USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume II > Part 19
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Austin College antedates St. Mary's College some few years. It was chartered in 1849 through the efforts of Rev. Daniel Baker, receiving its name from the great pioneer of Texas civilization, Stephen F. Austin. Daniel Baker first came to Texas as a Presbyterian missionary in 1840 After a few years in the wilderness, he returned to the United States
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with the end in view of going back to Texas. This he did in 1848. For several years after the establishment of Austin College, which was then situated at Huntsville, he traveled throughout the United States securing $25,000 in donations for the college. Among those on the first board of regents were Gen. Sam Houston, President Anson Jones and Henderson Yoakum, the historian. The college was moved to Sherman in 1876.
In recognition of the services of the Rev. Daniel Baker as an educator the Presbyterian college established at Brownwood in 1889 was named in his honor.
Miss Melinda Rankin, another notable woman educator, established the Presbyterian Ladies' College at Huntsville in 1850 in connection with Austin College. Aiming at Mexico, she abandoned her work at Hunts-
HOWARD PAYNE COLLEGE, BROWN COUNTY
ville and went to Brownsville, where in 1861, she obtained a charter for the Rio Grande Female Institute, which was conducted for several years before going over into Mexico, where she was the first Presbyterian mis- sionary in Latin American countries.
Coronal Institute is another college opened early in the history of Texas. O. N. Hollingsworth, a native of Alabama, who came to Rusk with his mother in 1845, was the founder of this college which he con- ducted until 1872. He made a success of his course of study and was hailed as an educator of note. He later served in the state legislature and was elected state superintendent of public instruction soon after that office was first created.
The names of Ashbel Smith and William Carey Crane also stand out in the educational history of the state. Dr. Smith, who was the first president of the board of regents of the University of Texas, was first known in the state because of his excellence in survey. He was also a
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minister to France and England shortly after the Republic of Texas was established and is said to have settled impending trouble between Eng- land and Texas. He was always an ardent supporter and friend of education in the state.
Rev. Mr. Crane succeeded Dr. Burleson as president of Baylor Uni- versity, although he did not come into office until some two years after the resignation of Doctor Burleson. He found that school in a state of turmoil, it is said, and set about to work in opposition to a large majority of Baptists in the state who regarded the university as useless, as a failure. He succeeded. A patrimony which he received at the death of his father in 1866, went to building up the institution. He was made president of the State Teachers' Association in the early days of its organ- ization and wrote a life of Gen. Sam Houston shortly before his death on February 27, 1885.
FORT WORTH IN THE EARLIER DAYS
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CHAPTER XLV FORT WORTH BEGINNINGS
[In writing these chapters about Fort Worth no attempt is made to adhere to the formal style of historic narrative, but the widest latitude is observed. It will range from "grave to gay, from lively to serene," from casual to vital as the spirit moves the writer. That it may not be of interest to the average reader of history is conceded, but that it will appeal to the citizen of the city, who is interested in the men and measures that have made Fort Worth is the confident hope of the Editor.]
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF FORT WORTH
At the close of the war with Mexico, Gen. Winfield Scott sent a troop of the Second Dragoons in command of Major Ripley A. Arnold to North Texas to establish a post to protect the then sparsely settled territory from the forays of the Indians which then inhabited this section.
Major Arnold selected this as the most central point for this pur- pose.
The post was first called Camp Worth in honor of Brig-Gen. William Jennings Worth. It was established on the sixth day of June, 1849. On November 14, 1849, the name was changed to Fort Worth, and it was abandoned on the 17th day of September, 1853. and the troops stationed here were sent to Fort Belknap, about a mile from the present site of the town of Belknap. There was never a fort at this point, and the only buildings were the barracks at the head of and a little west of Houston Street. Major Arnold died here and his remains are interred in "Pioneers Rest."
The first settlement in the county of any magnitude grew up about the military post, and on its abandonment the buildings were used as stores by those who had settled near the post. Among those who were in business here were Colonel Abe Harris, Nat Terry, M. T. Johnson, James F. Ellis and G. P. Farmer.
