Last week, I introduced some of the early pioneer settlers of Eliasville and had just discussed the contributions of the Donnell brothers who built the Donnell Mill and Dam.
Additionally, the Donnell brothers built a suspension bridge over the river, near the mill. Later, it was replaced by a larger, more substantial bridge in 1893. Still later, a more modern bridge was constructed at the site. Most of the mill was destroyed by fire from a lightening strike, rebuilt and burned again in 1927.
Alvin Donnell succeeded his father and uncle in ownership of the mill and subsequently sold the mill to W.A. Andrews, who ran it into the 1930s. Andrew’s daughter, Dill Newell, sold it to the Breckenridge Gasoline Plant and later it was sold to Mr. Stroud of Eliasville.
In 1967, at the Old Settler’s Reunion, the importance of the Donnell brothers contributions was recognized by an Historical Marker, which told the history of the Donnell Mill development and Dam construction.
The migration of the Donnell families followed the western migration of settlers moving westward after major events had occurred in our history. The elder patriarch, J. D. Donnell, and his wife Julia (Waters) Donnell were both born during the War of 1812. Their families crossed the Appalachian Mountains into Tennessee and Kentucky in the first drive westward. Their three sons were born in Lebanon, Tenn. In the 1850s, the Donnell families and the Thomas Davis family migrated to the next frontier in Missouri and settled in a vast wilderness, north of Springfield, Mo.
The Donnell families were faithful members of the Presbyterian Church and sent their sons to the North Prairie Academy. Just across the line in Benton County, Mo., lived the Robertson family, where Mr. Robertson ran the Country Store. In 1854, the 16 year old Thomas Franklin Donnell began working in the store. Later, the Donnell brothers opened their own store. The meticulously kept account books are now in the hands of descendants of Alvin Donnell of Eliasville.
After marrying Frances Eugenia Robertson in 1861, Tom and the other Donnell boys all served in the Confederacy. While they were fighting in the Civil War, their store and homes were destroyed and they were left penniless. After the Civil War, the Donnell families, Davis and Robertson families all migrated to Hunt County in Texas. The one Donnell son, Leo lost his life in the war. However, his son, Millard Fillmore Donnell, came from Maine to join his uncles, William and Thomas, in the cattle business at Eliasville. Soon after he arrived, he met and married Alice R. Dobbs on Jan. 6, 1881. It was one of the earliest weddings in Eliasville. This couple had seven children.
The Robertson family moved on to Stephens County and the Davis family had gone to Throckmorton County. In October of 1876, the Donnell brothers and their father followed the others and moved on further west to settle on the banks of the Clear Fork of the Brazos, in the Eliasville area of Young and Stephens Counties.
William Leander Donnell had married a young lady from the Robertson family of Crystal Falls, Sarah Rebeccah Robertson, known always as “Aunt Sally. She lived longer than any others of her generation, just a few weeks shy of 100 years. Thomas F. Donnell’s wife died in Terrel, Tx. in 1881. Will and Sally were childless, so when her sister died, Tom loaded up his eight motherless children and headed to Eliasville and the home of Uncle Bill and Aunt Sally, who helped raise the children.
The Donnell families gave dynamic influence to the other settlers of Eliasville and became the strong driving force building the Eliasville community along with Elias DeLong.
Next week we will continue to look at the early settlers in the Eliasville area with the Hill family. If you have stories or historic photos, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
Last week I told you about the Donnell families and their influence on the community of Eliasville, which continues to this day.
Additionally, other pioneer families had a similar impact like the Dobbs brothers and Elias DeLong, for which the town was named.
Other early pioneer families also had a lasting impact on the community of Eliasville and the surrounding area of the two counties of Young and Stephens.
Another of those early pioneering families was the Hill family. Thomas Hill and Amanda (Randall) Hill, who married in Alabama, arrived in that 1876 caravan of wagons bearing settlers. Accompanying them were their two sons, George W. and Samuel H. Hill. They acquired land four miles southwest of Eliasville, in Stephens County, along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. They ranched and were friendly to the local Indians.
George W. and Amanda Frances (Goodall) Hill had nine children and Sam and Harriet (Goodall) Hill had 10 children. Obviously, the brothers married sisters, which was common in rural frontiers. The brothers, combined herd was close to 1,000 head. George Hill’s brand was a double diamond, and Sam’s was H6. Later Sam’s son, Lloyd, took over much of his cattle operation.
By 1971, three grandchildren of Thomas and Amanda Hill were still living in Stephens County: Mrs. Irene (Hill) Davis, on Walker Str., King Smith of Ivan and Dennis Hill of Eliasville. Dennis is the son of Roy and Bea Hill. Roy was the son of George and Amanda Hill. Dennis is married to Barbara Hill, and they continue to live near the Clear Fork and live on the Hill homestead, which has now been in the Hill family for more than 140 years.
Also arriving in the 1876 caravan of wagons was John Roach, from Hunt County and before that, Alabama. He and his family settled in about a mile south of Eliasville and was a stock farmer. John and Frances Isabel Roach had three children when they arrived and had nine more while settled in Stephens County. Most of them were well educated and had very successful careers. Many of them were also musicians and added to the community where they settled.
One of the youngest, Zula Roach, married Ben Ward, who worked for the Donnell brothers and adopted Eliasville as his home and eventually had a successful Real Estate business in Newcastle, where he was active in the Methodist Church and community affairs. He was an orphan boy from South Carolina and arrived from Cass County and then to Eliasville, in 1897, and became active in Eliasville reunions.
The family of John J. Daws arrived from Hood County in 1876 to establish a stock enterprise two miles north of Eliasville, in Young County. Later, his sons spread it on over into Throckmorton County, after the open range was gone.
Capt. Joseph Benedict was another of those early pioneers who arrived a year later, in 1877. He and his wife, Adele Peters, and son, Harry, settled a few miles east of Eliasville. CapT. Benedict’s wife was a granddaughter to the famous Texas colonizer, W.S. Peters, Peters’ Colony.
Wiley P. Jones and family arrived in Eliasville, also in 1877, from Ellis County. He was an extremely versatile man who was a stock farmer, merchant and an early teacher in the community. Wiley P. Jones and Harriet Anderson Gilmore married in Ellis County in 1866 and arrived on the Clear Fork in 1877. They settled two miles south of Eliasville, in Stephens County. He established a store as a merchant and raised cattle. Jones organized the first school in a hut on the Gus Long place, just south of town. Jones also was the first superintendant of the Sunday School organized in the same hut each Sunday.
Among those first pupils were children from the area families of Donnell, Baldwin, Daws, Parrott, Hughes, Long, DeLong, Pratt and Hills.
Within a four–year period, a dozen or more families settled in the Eliasville area, with well more than 100 people to be counted. The families represented four protestant religions: Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist.
Among them were well educated members who came from aristocracies of the south with cultural backgrounds and strong Christian beliefs. This is what made Eliasville such a strong Christian community from the very early settlements.
The members of the community organized shared Sunday services and took turns leading the worship; this cooperation went on for 15 years before the Presbyterian Church first organized into their own church, which was shared with the Methodists.
S. D. (Rock House) Davis arrived in 1878 and lived in a Rock House on his land, located four miles west of town. He headed up a large stock farm of cattle and included a herd of sheep, west of the Clear Fork.
Between 1880 and 1890, a contingent of new families arrived and included: Akers, Applewhites, Hefners, Evans, Harris, Kirtley, Parrott, Ritchey, Parker, Salmon, Steward, Walker and Washburn.
