USA > Texas > Van Zandt County > The southland : this number devoted to the history and resources of Vanzandt [sic] Co. Texas > Part 3
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
tinuously until now. He says the commly has made most wonderful progress dur- Ing theso ten years und In his judgment It has only begun In an extraordinary de- velopment. He has been upt In publle spcech-making for many years, on suli- Jects of temperance and other questions nf political moment, but nt Inst ylelied to tho evidentes of o call to the ministry And was orduilned as o Baptist preacher the first Sunday In June, 1902, by the Canten church. His servlees were at uner In demond and he became prostor at Wills Point and other places witll hily eutlee timo la occupied usefully at this Ilme. Jie la a Woodman of the World. Is known And reapecled throughout the County athd the entire section by hils ocqsalutices.
N. A. MATTHEWS, Wills Point, Texas.
IN 'n tuinberman mud som of ilu. pru- KrouNivo elUxeny of WIls Fold. grandfather's name wix Asn Matthews. ho lived und ded In Cteursla. a fatura [In WAN the father of Thump Matite ws hn wix niso u fermer. He nisu Ived .da1 dled In Georgia. He married Mes Nantes Nieladrem, they routed to fully of seven Hilldren. Mr. Matthews himself dbt in Boagia, Jon his wife cate Tu T-AAS PI! dbed here. N. A. Matthew, was born p Georgia In 1919. nad was abated P. the 1. 1876. from Webster rummy, Porsi 1879 he married Miss Buddie Det of 1.se
Virgle ltyrd und Is the falle 1 f 4
Knights of Pythins. He is the mate of the N. A. Matthews L.unfel 04
unt. Is a fier sighted] mon, pad that there IN a great fit n. Tar Znndt county.
5
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, TEXAS. . . ..! .. l'a and T. 404. . It was included
': MirMar Jorritory granted by ine Vogn gov.tament aler agreement by
Inmel by Augustine Y. Hurhide. Emperor Motivo. on the Sith uf April, 1523. It 1.1- itt the territory further awarded to
.
Som Detestan et al. February 1836. It was who meluded In common with sur- muchos territory In the Fredonian Re- prikker. as oplivmeral government estab- lished about the year 1830 with head- quarters at Nacogdoches, with Hayden Edwards at Its head. In a muro con- wons stream of Rowerumentul author- Hty it was a jert of Nacogdoches munlel- medlity. the pal stweiffe boundary of which Is not known, hut It comprehended'
Ilen af fer vourty was comprehended in Www's modony. Soon after Texas wits admitted into The American Union and on April 25. 1\16. Henderson county was bald most of the Nacogdoches munlet- palily nidd included the territory of Ihn present counties of Henderson, Rockwall, hanlinau Van Zandt. Wood and Rains. By art of the legislature, March 20. 1848, Van Zandt county was created from tho Territory of Henderson county, nud em- frared Ily present territory; nivo that of Wood and inuch of Ralus county. Jordnn Saline was designated by that net ns tho watty wapltal for two years. A court house was bullt of logs and covered with twards and was Indeed a rude structure. The first election took place. the first Monday In August, 184S, when elghty- .. ..
fir following officers were elected: Gil- lwrt Yarborough. Chief Justice, very like wur present county judge; John Jordan, Thes. Horscley. Joseph Fisher and Isaac t'lark. County Commissioners; P. S. Ben- Iun. Sherlit: James D. Wright, District I'lerk: A. Fitzgerald, County Clerk; W. . "". Greer. Assessor of Taxes: Carey L. Rice, County Surveyor; Peter Kuykendall, t'ounty Treasurer ;.