When the soldiers left there was only a meager country popula- tion in the vicinity ; barring a few supply trains no current of trade had yet begun to flow through this section of Texas. There were no cattle trains; nothing permanent to arouse enthusiasm for this straggling settlement on the Trinity Bluff, and the seed of civilization planted and protected during the brief military occupancy might, on good relative grounds, have experienced the same blight that befell Fort Phantom Hill and Fort Belknap.
This nucleus of citizens possessed a quality of enterprise not to be found in the ordinary frontier village. Given the ordinary advan- tages of location and natural resources, men of such stamp as E. M. Daggett, C. M. Peak, J. P. Smith, W. H. Milwee, Milt Robinson and their associates would soon have given distinction and prestige to any hamlet of which they happened to be residents. Indeed, when
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one has studied the history of Fort Worth from its inception he is impressed to the point of amazement by the tremendous energy and magnificent civic spirit that have actuated the builders and promoters of the city's real greatness; every advantage has been seized, no opportunities have been overlooked, and the place has risen to first magnitude because of the vigilance and tireless endeavor of its citizens.
The county was created by the legislature in December, 1849, and the county seat was located at Birdville. The spirit of conquest was rife in the veins of the early settlers, and at the instance of Captain Daggett and others the legislature was induced to permit an election to decide upon the county seat. Birdville was at that time the larger place. Had the election been untrammeled it would have probably remained the seat of government for many years. The citizens of Birdville charged, and there seems good reason for the charge, that the selection of Fort Worth was brought about by the votes of Sam Woody, the first settler of Wise County, and the members of his family. Enough was shown to induce the legislature to order a second election. About 1855 A. J. Walker, who lived a few miles northeast of Birdville. was a member of the State Senate ; he was instrumental in having a bill passed providing for another election. This occurred about the year 1860. The exact date is not accessible to the writer. By this time the population of Fort Worth had increased in sufficient numbers to enable it to make good its claim as the proper place for the court house. Bird- ville abandoned its claim and endeavored to defeat Fort Worth by cast- ing its votes and throwing its influence for "The center of the county," which would be a little nearer Birdville than Forth Worth. The vote resulted in 301 for "the center" and 548 for Fort Worth, and the vexed question which has cost the lives of some and the expenditure of about $30,000 was settled for all time.
The town was built around the public square, after the common fashion of Texas towns, and the court house was the hub of interest and business activity. Even at this day the old-time citizens refer to the "public square" with a meaning inherited from early days when the square was really the scene of all the business activity of the place. What now constitutes the banking and commercial and hotel center was for twenty years an unoccupied common, on which transient immigrants pitched their camps for the night, across which the cattlemen drove their herds from the west, while still further south, in the vicinity of the Texas and Pacific depot, Captain Daggett had his farm buildings. When one observes the great area to the south, west, east and north now covered by the city of Fort Worth it requires some effort of the imagination to depict the town as it was forty years ago. There were regular sessions of county and district court, at which time attorneys from all this part of the state convened to transact the routine and special legal business and, aside from this, to enjoy themselves in the social manner common to groups.
CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE
When it comes to calling the roll of patriots who worked so long and faithfully for the upbuilding of the city one ventures upon dangerous
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ground. The memory is at times treacherous, and some of the best and truest are liable to be overlooked. But that their names may be enshrined in the hearts of the people and perpetuated by this modest record of the time the chance will be taken. It would be well to dig up the tax rolls of that day and make a copy of it, for every man in the city, with but one or two conspicuous exceptions, was ready at any and all times to spend and be spent for the good of Fort Worth.
But there were a few who were conspicuous by their liberality and whose names may be mentioned without any invidious distinction as to others equally worthy. The first of these are the men who donated three hundred and twenty acres of land lying along the southern border of the city to the Texas & Pacific Railway Company. These men were E. M. Daggett, Major K. M. VanZandt, Thos. J. Jennings and H. G. Hend- ricks. They were the ones to set the pace for their fellow citizens.