Near the end of the 1880s, the open range began to close and fencing began to appear and the stockmen were forced to fence in their own places and then seek extra grazing land by leasing additional pastures. Some fenced with rock walls, especially around the Eliasville area. One of those examples is the wall at the Eliasville Cemetery, which should be preserved for history.
By the 1890s, more families arrived in the area and included: Lacy, Ardis, Brighton, Cunningham, Dinsmore, Hammacks, Long, McCharen, McGlamery, Milam, Newell, Poindexter, Price, Redwine, Reeves, Rucker, Souter, Owen and Clark.
More about some of these early families next week. If you have stories to share, as Sylvia Geron did this week, contact Jean Hayworth at jhay@suddenlink.net.
Anthony Jones, (center) owner of Hershey’s Palace snips the ribbon during the restaurant’s Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony Friday morning. The restaurant, which is located at 1252 U.S. Hwy 180 east, offers a variety of daily specials as well as a full menu. Call in orders can also be made by calling 254-559-2422.
(Photo by Kristy Ordonez/Breckenridge American)
Last week, I wrote about several early pioneers and wanted to follow up with a few more that came prior to 1900. One of those pioneers was probably the first doctor to come to Eliasville in 1880, Dr. William Giles Parrott and Mary (Stover) Parrott. They came by way of England, then to North Carolina and then to Tennessee. After that, the family settled in Montague County, Texas.
The mother had severe asthma, and the doctor had been told that Eliasville, in Young County, Texas, was a great place for asthma sufferers. As a result, the family packed up and headed to Eliasville in 1880. They had four boys who came with them, Richard L. “Dick” Parrott, who became the wagon boss for the Childress-Donnell Cow Outfit for several years and then made the last Cattle Drive before the fences became more prevalent. Another son, Lige Parrott, moved on to land purchased in Throckmorton County.
Dr. and Mrs. Parrott lived on a farm at the northern edge of Eliasville. R.L “Dick” Parrott married Josephine Morrow, who was an orphan at age 12 and lived with the family of Allen Elliott, in Lone Oak, before coming to Eliasville. They had a farm three miles northwest of Eliasville and had six children. Before their children grew up and left home, Dick and Josephine sold their land to John Roach but kept half of the royalties on the land. That was unheard of in that era but fortuitous, since oil was struck on that land during the oil boom of the 1920s. After selling their land at Eliasville, the family moved to Woodson and purchased farms and ranches there, which later had oil strikes hit on that land as well.
Dr. W.G. Parrott was buried in the Eliasville Cemetery along with two infant sons. Unfortunately, when Mary died, the river had risen in a flood and she had to be buried on the other side of the Clear Fork.
Much of this was confirmed by a great-grandson of Dr. Parrott, Jack Parrott, who came by for a visit with me at the newspaper. He also clarified information about another person I had written about in the Hill family, King Smith. I said he lived at Ivan when actually, he lived on land between Ivan and Breckenridge, which became the Smith brothers, ranches, Dean Smith and his late brother Don Smith. Dean still lives on the land with his wife and son, and Don’s widow, Kay Smith, still lives on their ranch. Thank you for the visit and all the information shared for the readers.
One of the earliest settlers at Eliasville was the family of George Wesley Pratt and Alice Dorinda (Masters) Pratt, who arrived about the time of the caravan, in 1876, from Baldwin, Mississippi. Their son, Larry Pratt, helped establish the large Larry Pratt Ranch in Young County, with the “L” brand on the left hip, He first married Willie Reeves and later married Molly Coon. His daughter, Willie Pratt, married I.L. (Hob) Still, and they continued to live on the Larry Pratt Ranch. A granddaughter, Hettie, had one child, Geraldine, who married C.T. Hill, and they had two sons, Given and Joe Hill, part of the Hill brothers descendants.
Another early pioneer family was that of Isaac S. Lacy and Georgia (Allday) Lacy, who arrived in 1888 from Cass County. He had 100 head of cattle and hogs and bought 640 acres of land two miles west of Eliasville in the upper Mississippi Bend of the Clear Fork. Lacy was in partnership with his son-in-law, Jim W. Young. It is recorded that Lacy bought the first registered short horn bull at Waco, which was said to be good producing beef steers and for milk. Lacy also had been in the lumber business in Cass County and continued to sell lumber in Eliasville. Later, Young bought the west half of the ranch, 320 acres, which he later sold to W.W. Cunningham. Subsequently, Lacy sold his half and moved into Breckenridge.
The McCharen family arrived with the Newell family in 1893. William Edward McCharen and Elizabeth (Jernigan) McCharen were married in Mississippi and then came by wagon to Eliasville. He was a cotton gin operator and also the threshing machine. McCharen set up the first irrigation pump in the Clear Fork Valley and raised cotton, three miles east of the river. The couple had 10 children, and he made a major impact in Eliasville with his mechanical skills. One of their children, Kimmons McCharen, married Mary Frances Donnell, after his first wife, Willie Elledge, died.
The family of Dr. David J. Newell and wife, Henrietta (Alexander) Newell, came to Eliasville with the McCharen family. His mother and Mrs. Newell’s sister also lived with them. Additionally, the music teacher, Miss Lucy Mabry, also lived with them. The couple had five children but only one lived, Lois, who married William Dennis Peveler, part of one of the earliest families to settle at Eliasville.
Later, a brother, Dr. John Newell, lived with them for a time and practiced both medicine and dentistry, on the main street of town. They also opened a drug store in town, at one time. Dr. John left for a period of time but returned during the oil boom.
There are a few more who arrived prior to 1890 or the early 1890s, and I will delve into their family backgrounds next week, which will include the Hefner and McGlamery families, who both had a tremendous impact on life in Eliasville.
Don’t hesitate to come by and share stories or historic photos of Eliasville. Contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
Last week I wrote about the impact of the Cunningham family in Eliasville and also talked about the Eliasville Brass Band that was created in 1893. Thanks to Karen Donnell, a photograph of the brass band was located with three of the Donnell kin participating, which included Lee Donnell, Alvin Donnell and Charles Donnell, who is her great-grandfather, who is on the second row, far left. The other two Donnell men are her great uncles, at the center of the back row and far right on the second row. The brass band also included a few from the Davis family: Will Davis, Pearl Davis and Dillard Davis, who eventually took over leadership of the band and re-organized and re-named it as the Eliasville Kid Band. The new band included his brothers: Edgar, Argo, Archie and Monte Davis. They went on to add a four-part harmony quartet that included Dillard, minus Monte.
Wiley Jones established a mercantile store at Eliasville, and Pearl Davis and H.N. Ritchey were partners in another general store. Others followed their example and included Pike and Julius Ardis, Dock McGlamery, Rob Dinsmore and Sam Harris. As the population grew, more goods and heavier machinery was needed for more efficient farming. As a result of the demands, S.H. Harris formed a partnership with S.D. Davis in a hardware store, in Eliasville. Later, that was followed by the J.B. York Hardware Store, the Wadley and Wright Hardware Store and the Morrison Company. After that, there was the Ben Johnson Hardware Store.
The R.E. McGlamery General Store was established in 1895, and he included shoes with laces which fastened on the top half by looping the laces over metal hooks. The work shoes he carried usually had buckles. He also carried dress shirts, which consisted of a linen front with tabs at the bottom to fasten to the men’s drawers. Collars and cuffs were detached and the cuff fasteners were adjusted for the length of the arm. Men’s drawers were made of heavy material with elastic down the sides and were sold in all seasons of the year with summers being the most uncomfortable with the heavy material.
