EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

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PUBLISHED BY THE VERNON TIMES VERNON, TEXAS 1933

INTRODUCT·ORY

In 1927 the publishers of the Vernon Times issued an "Old Settlers' Edition." -~t that time an effort was made to list biographical sketch~ and photograpihs of as many families as possible who settled in Wilbarger County before 1890 and who were still citizens of the county. "\Vhen the Old Settlers' Edition came .out, numerous requests were made for this in- f orination to be put out in book form for preservation, and thus, the idea ,vas conceived for this history. In January, 1930, the publishers started compiling data, not only of those who still lived :here but of all who settled in the county before 1890, and who were really pioneers. Questionnaires ,vere mailed out over the country. Notices were run in the paper and other meth­ ods taken to locate the early-day citizens. In most instances they Charles P. Ross responded with the desired infor- T. L. Rouse mation; a few failed to return their questioniaires. Some ·will be left out, but a careful c:heck of the pages of this book will reveal the names and biography of a majority of those who resided in Wilbarger County prior to 1890. In compiling 1information for this book we are grateful for the assist­ ance and help given us by J. E. Collins and 1\1:rs. Bertha Ross, both pioneers of the county. We are also under obligation to Clifton Studio and the Kramer Art Studio, both of Vernon, for the assistance given us in securing photographs. We wish to acknowledge our thanks to the Vernon Daily Record, the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Wichita Daily Times for the use of cuts of a number of individuals ,vhose pictures appear in this book, and to the Dallas News for its valuable help in getting some authentic information on Josiah Wilbarger, for whom the county was named. We also thank Judge W. N. Stokes for furnishing us with a pic­ ture of 1\fr. Wilbarger to use in the front of this volume. Especially do we feel grateful to the ones who reserved copies of th~ book which helped to defray the expense of its publication. The task of

getthtg the information 0 together has been a tedious one, as well as exp en-. sive. But with all of this, we ·feel we have .been amply repaid for our efforts, since we have helped to preserve the mem-ory of those w:ho blazed the trail in this western country and made ~possible a way for those of us who fgllo·wed afterwards. CHARLES P. ROSS and T. L. ROUSE, January, lf133 Publishers of the Vernon Times, Vernon, Texas.

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.COL. JOSIAH PUGH WILBARGER

COLONIST, SURVEYOR, TEACHER, PATRIOT. -··· -· CAiVIE TO TEXAS IN 1827 \VITH AUSTIN'S COLONY. BUILT FORT, AND SETTLED "'VILBARGER'3 BEND" ON COLORADO RIVER, B_I\.STROP COUNTY. BORN, BOURBON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, 1801. DIED, BASTROP COUNTY, TEXAS, 1845.

WILBARGER COUNTY, TEXAS, NAMED FEBRU.ARY 1, 1858, IN HIS HONOR AND FOR HIS BROTHER, MATTHIAS WILBARGER. VERNON, THE COUNTY SEAT \VILB.ARGER COUNTY COURT HOUSE ERECTED IN 1886

THE NEW COURT HOUSE, ERECTED IN 1928 TO REPLACE THE ONE PICTURED ABOVE INDEX OF c·oNTENTS

Belo,v are the names, arranged in alphabetical order, of those whose biographies appear in this book, as well as special articles. A number of the pioneers, who prepared their write-ups, have died since work was start­ ed on this book.

Page Page John \V. Abbott ______131 W. T. Collins ______45 P. P. Ackley ______182 C. W. Cook ______200 W. C. Alderman ______3 6 1Nm. H. Cooper ______142 C. A. Allingham ______lll County Officials ______208 J. R. Allison ------112 W. B. Covert ______107 'f'i. 0. Anderson ______103 A. D. Craig ______77 George Andrews ______69 J. B. Crawford ______131 J. S. Archer ______109 S. H. Crawford _____ 89 G. W. Ayers ______l O7 J. A. Creager ______2 04 J. G. Ayers ______105 Taylor Creager ______98 T. N. Baker ___ :..______112 W. C. Creager ______55 J. l\.L Basham ______189 Wm. Crutchfield ______._22 R. fI. Baskerville ______124 C. H. Dalmasso ______l 56 J. M. Batchelor ______9 6 I. Davenport ______162 Lucy P. Bates ______138 Denny Brothers ______183 W. H. Beavers ______136 J. N. Denny ------147 F. C. Beckett ------81 C. F. Doan ______16 H. A. Bell ______7 3 John Doan ______99 T. IL Berry ______161 Dr. J. E. Dodson, Sr. J 53 W. D. Berry ______87 J.E. Doran ______78 A. W. Biain ______144 Karl Drieschner _____100 A .. T. Boger ______192 L. C. Eakle ______140 l\files Bond ______l 71 R. P. Elliott ------80 L. P. Bonner ______184 W. H. Evans ______63 Robert Boyle ______l 65 J. J. Fain ______l 0 1 Thon1.as Boyle ______166 H. J. Farnham ______194 Jan1es A. Boyles ______73 J. F. Farrell ______115 J. T. Bradford ______120 D. M. Ferebee ______53 D. R. Britt ____ _:______175 T. M. Fergeson ------127 G. A. Brov.rn ______181 Samuel C. Fowler ______206 T. Bunker ______70 First Oil Well ---., _____ 51 Lon Byars ______l 58 W. E. Gamble ------~------188 A. J. Cain ------~------164 Frank Gelhausen ______l 0 8 .T ohn T. Cameron ______197 M. G. Gilbert ______146 J. C. Camp ______139 J. A. Gilliland ------~----- 41 J. ,v. Campbell ______169 Q. Gilliland ______l 71 J. W. Carrington ______54 R. A. Gilliland ______l 79 T. W. Carruth ______148 D. L. Green ______145 J. H. Carson ______205 John B. Greene ______89 Ben C. Carter ______44 W. W. Greever --·------102 R. L. Castlebury ______37 T. J. Griffiths ______l 13 S. A. Castlebury ______154 C. L. Hall ------189 City of Vernon ______11 R. W. Hall ______129 H. Cobb ------4 7 J. P. Hamilton ______56 Roland Cobb ______99 W. M. Hampton ______147 J. W. Coffee ______141 W. H. Hancock ------146 Robert Cole ------98 A. J. Haney ______159 J. A. Coleman ______139 T. lvI. Haney ______152 J. E. Collins ______203 ,v. H. Harbison ______178 l\frs. J. E._;Collins ______66 P. L. Hart ______l 19 INDEX OF CONT.ENTS

Page Page l\'1. Harvey ______..- ~3 W. F. McKee ____ ---1~4 L. G. Hawkins 135 H. lt,. lVIcKib.bin ___ 195 E. S. Hend1ick _ 84 W. A. lVlcKinney 83 L. J. Hensley 143 ~- L. Mcliugh . 71 Col. C. T. Herring 188 G. W. lVIears .20 l\'Irs. Virgie Hewitt 127 J' ohnny Miller 7 7 A. M. Hiatt 111 }'rank Minarik 9 6 Joe Hines ______43 P. l\L l\ilon·is 175 Dr. R. W. Hix 126 V. 0. lVIorris __196 Rudolf H 1offman 67 E. T. Murchison 202 T. H. Holloway 59 J. A. Nabers 123 Willis Holston ______142 J. S. Napier 91 W. W. Hood 117 S. A. Naylor 167 l\irs. E. L. Hooper 184 L. D. Newton 149 Robert Houssels 94 D. C. Nowlin 121 S. P. Huff 150 Organization of County 1 John Hull _____ 120 J. P. Orr 60 L. L. Irons 25 Joseph P. Owens__ 170 W. A. Ish _____ 93 W. A. Ownsby 198 I. M. Jacks _ 32 S. L. Page 38 R. C. Johnson ____ 159 B. J. Parker 98 W. C. Johnson 134 J. A. Peck 205 W. E. Johnston 115 A. B. Parks __ -~ 69 Mrs. R. F. Jones 21 J. H. Pendleton 79 Tom Jones ___ 80 L. N. Perkins 86 H. C. Justin 14 J. H. Pettit 81 R. S. KeI ly 185 T. L. Pierce 167 M. H. Kester 46 L. Z. Pip•er 106 N. M. Key 172 J. E. Prince ---177 J. H. Kincheloe r 180 J. A. Puckett 40 J. P. King ___ 110 S. M. Purvis 138 Tu1onroe King 195 J. A. 'Randall __ 40 J. W. Kirk 50 E. J. Randel 48 J. W. Klepper ___ 108 R. D. Rector 27 Christ Krebs 148 Wm. Reed ______35 J. W. Ladd 201 J. R. Renfro l 33 w.· Leak' 152 Dr. H. H. Rhoads 62 J. W. Lewis 74 J. A. Rhoads _ ..176 T. P. Lisman, Sr. 119 T. H. Richards ______203 T. J. Lockett 166 R. B. Richardson 78 Walter Lorance ___ 52 C. A. Richie 86 E. Lowe __ l 7 0 James H. Robertson 183 w.a~~ 64 D. B. and C. S. Rogers 63 J .....t\.. Lucky ______,_172 J. R. Ross 58 J. E. Lutz ____ 32 S. J. Rowan ______1 77 S. W. Mabry 118 H. A. Samuel __ 35 S. L. Mallow 187 Jim Sanderson 57 J. J. Manis 193 Joe Schmidt __ 64 C. B. Mason ____ 144 R. F. Scott 132 Harry Mason - 190 S. B. Scoville __ __l 68 L. J. 1\fassie ______l 73 T. A. Scurlock ___ 02 C. S. McColloch ___ ------42 W. C. Sears 28 D. D. McConnell _____ 26 S. Sewell ______123 "\V. G. McDonald 39 John M. Shelby 28 F. P. McGhee ___ 149 T. H. Shive __ 97 * J. C. McGill ______34 C. C. Shive ___ __ 45 *See Errata page 206 John Showers 118 T. J. M·cGill, Sr. 201 B. F. Simmons ______180 INDEX OF CONTENTS

0 Pa0 ·e Page D. P. Sink ______65 \V. l\L \Valker ______128 C. S. Smith ______7 4 J. H. vV a tts ______9 5 John S. Smith ______92 John Wesley 91 Peter T. Smith ______157 S. C. Westbrook 109 P. L. Sneed ______161 W. A. W·heeler 16 James Stafford ______116 John A. White ______1 78 W. lvI. Stalcup __ __121 J. B. White 36 P. C. Staley ______185. J. F. White ____ 82 J. P. Starr ______75 S. H. Wilkinson ____ 156 John H. Stephens ______125 J. 'r. Williams 174 W. N. Stokes ______186 S. H. Williams __ 90 Alex Streit ------29 H. A. Wilson __ 179 J. D. Sumr.aerour ______76 L. C. Wines 61 l\Irs. Frances Sumner ______137 N. L. Wisen1an 72 C. T·. Sullivan ______137 Jerry B. Withers ____ 191 J. L. S,vartwood ______l 14 E. L. Witty 31 A. C. Swinburn ______151 K. R. Womack 128 James R. Tolbert ______! 7 4 Dr. B. K. Wood ______90 J. V. Townsend ______50 C. E. Woods 202 V'v. B. Townsend ______88 F. H. Wright __ 160 Trail Marker ______207 T. J. Youngblood 68 W. H. Vanhuss ______44 Carl Zipperle ______65 W. T. Waggoner ______l 9 9

HISTORY AND· ORGANIZATION OF WILBARGER COUNT'Y

(By J. E. CO~INS) In the preparation of this article we are indebted to Mrs. A. T. Boger, C. F. Doan, E. L. Witty, E. L. McHugh, E. Hendricks and others for valu­ able information. We are especially indebted to D. D. McConnell who be­ gan publication of the Vernon Call in 1889, and for thirty years gave faith­ ful and continuous service to Vernon and Wilbarger County. His efforts ·crought him merited success; he has now retired from active business and is making his home in Weatherford. From Mr. McConnell, and old files of ,The Call we have obtained much -information. Wilbarger County was created February 1, 1858, and was named for the two Wilbarger brothers, Josiah and Mathias. They were pioneer Tex­ ans and both surveyors. Josiah Wilbarger, while on a surveying expedition near Austin, was shot down and scalped by Indians and lived to tell the story. He, with four other men had stopped near Pecan Springs about four miles east of Austin to eat their lunch. They staked their horses nearby and were eat­ ing when suddenly and without warning they were attacked by a large band ~f Indians. Mr. Christian, one of the party, fell mortally wounded at the first volley from the Indians. Mr. Wilbarger, not knowing that Christian was mortally wounded, went to his assistance and tried to help him to his horse. Seeing this was impossible he dragged him to shelter behind a tree and continued the battle with the Indians, but a moment later his neck was pierced by an arrow shot from behind and he fell paralyzed. The other three men believing their comrades dead, gave up the fight and fled, leaving the Indians surrounding the bodies of Christian and Wil-­ barger. The Indians killed Christian by cutting his throat and scalping him. Seeing the arrow sticking in the back of Wilbarger's neck with the point protruding under his chin, they believed he was dead and scalped him. Mr. Wilbarger lost consciousness, but came to again about the middle of the afternoon. He· managed to extricate the arrow from his neck. From loss of blood he was weak and· famished with thirst, but managed to drag himself about half a mile to Pecan Springs where he was so exhausted he could go no farther. The appearance to him of a sister in a vision; the remarkable dream of Mrs. Hornsby; his rescue and final recovery are mat-­ _ters of Texas history. Wilbarger County's list of pioneers is long and honorable, yet it brings a pang to the heart to chronicle their names, for these old timers are scat­ tered to earth's four winds, many indeed have crossed the Great Divide. Judge J. Doan heads the list; coming to Wilbarger County in 18 7 8, he set­ tled at the town that bears his name. Later in the same year C. F. Doan :2 EARLY-DAY.HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

and fami~y, Cal Doan, Mrs. Eva Brazil, decease.d, and Mrs. R.R. Wheatley and Maje J. Doan of Amarillo, son and daughters of Judge Doan. Bertha Doan, now Mrs. Alex Ross, and a prominent newspaper woman of this city, was the first white child in the county. The old Doan adobe homestead, the oldest house in the county, is still standing and was the home of C. F. Doan. In 1879, W. B. Worsham of Henrietta, established the R2 ranch in Wilbarger County, with headquarters at Big Springs, now Hillcrest Coun­ try Club, which was the gathering point for all the cowboys in this section of Tex~s, where they came to get news from their homes in the east. In the meantime, Judge Doan and C. F. Doan had established a. store or trad• ing post, as it was called, at Doans, near where the old trail crossed Red River, where for the n.ext ten years several hundred thousand cattle were driv~n out of T·exas to the northern markets. Just across the river from Doans was the Comanche and Kiowa Indian Reservation. These Indians were good customers of this store. C. F. Doan is authority for the statement that he never lost a dollar on a trail ;herd or on a cowboy going up the trail; he would frequently sell on credit to an outfit he had never heard of, a full wagon load of supplies, but the money without exception came back. The supplies for the store were haul­ _ed in wagons from Gainesville. The nearest post office was Henrietta. In 1879, there was a mail line established between Wichita Falls and _Mobeetie, Texas, via Doans. In January, 1880, a mail route was estab­ lished from Seymour in Baylor County to Doans, by Worsham dugout where an office had l>een established; this office was called. Worsham with R. D. Rector as postmaster. January 4, 1880, the post office at Doans was open­ ed with C. F. Doan postmaster. After the establishment of these mail lines, settlers began coming in more rapidly and on October 10, 1881, Wilbarger County was organized. There were 56 eligible voters in the county. The first officers elected were: J. Doan, county judge; L. N. Perkins, clerk; Uel Musick, sheriff; ;F. C. Beckett, county attorney; J. R. Nye, surveyor; Alex Dawson, asses­ sor; W. A. McKinney, treasurer; John Payne, inspector of cattle and hides; Commissioners: J. J. Burdick, Precinct No. 1; Geo. Probasco, Precinct No. 2; John Miller, Precinct No. 3; T. P. Stamey, Precinct No. 4. So far as is known, those who participated in the election were: J. Doan, C. F. Doan, Cal Doan, L. N. Perklns, Uel Musick, F. C. Beckett, J. L. Holmes, W. A. McKinney, Geo. Probasco, J. W. Drury, Jin1 Burdick, C. H. Scott, G. W. Darby, Joe Morris, John Chowning, P. C. Spencer, Steve Ed­ wards, Bill West, Alex Dawson, Ben Simmons, Chas. McLean, A. T. Boger, A. J. Byars, L. J. Henstey, T. P. Stamey, John Drury, Bill Drury, 'R. D. · Rector, J. A. Creager, J. Pro~asco, R. F. Jones, M. T. Hutchinson, J. W. Campbell, Dave McBride, Dr. Johnson, Jim Wilson, ·J. R.•Sumner, Co-ach brothers, J. D. Burnett, George Bryon, B. F. Ackley, P. L. Brown, J. T. Estes, John Miller, J. R. Nye and John Payne. There was no ad valorum tax levy made for the year 1881. The tax rolls show that all property assessed for 1882 was $70,000, and the total value of all property assessed in 1883 was $97,000, and all property in the EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 3

" county January 1, 1884, was $247,480, and all property on January 1, 188_5, assessed $1,250,956. This was the year a basis was taken to build a court house. The assessed valuation_ of all property in Wilbarger County for 1930 was $33,368,106. · It is not generally known that saloons were voted out of Wilbarger County as early as 1881, for they soon came back and were run for many years; but order number 14 of the Commissioners Court reads as follows: "Ordered by the Court that an election be held in the several voting pre­ cincts at the voting place thereof in Wilbarger County, Texas, on the 20th day of December, 1881, to determine whether or not, the sale of intoxi~ eating liquors and medicated bitters producing intoxication be prohibited in said Wilbarger County, Texas." Later, order number 19 was issued and reads: "Ordered by the Court that the sal~ of intoxicating liquors and. medicated bitters producing intoxi­ cation, be prohibited in said Wilbarger County, Texas, from aild after the first day of January, 1882, it being found upon a count of the returns made from the several voting precincts of said Wilbarger County, to-wit: Pre­ cinct No. 1, Precinct No. 3, Precinct No. 4, of an election held on the 20th day of December, 1881, that there was a majority of seven votes cast foi­ prohibition. Both orders signed, J. Doan, county judge; L. N. Perkins~ clerk." A few excerpts from the records of the Commissioners Court will pos­ sibly be of interest to old _timers. . February 13, 1883, the following ap.;. pears on the records: "Wilbarger County, to C. F. Doan & Co. One qt. ink, by county clerk, $1.25; 1 broom to use of court house, 40c; 1 oz. indigo, 15c; cash for postage, 40c; 1 paper tacks, 10c; 1 bottle ink, 40c;· 1 qt. ink for sheriff, $1.25; 1 bottle muciiage, 25c; 2 pair hand-cuffs, $3.00. Totaling $7.20." February 14, 1883: Ordered, that sheriff prohibit dances to be held in court house. Again on February 14, 1883: Ordered by the court, that J. Doan, county judge, have exclusive control of the wood furnished for use of court house and be held responsible for the same, so far as loaning or al~ lowing same to be used, except for court purposes. November 14, 1883: Ordered by the court, that a contract be let to the lowest bidder to furnish 25 cords· of wood for use of court house. To be sound wood and not over six inches in diameter, to be corded up at court house; contract to be let November 25, 1883. The contractor re­ quired to enter into bond with the county judge for fulfillment of said con­ tract, and that the clerk advertise for bids, to be addressed to Doan, coun­ ty judge. Again reading from the records, we find: August 15, i882: Ordered by the court, that sealed bids be received up to 12 o'clock tl1e 5th day of September, 1882, to build a jail or calaboos~, ~aid jail or calaboose to be built 14x18 feet; of hewn cottonwood logs, eight inches thick and well jointed together; the walls to be on a good stone foundation with face four inches above the ground. The wall to be eight 4 _.. , EARLY-DAY ·HISTORY OF WILBARGER ·COUNTY feet from floor to .ceiling and four feet from ceiling to top wall. The cor­ ners of the building to be fastened together with iron rods 3-4 inch to ex­ tend from top of wall to foundation, through the corners. The :floor to be of hewn cottonwood logs, six_ inches thick and overlain with native pine lumber, one inch thick. The roof shall have such pitch as the county judge may direct. To be covered with the best white pine shingles. One window on each south and north side, six inches wide and three feet long, running horizontal, the windows to be grated with iron rods 3-4 inch in diameter and to be two inches apart to extend through top and bottom logs of win­ dows. There shall be a door of convenient size in gable end of building, a substantial stairway from ground to said door with banister or hand rail extending on outside of stairway. There shall be a trap door in the center of the upper :floor 24x24 inches wide and two inches thick, of native pine lumber and to be put together with wrought iron nails; one nail to the square inch and well clinched, the door shall fit closely and level with the floor and open upward, to be hung with heavy strap hinges put on with wrought nails and clinched; the door to be fastened by means of two iron b.ars 3-4 inch thick and two inches wide, to fasten at one end with staples 1-2 inch in diameter and to go through the :floor and clinched on under side of floor and the other end to be made so as to go over staples and faste~ as ·other end. The logs that are cut into for trap door shall be supported by means of iron bars 3-4 inch thick and two inches wide, one underneath and one on top and securely bolted· to the solid log. The bars to be :five feet long, top bar to be put between the plank and logs. The stairway on outside shall connect at top with a platform of 4x4 feet and supported by· studding 8x8 inches square. There shall be a glass window with four lights 12x14 inches in gable and opposite door, and hung with hinges. There · shall be a step ladder to extend from trap door to ground floor and made so that it can be removed when not in use. Said jail shall be completed within 60 days from the time the contract is let. The contractor to enter into bond in the sum of $1,000 with two or more good and sufficient sureties for the faithful performance of the contract, and to be approved by the county judge. Said jail to be paid for in county bonds. January 15, 1883: Ordered by the court, that the time in which county jail was to have been completed, to-wit, on the 18th of January, 1883, be extended to the 25th day of January, 1883. And that the con• tractor, Dave McBride, make the following changes: Instead of trap door being two feet square, to be made 3 feet square, and the uprights support­ ing stairway be of pineoscantling four inches square instead of hewn cot­ tonwood eight inches square. February 12, 1883: Ordered by the court, that jail built by Dave Mc­ Bride, be accepted and that he be allowed the sum of $615 for building same, and that the clerk issue his warrant on county treasurer for pay­ ment of the same, to be paid out of jail fund. Up to this time, Wilbarger County was attached to Baylor County for judicial purposes, and was then included ~n the 34th Judicial District. Judge EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARG.ER COUNTY 5·.