Of those who contributed of their time and money without stint may be mentioned those whose names are recorded above, who did not stop with this princely donation and claim that they had done their share; to these should be added John Peter Smith, Walter A. Huffman, B. C. Evans, Joseph H. Brown, C. M. Peak, W. H. Davis, William J. Boaz. James F. Ellis, M. G. Ellis, H. C. Holloway, J. J. Jarvis, M. B. Loyd. W. W. Dunn, W. P. Burts, E. J. Beall, George Newman, William B. Young, W. B. Tucker, Stephen Terry, Jesse Jones, Dr. J. F. Shelton, A. J. Chambers, B. L. Samuels, John Hanna, J. Y. Hogsett, Porter King, W. A. Darter, Sam Seaton, Sam Evans, J. C. Terrell, John S. Hirsch- field, W. W. Trippett, W. H. Davis, Jacob Samuels and others. These are they who were here before the advent of the railroad and many of them before there was any talk of a railroad. When it was definitely settled that the road would be constructed to this city the people com- menced at once to reach out after enterprises, and it may be truthfully stated that every man, woman and child helped with time and money. Their names are enshrined in the heart of every patriotic citizen of Fort Worth.
Among those who came to Fort Worth prior to the advent of the railroad and who remained and gave of their time and money to advance the interests of the city to the best of their ability and who witnessed the culmination of their desires may be mentioned: Thos. A. Tidball, Zane- Cetti, C. K. Fairfax, J. J. Roche, F. J. Tatum, J. S. Godwin, R. E. Beck- ham, R. N. Hatcher, Jas. H. Field, Dahlman brothers, S. P. Greene, D. C. Bennett, Geo Mulkey, S. H. Hulkey, W. R. Ganse, T. C. Boulware, the Pendery brothers, P. J. Bowdry, J. Q. Sandige, John F. Swayne, T. J. Peniston, D. B. Gardner, Z. E. B. Nash, I. Carb, J. M. Peers, John Nichols, Jere Marklee, J. F. Cooper, John Bardon, A. B. Fraser. S. T. Bibb, W. T. Maddox and his brothers, R. E., E. P., J. H., and a cousin, J. M., who now resides in Jack County. There are others, but their names do not occur to the writer at this time.
Upon the arrival of the railroad and soon after they came by the car- load. Among the most prominent, and who were most active in the upbuilding of the city may be mentioned W. G. Turner, J. B. Burnside, A. J. Roe, Willard Burton, A. S. Dingee, J. M. Hartsfield, A. J. Ander- son, J. L. Cooper, J. W. Spencer, A. E. Want, E. H. Keller, Neil P.
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Anderson, W. G. Newby, W. F. Sterley, Martin Casey, J. M. Vincent. M. P. Bewley, C. J. Swasey. Here, again, a lapse of time and defective memory must be the excuse for not mentioning others equally worthy.
ABOUT THE INDIANS
An effort was made in 1873 to remove all the hostile Indians fron Texas to the Reservation in the Indian Territory. The removal was accomplished, but it was not easy to keep them there, and there were occasional raids across the border and into the settlements. The exact date of the last foray is not accessible at this writing, but it was made as far south as Jack and Young counties, just west of Los Valley, where James C. Loving had a ranch and his residence. The foray was led by two Indian Chiefs, Santanta and Big Tree. They fell upon a wagon
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INDIANS ON THE MOVE
train conveying supplies to Fort Griffin, which stood about fourteen miles northwest of the present town of Albany. It was owned by Capt. Julian Feild, of this city, and Henry Warren, of Weatherford. The train was destroyed ; the wagons burned : the mules and horses taken away and several men killed. A wooden monument marks the place where the encounter took place. Troops were dispatched after the savages and the two chiefs were captured. They were tried for murder at Jacksboro and convicted and sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted by Edmund J. Davis, then governor of Texas, to confinement in the penitentiary for life, Santanta was afterwards pardoned and sent to the Reservation near Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
On August 16, 1874, another raid was made into Texas, coming as far as Veal's station, about three miles west of the present town of Springtown, where one man was killed. Two others were killed by the same raiders on the Weatherford and Jacksboro road, about half way between the two towns. This was the last appearance of hostile Indians in this part of the state. There were other forays on the borders of New Mexico subsequent to that time.
