USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
The first bank established in Corsicana was that of Adams & Leonard. It was opened about 1870.
Capt. James Garitty was connected with this bank, and when, a few years later, Adams and Leonard mov- ed to Dallas, the firm in Corsicana became Garitty, Huey and Baxter. It was a private bank until 1886, when it became the First National Bank, with Capt. James Garitty, president; and J. Huey, vice president, and E. H. Church, cashier.
When first established by Adams and Leonard, it was located on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Bea-
134
-
-
*****
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
...
-
**** 1
Top: Scene after disastrous fire which destroyed an entire block in Corsicana business district in 1883.
Center: Old R. N. White home, formerly located where the Ideal
Theater now stands.
Bottom: Beaton street business district opposite scene of fire in
1883.
-- Photos, Courtesy Electric Studio.
---
--
-----
DEVELOPMENT
ton Streets, at the present location of Marks Bros. and in what was then called the Pundt Building, a boxed house. Later it was moved across the street, and fur- ther south. Finally to the present location, on corner of Beaton Street and Sixth Avenue. It has always been regarded as one of the most conservative and prosper- ous banks in the country.
The present officers are: J. N. Edens, president; C. H. Mills, vice-president; A. M. Milligan, vice-presi- dent; Mrs. Kate Whiteselle, vice-president; R. L. Ham- ilton, vice president; J. N. Garitty, vice-president; A. G. Elliott, vice-president; R. L. Wheelock, vice-presi- dent; J. H. Roberts, cashier; Sam H. Slay, assistant cashier; F. T. Lindsey, assistant cashier; Chas. W. Croft, assistant cashier; J. H. Brown, assistant cash- ier.
Not very long after this bank was established, an- other private bank was organized by J. B. Jones, A. F. Robbins and others.
About 1879 still another private bank was organized by Jester, Prendergraft & Company. A few years la- ter, Prendergraft withdrew, and the bank was of the firm of Jester Bros. In 1887, it became the Corsicana National Bank, with Geo. T. Jester, president; C. W. Jester, vice-president, and L. L. Jester, cashier; T. P. Kerr, assistant cashier.
The City National Bank was organized in 1890, with W. R. Bright, president, and S. D. Curtis, vice-presi- dent; J. H. Martin, cashier. This bank consolidated with the Corsicana National Bank, in 1913.
135
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
The First State Bank was organized in 1907, with J. A. Thompson, president; G. J. Heflin, vice-president and R. B. Caldwell, cashier. This bank was located on corner of Beaton Street and Fifth Avenue.
In 1909, the Jesters disposed of their interest in the Corsicana National, and bought into the First State Bank. Likewise J. A. Thompson, disposed of his interest in the First State Bank and bought into the Corsicana National.
Geo. T. Jester became president of the First State Bank; J. O. Burke, vice-president, and Geo. E. Jester cashier. J. A. Thompson became president of the Cor- sicana National Bank.
In 1931, the First State Bank merged with the State National Bank, and the Corsicana National merged with the First National Bank.
The State National Bank was organized in 1917, with B. B. Munsey, president ; P. D. Williams, vice-president ; G. C. Dunn, vice-president; E. L. Dupuy, vice-presi- dent, and L. C. Morgan, cashier.
In 1924, I. N. Cerf became president, with P. D. Wil- liams, vice-president; N. Suttle Roberts, vice-president. The present officers also include Geo. E. Jester, vice- president; J. E. Butler, vice-president; W. M. David- son, cashier, and Hallie G. Hampton, assistant cashier.
The Central State Bank was organized in 1920, with W. C. Francis, president; J. W. Oates, vice-president, and W. J. Rochelle, cashier.
136
DEVELOPMENT
In July, 1921, C. L. Knox became president, E. Wiley Johnson, vice-president; C. J. Knox, vice-president ; W. H. Fendley, vice-president.
In 1927, this bank merged with the First National Bank.
ORPHANS HOMES
The State Orphans' Home was located West of Cor- sicana, and formally opened July 16th, 1889, with Col. Gaither as superintendent, and his daughter as matron.
Although the capacity was then two hundred, it op- ened with but sixty boys and girls. Lewis T. Carpen- ter was the first teacher. Col. W. A. Wortham and his wife soon were installed as superintendent and matron. They were there for about eight years, and were de- voted to the children who called them "Grandpa" and "Grandma". They gave to the children loving, just, and careful supervision. There are now about 884 children. The teachers have increased in number to about thirty. The buildings from one, to more than a dozen. The dairy barn is said to be one of the best in Texas, caring for about 135 cows. J. S. Halley, present superintendent, is at the head of a very important community.