When Van Zandt county was cut off from Henderson, It seems by design or ulstako of some kind, the entire indebt- "ilness of: the . former territory was left for llenderson connty to pay, and Van- zandt was jocularly called free territory. lercause It wae exempt from any portion of this dobt, beginning what has since "ryslalized Into the sobriquet of the free state of Vanzandt, and furnishing tho rause for considerable merriment. This
Incident was followed by others until as far as Vanzandt county is known at all. It is called the free state of Vanzandt. Later In her history Wood county was formed, and Rains county. . until her ter- ritory was fixed as It now exists. It Is . now bounded on the north by Rockwall and Rains countles, on the east by Wood county. on the south by Henderson coun- ty. on the west by Kaufman and Rock- wall. It le located on the border line_be- fween tho great timbered section of East Texas and the magnificent prairie coun- - try of tho weet. It is bisected from cast to west hy the Texas and Paelflo railway and is some forty or fifty miles east of Dallas, on the snld railway. it compre- liends the railroad towns of Wills Point, Edgewood nnd Grand Saline. besides the smaller towns of Silver Lake and Fruit Vale. C'unton, las capital. Is ten mile: south of the rallroad, but near the geo -. graphical center of the county. The county began to settle up In the early forties. Probably, the first settler .was Adam Sullivan, In 1844. Prior to this date he had moved to Red River county with his family, hut in that year he came to tho present Sullivan home five miles north west of Wills Point, and. had twen- ty-five acres of land broken with oxen and corn planted by means of making a liole with a club axe and covering the rorn with the foot. They returned to the home, but in the fall moved back to Van- zilndt and gathered 250 bushels of corn trom the White firn, which was cothely innocent of a plow or a hoe except In the breaking. William McBee, proprietor of
.
.
Vanzandt Co. Jail, Canton Texas.
adapted to truck farming. fruit raising. vintage culture and every form of farm- ing in the staple and light crop. Yet fur- ther west and north in the Wills Point country is to be found the prairie, both black and gray, with Its cotton farms. pasture lands, meadows. etc. Then as you go east in the Edgewood and Grand Ballne country the greatest variety of soll abound, and the nnest products both in quality and quantity are produced. In all of these places they boast of a high altitude. good water and a healthy cll- mate. We call special attention to blo- graphical sketches of gentlemen from
these different places for more detalled Information, and many thoroughly attest- ed facts ahont the almost unparalleled richness of the country in its natural and material wealth.
The county was named in honor of the T'nited States from the Republic of Texas. TOPOGRAPHY.
The county is generally level, hut Is to the east. It is traversed by n numther of creeks, so that while generally level. varlety Is found.
CLIMATE, WATER AND HEALTH.
Thean are good; the climate Is salubri- ous and in the winter is tempered by Its forests and other agencies. It Is there- fore not subject to the severity of the western blizzards, and Is sufficiently ele- vated to escape the sultry conditions of
.
1
Vanzandt County Court House.
Canton --
Texas.
Mclee's Mill. and for whom MeBee's Creek was named, came the same year.
A flourishing little town grew up at Cedar Grove, and soon afterwards set- tlers began to pour In from every direc- tion, many of the best settlers now in the southern portion of the county came In the year 1850. incinding the Rileys, the Hobbs, the Sides, Coxes, Townleys and others.
Since 1883 I have been an Incessant traveler in Texas, and am familiar with every portion of the state, and have stud- led and examined the resources and capa- bilities of a great many counties, and after a careful study of Vanzandt, I am willing to. state- tbat In our opinion no county In Texas has a greater variety of soll, a larger adaptability to the products grown and marketed in Texae or a more abundant capability for the easy main- tainance of human life in comfort and happiness. It has tbe noted cream level country In the southern portion, the towns of Edom, Ben Wheeler, and Mar- tin's Mill, with cream level and other creeks, whose bottom lands are as. rich as the Nile, and frequently produce two bales of cotton.to an acre in a single sea- son.
Further north In the Canton and Myrtle Springs country we find the gray sandy loam, and also the dark sandy, well
the fur South, Water is plentiful. streams, wells and cisterns abound. The head waters of the Nechez river are In this county, and it is bordered by the Sabine for many miles on the northeast, besides many other streams of lesser Iniportance, such as Sallne Creek, Kickapoo, Lacy, and others. Health Is good; malarial con- ditlone may exist in portions of the coun- ty, but with little precaution and judg- ment these may be avoided, and the health statistics and the general appear- ance of the people will compare favor- ably with those of any other section. POPULATION.