B. F. Williams of° Graham was the first district judge, and J. F. Brim was the first district attorney. Uncle John Miller was foreman of the j_ury that tried the first criminal case. Judge Stine of Henrietta succeeded Judge Williams, and held the office until the -Legislature _in 1889 created the 46th Judicial District which embraced the counties of Wilbarger, Hardeman, Childress, Donley, Hall, Armstrong, Collingsworth, Brisco, Foard and the famous Greer County, now part of Oklahoma. Judge G. A. Brown was appointed judge of the new district by Governor L. S. Ross; after fourteen years of service he·was succeeded by Hon. S. P. Huff. Vernon even in an early day had a dominant religious element, and welcomed the pioneer preachers who came to win souls, and not to extend sectarian borders. For years all denominations worshipped in turn in the little frame school house. The first church, the M. E. Church, South, .. was built in 1889. The first service in the church was the marriage of Miss Hattie Farrell and J. L. Swartwoo~ Rev. J. T. Hosmer, the Methodist cir­ cuit rider, ma~y years ago called up higher, preached the first sermon in Vernon in 1880. He was a man of tact and spirituality and his good in-­ fluenee cannot be computed. In 1881 be organized the first ch~rch in the county, with the following members: Mr.. and Mrs. J. A. Creager, Will Creager, Alice Creager and George Bryan. J. A. Creager was a man of wonderful faith and lived to see a:nd helped to build the magnificent brick church on the same ground where_ the little frame building once stood. The first Sunday School in the county was organized at the Dawson Valley school house in 1882. L. E. Goldin was superintendent. Rev. Beau­ champ of the Baptist faith was a zealous co-worker. ·They builded better than they knew as shown today by the county's handsome churches, her devout worshippers and the talented men who have tried to lead us in the right way. After the organization of the county in 1881, settlers began coming in rapidly. Among the first to settle in Vernon and Wilbarger County, many of them bringing their families, were: L. P. Bonner, J. T. Lane, H. C. Justin, J. H. Pendleton, E. Lowe, Lon Byars, Dr. B. K. Wood, J. E Lutz, John R. Wood, E. L. McHugh, Joe Schmidt, F. P. MeGhee, Tom Don­ ahoo, C. M. Byars, Bill Bean, Sid Davidson, John Davidson, J. W. Chown­ ing, H. Chowning, J. A. White, L. A. Jaynes, Judge J. A. Nabers, W. C. Creager, W. T. Riddle, Dave Strain, A. C. Swinburn, T. Bunker, the Kinsey brothers, Frank 'Richardson, Pat Paffrath, Dr•. Edwards, J. T. Cameron, J. W. Hedley, A. D. Moore, J. Slagle, B. T. Ansley, Dr. W. T. Dickey, Bion Crego, James Condon, A. C. Sanders, John Carson, Paul Schaub, T. P. Lis­ man, George Utterback, R. P. Elliott, B. WiI.son, Edgell, Bob Stone, Dick Sanders, J. W. Campbell!' Judge J. P. Orr, Oscar Holman, Mace Riddle, E. Ewing, George McTaylor, Marion Rowland, Cal Rowland, D. R. Britt, Dan Rogers, Charlie Wheeler, Marion Millett, H. A. Bell, Jake Smith, G. W. Mears, Pete Heffner, George Colwell, Tom Jones, Will Griffin, W. J. Westmoreland, Andy Laird, L. Davenport, T. L. Stewart, George Creed, J. D. Summerour, Mrs. Virgie Hewitt, J. H. Johnston, C. C. Wells, Paul Hoffle, J. P. King, James R. Tolbert, J. P. Hamilton, J. B. Lockett, J. A. Gilliland, Charlie Lanters, T. M. Ferguson, Dr. H .. H. Rhoads, J. A. Rhoads, 6 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

J. T. Conn, N. M. Key, D. H. Vaughn, W. E. Gamble, Peter Crawford, Fred Ratliff, J. W. Carringtotr,iL.~C. Eakle, A. Thurmond, Charlie Hall, W. W. Greever, D. M. -Ferebee, D---Jt~ Britt and J. P. Crawford. All of those mentioned with possibly three or four exceptions, settled in Wilbarger County before the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad reached Vernon in 1886. This railroad was· welcomed as the evangel coming of civilization and was not only given the right of way ·on many ranches, but also free grass for- teams and accommodations for graders. J. H. Pendle­ ton has the unique distinction of being the only individual to pay his pledge to the Fort Worth and Denver for building into Vernon. After the advent of the railroad, people came so rapidly it would be impossible to chronicle their names, but we cannot refrain from placing upon Wilbarger's honor roll a few of those pioneers who have been promi­ nently identified with Vernon and Wilbarger County, some of them for forty years. Many of these old-timers have passed .on, but the memory of them is still with us, and with few exceptions their families are living in Vernon or Wilbarger County: S. W. Mabry, W. C. Jehnson, Wm. Denny, J. N. Denny, J. R. 'Ross, J. H. Watts, John- Hull, T. H. Holloway, W. T. Collins, J. P. Starr, E. L. Witty, T. L. Pierce, R. S. Kelly, W. H. Kelly, J. R. Renfro, D. L. Green, T. P. Lisman, C. C. Shive, P. G. Givens, P. T. Smith, F. H. Wright, S. C. Hogsett, W. W. Gilbert, G. M. Blackman, Dr. G. E. Blackman, Shem E. Hatchett, John S. Smith, Dr. J.E. Dodson, Sr., M. G. Gilbert, Andy Haney, T. J. Youngblood, J. H. Pettit, L. J. Massie, S. L. Mallow, Carl Zipperle, C. T. Herring, B. J. Pa1·ker, Capt. J. S. Napier, Monroe King, W. H. Evans, William Crutchfield, John Hammond, J. W. Kerr, Dr. R. W. Hix, C. C. Wells, T. A. Scurlock, T. H. Shive, B. M. Cobb, D. R. Taylor, Mrs. L. R. Alexander, Glidden brothers, John W. Abbott, Kester brothers, R. B. Rich­ ardson, John Immell, Robert Houssells, T. M. Kell, D. A. Turner, B. Hous­ sels, John Houssels, C. C. Hawley, W. 0. Anderson, H. F. l\iicKibbin, P. M. Morris, J. M. Batchelor, L. G. Hawkins, T. J. Lockett, W. G. McDonald, J. V. Townsend, R. Cobb, Judge S. P. Huff, Hon. John H. Stephens, W. D. Berry, J. S. Cook, J. J. Manis, Charlie Sullivan, W. B. Townsend, J. F. White, Judge R. W. Hall, Sam Williams, Joel Fain, S. W. McLarty, Harry Mason, Bob Castlebury, Steve Castlebury, S. Sewell, George Anderson, Geo. M. Dilley, C. T. Smith, J. R. Rothman, George Coleman, C. S. McColloch, ~- H. Baskerville, J. W. Coffee, W. A. Ish, Ben Kelly, W. N. Stokes, Joe S. Massie, R. Collins, Taylor Creager, J. C. Sumner, S. A. Naylor, L. E. Mc­ curdy, J. H. Kincheloe, C. C. Shive, Frank Stineman, E. P. Robinson, Wm. Hampton, E. T. Murchison, W. J. Pentor, W. H. Harbison and many others. Their very numbers ape a bar to extended enumerations. A brief history of Wilbarger's pioneer citizens would be incomplete without special mention being made of one outstanding peace officer, who served Wilbarger County for many years as sheriff. We refer to J. T. Williams, familiarly known as Johnny, by his host of friends. When the time came that we needed a sheriff with a knowledge of public and financial affairs and an integrity and reputation so honorable and so completely recognized, that the highest confidence and best approv- EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILB.ARGER COUNTY

tn r: :S. a.. SIJ ~ tn n :r 0 0....

a] of the people of the county would at once be assured, Johnny William~ was selected for the place. He was never defeated and served the people until his failing health forced him to retire from office. Johnny Williams had none of the bombast that too often goes with an office of this kind. He was a quiet, modest, kindly man, a deacon in the church, and looked more the reserved business or professional man than EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

t}le preconceived idea of a sheriff; yet his reputatio.n for absolute fearless­ ness and always getting his man, was so well known in West Texas, that w.ould-be law violators gave Wilbarger a wide berth. He died as he had lived with the full assurance in ~ heart that he had given every man a square deal. A. T. Boger and family have had an important part in the settlement and development of Vernon and Wilbarger County. Coming to this county in _1881, they settled on a farm seven miles east of Vernon. Mrs. Boger was veey proud of her home, as it was a double dug out,_ and had a wide hall between two "large rooms. As -early as 1882 Mr. Boger was serving as county commissioner. A few years later during a veritable reign of terror, he was appointed sheriff. With that same indomitable courage which was characteristic of his life, he discharged the duties of this offic.e faithfully, and the gamblers, cattle thieves and outlaws soon learned that Wilbarger County was an unhealthy place for them. Mr. Boger passed on several years ago, but Mrs. Boger, their son, A. C. Boger, and their daughter,. Mrs. Cecil Storey, all live in Vernon. A community never prospers or makes permanent advancement ahead ·of ·its'. educational .institutions. We wish to review briefly the schools of Vernon· and Wilbarger County, showing that our schools have kept pace with our ·marvelous development along other lines. The first school in Vernon was taught by L. N. Perkins in 1880, in a house,· just west of the public square. Children of the Vernon public schools. who now occupy comfortable buildings of the most modem design, can hardly redlize that the first children in Vernon· got their education in s~ch buildings as shown in the picture on the preceding page. . Mrs. A. T. Boger taught .the first public school in a dug-out east of· Vernon. She holds the first teacher's certificate ever issued by the county. The term· lasted four months, at a salary of $12.50 per month. The county then -1:iad. $50~00 of· free school money in its treasury, this amount being refunded by B·aylor .County at the organization of this county. Then came Prof. Nye; after him came Judge J. R. Tolbert, now a prominent jurist of Oklahoma. Miss· Hattie Farrell, now Mrs. J. L. Swart­ wood, and Prof. E. L. Witty were later teachers of the school. A review of Vernon,.s schools would be incomplete without special mention of E. L. Witty. A man who in an early day was so closely iden­ tified with the progress of· our schools that he was for many years con­ sidered an indispensable part of the system. Thei;e was- never a question in the lll:inds of the school board as to his re-election from year to year. Interviewing a number 9f men and women who were directly under Prof•. Witty during their high school days, each expressed the same ·opinion~ good man,. and a great instructor. He w~s a Stonewall Jackson for dis­ cipline, but was the personification of fairness and kindness.· · There was an old saying among the boys, "You can't put anything by Witty." In his school work, his program was one planned and made by himself, which expressed in active and constructive work, his personal ideals, his indi­ vidual faith, his individual conception of d_uty, and his individual method EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 9 of handling what ~t time~ were difficult situations. Joe Eagle who has since served several terms in Congress, from South Texas, succeeded Judge Tolbert as superintendent of schools. He was succeeded by Prof. Johnson; then came T. S. Cox, and later W. T. Potter. In 1891, what is now known as the Central school building, was erect­ ed. It was considered a; the time large enough to accommodate all scho­ lastics for many years to come.. · In 1896, J. C. Smith was elected superin- . ' . tendent of Vernon schools and served until 1899. In that year he was elected superintendent of schools _at Lancaster, Texas, and moved to that place. He was succeeded by E. C. Snow who served during the 1900 term. At the close of this term Prof. Smith was re-elected sup~rintende,~t and

An Early-Day Graduating Claaa of Vernon Schools

·The above picture was ·taken in the late 80's at the closing of the city _schools of Vernon. Reading from left to right (standing): J. H. Creager, Jessie Swartwood, A. Y. Creager, Ed Sevier and E. L. McHugh. Lower row, left to right: Lizzie Ewing, Nellie Wood, Hattie Farrell, Joe Guckert, Ella Hutchinson and Victor Kinney.

_served for six years, resigning to enter business. No man who has ever served Vernon in any capacity stands higher in the estimation of the peo­ -ple than J. C. Smith; a devout man yet never narrow or bigoted in his views. His work as superintendent of schools gave him the rare chance and opportunity of a larger acquaintaneeship and therefore a greater op­ portunity to know, to befriend, to -advise; and to inspire a larger number of young men and women,. and many now prominent professional and busi-· 10:- EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY ness men and women went out from John Smith's school. In the. meantime, the schools were crowded and what is now known: as-the Junior High was built; then the Shive, West Vernon, Parker an:d last the splendid high scho-ol building. After the resignation of J. C. Smith, B. F. Holcomb was elected supe1·­ intendent of schools. He was followed by Geo. J. Mason who resigned to­ enter the newspaper business, and was succeeded by T. L. Vance. Later-

School Faculty of 1903-1904

The above picture shows the Vernon school faculty of 190'3-04. Read- ing from left to right (top row): Miss Carrie Currin, Miss Sallie Gilliland (now Mrs. C. M. Blair), Miss Ewing, Miss Haughton of Quanah, Miss Maude McKibbin (now Mrs. Stewart), and Miss Gussie Rooney. Bottom row (left to right): Miss Susie Scott (now Mrs. Arthur A. Coleman), Prof. Kooken,.. Miss Grace Hannon (now Mrs. Eugene Keltz), J. C. Smith and R. B. Sher­ rill. came B. F. Sisk, then E. L. Dehoney, who was succeeded by our present superintendent, W. T. Lofland. .. We consider it a privilege to make the statement that since tha or­ ganization of Vernon's public schools they have never made greater prog­ ress· than under the supervision of W. T. Lofland. While comparatively a young man, he is thoroughly equipped for his work. He is honest and conscientious in the discharge of his duties. With an enrollment of around 2500 students and 77 teachers, he has a man's job on his shoulders, but he is big enough for the place, and has the _respect and confidence of not only the entire faculty but the student body as well. When Wilbarger County had a sufficient number of scholastics to en- EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 11 title her to a county superintendent of education, E. L. Witty was selected for the place and served five years, when he was succeeded by J. N. Ful­ cher. In 1926 Ercell W. Brooks was elected to fill the office, holding it for four years and during that time made a successful administration of its affairs. Mrs. E. C. -Christian succeeded Mr. Brooks in 1931. Under the leadership of those named above the schools outside of Vernon have made wonderful progress. We have now housed in modern buildings 23 schools, with an approximate enrollment of 5,000 pupils and with around 150 teachers. Added to Vernon schools it gives us in scho .. lastics in the neighborhood of 7,000 yupils and 215 teachers. We have made wonderful progress and are justly proud of our achieve­ ments, but sometimes in the silence of the evening we long for the old time friends. The old time cowboy on his native heath was the modern incar­ nation of chivalry. Life in the open drove out all pettiness and nature bred strong hearts in ~he silences. We will remember always the men and women who bor_e with us the hardships inseparable from pioneer life. Our county was like a large and united family. We lived the simple life. We did not criticise natt;ire that she had placed thorns among the roses, but thanked her that ther~ were roses among the thorns. Between those · pioneer days and the present time there is indeed a great gulf fixed, but . it is spanned by a cable of precious memories, by thoughts of clasped hands in days of sorrow, of kindly deeds in "hours of care, of joys shared with responsive hearts. We trust the future to bring greater and better· things to Vernon and Wilbarger County,· but- the past is our's to have and to hold.

· City of Vernon Incorporated in 1889

A trip through old record books at the city haII proves very interest­ ing to the reader. The first meeting of the City Council after the city of Vernon was incorporated was in April, 1889, when a special election was called to elect officers for the town. The first officers were: James R. Tolbert, mayor; S. W. Mabry, Joe Schmidt, W. E. Johnston, John R. Wood and ~eorge Langley, aldermen; John L. Hammond, city marshal; John · Brown, city secretary and H. C. Thompson was appointed city attorney. This form of city government continued until 1916 when the City Commission form was adopted. T~e first ordinance found on the records is that of setting out the seal for the city. It states that it shall have the words, "City of Vernon, Texas,'' in a circle,- with a sheaf of oats and wheat crossed in the center of the seal. In running through the ordinances passed in those days it brings smiles to the reader's face. For instance, among the early ordinances is one dealing with the speed limit. The aldermen had their troubles with fast drivers at that time. It was "unlawful to ride or drive faster than a slow 12 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY lope through the streets of said city." Then followed the penalty for vio­ lation of this ordinance. Another interesting ordinance is one pertaining to occupation taxes. iand agents, lawyers, physicians and dentists were made to pay an occu­ pation tax. Practically every one who had a trade or profession was in­ cluded in the ordinance and a fee of $2 .50 against them. The first franchise granted by the city of V~rnon was to the Vernon Street Railway Company. The ordin~nce set out that "whereas, there is a public necessity for a street railway from the Fort Worth & Denver station to the square," that an exclusive franchise was granted to this cor­ poration to build and maintain a single track street railway down the een• ter of Main Street, and a 14-foot right-of-way was dedicated to the use of the company. Some time later this franchise was revoked and a new one granted giving the the company a right to put in double .track and to extend anywhere in the city that it might think advisable. The fran­ chise was granted for three years. In April,. 1916, the Commission form of government was voted and the following officers elected: L. P. Bonner, mayor; M. G. Neathery, J. P. King, Harper Reed and E. L. Witty, commissioners. This form of government is still being used by. the city. In 1897, the, City Council set the salaries for the various city officials. The mayor, aldermen, city secretary and city attorney received $1 for each session they attended. The city treasurer was given a flat salary of $10 per month~ 'rhe minu\es provided so much for each $100 valuation assessed by the city secretary and so much for each poll and a per cent of the tax collections. For many years the town did not have a city hall but used a room at various places in the business district for this purpose. When Judge ~- P. ~onner was elected mayor plans were started for the erection of a .suitable building. The old city hall which was torn down in 1928 to make room for the present $100,000 building, was the outcome of the work and was built by John White, ~ne of the leading contractors of the city. He _was paid $5,000 in bonds for the work. The gr·ound on which the building was to be located was purchased by the city through the efforts of W. H. Evans and J. R. Renfro, and other citizens of the town. These two men paid a large part of the cost of the lot and Judge Bonner says the actual cost to the city was small. During this administration the old junior high school building waa erected at a cost of $10,000. A wing was later added to the building.

About this time the0 question of a water and sewer system came up and through a combined· bond issue of $40,000 for the erection of the city hall, school,., water and sewer this problem was met. The beginning of the present water. and sewer system was started and the first year more than six or seven miles of the system was laid. The water works system was started and a 16-foot well put down. Bond money took care of the main line piping in the business district, E.ARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY while in the residence section the work was gradually extended by people paying for the pipe and receiving water in return. After a time, Judge Bonner said the earnings reached a point ~o where they took care of the ordinary ext_ensions. When the citizens paid for a line they were given credit on the books for the amount and only paid half their water bill each month, being credited with the other half until the amount was paid back. Judge Bonner said there were not-many consumers at first but as the num­ ber grew the system was extended faster. The records at the city hall gives the names of the following men who have served the city of Vernon from the organization down to the present time. Mayors of the City of Vernon since incorporation: James R. Tolbert ------­ 1889-1890 R. S. Kelly, (resigned) 1890-1892 M. E. Smith ------~------,,--­ 1892-1894 George Anderson, (resigned) 1894-1897 J. S. Massie _· ______1897-1898 J. A. Lucky. ______1898-1902 S. P. Huff, (resigned Dec. 13) ------.---­ 1902 Bismark Houssels, acting mayor -----·------R. W. Hall ______1903-1908 L. P. Bonner ______,_, 1908-1912 I. S. Sewell ______1912-1916 L. P. Bonner ------­ 1916-1918 Harry Mason ------~----·----- 1918-1926 H. D. Hockersmith ______1-926-1931 The list of secretaries follows: John Brown ------~ 1890 A. C. MeKinney ______1891 A. M. Hiatt ------1892-1896 J~ :Y. Scott ______---,-.------1896-1898 C. F. Lanter ------­ 1898-1899· L. C. Eakle ------:------,---- 1899-1906 R. B. Sherrill ------,______...,. 1906-1910 S. H. Hall ------:---- 1910-1914 T. P. Lisman, Jr. ------­ 1914-1916 S. H. Hall ------1916-1931 14, EARLY-DAY IDSTQRY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

. ...

"Uncle Charli~" Justin Here Before Vernon

H. C. Justin, better known as "Uncle Charlie," has been around this part of the country since the early 70's and rode over this section long before the town of Vernon was started. A write-up of the life- -of this man would rival that of famous characters of the early days in. the Southwest. Mr. Justin was born in Rock Coun­ ty, Wisconsin in 1855. When a boy the family moved to Missouri and when the Civil War came on they moved from place to place, living in H. C. Justin lliinois and Kansas. After he left home he lived in Arkansas and the Indian Territory before coming to Texas. He arrived in this state in the summer of 1871, landing ~t Sherman where he stayed a short time. In Au­ gust, 1872, he assisted in moving 10,000 head of cattle and 2.,600 horses fi:om Grayson County to Montague County. From 1872 until 1875 Mr. Justin worked through this part of the state as a buffalo killer. This was considered a very good occupation in those days• as buffalo hides were sold for big money. He said their terri­ tory extended from Beaver Creek to Red River and as far west as Crowell. A buffalo outfit was made up of "killers" and "skinners." Mr. Justin said that once in a while they allowed a "skinner'' to try his hand at shooting. Lobo Wolves and deer were also killed and skinned but most of the work was confined to buffalo. During the first part of bis hunting years only bulls were killed. He said that young bulls would drive the old ones . out of the herd and some­ times they would find from 30 to 100 old fellows in a bunch. When they were found the "killers" would set up their guns and start to work. This was an art within itself. The buffalo on the outskirts of the herd were shot first. A day's killing would run from 30 to 40 buffalo. After the hides were~taken off the carcasses they were pegged down to dry. Small pegs were made of wood and driven down all around the edge of the hides. Following the curing of the skins they were stacked in racks to cure. When the hides were dry freighters came out in oxen wagons and hauled them to market. This method of hauling was only used a few years as horse or mule-drawn wagons made much better time. EARLY~DAY HISTORY: OF WILBARGER. COUNTY 15,

The guns used by the hunters weighed :from 16 to 21 pounds and used. a bullet about the size of a .45. Each hunter also used a couple of sticks about thirty inches lo~g and fa~tened together about three inches from the end·. When he got ready to shoot he _would get off his horse and use the· sticks for a "rest."_ Mr. Justin said sometimes their guns would get so hot_ they would have to stop firing until they cooled off unless water was handy. He said he had killed from 30 to 49 buffalo on a spot no larger than a city block. Two spots were always used as a mark, the hunter either trying· t9 hit the heart or break the animal's neck. Bone sights were used on the guns as metal sights would glare when hit by the sun. Buffalo go largely by smell, according to Mr. Justin. They always grazed facing into the wind and when they smelled "enemies" coming· would begin running. A buffalo stampede was a very thrilling sight,. he said. A herd would start running and as they moved across the country o~her _herds joined in. A horse could keep up with them for a few miles· but the herd would soon out-wind him and leave him far behind. The calves fall out ·in a stampede but the cows alway~ came back to them. Mr. Justin said he never -heard a buffalo cow bellow; when they returned to their calves they always made a grunting sound. He stated that he had seen several thousand buffalo in a stampede at one time. An interesting thing about buffalo was: the way he drank. Mr. Justin said they would not wade out in the water as stock does but would stand on the bank to drink and the rest wait their turn. · When the ·a·nimal fin­ ished drinking he would step aside and the next one took its turn-. They also used the same system in the buffalo wallow. One would wallow and g_et up and another would lay down in the same spot. Once while hunting in this section Mr.· Justin and-his outfit lost a large number of hides on account of wet weather. Following his stay in this section of the state he went to Uvalde Coun­ ty where he worked on a ranch. Later he worked with an outfit that made . up six herds of cattle to be driven to Caldwell, Kans. In the fall of 1877 he returned to Texas but left again on a trip to Arkansas. Returning to Texas in 1878 he went to work for a Mr. Yarbrough at a place where Na­ cona is now located. In _the fall of that year he went to Sherman where he helped feed a_ bunch of stock through the winter. In the spring of 1879. he assisted in driving a herd of cattle to the round timbers on the Brazos River. Then he went to_ Henrietta where he met some cow men who em­ ployed him to pilot them through the west with a bunch of cattle. Later returning to Henriett~ he worked for the Sanburn Bros., assisting in driv­ ing a herd of cattle to Cottle County. He remained with this outfit until 1882 when he came to Eagle Flat, which is now Vernon. Mr. Justin was tax assessor of Wilbarger County from 1886 to 1892. In 1894 he was appointed deputy United States marshal and worked among the Indians in Oklahoma. In 1898 he returned to Vernon and was a city officer for nine years. He was constable of the Vernon precinct from 1920 to 1928, and justice of the peace since 1928. Mr. and Mrs. Justin have· two living children, Robert Justin of Trini­ dad, Colo., and Clarence Justin of Vernon. 16 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

-~~~~~"""""""'~------­::=~~·=---··· . ~~~f .• Doan Family Among County's Earliest Pioneers

(By J. E. Collins) The pioneer of all pioneer families of Wilbarger County, can rightfully be attributed to that of the Doan family. Arriving in this county· in 1878, C.. F. Doan, the subject of this sketch was an active citizen for 51 :years. He died in Vernon June 1, 1929. C. F. Doan was born in Wilming­ ton, Ohio, August 9, 1848, and was educated in the public schools of that city. When only a boy he had vis­ ions of ·a great empire to be builded in the West, and longed to be one of C. F. Doan the builders. He was married Octo­ ber 19, 1871, to Miss Lide E. Whinery of Wilmington and settled down to a business career, but he still felt the call of the West, and in 187 4 he, in company with J. Doan who was 1ater elected the first county judge of Wilbarger County, went to Fort Sill, Okla., and spent two years trading with the Indians and buying hides and furs. These hides were freighted to Gainesville and Denison, Texas, and shipped from these points to East­ ern markets. C. F. Doan returned to Ohio in 1876, but Judg~ Doan remained in the West to prospect for a location. To one unaccustomed to it, there is something inexpressibly lonely in the solitude of a great prairie. The loneliness of a forest seems nothing to it. There the view is shut in by trees and the imagination is left free to picture a more level scene beyond; but to this hardy pioneer, the im­ mense landscape, without a sign of human· existence, without a fence to mar its beauty, covered in grass and flowers and abounding with wild game of all kind was to him a source of wonder, pleasure and inspiration, and after several months spent in traveling over the country, he located and established a trading post at Doans, a village that still bears his name, and is located at the crossing0 on Red River, on the trail made famous by Emer­ son Hough's "North of 36." Judge Doan early in life lost his wife. He never married again, but the remainder of his life held in reverence the memory of the woman he loved. In 1878,. C. F. Doan came out from Ohio, arriving at Doans October 10, bringing with him hi~ wife and baby (now Mrs. Alex Ross), accomp- EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 17 anied by Maje Doan, Mrs. R. R. Wheatley of Amarillo and Mrs. Eva Braziel, children of Judge Doan, and Cal Doan, a brother of Judge Doan. "Uncle Cal," as he was affectionately called by all who knew him, was a ·fine; up­ standing character, a veteran of the Civil War, a typical pione~r, a familiar figure at Doans store for nearly forty years where he was known and loved for his acts of kindness, his generosity and his happy· optomistic disposition. After the arrival of C. F. Doan a temporary house: was ·arranged for

The Doan Adobe House

The above photo is that of the oldest house in Wilbarger County, built in 1881 by the late Bennie Simmons. It was for many years the home of C. F. Doan.

his family, and in 1880 the adobe house shown above, was built and is now the oldest house in the county and was the home of C. F .. Doan for 51 years. · Mrs. Doan left her home in Wilmington, 0., where all her ·life she had been accustomed to the comforts and luxuries of life, surrounded by cul­ tured and refined people. It was no easy task to leave the old home and go into a new country where most of those she came in contact with were Indians and cowboys; but with wonderful tact and judgment, she made friends with everyone she met. An Indian might have been a bad Indian on the range, but in her presence he was always a good Indian. A cowboy .might be a "rip-roarin'," "hell raisin," bad hombre in town,· but in her presence he was the courtly gentleman, and not one old-time cowboy that ever lived in Wilbarger County but would have cheerfully laid down his life in her defense. · After the country was more thickly settled, she was noted far and wide for her kindness, her charity and her hospitality. No o,ne, regard• less of who or what they were, ever left her door hungry.. Mrs. Doan passed on in 1905, but her memory is still with· us, and if . . it be true as the Good Book teaches, that in the presence of humanity we The Old Doans Store .. .•• 1.•.-~n. ~ Z: • ~ -~ •:f1!.£ li!l!llli~II ,-iiLk:~::::::::~::::!!!! ...... ~,o¼wA~ ,.,..•. .,,..,.,..oc.,,,,., ~ J>t Ila ~- E-t ~: ½i~~;:1~4.tt{JY;;;~~ .. , ', ,, ,. ~ 0 ~'L;;·:;;,:;:<;;,~:;~--,~~~~% 0 ~ l tJ -1!:r ~.. ~ H¢=»~ ~ ·$~r ...... < ~y~,w ''.,;'..,,,'wyilill"'"''~ffl\tll~llliHlhlffifBliiiihr¾ ~.... ~ 1111111111 ~IJ.li::.,·...·::..,. 1111 iii~!Vd~~U/i;::~"::::::::i:i:: '!:~M:::!: :i:t.f.f{'-;$::::;:;: :: •, ❖ ::: •,•, :: - ❖ :, :-:.:,. :,:,:,:. :,• '• •' •. ~ ~ 0

0t E-1 • -.:•·=·=:~=~===· •• ,•:=:~ r:n *:-::=::❖· rf-l!MII •·❖ ~:-~:::-.1:-:•:•'.@:•:-:-:-:•:•::.❖ ❖~ lit ~ A ~ ~ -The above picture of the old Doans Store was taken in 1889. It was here that trail drivers stopped for, their ~ supplies when_ en route North with their cattle. The Doans Store was the last stop on the cattle trail for laying in ~ supplies before reaching the northern markets. It was here that the Doan's carried on an extensive trade with the Indians in the early days. A bit of history is connected with the Doans Store. Th'e building was used at one time as a saloon. In 1895, the. house was moved_ }?.y_ citizE}nS of the Doans community two miles west and placed on_ the D. B. Rogers farm where 1t was used for several years as a Methodist Church. At this new location it was knov.rn 00 as Poans Wesley Chapel. Later it was moved still f~rther west and plac~d on the II. A. Bell :farm near. Odell,· and ri there known as the Pleasant Valley Chapel. In late yeAr$· it was sold and torn down. · EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 19 will be judged, when this good woman stands ~efore the All Righteous Judge, a great multitude will come. forward, who in this world were the old, the poor, the sick, the lame and the blind, and will say with one accord, 1 'Back in yonder world I was hungry- and she gave me food; I was thirsty and she gave me drink; I w&s naked and she clothed me; I was sick and she visited me." · Mrs. Alex Ross, formerly Miss Bertha Doan, was an infant when her parents came to Wilbarger, and she was the first ~bite child in the county. Her first friends were cowboys and Indians; she was not afraid of these Indians, but rather on very friendly terms with them. She soon learned the Comanche language, and the white papoose talking Comanche was a source of amusement to the red men. After graduating from the Vernon high school, she spent four years.· at an Eastern college, completing her education, after which she returned to this county to make her permanent home. · Although a very busy woman; she has always found time to take an active part in civic, church and club - . work, and has taken an active part in all charitable work in the city and county. Mrs. C. W. Igou, formerly" Miss Mabel Doan, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Doan, was born in Wilbarger County. Mable was a· chip off the old block and from early childhood was always ready for an adventure. At ten years of age she was thoro~ghly m~ster of a horse, and a ride of 25 or 30 miles with her father after straying cattle, meant nothing in her young life. - Mrs~ Igou was educated in the public schools of Vernon, and is an accomplished musician. Several years ago she moved with her hus­ band to Electra, where for many years Mr. Igou was a trusted employe of the Texas Petroleum Company. With her husband they now live at Littlefield, Texas. • Fifty years is not a long space of time; it soon passes-but many changes are brought about in that length of time. When the Doan family came to Wilbarger, the nearest railroad was at Gainesville. The nearest· telegraph office at the same place. There was no such thing as a telephone. There was not a house or a mile of fence in the county. They got their mail at Henrietta. Their nearest neighbor lived in what is now Wichita· County, and Vernon was not even thought of. In 1880 Judge Doan was taken ill with fever. A covered wagon was' sent to Henrietta for a doctor; three days later the doctor reached Do ans and finding his patient very sick he stayed with him for three weeks. Even in those days medical men had to have money, and for his services· he charged the Judge $25 and his transportation back to Henrietta in the sama covered wagon. Soon after their arrival in this county a strong and lasting friendship was formed between the Doan family and Quanah Parker, the powerful chief-of the Comanches, and Lone Wolf, chief of the Kiowas. These In­ dians often visited at Doans, where they were always entertained and shown every courtesy due "a heap big Injun." Fifty years ago the tide of emigration turned westward. What has it brought to us? Men and women with brave hearts, clean minds and 20 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY strong bodies, who wanted a home of their own and were willing to work ior it. Folks·. who fought on through droughts, sand storms, grass-hoppers and crop failures. Men and women who were still optomistic when buffalo. ~.ones, stove· wood and pole-cat hides were all they had to Qff er as legal tender_~ And their faith has been rewarded. Words are inadequate and space too limited to describe the glories of Wilbarger. We are recognized today as .one of the leading agricultural counties of the state. Our oil fields are proving a source of vast wealth. We are perfecting a great system of paved and graveled roads. We have a city of 10,000 population with prac­ tie~y every line of business represented. We have many miles of paved streets and side-walks, and Vernon is known from Colorado to the Gulf. as "The City .BeautifuL" We . have in the county about forty modern school buildings for the education of our boys and girls, and above all ~ citizen­ ship.. equal to any in the world. . . But in our. prosperity let us not fail to remember and honor the sturdy pioneers who paved the way and made all these things possible.

