USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 25
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JUDGE W. H. BULLOCK,
while not precisely a pioneer of Wise County, has the honor of being the first white child born in the city of Sherman, Gray- son county, Texas. This occurred November 11, 1850, the date being co-incidental with the establishment of Sherman as a town by Dr. R. L. Bullock, who was Judge Bullock's father. Judge Bullock's mother was a McCrory, of a Mississippi family, her
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PIONEER SETTLERS.
First Row, Sitting, Left to Right: L. Renshaw, Doc Kincannon, Charlie Cartwright, John HI. Wallace, Judge J. W. Patterson. Col. G. B. Pickett, Dr. Martin Caddell. Second Row, Sitting, Left to Right: Dave Caddell, Allen Gore, J. D. White, W. A. King, W. P. Russell, C. H. Miller. Standing, Left to Right: John M. Branch, Buck Riley, Wm. Perrin. Jack Paschall, Rube Gallop, Fisher Kincannon, T. Perrin, Add Renshaw, A. Devereux.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
name being Elizabeth. The marriage of Dr. R. L. Bullock and Elizabeth McCrory occurred at Bonham, Texas, in 1848. Judge Bullock spent his boyhood and early youth at Sherman. In 1858 he visited the State of Missouri. remaining until 1861. In 1860-61 he attended school at Harrisonville; the master of the school being the present U. S. Senator Steven B. Elkins, of West Virginia. The noted outlaws, the Younger boys, attended the school at the same time. Judge Bullock came back to Texas and began to read law in the office of Throckmorton and Brown, the first being Governor Throckmorton and the latter T. J. Brown, Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.
Judge Bullock came to Wise County April 10, 1875, and has been one of the foremost practicing attorneys and judiciaries of this section since that time. He served six years as county judge, and has been several times selected as special district judge in the absence of the regular official. He was married September S, 1879, to Sallie J. Renshaw, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. Renshaw, who has borne him nine children, six of whom are living, named as follows: Randolph, at Fort Worth; Wil- liam, Eugene, Irene, Margaret and Lucille, at home.
ALBERT DEVEREUX,
son of Julian S. Devereux, who settled in Montgomery county on entering the Lone Star State a young man, was born in Rusk county, Texas, December 15, 1848. Mr. Devereux's life was a rural one until he came to Wise County. He attended McKenzie College, near Clarksville, Texas, and was also a stu- dent of Gilmer High School. It was under the tutelage of Mor- gan H. Looney that he acquired the principles of surveying, which have proven so valuable to him in his life's work. Mr. Devereux has occupied the most of his time since coming to Texas as a locater and dealer in Texas lands, beginning with a small tract which he bought on Deep creek for a home when he first came to Wise county. On February 11, 1869, before he had reached his majority, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Stamps, of Rusk county. From 1877 to 1881
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
Mr. Devereux was county surveyor of Wise county and proved himself an efficient officer and reliable engineer. In 1900 he was again elected to the office of surveyor and has been twice re-
A. DEVEREUX.
elected to the same position. Mr. Devereux is not only an ideal citizen and an excellent officer, but he is well known as a Dem- ocrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
MR. AND MRS. STEVENS.
A. S. BADGER
was born in Wabash County, Indiana, July 2, 1849, the son of Reason Badger, a farmer of the county. In search of fresh op- portunities Mr. Badger came to Wise County in the year 1870, being accompanied by four other young men, who were seek- ing their fortunes in the Southwest. Mr. Badger located on Deep creek, and there became acquainted with Eliza J. Woody, daughter of Samuel Woody, to whom he was married in April, 1872. Mr. Badger now lives about three miles north of De- catur on a good farm, and surrounded by the comforts of life. He is a progressive, honest and intelligent citizen, and esteemed highly by all who know him. His children are: Annie, mar- ried Charles Myers, Decatur; Ollie married Charles Rol- lins, Pecos County, Texas: Mildred, married Leonard Bre- zeal; Emma, married J. K. Stewart, California; Willie, wife of Carlo Ball, Jr., Ochiltree, Texas: Alvin, Reta, Marion, Jessie, Leo and Pearl.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
First_Row, Sitting, Reading from Left to Right: G. B. Pickett, Chas. D. Cates, R. G. Cates, W.CA. King, J. H. Wallace, John Wilson, J. D. White, Granville Christal. Second Row, Standing, Left to Right: Frank Roberts, C. H. Miller, J. P. Fullingim, J. G. Gose, W. P. Russell, T. L. Ball, Jake Brown, R. L. Mounts.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
JAMES W. B. REYNOLDS
settled on Garrett's Creek, southwest Wise County, in 1857. He was a Tennesseean by birth; his home in Wise County was situated near what is known as "Tyler Water" or Draco. Among his neighbors were the Kincannons, Perkins, Henry Wood and others. He and his family, consisting of a wife and three children, whose names were F. W., Sylvester and Mat A. J. Reynolds, (the latter now the wife of D. P. Newsome, of Boonville), were well satisfied until the Civil War commenced, when, like hundreds of brave men, the father enlisted in the service of his adopted State, leaving his family in charge of the oldest boy. The boy Sylvester was soon after wounded by the Indians, who caught him absent from home on a mission for the family. The family then escaped to Parker County and re- mained until the end of danger. It has been said of Mr. Rey- nolds that he was one of nature's noblemen, brave and gen- erous to a fault. and constantly exerted himself to elevate the life around him, and the life of the county in general.