The I. O. O. F. Home, located near by, was estab- lished about the same time, and has a like history. J. D. Story and his wife were among the first who had charge there.
137
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
There are now about 300 children; for many years there was a Home also, for aged people, but this has been moved to Ennis. Ross Harris and his wife have charge of the Home in Corsicana.
The children in these homes have an opportunity of securing an education equal to that of the children of any public school in Texas.
Many of the useful and loyal citizens now in Texas and Navarro County, were cared for and educated in one of these homes.
LATER MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
The Garitty Rifles, so called in honor of Capt. James Garitty, was organized in August, 1889, with G. W. Hardy, captain; Jas. A. Higbee, first lieutenant ; S. B. Robinson, second lieutenant, with forty men en- listed, of them two are still here, H. C. Ballew and S. B. Robinson. The company was known as Company G, 4th Texas Guard, A. G. Huston, colonel. In 1893, Capt. Hardy was promoted to the rank of major, and Lieut. P. C. Townsend, elected captain. In 1893 and 1894 this company took first camp prizes.
In 1894 Capt. Townsend was promoted to rank of major, and Lieut. E. C. Lee, elected captain. In 1897 Arthur Polk served as captain, taking the company to the national drill at San Antonio that year.
Lieutenants Jas. W. McGill, David P. Talley and Chas. A. Rankin were well known with the old Com- pany G of the 4th Texas Volunteers.
138
DEVELOPMENT
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, this company was mustered in as Company I of the Second Regiment of Infantry, U. S. Volunteers. It was sworn into service of the United States at Austin, Texas, May 13th, 1898. It was mustered out on Nov. 9th, 1898, at Dallas. During its service the company was located at various training camps, viz: Austin, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; Miami, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida, and Dallas, Texas.
The commissioned officers of the company were as follows: Capt. E. C. Lee; 1st Lieut., Chas. A. Davis; 2nd Lieut., Lonis P. Johnson. Non-commissioned of- ficers were as follows: 1st Sergt., James Wade Kerr; Q. M. Sergt., Charles Clark; 2nd Sergt., H. C. Ballew; 3rd Sergt., Eugene P. Angus; 4th Sergt., Edwin H. Church; 5th Sergt., Arthur Sutherland. Corporals were: Wilmott S. Curtis, Roger Frost, Joseph M. Strupper, Joseph Hawkins, James P. Wickersheimer, Robert L. Byrd, Walton C. Winkler, Karl K. White, John W. Cran- ford, Collins C. Brown, Dave E. Story, Robert E. Lee.
All these men, except Karl White, from Tyler, were from Corsicana.
This company attended all of the encampments, and several riot calls, and attended to all requirements and at the outbreak of the World War, lost its identity, most of the personnel enlisting under Capt. Davis in a temporary troop, which afterwards became Battery D, 132nd Field Artillery of the 36th Division, and went overseas.
139
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
This organization returned to the United States in March, 1919, under the command of First Lieut. Les- lie, and was mustered out of the service at Camp Bowie, Texas, April 10th, 1919. It was later reorganized by Capt. Chas. A. Davis, in March, 1922, as a unit of the 36th Division, Texas National Guard. Capt. Davis was promoted to rank of major in 1922, and Lieut. John L. Walton promoted to rank of captain and placed in command of Battery D.
In January, 1924, Capt. John J. Garner was assigned to the command of the battery, which post he holds at present. The headquarters Battery of 132nd Field Artillery is under the command of Capt. Festus A. Pierce.
With the beginning of the World War, comparative- ly few of Navarro County's citizens realized the enor- mity of it, but in the course of months the awful spir- it of war set fire to all Nations, and America joined in, sending soldiers money and food. Red Cross Societies flourished. All who could do so bought Liberty Bonds, observed wheatless days, and whole heartedly entered into the work of winning the War.
Navarro County sent something like two thousand young men into service. Some of these young men lost their lives and in the City Park is a monument erected to their memory. Their names are as follows: Charles B. Johnson, Isaiah D. Adams, Perry A. Allison, Leroy Andrews, Frank C. Benson, Wm. A. Bolt, Van G. Clark, Buster Cranford, (Col.), Samuel Crouch, Luther E.
140
DEVELOPMENT
Dickey, Walter E. Ellis, Clyde Petty, Elbert P. C. Ful- ton, Robert B. Gilbreath, Stephen A. Graves, Willie Greer, Samuel Jackson, Jesse B. Jones, Lewis Wiggins, James Johnson, Wm. V. Keel, Arthur C. Loper, Lewis A. Lynch, Arnold McElroy, Benjamin McGehee, Louis C. Morris, Walter Phillips, Joe Pool, Charles Sowell, David H. Steely, David E. Stockman, Lonnie Suggs, George L. Vinson, Robert E. Wasson, Watt E. Waters, Oscar Wilson.