Mears Family Came to County in 1879

, G;. W. Mears stands towards the top of the list of early day settlers as he ·came to this county in 1879. He was born in Tennessee August 20,. 1845, and came to Texas in 1868, settling in Hill County. Later he came to· Wilbarger County in December, 1879. Mr. Mears settled in Hardeman County, just across the river from Antelope Springs where he had a herd of cattle. In the spring of 1880 lie moved ·over to the springs and put up a grocery store. In 1884, Mr. Mears moved one ~ile east and within half a mile of what is now known as Rayland where he engaged in both stock raising and farming. The fam­ ily remained at this place until 1913 when they moved back to his place across the river. Mr. Mears served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. . ~n talking of the old days he said that when he first came to this• coun­ try the settlement around Vernon was known as Eagle Flat and only three people lived here, a Mr. Rutherford and wife, and a Mr. Darby. Mr. Mears tells of a dance held back in the early days where the fiddler only knew one tune, "Cotton Eye Joe." Despite this fact, he says the crowd had a big time and danc°ed all night. Mr. Mears has nine living children. They are: Mrs. R. L. Jordan,. Mrs. Mae Gunn, Mrs. Minnie Jobe and J. E. and T. J. Mears, all of Vernon Route 3; Mrs. R. A. Greenhouse, Vernon; Mrs. W. G. Singleton, Tahoma,. Okla.; C. S. Mears, Lefors, Texas, and 'R. E. Mears. :&ARLY-DAY HISTOR"Y' O~ WILBARGER COUNTY 21

...

Was a Resldent tlf Vernon F-or Fifty Years

'r.he su:n was '.a burn.ing ball ·of :fir:e on the , wester,n horizon one .Suncra:y afternoon •in September, J.886, when a coveted wagon eame to :a :halt in front :o·f ~th.e R. F. Jones 'store >in Eagle .-Flat -and :a yo,ung lady., who a few days .previous :had ·been Miss Ella Creager of ·G~ayson =County but was now :Mr-s. -R. F •. J on~s, ;step.ped oot,and look.ed,over·her future .home. In 1927 talking of that e:ventful .day.:, Mrs. J-0·nes ·says ·it looked ·to .her :like the prairie was:anre.as .the sun iSlow­ ly ·disappeared. For 50 ~:years Mrs. Jones ·made ..:her · Mrs. 'R. F. ·Jones home in Vernon '"and from :the ·small three-house village ·she ·watched .Vernon grow .to a city of ,over lQ,000 i)opulation. Mrs. Jones._·.suecumbed to ~an jllness :of .a .month, .S~pt.ember ~, 19-30. When she arr-ived in Vernon, then~.called Eagle Flat, .ther.e were :.thre: buildings. The. store owned ·by her ·husband and •located ·at the ·.southwest· corner · of the irltel'se:ction of · Main and -Pease ·Streets, a eafe ~.run , b_y ,a family of :Rupperts where the court .house ·stands and ;another ~small stl!uc­ ture :occ-upied by four·men across-Main Street west of-the .cafe. :Mrs.-Rup- pert an-d •Mrs .. Jones were .the only .ladies. in· the village. , "We thought we had a big town when C. M. Byars .-arrived .thr.ee week~ later," ·Mrs.-Jones said, '~nd brought his wife and.gave -us .. three .women in town." The Byars .family camped west of -the Jones .store. and Mr. .Byar~ returned to Gainesville to bring lumber to build a. house. The· old .bachel­ ·ors living nearby were a Mr.. Darby, T. Windsor Robinson, .J•. A .. Nabers and U el ·Musick. Robert Franklin Jones came to Wilbarger County in 1-8-79 : and was ,known-·as "Bob" Jones to every citizen in the village up to the .time. of- his death July 24, 1892. ·Mr. Jones filed on a section· of land running .from ·Pease -River· south to where the center of the city is- now located. , He. later donated-half of this section for the town of Vernon, ,and city .additions-now -bear:his name. For the 14 years. Mr. Jones lived in Vernon, he -w.as a leader :in every civic enterprise of any wor-th and . prospered in real estate and live stock business, as~ociated :with T. H. Jones, a brother, ,and 'R. T .. Sitterly. The company also conducted a loan and financial business. Mr. ·Jones was a 22 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY charter member of the. Vernon ;Mas-2nic Lodge, No. 655, -.A.. F. & A. M.,. chartered June 15, 1887. The following quotation about Mr. Jones is taken -from a ''Tribute of Respect," by the Vernon Lodge and signed by T. J. Youngblood and J. A. Creager, and published in the "Vernon Weekly Guard" of August 25, 1892. "Having been in Wilbarger County about 12 years and was known to al­ most. every citizen of this county, and to know him was to love and re­ spect him. As a citizen he had no superior. He was alive to all enter­ prises that tend to build up and develop our country. Not only was he liberal when oft demands were i;xiade for help, but he was ever ready and a zealous worker. There is hardly an enterprise in the city of Vernon that tends to public good but what we find that Brother R. F. Jones was the instigator and promoter of it. He was loyal to his country and true to bis many friends. He was a zealous Christian and true to his convic­ tions; and in him was the true: principles of free Masonry, such-as was advocated and required by our forefathers (that we must be good men and true). He was honest in his duties to God, his country, his neighbor and himself, and true to his solemn vows as a Mason." Prior to 1881 the nearest post office to "Eagle Flat" was Henrietta in Clay County of which Wilbarger County was a part. Mail for Vernon was delivered via Doans to Worsham Springs now known as Condon Springs, on Highway No. 5 near the Hillcrest Country Club. The first settlement in the county was made in 1878 by Judge and C. F. Doan, two years before Mr. Jones settled at the present site of Vernon. Mr. Jones filed on the section mentioned above in '79 and Tim Chown­ ing and family filed on an adjacent section. In 1880 Mr. Jones agreed to donate the south half of his section for the town, provided the other town builders would agree to make certain improvements. Application for ~ post office was made in '81 and the name Vernon selected. Mr. Jones re­ tained two shares in the twelve townsite shares agreed upon. No date is available but Mr. Jones established the first gin in the county in the north portion of the present town. Cotton begun a bid for popularity as a crop a~ter wheat failures. At one time Mr. Jones was president of the First National Bank or Vernon and was a stockholder in the bank until the time of his death. Shortly before his death Mr. Jones decided to sell his interest in the bank. He made a trip to his home in Van Alstyne where he died. Later in the same year, 1892, the bank failed and S. W. Lomax, then president, killed himself in his home. Mr. Jones' private papers were missing when his widow called for them and a life insurance policy was found in a waste basket in New York City. Mrs. Jones encountered much trouble in the collection of this poliey and most of Mr. Jones' business aifairs were never straightened out and were a total loss to the widow and small daughter, Ethel Mae Jones. Mr. Jones was also a trustee of the Vernon school sys­ tem and the cornerstone of Central School bears his name. Mr. and Mrs. Jones first made their home in the back end of the store. Later they built a little log house back of the store to use for a kitchen. EARLY-DAY-HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 23_

Mrs. Jones often related to members of her family and friends an incident about the kitchen. · She said they never thour;ht of closing the doors and windows, for lots of times when she would return from a visit with some of the neignbors she would find a quarter of beef or a turkey on the kitchen table. One morning she went out to cook breakfast and just as she reached ·the door two big wolves came dashing out of the kitchen frightening her badly. . ~r. Jones kept groceries and clothing required by cowboys and con­ ducted a general frontier store. Mrs. Jones said she would never forget how she felt when she walked in the little store the afternoon she arrived in Vernon. Mrs. Jones also told a. story about Mrs. Ruppert and her five-months­ old .baby. She was visiting in the Ruppert cafe when two cowboys came into the cafe and ordered s1:1pper. One of the men pulled his six shooter out and leyeled it on the baby, who was sleeping. Mrs. Jones said the mother was scared to death and so was she. Mrs. Jones knew the man and told him to put his pistol up as it might go off and kill the baby. The man replied that not· a hair on its head would be harmed. She argued with him and finally got the cowboys to leave and she took the baby over to the store where she kept it until Mrs. Ruppert had cooked the supper. Mrs. Jones said the Indians- usually camped on the ground just west of her home _when they .came to Vernon, and sometimes as many as fifty tepees were pitched there at one time. They were very curious and in­ vestigated everything. She said at night they would come over and look in t~e window~. Anything left laying around the yard would be carried off by them. She said one .time Mr. Jones had a pile of Bois D'arc post stacked in the yard. He was gone away and the Indians kept coming over and wanting _some of the post. She pretended that she did not know what they wanted. When Mr. Jones came in that night she told him about it, so he called the In4ians over. and gave them some post. They went back and before long had ~ome veey beautiful bows and arrows which they had made . out of them. . When the first train arrived in Vernon, in 1886, it was a great day in Vernon. . Everyone turned out and went to the depot. Mrs. Jones said there were lots of Indians in town and when the train stopped they· took charge. She said they climbed on top of the coaches, under the train and all over the engine to see how the "iron horse" was made. They were so thick the officers had to be called to get them away so the train could be moved. Mrs. Jones related ~n episode of a real cowboy welcome of the fron­ tier day~~ On a ~eturn trip from a visit to their home at Van Alstyna, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Creager, one of the founders of the First Methodist Church. It was the first trip west for the Creagers and they were ready to turn back before they reached the village after a welcome at. the banks of Paradise Creek southeast of Ver­ non· on the old Fort Worth Trail. The cowboys in town recognized Mr. Jones' team and rode out to meet them with the usual rousing welcome of 24 EARLY-DAY IIISTORY OF WILBARGER 'COUNTY

;hooting at the_ lio:rses te~i. Mr._ Jo:ne~' teim was 'us:eci to i>uii'ets spatter~ ing in tlie sand at. their Ieet arid walked on, taking no nc:itice o'f the fn;:­ c1dent . .· ~ ..... ··•··. \·,- ..... :-::.· i:"' ~--.· •• ~ •·. ·• ...... ___ 1.r•• ~ .. •·· ... ~ .. ,.·.· ... ,"- --. -,· . .-.~.•·.- - .• ,. ="· .. It was a different story with the Creager team which danced w1tli every shot and threatened a run.;away.. Mrs. Creager roiled from tne ·wagon seat to th~ lied ·of the velrlcTe and i5egged her nusb~aiid to "furn hick 'to Grayson County before they were all kille~'.'. ~ . C~ttle being a~iven ·over the old ·chisholni Tran to ·Aoilene; Hans;1 and 6ther ~oitliern ma:rkets were au ·added nuisaric~e to the 'village women; -ifrs.· J·6:rte$ ~said; The cattle riould ·be ·heard bawlin·g before they got to "to\vti and every wom~n ran and put down her windows and shut the doors. The thunilerfllg =Jierds not only stirred up miniature sandstorms but brought f~rge cattle ·fl1e·~ with them; The only -screens in use were :inesqtiito ·net~ ti~g ·ta-eked on the winduws. Mrs. ·Jori~s -added_ that when the ·cattle reach~ ~d ;th~ ~viliiie and ·smelled the water i:n ·Pease ·River .they ·would ·often sta:in..; pe·de in 'the~ 1iiad'deried ·anxiety ·to qneri-ch :1o·rig thirsts~ Mrs. Ella ·J~ ·Jones, ·as -;;1ie was known in -later years, was ·always -a &e\+but ·-cliurch worker. In the early days services of ·all denominations ~e~ ·t:ttiin ;held in :hei- home-and ·during -her lifetime ·she witnessed the coil­ ·stru·~tion l>f three buildings housing 'the First -Baptist Church of Vernon ~f ~h:i~h ·she was a :.charter ·member. The nrst ·structure was at the north­ ~est ~rirner ·of ~the :intersection of -Marshall and Bowie Streets:; the second iit· t~e 116rthwest.-·c~er of Main ai:rd Paradise ·Streets, afrd the -thiro at the stitithiiiist .:corner ·of -Fannin -and ·Paradise Streets. One of the ·greatest th.rills.:in herilife came when the ·latter modern ·building was ·d-ed-icated and bpenea :for servi~~- Tlir~ti.ghout ·_her iife after the death ·of Mr. Jones she carried on his ideais 'bf ~ma\cing Ve:rnon greater and each new cify 'structure for business - •· : 4'• ... , • ,. ,. ' • •. •• .... •• • • • • • ' or liorlie, •highway ·completion or ·new :railroad eorine·ction was ·welcomed ~th delight' in her·later ·years. · She lived to see construction of the Frisco ~iid Rcick-:rsJand -"connections assured in 1930, which delighted her. . Much tribµte was paid_ Mrs. Jones as the woman who had lived loilgest jµ_' the ·city ·at the time of the Old Settlers edition of the Vernon .Times in 1927. . Her daughter recalled that their ho.me. was the roof of missionaries of ·all -denominatio~s coming to the c_ity before churches were organized. Mrs. 'Jones was a Baptist by belief; Mr. Jones was a ·christian, 'and other relative$ "were Metho.dists and ail ·creeds .were .w~lcomed in the home . .Mrs. Jones' daughter, Eth~l Mae, 'marrie·d John. Oscar Wright in the Jones home on Peas~ Street, April 6, 1901. Mr. Wright came to Vernon ,in 1899.from West ·rexas where he ~ent from his home near .Troupe, Smith Cou~ty, in. th~. early '9CJ'.'s. In West Texas he was a cowboy on Hall County ranches and later drove a stage coach on the Wellington route which afford­ _ed soine thrills .from early-day hi-jacking. The coaches were often used for poker and monte card games which were often robbed. 'In Vernon Mr. Wright entered the grocery business which he followed ·since 1905... Two children ·wer~. born· to Mr. and Mr~. Wright, Robert Samuel and Ola Mae. Robert Wright was married to Lora ·Leverett of EARLY-DAY. .... IDSTORY· OF WILBARGER. COUNTY 25

Vernon in 1930. Mrs. Wright recalled one of the biggest frights of her life in the early days when she ·was returning to Vernon. with her parents from a fishing trip in the Navajo Mountains . across Red River in the Comanche Indian Territory of Oklahoma. -· .As they were .crossing Pease River on the return a headrise struck them with the suddenn~ss which only a West Texas river knows and started their buggy down stream. Mr. Jones' team knew how to swim and pulled the buggy· saf~y ashore with the family perched on the backs of the htiggy seats.· Mr. Jones then unhitched his team and swam back into the water with his horses and pulled out his brother, T. H. Jones' team. Mrs. Wrighf also recalled an experience Mr. Jones had with a claim­ jumper on a section of l~nd in W~st Wilbarger County. Mr. Jones had rented the section· to a man and decided to dispose of him but the man_ in-:­ sisted he had lived there longer than Mr. Jones and would claim the land. Mrs. Jones and her daughter ~oved · to the farm at once and lived in the­ barn while ¥r. Jones went; to Austin and settled the claim, receiving a clear patent .title~ signed by ·Governor L. s. Ross and Commissioner Ball of . the land office. · This pat~nt stills ~emains in the family. The renter could have jumped the title in ~·few·months if Mr. Jones had not decided on the change in renters•. Mrs: Wright ·recalled these days with amusement as she was a youngster at the time and ·received much pleasure from the daily trips to Vernon from seven miles west of the city in a two-wheeled rig behind a single horse.· At the time ·this history was compiled in 1931, Mrs. Wright had lived longer in one place in Vernon than any other citizen, occupying the same house for 48 years, since 1883. The house has been changed through th~ years but the foundation lumber remains the same. Mrs. Wright continues in the teachings of her mother and through her mothei;'s inspiration was ~ leading worker in the Baptist Church and had been longer in the Baptist Sunday School as student, teacher and primary superintendent than any other citizen. · ·

l1_9ons Family Came From Ohio to Wilbarger County

Col. L. L. Irons, with his wife and four children, came to Wilbarger County from Ohio in 1887. They .bought land and established a home j':1st a short distance west of the Doans store and lived continuously in that community for over twenty years. From Doans they moved to Dustin, Okla., where all members of this immediate family died with the excep­ tion of the oldest son, Freeland Irons, who now lives at Fort Worth. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Irons were: Beulah, who was Mrs. Rich­ ard Head at the time of her death; Foster, a son, and Bethel, the young­ est daughter. 26 EARLY-DAY msTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY: ·------· ·Pioneer Editor Established County Paper in 1889.

An interesting bit of history is eoupled with the name of D. D. l'tlc­ ConnelL He wµI always be remem­ l;>ered· in Vernon and the county as ":o;-;~~~-,;.•❖:-::•"t-··~ i:::.::;:::,~❖&~❖--===-­ editor and publisher of the "Vernon f~~:~::-).:•m •r--.x:-:v""'··•== • ~ Weekly Call." He established The Call in 1889 and the paper remained_ under the supervision of the_ McCon­ nell family until_. December, 1918, when it was sold to Te L. Rouse and Charles P. Ross and they ~hanged the name from The Call to the "Ver­ non Times.,, Downs D. McConnell was born D~ D. D. McConnell cember 25, 1851-, in Cherokee Coun~ ty,. ~eorgia. His mother's maiden name was M~ry J. Brewster. She w~s the grallddaughter of Major Jona­ than Downs, who was second in_ command of the Carolina forces against the· British a~y during the Revolutionary War. She was also a double nrst cousin of Henry P. Brewster, who when an 18-year.:-old boy, came from South Carolina in 1836 and___ joined General· Sam Houston's army and par.. ticipated in the Battle of San Jacinto. General Houston sent for Brewster the next day after the battle as he desired to shake his hand as he had watched Brewster's conduct during the battle. Brewster County was named for him. At :Brewster's request· before his death his body was buried at sea in Galveston Bay. Mr. McConnell came to Texas in the. fall of 1867. At that time Weatherford and Fort Richardson, now ~acksboro, were the frontier towns of northwest Texas. No white man at that time dared to Yenture alone as :tar out as Eagle Flat, where Vernon is now located. In the spring of 1868 Mr. McConnell assisted Hige Nail in driving the first herd of ca~le from Texas to the nort:tiern markets. They started with their cattle from Waxahachie·· Cre~k in Ellis County. Going north they crossed Red River Jt Preston Bend and. the Arkansas River at Fort Gibson in what was known at that time as the Indian Territory. About ten years later, Mr. McConnell says, Hige Nail drove the first herd of cattle to Dodge City, Kansas and crossed Red River at Doans. Mr. McConnell was postmaster at Eastland, Texas, for three years; also justice of the peace there for two years. He ~tnessed the first train that came into Eastland over the T. & P. R. R. While postm~ster at East-. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY . ' ' ,27

land, he states, a post 9ffice was established l,talf way between Eastlan4. and BrownVwFood and he named it Rising .Star!" ·. . . In April, 1877, Mr. Mcco·nnell .was. granted license to practice law in Texas by the di1,trict court at Weatherford. He came to Vernon in April, 1886, and was elected justice of the peace in N,>vember, 1886. I~ this capacity he served two years and furnished his own office as Wilbar­ ger County from 1886 to !888 bad no r2om for his office. He says, in 1889 after getting some financial assistance from some friends he decided to start a newspaper in Vernc,n. These friends, accord• ing to ;Mr. McConnell, desired to see both sides of public .questions dis:- ·cussed. The new paper was named the "Vernon Weekly Call." The first issue, a very primitive affair, appeared in February, 1889. The \·erno·o Call supported J. R. Tolbert for first mayor of Vernon, while the "Verno~ Guard," another newspaper, supported J. R. Ralston. Tolbert was elect.. ed. The city ordinances were published in The Call and afterwards pasted_ in an ordinance book. About this time, Mr. McConnell says, it was the custom to state the burial place as in the Vernon Cemetery,. His wif~, he says, . disliked the idea of "burial in a city cemetery," and requested him to state in fune~al notic~s, "interment in East View Cemetery," and this was bow our pr~se~~ cemetery received its name. · Mr. McConnell was married to Miss Sallie W. HammGnd of Atlanta, Ga., on November 4, 1875~ She died June 14, 1914, in Vernon. Three children of Mr. and Mrs. McConnell died in infancy. A son, Milton H. McConnell, now resides at Dallas. Another son, Amos C. McConnell, died in August, 1922.. The fou.r daughters all live in Texas and are: Mrs. · Mary E. Thompson of JRcksboro; Mrs. Laura J. Hawkins, of Fort Worth; Mrs, Anne Caroline Thompson, Houston, and Mrs. Julia N. Thompson, o.f Corpus Christi. All the McConnell children were reared in a printing office. For the past five years Mr, McConnell has been traveling for hb health, yP-t, he says, he expects to pass hi$ declining years in Vemon which is still his home. His residence is 2004 Eagle Street. This· home was built in 1882, and Mr. McConnell says it was a~ong the first houses built in Vernon.

Rector Family Long-Time Reaidenta of County

The R. D. Rector family moved to Wilbarger. County in 1879. M~. Rector came in the fall Qf the year anq his family arrived on December 24. The family home was located just west of Vernon about where the Country Club house now stands. Mr. Rector was a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., and came to Texas in 1878, ~topping at Sherman. He then came on west to this county. For many years he had a fin~ farm west of the city~ He was postmaster at Worsham Springs and maintained the office in a 28 EARLY-DAY HISTORj' OF WILB-ARGER COUNTY dug-out. Eagle Flat or Vernon made appli_cation for an· office and the post office department turned it down ·on account of W-orsham Springs being so close by. Mr. Rector -wrote the department and asked that his offic~ be closed and the application of Vernon· be approved. This was done and Vernon was given the post office. · The Commissioners Court named Mr. Rector as a commissioner to fill out an unexpired term and when that term was out he retired, declin-­ ing to run for the place at the· regular election. · His· son,: R. 0. Rector, was born in South Bend, Ind., and came to Vernon with the family in 1879. He grew to manhood in this city and served as deputy United States marshal in the 90's. In 1906 Mr. Rector moved to Portland, Ore., and is at · pres~nt chief field deputy sheriff of Portland and the county surrounding.

Alabamian. . a Successful Cotton Grower

John M. Sh~_lby, a native of Alabama, came to this county with his f~~ily frQm Smith County, near Tyler, in 1891. He located on a farm near Tolbert and was among the first farmers in W:ilbarger County to suc­ cessfully grow cotton. In addition to farming, Mr. Shelby was also a ~ccessful ·stock raiser. His son, Prof. T. H. Shelby, who is now dean_ of Division of .the Extension Department in the State University at Austin, in speaking of his fath~r's early settlement in this county, says: "My fatlJ.er saw the country change from a cow country with free grass- to a farming section with all land under fence. He went through the struggle between the cowmen and the so-called 'nester' over the pos- session of the ·county/' . Other children now living of Mr!' and Mrs. Shelby's ar,:.- ~ -:·.,,, E. Shelby, proprietor of Shelby Dry Goods Co., Austin; Mrs. J ... .- ~. 4Era) Swim, Goldyvaithe, Texas; Mrs. T. ~- (Lula Mae) Pollard,- 1-· -:~·.. •: · as, Texas, and Mrs. Walker. (Leona) Yorbrough, Chapel, Texas.;.