Boys wore knee pants with heavy, ribbed knit stockings. It was a proud day when the boys got their first pair of long pants, which usually occurred about age 14. Boys could also go barefoot without raising any eye brows, but it was considered wrong for girls, who had to wear shoes and stockings, held up by a garter belt, which was made by their mothers from rolls of elastic material.
The general merchandise stores usually included a large front porch where people could sit and visit over a cool drink from the soda fountain. The stores also included hitching posts to tie up their horses and carriages and a water trough. The general merchandise stores also had a huge, round stove in the middle of the store to warm customers in the winter months, which also encouraged sitting and visiting for a spell. There would be a framework of 2x4s around the base of the stove, with a mixture of sand and ashes to extinguish any sparks. There also would be tobacco spittoons scattered around, which hopefully would protect the wood floors.
The general mercantile stores contained a variety of dry goods, which would include groceries, small amounts of hardware, garden utensils, sugar and salt barrels and molasses, which was drawn from a 50-gallon barrel into a bucket, furnished by the customer. Candy was packed in large wooden buckets which might include pink and white sugar fingers with some chocolate pieces. Kerosene oil was sold in closed containers with a spout and a potato rammed in it to keep from spilling any of the contents on the way home.
Dry goods also included large bolts of calico and jeans material for dresses and men’s work clothes. Ready-made clothes were rare in rural areas of Texas and most other frontier towns. Men and boys wore the same clothes to church and school, as on the farm for chores, with the newest clothes kept for Sunday and special occasions. As the material faded and got worn, they were designated as work clothes.
Most town folks did dress better, but what they wore was still very plain. Houses might have one central closet or wardrobe for clothes and hooks for the rest. Shoes were all high tops until the turn of the century. Low-quarter shoes were a novelty until 1900.
Since there was no refrigeration at that time, there was no milk, butter or eggs handled at the general store. Most customers milked their own cows, churned their own butter, butchered their own meat, raised their own vegetables and fruit and gathered their own eggs from their chickens. Brown sugar could be purchased along with an Arbuckle brand of coffee that was shipped by rail to Ranger or Strawn. Coffee sold for 10 cents a pound, at that time.
If you have historic photos or stories, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
I have been discussing the historic town of Eliasville, which lies just across the border of Young County but many of the businesses and families are residents of Stephens County. I have written about many of the pioneer families that settled in this area prior to 1876 and a the major influx of settlers that found Eliasville that year and others that came prior to 1900.
One of those early settlers was Will Davis who operated a barbershop in a walled-off corner of the General Store. It was decorated with colorful shaving mugs that were owned by the customers who came to his barbershop for a haircut and shave. It was 15 cents for a shave and 25 cents for a haircut. Even at those low prices, most families did their own barbering at home. His shop was mostly visited by the single men and those traveling through Eliasville on business. Shaves were still done with a straight razor sharpened on a leather strap.
Davis also was interested in the livery stable located on the main street, which became a hub of activity on Sunday afternoons and on Friday or Saturday nights. Here you found the fastest horses in two counties, most of which were from the Benedict and Reeves horse ranches in the area. Those fast horses pulled fancy buggies used for courting. It is recorded that Davis had the most stylish buggy in the livery stable on the main street of Elasville.
Another early pioneer was the “village smithy,” which included Uncle “Trot” Starrett, Phil Williams and W.E. Kirtley, who were among the first to sharpen the plows and shoe the horses. Also, Ab and Tom Billingsley, who came along after 1900 and operated the longest period in Eliasville. Others that followed this trade before and after the turn of the century included George E. White, John P. Clepper and J.B. McGlamery.
One of these blacksmiths erected a tower and mounted a windmill to take advantage of the south winds to provide power for his shop and new machinery with shafts, pulleys, belts and bellows. However, the old arm and hammer had to be used when the wind failed.
Sam H. Harris built a hotel, the Texas House, to accommodate traveling salesmen, mail carriers, teachers, day laborers and other visitors to Eliasville. He had his construction men excavate into the side of a mountain, east of the business district, and built a two-story hotel, with each floor having a ground entrance. The hotel had a large sign and a bell tower that would ring loudly for meal time.
In addition to Dr. W.G. Parrott, whom I’ve already written about, there were other doctors who came to Eliasville that included Dr. Isaac Price and his son, Dr. Luke Price, who arrived in the 1890s. Dr. Price operated one of the drug stores in Eliasville.
Additionally, there was Dr. Gore, who was a true “country doctor,” who delivered babies and then continued to treat them during their lifetime. Doctors of this era had to have a good horse, a medicine bag and a good saddle or a good buggy that would take him wherever he had to go. Sometimes, the doctor would have to travel 15 to 20 miles and often spent the night at the patients home. These early doctors were most often paid in fruit or vegetables and meat. Later, Dr. Gore acquired the Texas House and maintained roomers there to supplement his income.
Dr. D.A. Morris, who was a dentist in Graham, made annual rounds to Eliasville and other towns in Young County. The last two resident doctors to practice in Eliasville were Dr. A.A. Lange and Dr. J.H. Nelson, who both practiced during the Oil Boom era.
Carrie J. Crouch was a lawyer in Graham who traveled to Eliasville to argue cases on the south side of the Donnell Mill, which is recorded in his book, “A History of Young County.”
Subsequently, a bank was established by Mr. Will Donnell, as president, Harvey Brock as the cashier and Otis Cunningham as the teller.
Mr. Raymond Leslie, a reporter from the Fort Worth Star Telegram, set up a weekly newspaper.
Three fires struck Eliasville of historic significance. One destroyed flimsy structures on the eastern and central parts of town, which went down the main street leading to Breckenridge and the road leading to the bridge. The second fire swept along the river bank and the row of houses along the river. After that fire, several brick structures were built on the south side of the main street. Also, two fires struck the Donnell Mill, which had to be rebuilt in each instance.
Next week I will discuss the development of Eliasville and other business enterprises that were established.
For additional historic photos or stories, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
I have had a several readers of this column send in a stories about their families in the Eliasville area. The first one was submitted by Sylvia Geron of Breckenridge. She proceeded to tell me about Rachel Bailey, known as “Granny,” who was born in 1899 and passed away in 1997. She and her husband built the very first Fishing Camp, known as “Baileys,” at Possum Kingdom Lake.
“Granny” Bailey often talked about her days as a teacher at Eliasville and said she and other young teachers roomed in a large white house across from the Donnell Mill, which was across the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. The school was located on the other side of the Donnell Mill and up the hill. The road that was built across the Clear Fork also was uphill and dusty, so the women would remove their shoes and stockings and walk across the dam for a shortcut to the school.
This big white house was most likely the Texas House that I wrote about last week. The Texas House was originally built as a hotel by Sam H. Harris and was later purchased by Dr. Gore, who rented rooms out to many of the young, single teachers employed for the school at Eliasville.
Geron went on to write about “Granny” Bailey telling about experiencing one of the fires that destroyed the Donnell Mill. “When the Donnell Mill burned, not sure which one of the three fires, the teachers awoke and it was so bright that, at first, they thought they had overslept, until they realized it was a huge blaze, at the Donnell Mill across the Clear Fork.”
According to a newspaper article in the Breckenridge American, dated Oct. 29,1927, lightening had struck the mill and all the wood construction ignited into an inferno that once again destroyed the mill.
According to the article, the mill had been re-constructed with rock and brick from a previous fire but still was destroyed by the lightening strike that caused the fire that gutted all the wooden construction parts of the mill.