RAILROADS
The progress of railroads in Texas in the early days was necessarily slow due to the obstacles to be over- come. The Galveston and Red River railroad was be- gun in Houston in 1853 and the plan of the promoters was to cross the State from South to North. The name of this railroad was changed in 1856 to the Houston and Texas Central. It reached Cypress, which was the terminus for some time, and was then built as far North as Courtney, where the progress again hesitated. Hempstead was the terminus for some time, then Nav- asota. Millican was reached in 1860. Groesbeck was the furthest point North on the railroad until it reach- ed Corsicana in 1871.
Railroad building ceased along with other business enterprises during the Civil War and in 1870 there were only five hundred miles of railway in operation in the State of Texas.
The railroad was not secured for Corsicana without
141
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
effort and a Committee of outstanding citizens: James Kerr, R. N. White, J. R. Loughridge, under the chairmanship of Major Alexander Beaton, work- ed diligently until the necessary contributions and right-of-way were secured. Capt. Haines was lo- cating engineer for the H. & T. C. railroad and Capt. Angus was terminal agent.
On the first passenger train to come into Corsicana were Alex and Philip Sanger. They were in business in Corsicana for a time. The Sanger name is promi- nently identified with the mercantile business of Texas and has been since the earliest days.
A grand reception and ball was given celebrating the coming of the railroad on the 13th day of November, 1871. The officers of the new railroad were welcomed to the city by Col. C. M. Winkler, who also made an address on this occasion. The division office of the H. & T. C. railroad was located in Corsicana for some time but was moved to Ennis in 1890.
With the coming of the railroad and arrival of new citizens, the spirit of progress awoke.
Immediately following this Corsicana was incorpora- ted in 1871 and Governor Davis appointed Ira B. Tay- lor as its first mayor. Mr. Taylors' daughter, Mrs. Tom Kerr, is still a resident of the town in which her father was the first official. Dave Page was appoint- ed marshal, and at an election in 1872 Thomas J. Hay- nes was elected mayor of the city.
142
DEVELOPMENT
NEWSPAPERS
Hand in hand with the schools in a community which serve to enlighten the youth come the newspapers which serve in the capacity of enlightening the adult. The first newspaper in Navarro County was a weekly and was called the "Prairie Blade." This publication was under the guidance of Dan Donaldson. The Prairie Blade was sympathetic to the Whig political party and thrived during the years 1855, 1856 and 1857. As mentioned previously, this newspaper office was up- stairs over Michael's store on the Northwest corner of the court house square. The first owner of the paper later sold out to Judge Martin O. Shook who ran it for a while but later disposed of his interest to R. A. Van Horn who had married a Navarro County girl and set- tled in Corsicana .*
"Buck" Barry was one of several who purchased the Prairie Blade from Editor Shook for $1,200.
R. A. Van Horn went in partnership with W. H. Neb- lett and the name of the "Prairie Blade" was changed to the Navarro County "Express." The coming of the Civil War made it impossible to secure a dependable supply of paper and the Express was issued only as paper on which to print it could be procured. After the hectic years which were called the "break up of '65"
*R. A. Van Horn married Ellen Jernigan and their home stood ---- and still stands-midway between the present Mulkey home and the home of J. M. Kerr. The home of the bride's parents was just across the street and the cedar trees in this yard were plant- ed by Mrs. Van Horn's mother. Mrs. Piper, who now lives in Corsicana, is the daughter of R. A. Van Horn.
143
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
the Express was changed to the "Observer" but the publication was continued under the jurisdiction of R. A. Van Horn until his death after which his son, Frank, and C. E. Van Horn, his brother, operated the paper until it was sold to Miller and Tarver. Another paper called the Index was consolidated with this pa- per. G. P. Miller became sole owner of the Observer in 1881 and in 1882 it belonged to W. L. Sargent and was both a daily and weekly publication.
About 1870 there was another paper called the "Courier" published in Navarro County by C. Dalton and O. A. Eylar.
The "Texas Observer", which was a religious paper, was published in Corsicana by the Rev. J. F. Wofford and records indicate it was started about the year 1880. A four-sheet journal called the "Corsicana Methodist" was published under the guidance of M. H. Wells at about the same time.