A Confederate Veteran Came in 1891

W. C. Sears, born in Forsythe County, Georgia, and a Civil War vet­ eran, moved from his native state to Arkansas and was among the pioneer settlers of that country. In 1891 he answered the call of the West, and with his good wife and children, he moved to Texas, locating near Old. Margaret, just across the· line from Wilbarger County. The Sears family lived in Foard County until 1896', when they moved near Doans. The last location was their home for a number of years. Children of Mr. 'and Mrs. W. C~ Sears living now are: Mrs. J. M. Stroud, Childress; Mrs. Joe ·schmi~t, · Vernon; Mrs. J. W. Bell, Crowell; C. E. Sears, Fargo; J. W. Sears, Swearingen; Mrs. Louis Ross, Odell, and ·Mrs. T. A. Hamilton, Doans. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 29

Streit Family Ca.me to Texas From Switzerland

(By J. E. Collins)_ There is not now living, nor has there ever lived in Wilbarger County a family who has added more to the the material prosperity and develop­ ment of this county than the Streit family. In 1882, Christ Streit and his wife Anna, in order to give their sons a better opportunity in the New World ·and to avoid for them com­ pulsory military service, decided to leave the old home in Switzerland and emigrate to Texas. They, with their six sons, Charles, Fred, Albert, Alex Streit Alex, Godfrey and Rudolph, landed in Wilbarger County in 1882, and settled on Section 98, Block 14, in the southwest part of this county. In February, 1883, Mrs. Streit lost her life in a cyclone but these sturdy pioneers carried bravely on, and for the next few years tried to improve their home, hauling in wagons from Wichita Falls all lumber and building material including wire for fences. They would make the trip down in one and one-half days, load their wagons and by driving late at night make the return trip in two days. Christ Streit died in 1897, leaving to his family a rich heritage, not so much in material things, but a heritage of duty well performed, of hon­ esty, sobriety, integrity and piety. As the Streit boys grew to manhoo

.-:fom Jones Family Arrivals in Fall of 1884

-Among the early settlers of the county who have passed away are Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones. In an interview with Mrs. Jones in 1927 in connection with the publishing of an old settlers' edition of The Vernon TimeS; she stated that they came to Wilbarger County from Collin County i~ the fall of 1884. The family had moved to Texas from Tennessee. For a number of years Mr. Jones was in business in Vernon. He sold out 'and went to Oklahoma where he engaged in cattle raising. Mrs. Jones said cattle rustlers and Indians raided his herd many times. Mr. Jones died in 1908. Mrs. Jones stated that the early days in Vernon were sometimes stren­ uous and wild ones. She said that at one time there was quite a stir in the town over the activities o;f a "vigilance committee.,, A number of the most prominent citizens were placed under arrest, the sheritf being among them. Her husband was appointed as acting sheri:tr until .the trial. Mrs. Jones said that during those days she worried a great d.eal for ~ear her husband would be brought home dead. Surviving Mr. and Mrs. Jones are three daughters, Mrs. ·' Margaret Souders of Montana, Mrs. Edna Newlon of Idaho and Mrs. Hattie Stine­ man of Elliott. EARLY..;DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 31

Witty Was Teacher in Ver­ non's First School

E. L. Witty, insurance man of the city, .came to Vernon in 1887 to teach school. The faculty at that time was composed of Judge Tol­ bert, Mrs. J. L. Swartwood and Mr. Witty. The building was a small three-room affair on the spot where . . . , . the junior high school stands today.

The.. next. year. Mr. Witty went else- where to teach but returned to Ver- non in 1891 and taught the West Vernon school. . That school was considered out in the country in those days and the building was a E. L Witty small wooden structure. He next taught in the city schools under Superintendent W. T. Potter for a number of years. When the county reached the size to be entitled to a county superintendent, the Commissioners Court appointed Mr. Witty to that position, serving one year as appointee and was then elected two terms. After retiring from office he went into the insurance business. He was elected City Commissioner when the commission form of gov~ ernment was adopted in 1916 and served two terms, resigning a short time before his second term expired on account of moving from the east side of town to the west side. In discussing the change in Vernon from the time he first came here and today, ~r. Witty said few people who bad not lived here in the early days could realize what a difference there was. When he came here the town had a small three-room school building and there were no churches at all. Preachers for the various denominations would come to VefJlOD and use the school building. Mr. Witty is a Tennessian by birth. He came to this country from Lebanon, Tenn. His wife's name before her marriage was Miss Stella Stanton and her home was at Greenville, Tenn., before her marriage to Mr~ Witty. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Witty, one son and two daughters. Dan, the son, and Hattie and Dorothy, the two daughters. The oldest, Miss Dorothy, died in 1912. 32 EARLY-DAY -HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

From Ohio to Texas m--·1sss

(Editor's Note-Since J. E. Lutz came to Wilbarger County in_ 1885 and has been an active citizen iu the development of this county from a cowman's range to homes for twenty thousand people or more, at the edi_. tors' request he furnished in his ow1:1. writing what might be · termed -an autobiographical ·sketch o~ his life in Wilbarger County). · "As one o_f the early ; settlers I have been asked to give my ·experi~· ences on the fro~tier' in Wilharge1; County. Coming t~ ·Texas in 1885, I went into· the· land- department· of J. E. Lutz -~ · ~ _: . ~ the Texas & Pacific Railroad under Abrams, the land commissioner at Dallas~ Selling land down on the Pecos and C9~cho._ Ri~ers at that time did not look good to me, so I came to Wich­ ita Falls -and ~there met_ George, Frank and Will Knott, with whom I was reared back in Ohio~ They wanted me to stay there with them, but I told them that country did not look like a farming country and that was the kind of coµntry- I was looking for. "~oming to Ver_non on the stage I met another man, Tom Linkhart, who lived in Ohio just seven m1les from my city, Xenia. Linkhart and T. W. Donahoe were running a blacksmith and wood working shop and I bought a half interest in with them, telling them at the time that I thought this locality was the best -I had seen in Texas and would be a great farm­ ing country when settled. "I was appointed assistant road agent for the stage line, Mr. Satter­ white being the road agent, and Mr. Orr the Star route contractor from the- government. This stage line also carried the United States mail from Wichita Falls to Fort Elliott and Mobeetie, a distance of 300 miles. The passengers were charged ten cents per mile or $30 to Mobeetie. We had ·a branch line from Clarendon on Salt Fork, which is about seven miles east of the present city of Clarendon, to Taseosa on the Canadian River, a dis­ tance of 185 miles. It was my duty to go over this entire ~tage line once every three months, and it took me six weeks to make the trip, which kept me on the road six weeks and in Vernon six weeks. "When I first came to Vernon the first thing I found out was that I would enjoy better health if I attended to my own business and not see too much, which is just the reverse of what they do in this day and time. I EARLY~DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 33

J. E. Lutz and Chief Komo of the Comanches

~- ~'. _·::~:~:_:!, .~.t"~~' ;__ ,,~ww,j::. mu.wm~~~&f-va~?,~~fii~ i~

The above photo was taken in 1886 when Chief Ko~o of the Coman­ ches and his tribe were in Vernon shopping. J. E. Lutz had visited· Komo in the Indian Territory and on this trip the chief insisted on· having their picture taken. Mr. Lutz said the Comanche and Kiowa Indians made Ver• non their trading point. The government paid them quarterly allotments each year and at such times the Indians came to Vernon with their money, usually spending all of it before returning to the· reservation. 34 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY -OF WILBARGER COUNTY came into ·v ernon on the stage wearing a fifty dollar suit of clothing and a high plug hat. The next morning 'dyked' out in all my finery I proceed.. ed to take. iltthe town, whlcii· was: against all rules of :frontier towns. A young lady at the hotel asked me if I was going out on the street with that hat on, -and I told her I was. She proceeded to enlighten me on the eti­ quette of frontier towns, which was 'Thou shalt not wear any hard-boiled hats in this town.' She told me the cowboys would not 1et me wear it but would shoot· if off my head and then proceed t·o shoot it full of holes. Be­ ing wise for· my tender years, I immediately laid this hat to one side and went across ~t~- Kinsey Brothers' store and purchased a regulation cowboy hat which entitled· me to all .the privileges of the town. "Vernon~ in its early days, was a quiet, peaceful town until some one rubbed the fur the wrong way when it could produce more shooting to the square inch than any town in rexas. I, with old man Capps, who was official grave-digger at that time, have helped to dig many a grave for the unfortunate killed the night before, down where the Frisco depot is today, for that was the grave yard at that time. Mr. Capps dug up and removed the_ bodies in· this grave yard from the north part of Vernon to the present ~oc~tion ~~- miles east of Vernon." Mr. Lutz ·was married: io .Miss Maude Thurmond of Vernon, December 25, 1°897. Mrs. Lutz was the· daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Thurmond, pioneer citizen~ of° Wilbarger County. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are the parents of seven childt:en: ·J. E •. Lutz, Jr., R~bert (R. T.) Lutz, Mrs. Ben (Mary) Leut\Vyler, Mrs. Eda Cloriiger, Charles ·A. Lutz, James Kenneth Lutz and Ruth: Kell Lu~z. .

.McGill a Groceryman Here in 1889

T. J. McGill, who was born and raised near Cameron, Tenn., came to Wilbarger County from Hico, Texas, in 1888. Mrs. McGill, who was a native of Kentucky, did not arrive in the eounty until 1889. In an interview with Mr. McGill, he stated that one of his first busi­ ness ventures after landing in Vernon was to enter the grocery business. He sold groceries to the early-day citizens from 1889 until 1891. The year of 1891 was the big wheat year in Wilbarger County, as many pioneer citizens will recall. Mr. McGill seeing the wonderful possibilities of farm­ ing in the county bought a section of land north of Pease !River. This land, which is located in the cFargo district, was put into a state of cultivation· and the McGill home and farm is still pointed out as one of the first farms in that community. Mr. and Mrs. McGill are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters, all who reside in this county. Seth McGill, the son, Miss Bevie McGill, the oldest daughter, and Mrs. Bryan Lovelace. EARLY-DAY JIISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 35

. . . ~ W-illiam ,Reed Land;ed· Here in 1884·

Wm. M. Reed came to Wilbarger County for the first time in .1884. · He moved his family here in 1887 from Cooke County and settled in what is known as the Mack. comm.u• nity. Mr. Reed said he was a nestor and cowman ~nd made a fairly· good success out of his business. "Every time I got a bunch of steers I sold them and put the money in land. Some of the land cost $1 an acre ~bile some went as high as $3. · · ', Mr. Reed said · that in 1886 he Urove a bunch of steers to Vernon and sold them :to Tom Joiies. ·Tliey. Wm. M. Reecl bad not been· given any water, so he drove them to a .water trough on the public square and began pumping water. One old steer got stage frightened and started out across the square. Mr. Reed said if;he had not headed him off he guessed he would have gone right through the front of a store. Mr. and Mrs~ Reed have four children, Nathan, Joe and Fred Reed, and Mrs. Viva Cain.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Moved Here in Spring 1889

Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Samuel came to Vernon in the spring of 1889 from Dallas County. Mr. Samuel followed the carpenter's trade for several years and then started in the barber business. This profession was follow­ ed until a few years back when he retired from ac.tive business. During the early days, Mr. Samuel played the :fiddle for cowboy dances over this part of the country. And in later years his barber shop was always the seene of impromptu gatherings of old time fiddlers where old tunes were played. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel's children are: Mrs. Hugh Davis of Electra, Mrs. L. M. Brown of Sweatwater, Mrs. J. M. Holder, Louie Samuel and Mrs. Ed Gilliland of Vernon, Mrs. B. M. Johnston of Fort Stockton, Barnes Samuel of Pamps, Garner Samuel of El~ctra and Mrs. George Goetze of Vernon. 36 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

From North Carolina to Wil- • •~-..,\ r • barger in ,1886

W. C. Alderman came to Wilbar­ ger County on April 10, 1889, from N:orth Carolina. He settled on a farm south of Beaver Creek where he lived for many years before mov­ ing to town. Mr. Alderman was elected county commissioner from_ that part of the county_ and served for . four years. When asked about the roads at that time he said that there was only one road from Vernon to that part o+ the county and only two in his pre­ cinct. He received the enormous salary of $80 a year for his services. W. C. Alderman Mr. Alderman said some of the other commissioners drew larger salaries as they had more roads to look after. He was treasurer of Wilbarger County for six years. During his stay in that office ~he state department often complimented him on the way h-e kept his books. He _always kept them right up to the minute. During his years as county treasurer, he saw many changes in the county. When he first took office there were very few checks issued by the treasurer, but before he left the office it had gotten to where cheeks were being issued by the hundreds every week, especially after the work of paving and grad­ ing of roads over the county started. · Mr. Alderman was married to Miss Ida Bradford of Anderson County, Texas, in 1906. They are the parents of one son, William B. Alderman.

J. B. (Joe) White a Citizen Since 1888

J. B. (Joe) White moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. White, ~~om Ladonia, in Fannin County, to Wilbarger County in 1888. Th~ White family settled n~r Harrold and followed farming for a numbe17 of years. In 1893 Mr. White was married to Miss Della Ray. They are the parents of Ray and Russell White, both well known Vernon boys. A great­ er portion of Mr. White's life has been spent in Wilbarger County, during which time he has clerked for various business firms that have been in busi• ness in Vernon. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 37

Mr. and Mrs. R. L.. Castlebury

R. L. Castlebury came to Vernon in December, 1887, from Lamar County. Soon after his arrival here he went to work for the Laurellis Cattle Company, remaining with them until the latter part of 1888, work­ ing on the range through the Canadian country and Indian Territory. In 1889 he was in the employ of Dr. Edwards in a drug store. The following year he went to work for Sheriff J. T. Conn and for eight years was a deputy sheriff or some kind of officer• . On November 29, 1891, he was married to Miss Belle Hatchett. Her father,·· Shem E. Hatchett, moved his family to Vernon in 1889. . Mr. Castlebury has retired from active business in the last few years and l~oks after his farms. He has land and cattle and some of the Humble producers in the South Vernon field are located on his land. One of the interesting events of early days related by Mr. Castlebury is that of the death of City Marshal Hammonds. Sheriff Conn and Mr. Castlebury were sleeping on the second floor of the court house and one night Mr. Hammonds came and asked them to .go with him to make an arrest. They told him they would dress and meet him down stairs. He left the room and in a few minutes they heard a loud crash. Upon rush• ing down stairs they found that Mr. Hammonds had fallen over the ban­ nisters and was dead. Mr. and Mrs. Castlebury have five children: Mrs. Albert G. Walker, Mrs. Claude Hardis~n, Miss Robbie Castlebury and Brown Castlebury, all of Vernon, and Mrs. George Cooper of St. Louis, Mo. 38 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

A Kentucky Pedagogue Moves to Wilbarger County in 1892

S.. L. Page was born near Tomp.. kinsville, Ky., May 10, 1872. He came to Wilbarger County in March, 1892. Mr. Page was one of the county'~ early rural school teachers, having taught in the rural schools for fif­ teen years. His services as a ·teach­ er were very much in demand as he taught eighteen school sessions dur­ ing the fifteen years. Most of his teaching was in the schools located in the northern por­ tion of Wilbarger County, · having taught at Pleasant Valley, Jackson S. L P~ge Sprh1gs, Sherwood, Tolbert, Cres­ cent Cove, and one term at Chillicothe. He was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, during a revival meeting conducted by Rev.· J. T. Griswold at Pleasant Valley school house in September, 1895. His church membership was -transferred from Chillicothe Methodist Church, South, in 1897 to Tolbert )lethodist C~urch, where he has been an official in that church and a teacher in the Sunday School until the present time. ~r. Page is an ardent fraternalist, being a Mason, a Woodman of the World, a Modern Woodman of America, and a member of the Woodman Circle. Since he quit teaching school he has continued to manifest much in­ terest in educational affairs, having served as a trustee in his local school district and as a trustee on the county board of education. He is also one of the founders of Southern Methodist University at Dallas.. He has always been a staunch prohibitionist and rendered valiant ser­ vices in placing Wilbarger County in the prohibition column. · In the year 1895, Mr. Page located two miles north of Tolbert, whera he has resided since, and when net teaching has been engaged in farming and stock raising.

Cotton was planted in Wilbarger County for the first time afte~. wheat failures of 1892 and 1893.. In 1894 the county produced 800 bales. . By 1898 it had reached 1,800 bales for the season. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY. 39

~~?-._... -$2~··. ~- ...... *;;.:«..-..·~-·-·••N,• . ,.._••••••••.••. fflf~Jl\Jit ...... ·ilfftil~i ~-,J'. -~~if!'!!) ••••••••••••• l~-- ,;-; ~: lilllJleffl g~;:~· . McDonald ·Kept Odd Fellows ~-t:::mm: -~····.•::::::;'<:: lft~·-(_~-:--.=· =.::::3::-~:;:~~::;~:: , Lodge on Map in Early Days - ::~it1:!:: ==I~~;~~~: m:~:~••Wijf:; ·1::~~:;:::1··=:~Z•,:•::;:;:; ,,.:~:3 ~V..{:--:-,.-;.•.. -·.;, ~~-:-:-: . :f«:'.:(,• .•:❖<"'=~:-.;.;. ' rtir ll!'J.'lJWii~ ?· :Ii . ❖:-:-:.;.;:::;:i~-:-~ :-..~ W. G. McDonald moved to Wilbar­ ,~~=~~ ger County from Fannin County, ar­ :=::j=··· riving at Harrold on November 15, 1888. He lived there until the fall of 1891 when he went to Amarillo where he remained until 1897 when he moyed to Vernon. Mr. McDonald said he went in the employ of the T. J.; Youngblood Fur­ niture store, _holding that position until 1902 when he went in the livery stable business. He sold out this business in 1921. During his busi­ ~!fl.iJ~lJ.fl~ll1rliltl1lwiitlliJftri· ilr~~~l~ · fJm~..- ~:-;,., ;.,:. .- ij.,.. ...~;f ~~-:,tf_~;~~tf.t~~= :-- : ...... ,~wi;~==!:!*I~...... -.. ness life in the city he served the ·------··-~--, ...... :,~1,J§~§~~it;~~~~~~~~*== .. _...... ~--· -~~- city for four years as alderman. In W. G. McDonald 1924 he was elected county commis­ sioner, serving until 1928. The Odd Fellows Lodge of Vernon was one .of Mr. McDonald's pet hobbies and during the early days he worked hard to keep it going. When he came to Vernon, W. A. Ish, S. P. Huff and John Mabry were paying in enough dues to hold the charter. Mr. ·McDonald wanted the men to call a meeting and try to get the lodge going again. They told him it was no use. He kept on until he was told .to call the meeting, but Mr. McDonald said he had no authority. Mr. Ish wrote to headquarters to have him ap­ pointed deputy district grand master. So Mr. McDonald called a meeting with seven attending. The next time there were ten and the meetinga kept growing in attendance. The lodge held its meetings in a small room in the old court house. It soon outgrew the room and quarters were secured in the Hahn building on the corner of Main and Wilbarger Streets. Mr. McDonald said the lodge got in financial trouble because the dues were not being paid, and some of the members wanted to forfeit the charter as the rent could not be paid. He said he talked the matter over with his wife one night before going to meeting and she suggested they use a down-stairs room in their house. So, at the meeting when a motion was made to drop the charter, Mr. McDonald told how he felt about the lodge and how he had worked to keep it going and that if they could not pay the rent he would furnish a room at his home. He led the way by putting up five dollars and in a few minutes enough money had been raised with which to pay the .debt for back rent and also for the rest of the year. From then on the lodge made good progress. 40 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Puckett Family Came to Wilbarger in 1891

Coming to this county in 1891 from Travis County, the ~ate J. A. Puckett, with his wife and one daughter at that time, located six miles west of Vernon in what is commonly known now .as the Kincheloe com•• munity. The first fifteen years of Mr. Puckett's life in this country was spent on the farm, moving to Vernon in 1905 to enter the wagon yard~ coal and feed business. Mr. Puckett served Vernon as one of its aldermen, being one among the ]ast to retire before Vernon took on the commission form of govern­ ment. During his tenure of office in the capacity of alderman, he was one of the main instigators for the paving of Main Street. He also serve•! the city as a member of the school board. Since Mr. Puckett was born and reared in Travis County, a section of Texas where numbers of historical events recorded in Texas history took place, he recalled having heard as a boy a peculiar circumstance that_ took place in his community regarding a Mr. Wilbarger for whom this county -was named. On Walnut Creek, about five miles from where Mr. Puckett was raised, Wilbarger and two other men were attacked by Indians. Wilbarger's partners were killed and he was left for dead after being scalped by the red men. The peculiarity of this incident lies in the fact that people in the community were warned, directed and went to the aid of Wilbarger the very same night the men were attacked, by listening to ~ dream told by an old lady· in the neighborhood. J. A. Puckett died June 5, 1928. ·· Childrel\-living of Mr. and Mrs. Puckett are Guy, Chauncey, Mrs. Jack Gross and Mrs. Douglas Edwards.

A Concrete Worker Came to Vernon in 1887

Born in Ruck County, Texas, the late J. A. Randall, who died in Ver­ non in 1918, came to Wilbarger County in 1887. Mr. Randall was mar­ ried to Miss Laura Lyon in 1894. · She was the daughter of Mr.' and Mrs. j. M.. Lyon, who came to this county in 1889 and established a home just' south of Harrold. Both her parents are dead. Children born to Mr. and. Mrs~· Randall include: Ed Randall, who died in Vernon at the age of 17 year~;· Sam Randall, Mrs. J.E. (Laura) Gookin and Mrs. F. E. (Allie) Doores> All _were born ~n- Wilbarger County. Mrs. -J. A. Randall's second marri?,ge was to C. R. Morgan in 1928. She, with her husband,,::-now live af l3owie in Montague County. . In referring to J. A. (Joe) Randall, early :_day citizens of Wilbarger . .. ,., County will recall him as a concrete worker. In the pioneer days of this ~ounty he made the first concrete cisterns in this country. For a number of years he was associated with the Kelly Hardware Co. in Vernon as on~ of the clerks. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY. 41

Gillilands Among Early Set­ tlers of County

Among the early settlers of Wil­ barger County was J. A. Gilliland. Born in Benton, Tenn., he came to Texas when a young man and lived for a while near Era in Cooke Coun­ ty. In 1886 he came to Vernon, liv­ ing in and near the city until his death on November 1, 1930. In the spring of 1887 he went to work for Lockett & ·Rhoads and wa:, with this firm for a number of years. Later he engaged in the dairy busi­ ness in which he remained for over twenty years, selling out the delivery end of the business, but during the J. A. Gilliland last years of his life he kept a large herd of cattle. In 1889 he was married to Miss Clemita Elizabeth Sink. Mrs. Gilli­ land died on January 4, 1929. Mr. Gilliland was well known over this section of Texas for his church work. He assisted in the organization of the first Baptist Sunday School in Vernon in 1889. A small church had been erected at the site now occupied by the Central Christian Church. In 1887 he had been ordained a deacon in the church. In addition to this work, he was active in the affairs of the Baptists in this part of the. state and was moderator of the Red Fork Baptist Association when it was composed of Wichita, Wilbar­ ger, Hardeman, Cottle, Foard and a part of King Counties. After Wil­ .barger County was settled up the Wilbarger-Foard Baptist Association wa:s formed at Oklaunion and he was elected moderator of the organization, holding that post for many years. l\ir. and Mrs. Gilliland are survived by five children: Mrs. P. D. Downs, J. C. Gilliland, John A. Gilliland, Mrs. George P. Trisler and Ed Gilliland.

The first cotton gin in Wilbarger County was erected by R. F. Jones.

The W. T. Waggoner Ranch in Wilbarger County was startecl in 1897. Today Mr. Waggoner owns about 200,000 acres in the county. 42,. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

A Pike County Missourian Comes to Vernon in 1892

(Editor's Note-C. · S. Mc­ Colloch of Vernon insurance fame, or (Old Mac) as he 1s commonly called by those who know him, was asked by the publishers of this book for ·a brief biography of his life and he gave us the following) : "Born on the 3rd day of Oc­ tober, 1859, in Clarksville, Pike County, Mo., - the county of some notables; for instance, John B. Henderson, Champ Clark, Joe Bowers t"all the 'way from Pike), Mark· Twain (just over the county line). and oth­ ers I might mention 1:,>ut mod­ esty forbids. "Just a few historical facts· Cruse Selby McColloch as to my genealogy. My par­ ents were Isaac Kelly and Elizabeth McColloch. My father was a grandson of Major Sam l\ticColloch of Revolutionary fame. He has a monument erected in his honor at Wheei­ ing, West Virginia, to commemorate a leap he made over a bluff while run- : ning from the Indians. It's called McColloeh's Leap. (Hope to see · it some day). Ebenezer Zane married Sam McColloch's sister. He is grand­ father to Zane Grey, so this makes Zane and I fifth cousins. Just a lit­ tle thin as far as kinship goes and I only mention it to keep the record straight. N.ever met Zane, but from what I have heard, understand he · is just a little "Snoody," so let it go at that. "I left the old sod in 1885, for Denver, Colo. After a few· hectic, (that's a good word), years there I came to Vernon in 1892. Did the heavy sitting around for the Denver Railroad for seven years, then took over the· management of the J. S. Mayfield Lumber Co. This I held down for the next seven years. Tnen I 'busted' into the insurance game and for the past 24 years have been doling out that famous brand of insurance, 'That Old Good Kind.' "My wife was a Miss Minnie M. Robinson. She was born at Leonard, Texas, (statistics unnecessary). She- came to Vernon in 1888 when she was seven years old (so she says). She led rather an u~eventful li~e until EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 43 she happened to cross my path, then the 'uneventful' part was cut out and things began to happen and happen fast. "We have two girls, Miss Frances Kathryn and Ruth Kelly. Kathryn is Amanuensis to her illustrious dad i_n the insurance business. Ruth Kelly is finishing her college education at Denton, Texas. So, that's that. Politics. Have always been a dyed-in-the-wool, blown-in-the-bottle Democrat up to now. Cast my first vote for Champ Clark for county attorney of Pike County, in 1880 (and he was elected). I have never aspired to political honors although I have been importuned to run for mayor. Almost a clam­ or-but modestly declined. Was prominently mentioned for the vice presi- . dency of these United States in 1928, but in view of the fact that Jim R·eed of Missouri, was also in the running, thought best to withdraw f o!" the good of the party. Even after withdrawing I carried one box for this important office, the Mack box, (Thanks to Old Man Ferebee). Religiously? "Not much to say on this score. My folks were all B. B. Presbyterians but as the Methodists were a little more- liberal in their views, I took in after them. Tried to make a hand until they went Republican in 1928. Since that time have worshipped 'from afar' so to speak, hoping that ·some d?,Y they .would come back to the grand old Democrat way of thinking and I could take my place as of days gone by. "This brings the story down to date. If you can get any comfort out of it you are welcome to it. "Yours for the uplift, "Cruse .Selby McColloch." (Old Mac).

