USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 29
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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
H. E. Brady, Decatur.
1867
C. C. Thompson, Decatur
1858
Mrs. C. C. Thompson, Decatur
1868
John J. Terrell, Austin.
1857
J. A. Vandiver, Greenwood 1871
Mrs. D. H. Payne, Decatur 1870
Mrs. L. Renshaw, Decatur 1859
Mrs. S. A. Lillard, Decatur 1866
Dr. D. H. Payne, Decatur 1889
R. F. Goode, Bridgeport 1882
H. J. Owen, Hill Co. 1855
414
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
REGISTRATION AT THE OLD SETTLERS REUNIONS .- CON'T
C. B. Ball, Nogal. 1854
Mrs. C. B. Ball, Nogal 1855
B. F. Helm, Decatur 1859
J. W. Balthrop, Slidell 1877
J. W. Wood, Paradise 1866
T. W. Rowlett, Alvord. 1874
G. D. Howell, Decatur
1869
L. Renshaw, Decatur.
1859
R. W. Nobles, Decatur
1874
D. M. Watson, Decatur
B. C. Huddleston, Paradise
Mrs. Kate Hunt Craddock, Terrell
1855
L. D. Farrington, Audubon
1873
E. T. Barnett, Paradise
1879
C. C. Clifton, Greenwood 1875
J. G. Gose, Decatur 1860
S. M. Gose, Decatur 1870
A. D. Dill, Decatur. 1854
D. F. George, Bowie 1873
Mrs. L. P. Terrell, Decatur 1862
W. A. Fullingim, Snyder, Ok. 1860
Love Watson, Decatur. . 1871
Mrs. Love Watson, Decatur 1871
J. Y. Jones, Decatur 1871
1871
Bunch Fullingim, Snyder. Ok.
1873
J. H. Tadlock, Chico 1876
C. W. Stevens, Chico. 1877
J. E. Finley, Bowie. 1870
Mrs. Lizzie Renshaw, Decatur 1854
Mrs. Mary Gose Waggoner, Decatur 1865
Mrs. Maggie Gose Harvey, Alvord 1865
W. C. Weatherby, Decatur 1856
Mrs. Sallie Bradshaw, Decatur 1856
Mrs. Julia F. Halsell, Decatur 1856
J. W. Cartwright, Amarillo 1854
1879
1
Geo. French, Decatur.
415
ADVERTISEMENTS.
REGISTRATION AT THE OLD SETTLERS REUNIONS .- CON'T
L. Owen .. 1880
L. B. Renshaw, Decatur 1876
C. C. Mitchum, Decatur 1884
A. J. Mann, Decatur 1858
W. H. Brown, Decatur 1873
J. C. Hines, Decatur
1874
J. H. Brown, Decatur 1873
Mrs. A. J. Mann, Decatur
R. P. Bonnifield. 1871
1876
Mrs. C. E. Brown.
1879
D. W. MeCright . 1860
T. A. Banks 1863
B. F. Majors 1872
C. B. SIMMONS
L. H. REEVES
Drs. Simmons & TReeves
OFFICE OVER FIRST NATL. BANK
DECATUR, TEXAS
416
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
SURVIVING WISE COUNTY PIONEER.
(THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH WAS PREPARED FOR THE " PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY."
EX-COUNTY TREASURER BRAWLEY H. OATES, OF M'KINNEY, TEXAS.
The above is the picture of Brawley H. Oates, of McKinney, Texas, former county treasurer of Collin County, and one of Wise County's earliest sett- lers still surviving.