Major John L. Miller with the assistance of Mrs. A. V. Winkler began publishing "The Odd Fellowship and Literature" in 1876. Among contributors to this mag- azine was Mrs. Haden who lived in a community called Bellaire which was near Dresden. Her literary efforts were much appreciated and she achieved considerable popularity. Mrs. A. V. Winkler, who assisted in the publication of the above mentioned journal, began in July of 1882 the publication of a literary magazine "The Texas Prairie Flower" and carried as a running head the statement that it was devoted to "the Pure, the True and the Beautiful." This magazine flourish-
144
DEVELOPMENT
ed for three years until a financial crisis in the state compelled its suspension. Mrs. Winkler was a cul- tured lady from Virginia who had previously written articles during the Civil War for the "Southern Illustrated News" which was a paper publish- ed by the Confederates and the only literary magazine available due to the blockade of the Confed- erate States. Mrs. Winkler's husband was Lieut. Col. Winkler, whom she married during the war. It was a great blow to Mrs. Winkler to be forced to suspend publication of her magazine since she was de- voted to the furtherance of literature. Among the other accomplishments of this versatile lady was her associate editorship of the "Round Table" which was a literary magazine published in Dallas, and the pre- paration of the work entitled "The Confederate Capi- tal and Hoods' Texas Brigade."
The "Democrat" was a weekly publication which was established in 1885 by C. Dalton. W. F. Colquitt bought this paper in 1887 and Pierce Colquitt purchas- ed half interest and became editor in 1890.
The People's party which thrived about the year 1890 determined to have an organ of its own in Na- varro County and on November 12, 1891 the first issue was put out under the editorship of J. L. Harle. This publication was called "Truth" and had about 3,000 subscribers at the time.
The "Christian Advance" was another religious pa- per which operated for a while and among the old files in Navarro County may be found records of the
145
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
"Navarro Banner" which in 1873 was edited by E. J. Simkins and George Morris.
The "Corsicana Daily and Weekly Light" appeared first on September 7, 1888. Editor and publisher were J. F. Lewis and Fred C. Whippey. The following year they bought out a paper which was called the "Expon- ent" and in 1891 Mr. Whippey was succeeded by A. N. Justiss who continued as guiding spirit of the Corsicana Daily and Weekly Light until 1914 when he became postmaster. At the inception of the Corsica- na Daily and Weekly Light its chief competitor was the Courier which was published by O. Pagit and L. C. Shropshire during the years of 1889 and 1890. The Daily Light absorbed the Courier in 1895 by purchas- ing the subscription and good will of the latter paper and the name of the Light was changed to the "Daily Courier Light." The "Semi-Weekly Light" continued to operate as a separate entity and was owned by Ben McKie. The "Daily Sun" was first published on March 2, 1897, W. A. McKanna and associates having leased the plant of the Weekly Light in which to bring out their new daily. The first editor of the Sun, which was started as a morning paper, was Major Henry Burton and the first issue was a six- column, four-page paper the same size as the Weekly Light. Some years later a company was in- corporated as the "Sun-Light Publishing Company" and this company was owned by several Corsicana and Dallas men, Judge James L. Autry being the principal stockholder and president of the corporation. This company was incorporated for $20,000 and continued
146
DEVELOPMENT
to publish the Sun as a daily paper and the Light as a semi-weekly publication. Lowry Martin joined the Sun-Light Corporation as cashier on July 15, 1902, at which time A. W. Hartman was manager. In the fall of the same year Albert A. Wortham began work on the paper as a reporter, the paper in the meanwhile having changed from a morning to an afternoon pub- lication. Upon retirement of Mr. Hartman, Mr. Worth- am became business manager of the corporation and within a few years Messrs. Wortham and Martin form- ed a partnership and secured a three-year option on the stock of the Sun-Light Publishing Company. Within the option period they purchased all the outstanding stock and then a new co-partnership was formed with each owning half interest in the corporation. The management has proved very efficient and the paper is now outstanding in its class in the Southwest, being a daily paper of from sixteen to twenty-four pages with complete Associated Press leased wire serv- ice. This paper is published in its own handsome two story brick building adjoining the post office and con- tinues to thrive under the management of Mr. Martin and Lynn A. Wortham succeeding his father who died December 6, 1924.
There has been much literary talent developed in Na- varro County and some of the earlier writers were Major A. Beaton, B. F. Giltner, Dan Donaldson, L. T. Wheeler, Col. William Croft, Roger Q. Mills and his son, Major C. H. Mills, Ralph Beaton, Abe Mulkey, E. J. Simkins and Major J. L. Miller. Major Miller conduct- ed a column under the bi-line of "Old Flax" and was one
147
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
of the first to organize the present personal "chatty" type of column which encouraged correspondence and subscriptions from all parts of the country. The cor- respondents who exchanged ideas in Major Miller's col- umn banded themselves into an organization and held annual picnics at which they met for a general good time. At the death of Major Miller, Mr. French who lived near Emmett and was known as "Uncle John," was given the honorary post of president of this group and upon his death Mrs. S. M. Roughton whose cogno- men was "Snow Flake", took over the banner of leader- ship but since her death there is no regular organiza- tion although correspondents from each town in the county continue to send in their contributions.