THE WISE COUNTY OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
The above association was organized July 27, 1904, and is composed of the living citizens of the pioneer period of the county's existence, together with their descendants. The chief purpose has been to perpetuate old associations, friendships and traditions, and to advance the claims of the pioneer people and times to modern recognition. To accomplish these results annual reunions of the old elements are held, and the present volume has been prepared and circulated. A movement has also been started to erect a monument to the memory and services of Capt. George W. Stevens, a brave defender of Wise County during the Indian troubles. The following officers now have executive charge of the affairs of the Old Settlers' Association :
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
W.D. PASCHALL
J.A.WASSON
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J.H.WALLACE PRECIDENT
T. PERRIN
W.J. MANN.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WISE COUNTY OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
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JOHN G. GOSE
H.L.WARDČO
C.V.TERRELL
CLIFF D.CATES SECRETARY
T. L.BALL
C.A.GARTWRIGHT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WISE COUNTY OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
John H. Wallace, President.
Cliff. D. Cates, Secretary. W. J. Mann, Sergeant-at-Arms. John Wasson, Assistant-Sergeant-at-Arms.
Executive Committee:
John G. Gose,
Henry L. Ward,
T. Perrin, Add Renshaw,
Dennis Paschall,
T. L. Ball,
C. V. Terrell,
C. A. Cartwright.
T. J. GARY.
No such original biographical sketch was ever prepared as that which the old veteran of pioneer days, Thos. J. Gary, of south Wise County, has handed in for present uses. It is usually the custom to over- haul and re-write such matter, but so genuinely interesting is Mr. Gary's statements that they will be printed almost as they were received. Thos. J. Gary was born in Madison County, Mississippi, Oc- tober 2, 1835, but was principally raised in. Car- roll County. He crossed the plains to California in 1857, and came back to Wise County, Texas, March 3,1860. In 1862 he volun- teered in the Confederate service, serving in Waller's T. J. GARY. Battalion, General Tom
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Green's Brigade, also lost many nights' sleep guarding his own and neighbors' stock from the Indians.
Mr. Gary married at Birdville, Tarrant County, Texas, January 30, 1862, the maiden name of his wife being Sue Brown. Seven children were born to the union, four being raised to maturity. They are as follows: Marvel Gary, of Chico, Cali- fornia; Willie Gary, the youngest, lives with his parents; Louisa, married J. B. Massie, of Angelina County, Texas; Belle, married J. M. Scott, of Duncan, Oklahoma. Mr. Gary has kept account of the number of trips he has made to the county seat, which is eighty-eight, forty-four times being for jury service. Of him- self Mr. Gary says: " I have had as good a time as any man in Texas. I kept fifteen fine hounds and made the deer, fox and wolves skeedaddle. I lived through all the cattle-stealing and never was a bill found against me. The reason was I never stole any cattle, and I am proud of it. I surely can look any man in the eye and say 'I done it,' or ' I didn't do it.' I still keep my old Indian gun and old fiddle and still play 'Billy in the Low Ground.' I am living in my seventy-third year, and in good health, and can still knock the back-step. I have been a Master Mason in good standing over fifty years and an Odd Fellow nine or ten years."
Surely Mr. Gary has lived a life that he can reflect on bravely as he has done in the above paragraph. He is one of Wise County's most loved pioneer citizens.
JUDGE J. W. PATTERSON.