Mr. Oates was born in Murray County, Georgia, April 4, 1839. Came to Texas in 1844 with his father, who made his home in Cass County for ten years, when he moved to Cooke Territory, now Wise County, in the fall of 1854. Mr. Oates was then only fifteen years of age when his father removed to what is now Wise County, and camped in a post oak grove. Logs were cut and speedily erected into a log house, covered with clap- boards riven by their own BRAWLEY OATES. hands and floored with puncheons hewn from logs with an axe instead of lumber sawed smoothly with the later mported and more modern saw mill. Not a nail was used in The house. This early pioneer log home contained only one toom, which answered for all purposes of its sturdy occupants-
417
ADVERTISEMENTS
Fire, Life, Accident, Lightning, Tornado, Live Stock RELIABLE INSURANCE
W TE represent a number of the Oldest and Best insur- ance companies in the world and devote our whole time to this business. Insure your property with us and it will be safely protected.
We insure everything, Mercantile Stocks and Build- ings, Dwellings and contents (town or country), Public Buildings, Gins, Mills and Elevators against loss by fire, lightning or tornado.
We write Life and Live Stock Insurance. We want your business; see us before insuring elsewhere. It might pay you.
BOYD & RAGSDALE
DECATUR, TEXAS
kitchen, dining room, bedroom and parlor. The next building to go up was a log pen used as a smokehouse and storage room.
The elder Oates had brought to Wise County, with his family and few other effects, forty head or razor back hogs. These hardy swine of a then common variety, but now an almost ex- tinct species of hogs, ranged at will among the post oaks, and by the month of February were fat enough for fine meat without having been fed a grain of corn. Hunting was the chief occupa- tion of young Mr. Oates, who indulged his skill both for the in- herent love of the sport and from stern necessity to assist his parents in providing for a large and growing family. Deer, antelope and wild turkey abounded. Soon Brawley was sent to Collin County with an ox-team for bread-stuff, as there was then no grist mill closer than Mckinney. In emergencies, Mr. Oates' father had a little " Armstrong" steel mill fastened up on a sapling by which small quantities of meal could be ground in the same manner that coffee is ground in the old-fashioned coffee mill. The pantry once supplied with the product of this crude mill, his mother was then prepared in style for baking the famous 27
418
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
"Johnny Cake," upon which many a candidate, who had to travel a wide and sparsely settled scope of country, appeased his hunger, and around the festal board of the ever hospitable Oates' home, he swapped jokes with the host as they partook of their frugal meal. Among the candidates who visited his father's home in quest of votes in those early days, Mr. Oates now recalls the names of Judge Everts, Billy Weaver, and others. This judicial district then spread out from Lamar and Hopkins Counties on the east to the wild Indian habitations on the west of Wise and which territory included Wise County. Among the early settlers of Wise County, Mr. Oates recalls the names of Ben B. Haney, his brother-in-law, who is reputed to have been the first actual white settler of Wise County; Sam Woody, Tom MeCarroll, Ben Crews, W. S. Oates, his father, and others.
His recollection of the first officers of the county is: W. S. Oates, chief justice, corresponding to our present office of county judge; W. W. Brady, county clerk; Granger Salmon, district clerk; Ben Earp, sheriff; Ben B. Haney, commissioner; John Hale, surveyor; Col. Abb Bishop, representative. J. D. White and Joe Henry Martin were also among the first set of Wise County officers. Gen Gaines was then the only practising lawyer who lived in Wise County.
In those early days Wise County was considered the extreme western Texas frontier and depended largely for protection from the marauding bands of Comanche Indians upon the Texas Rangers. Young Brawley Oates naturally turned to the Ranger service in the vigor of his youth and love for the saddle, the gun and adventure. He was a fine shot, skilled in wooderaft, and a crafty scout. His first experience as a ranger was under " Black Doe " Stewart. His next service was in the Wise County State Rangers, which company organized at old Prairie Point, now Rhome, Texas, the oldest town in Wise County. The company was made up of a captain, two lieutenants and forty-five enlisted men. Ben Earp was captain, Ben Crews first lieutenant, and the subject of this sketch second lieutenant. Each officer was supposed to take fifteen men out to range at a time. These scouting parties were usually out from ten to twenty days at a time. However, as Lieutenant Oates was the only single man
419
ADVERTISEMENTS.