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FIRST PROMINENCE OF THE CITY
Fort Worth first came into prominence in the year 1872, when Col. Thomas A. Scott, who had come into the ownership and control of the Texas & Pacific Railway, in company with Col. John W. Forney, the editor and proprietor of the "Chronicle" of Philadelphia, made a trip
FORT WORTH NATIONAL BANK, FORT WORTH
across Texas for the purpose of selecting a route for this road across the state. Colonel Forney wrote voluminous letters to his paper describing in great detail what he saw and how he was impressed with the resources of the state. He afterwards wrote and published a pamphlet entitled "What I Saw in Texas," which had a wide circulation.
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In these letters and in the pamphlet he had much to say about Fort Worth. In fact, he gave it more space than any other point in the state, and predicted for it a brilliant future. He did not hesitate to predict that it would be the most prominent place in the northern part of the state. It being generally known that he was the guest of Colonel Scott on the trip, it was quite natural that his readers should reach the con- clusion that he reflected the opinion of the President of the Railway Company.
A secondary purpose of the trip across Texas and the presence of Mr. Forney, then among the foremost editorial writers of the day, was to educate the public and to influence it in favor of a grant or subsidy from the general government in aid of the construction of the road, such as had been granted to the Union Pacific Railroad. A bill was then pending in Congress for this purpose. Forney's paper, as well as others in the East, set forth with great emphasis that this line would be of greater benefit to the nation at large than the more northern route, inas- much as it was in a more southerly latitude and would be open for traffic every day of the year, and would not be snowbound, as it was contended the more northern line would be at certain seasons of the year.
Colonel Scott commenced the active work of construction westward from Marshall and Jefferson immediately on his return from the Pacific slope and prosecuted it with all possible energy. He had associated with him Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, who was the chief engineer of the Union Pacific, and Mr. Frank S. Bond, who was the financial director of the same road. The road was constructed as fast as men and money could do the work, and every argument that could be devised was put forth to persuade representatives in Congress that this line was of prime neces- sity to the commerce of the country.
Representatives of the company attended every convention of impor- tance that was held in the country, and resolutions were adopted urging Congress to grant the southern route the same concessions that had been given the northern line.
Meanwhile Colonel Scott and his associates were bending every energy to secure capital for the construction of the road. In the summer of 1873, Scott went to Europe on this mission. It was reported, from what was regarded as reliable sources, that he had interested English capital in the enterprise and every one in North Texas was rejoicing in his suc- cess. It was stated that so confident was Colonel Scott that he provided a dinner at which all who were in London, interested in the enterprise, participated in celebrating his success. While the dinner was in progress a cablegram was received announcing the suspension of the financial house of Jay Cooke & Co. This firm was the financial house of the general government at that time. It was they who had carried on the nego- tiations for the United States during the war and who had handled and marketed the bonds issued to support the armies of the United States in that great contest. This had given it the widest reputation throughou the world, and its failure wrought havoc in financial circles everywhere. Very naturally it put an end to Scott's negotiations, and he returned to this country very much dejected but not at all dismayed or discouraged.
It was a dark day for Fort Worth. The news fell upon this city
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like a thunder bolt from a clear sky. From the highest point of expect- ancy the people descended into the lowest depths of despondency.
When the work of the road had reached a point west of its eastern terminal, this side of Marshall, Fort Worth commenced to grow. People came to the city from all points, but more numerously from Kansas and Missouri. But they came from everywhere and bought property, built houses and engaged in business. From the fall of 1872 to that of 1873 Fort Worth grew from a little hamlet of a few hundred into a bustling city of three or four thousand. Rents were fabulous and business in all lines was active. Fortunes were made in real estate, and corner lots would double in value in a night.
But the first day of September, the day of the suspension of Jay Cooke & Co., told another story. Values declined with as much rapidity as they had advanced. People who had invested their money and paid a part in cash and gave their notes for the remainder, who had com- menced the erection of houses that they were never to see finished, who had ordered and in many instances received stocks of goods for which there was no market, saw bankruptcy staring them in the face. Profes- sional men from all over the country who had left comfortable homes and good businesses to come here and begin their fortunes anew, faced inevitable ruin. The population dwindled as rapidly as it had grown. Stores and dwellings were vacated by the score. Business was at a standstill and gloom and despondency was everywhere visible. The road to the eastward was filled with people who were leaving the town in as large numbers as a few days previously they had sought it.