From a farm boy in Trigg County, Kentucky, struggling to attain the rudiments of a legal education, to a governor's pos- sibility and sound judicial achievements in Texas, is the life his- tory of Judge J. W. Patterson, who, for nearly five consecutive terms has been elected to the judgeship of the 43rd Judicial Dis- trict, comprising Wise, Jack and Parker Counties.
Judge Patterson was born in Trigg County, Kentucky, No- vember 18, 1847. He attended the common schools of his community, and read legal books while he labored on the farm,
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
He then went to Cadiz, his County town, and pursued studies and was admitted to the bar. In 1874, he struck out for him- self. So far every lick that had moulded him into the fashion of a man of strength and ability had been hammered by him- self, and in striking out for himself he was still exhibiting the characteristics of strength and independence that had distin- guished his upward struggle. He came to Gainesville, Texas, and stayed three months. He then came to Wise County, the date being July, 1874, and pitted his professional attainments against all opposing forces in the renewed struggle for sue- cess. Two years later, in 1876, his ability and honesty were recognized in his elec- tion to the office of County Judge, he being the first offi- cial to hear that title. Be- ginning with 1878, he served two terms as County Attorney, upon the expiration of which he was sent to the 18th Texas Legislature as the representa- tive from Wise County. Judge Patterson then retired to private practice for several JUDGE J. W. PATTERSON. years, during which he was associated with the old law firms of Lovejoy, Diekson & Patterson, and later Crane & Patterson. In 1888 he was elevated to the District Judgeship, which he has filled with great distinction and honor to himself and district.
Judge Patterson has achieved that success in life to which all men aspire. His course has been a gradual evolution of his powers and faculties from early manhood. Beginning in straightened and narrowed circumstances, he has, by self- endeavors, gradually broadened the horizon of his environments,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
until he is free to exercise all the rights and privileges of unre- stricted manhood and citizenship, a condition that is synony- mous with deep and broad success. He has revealed himself as a man of honest, rugged strength, and as a judicial of absolute fairness and candor, which are the foundation stones of his popularity with the people. This is one of the chief elements of his success, and one of the facts that accounts for his being oft- mentioned as a fit man for the Governor's chair of Texas, or as a Congressional possibility. His attainments in life are worthy of the study and emulation of all apsiring youths. Judge Patterson was married November 24, 1881, to Miss Nannie Baker, and to the union six children have been born, named as follows: James Venor; Mozelle (now Mrs. W. C. Carver); Ernestine; Marie; Walker, and Anita.
JACK BROWN.
The following sketch of Jack Brown, an esteemed and venerated pioneer citi- zen, has been contributed by one who knew him well.
"Elbert Jack Brown was born, August 16, 1835, in Elbert County, Georgia. He joined the Baptist Church at the age of eigh- teen, and remained a zeal- ous, consistent member until his death, which oc- curred, April 29, 1899. Fearless and uncompromis- ing in supporting what he deemed right, Mr. Brown en- tered the Confederate serv- ice in 1861, and there made a conspicuous record for bravery, but like a true
JACK BROWN.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
patriot, accepted defeat and became a strong lover of the Union. At the time of his death he was captain of the Albert Sydney Johnson Camp of Confederate Veterans.
In his younger days Mr: Brown practised law, but during his residence in Texas devoted most of his time to farming and stock- raising. He moved to Texas in 1858, and spent the larger part of his life in Wise County on his farm east of Greenwood. Mr. Brown was married June 24th, 1874, to Purity C. Dailey, of Dallas County, and of this union there remain two children, Mary Fannie, the wife of E. L. Warren, of Greenwood, and Elbert Blanton, who was married, February 12, 1903, to Maud O. Best, of Wise County.
P. F. LEWIS.
Pleasant Franklin Lewis, third son of Robert and Sarah Lewis, is a native of Marion County, Illinois, and according to his state- ment, "hit Wise County on a jennette, August 17, 1855." This very early arrival makes Mr. Lewis one of the oldest of Wise County citizens. He came to Wise County with Dr. James Marshall, who began his education, but home duties prevented satisfactory prog- ress. At the beginning of the war Mr. Lewis joined Co. E., 10th Texas Infantry, and served throughout the long eivil strife. January 11, 1863, he was captured, in associa- tion with others, and confin- ed for two months at Camp Douglass, Illinois, and then exchanged and sent to the Southeastern States. Sub- sequently he was twice P. F. LEWIS. · wounded at Chickamauga
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
where latterly he was elected Second Sergeant of the Com- pany. Mr. Lewis was again wounded at New Hope, but came out in command of the Company in that fight. He was cap- tured again near Atlanta in July, where one of his captors told him that he fought well but on the wrong side. He was impris- oned at Camp Chase, Ohio, and released from there, June 11, 1865, and reached home on Hog Branch, Wise County, July 9. Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Hannah E. Kidd, of Dallas County, in July 1866. He recalls the following persons to have been living in South Wise County when he came: Mr. Moss; J. J. Hudson; Rev. Moffett; L. D. Burnett; G. W. Knight, Sr .; Ben. and Pleas. Haney; Wm. Oates; Giles McKey; Mr. Gardner; John and Bill McClennan; John Sellars; Mr. Coacoe; James Mann; Ben Arp; Doc. Brooks; Jack Hart; Mr. Lawley; Anderson Smith.