The RED STORE Decatur Texas
DRY GOODS CLOTHING and SHOES
T HE popularity of this store is easily explained when we tell you our business methods.
We buy for fifteen big cash stores and pay cash for all our goods, and buying in such quantities and paying cash we secure low prices that cannot be secured by smaller stores.
We in turn sell for cash, and as we buy our goods cheaper and run no risks whatever, we can afford and do sell cheaper than credit stores who have to charge larger profits in order to make up for their credit losses.
If you live a considerable distance it will mean a big saving to you to come to Decatur and buy your large bills from us. We constantly receive new and up-to-date goods and keep a good assortment, and our prices are always the lowest.
SPOT CASH
ONE PRICE TO ALL. COURTEOUS TREATMENT.
J. J. PERKINS, - DECATUR, TEX. PERKINS BROS., KAUFMAN, TEX Perkins Dry Goods Co.,Sulphur Spgs., Tex. Perkins Bros. Commerce, Tex Perkins Dry Goods Co., Vernon, Tex. Perkins Bros. Athens, Tex Perkins Bros. & Co., Jacksboro, Tex. Perkins Bros. Greenville, Tex Perkins Bros. & Co. Quanah, Tex. Perkins Dry Goods Co., Winsboro, Tex
Perkins Bros. & Co. Altus, Okla. Perkins Dry Goods Co., Terrell, Tex Perkins Bros. Gilmer, Tex. Perkins Dry Goods Co., Alvarado, Tex S. B. Perkins Co., Denton, Tex
420
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
of three officers, he frequently volunteered to take the turn of the other officers who could then remain at home with their families more. He continued in the ranger service until the breaking out of the great Civil War, when he enlisted in the Confederacy. In the rising passions culminating in that great conflict between the states, the ranger service seemed entirely too tame for the gallant lieutenant, who, with other Wise County comrades, went over to Denton and enlisted in Co. A, 14th Texas Cavalry. Company A marched to Dallas, thence with its regi- ment to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they dismounted. Went down Arkansas river by boat to its mouth, thence up the Father of Waters to Memphis, where they took the cars en-route to Corinth, with Shiloh as their ultimate destination. While en- route, the engineer, the only railroader on the train, and who also proved to be a Yankee sympathizer, wrecked the train by throwing open the throttle on top of a long grade, then stepping off the tender and sending his train, heavily loaded with its human freight, on a wild five-mile dash down a grade and crash- ing into a preceding train. Both trains were wrecked and a number of lives were sacrificed. Mr. Oates held a lieutenant's conmission. After some fighting and skirmishing around Corinth, Lieutenant Oates took seriously sick and was sent home. It was nearly a year before he recovered his shattered health, and then again he re-entered the ranks of the Rangers on the West Texas frontier and did valiant service in protecting the women, children and homes of the absent confederate soldiers from harm by the lawless elements, as well as the Indians, naturally infesting a new and wild country like West Texas in that turbulent period of civil strife. As late as the fall of 1865, Indians killed a man within a mile of Lieut. Oates' home, by the name of Parson Moffitt. About the same time they killed another man named Smith four or five miles further on. The latter victim and a companion were en route to Weatherford, and stopped at the home of Dave Reed, father of Mrs. Brawley Oates, and ate dinner. That evening Smith was killed by the Indians and his companion wounded by an arrow in the face. The wounded man turned back, next day again ate dinner at
421
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Cicero Smith Lumber Co. Decatur, Texas
Headquarters for Building Materials of All Kinds
OUR MOTTO Good Grades, Moderate Prices and Courteous Treatement Let us Figure on your Lumber Bill
422
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
the home of Mrs. Oates' parents, and in a few days also died from blood poisoning resulting from his wound.