The mill was originally built in 1877 by the Donnell brothers, on the banks of the Clear Fork that provided the water power to turn the water wheel that turned the mechanism to grind the corn and wheat for the local and area farmers. The Donnell Mill was on the edge of Eliasville, that was located on the Young and Stephens County line.
In addition to the readers who have helped tell their stories, Karen Donnell loaned me a copy of a book written by Dr. Thomas M. Cunningham, “The Story of Eliasville,” which I referred to earlier, when I began the descriptions of the historic pioneers who settled in the Eliasville area. She also has provided photos and a much appreciated tour of Eliasville.
Retired Breckenridge ISD teacher and principal, Judy (Wright) Gibson also wrote to share some stories of her ancestors, which include the historic Peveler family, who to the Eliasville area in the 1850s, and settled on Peveler Creek, named after the early pioneer family.
Additionally, the Young family, who settled east of Eliasville on the county line of Young and Stephens, later in the 1870s. They were followed by the Wright family to the Eliasville and Ivan area in the 1890s.
These families, who are Gibson’s ancestors, came from Ireland, Scotland and Germany via North Carolina and Granbury.
Gibson’s great-grandmother was Fannie Azalea Peveler, who married Augustus “Gus” Barry Young, nephew of Colonel Buckner “Buck” Barry, an early lawman in the Texas Rangers and served at Meridian, Texas. The couple returned to the land of her birth, after his stint in the Texas Rangers with his uncle. The Peveler homestead is located east of town, where she was born in 1862, on land homesteaded by her parents in the 1850s. Half of the ranch is in Young County and half in Stephens County.
There is more to the Fannie (Peveler) Young story and we will delve into it next week.
If you have more stories or historic photos, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net or drop off the materials at the Breckenridge American offices, located at 114 E. Elm St.
Last week I had just begun to get into stories shared by Judy (Wright) Gibson of her historic ties to the Peveler family, who came to Stephens County in the 1850s and settled on the creek named after them, Peveler Creek, along the Clear Fork of the Brazos, in the Eliasville area. She also has ties to the historic Young family who settled in that area in the 1870s and the Wright family that settled in the Eliasville and Ivan area in the 1890s.
Fortunately, Gibson said there were many written accounts from her great-grandmother, Fannie Azalea (Peverler) Young, that gives the family a historic record to rely on for their family history. Fanny lived to be 99+ and passed on many of the stories to her children and grandchildren verbally, in addition to the written historic records.
Fannie and her husband, Augustus “Gus” Barry Young returned to the land of her birth, which is split between Young and Stephens Counties. The land was homesteaded by her Peveler ancestors in the 1850s and added on to by her Young ancestors in the 1870s.
Fannie’s son, William Robert Young, who was Gibson’s grandfather, had a Real Estate business in Eliasville, with his brother-in-law, during the boom days of Eliasville, in the 1920s and 1930s.
Dorothy (Young) Wright, Gibson’s mother, grew up in Eliasville between the 1920s-1940s and some of her fondest memories were of the Eliasville Brass Band, the Vaudeville acts, community theatre productions and a skating rink set up in a tent. Additionally, Gibson told about the volleyball games that took place in the old Eliasville High School gym, long after the Eliasville schools had consolidated with Graham and Breckenridge.
Gibson and her husband, Jerry Gibson, who also taught in Breckenridge and Graham schools, used to play volleyball against the older married couples’ team, when they were in high school at Breckenridge and during summers, while in college. Gibson said, “they were tough enough to keep the late 1950s, BHS football boys in shape when they played against them.” Gibson added, “Ron Payne also would have memories of those games and workouts during that period.”
Gibson added her comments about the Eliasville Brass Band, as an integral part of the community. She said, “Her Uncle Argo Davis and his brothers were so naturally gifted musically and vocally and added much to the band and vocal entertainment at community gatherings.” The band helped keep up the community spirit during the chaotic times of the Oil Boom, when the town swelled to a tent and shanty town of an estimated 20,000 people.
Eliasville supported two banks, a baseball team and submitted a bid for a junior college, to be established in the College Heights Addition, on the hill. Eliasville also established a nine-hole golf course, which was constructed to lure the men who worked in the eight Carbon Black Plants south of Breckenridge and the oil company executives living in the area.
It should be noted that the small community of Eliasville produced two university presidents at the University of Texas, Harry Yardell Benedict and Homer Price Rainey.
Gibson’s grandmother, Gay (Young) Elledge, had a sister, Ora Elledge, who married Argo Davis. Their daughter, Quida Davis, married John Amos Wright, who was the brother of Gibson’s father, Randall Atkins “Fatboy” Wright. Argo went on several Goodnight cattle drives as a cook and was known as an exceptional cook throughout his life.
“Fat Boy” Wright’s other brother, Clinton Marcus “Nig” Wright married Mattie Loyce Young, Dorothy’s sister. “Fat Boy” was well-known for his talent of breaking horses. Of Course, “Fat Boy” Wright married Dorothy Marguerite Young, Judy Gibson’s parents.
All three boys attended schools at Ivan through the eighth grade, where they participated in all sports and always went on to district play. Since there was only one car for rides to high school in Breckenridge, the boys always triple-dated. Thus, two Wright brothers married two Young sisters.
One of the other stories about Hugh “Junior” Cunningham and “Fat Boy” Wright was that they planned to establish a newspaper, when they returned from college and had even worked out their insignia.
However, after one football tryout at Waxahachie Junior College, Wright returned to Eliasville to marry his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Young, and continue to live and ranch in Stephens County and raise their two daughters, Judy and Janet.
However, that is not the end of the story. Hugh Cunningham Jr. did go on to have a successful career in Houston as a newsman. Many years later, a young man heard of him and showed up at his newsroom one day and asked to be his apprentice and even lived with Hugh for a time. Years later, Cunningham was invited to sit on the dais as that same apprentice reporter was recognized for his life time of news reporting. That young man, in turn, recognized Hugh as the most influential person in his life’s work. The young apprentice was Dan Rather.
Thanks to Judy (Wright) Gibson for her contribution and to Sylvia Geron for her contributions last week.
Before I close this week, I need some help with a mystery that has come to my attention. Does anyone in my reading audience know anything about a one-legged doctor, Dr. O. Lindley, who has a lower extremity buried in the Breckenridge Cemetery? If you have any information about him or how he lost his leg or any information, contact me. I would like to shed some light on this mysterious missing limb. If you have stories or historic photos contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net
Last week our weekly travels took us to Ivan, a small community north of Breckenridge. I introduced the Kennedy family who settled in the Ivan area and the family of A.W. Corbett, who began the Corbett ranching legacy that continues to this day.
Aaron Wilson and Mollie Mary (Coapland) Corbett came to Stephens County and settled on Cedar Creek in 1877 as part of the major migration to this area. Their seven children were born prior to the move to Stephens County. Sometime later Mollie died and A. W. married a second time to Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” McFarland and they had three children; John Quincy, Leona and Florence Luella. These children were raised on Cedar Creek and attended school at Bee Branch.
Aaron Wilson Corbett is buried at Bee Branch Cemetery between his two wives, Mollie and Lizzie. John Quincy continued to live on the Corbett Ranch after he married Clara Lee Remington. Their son, John Quincy Corbett Jr. married Donna Jean Waller of Shackelford County and built a home on the northern part of the Corbett Ranch, begun by his grandfather, A. W. Corbett. They had two children, Nancy Elizabeth and John Quincy Corbett III.