The early newspaper was not only a daily or weekly record of events but also carried with it many other correlated activities. Among these the Stray Horse Association which was a very important institution during the Fifties and Sixties. Membership in this association was a combination affair and $3.50 per year was paid for subscription to the newspaper and a membership in the association. Every issue of the paper carried notices of the stray horses or cattle and thereby enabled the citizens of each com- munity to assist the other in finding lost cattle and horses and returning them to rightful owners. Since the range was open it can be well imagined that many cattle were constantly straying from their owners. The subscription to the newspaper and membership in the association entitled the member to insert two notices of any of his own stray cattle without additional
148
DEVELOPMENT
charge. An early issue of the Navarro Express shows that it was published every Thursday and the subscrip- tion price was $2 per year in advance. The date of this issue is 1860 and among the advertisers were Carter's Drug Store, which sold all sorts of drugs, per- fumes, etc., and cards of the various physicians, among whom were Drs. Love, McKie, E. G. Kerr, N. J. Mills and J. B. Powers. J. T. Oakes carried an advertisement bespeaking his qualifications as gunsmith and J. Wag- ner advertised his cabinet shop where all forms of fur- niture were made, as well as door sashes and blinds. J. H. Carter had an advertisement of his boot and shoe shop and T. W. Garner was watchmaker and jeweler to the inhabitants of the city, operating his workshop at his residence. H. W. Tate & Company sold gro- ceries and liquors and James Talley operated a grocery and hardware store, both as a wholesale and retail in- stitution.
C. L. Jernigan's Saddlery carried a regular ad with a large picture of a saddle to call the reader's attention to his work, and both D. Wood and E. W. Burrow op- erated grocery stores and saloons. J. F. Erwin adver- tised a market which was in the rear of Dr. Carter's Drug Store and his slogan was "First Come, First Served."
A. Michael & Brother sold general merchandise and H. C. Moss announced that he carried dry goods, boots and shoes. In each of these advertisements the words "for cash" were always prominently displayed and the modern intricate credit system does not seem to have been developed at that time.
149
HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
The Dr. Love referred to above married Miss Mary Streety and moved to Corsicana a short time prior to the Civil War, practicing medicine in Navarro County until his death in the Seventies. Dr. Love's home stood on the corner of what is now First Avenue and Thirteenth Street and his descendants, among whom are Mrs. Frank Wood, who is Dr. Love's daugh- ter, and Elmer Keith, his grandson and present fire chief, are highly respected citizens of the community. Records indicate that Dr. Love's home, on what was originally known as Washington Street, was one of the first two-story houses in Corsicana.
Three or four columns were given over to advertis- ing patent medicines which were held forth to the ear- ly Navarro County pioneers as specifics for almost every ailment. Some of the early remedies that were highly recommended to sufferers were Dr. Parks' Bal- sam of Wild Cherry and Pine Tar for all pulmonary complaints, Dr. Guysott's Extract of Sarsaparilla and Yellow Dock, an unfailing cure for diseases of the blood and bilious complaints, and Dr. Hoffland's celebrated German Bitters, as well as Sanford's Liver Invigorator and Family Cathartic Pills.
Among the lawyer's cards were those of Messrs. J. L. Halbert, Mills and Beaton, William H. Mitchell, Winkler and Sweatmon, J. C. C. Winch, Croft and Wheeler, W. H. Neblett, J. T. Spence, H. D. Garden, and J. R. Loughridge.
Other interesting advertisements were:
"Williamson's Hotel J. R. Williamson-Prop.
150
DEVELOPMENT
"McPhail's Hotel"
"Coffee House, Saloon, also Grocery and Bowling Alley on North Side of Square." .
"Melainotypes!"
"Or pictures taken on Sheet Iron. Mr. Bean, one of the oldest operators in sunlight drawing in the United States, offers his ser- vices in the above to the citizens of the place and vicinity for a short time only. The new style of likenesses, made on iron, by the col- lodion process, is acknowledged by the best critics to be the most durable and perfect pic- ture ever made. Pictures put in bracelets, breast pins and rings. All kinds of picture copies. The public is respectfully invited to call and examine specimens. A good assort- ment of plain and fancy cases for sale at pric- es to suit the times."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.