Mr. Lewis at present lives in the neighborhood of New Ark, is a frequent contributor to the press, is loyal to the old Confeder- ates and the old settlers, and a strong advocate of good county roads. Moreover he was among the first to suggest the need of a pioneer history of Wise County.
J. L. CRAWFORD.
The subject of this sketch is one of the sterling representa- tives of Bridgeport commercial life, and a leading and influential force in all the affairs of the farmers of his community. He was born in East Tennessee, July 7, 1849, and settled in the timber south of Bridgeport, Wise County, January 10, 1877, where he opened up a farm. From the very start Mr. Crawford began to demonstrate a strong public-spirited nature. Seeing the need of church instrumentalities in his community, he and five others set about to build a church house. Rev. Gatis, a Methodist divine, then preached the first sermon. But at present, on the spot where the old church stood, a beautiful new building now stands, and a thriving community known as Pleasant Grove surrounds it. Mr. Crawford was soon interested in other public affairs, and has come to be identified with every public enter- prise that has marked the development of Wise County. It
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
is a source of satisfaction to him to see the beautiful homes, the railroads, the thriving towns, churches, schools, rural mail ser- vice and telephones in most every home, and he is agreeably surprised that the transformation has been brought about in such short time.
When a young man Mr. Crawford joined the Democratic party, believing that the best reforms in government could be secured through the enac- tion of democratic measures and principles. He cast his first vote for B. Gratz Brown for Governor of Missouri, and has always been active in politics. He has been honored by his party. He has acted as County Com- missioner, served as post- master under President Cleveland, and represented Wise County in the 25th and 26th Legislatures. While serving in the latter capacity he was the author of some important bills, and as chairman of the Mining and Minerals Committee, wrote the first bill intro- duced in a Texas Legisla- J. L. CRAWFORD. ture looking to the protec- tion and safety of coal miners. Mr. Crawford is a member of the Baptist Church, and is identified with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and W. O. W. lodges, and is a leading factor in the Farmers' Union organization of Wise County. He has lately acquired a comfortable home in Bridgeport, and expects to spend the remainder of his days in helping to keep Wise County up to her present state of high civilization. When the summons comes to pass to an eternal existence, he expects to strike hands with many of the old settlers of Wise County, and to know them
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
from the scars inflicted as incidents of the conflict and develop- ment of a frontier country.
It has been suggested that a few of the faithful and respect- able darkies of the early period should have the essential facts of their lives represented here. Some of them were true to their pioneer masters and employers, and came to be regarded with a deep and friendly interest.
RANDOLP VEASEY,
known better as "Ran," "Old Ran," and "Uncle Ran." was perhaps the best known colored citizen of the times, a popu- larity due to his efficiency as a fiddler of inspiring dance music, and faithfulness as a slave and citizen. He places the date of his birth in 1827, July 10th, in Merriweather County, Georgia. He came to Drew County, Arkansas, as a young man; entered the Civil War with his master, and later in the conflict became body-guard to General Cabell. At the end of the war he came to O'Neal's Station, Montague County, with his white friends, and finally gravitated into Wise County, where he remains a respected old citizen.
TOM AND "AUNT" JANIE JOHNSON
were two other kind and respectable colored characters of this period. Janie Crutchfield was born the first colored child in Colin County, in 1845. She was brought to Wise County by the Crutchfields in 1856, in which family she served as house girl. In 1865 she was married to Tom Johnson. The latter was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1843. Came to Wise County during the war and was employed by Major Holmes,
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TOM JOHNSON.
JANIE JOHNSON.
where he lived until he married and bought a place. He died a respectable colored citizen December 31, 1891, leaving an estate valued at $5,000 to his wife.
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SECTION FIVE.
MODERN WISE COUNTY.