After a stint with the Soil Conservation Service, Johnny Corbett married Jerrylee Barnes Lampkin of San Antonio and adopted her two sons, Robert Wayne Corbett and David Kyle Corbett, who now runs the Corbett Ranch, as the fifth generation on the ranch, begun in 1877.
William Henry “Bill” Force and his bride, Ada Ellen Wood, came to Stephens County from Johnson County and settled at Ivan. He was a mechanic and blacksmith by trade and played the fiddle for enjoyment and at community gatherings. He learned the mechanic trade working for B.F. “Frank” Deaver, at his Ivan garage and blacksmith shop. Later, Force would open his own auto repair shop and service station at Ivan. The station had an Indian teepee on the top of the gas pumps at first and later a marathon runner.
Another family that settled at Ivan was that of Wilburn Andrew Gann, who was the sixth child born to Bayless and Laura Gann, who settled on Veale Creek in the 1890s. He worked for several ranchers and farmers as a young man. While working for Mr. Willie Corbett, son of A.W. and first wife Mollie Corbett, in 1919, and married the boss’s daughter, Iva Lee Corbett.
Gann and his brothers cleared the fields that surrounded the Stovall Hot Water Wells at South Bend. His job was to keep firewood going on the steam-driven tractor.
He also was the community butcher, helping neighbors kill and process their milk-pen calves and hogs. Each year, Gann raised a large garden and then gave away the harvest to the needy and elderly of the Ivan community.
When he retired, Wilburn and Iva Lee moved to a cabin on Veale Creek, where it runs into Cedar Creek. They are buried at the Veale Cemetery. Gann descendants continue to live in Stephens County to this day.
During the Oil Boom era of the 1920s, Ivan grew into a tent city of several thousand people, who worked in the oil fields at Ivan or the rich oil leases north of Ivan and the South Bend areas.
There are many records that tell of a large gambling establishment at Ivan that was busted by the Stephens County Sheriff Edmondson and Deputy Morris, involving more than 50 people. Also, several stills and moonshine operations were also destroyed near Ivan.
In contrast, the Church of Christ was a strong influence in the community under the leadership of Mr. John Weatherford, a resident of Ivan and preacher for many years, with more than 100 active members in the congregation. Brush arbors were erected on the southeast corner of the school grounds and used for gospel meetings during the summer.
Many residents will remember the Wertz Brothers Machine Shop that provided direct service to the oil fields and Dunnigan Supply of Breckenridge that established a shop and supply house in Ivan for more direct service. Additionally, there was Norvill Hardware and a bank established by E.D Wells, C.W. Rodgers, H.L. Rogers and H.C. Brice.
In February 1921, there was some debate among railroad executives about the Kell Railroad and Hamon R.R. line coming to Ivan instead of Eliasville because of the tremendous activity in the leases north of Ivan and South Bend.
There was lots of oil and gas activity on the river side of the range of hills or on the east side, so it would make sense to run the rail line to Ivan and eliminate the heavy grades, cuts and bridges needed to go to Eliasville.
Also, Ivan expected the Ringling Brothers Rail line from Breckwalker and Caddo but would have preferred the more direct line out of Breckenridge to connect to large suppliers. As it turned out, the more direct route of the Kell rail line would go through Eliasville by December of 1921. Ivan lost out on being on any of the short or through rail lines that were constructed in 1920-21 through Breckenridge and towns to the north, south, east and west of Breckenridge.
Many old timers will remember Frank Deaver’s blacksmith shop and garage; Will Force’s auto repair shop and service station; Aunt Fannie Davis in the Ivan Post Office; the Horton Grocery Store; Mrs. Stout’s Cafe and Vollie Martin’s store; the wagon yard; and Uncle Si Perkins Fixit Shop, where saws, scissors and knives were sharpened; and Ivan’s Sunday afternoon baseball games.
Straddling the southern border of Stephens County and the northern border of Eastland County was the Oil Boom town of LeeRay, named for R.Q. Lee and Walter Ray, who had purchased several plots of land in this picturesque setting, when the Oil Boom struck the counties. Prior to the influx of more than 5,000 oil field workers, cattle grazed there peacefully. The two men hoped to get rich developing it into a “Camp Town” during the ensuing oil boom years.
The county line ran right down the middle of the main street and the lawless-minded took advantage of that fact until both counties named the same man, a former Texas Ranger, as the Sheriff, who soon got the criminal element ushered out of the small town. After the oil diminished, the town literally disappeared among the cactus and Mesquite. Left to be found are the railroad tracks from the Cisco and North Eastern R.R. and a vault from one of the two banks that were established during the boom years.
Also, there is an old log cabin left by the ancestors of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Thorpe. About 200 yards from the cabin, are the remains of a rock-lined dipping vat that cowboys used to run their cattle through before they were taken to market to be sold.
LeeRay is one of many Ghost Towns created by the Oil Boom in Stephens County during the 1920s.
We leave Ivan and LeeRay and go on to other ventures next week. If you have historic photos or stories, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
Since autumn officially arrives one week and one day from today, I have been mentally preparing myself for moving tender plants into the greenhouse prior to the arrival of cold weather. Of course, protecting plants in the greenhouse depends on my getting the roof replaced before the first frost. This type of move involves a certain amount of sorting and inventorying. Inventory revealed that I have more airplane plants than I remember taking out of the greenhouse this past spring. Part of the reason for this increase is that airplane plants are very easy to propagate.
Airplane plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are known by a variety of common names including spider plant, ribbonplant, spider-ivy, and walking anthericum. This member of the lily family grows to a width of two to two and one-half feet and can have a height of three feet when grown in a hanging pot or basket. The long narrow leaves can be completely green or variegated with yellow or white stripes down their centers. The leaves typically grow from eight to twelve inches long and arise, grass like, from a central crown. Long spindly stalks also come from the central crown and carry small white flowers and plantlets. These plantlets will grow and can be used to propagate additional plants. This habit of producing plantlets on long drooping stalks makes this an ideal plant for hanging baskets.
Airplane plants are good choices for the beginning or novice horticulturist. Although they originated in South Africa they have become naturalized in several tropical parts of the world. They have the ability to adapt to a wide range of light conditions but are not at their best in our full sun. I keep my airplane plants hanging from trees or on shaded benches in the warmer weather and they appear to thrive. They are reported to prefer cooler temperatures between 65 degrees and 90 degrees but do well in higher temperatures. Mine have endured 100 degrees plus in the shade. At higher temperatures their growth will slow and they will require more frequent watering. Foliage will be killed by even a light frost but these plants are root hardy to about 20 degrees.
As usual, “well-drained soil” or potting soil will support the plant’s growth. A pH from acidic to slightly alkaline is preferable. Potting soil used for African Violets has been used successfully. Fertilize twice a month in spring and summer with a dilute balanced fertilizer. Do not over fertilize.
Airplane plants will develop root rot if kept too wet and they should be allowed to dry slightly between watering. It has been reported that the roots can be damaged by fluoride in the water. Chlorine has been blamed for browning of the leaves but leaf browning is considered normal by some. I have had no problem with watering with city water straight from the tap. I do, however, flood the soil periodically to leach out any mineral salts that have formed. Some growers have even suggested watering only with distilled water. This may avoid problems but hardly seems necessary. The fleshy roots help the plant endure less than ideal watering regimes but they are not particularly drought tolerant in the landscape. In tropical areas airplane plants can be used for borders or groundcover much like we use liriope or monkey grass is used in our area.