Brawley H. Oates and Miss Manerva Reed were married at Old Prairie Point, November 11, 1863. Mrs. Reed's parents settled in Wise County three or four years after the Oates family came there. In 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Oates, in company with the latter's parents and brother-in-law, Bob Gaston, all moved to Collin County, which has since been their home. After coming to Collin, Mr. Oates lived near Lucas for ten years and then moved to McKinney, living at his present home for more than thirty-one years.
In 1883 Mr. Oates was elected city marshal of McKinney, and later served as deputy sheriff under Sheriffs Scott Phillips and J. L. Moulden. He was a brave, conscientious and fearless officer. It was while deputy under Sheriff Moulden that Mr. Oates came near receiving a fatal wound while in the discharge of his official duty. On March 21, 1893, while endeavoring to effect the capture of Will Hobbs, wanted for the murder of the Sheriff of Cock County, Tennessee, who had fled to Texas, the desperado shot Deputy Oates in the thigh and wounded him so severely that he has since been almost a helpless cripple. The following year, Mr. Oates was elected county treasurer of Collin County, the duties of which position of trust and honor he filled with efficiency and fidelity to the county and his constituency.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Oates are: Mrs. A. S. Bullock, of Haskell; Will D. and Ben H. Oates, both of MeKinney; Mrs. C. D. Hayes, of Wylie; H. D. Oates, of Oklahoma City; Com. Oates of San Antonio, Reed Oates, Misses Frankie and Ruby, all still living at home with their parents.
PARENTS OF BRAWLEY OATES.
William Sloan Oates, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in the year 1833. Married Miss Sarah Smith in 1823. Moved to Georgia in 1823 and to Texas in 1844, as above stated, living in Cass County for ten years, then moving to Wise County in 1854. He settled in the southeastern portion of Wise County within a mile and a half
423
ADVERTISEMENTS.
INTERURBAN INE
NORTHERN TEXAS TRACTION CO
The Great Electric Line Operating Forty Fast Clean Electric Cars Daily Between
FORT
WORTH
AND DALLAS
These cars always depart and arrive on schedule time. Pass all the leading Hotels and Depots in both Cities and make all connections.
Cars leave Fort Worth and Dallas every hour, and on the hour from 6 A. M. to 11 P. M. included.
LOW RATES QUICK TIME
O DUST
O CINDERS
Questioning your privilege, answering our delight; and for further information address
W. C. FORBESS
General Passenger Agent FORT WORTH, TEXAS
NOTE :- The Record Special leaves Fort Worth at 4;20 A. M., arrives at Dallas at 5:20 A. M., making all steam road connections out of Dallas.
424
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
of the present town of Rhome. He settled on a stream of water that is still known as Oates' Branch, a tributary to the West Fork of Trinity River. W. S. Oates was an old line democrat. He served several terms as sheriff of Murray County, Georgia. Served two terms as justice of the peace in Cass County, Texas, and was the first chief justice or county judge of Wise County. He was a farmer and stock raiser by occupation, and a staunch member of the Baptist Church. In the fall of 1864, he moved to Limestone County. He died in 1877 at Mt. Calm, Hill County, at the age of 74, and lies buried by the side of his wife in Mt. Calm cemetery.
PIONEER LIFE IN WISE COUNTY.
BY JOHN E. BOYD, DECATUR.
According to the best information at hand, the first settle- ments in Wise County by white men, were made in the year 1854. It was somewhere near this period of the county's history, so says tradition, that Unele Sam Woody was discovered running wild upon the head waters of Deep Creek. Prior to this date, so far as is known, the country only served as a rendezvous for wild beasts, and a hunting ground for the uneivilized Comanche Indians. The Indian resented the encroachments of the white man upon his domain, and strongly protested against it, but without avail. Because of his wild and savage nature, he was doomed to be relegated to a more remote and less attractive territory for his hunting ground, and surrender this fair land to a more civilized and progressive people, who would pride themselves in the development of its latent resources, and make it blossom as the rose.