A conservative estimate would give the county 30,000 people; these are principal- ly white. Very few negroes live in the county. As a rule the people own their own homes in the country, and their own homes and business houses in the towns. The farms are small, but well kept, and made to produce well: While there are not many large farms or pastures, Capt. Charles E. Brown is said to have one of the most elegant ranches near Wills Point to be found in the state. Mr. H. C. Manning, a brother of llon. Wentworth Manning, has a large meadow which are only samples of others to be found else- where In the county,
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The rellglous eentiment of the county is good. Churches flourish In all the towns and in country communities, and all of Int. Christian denomin .. . Hmis ..
this country are represented in the coun- ty. The school Interest is also good, but Is Improving with every yeer. New and conimodious buildings are being erected and much attention Is being given to the echool term and the quality of the teach- ers selected. There are one hundred school houees and one hundred and Afty teachers In the public schoole of the coun- ty besides several private schools. LANDS.
Probably no see son of Texas or aux other country. no larger than Van Zandt County, can come nearer furnishing the kind of land a man wants than may be found In Van Zandt County. The black wnxy. the gray prairie. the mixed, the Ilglit foam, the gray sandy, the black sandy, the creek bottom all abound and may be had at reasonable prices as there Is to be confessed a lack of development In This county which allows her land olher comnlles where tho lend Is even not su good. PRODUCTIONS.
Up to this date cotton is the principle money crop. Corn Is made for home con- sumption, hut little for the market. Su- gsr cane grows well in meny parts of the county, fruit, tomatoes, sweet potetoes. Irish potatoes, ground peas, carrots, ber-
pumpkins and vegetables. end as It Is claimed by all Its citizene, the county can produce well every crop known to Texae farming. The native gresses do well, hay farms and meadow lands flour- Ish. Bei.nida and ...
attention will necessarily be paid to grow- ing grasses and light farming than ever In the past, This is ite Pler tor Va. Zamt County and the iron to nore hling if he. can not see it. By accident Uncle Elf Sides, of Martins Mill discovered a new ppes that he thi is "
the hay question In thet country, write him for particulnra. TIMBER AND FOREST.
By far the largest portion of the county Is heavily timbered, oak. hickory, gum and other varletles abound, fence posts, wood mint othet . ece; allles in the tim- ber line are easily and abundantly sup- plied. The timber of this county_will eup- ply quite a source of Income. There are a number of saw-mills erected in the county for the manufacture of lumber from these forests and suited to the pur- poses of the Inhabitants .. MINERAL RESOURCES.
Among these may prominently be men- tioned, of course, salt, salt, salt every where almost, but especially at Grand Saline where It Is found In the greatest abundance and has become an industry there of large proportions. Three large factories for the manufacture of salt have been erected In that town and are doing great good in building the town and de- veloping the county. We were shown a very elegant specimen of soft coal ob- tained from the farm of Dr. Allen, some five miles from Grand Saline. Also abun- dant evidences of oll are shown in and near his farm The doctor is quite an . thuslast on the subject and thinks that greet wealth will be obtained In these lines in Van Zandt County no distant day
MANUFACTORIES AND TRANSPORTA- TION.
There Is an immense oll mill at Wills Point mentioned elsewhere in this issue. "There are large numbers of saw mills In different parts of the county. They are sometimes called oak mills, but are quite useful In their spheres and withal are profitable to their propietors. The county abounds with first clase and up-to-date cotton gins, and especial attention might be called to the salt faotorles at Grand Saline.
In regard to the transportation facil- Ities the Texas Pacific runs Immediately through the county from enst to west. and has done very much to ward the de- velopment of the county and bringing con-
Residenceof H. F. Goodnight, Wills Point Tex.
THE SOUTHLAND.
0
venfence and prosperity to its citizens. Also the Texas Short Line already oper- ated from Alla to Grand Saline and being constructed southward to the county cap- Ital. This road will be of great service to the county and will do much toward the development of her resources.