Airplane plants are easily propagated by simple division of the “mother” plant or by rooting the “baby” plantlets. The babies can be rooted by placing a pot of soil close to the mother and then staking them down in contact with the soil. When the baby has taken root it can be separated from the mother. It is also possible to simply remove the baby from the plant and pot it directly into soil. The more mature plantlets will have the beginnings of roots and take hold more readily. They can also be grown for a while in water to develop their roots. This tough plant is a good choice for beginners since most of the time only flat out neglect will kill them.
Airplane plants have been listed as one of the top “Clean Air Plants” because they have been shown to purify the air, even removing formaldehyde. This makes them a very desirable houseplant. Keep the plantlets away from pets, however, because if eaten the animal will become sick and vomit. Eating airplane plant is not usually fatal to pets.
Last week I finished the brief visit to Peach Creek with the John Allen and Harriet Ann (Claunch) Stewart family. After 16 years at Peach Creek (1884-1900), the Stewart family moved further southwest toward Breckenridge to the Pecan community.
At Pecan, I introduced the families of James J. Hobson and Harve E. Pendleton, who donated land for a new schoolhouse to be built after the first one burned.
Thomas Jesse Hobson was the seventh child of a seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. John Edgar Hobson of Llano. He worked on the railroad at Cisco and met Charlotta Dinera Boggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Greene Boggs, an early settler at Picketville. She was only 16 when they met and her parents made them wait until she turned 17 before they would allow their daughter to marry. Her grandparents were of the James H. Schoolcrafts, who were one of the first five families to settle in Stephens County. Hobson was a stonemason and helped build the First Pentacostal Church, with Rev. Ernest Copeland. He said he was a Campbollite but attended his wife’s church.
Harve E. Pendleton and June Etta (Russell) Pendleton came to Stephens County in 1908 and settled in the Pecan community. They had been married in 1893 and gradually migrated further west as many did during that period. The couple had 11 children that they raised on the farm and ranched between Ivan and Breckenridge. Descendants include Rick and Sharon Pendleton, Ronnie and Susan Pendleton, both of Breckenridge and another brother, Raymond and wife Mary.
The Stewart family land adjoined the Hobson land and across the road was the Parten farm, which they had purchased from the Grogans, who left Pecan between 1910-1915. West of the Parten farm was that of Tom H. and Eunice (Robertson) Allen.
Allen was the sixth child of John Chapman Allen and Lucretia (Caton) Allen, who came to Breckenridge in 1891. Eunice Robertson was the fourth child of John Harrison Robertson and his second wife, Martha M. Billingsley. Eunice was part of the historic Robertson family of Crystal Falls, who had a large ranching operation in the area.
The Allen couple married in 1917 and made their home at the Allen home place, settled by his parents in 1889. This land eventually went to Troy Allen and his wife Colene, with more than 120 years of continuous ownership by Allen ancestors and descendants.
Back across the Breckenridge-Graham road from the Allen land, was the Hibbert place and Buster Russell’s home was located east of that.
In the 1930s, Johnny Alexander purchased the Davis land, located north of the Russell place and made their home their for several years before moving into Breckenridge.
Located north of the Pendleton place, in Pecan, was the Speer farm and east of that was the family of John Ware, who was an Englishman. East of the Ware place was the Bert Glenn home. Glenn had lost his arm in the belt of his thresher.
North of the Speer place was the farm of Charles A. Stewart, which was on the north side of the road and east of him was the Hefner farm.
The Sam Allen family lived about a mile north of the Hefner farm but all the children attended school at Ivan. However, the whole Allen family attended the Pecan Methodist Church, which was organized in August of 1905.
As in other rural communities, life in Pecan revolved around the school and church, with revivals held in the summer under the brush arbor, built on the donated Pendleton land. There were fish fries, picnics and ice cream socials that accompanied the revivals. Also, games of dominoes, checkers and various card games could be observed in the evening. During the day, there were games of croquet and horseshoes. However, many of the men and older boys participated in wolf hunts, with their hound dogs, that were raised for that purpose.
One of the more interesting characters to settle at Pecan was Money Sterling Weatherford Sr., who moved to Pecan in 1890. His father was a Creek Indian, who was a brother to Chief Weatherford (Red Eagle), who was known to lead the massacre at Fort Mims. Fort Mims was located in present-day Baldwin County, Alabama. The massacre occurred on Aug. 30, 1813, during the Creek War, when a band of 700 Creek Indians, known as the “Red Sticks,” stormed the fort and defeated the militia garrison. The leaders were Peter McQueen and William Weatherford, or Lamochattee (Red Eagle), a brother of Money Sterling Weatherford Sr.’s father. Major General Andrew Jackson commanded the state militias that defeated the “Red Sticks” Creek Indian faction at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and ended the Creek War.
The Weatherford couple had seven sons and four daughters and many of their descendants continue to live in Stephens County to this day.
If you have not already seen them for sale, bulbs of spring blooming flowers will soon be available. These welcome indicators of spring need to grow all winter and develop their root systems before the flowering season.
There are several of these bulbs that do well in our area and include daffodils (or narcissus), grape hyacinths, Dutch hyacinths, tulips, anemones, irises and several lilies. In order to gain maximum flowering the gardener should make note of the cold requirements of each variety of bulb. Often it is not our heat that inhibits bloom production but our lack of sufficient cold weather to give the plants the necessary cold dormancy. Choosing an adapted variety will also increase the chances of good bloom production. An example is the outstanding tulip display every spring at the Dallas Arboretum. This display is at its height in late March to early April and consists of the blooms from approximately 400,000 bulbs. The variety chosen is called “single late.” The staff is reported to have found that the early blooming varieties only grow to six to eight inches tall and have a disappointing bloom performance.
When buying (or replanting lifted bulbs) look for bulbs that are firm and well-formed. Generally speaking, there is a direct correlation between the size of the bulb and the flower yield. Expect larger flowers in larger numbers from larger bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered, spongy or moldy. Prepackaged bulbs will typically be packed in vermiculite or moss to prevent damage and to avoid drying out. To insure the best flower display possible buy the best bulbs that you can afford.
When planting bulbs, remember that flowers from bulbs look best in lumps or drifts. One method is to plan an area between one and four feet wide and plant the bulbs at the recommended closeness. Another method is to simply toss the bulbs into the air (gently so as not to damage the bulbs) and plant the bulbs where they fall. This will look surprisingly good and natural. When planning the bulb bed choose an area with good drainage and that receives plenty of sun. Many flowers will perform poorly or not at all without sufficient sun. It is wise to mark your plantings so that you will not plant over them at a later date. All the growth before spring will be below the ground. Unless there are more specific instructions available, most bulbs should be planted at a depth approximately three times the bulb’s height. It is best to plant bulbs when the soil temperature at a depth of about six inches is no more than 60°. In our area the optimal planting time is sometime between September and November. If you have soil with high clay content, add some organic material to the bed and plant the bulbs an inch or two more shallow that normal. Water bulbs after planting.