As a result of the white man's venture in the West, the Indian became very hostile and warlike, and declared vengeance against him. The problem of life and a livlihood on the frontier became a serious one, because of the dangers and privations that confronted the settlers. While the growth and develop- ment of the country was yet in its infancy, the war between the
425
ADVERTISEMENTS.
.
The Oldest Settler
cannot remember -of ever having seen or heard of a more convenient, safe and economical method of carrying funds than by Wells Fargo & Co's self-identifying Travelers Money Orders. The Orders are paid in all countries of the World without identification, and if lost or stolen the amount is refunded. For information apply to
Wells Fargo & Company
426
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
states broke out, greatly retarding the progress of the pioneers, and adding much to their already uncomfortable situation. But they were brave, and loyal to their purpose, and were not to be daunted by any such obstacles. Less courageous hearts would have fainted and given up the fight. For many years the country was subject to periodical raids from these bloody-handed Comanches, and they came among us for the' specific purpose of pillage, plunder and murder, often destroying property, such as they could not convey out of the country. At such times excitement often ran to a fever heat among the people. Tho child as I was, well do I remember the thrill of horror that came over me when the warning word: "The Indians are in," was hurriedly passed from neighbor to neighbor. When it was known that they were skulking in the country, it was a custom of the settlers to conceal their best horses at night in a near-by thicket to prevent them from being killed or stolen. But these sturdy heroes-for such they were, as truly as were Bowie and Travis of Alamo fame-counted themselves equal to any emer- gency. With their trusty rifle ever by their side, they stood their ground and bravely defended their country and their homes, even to the laying down of life itself. Many were the instances where the humble pioneer fell victim to the treachery of these heartless savages, the most noted of which were the Huff and Babb families, who were butchered and murdered in their homes as though they were so many wild beasts.
On occasions when the Indians were thus raiding the country, the settlers would often band together, appoint a leader, and go in pursuit of them, recover their stolen property, and chase the marauders out of the country. Captains George Stevens and Ira Long were the most prominent among such leaders, and in this way rendered their country an invaluable service.
These carly settlers knew nothing of the comforts and con- veniences that favored the long settled and well established countries. There were just a few squatters nestling here and there in their improvised shelters, caring for their flocks and herds, and in a small way, tilling the soil with such erude imple- ments as were at hand. In this they were laying well (doubtless better than they knew) the foundation for their future homes,
427
ADVERTISEMENTS.
.
PHOTOS PORTRAITS AND PICTURE FRAMES
is our business and has been now for twenty-five years past. We have always taken a deep interest in our busi- ness and endeavored to keep abreast of the times and advancement in our line.
If you want a picture frame come to us, for we have them from 15 cents to $5.00 each. A 16x20 frame and glass as low as 65 cents.
If you want a photo of yourself or family come to us, for we have photos from 6 for 50 cents to $18.00 a dozen.
If you want a picture copied or enlarged bring it to us, for we make you an enlarged portrait from $1.50 for 16x20 and up. Pass these picture agents up, for we guarantee to give you better work and save you money. Our work in Black and White or in colors for same money.
YOURS . FOR SATISFACTION
Bunnell Art Co.
STUDIOS : : DECATUR and THURBER, TEXAS
P.S .- If we can't please you, then you can't be pleased.
428
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
and obeying that scriptural injunction to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow.
It was hundreds of miles to the terminus of the nearest rail- road headed this way. Jefferson, Texas, and Shreveport, La., were our nearest markets, and our only means for the transporta- tion of the products of the country to these markets for exchange, was by way of the old time ox wagon. This means was neces- sarily slow and tedious. There were no bridges over the streams of our country, and the freighter or traveler was often subject to vexatious delays because of swollen streams. It frequently required months to complete such trips to market and return. These freight wagons were often drawn by as many as from six to eight yoke of oxen.
It is said that we now have three systems for the rapid trans- mission of news over the country-the telegraph, telephone and tel-a-woman, all of which have proven very efficient methods.