Meanwhile the road to which so many looked with expectancy and hope was nearing Dallas. It was completed to about Forney, east of Dallas, and the work was continued until the road reached Eagle Ford, six miles west of Dallas, when it was discontinued and the forces dis- banded. Eagle Ford, which had sprung into a town of more than a thousand, was as quickly depopulated, the people for the most part mov- ing back to Dallas. It was the opportunity for that city. Had the panic broken thirty days later, so that it would have been practicable to have completed the road to Fort Worth before suspending operations, Fort Worth would today have been a city of a quarter of a million population.
The decimation of Fort Worth left here about one thousand people. Many of them stayed because they could not well get away. Others remained because their faith in the ultimate growth and pre-eminence of the city was not shaken by this disaster. They went to work with a grim determination to make a city of Fort Worth, and how well they performed the task many still living well remember. Their names are household words with the older citizens and will never be forgotten. They are inscribed on the tablets of their memories never to be effaced.
A great number of those who left Fort Worth at that time went to Dallas. Some of them have become prominent factors in the develop- ment of the city. There was little or no business left to Fort Worth, except the spring cattle drive. That brought business to a few. The town was dead as far as business and development went. The grass lit- erally grew in the street. This was not a metaphor to indicate stagna- tion, but a doleful fact. There were more empty stores and vacant
F. & M. BANK, FORT WORTH
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dwellings than those that were occupied. The people busied themselves principally with an effort to devise ways and means to secure a railroad and with politics in which they took an interest that was keen and con- stant. Town meetings were almost of weekly occurrence, and a suffi- cient number of resolutions were adopted and committees appointed to have built the embankments for a road to Dallas if they could have been utilized for that purpose. The faith of the people never wavered for a moment. It was with them constantly and under all circumstances. They never failed to sing the praises of the city and to predict its glorious future. Volumes were written and distributed telling of the glorious future that waited upon those who believed and remained with the city.
THE PANTHER CITY
At this place it may be well to answer the inquiry so often pro pounded "why is Fort Worth called 'Pantherville' or 'Panther City'?'
Among those who left the place when the cyclone hit it was a young lawyer who had come hither from Georgia, one Robert E. Cowart. He went to Dallas, where he still lives, and is one of the promoters of the scheme to get deep water in the Trinity at that place. Cowart was, and is, a bright man. He has a keen sense of the ridiculous and verbiage that can make an Indian's hair curl. He lived long enough in Fort Worth to become acquainted with the peculiarities of its people. It was he who furnished the story that gave Fort Worth the name of the "Panther City." Knowing the conditions that prevailed here, he wrote a com- munication for the Dallas Herald, then the leading paper of North Texas, telling of the discovering of a panther in the streets of Fort Worth, and the action taken by the people.
No attempt was made to deny or explain the charge. It was accepted as a fact. The town was by common consent christened "Pantherville." Every one named every thing "Panther." There were "panther" stores. "panther" meat markets, "panther" saloons. The "Democrat," a weekly paper being printed here, secured a cut of a panther couchant, which it displayed at the head of the paper. A fire company organized at about that time named the engine the "Panther." Two panther cubs were ad- vertised for and secured by the local paper and they were housed in a handsome cage at the firehall. When, a little later, Dallas gave a big celebration or demonstration of some kind the wagon with the panthers were taken over there, drawn by four white horses and escorted by forty good and patriotic citizens of the town clad in white uniforms. It was easily the most attractive part of the procession on that occasion. Fort Worth is still known as "Pantherville," or the "Panther City."
CHAPTER XLVI FORT WORTH BECOMES A CITY
It has been stated that having nothing better to do-and there are few better things to do-the people took an active interest in politics. The first political movement of importance occurring about that time was the incorporation of the city. The Thirteenth Legislature, in which Major K. M. VanZandt represented this county, passed an act authorizing the incorporation, and the people were active in the preparation of a charter. Meetings were held almost nightly in the court house for this purpose. The most active participants were John Y. Hogsett and Frank W. Ball, who represented the conflicting opinion.
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