Raised First Bale of Cotton North of Pease River

Joe Hines is credited with having raised the first bale of cotton in Wilbarger County n~rth of Pease River. He lived on the farm now know11 as the Stephens section .. Mr. Hines moved to the county from Ellis County in the fall of 1888. He had used cotton seed to pack fruit jars in. The seed were scattered about the yard. They came up and made good stalks and bolls. The .next spring he had some five-lock, storm proof seed sent out from his old home and planted an acre. From this he picked about 1·,soo pounds of seed cotton. The nearest gin was at Henrietta, so Mr. Hines shipped the cotton there to be ginned.

In 1887 and 1888 Wilbarger County took first place at the Texas Stat~ Fair and Dallas Exposition. 44· EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY·

· A Georgian Locates Near Chillicothe in 1887

The late Ben C. Carter was born in Fayette County, Georgia, October . 23, 1849~ He died in Vernon October 19, 1925. He was married to Miss Amanda Crites in 1877 at Pilot Point, Texas. l\frs. Carter died February 21, 1926,_ at Elk City, Okla. Six sons and one daughter survive their par­ ents. They are: L. H. Carter, farmer, Wildorado, Okla.; M. M. Carter, farmer, Canute, Okla.; G. B. Carter, Methodist minister, Angleton, Texas; D. H. Carter, grain dealer, Canute, Okla.; E. C. Carter, Methodist minister, Mt. Vernon, Texas; E. E. Carter, lawyer, Atlanta, Ga., and Mrs. W. H. Gibson, Canute, Okla. Ben C. Carter came to T·exas in 1870 and located at Waxahachie. In 1887 he again answered the call of the West and moved to a farm on Red River north of Chillicothe. In 1889 he, with his family, moved to a farm in Wilbarger County in the neighborhood that is commonly known now as the Jackson Springs community. For over forty years this last location was the Carter fa~ily's home. Mr. Carter was a man who was always interested in the progressive movements of his county. He was instrumental in securing the first rural telephone line out of Chillicothe and was one of it's first patrons. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and served his church as lay . leader and a stewart for several years. It has been truly s~id of this good mari that the door of his home was always open to home seekers and all who came, and that he lived jn a house on the side of the. road and was a friend to man.

From Virginia to Texas in 1858

When but a mere boy, W. H. Vanhuss was a passenger with his par­ ~nts in an old-time slow-moving ox cart from Virginia to Texas in 1858. The Vanhuss family located in Collin County.· In May 1889, W. H. Van­ huss came to Wilbarger County. He was not bound by the matrimonial lock at that time. But, soon after his arrival in Vernon his single state life did not last very long, for in December, 1889, he was married to Mrs. Mary Jones. Mrs. Vanhuss died January 6, 1929. - To Mr. and Mrs. Vanhuss four children were born. The .oldest child, a· girl, (Fannie) died June 3, 18"91. The other children are: Mrs. Les (Nellie Francis) Thompson, Mrs. Floyd ('.Ruth) Roberts, and Mrs. George (Ruby) Dooley. Outside of three years spent on a farm in this county, Mr. Vanhuss followed the carpenter's trade. Re assisted in building the first. ice plant in Vernon, as well as a number of the early-day residences and business houses in Vernon. EARLY~DAY'HISTO'.RY ·OY-WILBARGE·R ·co·UNTY·-· 4'5,

An Active Citizen in County Since 1889

Coming to this country with· his wife and family from· Tarrant Coun­ ty in 1889, W. T. Collins bought land and settled- north of Chillicothe in what is generally known now as the. Jackson Springs community. As an, early day settler Mr. Collins at once began farming and stock raising on quite an extensive scale. He kept up his interest in that work until re­ tiring some years ago.. At present he and his wife live comfortably in a nice home in Odell. At the organization of the Bank of Odell at that place when the Orient Railroad was built into that city, l\fr•. T. Collina Collins was elected president of tha w. institution and held that office until the bank was sold. Aside from the bank and other duties, he has always taken an active interest in the affairs of Wilbarger County. In 1898 and 1899 he served as county commission­ er of Precinct No. 3. His service as a commissioner is often referred to. by different citizens as that of a good one. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are the parents of four children, all who live in the county with the exception of a son, Theodore Collins, who lives in Ari­ zona. The other children are: J. M. Collins, A. T. Collins and Mrs. P. C. Spears, all of near Odell.

C. C. Shive Family Arrived in 1890

R. ·n. Shive came to Vernon in 1890 from Oxford, ·Miss., with his father, C. C. Shive. He was a boy at the time and attended the schools in Vernon. After finishing school he worked for the express company for a while and then started working in a grocery store. Mr. Shive has continued in the grocery business in Vernon since that time. He was married to Miss Mattie Givens of this city·and three children were· born to them. They are R. D. Shive, Jr., Harold Shive and Winifred Shive. Mr. ShiYe has a brother, L. D. Shive of Mineral Wells, and a sister, Mrs. G. W. Utterback of California. j6 EARLY-DAY msTORY.OFWILBARGER COUNT-Y

A Groceryman in Vernon Back in 1886

M. H. Kester came to Vernon in August, 1886, and his first venture in business in Vernon was to open. a grocery store. He was born in Indiana and moved to Navarro Co:in­ ty, Texas, in 1882. From there he came to this county. In an interview with reference .to his first grocery venture in Vernon, Mr. Kester stated that he opened the business in a small wooden structure which was located on the north side of the court house square. In order to economize, he stated, he lived up­ stairs over the store. From that lo- M. H. Kester cation he moved his grocery business to a rock building .on the east side of the square and a few years later that entire block i was destroyed by fire. Following the destruction of his groeery business by fire, Mr. Kester said that he took up farming and followed that occupation for a year and a half. Leaving the farm, he went to work for Sebastian & Givens, who were in the grocery business here at that time. With that firm for a while, he left them to work for Holt & Boger, who were also grocerymen. After Holt & Boger went out of business, Mr. Kester said he went into the con­ tracting business with the late S. C. Westbrook which he followed for sev­ eral years. His next business venture was to form a partnership with his brother, L. E. Kester, and the two opened up a business selling paint, glass and wall-paper. The two brothers are still in this same business at 1814 Main Street in Vernon, with the style of their firm known as Kester's Art Shop. In discussing the grocery business in the early days, Mr. Kester said things were very cheap compared to modern prices. Many times he said they had bought eggs from the farmers and carried them to the dumping grounds to get rid of :them as there was no market. The Indians who came to Vernon occasionally were very close buyers, according to Mr. Kester and required considerable attention when they ent­ ered the store. He said an Indian and several squaws would enter arid start buying. Perhaps it would be sugar and they would buy 25e worth.; He always put less than the required amount in the sack so that he could pour in more if necessary. The idea was that if the clerk waiting on them EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 47·

happened to get a little over 25c worth the Indians would not stand for it being taken out. Maybe before they had done all their trading, the In.. dian family would buy three or four packages of sugar, some flour, meal, etc. After getting through, the squaws would put everything in a blanket while one would gather up the corners and the others help her lift it to her back to carry. They usually camped down by the railroad and the squaw would carry the load while the man rode a horse along side her. Mr. Kester is the father of three children, two daughters and one son. They grew up and received their education in Vernon. The children are: Mrs. Hattie Ball, now residing at T·erre Haute, Ind.; Mrs. Mable Dean, who lives in the state of Vermont, and Earl Kester, the son, is engaged in the undertaking business and makes his hom~ in Los Angeles, Calif.

Cobb Family Came Here From Kansas

H. Cobb was born in London, Iowa, in 1844. His wife, Mrs. Mary Ellen Cobb, was born near Milwaukee, Wis., in 1860. Three children were · born to them in Wichita, Kans., where they lived before moving to Vernon in 1888. Harry E. Cobb, Route 3, Vernon, writes: "We landed in Vernon on the afternoon of December 24, 1888, and stayed all night in what was known as the Bill Creager boarding house, a frame building located where the city hall now stands. There are several brick buildings standing in . Vernon today that my father, H. Cobb, helped to build. I remember see­ ing him put down the sidewalk in front of the Massie-Vernon store. I also saw the last story of the old court house finished. I lived in Vernon at the time Mr. Hammonds, the eity marshal, fell over the banisters of the stair... way at the court house and was killed. I stood on our porch and saw a flash of lighting that killed Eugene Redick, son of our closest neighbor. Mr. Redick ran a store on the southwest corner of the square. "At this time there was only one school building in Vernon and a pri-.· vate school taught by Miss Vera Riddle. The first school building stood wh~re the old stand pipe was located. "Vernon has changed considerably since I was a boy. We used to­ come to town in a wagon and stayed all night at the wagon yard. Indians were common around Vernon and we had a big time watching them. A Mr. Buchanan traded them ponies, blankets, shawls, etc. The Indians staged horse races very frequently, as well as foot races. We had lots of fun in. those days with nothing but a wagon or buggy to get around in." l\irs. Cobb died February 15, 1925, and Mr. Cobb passed away on June, 5, 1927. Both were buried in the Tolbert cemetery. A son, Charlie Ed­ ward, died October 17, 1921. The living children are: Mrs. J. P. Davis­ of Vernon; Harry E. Cobb, Vernon Route 3; G. L. Cobb of Sayre, Okla.; Clyde Cobb of Crowell, and R. E. and C. E. Cobb, Vernon Route 3. 48 EARLY-DAY msTORY OF WILBARGER COtJNTY

Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Randel

Chillicothe Couple Settled Here in 1885

Born in l'.-858 at Sugar Hill, 7 miles south of Lindel, county seat of Perry County, Tenn., in a log house where he resided during his boyhood and school days, E. J. Randel, now a pioneer settler of this section of the state, moved with his family to Missouri in 1876, the family consisting of his father, mother, three brothers and one sister. One of his brothers and his sister died several years ago, both leaving families. E. J. was the old• est member of the family's children. His grandfather's name was Nacy Randel, and E. J.'s father's name was John M. Randel. cThe mother's name was Susan J. Whitwell, daugh­ ter of Thomas B. Whitwell. Both of Mr. Randel's grandfathers were among the first settlers of Perry County, Tennessee. Liken to other young men who get the "moving fever," they left Mis­ souri in Deeember, 1877, for Texas, the trip being made in covered wagons. The family landed near Paris, Lamar County, on Sandy Creek, which is six miles east of Paris, and in 1879 he bought a home one mile south of Valley EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 49

View, in Cooke County. He rented the f~rm, however, and went back to his home near Paris and stayed on the Dr. Still place where he made a crop in 1879 and 1880, and then.there was the time when another person entered into his life. He met, he vouchsa~es, the prettiest young widow in all Texas. Her name was Alice Whitwell, daughter of V. L. Rose, who was a prominent Baptist preacher. The wedding took place December 5, 1880. On December 29, 1880, th~ young couple loaded a wagon, hitched a team to it and started west for their new home, a log house located on Spring Creek; one mile south of Valley View, in Cooke County, and in 1885 their first home was sold, as they had a desire to go further west; so several people made up a party and traveling in covered wagons departed for Wil­ barger County, then into Hardeman and C~ttle Counties. They went back to Wilbarger, however, where Mr. Randel bought Section 52, Block 16, west of Vernon on Pease River. After settling there he and W. W. Hutch­ ens named the settlement "Farmers Valley." "It still holds its name and I hope it always will," Mr. Randel said. Mr. Randel says Wilbarger County was organized either in 1881 or 1882. In 1885 Harrold was the terminus for the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad, and it was "some city," he says. There were 29 saloons, and about twice that number of wide-open gambling houses. Vernon was only a small village at that time. Wilbarger County cut north of Pease River into two school districts, one being Doans. A school house was built in this district in 1885. The west district, composed of Jackson Springs and Far­ mers Valley were not organized until 1886, and when a trustees election was held in June, 1886, there -were but eleven votes cast. The election was held on Wanderers Creek near Odell, underneath a large elm tree, and the ballot box was nothing else but an empty tomato can. The names of the first trustees were C. T. Neece, Wanderers Creek; H. A. Bell, Pleasant Valley, and Mr. Randel, representing Farmers Valley. In August of that year the Jackson Springs school building was erect­ ed, being half dug out style and located on the H. A. Bell place. In 1887 Mr. Randel with other neighbors built a school house in Farmers Valley, the lumber having to be hauled from Harrold. "So you see, we laid the foundation for what has been done since then. Now I am sorry to say, I am the only one living who served as a first trustee, and you know I am no 'spring chicken.' "The first Baptist church to be built on the north side of Pease River was at Big Valley in 1888. The next church house was erected in Chilli­ cothe in 1891, and the third church building was built at Prairie View. "I served as county commissioner for Wilbarger County four years, and as city mayor of Chillicothe for 12 years." To Mr. and Mrs. Randel were born six children. Two of the oldest children died while young, while the family lived in Cooke County. The oldest girl, Cora A., married A. D. Baker, now living near Houston; the oldest boy, C. H., married Miss Belva Allen and live in Farmers Valley; Ida E., the youngest girl, married George Klock, Amarillo; John L., who died in June, 1926, and left a widow and two children, Elbert L., and Ana · Marie, live at Gainesville. 50 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

County Judge Townsend Early D_ay Settler in Vernon

County Judge J. V. Townsend came to Vernon in the fall of 1891 from T~ler and started to work for the firm of Johnson, Cook & Murray. He was later in the em!;)loy of C. T. Smith. Judge Townsend said that compe­ tition in the mercantile business was very keen in those days. Stores were opened as early as 5 o'clock in the morning. People came from long distances, sometimes as far off as Mangum, Okla., to do their trad­ ing. After the floors were swept in the mornings, clerks would_ grab a J. V. Townsend. handful of circulars and go to the wagon yard to pass them out. It was the fUStom in those days for travelers to camp at the wagon yard when night came and most of the visitors from a distance usually reached town after dark. Some would do their buying upon arrival in town if the stores v.ere still open and leave their purchases at the store until morning. Mr. Townsend said that in the fall of the year many families bought their entire winter supplies at one time. Lots of times a farmer would drive his wagon into town loaderl with his wife and children, and a bale of eotton. Clerks from various stores would run out and lift a child down and carry it to their store in hopes the parents would come there first­ and if they did the store generally got to sell them a pretty good size bill. Judge Townsend was postmaster of the Vernon post office during Woodrow Wilson's administration. He was elected county judge several years ago and is now serving his fourth ter:m in that capacity.

Pioneer Cowboy a Trail Driver in 1883

The following interview with J. W. Kirk, one of the pioneer cowboys of the West, is taken from the Vernon Times edition of 1927: "There is certainly some difference in Vernon today and the way it EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 51 looked in 1883-84," was the expression made by J. W. Kirk, who lives near Chillicothe, when questioned by a Times' representative concerning his first trip to this country. Unlike the modern cowboy of today who wears the broad brim hat and parades around like "To!n Mix" of movie fame, with his chaps and long shank spurs, Mr. Kirk is really and truly one of the old-time "cow­ punchers." Even though he is now a farmer, having long since laid down his rope and branding iron for the plow and hoe, a cowboy characteristic to which he still adheres is the custom of wearing a handkerchief around his neck. With a herd of several thousand cattle that were gathered from a ranch in Kimble County, Mr. Kirk said he passed through Vernon in 1883 when he was but 16 years of age. The cattle were being driven to Ogle, Nebr., and Mr. Kirk, with his boss and other cow hands, were four months on the trail with the herd. "I remember very well," he said, "there was just a hardware store in Vernon then and about all they carried in stock were guns, ammunition, saddles, ropes and blankets." Mr. Kirk is now past sixty years of age and resides on Chillicothe Route 1. He owns a gGod fa1·m in that section and has been a citizen of this country for about thirty-five years.

First Oil Well Brought in T,venty-Three Years Ago

The first oil well discovered in Wilbarger County and the first one in North Texas was brought in during November, 1908, according to R. L. More, manager of the W. T. Waggoner Estate. A short time after this the Texas Company brought in the No. 1 Stringer in Wichita County. De­ velopment of the field was gradual and there was no boom. The next field in the county was when the Sigler No. 1 Waggoner, came in during the early part of 1920. The town went wild and wells were drilled all around the Sigler well, but no oil was found. The South Vernon Oil Company opened the next field in 1923 when their No. 1 Stephens came in for a small producer. Miss Thelma Wells drilled an offset and brought in the first real producer in the field. As soon as this well was found to be a good one, the South Vernon well was deepened and made a big producer. Following that the field spread for severa.1 m1·1 ... es. Roderick Stewart opened the Rock Crossing field. However Mr. Stewart died before his well struck the sand. He had great faith in the area and_ staked everything on the well. Wilbarger County's oil fields have spread over a large portion of the south part of the county running from the Vlichita County line west through the Fluhman field. 52 .EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

·------j£4lJ:i ...... ~~~~=.::~=::::=· "Dad"' Lorance in and Out of t~~= !;~;;;; Vernon Since 1883

Walter Lorance, better known as "Dad," has been in and out of Ver­ non since 1883. He moved his fam­ ily to Doans in 1898 from Wichita Falls and since that time has really claimed Wilbarger County as his home. Mr. Lorance worked with all the pioneer cattlemen of this part of the state. He said that he visited Ver­ non three times at night while with herds of cattle nearby before seeing the town by daylight. "When we were close by we would ride into town on horseback to spend a few Walter Lorance. hours. Lots of times we would visit other towns at night and perhaps never see them in daytime." The Suggs outfit was the first one Mr. Lorance worked with. Their headquarters whs down near Henrietta. Later he joined the Waggoner outfit and most of the time from 1888 on he was '\yith either the Waggoner or Burnett outfits. "We would sometimes have a falling out with the · wagon boss," he said, "and would quit, going :to some other outfit. I would work for Burnett about a year and then go back to the Waggoner camp." · Before the railroad was built through this country, Mr. Lorance said he rode the Chisholm Trail with cattle, making his first trip in 1881 to Kansas. The Suggs cattle company drove their herds over this trail. On one trip he said he went with the first of three herds and on their return home they met .the third bunch in Oklahoma. Some of the men with the herd were homesick, so he and another man relieved them and assisted in driving the third bunch to ~ansas. Mr. Lorance said he quit the Suggs outfit in 1888 to bring his family from Fort Sill to Wichita F·ans in order to enter his children in school. When asked about the early days in this county, he said he had seen -thousands of cattle on tlfe prairies around Harrold waiting for shipment to market when that place was the terminal of the Denver railroad. All cattlemen to the west drove their herds to that point for ship­ ment. Mr. Lorance said that when riding the range down in the Beaver Creek country he had seen many deer, panthers and other wild animals. Wild game was never killed unless fresh meat was needed. Mr. Lorance said there was very little cattle rustling in this section. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 53

However, a gang in the Wichita River brakes gave_ ca:ttlemen some trouble: in the early 80's by making off with horses. In discussing the past, Mr. Lorance- says that it is hard for people · nowdays to realize just what kind of country this was in the pioneer days. · There were ·few farms, practically all land being used for grazing. Har­ rold was the leading city of the day and it was said to have been a "wide open" town. · . Mr. Lorance knows practically every foot of land in the southern part. of the county. He is also familiar with the various creeks and watering holes and of how they got their names. Down in the Streit settlement there is a spot of ground on which at one time great piles of buffalo hides were stacked to be hauled to market. Rains set in and the hides rotted before they could be moved out and for years, Mr. Lorance said, nothing would grow on this land. For many years Mr. Lorance was chief horse wrangler for the Wag­ goner ranch•. Mr. Lorance was married to Miss Lavonia Applewhite. To the union were born six children, two sons and four daughters, who are: Sid and Tom Lorance, and Mrs. Mollie Farmer, Mrs~ Carrie McElroy, Mrs. Cecil DeVier and Ollie. Mrs. Lorance and the youngest daughter, Ollie, both died near Doans in 1904.

A True-Blue Democrat Comes t~ Wilbarger in 1888

D. M. Ferebee, the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina· September 19, 1861. He landed in Wilbarger County in November, 1888. On July 27, 1892, he was married to Miss Tunnie Bell Middlebrook. Mrs. Ferebee is a native of Texas. She was born in Lavaca County in 1873. To this union ten children were· born, two of whom died in infancy. The childl".en living include: Mrs. Arthur (Eula) Haley, Minnie Ferebee, Mrs. Walter (Clyde) Taylor, Claude Ferebee, Lyda Bell Ferebee, Edward Lee· Ferebee, Bill Ferebee and D. M. Ferebee, Jr. Mr. Ferebee, in speaking of his arrival in Wilbarger County, bas the following to say: ''I landed in Wilbarger County in 1888 and settled in the south part of the county in block 2, section 60, on the H. & T. C. Survey. I have stole many loads of wood and hauled it twenty-five miles to town and traded it for a sack of flour, a package of Arbuckle Coffee and a pound of Battle Ax Chewing Tobacco. I would then go home happy." At the conclusion of our interview with Mr. Ferebee, be said: ''Put her down that I. have always voted a Democratic ticket."

Wilbarger· County's valuations were placed at $70,000 in 188.2. In 1890 they were $4,000,000. 54 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Veteran Peace Officer Came Here in 1882

J. W. Carrington, veteran peace officer of the county, arrived in Wil­ barger County in 1882. He was a native of Tennessee and came to Texas in 1870, settling in Collin County. He was married to Miss Bess Crawford, a native of Ken­ tucky, · who came to Texas and also settled in Collin County. Mr. Carrington served as city mar­ shal for two years. He was a dep­ uty under Johnnie Williams for five years and jailer four of the five years. He served as deputy sheriff under Jim Key and while W. A. Ish J. W. Carrington was sheriff he was deputy and· jailer for four years. Since that time he has served as deputy under Frank Ed­ monson and R. L. Rheay. Perhaps nri other man knows more of the criminal happenings in Wil­ barger County than does Mr. Carrington and yet he-seldom mentions any of them. He began serving as an officer in the days when horses and bug-· gies were the chief means of travel and had many interesting experiences during the early days. In talking about the early days, Mr. Carrington told of once getting some bank robbers out of Oklahoma into Texas. The bank at Harrold had been robbed and he, with Sheriff Williams trailed the robbers over into Oklahoma, finally capturing the men north of Frederick. A number of Frederick people were crowded about the depot at train time. Al Jennings, who was practicing law in Oklahoma at that time, was also at the depot with papers to serve on Mr. Williams to keep him from bringiitg the men back to Texas. Rain had fallen all night and the roads were very muddy. Before reaching Frederick, Mr. Williams told Mr. Car­ rington to go on in and catch the train and he would take the prisoners to J?avidson and put them on there, as he knew Mr. Jennings was trying to keep them from coming back to Vernon. When the train pulled ·in Mr. Carrington got on, and so did Jennings. He wanted to know where Johnnie Williams was and Carrington told him that he ought to be there pretty soon. The train moved on. When it reach­ ed Davidson Mr. Williams put the prisoners in the smoking car with Mr. Carrington and he remained on the back end of the train. Mr. Carrington EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 55 stood guard at the door of the smoker with a .45 until the train reached the middle of t:Ii.~ bridge across .Red River and then he told the lawyer to. come on in, while Mr. Williams came on through the train to the front end. Mr. and Mrs. Carrington have six children: Mrs. Nell Null and Leland Carrington of Oklahoma City, Mi-s. G. W. Moseley of· California, and Jake, Jack and Jim Carrington of Verrion.

W. C. Creager Sold Wool At 5 Cents Pound

Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Creager came to Wilbarger County in 1883 and · settled two and a half miles southeast of Vernon. He freighted lumber from Henrietta to build their home. Mr. Creager was born in Texas. Mrs. Creager, who, before her marriage was Miss Elvira Melissa Clayton, was · born in South Carolina and moved to Grayson County, Texas, while a girl. Aiter leaving Sherman they moved to Clay County where they lived a· short time before coming to Wilbarger County. Mr. Creager- bought 2,000 head of sheep and farmed in addition to looking after the flock. In 1886 he and Mrs. Creager moved to Vernon and operated a boarding house for a number of years on the corner where· the present city hall now stands. In 1891 they moved back to the farm and the flock of sheep had increased to 5,000 head and were grazed between Beaver Creek and the Wichita River. G. A. Creager said that his father sold wool at 5 to 10 cents a pound in those days. In talking of the early days, he said that the years from 1884 to 1887 and 1892 to 1896 were har,J ones. When the family came to the county there were few houses east of Vernon. Their nearest neighbors were the Capps family; others in that part of the county were the Davis and ·Byars families. The sheep were sold in 1896 and in those· days it was not an uncommon sight to see antelope grazing in among the sheep. The cowboys rode ahead of the cattle with their canteens so that they could fill them with water as it was very scarce in some parts of the county. W. C. and A. Y. Creager freighted between Henrietta 3nd Wichita Falls while Mrs. Creager and the children looked after the farm work. All of the children finished in the schools of Vernon. The first school they attended was in a building near where the Cy Long buildings on Pease Street· are located and Prof. Nye was teacher. The next school .building was on the present ·site of the First Methodist Church and the next where the old junior high now stands. Mr. and Mrs. Creager are survived by the following children: A. Y. and W. F. Creager of Sherman, B. C. Creager of Electra, G. A. Creager of Vernon and Mrs. Ruth C. Lewis of Denver, Colo.