: . In .the extreme western portion of the county. there are a number of thriving villages, such as Stone Point. Roddy. Tundra, etc., with good lands and pros- perous conditions.
Take the county altogether. it can not be surpassed. Ita prices are low, Its resources are excellent. Its promises of early development are of the very best. It has excellent people and its social and rilgious atmosphere is up to a good .standard. If you want a home you can find one to suit. If you want an Invest- ment with unquestionable security. you , can find it there.
We :commend those represented herein 'as trustworthy and the information they give as reliable and trustworthy alto- gether.
Office of Hon. Wentworth Man- ning, Canton, Texas.
€
ALVA FIELDER, . (Deceased).
Grand Saline, Taxas.
-
Was one of the honored and trusted . pioneers of the gallant little city of Grand Baline. He did. much to make it . what it is, and was one of those affable spirits that: attracted everybody to him and gained. their love and affection. Before 'coming to. Grand Baline he had been an .sotive commercial man and tradesman, but most All his energies here have been given to effecting the salt assurances in Grand Saline and the development of terie it now. The Fielders came from Mississippi. ; His father was Wm. B. :. Carolina, Fielder: his mother, Elisa A. Fleider. Jan- Hary 17, 1885, - he married Miss Alice K. Price, who lived only a short 'while. December 17, 1890, he married Miss Sal- 110 Richardson. She was a daughter of the great salt king,' well known in con- nection . with early history of Grand Sa- line. Although the .Richardson family. came Immediately from Dallas, they had lived In this neighborhood before, and Mrs. Fielders was born in their country home, near where the city now atande .. Probably no death ever occurred in Grand Baline that produced more universal sor- row, than thet of. Alva Fielder. business houses were closed. the homes were draped in mourning, and the gen- eral atmosphere in trades life as well as in individual life was tinged with weep- ing as Indicating the death of a good man and the best friend and benefac- tor of all. Before his death he developed what is now known as the Fielder Sait Works, which yleids a neat competency to hia widow, who is enabled therehy
to live in comfort in her Grand Saline home and to rear and educate her chil- dren.
DR. JESSE H. McMAHON. Canton, Texas.
The McMahons are from Ireland. Ana- : ley McMahon was the Doctor's grand- father, and was born on- the Atlantic Ocean. He lived In Tennessee, and died in the town of Frankiln. He was a con- tractor and bulider. His son. Samuel, was born and reared in Franklin, and he became a. blacksmith and a farmer, but in November, 1844, he came to Texas. In due time he married Johanna Perritt., who was born in South Carolina and ¡ reared in Alabama. . Their marriage was celebarted May 8. 1860. They had seven children. The mother is still living, the father died in August, 1901, near Canton. Jessee was born March 4, 1869. in Panola County. Texas. He was educated In the common schools and Alamo and Alexan- der Colegiate Institute. He lacked only a few months of graduation. He chose to be a physician, and began the active prac- tice in 1901. He has now been in the county nearly thirty years, coming from Panola County at that time. He thinks his section is susceptible to the greatest possible developments, and that the brightest future awaits it. He is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church. South, W. O. W. and The Pathfinder. He taught for ten years, and has succeeded well in a busl- ness way. He owns two nice farms, and Is making a most desirable progress in his profession. He is popular in his com- munity. and has the highest confidence of all who know him.
