History of Parker County the Double Log Cabin
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HISTORY OF PARKER COUNTY ANI) THE DOUBLE LOG CABIN Being a Brief S;,nzposiunz of the Early History of Parker County, Together With Short Biographical Sketches of Early Settlers and Their Trials BY G. A. HOLLAND Assisted By THE HERALD PUBLISHll'\G COMPAt,,;Y WEATHERFORD.TEXAS 1937 Preface. This little volume, "The Douhle Log Cabin,'' is named in honor of the meeting place of the Old Settlers of Parker Countv.. in their annual reunion at Jlolland 's Lake. It is compiled from histories of the State and County~ and fron1 biographies of some individuals and personal inter views ,vith others. Quotations from '.;'fhe RaYen," as ,vritten hy l\Iarquis James, are used in reference to Sain Houston. By this work '\\-"e have tried to perpetuate son1e of the events connected with the historv of Parker Countv and the ~ •· State of Texas. If the public is interested in reading same. ,ve are pleased. We are deeply indebted to 1nany of our friends for their able assistance and suggestions in the ton1pilation of this book. G.A.HOLLA.ND Weatherford, Texas December, l 9:J6. 6 HISTORY OF PARKER COUNTY G.A.HOLLAND AND THE DOUBLE LOG CABIN 7 Introduction. It is quite appropriate that this book, interesting and instructive as it is, should carry a sketch of its author, His Honor, Mayor G. A. Holland, of the City of Weatherford. Born in the Blue Grass State of Kentucky 78 years ago, a land ncted for its tasteful beverages, fast horses, beautiful women and eloquent men, he early in life took an animated interest in public affairs. In early manhood, he came to Texas and this County, and it l!as been his home ever since. He had hardly located in his new-made home until he began his career of public service. He was soon elected teacher in the public school, Postmaster and Justice of the Peace, holding all of said positions at the same time, an accon1plishment, both unique and unprecedented. His administration of these public trusts was such as to attract favorable attention of his neighbors and acquaintances and he was soon elected tax collector of Parker County, a position he held for four years, and immediately thereafter became connected with The Citizens National Bank of Weatherford and in rapid succession held all the positions in same from Teller to Chairman of the Governing Board. And during that time he was for 38 years a member of the Public School Board of Weatherford, and, also, a member of the Board of Trustees of Weatherford College. For some 30 years he has maintained, at his own expense, free reunion grounds for the Old Settlers and Half-Century Club and built the Double Log Cabin in their honor and for their convenience at their annual gatherings and it is the housing place of one of the most interesting museums of frontier days in Texas. Five years ago Mr. Holland was elected Mayor of Weatherford and has been re-elected twice since with increased majorities. Under his wise administration the city has gone forward with all kinds of ~ubstantial and attractive improvements until today it compares most favorably with any other town of its size in the State. In his early manhood, Mr. Holland was happily married to Miss Genareo Wynn of Poolville, this county, and they h~ve reared a large and interesting family, all of whom are doing well and are honorable citizens. Mr. Holland has at all times taken an active interest in public affairs and has attended n1any State and National conventions of various kinds and thereby kept in touch \\tith all matters of speeial interest to the great mass of the people. He has always moved straight towards his objective, and never clutters up his meaning with useless words. 8 mSTORY OF PARKER COUNTY These and many other accomplishments that might be mentioned have marked G. A. Holland as the most useful man of our community. It is my opinion that Mr. Holland has always in both private and public matters dealt fairly with his fellow man. He has not and does not recognize caste or condition, believing that all honest men are entitled to an equal chance in the race of life. In the preparation of this took, during a very busy life, Mr. Holland is due much credit, for it represents much labor, considerable money and is a tribute to his energy and his appreciation of his friends. To me it is a souvenir, a token and an unbroken tie of friendship of more than half a century and I sincerely hope that all his friends will accept it in the spirit in which it is intended, as his last manifes tation of his love and affection to those he is pleased to call his friends. R. B. HOOD. AND THE DOUBLE LOG CABIN 9 Table of Contents. Page Preface ........... ·......................... ·········································-············· ....... ············-······· 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 The McCleskey Log Cabin .................................................................................... 11 The Waggoner Log Cabin .................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER I The First Settlers of Parker County ............................................................ .-... 13 CHAPTER II . Sam Houston .............................................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER Ill The Parker Family .................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER IV Indian Depredations ................................................................................................ 5 7 CHAPTER V Mob Violence and Executions .............................................................................. 87 CHAPTER VI The Three Wars ........................................................................................................ 91 CHAPTER VII Progress of Parker County .................................................................................... 97 CHAPTER VIlI Parker County Towns and Communities .................................................... 115 CHAPTER IX Pictorial Parker County ....................................................................................... 121 CHAPTER X Distinguished Citizens of Parker County ...................................................... 135 CHAPTER XI Biographical Section ................................................................................................ 141 10 IDSTORY OF PARKER COUNTY AND THE DOUBLE LOG CABIN 11 The Story of the Double Log Cabin. THE McCLESKEY LOG CABIN The State of Texas granted a patent to Jacob A. Whitten on 160 acres of land near Ballew Springs, in the northwest part of Parker County, Dec. 19, 1859. This land was sold to H. R. Moss in 1860, who at once built a hewn leg house on it, size 20x20 feet. The Indians were so bad that Moss moved his family back to Johnson County and joined the Confederate army. Later John Bumgarner acquired title to the property and was living there in August, 1873. His wife had previously died and he, with his youngest son, Hubbard, were keeping house. Hubbard was on crutches from the effects of a broken leg_ Geo. Mccleskey had married a daughter of Bumgarner and lived a few miles away. Bum garner and Mccleskey had a number of horses on the range -near Fort Worth, to keep them from Indians. They intended to bring them to the Rock Creek range and in order to get an early start, McCleskey had spent the night at Bumgarner's. They had their horses saddled at the door at daylight. A group of seven Indians had crept up behind concealments. wearing caps made of broomweed so as not to be seen. When the men started to mount their horses, the Indians fired a volley at them. McCleskey fell mortally wounded, paralyzed from the back down. Bumgarner dragged him into the house. The Indians continued firing on them, and they returned the fire as best they could. Mccleskey, though paralyzed and dying, called for his Henry rifle, and as he lay on the floor punched the daubing from between the logs and shot at the Indians as long as they were to be seen, then expired. Tom R. Taylor, new living at Authon, and Tom M. Moore, now of Weatherford, and others followed the Indians but they were not overtaken. A. few years ago the late Warren Mccleskey called the attention of the writer to the cabin by saying the Indians killed his brother there, and that there were bullets in the walls of the house, shot by the Indians at that time. Later the writer bought the house, had the logs numbered andJ moved to Holland's Lake, the adopted reunion site for the old settlers, where they meet annually in August to recount the scenes and !lardships of earlier days. The logs still have bullets and bullet holes in them as mute reminders of the experiences of those who made this county a peaceful habitation for the sons of men. 12 ffiSTORY OF PARKER COUNTY THE WAG-GONER CABIN The Citizens National Bank-the pioneer bank of North Texas, the oldest in the State, north of San Antonio, with existence since 1868-being in full sympathy with the annual reunion of the old settlers and desiring to make a contribution to aid in keeping up their organi zation, and to add to their comfort and convenience at the encamp ment, bought from Miss Lena Walden the log house known as the Waggoner, or Muleshoe Ranch headquarters, as referred to in the first chapter of this book. The logs were numbered, the house razed and then rebuilt in conn~tion with the Mccleskey-Bumgarner cabin at Holland's Lake, making complete the old time, typical