Mrs. D. Lewis, born in February, 1882, was the first girl born in Wil­ barger County. 56 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Hamilton

(By J. E. COLLINS)

No one of the long list of Wilbarger County pioneer citizens deserv~ more honorable mention than Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was born in Lewis County, Missouri, in December, -1844, and grew up on a farm owned by his father. At the outbreak of the Civil War, that sec­ tion of the country was almost equally divided between Northern and Southern sympathizers, and so strong was the sentiment that neutrality was impossible-a man must declare himself for one side or the other. The Hamilton family cast their lot with the South, and young Jim, the subject of this sketch; at the age of seventeen, with the consent and approval of his parents, enlisted in the Confederate Army, where he served with distinction for four years, under both Generals Price and Van Dorn. He was twice cited for outstanding courage in action, and was severely wounded at the Battle of Blue 'Ridge. Mr. Hamilton held no enmity in his heart, but was a Democrat of the old school, ever loyal to his beloved_ Southland, and to his comrades in arms, often assisting them in a material way. Soon after the close of the war Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Eva Smith of a pioneer Missouri family, and: she ·was for fifty years, wife, partner and helpmeet to her husband. In 1872 Mr. and ::M:rs. Hamilton emigrated to Texas, settling in Grayson County. In 1886 they moved with their family to Wilbarger County and established a home in what is no~ EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER ·COUNTY 57 known as the Sherwood community. A ranch house was built and their cattle turned loose on the thousands of acres of rich grass lands surround·· ing them. ¥r. Hamilton as early as 1890 saw the possibilities of farming in this western country, and began breaking out sod land and raising grain and feed on a large scale. · There was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, twelve children: T. A., L. G. and Claude, Mrs. Betty Pettit, and Mrs. Eva Ross, all of this county; J. E., of Lubbock, Cleve of Plainview, Robert of Wichita Falls, Irvin of Hereford, l\!rs. Sallie Johnson of California, and Mrs. Liza Tolbert and Mrs. Willie Irons, the last two deceased. As real citizens and real developers of the c~mmunity, none stand higher than the Hamilton family. Mr. Hamilton passed on in 1921, meeting the end with the same cour­ age with which he met all the problems of life. His :fine sense of honor and fair dealing with his fellowmen _were traits of character that won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His success in life was built on the foundation ·of honesty, tireless industry, faith in self and patience in. results. Mrs. Hamilton is living quietly in the little village of Odell where she is noted and loved for her neighborly kindness, hospitality and charity to­ 'Yards those in distress. Although advanced in years, she is mentally alert and active, and enjoys talking with old friends of the days when Wilbarger qounty was young.

Sanderson Family Became Citizens in 1887

The late Jim Sanderson, with his wife and two children, Nellie and Tom Sanderson, came to Wilbarger County in 1887 from Tarrant County. The Sanderson family located on land they bought north of Pease River in the neighborhood generally known now as the Sherwood community. Only a few families resided in that section of,,,. the county at that time. The Sanderson's closest neighbors were the J. P. Hamilton family, the John Hull family and the C. S. and D. B. 'Rogers families. Their post office w:as Doans. While a citizen of this county, Mr. Sanderson devoted his time to stock raising and farming. He died in Canada several years ago. His wife, now Mrs. Callie Hilliard, was married to A. M. Hilliard in 1917. Mrs. Hilliard is still in possession of her farm land in the Sherwood neighbor­ hood, but lives with her husband in a nice home at Odell. Her daughter, who is now Mrs. Nellie Irons, lives at Fort Worth. The son, Tom Sander­ son, was burned to death in Vernon in 1920, when a ga~oline explosion in a tailor shop on Pease Street, killed him and two other men.

The Herring National Bank was founded in 1903. 68 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WJ;LBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Ross

(By J. E. COLLINS)

We consider it a privilege indeed to be permitted to pay a smal~ trib• ute to those pioneer citizeBs, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Ross. Mr. and Mrs. Ross came to Vernon in 1889 from Acworth, Ga. After living in the city ·for a short time they moved to the north side of the county, where they were prominently identified with the people of that community for nearly forty years. In 1893 the failure of two banks de­ prived Mr. Ross of every dollar he possessed. He didn't waste any valu-­ able time bemoaning his loss, but went bravely to work to provide for his family. The most serious comment he was heard to make was that the banks s·eemed determined to plaee him at the head of the "rabbit twisters'' association. The next few years were marked by drought, sand storms, hot winds, and crop failures, but these0 misfortunes did not discourage these hardy . pioneers--they still held an optomistic view of the future of West Texas and especially Wilbarger County. During these lean, dry years, this good man and his wife never neg.. lec:ted to attend the little church, known at the time as Doans Chapel. This church was an old saloon building moved from Doans to a high point on the D. B. Rogers farm. The six-shooter holes were plugged, the house overhauled, painted and made_ comfortable. During all the years that it EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 59 stood, it was never given a denominational name, but was simply known as the church, and all denominations were welcome to use it for worship. The Ross home was a eenter of social activity in the community, and they were ever ready to extend help to those more unfortunate than them­ selves. Mr. Ross was one of the first to see the possibilities of West Texas as a cotton country and was one of the first farmers in the county to plant a large acreage to cotton, he having in the . meantime purchased valuable farm lands in the Doans community. In 1924 Mr. and Mrs. 'Ross celebrated their golden wedding at their home in Odell. All their children were present on that occasion: A. S. Ross, Charles P. Ross and J. B. Ross of Vernon, H. A. Ross, Miss Maude Ros~, Mrs. H. B. Turner of Odell, and Mrs. C. E. Sears of Fargo. None of the Ross family have ever seen fit to hunt a better country than Wil­ barger County. Bob Ross in his long and useful life bas never knowingly wronged anyone. Ably seconded by his good wife, he performed his duty fully and completely in the exercise of all the privilges and opportunities which good citizenship means -to the individual, and therefore has been a contributor , in both word and conduct to all the influences and forces which have in a. few short years transformed a treeless, grass-covered plain, into a land of prosperous and happy homes. He is a man of wonderful faith; he believes in God; he believes in men; he believes in institutions; he believes in the virtues which men and women struggle to attain; he believes in little children whose lives will build · and adorn the civilization just ahead. Mrs. Ross died at her home in Odell, May 7, 1929.

Town of Odell on Holloway Estate

Living at Odell today at one of the nicest and most improved home3 in that little city is Mrs. T. H. Holloway, whose citizenship in that com­ munity dates back to 1888. Mrs. Holloway, with her husband, the late T. H. Holloway, came to Wilbarger County from Limestone County and bought the land on whicil a greater portion of the town of Odell is now built. Wanderers Creek, which stream derives its name from the fact that it has a wandering course, from where it heads to where it empties into Red River, crosses a greater part of the Holloway estate. Mrs. Holloway, with her children that are living today, no doubt can recall many an early-day fish fry that took place in their pasture on the banks of this creek. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Holloway are: Mrs. P. L. Hart, Mrs. C. D. Shelton, Mrs. A. C. Flowers and H. M. Holloway, all of Odell, and Mrs. Jim Leak, Vernon. 6Q EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBAE,GER COUNTY

J. P. Orr an Influential Citizen as Lawyer and Editor in Pioneer Days

Probably no other early day citi­ zen of Wilbarger County was more active in the county's development• than the subject of this sketch. Judge J. P. Orr, now residing at Altus, Okla., was born at Hamers­ ville, Brown County, Ohio, February 8, 1850. Like many other young men of his age who desired the ad­ vantages of a new country, on lVIarch . 1, 1877, he landed in Texas and lo­ cated at Oak Grove, in Tarrant:· .,: Judge J. P. Orr County. He remained in that sec­ tion of the state until 1882 when he arrived in Wilbarger County to make his home. Judge Orr was a very young lawyer at that i;ime, but he no doubt possessed some striking quall­ fi.cations for a county .attorney, for the records show he was elected county attorney in November, 1882. Following the expiration of his term as county attorney, he took the oath of office as county judge in 1884. The records also show that he was again elected county judge in 1892. While in 1927 a new county court house was built at a cost of $275,- 000 to replace the old structure on the public square in Vernon, yet the county records will always show that Judge Orr let the contract for the county's first court house which was built in 1886. During Judge Orr's early day citizenship in. this county he was a strong advocate for good schools. Away back in those days he was in­ strumental in Vernon voting a 20-cent additional school tax, which was the first school district in Texas voting a tax of this kind to supplement the state school fund. Vernon's first cemetery was located near the site where the Frisco depot now stands. It was during Judge Orr's tenure of .office as c·ounty judge that the city's burial ground was moved and estab­ lished east of town. Not only as a lawyer, and around the county court, was Judge Orr's influence felt in Wilbarger County. In 1894 he established "The Vernon Globe," a weekly newspaper in Vernon and through the influence of his paper as an editor, he worked for the betterment of Vernon and Wilbar­ ger County. Along about that time he advocated and assisted in the or­ ganization of the first commercial club in Vernon. Judge Orr continued I the publication of The Globe until the first railroad· reached Altus. He EARLr-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 61 then moved his printing plant to Altus and established a weekly newspaper there and called it "The Altus News." He continued the publication o:f this last .named paper until a few years ago. "· He is now serving his district at Altus as justice of the peace. Hale and hearty for a man of his age, Judge Orr frequ_ently visits relatives and friends in Vernon and still enjoys talking to them about early days in Wil~ barger County~

Assisted in Building First Light Plant in Vernon

L. C. Wines was born in Clarksville, Tenn., and moved to Texas in 1882, first settling at Plano. Mrs. Wines, who, before her marriage, was Miss Lizzie J ouett, · was also born in Tennessee and came to Texas in 1879 and settled at· Plano. She was married to Albert Fowler and after hb death was ~arried: to '.Mr. Wines. · From Plano· Mr.-· Wines moved to Denton County where he lived a while before moving to "Wilbarger County in the fall of 1887. He lived in Vernon for thirty years and now resides at Brownfield, Texas. Mr. Wines helped build the first electric light and ice plant in Vernon~ He was engineer at the Vernon Mill when it was owned by C. M. Bivins. The mill was later sold and known as the Kell-Houssels Mill. He also helped remodel an old planing mill into a cotton gin. This first gin was a two-sixty saw plant. At that time cotton was brought to Vernon to be ginned from Mangum, Altus and as far away as Rodger Mill County, Okla­ homa. The total ginning for the first season was one hundred and eighty bales. The year before the gin was built, Wm. Crutchfield bought most or the seed cotton raised in the county and hauled it to Wichita Falls. Mr. Wines said that during those years people said that Wilbarger County would never raise enough cotton to justify the erection of a gin. Mr. Wines joined the Masonic Lodge, the officers _at the time being S. W. Lomax, Worshipful Master; T. J. Youngblood, Senior Warden, and E. T. Murchison, Junior Warden. He states that the first doctor he knew in the .county was the late Dr. H. H. Rhoads. His first vote was east for R. S. Kelly for mayor while John Hammond was city marshal. Everyone knew everybody else in those days and called them by their first names. Mr. Wines was employed on the Frisco Railroad during its construction from Vernon into Oklahoma. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Wines attended Vernon schools and :iater several taught in the schools. The children are Mrs. Bertha ( Carl) Muller and H. W. Fowler of Oklahoma, Mrs. Mary (Earl) Anthony, Mrs. Lizzie (R. L.) Bowers and Mrs. Nannie (W. D. T.) Storey, all of Brown­ field, and Oscar Fowler of Vernon.

John Miller, the first white boy born in Wilbarger County, was born in July, 1883. 62 .EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Dr. and Mrs., Rhoads Came to Vernon in 1885

Dr. ·and Mrs. H. H. Rhoads came to Vernon from Aubrey, Denton County, in December, 1885. He was: born in Macon County, Tennessee, and was graduated from the medical department of Vanderbilt University in 1877 and from the University of Nashville in 1880. After finishing his school work he went to Denton County and "hung out his shingle." Mrs. Rhoads, whose maiden name was Missouri Price Dawkins, was a native of Missouri and moved to Texas from Huntsville, Mo., in 1876. Dr. Rhoads' brother, Jim '.Rhoads, H. H. Rhoads had already moved to Vernon and later he came here to live. The doctor practiced from Greer County in Oklahoma on ithe north to the Wichita River on the south, and from Elec­ tra west as far as Childress. He traveled on horseback a great deal of the time and by buggy. He had a team of ponies that could be driven bar~ all day and numerous trips into Oklahoma were made in a day, leaving ·Vernon early in the morning and returning by dark. He continued to use his horse and buggy up until a few years before his death on March 9, 1928. Pay for his services was good in· those ea!lY days. In 1927, Dr. Rhoads told of his early days and how he collected his fees. Wood, cow~, guns, plows, wagons, etc., were stock in trade, if a man did not have money. He made it a rule to have a man pay something, even if it was practically useless to him, for it made a friend and left the patient satisfied. Whil~ practicing in Denton County· the doctor had a partner who, in the fall of the year, would get a wagon and a pair of scales and go into the fields of those who were in debt to them and take as much cotton as was required to pay the bill. After it was gathered in they would gin it and sell it to get their money. So, in later years, Dr. Rhoads continued this practice. 0 The doctor said that wild game was plentiful in this country in the early days. · o·n his drives across the county all kinds of wild animals could be seen. Calls were made by horseback instead of by phone.. When· any­ one became sick some of the- family would get on a horse and ride into town after .the doctor. The doctors always carried saddle-b~gs with an emergency supply of drugs ·in them and if their patient lived in the coun­ .try they would leave enough medicine to do until someone could go to town EARLY-DAY.HISTORY OF WILBARGER. .COUNTY 63 and have prescriptions filled. Dr. Rhoads kept his saddle~bags in his office ior many years after he quit riding horseback. Dr. Rhoads was county health officer for over forty years with the exception of one or two terms. One_ term the late Dr. J. E. Dodson was health officer and another te-rm the late Dr. H. R~ White held the office. When the Farmers State Bank was organized, Dr. Rhoads was elected president and held that office until his death in 1928. In addition to his interest in the bank, he had large land holdings in the county. Mrs. Rhoads and three children all iive in Vernon. They are Mrs. R. H. Nichols, Miss Irma Rhoads and Emory Rhoads.

D. B. and C. S. Rogers Were Early Doans Settlers

Back in the- '80s, when there were but very few houses in the extreme 'northern part of Wilbarger County, two brothers, with their wive·s who .were sisters, came from Stephenville, in Erath County, bought land and located in that country. One of the brothers was D. B. Rogers, the other, :c. S. Rogers. On~ of them settled on school land and the other on :rail­ .roaci land. ·Both brothers are now dead. D. B. Rogers, familiarly known in his ·community as "Uncle Dan," died in 1916. His brother, C. S., died at his. home in Vernon in 1920. The widows of these two men are still living. One of them, Mrs. Mary Rogers, wife of D. B., still lives at their old home place. Her sister> Mrs. C. S. Rogers, lives in Vernon. Children living of Mrs. C. S. Rogers are Mrs. Etta Wright, Mrs. 01~ Coleman, Misses Callie and Allie Rogers, Denny Rogers and Cecil Rogers. Two nephews and a niece of Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Rogers, came from Erath County in the early '90s to live with them. They are Will and Hamp Smith and Venie Smith.

W. H. Evans Came to County in· 1888

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Evans were among the early day settlers who came to Vernon in the 80's. They arrived in 1888 and for a number of years Mr. Evans was in the grocery and fuel business. He was born in Alabama and moved to Arkansas where he lived for a number of years. While living in that state he was married to Miss Alice Cochran, also a native of Alabama who had moved to Arkansas. Shortly after their marriage they came to Texas and settled in Grayson County. Mr. Evans owned considerable business property at the time of his death in 1927. Upon the death of Mrs. Evans in March, 1931, the estate was divided among relatives as they had no children. 64 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Vernon's First Hotel Man Arrives in 1882

(By J.E. COLLINS) I Joseph Schmidt is one of few men who came to Wilbarger County in an early day, and has made this his per­ manent home. Mr. Schmidt was born in Wurten­ burg, Germany, in 1845. Early in life he had a great desire to see America, and when nineteen years of age left the old home and landed in New York in 1864, with $2.50 in his pocket. This was just before the close of the Civil War, and Mr. Joseph Schmidt Schmidt says he was offered more money than he thought was in the ·,world, to enter the army as a substitute. He was offered $1,500 in gold but de·clined with thanks, stating that he left the old home to avoid mili­ tary service; had no grievance against the South and would not agree to ~hoot men fot a money _consideration. He obtained employment in an imigrant's hotel where he worked for several months, later going to St. Louis. He then moved to Fort Griffin, ·Texas, where he lived for a number of years before coming to Vernon in °1882. Mr. Schmidt built the first hotel in Vernon, hauling the lumber from Gainesville. This was the· first hotel to use China dishes-human dishes, the cowboys called them. All eating places previous to this time used tinware. Mr. Schmidt, for many years, was active· in various business enter­ prises. He was a stockholder in the first bank organized in Vernon. He helped to promote and build Vernon's firs.t waterworks, and helped in build­ ing a street car line running from the Fort Worth and Denver depot to what is now Wilbarger Street. Neither of these enterprises were profit­ able, and in 1893 the standpipe was torn down, the water mains dug up, the street car line was· taken up, the cars sold for shoe shops and the bal­ ance of the equipment -sold as junk. Mr. Schmidt built the first ice house in Vernon. Ice, cut from a lake ~ear town, wa3 stored in sufficient amount to furnish his hotel during the summer. He donated ·ice for the first picnic held in Vernon. Mr. Schmidt, at the age of 85, has retired from active business and is living on his farm just outside the city limits. In his beautiful home, with books, papers and magazines, he is spending his. declining years in EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 65 peace and happiness. He is a friend to all men,·· and visitors to his hom.e are always given a truly typical western welcome. He has his own philos­ ophy of life, his own ideas of religion. . ' He believes war should Be outlawed among civilized people; he be­ Iieves in education ~nd a ~jgh standard of living. He sees a great future. for Vernon and Wilbarger County.

From Germany to U. S. A. in 1870

- - Leaving Germany in 1870, where he was born, the late Carl Zipperle: landed in the United States and located at Little Rock, Ark. B.esiding at Little Rock for two years, he then came on into Texas in 1872. He settled in Wilbarger County in 1887 and made this community his home until he died in Vernon in- June,. 193.0~ ·Mrs. Zipperle died in Vernon in Octo-· her, 1914. Mr. Zipperle followed the but~hering business in Vernon for 17 years. Besides giving his attention to his butcher trade, he owned and looked after three fine farms in this county. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Zipperle are: Carl Zipperle, Fred Zipperle. (Pauline) Mrs. Roy Andrews and (Katherine) Mrs. Jim Jackson.

Sink Started Photograph Studio in Tent

Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Sink, Sr., arrived in Vernon in Mareh, 1889·, from Calvert and in a few days Mr. Sink opened a photograph studio in a ten.-; on the site now occupied by the city halL The day they landed in Vernon· a terriffic sandstorm was blowing. He was- born in North Carolina and came to Texas in 1878 and settled at Calvert. Mrs. Sink was born in Walker County, Texas, and moved with her parents to Calvert where she was reared. She was married to Mr. Sink in that city. Mr. Sink continued in the studio business until 1919 when he sold out to R. B. Clifton and in 1920 the family went to California to make their home. Mr. Sink died in the spring of 1931. Mrs. Sink said, "On Main Street proper were some frame buildingi full of bullet holes from the pistols of cowboys who came to Vernon on pay day and would practice on the houses as they rode down the street. Some of my neighbors told me that they covered the windows at night to keep them from shooting out their lights.'' She also told of the vast herds of cattle driven through Vernon on their way to Kansas markets. Mr. and Mrs.. Sink have four children who were reared in Vernon and now living in California. They are: D. P. Sink, Jr., Mrs. M. C. Strick­ land, Mrs. G. M.. Minikes and P. B. Sink. 66 :p;.ARLY-DAY HISTOR'.Y OF WILBARGER COUNTY

·_ .The Old Time Wagon Brought · ·· H~r Parents to .W:~Ibarger .County in 1886

Mrs. J. E. Collins, a pioneer wom­ an . of Wilbarger.. County, came to Vernon with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edley Ewing, in the spring of 1886, coming: from·· ·nelta County in wagons.• ·-T-his · was ·before the rail­ ., --- -.road -reached •here.' · With the excep­ . tion of -eleven- months, she has lived in Vernon- continuously since that· time. .... Mrs. ,Collins ~is -a native Texan, as i::.'{:, ~. .. ., ., ;~ a~:~h:1'111!:re:;re:r·B!::~ :;.;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;..;;;;_-. -. ..., _.. _ ...... ------.- ..-. -.. -.-. •._ :: : ·,;; Ewing. Her. father- was born in the Mrs. J. E. Collins·:· · Republic of. Texas, his father being a Texas pioneer, coming to this state from Nashville, Tenn., in 1835. Her mother's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Bradlqy, came. fo Texas· fro~. Tennessee and. North- Carolina ln 1844. Mr. Bradley served as clerk of Hunt County from 1846 to 1854. The men of Mrs. Collins' family have always been pioneers and patri­ ots. · Her::great-great: grandfather, Joseph Love,- ··Jr.~ rendered service in the !Revolutionary.. War, a .great Uncle Randolph ·DeSpain, perished in th~ Massacre .of Goliad. in the war between -Texas and Mexico. · Her father, Edley Ewing, and four of his brothers were:in the Confederate:Army. Her brother, Mack. B~ Ewing, was an. officer in -the· Spanish-American War, and two-of her sons,.:Horace E •. Westmoreland and Parks K~(:Westmoreland, were officers in the World War.: Mrs. Collins has three sons and one daughter, Hor~ce E. Westmore­ land, Earle E. ·Westmoreland, Parks K. Westmoreland· and Frances Collins. ,. . . . . ' . . . . ' :· ~ .. She has always heen active· in religious. and :club wo~k, and has taken a. special ~terest in school and civic improyements. She was actively identified with the Home Science Club and the Federated Clubs in the purchase and improvement of beautiful A1lingham Park, which was late!". deeded to the city to· be forever · used as a park.. Mrs. Collins attended the first graded school established in Vernon. Her children were also educated in the Vernon schools. She, with a party of friends, met the first passenger train that came in to Vernon. There was no depot at the time and the train stopped in what was then known as Tom Jones' pasture. Attached to the engine was a combination express EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY- 67 and baggage car, and one passenger coach. She _says. one p~enger and several crates of fresh vegetables came on. this train. - There was only one brick building in Vernon then-the old jail-torn down a few years ago. Wh~re we now see paved streets and side-walks, then were drifts of sand, and she and other young mothers wheeled theii­ babies through this sand; :sometimes almost to the hubs of the little ear• riages. _ _ Then, there were perhaps half a dozen cottonwood trees and a few·· stunted mesquit~s growing here. Mrs. Co_llins is justly proud_ of the ·fact that she has seen Vernon grow to be the beautiful little city it is.

Hofmanns Arrived in Texas in- 1883

.. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf_ Hofmann, Sr., were both born in Berne, Switzer:- land, in 1851, and came to .. West Virginia in 1881. They moved to Texas in 1883 and settled in Wilbarger County on a farm 10 miles southwest of Vernon, where they still reside. They paid-;$.2.00 per acre for the land! They are 79 years old and both enjoy reas~p~~ly good::·_health. They are of the Lutheran faith a~d attend church at~"Peac·e Lutheran Church in the Lockett community. When they _moved to the .eo.unty they came as far as Wichita Falls on ~he train; that being the end_ of__ the railroad, they ~ed_ :what was then known as a ''buffalo wagon," which would take settlers to their destination ' ...... ' . and then. pick up buffalo. bones and carry them back to market at Wichita Falls. They first lived in a combination J~mber and adobe house, the lum­ ber being hauled. . . from Wichita Falls, as. . .Vernon had. n()_ lumber. yard. at that time. · 'Their next house was ~urned in the year 1901 in a prairie fire which started five miles north of ·their farm. In this fire they lost all of their household goods, including h~irlooms and relics broug:iit from tjleir old home in Switzerland. The riext few days the neighbors met and built a new house in a week's time, which ~tood until seven years ago when it was replaced by.-~ niodern farm home. Mr. and Mrs. Hofmann are the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living: Mrs. Rosa Claer, Wichita Falls; G. Hofmann, Shamrock; Mrs. Alice Davenport, Littlefield; ~udolf Hofmann, Jr., and Walter Hof­ mann of the Lockett community. They .have 19 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Hofmann celebrated their golden wedding anniv&rsary on March 20, 1924.

In 1884 Harrold was the largest town in Wilbarger County.

The City of Vernon paid $35 for the block of land on which the pump station is located. 6·8 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Pioneer Furniture Mer.chant and Funeral Director Came in 1888

One of the men who was associat­ ed with the early development of Wilbarger County was T. J. Young­ blood, pioneer furniture merchant and funeral director, who came to Vernon in 1888 from Chico, where he had been engaged in the mercan­ tile business for several years. He opened a furniture store on the site now occupied by the home furnishings business which is still conducted under his name. The first store occupied a !mall frame build­ T. J. Y ounghlood ing about 25 by 60 feet. Later a two-story brick building, 30 by 100 feet, replaced the smaller structure. The business continued to grow and some years later the size of the building was doubled, making a two-story building, 60xi00 feet and providing some 16,000 square feet of floor space. Early in his residence in Vernon, Mr. Youngblood took an active in­ terest in public affairs. He served a term as county commissioner, and it was during this time that he was instrumental in securing the adoption ~f an idea that has since come into general use in controlling flood waters of Pease River.· He suggested the construction of jetties, projecting into the channel as ~ means of diverting the fl.ow of water away from the old c·ounty bridge which spanned the river, due north from Vernon at a point. about half way between the two bridges across the stream at the })resent time. . He served for many years· as a member of the Vernon school board and was an advocate of the construction of brick buildings for school use. This seems queer at the present time, but at a time when the resources of the city were limited and when Indians were a common sight on the street; of Vernon, his advocacy of· brick buildings was regarded as the extreme of visionary extravaga~ce. In addition to his interest in public affairs, Mr. Youngblood was an active member of the Methodist Church, serving in various official capaci.. ties. He was an enthusiastic l\.fason, a charter member of Vernon Com• mandery No. 33, Knights Templar. He served as Master of Vernon Lodge No. 655, A. F. & A. M., High Priest of Vernon Chapter l~o. 192, R. A. M., Eminent Commander of Vernon Commandery. He was also a metnber of EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 69 the Shrine and for years was much in demand to deliver addresses and 1-ec­ tures on various .branches · of the Masonic order. Mr.-.·Youngblood died January 31, 1927•. The furniture business he established is· still conducted under _the firm name of T. J. Youngblood.