Bulbs can be grown in pots that can be brought indoors to enjoy the blooms. They can also be “forced” for enjoyment indoors in the winter. Bulbs that are good for indoor forcing include crocuses, grape hyacinths, daffodils, amaryllis and tulips. However, just about any bulb that is available in the fall can be forced. Bulbs are forced by making sure that they have been subjected to the proper cold conditions for their annual rest then forcing them to come out of hibernation before they would if planted outdoors. Generally forced bulbs are grown in water or in pebbles and water. Kits are often available that include the pre-treated bulb, an appropriate container, pebbles and instructions. If you must cold treat the bulbs yourself, they will require a temperature of 33° to 45° for eight to fifteen weeks. Specific information will probably be available at the garden center or on line. The bulbs are placed in a cool bright area to sprout. When the plant has reached about six inches tall they will need warmer temperatures and as much light as possible. When the blooms open move the plant into indirect light and keep cool to extend the blooming period for as long as possible. Forced bulbs cannot be forced again and if planted in the ground may take several years to recover and start b
If you have traveled in rural Stephens County or surrounding areas, or if you have observed vacant lots in urban areas, or if you have areas on your property that do not get as much attention as you would like, you have probably noticed a tall grass 18 to 48 inches tall bearing loose terminal seed heads on stems that are naked below the red to purplish tinged seed heads. This is a non-native grass known by the common name King Ranch Bluestem.
King Ranch Bluestem (KR Bluestem) was introduced into this country in the late 1890s and early 1900s. It was not noticed on the King Ranch until about 1937. Since then it has become established throughout much of the southern and central parts of the state and has extended up into Oklahoma.
KR Bluestem is a bunchgrass that grows in tufts with upright or spreading stems. It is a perennial that blooms in early spring and the seed heads mature in the fall. It was originally introduced to be a forage grass for livestock. It grows well and establishes easily, is very tough, and is drought tolerant. When KR Bluestem is used as a permanent pasture it can produce fair grazing for cattle and sheep and can be grazed throughout the winter. It also produces good hay. KR Bluestem has been planted by the Texas Department of Transportation along roadways as an erosion control. A Master Naturalist friend derisively calls it TX DOT Bluestem.
Unfortunately, like many bothersome weeds, it tends to not stay where it is planted leading to its being classified as invasive. It has adapted to well-drained shallow sandy, loam, and clay soils. It appears to not do well in acidic soils.
KR Bluestem is known to have displaced native grasses in large areas of central and south Texas. It has been accused of being the cause of reduced displays of spring wild flowers, including bluebonnets. It has also been shown to contribute to a decline in bird diversity as well as insect diversity.
Controlling KR Bluestem is not an easy task. Although there is no herbicide specifically labeled for KR Bluestem, glyphosate herbicides (Roundup, Touchdown) will effectively kill it. The problem is that these herbicides are non-specific and will kill surrounding plants as well. If KR Bluestem is in a lawn the best solution is to dig it out. Intensive mowing during the growing season but before seed production and burning are other methods that can be used in conjunction with herbicide applications.
And speaking of invasive grasses, there is Johnson grass. It has been reported that Texas taxpayers spent $53 million in 1998 for chemical control of Johnson grass along Texas roadsides alone. No wonder it has earned the reputation of being one of the ten worst weeds in the world.
Johnson grass is well adapted to compete with crop plants and to spread widely. It not only reproduces by seeds but it also produces thick rhizomes. A single plant may produce more than 80,000 seeds and 275 feet of rhizomes in a single growing season. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to ten years and the rhizomes can be found several feet deep in the soil.
Controlling Johnson grass in the home environment will involve prevention of rhizomes spreading by killing or weakening the established plants and the underground rhizomes. Intensive close mowing for a couple of years will weaken the plant and the rhizomes will concentrate near the surface. The glyphosate herbicides applied in the fall will kill the above ground tissues and often the developing rhizomes.
Once thought to be good forage for grazing livestock, Johnson grass has properties that can cause cyanide poisoning in horses and cattle if it is eaten in quantity. It is also known to cause “bloat” in these herbivores. This is not usually a problem for the homeowner, however.
Last week we began a visit to the community of Union Hill, populated by the Houston and Downing clans as well as others such as Henry W. Hart, S.A. Sullivan and Edna Crook, who were selected to head up the fundraising efforts to build a church in the Union Hill community.
They enlisted the help of others in the community for their time, talent and labor and those included Abner Milton Sullivan, Charlie Graham, Ellis Hope, Charley Trammell, Sam Moore, B. Downing, George Neal, Karl Griggs, Art Long and Scott Grey.
Lumber was transported from Ranger on wagons supplied by A.M. Sullivan for the construction of the Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, which was completed by the third week in June of 1915.
The Covenant and Articles of Faith were read to the congregation in December of 1915, with 40 members present. Brother A.B. Lane served as moderator until the first pastor came, Brother John Riddle, from Caddo. Some of the early converts to the church included Myrtle Senter, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Yarbrough, Mrs. Henry Hart, Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Lane and Jessie Lane, Miss Sweetie Miller, Otha Williams and Dissa May Miller. Other early settlers in the Union Hill community included the Thompsons, Smiths, Glenns and Pierce families.
The one room church could hold a capacity of 200 people. Previously, church services were held at the Union Hill schoolhouse, which was typical for rural communities.
The schoolhouse was located on the George Thompson property, southeast of the newly constructed church building on Farm Road 207. It was only a half-time church in the early days, with services twice a month. During the 1930s, there also was a part-time Methodist preacher that preached every other Sunday. When there was no evening service, community singing was the entertainment, with duets, trios and quartets, which was a typical practice of rural communities across the county.
What is most historic about the church is the bell that was installed in 1921 at a cost of $60,000, purchased by “grandma” Lilla Alice (Houston) Sullivan, who especially liked to hear it ring each Sunday morning. She was the wife of Abner Milton Sullivan and they had four daughters and five sons
The heavy bell was raised up in the bell tower by building scaffolding inside the tower and using block and tackle methods to raise it into position, with six men required to pull the ropes to raise it.
Later, in the 1980s, the church building was moved to the Necessity Baptist Church to serve as a classroom and fellowship hall. At that time, the church bell was removed and sent to its’ new home at the Swenson Memorial Museum by Lilla Sullivan’s granddaughters, Nell Sullivan, Frankie Griggs Hill, Tiny (Crook) Whitley and May Hope Ball. The bell can be seen at the museum where it rests to this day.
There is more to be said about the Houston settlers in the Union Hill community and Necessity. S.H. Houston served in the Confederacy during the Civil War, in Company K, of the 51st Regiment of Georgia.
He was captured in early 1864, in Maryland, and was a prisoner of war for several months until he was part of an exchange for Union soldiers in October of 1864, at the age of 32. His daughter was six years old when he returned home to Georgia and then became part of the caravan moving west toward Texas.
Two of the Houston sons, Hop and Bud, ran the General Merchandise Store at Necessity for 20 years. The store was first located in Old Necessity, at the corner of the Sam Taylor farm.
Later, the store was moved about a mile further and across the street from where the old bank vault now stands. The Houston brothers sold a wide range of items, from automobiles to plain black coffins.
After the oil boom, the brothers moved off to other parts of Texas and took their widowed mother with them. The daughters, however, married into local families and remained in the area. Many of their descendants continue to live in Stephens County and raise their families.
When oil was struck on the land of Henry Hart, in 1918, the oil boom in Necessity and Union Hill shifted into high gear. Last week, I mentioned that the Houston brothers traded their store to H.B. and Jessie Downing for oil royalties on their small farm.
Unfortunately, no oil was ever struck on the Downing farm but the Houston brothers made good investments in other areas that did strike oil.
Oil also was struck on the A.M. Sullivan place and the boom was on with temporary shacks built over night. The Magnolia Oil Co. constructed a gasoline refinery on the Sullivan lease. Suddenly, there were two more general merchandise stores opened and more than 1,000 people descended on the Union Hill and Necessity communities.
One of the Downing clan, Thomas Aaron Downing, son of the original settlers, Absolum and Isabella E. (Parker) Downing, moved to the Necessity community in 1908 and first married Pearl Harris, who subsequently died. Then he married Elizabeth Jane Richardson, from another pioneer family in Stephens County. He wore many hats during the 1920s and 1930s as grocery store owner, banker, owned a drug store and served as postmaster at Caddo.