The latter, however, was the only one of these three systems in use in pioncer days, the telegraph and telepohne being almost unheard of, and a thing incredible.
The cooking stove and sewing machine, now considered in- dispensible adjuncts to the well equipped modern home, was wholly unknown to the pioneer housewife. The corn cake and pumpkin pies, the hog and hominy, were baked in ovens around the family fireside. The sewing was necessarily by hand with the ordinary needle.
Where we now have coal oil lamps, electric lights, etc., to illuminate our homes at night, the tallow candle or platted string with one end in a cup of grease, furnished the light for the occupant of the pioneer cabin. Matches were a rare convenience. Often the settlers were compelled to resort to the flint rock, powder and cotton method of striking fire.
Of the pantry supplies, sugar and coffee were two items that were often short for months at a time. Sugar in our coffee was a luxury in which we rarely ever indulged. Occasionally on Sunday mornings our mothers would so indulge us. When coffee could not be obtained, roasted wheat was the favorite substitute.
These early Wise Countyans were an industrious, frugal,
429
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Moore's Flour
We make the following brands: "OUR BEST," "SATIN" and "RED STAR," in extra high patent. Our high patent brands are: "PEARL" and "BLUE BAND." No flour yields such pure, sweet, appetizing rolls, bread and biscuits as the flours made in our mill. It is made from the choicest all soft wheat by a special process that in- sures the retention of the gluten and phosphates-the real nutriments of the wheat. Makes more and better bread than any other flour.
Try our "RED ROOSTER" mixed feed. Blended in uniformly exact proportions for stock and dairy use. Blended so perfectly that the full benefit of each grade of feed in just the right proportion is obtained, and better than is possible if mixed by hand. Red Rooster feed produces rich milk.
Moore Milling Co. Decatur, Texas
430
PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
common-sense people; plain and simple in their manner of dress, neatness and comfort being the purpose in view, with no effort at show or display. Theirs was a day of linsey dresses for the women and girls; homespun jeans for the men, hickory shirts and copperas breeches for the boys-the breeches often being conspicuous by their absence with the boys. These materials were the products of the old-fashioned loom and spinning wheel so much in vogue during and after the war, and their quality demonstrated beyond question the skill and industry of our mothers and sisters in manipulating these machines, and in providing for the necessities of the home.
Brogan shoes, manufactured by our fathers on rainy days, were our principal foot wear, and a coon skin cap or other home- made article often ornamented the other extremity of our anatomy.
In the absence of schools or colleges of importance, the educa- tion of the people was necessarily limited, and of a primary character. The public school system had not yet been inaugu- rated, and the arts and sciences found no place in the curriculum of the pioneer pedagogue. He usually graduated his pupils by teaching them to read, write and spell, and to work a few " sums " in arithmetic. A log cabin, with a puncheon floor, . at some cross road, or perhaps a shanty constructed of our native oak lumber, sufficed for a school building. The seats were hewn out of logs, with pegs in each end to elevate to a proper height for comfortable sitting. The teacher rarely ever introduced the study of geography into his school, so it was seldom ever necessary to test him in advance of employment, as to whether he taught the " round or flat system " as to the shape of the earth, or whether he was sufficiently advanced as to be 'able to teach either or both systems, according to the wish of the patron. He was usually a very strict disciplinarian. His favorite modes of punishment were the free use of the dog wood switch, to place the offender astride the back of a bench, or to stand him up facing the wall, with his nose in a crack. On one occasion in a school where I attended, the last-named mode of punishment had been prescribed for a pupil who had transgressed the rules, and he was penitently serving out his sentence when he was
431
ADVERTISEMENTS.
RUSSELL & DALLAS, Grocers
Extend cheerful greetings to the citizens of Decatur and Wise County, in- viting them to call and inspect their mammoth stock of new and up-to-date groceries. We guard the essentials of success. Treat you courteously, sell you honest goods at cheap prices, accord you the most liberal of treatment consistent with the survival of our business
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.