY
BIRO
HILL
DEVELOPMENT
"Children in scholastic age, from eight to fourteen, are about five hundred, thirty per cent of which are colored. Corsicana has a population of four thousand six hundred, positively, while according to the compu- tation of competent judges five thousand souls are alive within her corporation.
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