He was the first rural mail carrier in Stephens County. He also served on the Stephens County Rural School Board for several years and was a long standing member of the Masonic Lodge. He received his 50 year pin in 1961 and lived to be 85 years of age.
His children included Thomas Aaron Downing Jr., Sybil Downing and Katherine Roberta (Downing) Raith. His siblings included Lena (Downing) Houston, Howell (Hop) Berryman Downing, Archibald (Arch) H. Downing and Bonnie Alida (Downing) Foy.
Next week, we will look at the early schoolhouse and teachers of Union Hill.
If you have more stories and historic photos, contact Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
Here in the first week of October is not the usual time one thinks about wildflowers. Some Snow-on-the-Mountain still around and few Sunflowers can always be found. There are some fall bloomers that are showing up on the roadsides and in the fields.
One of the most predominant fall wild flowers is the Common Broomweed. Broomweed is adaptable to most soil types. It consists of a tall single stem with extensive branching in the upper two-thirds. The flowers are clear yellow, small, and appear singly at the ends of short branches from September through December. I have recently seen patches of Broomweed that appear lime green due to so many yellow flowers on the green plants.
Saw-leaf Daisy usually blooms from August through October on tall solitary stems. These stems can grow up to five feet tall easily and only branch near the top where the flowers are borne. The flowers are yellow and are very striking right now. The recent rains must have encouraged blooming. The plants are prickly to the touch. Like the Broomweed the Saw-leaf Daisy is not grazed by livestock.
Although it is difficult to see at highway speeds among the King Ranch Bluestem, there is a small plant that is blooming now as well. The Plains Blackfoot or Rock Daisy is a low growing plant with white flowers that have notched petals and blooms from March through November . This flower is reported to grow to twelve inches in height but I have not seen any over about six inches in height. This showy little plant is easily grown and is a good candidate for cultivation.
One of my favorite fall blooming wild flowers is the Liatris (Gayfeather or Blazing Star) that bloom from August through December. The purple blooms are carried upright spikes that are from one to almost three feet tall. They appear in small bunches along the roadside or in large patches in the fields making striking purple displays. Varieties of these plants are native from Texas to Canada. Of the thirty-seven species that exist twenty-eight are native to Texas.
Liatris also do well in cultivation and can even be grown in containers. These perennials grow from corms that are planted in the early spring or in the fall. A corm is a bulb-like underground storage organ usually covered by scales. Plants grown from corms usually bloom the same year they are planted. It usually takes two to three months for them to develop blooms. When planting the corms in the ground place them approximately fifteen inches apart. Liatris can also be grown from seed but will not bloom until the second year. These plants tolerate most soils including very poor ones but it must be well drained. These plants are very drought tolerant once established and do not tolerate being kept moist, especially in the winter. It is reported to be detrimental to the plants to give them additional fertilizer, soil amendments, or excessive water. The leaves of the Liatris add interest to the garden all through the growing season. They turn a shade of bronze late in the season.
The Native Plant Society of Texas reports that the Liatris attracts butterflies and are not grazed by deer. They also report that the corms were used by Native Americans as a food source. They were boiled, baked, and eaten raw. The Native Americans had a number of medicinal uses for the plant as well.
There are white and pink varieties available from garden centers. Liatris are grown commercially for the florist trade. They make attractive additions to flower arrangements and can be used fresh or dried. Flowers that are dried with desiccant appear to hold their color better.
It is interesting to note that the Broomweed, Saw-leaf Daisy, Blackfoot Daisy, and Liatris are all members of the Sunflower family.
As you drive along keep your eyes open for the surprises along the way.
We have been visiting the historic community of Union Hill, located close to Cedar Creek and north of Mountain Valley, which changed to Cotton Plant and then to Necessity, on the Old Belknap Road.
The first school, in Union Hill, was located on the George Thompson property, about one or two miles east and a little south of the newer school that was constructed later, in 1920, on what is now the Farm to Market Road 207. Ben Grant, (a Downing son-in-law), who was later to serve as Stephens County Clerk for many years, was a teacher at the Union Hill School during the early 1920s. Also, the late Clarence Hope was one of those early teachers. He went on to head the psychology department at the New Mexico State Teacher’s College in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
As the population grew during the oil boom, the school also was bursting at the seams. As a result, a new school was built in 1920 on the main road, on land donated by Jim Pierce. The big, new schoolhouse was soon full and overflowing. So, a small one-room cottage was built to take care of the first and second grade classes. Three teachers taught the first 10 years of classes and when the students became seniors, in the 11th grade in those days, they went on to Breckenridge for their final year of high school. Records indicate that there were as many as 60 pupils enrolled at the Union Hill School, at one time.
The school board always tried to hire a married couple and provided what they called a teacherage on the school grounds, a small house. A single teacher usually boarded with a family in the community. There was a Mr. and Mrs. Dillard, which was followed by Mr. and Mrs. Coody. Willie Davis taught one year and Pauline Spruill taught there for several years.
When the oil production waned in the mid 1920s, those who owned land and had farmed, returned to the land to eke out a living during the 1930s era of the Great Depression.
After World War II, there was a movement to conserve teachers and consolidate the smaller, rural schools in the county and as a result, the Union Hill School was closed and abandoned.
One of the more accomplished teachers at Union Hill School was Benjamin Rusk Grant, mentioned earlier as a Downing son-in-law, and was married to Etta Abe Downing of Union Hill, in 1907. After they married, the couple bought a farm near Frankell, which was located south of Necessity, on the Wichita Falls, Ranger and Southern railroad, which was part of the larger Fort Worth Railroad. It was during the 1920s that Grant taught at Union Hill School. Before that, there is a record of Grant teaching at Possum Trot School, in 1909-1912. That school was located just north of Frankell where the Grants owned a farm.
In 1918, Grant moved his family into Breckenridge because he was anticipating serving in the Army during World War I. Later, he became Deputy Sheriff and Jailer and moved his family into the old two-story, stone jail on the Stephens County Courthouse grounds, located on the northeast corner. The more modern, spacious courthouse of today was not built until 1926. Grant went on to serve as Stephens County Clerk for 36 years and retired at the age of 81. Etta Downing Grant was a charter member of the Methodist Church and the Woman’s Club. They died within a few months of each other in 1968.
The Magnolia Oil Company maintained the gasoline refinery, starting in 1918, with C.J. Crook. He brought his new bride, Sallie (Sullivan) Crook, to one of the company houses in June of 1920. Those who lived in these company house were also provided free electricity, generated at the plant, and provided another by-product of the plant, ice.
There is much more to talk about with the Houston and Downing clans of Union Hill but it is time to move on to another historic community, Sullivan’s Camp, which sprang up as a result of the Oil strikes in Stephens County. It was located just north of Union Hill and Necessity, two miles down road 207, southeast of Breckenridge. Not much is known about this place except that it was named for a Mr. Sullivan. It came alive as oil was struck in 1918 and died out in 1923, as the oil in Stephens County waned. During its short life, there were several houses and two grocery stores that were equipped with gas pumps, a feed store, a restaurant, a tailor shop and a barbershop. There also was one boarding house for workers or those traveling through on business. All that remains of this place is some scattered foundations.
Next week, we will venture on to another historic community, Bee Branch or Harmony. If you have information or historic photos, get in touch with Jean Hayworth at: jhay@suddenlink.net.