George Andrews Family Came in 1881

Along with the first families· to arrive in this section of the state and establish homes, was that of the late George Andrews and wife. The An-• drews family came to Wilbarger C~unty from Rhome, Texas, in· November, 1881. They settled in the southern portion of the county near Beaver Creek. ·•. Our information regarding Jhis pioneer family was obtained from Harry Andrews, a son, living· in V~:rnon. . He stated that he came to this county with- his parents and other ·;members of the family. Nearest neighbor~ a~ter th~ir location, were the S. W. Turner family and the .·John· Estes family...... Mr. Andrews said that he assisted his father in hauling to Vernon from Wichita Falls, the big safe that was used in the county court house built in 1886. In addition to this work, he said, they hauled wood from Beaver Creek to a brick yard near Vernon which used the wood in burning brick for the court house. All this hauling was done with the old time ox freight wagon. Besides Harry Andrews, other children of George Andrews and wife include: Mrs. -Ed Bennett, George Andrews, Frank Andrews, Fred An­ drews and Mrs. Bob Linebarger. Himself and Mrs. Linebarger are the only surviving members of the family, Harry Andrews stated.

From Tennessee to Wilbarger County in 1886

The late A. B. Parks and wife, who were both natives of Tennessee, arrived in Wilbarger County in 1886. Mr. Parks was a ranchman and stock farmer. · After his ·arrival in the county with a herd of cattle, he bought land and established a ranch home north of Vernon in the Fargo community.· The Parks ranch home is still in possession of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Smith. The Fargo Cemetery is located on the Parks land, where both Mr. and Mrs. Parks and two of their sons are buried. The sons buried there are Arch and Eve (Evander) Parks. Eve Parks was killed by lightning at his home a number of years back. Other children of Mr. and Mrs. Parks are: Mrs. Sarah Cantrell, Mrs. Eugenia Orboson (deceased), Mrs. Ida Rocoque, Mrs. Ada Hill and Mrs. C. S. (Rosa) Smith. 70 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY ·------

A '-'City Fellow" Makes Good On the Farm

The subject of this sketch, T. Bunker, moved from Henrietta, in Clay County, to Wilbarger County in 1885. He stopped at Harrold, which was the terminus of the Fo1·t Worth & Denver Railway at that time and also the leading city in th~ county. In May, 1886, he moved to Vernon. A house he had built at Harrold was torn down and the l:.1n1- ber hauled to Vernon with which a new house was built. In 1888, Mr. Bunker bought a half section of land in the county at $2.00 per acre. This farm was his home until he moved T. ·Bunker back to Vernon in 1919. In questioning Mr. Bunker with reference to his early-day citizenship in this county, he said: "People now days seem to think they have a hard time, but they should have lived here from 1890 until 1896 and then they ·would know what real hard times are." Like all other farmers who lived in the county in its early days, Mr. Bunker raised wheat. Asked when he first started raising cotton, he said that he never did raise much cotton until he left his farm and began rent­ ing it out. He said that in 1894 his wife kept wanting him to plant some cotton. He plante~ a small patch of six .acres and from this field he gather­ ed 45 0 pounds. Mr. Bunker said when he fir~t moved to the farm his neighbors mad~ fun of him and called him the "city fellow." They gave him two years in which to get tired of farm life and go back to the city. The first· fe~ years were tough ones, be said, but he stuck it. out and within a few years was the only one of the original settlers left in his part of the county. A daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Burgess, is the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Bunker.

The first school in Vernon was taught by L. N. Perkins in 1880.

· The Vernon Abstract Company was ·organized in 1888 by J. J. Ste-. phens. EARLY-DAY HISTORY· OF WILBARGE"R COUNTY~ 71

,..

-McHugh Arrived in-Vernon July 7, 1882

E. L. McHugh, county auditor, who's parents, Joseph and Elizabeth McH:ugh, came to Texas from the state of Georgia, was born in Fan­ nin County, Texas, on July 16, 1869. He came to Vernon July 7, 1882. .de attended Vernon public schools a few years and lived with his sister, :Mrs. Nannie H. Perkins on a farm near Vernon. In November, 1888, he was offered a deputy district and county clerkship by his brother-in­ law, L. N. Perkins, who was and had been district and county clerk since the organization of the county in - E. L. McHugh 1881-1883. Since that time he has served in Wilbarger County's places of public trust as county clerk about six years, county treasurer for two years, and deputy tax collector four years. He was elected county judge in 1916, in which position he served until August, 1923, when he resigned to accept the office of county au~itor by appointment from Hon. Jas~ V. Leake, then district judge. He con­ tinues to serve in that capacity, having been reappointed twice by the late Hon. Robert Cole, district judge, and Judge W. N. Stokes, present judge. He was married twice, first on September 7, 1892, to Mary L. Cald­ well of Fannin County, Texas, and after her death on April 22, 1906, wai:1 married to Alice Gertrude Means of Dallas, Texas. He now has living, two sons and three daughters by his first marriage: J. B. McHugh, Charles Edgar McHugh, Mrs. B. L. Smith, Mrs. A. H. Stone and Mrs. T. J. Haugh­ ton, Jr. Of his four sisters and one brother, only two sisters now survive: Mrs. Smith Compton of Vernon, and Mrs. Columbus Walker of Fort Sum­ ner, New Mexico. Mr. McHugh recalls a number of interesting events and incidents which occurred during his life, mostly since his residence in Vernon. Among them being the death of both his mother and father before he was eleven years of age, leaving him in the care of his brother and sister, and his residence in Montague and Wichita Counties before coming to Wilbar­ ger. Vernon at that time was a small village-only a small number of dwellings, stores, saloons and gambling houses. The country was knowr as a cattle range with several men owning large cattle and horse ranches, operating cow camps and maintaini~g line riders on the open range. A 72, EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY few settlers were scattered here .and there in Wilbarger and adjoining counties. · The cattle would leave their ranges and this necessitated the general round-up, starting in March and lasting until fall. The cattle were divided according to brands during the round-up. Many thousand head of cattle in different and. various herds passed through Vernon only a few blocks west of the court house square on their way north via the Doan~ Crossing on Red River. During the first few years of the cowboys, as the men generally were known, they came from the ranges to the west of Vernon to spend a part of the winter. "After the· work is all done this fall," they came to town and had gay times around the saloons and gambling houses, etc. Most of them carried guns-the Colt .45-some without triggers. During this time a few men were killed, ainong them the first sheriff of Wilbarger County­ U el Musick. Many cattle and horses were driven off or stolen, but there were many good citizens-men, women, officers and a few State Rangers­ who did what they could for the enforcement of law and order, notwith­ standing some opposition. Among those who took a leading part in the support of law and orde~ 'was Rev. -J. T. Hosmer, a Methodist circuit horseback rider~ who organized the First Methodist Church with a :few members, mostly among the famil.7 of- J. ~A. Creager, now- -deceased. · Mr. McHugh became a member of this church in 1886 or 1887. The State Rangers occupied as their camp while in Wilbarger County,. the jail yard-a high board fence enclosure around the log jail. The jail stood near the center.-of the present-·court house square until 1886, when i~ was ,razed ft>r the erection· of the court house. A new jail was built of ·b.ri~k on the south side of the first block south of the square. Court was held and officers occupied: rooms in frame buildings located in different "parts

·A Prosperous Family Locates in 1890

Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Wiseman, who were both born in Benton County, Tennessee, came to Wilbarger County· in NoveD1ber, 1890. They bought 160 acres of ·land ten· miles west·of Vernon, where, with their three chil- EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY "/3 dren, they established a home. Mr. Wiseman ·at once saw the possibilitieS; of Wilbarger County as a farming country, and by hard work, right man­ agement and frugality, he today owns 755 acres of farming land in that· same section of this county. Mr.. and Mrs. Wiseman also own two nice homes. One in Vernon and the other out on their farm. They divide their time between the two places. Their children are: ~rs•. (Ambia) O. K. Hafer, Mrs. Claudia Starr and !Roscoe Wiseman. ·'

H. A. Bell Came to County in 1885

Coming to this section of Texas from Dallas County in 1885, the late H. A. Bell, who died in 1924, bought three sections of land in the northern portion of Wilbarger County and established a home. For many years the neighborhood in which Mr. Bell resided was known as the Bell community from reason of the fact that. he and· his family were prominently identified with that section C?f this county. · Soon· after Mr. Bell's arrival in this county, he took up farming and stock raising on quite an extensive scale. Today the Bell ranch, which is ·still in possession of the Bell f~mily, is cut up and settled with farm homes. Mr. Bell was a member of the Methodist Church. He also took an active interest in the religious affairs of other denominations in his com- munity. · His widow was manied to J. C. Lloyd in 1929, and she, with Mr. Lloyd now live at the old Bell ranch home. The Bell children include six sons and one ·daughter. The oldest son, P. C. Bell, died at Odell several years ago. The .daughter, Mrs. Will (Zenobia) Burch, was burned to death at Oklahoma City, Okla. The boys surviving their father are: W. F., W. A., Roy, Arthur, Lloyd and Sebie.

Were Farmers Valley Citizens in 1889

Coming to Wilbarger County with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Boyles, in 1889, Ira A. Boyles; who now lives at Chillicothe, has watched and ·had a part in the development of this western country all these years. The Boyles family, after their· arrival in the county, located in the Far­ mers Valley community and afterwards were factors in the upbuilding of that neighborhood. Ira A. Boyles was married to Miss May Oliver, February 1, 1905. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Oliver, who moved to this section of Texas from Denton County in' 1900. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Ira A. Boyles- are three girls: Misses· Vyneta, Rheba ;Merle and Lee Ross Boyles. · ·74, EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Lewis Family Arrived in Ver­ non February, 1889

Mr. and Mrs.. J. W. Lewis and chil­ dren came to Wilbarger County in February, 1889. Mr. Lewis was born in Anderson County, South Carolina, and came to Texas in December, 1876, settling in Travis County. Mrs. Lewis, whose maiden name was Miss Addie Milwee, was also born in An­ derson County, South Carolina. The family lived on a farm for a number of years. Mr. Lewis died March 20, 1904. Mrs. Lewis died December 30, 1926. During the last few years of her life Mrs. Lewis lived at her home in the eity of Vernon D. J. Lewia and was quite active and did her own housework up until a short time pefore her death. Her mind _was quite active and she delighted in telling of the early days in Wilbarger County, and of the hard years during the 90's shortly after they came here. ·· Mr. and ·Mrs. Lewis are survived by five children: Mrs. J. A. Puckett, S. M. Lewis, B. H. Lewis, D. J. Lewis and M. H. Lewis. All of them live i~ this county except S. M. Lewis, who lives at Post. D. J. Lewis has been a member of the police force for a number of years and in the spring of 1931 was named as chief of police to succeed J. D. Key, who resigned.

C. S. (Charlie) Smith a Wilbarger Citizen~ 1889

C. S. (Charlie) Smith of Fargo, whose citizenship in Wilbarger County dates ·back to 1889, was born in Germany. At the age of 17 years he was a citizen of Clay County, Texas. Mr. Smith is one of the few typical old­ time cowboys of West Texas. His motive in coming to Wilbarger County was to assist Evander (Eve) Parks in driving a herd of cattle to this county. In 1895, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rosa E. Parks, daughter of ·Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Parks, who were also early-day settlers of this county. Mr. a.nd Mrs. Smith still reside at the Parks ranch home at Fargo which was established in -188G. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith incl~de: Mrs. J. D. (Leola) Cartwright, Willis Smith and Leslie Smith. An adopted son, Tommy Am­ mon~, was taken into the family at the age of 18 months. EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY··oF WILBARGER COUNTY 75·

Starr Family Came to Wilbar;. ger County in 1888

The late J. P. Starr, with his fam­ ily, moved to Wilbarger County in 1888 from Paris, Lamar County. Up­ on their arrival in this country they moved to the old F. K. Richardson place six miles south of Vernon. Re­ siding at that location one year, Mr. Starr then b~ught and moved to a place fourteen miles south of Ver­ non on Beaver Creek. The Beaver Creek community was the Starr fam• ily's home until 1900 when Mr. Starr sold out and moved to a farm that he bought north of Pease River. This last farm 1s located in what is known J. P. Starr now as the White City community and was the home of Mr. Starr until his death April 26, 1929. Mrs. Starr died in Vemon, December 8, 1929. In the early days of this county, Mr. Starr was a stock farmer. But as the country began settling up and large pastures were cut· up into farm~, he settled down to farming on an extensive scale. As a citizen of Wilbar­ ger County, Mr. Starr always took an active interest in its affairs. As evi­ dence of his interest, the county records sho'! that he served Wilbarger County three terms as county commissioner. An interesting article, clipped from an old· file of "The Vernon Guard," a newspaper that was being published in Vernon in 1899, gives Mr. Starr's estimate of growing and harvesting a wheat crop in Wilbarger County. He stated at that time that he had made two wheat crop failures since coming here and that he thought it could not be beat as a cattle country. He estimated the cost of a wheat crop per acre as breaking land, $1 ; seed­ ing, 60c; drilling, 50c; harrowing, 10c; cutting, 75c; shocking, 15c~ and threshing and putting in the bins at llc, making a total cost of $3.21. Mr. Starr estimated the yield for the year he made the estimate at nine and one-half bushels per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Starr were the parents of thirteen children. Eleven of whom are living. The children include: H. S. Starr, Vernon; W. P. Starr, deceased; S. B. Starr, Odell; Jim Starr, deceased; Paul Starr, Wellington; Walter Starr, Quail; Mrs. Emma . Turner, Vernon; Mrs. Melissa Boone, Odell; Mrs. Annie Germany, Harrold; Mr~. Lou Kester, Odell; S. C. Starr, Tolbert, and Misses Alice and Dora Starr, Vernon. '16· EARLY~DAY msTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

A W esteni Cotton Seed Breed­ er Comes. to Texas From Georgia

Born in Forsyth County, Georgia, i._n 1861, J. D. (Jeff) Summerour of Vernon, came to Wilbarger in Au­ gust, 1885, and located near what later became Oklaunion. Mr. Sum­ merour was a single man at that time, but in 1892 he was married to Miss Nannie Kelley, who is a native of Texas, born in Rusk County. They are the parents of one child, a son, Tom Summerour, who lives in Vernon. At the time of Mr. Summerour's arrival in this section of Texas, WU­ !>arger County was then only four years old. The Fort Worth & Den-­ ver Railway then stopped at Harrold. It was generally believed ~hen that the Denver rpad instead of building west out of Harrold, would go north ~to Oklahoma. And, because of this belief, Mr. Summerour said, he lo­ ca~ed near Harrold as he wanted to stay close to the railroad. However,· after the Denver started building west, Mr. Summerour assisted in loading out the first load of lumber in Harrold for Quanah. He related having heard one of the wagon teamsters say at that time, he did not know just where the town of Quanah was to be located, but that he would hunt around on the prairie until he located the spot and would dump his lum­ ber and get paid o:ff. At, the time of Mr. Summerour's location in this county, there was only orie fence between Vernon and Harrold. While most of the buffalo that once ranged in this section were gone, he recalled, in giving the writer this interview, a herd of some fifty or 7 5 wild horses that grazed over this vast scope of country. In that particular herd, he said, was a fine, portly, black stallion and a mule. These· horses were so wild in their nature that three--quarters of a mile was as close as man could get near them. "We were very careful in those days," he said, "to keep our saddle and work horses away from this wild herd, because once they got with them, it was bard to cut them out." Mr. Summerour was one among the first farmers in Wilbarger County to raise a commercial wheat crop. In 1886 he planted a field of twenty.. five acres. That was one of the extremely dry years in this country and EARLY-DAY HISTORY 01[ WILBARGER COUNTY . 77 the wheat yield was light, but the year following, a fairly good crop was made. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for a number of years. Is a member of different fraternal orders and has always took an active interest in local Chamber of Commerce work. At present Mr. Summerour, with his son, Tom, is devoting his time to the breeding of cotton seed adapt-­ ed to this western country. T-hey maintain an office in Vernon completely equipped in every way for taking care of their business and thousands of bushels of cotton seed branded "Summerour's Western Wonder," are ship­ ped from here every year for various sections of the country.

A Tennessee Soldier Locates in 1890

Coming to Wilbarger County from Perry County, Tennessee, in 1890, Andrew D. Craig and his wife, Adelia Carrol Craig, located eight mile~. north of Vernon. Both of these pioneers of the county are now dead. Mr. Craig died April 23, 1899, and his wife passed away January 21, 1922...... A history of the state of Tennessee reveals some interesting data re- garding Mr. Craig as one of its useful citizens. He served the Southland in the Fifty-third Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. He remained in the Confederate service until Lee's surrender at Appomatox. This his-­ ory also records the fact that Mr. Craig served the state of Tennessee as a member of the state legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Craig were the parents of ten children, five of whom are now living: N. P. Craig, Mrs. D. H. Henry, O. M. Craig, Mrs. John Camp­ bell, and Mrs. H. C. Thomason.

"Uncle Johnny" Miller Was a Pennsylvanian

Along with other early-day citizens of this county belongs mention of Mrs. Samantha Miller, wife of the late "Uncle Johnny" Miller, who died at his home in the Fargo neighborhood a few years ago. Mr. Miller was a Pennsylvanian by birth and his wife was a West Vir­ ginian. He came to this county ahead of his wife and located in what is now the Fargo community in the winter of 1880-81. Mrs. Miller followed her husband a short while afterwards and is today making her home wi~ her son, John Miller, where they first settled. Other children of the Miller family are Mrs. Mary McCully, Mrs. Juan­ ita McGhee, Mrs. Cora Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Lulie Hood, Mrs. Birdie Wilson and Mrs. Nellie Sloan. 78 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

R. B. Richardson and Wife at Fargo Since 1886

Coming to Wilbarger from John­ son County, Texas, in November, 1886, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Richardson located north of Vernon in what is known as the Fargo community. Mr. Richardson was born in Boone Coun .. ty, Arkansas. Mrs. Richardson is a native of southwest Missouri. They were married in August, 1881. After their location in this section of Texas, Mr. Richardson begun farming and stock raising. Although he has now retired from active farm duties, he and his wife have never thought best to leave their farm R. B. Richardson home. The Richardson estate con- sists of a nice, well improved home on a fine body of land in their neigh­ borhood. Mr. and :Mrs. Richardson have always taken an active interest in j; affairs for the betterment of their county and particular community. In I both church and school work in the Fargo· community, fruits of their labo.r can be traced back to the date of their arrival. Since a congregation of members of the Church of Christ began meeting and worshipping in the Fargo neighborhood, Mr. Richardson has served as either a deacon or elder. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson include: N eppie Mae (Mrs. Fred Lovelace, deceased), Maude (Mrs. Amos Bates), Nannie (Mrs. R. S. Cov­ ey), Misses Willie and Louise Richardson, and one son, Norris Richardson.

The Late Judge Doran a Pioneer Citizen

"Occasionally on~ runs across one of those big-hearted, liberal-minded individuals, who is not all self-such a man is J.E. Doran. Some ten years ago be came to Vernon, and by diligent application to study, while pur­ suing his labors for a ,:fivelihood, succeeded in obtaining a legal education and in 1892 was admitted to the practice of law. "Th~ old saying that his word was as good as his bond, would aptly apply to him, for J. E. Doran's word is never questioned."-Taken from the Vernon Guard of November 18, 1899. ·- Judge Doran died in Vernon ·in 1926. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY '19

Retired Druggist Came to Wilbarger County In· 1884

Among the pioneer citizens of Wil­ barger County who has had an active part in developing and watching the bald prairies of this western eountry become a settlement of peaceful hom£s, rightfully belongs mention of J. H. Pendleton, retired druggist in Vernon. Mr. Pendleton was born in Bed­ ford County, Virginia, and came to Texas in 1881. In October, 1884, he became a citizen of Wilbarger County, locating in Vernon. The year following his arrival in this J. H. Pendleton county, he was married to Miss Belle McBride. To this union three sons were born. The oldest, E. L. Pendle­ ton, lives in Vernon. The second son, James ffirich Pendleton, was killed by an interurban car near Fort Worth in the year of 1911. The young­ est, Dr. Winston Pendleton, is a prominent physieian at Kingfisher, Okla. The mother of these boys died in Vernon in 1891. Mr. Pendleton's second marriage was to Miss Annah Baker of McKin .. ney, Texas, in March, 1893. To this union one child, a girl, Miss Annah Jo Pendleton, was born. For the past four years Miss Annah Jo has been one of the teachers in the Texas Technological College at Lubbock. The last wife of Mr. Pendleton's died May 24, 1929·. A few years after Mr. Pendleton came to Vernon be formed a part­ nership with the late Dr. H. H. Rhoads and they bought out the W. T. Dickey & Co. Drug Store in the city. The two continued the business for a short while and Dr. Rhoads sold his interest in the firm to the late T. M. Fergeson. The style of the drug business then became Pendleton & Fer­ geson. In 1897 they dissolved partnership and eaeh established separate drug businesses in Vernon. Mr. Pendleton continued bis drug businesa until 1919 when he sold out to J. J. McGaughy, George S. Hardin and Rob­ ert O. Brown. In addition to his business experience as a druggist, he has · been a stockholder of different banking institutions in the city. At pres­ ent being vice president of the First State Bank. He is the owner of sev­ eral brick business houses in Vernon and also some valuable farm land in Wilbarger County. ., From 1898 to 1902, when J. A. Lucky was mayor of Vernon, Mr. Pen• 80 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY dieton served the city as one of the aldermen. And when the city took on a: commission form of government, he served as one of the city commis.. sioners under Harry Mason's administration as mayor. Very few men, during their brief span of life are fortunate enough to have the independent privilege of taking long touring trips through the olJ country across the "big pond." In the summer of 1930, Mr. Pendleton, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Annah Jo, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Mow­ ery of Lubbock, for more than three months toured Europe. Leaving Ver-· non in their own automobile, they visited many of the principal cities in the northern states before reaching Montreal, Canada. At this point, along with their automobile on board, they sailed across the waters and landed at Liverpool, England. It was their privilege while gone to visit and view many of the old historic spots in England, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Ger• many, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and· France. Their return voyage was by way of Halifax, N. S., to New York City. After this touring party completed their trip and Mr. Pendleton re­ turned home, in an interview with a news reporter, he had this to say: "~ boat trip on the Rhine River surely gives one a thrill." He also spoke '~bout visiting in Manchester, England, the place from which the Pendle­ ton's came to the U. S. A., and settled in Virginia in 1674. · Th_ey visited in what were once the homes of Shakespeare, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. When asked about the condition of France following the World War of 1914, Mr. Pendleton said: "On August 7th we crossed the !Rhine River into Frarice. The first city after going into that country we entered was called Kehl. From there we passed through what is called the Black Forest about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and it was very dark. The tree.3 were tall, mostly pine, and the country very mountainous. We spent the night in the city of Metz in the war district.· From Metz to Verdun, we could see that the country was badly torn up as result of the war. We noticed many concrete dugouts, entanglements, shell holes and trenches. We also spent one night at Rheims, France, around which sqme of the hard­ est fought battles of the war took place."

R. P. Elliott Came to Vernon in 1884

"Since 1884 R. P. Elliott has been prominently identified with the legal and realty life of Wilbarger County. To such an extent has he been con• ~ected with real estate, that it would be impossible to write a history of Wilbarger's realty without having a history of R. P. Elliott. "He was admitted to the bar in 1877, at his native town, Henderson, ·xy. In 1886 he wa°'s elected county attorney .of Wilbarger County and so ·well did ·he discharge his duties, in 1888 he was re-elected by a complimen.. ·tary vote. "In 1896, owing to the general hard times and prolonged drought in Northwest Texas, he moved to Housto~, Texas."-Reprinted from the Ver­ non Guard of November 18, 1899. EARLY-DAY HISTORY .OF WILBARGER COUNTY 81

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F. C. Beckett Helped Organize Wilbarger County

Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Beckett came to Vernon from Henrietta, Clay County, in 1880. Mrs. Beckett was one of the :first brides to come to this city to make her home. Mr. Beckett was born in Missis­ sippi and came to Texas and settled in Clay County. While living there he was admitted to the bar and when the county was organized in 1881 he ·=···· took a very active part in this work. He was elected county attorney in the new organization. In addition to his work in the legal line, he took ll great deal of interest in the religious Mrs. Mary A. Beckett and social life of Vernon. Mrs. Beckett was born in Kentucky and came to Texas in 1880. She was living in Henrietta when she met Mr. Beckett and they were married and moved to Vernon. Her maiden name was Miss Mary A. Brannon. She was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church and took a great interest in the Sunday School and church work. Mr. Beckett hauled lumber from Gainesville to build their first home in Vernon and the building was located on the property now owned by H. K. Greever on Mesquite Street. After the death of Mr. Beckett Mrs. Beekett moved to Missouri where she has made her home.

"Hoosier'1 State Sent Texas a Citizen in 1886

Coming to Texas from Indiana in 1886, J. H. Petitt of West Vernon, decided at that time to cast his lot at Dublin, Texas. But Mr. Petitt did not stay in that locality long. Perhaps even at that time that section pf the Lone Star State was too thickly populated for a young man of his am­ bition. At any rate, the very next year, Mr. Petitt, with his wagon and team headed west and drew his team to a stop in Wilbarger County. Settling in this county he made his location north of Pease River in the Doans community. And no doubt today he considers settling in that neighborhood a fortunate step, because not a great while after, he was s2· EARLY-DAY filSTORY OF WILBARGER. COUNTY married to _Miss Bettie Hamilton,:daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Hamilton. Mr. and· Mrs. Petitt continued to make their home in the Doans neigh- - • . . • • - ~ • 'I" borhood until 1896 when they sold their farm and moved to Van Bureni Ark. Their stay in Arkansas was just four years and in 1900 _w~e back i~ ·Wilbarger County located on land they bought west of Vernon~ Their h~me is there today and a portion of the land that is being settled with new homes is known as the Petitt addition to West Vernon. ' ·. _ · Mr. Petitt has always been what might be termed in the true sense of: the word, "a <µversified farmer." He keeps himself well posted on mar-· ket· conditions. and gives his attention to the growing of various crops, adapted to this western country. For years he has been recognized · as: one of the largest cantaloupe shippers in the county. He was among the first farmers in. the county to. realize · the possibilities of irrigation from water wells in the Pease River Valley. In 1929, from a sunken well on his farm in West Vernon, he irrigated a large :field of cantaloupes and other truck, by lifting the water to the surface by the means of a gasoline engine pump. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Petitt a:re Guy Petitt and Mrs. ·George S .. Hardin, both ·are married and reside in Vernon.