WISE COUNTY, FROM TEXAS ALMANAC, 1904.
The area of Wise County is 9,000 square miles. The county is in the second tier south of Red river, lying at the foot of the Panhandle of Texas. Decatur, the county seat, is 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth, on the Fort Worth & Denver City Railway, having a population of about 2,000.
Population of county in 1900, 27,116. Property assessment 1907, $9,008,205. Two-thirds of the area of this county is occupied with a belt of wood land known as the Upper Cross timbers, con- sisting of several varieties of oak, including post, pin, burr, water and red oak, while along the streams that penetrate this woodland region there is usually a large growth of black walnut, pecan, cotton-wood and elm of the several kinds, and on the uplands grow the low, heavy-topped post oak and blackjack. The general elevation is about 1,250 feet above the sea level, and the surface is for the most part undulating, but there are con- siderable areas of broken and hilly country. The ampleness of the elevation and the purity of the drinking water combine to produce a gratifying condition of general good health throughout all the seasons. Water is found in abundance at depths ranging from 50 to 150 feet, with possibilities for obtaining it along the creek valleys at a depth of 25 or 30 feet. Rainfall for several years has averaged 29.47 inches. The prairie soils in the east- ern third are given over to stock farming and grain growing, the soil being in most part a tenacious black waxy, esteemed alike for its durability, fertility and drouth-resisting properties. The wheat crop produced on this black soil ranges from 15 to 25 bushels, oats 40 to 100 bushels. It is also productive of corn and cotton, but is inferior in this respect to the sandy soils of the western part of the county. In the western part the different varities of sandy land present admirable opportu- (355)
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nities for the diversification of crops. The dark brownish allu- vium of the creek valleys compares favorably with the black lands for wheat and oats, while the lighter sands of the uplands is greatly productive of all the staple crops of Texas, which
CARE
PRESENT WISE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Whose exterior walls are built of red granite; the entire building cost $140,000.00. It stands in the center of the public square at Decatur and admittedly is one of the handsomest architectural edifices in the State.
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are corn, cotton, wheat, oats, rye, barley, sorghum, Kaffir corn, milo maize and melons, fruits and vegetables in wonderful abundance. There is no question about the sandy clay sub- soiled lands of this county being well adapted to the growing of the finest varieties and best qualities of the staple fruits that are grown in Texas. Stock farming, especially hog raising, is coming into prominence. The pasture lands of the castern section range in price from $6 to $8 per acre. These lands are grass-covered hills, unfit for farming. . Well improved lands in the sandy timbered section are selling for $12.50 to $25 per acre, and $20 to $40 prevails for the best black lands of the prairie. During the winter, wheat and oat fields provide abundant grazing, and in many instances very little of other kinds of food is re- quired. The grow- ing of alfalfa has been experimented with and found to SECOND COURTHOUSE OF WISE COUNTY flourish, especially Built in 1883, at cost of $50,000; burned on the night of January 12, 1895. It stood on the Northwest Corner of the Public Square. on the creek bot- tom soils. The county has two lines of railways, the Fort Worth & Denver City and the Chicago, Rock Island & Gulf, both passing diagonally across the county from southeast to northwest. Upon both lines are found the flourishing little towns of the county, which are Decatur, Bridgeport, Alvord, Chico, Boyd, Rhome, Paradise, Park Springs and Newark. Inland towns and villages are Greenwood, Pella, Audubon, Crafton, Willowpoint, Boonville, Cottondale, Slidell, Garvin, Dan and Brumlow, situated in populous sections of the county. Building stone of brown and gray sandstone, and blue and
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gray limestone exists in great quantities and of superior quality. A coal bed has been developed at Bridgeport and the coal is in use as fuel, the output being consumed by the Rock Island railway and the industrial plants in Oklahoma. These beds are very extensive and the lay of the stratum, as far as has been opened, indicates unusual facilities for taking out the coal. The stratum is found at a depth of 60 feet. At Decatur is located the Decatur Baptist College for boys and girls. This
TORE
Tyter-Conley
STREET SCENE IN DECATUR DURING COTTON SEASON.
college is connected with the Baylor schools of Texas. Good schools are also found at Paradise, Boyd, Bridgeport, Chico, Greenwood and Alvord. The scholastic population is about 6,500, composed almost entirely of whites .- CLIFF D. CATES, Decatur.
PROMINENT CITIZENS OF THE PRESENT.
The following few pages will be devoted to brief sketches of some of the prominent citizens of present day Wise County.
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