B. P. RIDDLE. Wills Point, Texas,
Je one of the old landmarks, well known the industries that no signally charac- . throughout the county and this section of Texas. The Riddles came from North where Harmon Riddle, the grandfather of our subject, was born. who was a farmer, and also where Alex- ander Riddle, the father, was born; he was a farmer and a salesman. He came to Texas in 1847, He married & Bynum. She was born in South Carolina and married in 1820. They had ten ehlidren. Both he and his wife died in Cherokee county, in Texas, she July, 1850, he. In 1856. B. P. Riddle himself was born January 26, 1829, in Jackson county, Alabama. He was educated in Talle- dega county; began ferming in 1849, and hes continued In that vocation ever The alnce. He merried Miss Mary A. Bess February 8. 1850. They have eight chil- dren. three girls and five boys. and have lost five children. He moved to Texas in 1847 from Talledega county Alabama. and came from Cherokee county. Texes. to Van Zendt thirty-one years ego. Brother Riddie is a great Baptist, and has heen one of those useful, ective pillars of the church and society all
thesc years. He engaged in the Con- federate service and hes in all these years and in many capacities been a sol- dler, and a herolc one at that. Acquired quite a little landed estste where he now Ilves, but hes given his land to his chil- dren and used it in one benevolence or another. until it has been reduced to a good home, on which he lives and where he enjoys life. Hc hun the love
and respect ef prehebly as many people aa any men who may be found in the county or section: lie le honored and loved by all the people." He has lived in wisdom's . ways, and his investments heve been of that enduring kind, tablet- ed on the hearts of the people, the frag- rance of whose record will be enjoyed in the years to come.
W. H. LUSTER;
Staple and Fancy Groceries. DEALER IN
County Produce Bought and Sold. SHALL, TEXAH.
. Always solicita your patronage. No clerk hireand no rente to pay. Can sell you as cheap as any one in Smail.
LEATHER GOODS MARK FOSTER, Prop.
CANTON, TEXAS. ."SADDLES, NEW AND SECOND HAND, HARNESS, SADDLE AND HARNESS HARDWARE, BUGGY WHIPS, ETC, ETC. All kinds of repairing in shoes, saddles, harness, etc., in fect everything in the repair line. COME TO SEE ME.
LAND, LAND, LAND. EAST TEXAS LANDS. . Several Thousand Acres OF Fruit, Truck, Farming and Pasture Lands For Sale AT PREVAILING PRICES IN VAN ZANDT AND ADJOINING COUNTIES.
"If you want to come to Eist Texas, I can fit yon up. Prices grow stiffer every day and immediate sction will pay the investor.
If you wish to change lo malisies or make any trade in land call on me or write me - For any further info mation, addrese
W. B. CHEATHAM, EDGEWOOD, TEXAS.
ONE PRICE STORE. .
WE CARRY-The largest, up-to-date stock of dry- goods, notions, hardware, queens ware, groceries and feed stuff in town.
WE HAVE-One price to all regardless of size, color, looks, age, appearance, position, profession or riches.
We invite you to call and see no and get our prices en anything you need.
YOU SEE ?- Money saved is money made, so save your money by trading at the One Price Store. Yours for business,
ASHWORTH & SONS, Myrtle Springs, Texas.
.
4
THE SOUTHLAND.
7
THE SOUTHLAND.
GEORGE WASHINGTON TULL ..
CANTON, TEXAS.
The Tull family lived In Georgia iu an early duy. Stephen Tuil was the father and lived in G orgia when G. W. was born but soon moved to Alabama, theoce to Tennessee aud again to Aia. The inother was Mrs. Mary Tull, nee Ruff . They hati six children born unto them of whuil Gen. was the third. He was born in the Georgia home Jannary 4, 1827. lle attend. ed the common schouls in Tonoessee hnt his school life was limited. The famliy had in the mean. time moved from Alabama to Tennessee a second time. At the age of twenty-five he came from Tenuessee to Texas and in 1854 he went t., California, influenced by the goid fever. in 1858 he returned to Tennessee, but came to Texas the sams year. He had saved bis money in California and wben be arrived in Texas, he bad anfficient funds to begin a smail business. He selected Canton And opened a mercantile house in the fali in the same year 1858, 45 years ago iast Nov. The business was closed during the war hut it has not sospend- ed a ilay with that exception. . Mr. Tnil was opposed to ecession but when be was out voted he went with his country men and rendere.i dutiful servicedn the coofederacy. In 1861 Jniy 16 he married Mlas Saliie Moore of Vin Z indt county, they bad one child, now Mrs. Ennis Peace of Wills Point. O :tober 7, 1862, she died. April 12, 1866 he married Miss Sarab Jane Wagers. Oct. 8, 1868 sbe died withont isving iasne. Oct. 11, 1869 he married Mi-a Mary Jane Cowan, wbo still survives. . She is the motber of eleven children, seven of wbom are living, Mrs. Sarah Nunnally of Grand Saline, Mrs. Luia Anderson of Green- ville, William, Naomi, Allie; Lillian an.1 George Washington Jr. They have all been born and reared in Canton. Mr. Tull has been a merchant all the . years and has enjoyed a measure of snc- cosa rarely attnioed iluring so long a period. He is now the oldest merchant in the county. thit has succeeded uni- formiy, and is one of the reputed 5 per cent who finally succesd in the mer- cantlie business. He says bis success inns dedended on strict integrity, diii- gence and economy. He bas been orl- ginai in his metiinils. It is generally understood that he is the only one of his kind. He has been generous in a good ilegree, and it i's claimed by his friends that he has heipeil more poor people than any other inan in the conn- trv. He is called. "The poor man's triend." He has gone forward and inc. ceeded at every "'ep, and lives 'now at the green old age of 76 in the bearts of msny friends. In early life Mr Tuil WAS Influenced somewhat by evil anr. ronndings and made no pretensions to religion but in 1874 he was converted and bas sine then been a consistent member of the church and bas been one of the pillars of society, religion and commerce in Canton ail the years, He is now ably assisted in bis business by his son, William Newton, wbo is robust, active and quite competent in business. He married a Miss Abbey and they bap-
Residence of c. W. Tull, Cantan, Texas.
the richest landed sections in the county. It has eight or ten busi- ness houses including a gin, a shop, general merchandise, gro- ceries, drugs, dry goods, etc.
There is an excellent school in the village conducted last term by Prof. Miller also another school near by.
There are two physicians, Dr. Cox and Dr. McEachern. They have organized an excellent brass band and in many ways thrift and progress an manifest.
The society is good, the land rich the climate excellent values increasing rapidly, etc. It is a most pleasant place to visit and offers many advantages to home seekers and investors.
pily live in a comfortable bome near the business center.
In many respects Mr. Tuli furnishes a good modei in success tor the boy who desires to attaio some.hing in lite. He is the friend of ail who are willing to strive for any good accomplishmeot.
DAVID M. RAST. RAST, TEXAS.
Tbe Rast family came from Germany in the latter. part of the 18th century. The grandfather of our subject settted in South Carolina and reared a large family. John L. was ooe ot bis sous and was born in South Carolina in 1782. He was reared there, but in iater life, be moved to North Alshima. He was a farmer and mecb.uic mod lived to he 92 years of age. He was twice married and reared two families uf children 13 in all. . His second wife was the moth- er of our enbject and four others of the thirteen. She was a Miss Sidney T. Gracy. Sbe also lived to be of a ripe oid age. David was one of the youngest children of the large lot and was born Feby 24, 1841 in Mississippi. He was educated fn the commoo schoo's iu . Mississippi. He grew up there aud married Miss Caroline Twitty who s.ill survives. They bave six children liv- ing, one dead. Two of the children .Te married, Mrs. kimbrell. aod Mrs. l'ar- sons. Misses Sidney, Effie Lee, Lyd- dia and Zora are young ladies at Lome .. Mr. Rast came to Van Zandt in 1875. He had accumulated. but little at that time. He rented ;and for three years a-d tben bongbt a home. He has a good bome and a competency. "Il !! bas made much of his present holdings in ralsing sugar cape ard still. raises n good supply each year. He frequently makes 500 gailoun to the acre and is content to have from Bro to 14to gal- lons per sesson. This with cotton, and otber erops brings a gond income esch year.' Mr. Rast his for many years been ahead in money matters and has accommodated his neighbors in mat y instances with loans, He never charges abuve the legai rat- and is said to be a ilheral . creditor.' . Mr. Rast is a good representative of bia. county 'and his vicinity. He lives in the. Creem Level country. and is a steward .in the Metbodist church amil stands for the best interests of the community. He is baie and atont at 62 and lives easily and in the esteem of his countrymen, a good example of what niny he accom- piisbed in Van Zandt.
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.