J. F. White Family Located in 1890

Born in Carroll County, Georgia, J. F. White, the subject of this- fam­ ily sketch, came to Texas and located in Ellis County in 1869. In 1871 Mr. White was married to Miss Matilda Hatfield. Mrs. Wbite"s birthplac~ was in Tennessee. In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. White, having an eye of faith for this western country, ~ame to Wilbarger County and located north of Pease River. They continued to make that part of the country their home until a few years ago when they moved to Vernon to spend their declining; years. The neighborhood where they first settled still bears their name, being generally rec_ognized as the White City community. Early settlers of this county will recall Mr. White as having owned and looked after at one time on his farm, one of the largest and finest orchards in the county. Forty acres were devoted to the growing of ap­ ples, peaches and plums. In addition to looking after his orchard, Mr. White was a successful farmer. In 1895 he gathered sixty bushels of corn to the acre, which is one among the largest corn yields known to have been ◊ ~own in this county. Children of Mr. and Mrs. White include: Walton White; · Mrs.. Jess {Etta May) Garlington, Johnnie (J. R.) White, Perry White, Mrs. Elmer (Nannie) Goodwin, Mrs. N. T. (Vannie) King, Mrs. Brooks (Ama) Ger­ many, Mrs. R. E. (Ollie) Wilson,. Ava White, Luther White and Clint White. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 83

McK~ney's Arrived in March. 1879

W. A. McKinney was born in Grayson County, near Van Alstyne, Texas, and lived in that county until he was grown. Mrs. McKinney, who before her marriage was l\'Iiss Jane Cartwright, was born in Smith Coun• ty, Tennessee, and came to Texas in 1.851 and settled in Grayson County. During the Civil War Mr. McKin­ '.Qey served in the army. He received a wound in one of his feet during a battle which necessitated the ampu­ tation of the limb. Mrs. W. A. McKinney . He was m~rried to Miss Cartwright on February 14, 1866, and .they lived on the home place in Grayson County -qntil 1"1arch, 1879, when they moved to Wilbarger County and settled on Paradise Creek south of Vernon. The following year they moved to town and built a home on the corner of Fannin and Paradise Streets. The house still stands today on this site. Mr. McKinney joined the Christian Church when eleven years of age and after arriving in the county helped organize the first Christian church in Vernon. There were seven present for the meeting. They were: Bob Jones, the minister and his wife, l\fr. and Mrs. McKinney, their eldest son, A. M. McKinney, and another man whom Mrs. McKinney does not recall. Upon the organization of Wilbarger County in October, 1881, Mr. Mc­ Kinney was appointed county treasurer. When the regular election time came around in 1882 he was in Gainesville after a load of dry goods. While away a group of friends here ran him for re-election and he was given the l'egular term and served five terms in this office by election. Mr. McKinney died September 8, 1910, at Mangum, Okla. Since that time Mrs. McKinney has been making her home with her children. The children are: A. M. McKinney and P. M. McKinney of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Mary Thomasson of Holly, Colo., Miss Willie McKinney of Winslow, Ariz., and Mrs. D. J. Lewis of Vernon.

The census of 1890 gave Wilbarger County a population of 7,092. 84 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

E. S. Hendrick, Better Known as "Ramrod"

(Editor's Note: The publish­ ers of this book asked Mr. Hen-­ drick to write his own article as no one can imitate his style and his very interesting write-up of the early days is given below). _ "Was born in Columbus, Miss., September 6, 1861. When a young man moved to Texas and worked on several news:papers in different E. S. Hendrick· parts of the state. Came to Ver-­ non· from Wichita Falls December 6, 1888, and went to work on 'The Guard' the same afternoon. 'The Guard1 was edited and owned by B. Wilson Edgell, a wide-awake newspaper man who did much for the advancement of Vernon. :Many of the old-timera will remember him as an outstanding character. "Was married to Miss Elizabeth Camelia Alexander, who was a native 1: of Arkadelphia, Ark. This wedding took place in the First Baptist Church on October 13, 1889. We bought a lot in South Vernon and built a little three-room house-all on the installment plan, but we saved and had it all paid for three months before the last note fell due. "Several cowmen set B. Wilson up in the newspaper business, as cat­ tle thieves were stealing and running cattle out of the country and EdgeU w:as to rid the country of these undesirable citizens, which he :finally did. Owners of the cattle ranches lived in Henrietta and Fort Worth. These rustlers made it hot for Edgell by shooting his office building full of holes from Winchesters at night, but Edgell kept hammering them until cattle stealing was a thing of the past. · "Continued to work for Mr. Edgell until he sold to J. G. Rutherford of Hillsboro. Worked for Mr. Rutherford until times got so hard that he told me he eouldn't pay me. So we moved to Waxahachie, and after a few months sojourn there Mr. Rutherford proposed ·to lease 'The Guard' and the use of his home to me at $50 per month if I would move back to Vernon, as. he was moving to Clarksville. I tell you times were hard but I accepted. We came back and I went to work with all my might and strength. The Guard office was located on the northeast corner of the court house square, two lots south of Dowdy's barber shop. Tschi:ffley, Bob Stone, Miss Dora Capps and myself made up the laborers in the office, EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 85 with old man Capps and old man Haney turning the press on. publication days. "And I believe I made a go of it-so much so that a year later I was instrumental in selling it to Ponder Brothers of Hillsboro for Mr. Ruther­ ford. As there were thr~e Ponder brothers who did all of the work, I was out of a job. I did most anything that I eould find for awhile and then decided to launch out for- myself. "I traded my home to a St. Louis Type Foundry Company for typ_c and a 7xll inch job press and everything to complete a job printing office, which was the alpha of our newspaper business in Vernon. Of course, all the old-timers remember the first little Vernon Hornet, and all know how it grew to be a big Vernon Hornet. Then there came a longing in out· heart for the golden state-California-and we sold to J. Ray, who after­ wards sold the paper to The Record. After we spent a few months in California we decided there was no place like dear old Texas. . Returned and establ~hed a paper at Chillicothe, 14 miles west of Vernon. We gave this new paper in this new town the name The Chillicothe Hornet. After several years we sold the Chillicothe Hornet to Mr. Garner-so that was the omega of The Hornet. "When we started the Hornet there were four papers in Vernon. Bob Edgell, brother of B. Wilson Edgell, raked up enough typ~ and an army press and started a paper in Farmers Valley. It lasted around five or si.ic months. "We love to look back after these years and recall the dear friends and good times we had. We remember 'how the town was full of saloons and gambling houses. We love to recall how hard our women worked to get prohibition in Vernon. The W. C. T. U., led by that noble woman, Mrs. 'Rena Watts, did wonderful things to oust the saloon from Vernon. We are proud of this band of women who worked shoulder to shoulder witn that great spirit of love for each other and all the human race. Yes, those good women came out victorious with great rejoicing. Those were happy days-women did not worry about silk stockings and silk underwear. Cot­ ton stockings and beautiful white underthings all trimmed in lace were the style. We had to draw water out of deep wells with rope and pulley. Instead of refrigerators we filled cans with milk and let them down into the well with a rope to keep cool till ready for use. "In 1905 the country went broke-banks, merchants and the farmers, as all crops were a failure. I swapped P. N. Mittenthall, three big young chickens for a 50c cap, as my hat was worn out. Grandpa Jacks, fathei" of Mrs. Banks Bennett, and myself rigged up two wagons and camped on Beaver Creek several nights, bringing home wood for fuel, as we had no money to buy coal. But we were all in the same boat but happy. When the hard times struck us we had hogs enough to furnish us meat for th~ year and a good cow, which furnished us plenty of milk and butter. Als'l had eggs and chickens and we were thankful to have this to keep soul and body together. 1891 and 1892 were good years and 1893 and 1894 were 86 ·EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY average~ but 1895 blowed us up. "Was nominated on the Republican ticket for the Legislature against ;ru~g~- Scuxry of Wichita County in 1907~ There were 200 Republicans in the two counties and 2200 Democrats. Judge Scurry won by 311 votes. I was sure proud of the vote received. I advocated exterminating the prairie dogs and Judge Scurry advocated irrigation. "We feel that we had a part in making Vernon what she is today and we trust she will grow and reach out for greater and nobler things, that she may fulfill the motto of the Vernon Hornet-'Tall oaks from little acorns grow'.,,

County's First Clerk Came in 1880

Coming to this section of Texas from Montague County in 1880, the "tat·e L. N. Perkins, at the organization of Wilbarger County was made county clerk. Mr. Perkins continued to serve the county in the capacity of clerk until 1890. He was born in 1845 and died at the home of a daugh- ter in San Antonio, on October 25, 1920. · At the outbreak of the Civil War, young Perkins, at the age of fifteen years, ran away from home to render his service to the Southland. In a battle at Winchester, Tenn., a fragment from an exploding shell struck him in the leg and the amputation of the limb was necessary.

Richie Family Came to Harrold in 1891

C. A. Richie and family moved to Wilbarger County and settled at Harrold in 1891. After staying there a short time they came to Vernon. Mr. Richie was born in Maysville, Ky. Mrs. Richie, whose· maiden name was Miss Angie ·Thompson, was born·· in Germantown, Ky. She and Mr. Richie were married at that place and moved to Texas, settling in Dal­ las County near where the Buckner Orphans Honie now stands. From there they ·moved to Kaufman County and lived near Forney. In 1910 Mr. Richie was elected district clerk and held that office until his death on November 1, 1922. He was the Democratic nominee and his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Walker, was selected to succeed him in that place and ·she held the office ·until 1930. During the Civil War, Mr. Richie served under Gene.ral Morgan and was an active member of Camp Cabell, United Confederate Veterans, and attended many of the reunions. He was also a devoted member of the Baptist Church and served as a deacon in that .body until his -death. Mrs. Richie died on August 30, 1922. Surviving are five children: Mrs. J. A. Walker, Mrs. Julian Madden, ,Henry Richie, H~yden Richie and Howard Richie, all of whom live in thid county. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY -87

Mississippi Furnished Wilbar• ger a Valuable Citizen in 1891

Judge W. D. Berry has been a res­ ident of Vernon since 1891, having moved here from Mississippi, his na­ tive state, where he had been super• intendent of the public schools of Koscuisko for a number of years. He was graduated from the Univer­ sity of Mississippi in 1887 and then entered upon his law course which he completed with a course of lec­ tures under Dr. John B. Minor in th~ University of Virginia in 1891, and was immediately admitted to the bar in that state. He then came to Ver• W. D. Berry non and was admitted to the bar in Texas and has practiced law ever since. He has been leading counsel in, and actively connected with the trials of many famous eivil and criminal cases in this part of Texas and Southwestern Oklahoma, among which was the famous murder trial of G. E. Morrison in 1898, transferred here from Carson County in which Judge Berry took an active part in the prosecu­ tion. The defendant was convicted and given the death penalty and was ,hanged in the jail yard in Vernon the next year. Morrison is the only person upon whom the death penalty was ever in­ flicted by a court in Wilbarger County. He was represented by able law­ yers in Vernon and elsewhere, among his counsel being the late Temple Houston who -was a son of the famous Sam Houston, father of Texas inde­ :pendence. Judge Berry's activities in the courts run back to the days when it was not uncommon for state rangers to stand guard at the doors of the court houses and search the spectators for weapons as they entered the court rooms. Judge Berry has not often aspired to political office,· but has main• tained a deep interest in the politics of the state and nation at all times since he became a citizen of the state. He was elected city_ attorney of Vernon in 1894 and before his term expired he was appointed by the Com- 1nissioners' Court of Wilbarger County to fill a vacancy in the county at• torney's office to which he was re-elected in 1896. Shortly after arriving in Vernon, Judge Berry became associated as the junior member of the firm of Lucky, Sadler & Berry, which was con-­ tinued as Lucky & Berry for a number of years after Judge -Sadler , 88 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY moved from Vernon. In 1898 he formed a partnership with Judge J. R. Tolbert under the firm name of Tolbert & Berry, which was maintained until Judge Tolbert moved to Hobart, Okla., where he afterwards became district judge. Shortly thereafter Judge J. A. Lucky returned to Ver­ non and he and Judge Berry formed another partnership under the firm name of Berry & Lucky which was maintained until Judge Lucky's death i~ 1908. In 1909 the firm of Berry & Stokes was organized and in 1912 S. A. L. Morgan was taken into the firm which continued under the firm name of Berry, Stokes & Morgan until 1918 when the junior member re­ moved to Wichita Falls and Judge R. D. L. _Killough took his place and the firm of Berry, Stokes & Killough was maintained until 1927, when Judge Killough was elected prosecuting attorney and a new firm was or­ ganized by Judge Berry, W. N. Stokes, 0. T. Warlick and- Ed L. Gossett under the firm name of Berry, Stokes, Warlick & Gossett, which continued until Mr. Stokes was appointed district judge on January 1, 1930, since which time the firm has continued as Berry, Warlick & Gossett and is nO\V one of the leading law firms of this part of the state. Judge Berry is a devoted member of the Methodist Church and has for many years been an active member of the Masonic Lodge. He is a past Worshipful Master of the Blue Lodge and past Eminent Commander of the Vernon Commandery. He is one of th~ organizers of the Herring National Bank and has been a member of its board of directors since its organization and is now chairman of the board which position he has held for a number of years. He was one of the organizers of Hill Crest Coun­ .try Club and has been one of its enthusiastic supporters since its organiz­ ation. He was married to Miss Alice Johnson of Vernon and they have one son, M. K. Berry, assistant cashier of the Herring National Bank. During all of the years of his residence in Vernon, Judge Berry has been recognized as one of its leading citizens. In his law practice he took his place in the front ranks very soon after he located here and has been ·recognized at all times since as an outstanding leader of the profession.

Popular County Clerk Came From Tyler

"W. B. (Bill) Townsend,' as he is familiarly known, for calling him Mr. Townsend is almost an unheard of incident; came to our town from Tyler, Texas, about ten years ago. For about seven years he was connected witil the commercial life of Vernon, doing like a good many boys have to do in West Texas, some hard down rustling to make a living. But Mr. Townsend happily possesses the faculty of treating everyone, not only right, but courteously. In 18-96, when he ran for county and district clerk of Wil­ barger County, he was elected by a handsome majority. He was re-elected in 1898. "It would be as difficult for Bill Townsend to treat anyone discour. teously as it would be for you to keep the dust out of your eyes in one of Vernon's sandstorins."-Taken from the Vernon Guard, of November 18, 1899. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 89

Pioneer Hotel Owners Came to Vernon in 1888

Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Crawford and family can1e to Vernon from McKin­ ney, Collin County, in 1888. Mr. Crawford bought a block of land across from the Central Christian Church property on Mesquite Street. He was born in Tennessee and came to Texas in 1881, settling in .Collin County. Mrs. Crawford was also a native of Tennessee. For seven years they- lived in that county and left in April, 1888, for Vernon. Shortly after arriving in this city Mr. Crawford purchased an interest in the Central Hotel. After dispos­ Mrs. S. H. Crawford ing of this interest he bought in the Commercial Hotel that stood for many years on the site now occupied by the Underwood Funeral Home. The Commercial Hotel was sold and his next hotel was the old Vernon. Mr. Crawford bought two sections of land south of town. This was sold in 1911 when he moved to South Texas. The South Vernon oil field is located on the land he formerly owned. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford moved to Crystal City where they made their home until their deaths. Mrs. Crawford died in 1919 and Mr. Crawford passed away in 1928. There are five children: Mrs. Nell Peel of Crystal City, Mrs. J. W. Carrington of Vernon, Mrs. W. C. Walker of Frederick, Okla., Jim Craw-­ ford of New Mexico and C. Q. Crawford of Crystal City.

John B. Greene Family Locates in 1887

Among the pioneer settlers of Wilbarger County, who came and es­ tablished homes in the vicinity of what in later years became Oklaunion,. rightfully belongs mention of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Greene and family. They came to this county in 1887. For years Mr. Greene was one of the outstanding wheat growers in that section. He died in Vernon in January, ~929. His wife died i~ 1925. Their children include: Mrs. C. R. Staley,. Mrs. Bertha Blankenship, Miss Celta Greene and one son, Ernest Greene. 90 EARLY-DAY-HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Dr. B.;K. Wood Family Citizens in 1882

One among -the first newspapers ·published in ·Wilbarger County was "The Vernon Guard," established in Vernon January 19, 1883, and edited by B. Wilson Edgell. On November 18, 1899, Editor Edgell issued a spe­ cial edition which contained a numbe~ of biographical sketches, among which was one regarding the late Dr. B. K. Wood. From here we quote from the "Guard": "An edition .of this character, pretending to give a synopsis of Wil­ ~arger County's past and present, would indeed be incomplete without men. tion of Dr. B.,-K. Wood. Coming to Vernon in 1882, he has been identified

with Ithe professional and commlercial. life from the beginning. It would _not be too much to say, to him~ due, in a large measure, the prominence that Vernon has had as a trading center. . . "Dr. Wood was born in 1845 on a farm near. Bunker Hill, Ill. It is hard to realize that the dignified _physician was once a bare foot boy, stump­ ing his toes and barking his shins on ·an Illinois farm. In 1866 he received diploma from the Electric Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. ·his ' . "Up to -188.7 .Dr. Wood was enabled to divide his time between the _requirements of his profession and the demands of his commercial business. B-ui by that time the business .OI wood & Co.,. a mercantile establishment .in Vernon had grown to such proportions, Dr. Wood retired from active pra~tice. He continued in .the mercantile business until December, 1896~ when he sold to his son, John S. Wood." .. Dr~ Wqod was married in 1870. Other children of Dr. and Mrs. Wood include a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Nellie) Dunlap, and another son, Oliver Wood. The oldest son, John S. Wood, went from Vernon to Altus, Okla.,. and is today one of that city's leading citizens.

The S. H. Williams Family Came in 1891

Born in Monroe County, Kentucky, the late S. H. Williams, who diec::l at Chillicothe, December 26, 1927, came to Texas when a young man nine­ teen years of age. Mr. Williams settled in Johnson County, where he later met and was married to Miss Hattie Fain, who was born and reared in that county. In the spring of 1891, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, accompanied by Mrs. Williams' brother, the late Joel J. Fain and his wife, came to Wilbarger County and located on farms they bought north of Pease River in what was generally known at that time as the Bell community. This particula::­ neighborhood was the Williams family home for ten years, when Mr. Wil­ liams sold out and moved to Chillicothe to enter the general mercantile business. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams include three boys and two girls: B. A. Williams, W. E. (Eugene) Williams, Kirby Williams, Mrs. Quincy Wilson and Mrs. Maude Schulkey. EARLY-DAY 'HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 91

Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley

(By MRS. BERTHA ROSS) Crowded living conditions in Wilbarger County in 1880 caused the loss of a valuable citizen and family, according to John Wesley, pioneer citizen of Hardeman and Foard County. In 1880, Mr. Wesley and his friend, Ben Lower, both ex-union soldiers, traveling by compass from Sey• mour to Pease River, discovered the Worsham ranch headquarters in course of erection at Hill Crest Country Club site. "Shall we stop here?" asked Mr. Lower.·· "Nope, too crowded," said Wesley, and they pushed on. Preceding the discovery of the ranch· house passed the fringe of civilization, they had marked the exact center of Wil• barger County with a buffalo head, outlined by four empty beer bottles. They located the center of what is now Foard County, then Hardeman_; laid out streets and named the place Pease City. Here, the first post office in Hardeman County was est~blished, with Mr. Lower as postmaster an~ Mrs. Wesley as assistant. The town not reaching the status of a metropo~ lis, Mr. Lower sought fairer fields in California. · Soon after, Mr. Wesley and family established the town of Margaret, county seat of Hardeman County, and named for the eldest daughter, Mar­ garet. Mrs. Wesley was postmaster until her son, H. ·A. Wesley, reached. the age of twenty-one when he became postmaster. The title of postinas- 92 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY ter has been vested in· the Wesley family for fifty years. The county seat was moved to Quanah in 1891 and Foard County was organized. "We didn't move off and leave Hardeman, it moved off and left us,"· says· Wesley.·· When· 't;he Orient was completed through Foard County, Margaret was moved to the railroad and the Wesley's integral part of the town moved along.

Mr. Wesley served Foard County as one of the first commissioners. .1 Mr. Wesley was born in S~llivan County, New York, May 18, 1841; He fought during the Civil War as a federal soldier and at the close oI the war, beeame a member of the police force of New York City. In th~ fall of 1873, he and his wife came to Texas by boat to Galveston. They farmed near Brenham for about three years. Then moved to Weather~ ~ord where Mr. Wesley was in variousoccupations, such as bakery, school ~eacher, farming and· peace officer. ! · He has been happily married to Miss Mary Frances Dogherty for over half a century. Mrs. Wesley is now aged 77. Witll his faculties very little impaired by the flight of years, Mr. Wes­ ley entertains his audiences with a flock of anecdotes of the Civil ..:War and stirring times of the frontier. He is a writer of no mean ability_- ~nd his ·poem, "The Texas Longhorn," and others have been widely copied: ·Though not living in Wilbarger, Mr. Wesley traded here in the early days an

Groceryman From Georgia Locates in 1888

Away back in 1888 on a portion of the business lot in Vernon where the Vernon Theatre now stands, John S. Smith owned and conducted a grocery store. The style of this firm was J. S. Smith, groceries. Mr. Smith and his wife, who was Miss Hattie Tippin before her mar­ riage, were both natives of Georgia. Leaving their native state for Texas, they first settled and lived a short time in Tarrant County. They wer~ citizens of Wilbarger County until 1896 when they moved to Henderson, Ky., where both in recent years died. Children born to this union include two sons and two daughters. The boys, Shannon Smith and David Smith. The latter died in Kentucky in 1897. The daughters, Mrs. Lennie Hicks and Grace Smith, are residents of Kentucky.

Jones Vaughn had 7,000 buffalo hides burned by the Indians west of Crowell in 1877. EARLY-DAY filSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 93

Pioneer Peace Officer Came in 1888

(By-~- E. COLLINS) One of the best known pioneer settlers of Wilbarger County .is W. A. Ish. Born near Louisville, Tenn., in -1855, he .came with bis father's family to Texas .in ·1867 and settled on a farm near Waco, which at the time .was -the frontier of T_exas. He .farmed until. 1882, when .. he moved to Waco and was appointed deputy sheriff under Captain .Van Hall. Af­ .ter ·serving .:.two years as deputy sher- iff, he, with Capt. Hall took a con­ tract- with . the .State• to .deliver a11 convicts to the penitentiary. Th~ w. •A. Iah was a difficult and dangerous task at . the time, as many county seats were not on a railroad and the prisoners had to be transported in hacks and buggies to the nearest railroad, witli always the possibility of an attempted release. · In December, 1884, Mr. Ish went back to ·Tennessee and married his boyhood sweetheart, Miss Jennie Blair. To this union was born four chil­ dren, W. A. Jr., Grady, Mrs. Sallie Summerour and Clarke Ish. The two latter, deceased. In 1888 Mr. and Mrs. lsh moved to Wilbarger County and bough~ land southeast of·:Vernon. · James Rhoads and D. R. Taylor were their nearest · neighbors. In 1892 the Ish family moved to Vernon, and have lived here continuously since that time. In 1894 Mr. Ish was appointed deputy U. S. ·marshal with headquarters in El Reno, Okla. After serving in that capa­ city for a few months he resigned in order to run down a famous outlaw, who was charged with various crimes, among which was that of murder. He captured -this man near -Tulsa, Okla., returned him to Texas where he was placed in jail, and Mr. Ish was later paid one thousand dollars reward that had been offered for the man's apprehension. In 189-5 Mr. Ish was employed by the Land Mortgage Co., of Texas. He was with this company for fifteen years, until they disposed of their holdings in West Texas. He served four years as deputy sheriff under J. D. Key, and four years as sheriff of this county. Mr. Ish joined the Odd Fellows Lodge in 1886, and since that time has never been delinquent witta his due~. He represented the Vernon Lodge for fourteen consecutive year& in the Grand Lodge of Texas. He joined the Presbyterian Church in 1892, EARLY~DAY IDSTORY·OF WILBARGER COUNTY I and since that time has been a consistent member and a _.liberal supportei,. of his church. He believes that Thomas Jefferson was the greatest con­ structive statesman of all time, the civic -law-giver who. even from the grave is instructing the nations of the earth in the art of government; conse.. ·quently in all his life he has never scratched a Democratic ticket. A peace officer for twenty-five years, with a. reputa~ion for always getting his man; yet his fine sense of honor and fair dealing were traits :oi character that won the respect and esteem of even the hardened crimi- nals with whom .he came in contact. · For many years Mr. Ish has been active in all kinds of charity work, often giving more than he was financially able to give for the relief of poor and suffering people. No one can estimate the number who owe gratitude to ~im for all kinds of loving help. There are those he aided 'in . securing employment, those whom he advised and guided in difficult ·pro~lems; fallen and discouraged men and women he has tried to lead back' to_ the right way. The Ish home has always been noted for its true Western hospi~ality. Mrs. Ish, a quiet, unassuming lady, a typical daughter of th-e .old ·South; yet a genial nature of warm friendships in which even minor -iaults can find no place. No ill will has ever found lodgment in her heart. · It ._is no misuse of the term to call W. A. Ish a civic leader. His pri­ vate pursuits have always made large drafts on his time and energies, but his sense of obligation to the community has enabled him to find the time and energy to respond to every call ·in behalf of Vernon and Wilbarger County.

The Late Robert Houssels Came in 1891

The late Robert Houssels, who died at Long Beach, Calif., December 25,· 1921, came to Wilbarger County to make his home in January, 1891. He was born February 18, 1834 near Cologne, in the Province of Rhine, Prussia. He came to America in 1851. In October, 1860, he was mar­ ried to Miss Docia Young. An obituary account of his death records that in 1858, Mr. Houssels was a Master Mason in the Linden Lodge No. 210, A. F. & A. M. The Waggoner National Bank of Vernon was organized in 1899. At the organization Tom Waggoner was elected president. Mr. Waggoner served until 1906 and when he resigned Mr. Houssels succeeded him as president of the institution and served until his death. Surviving Mr. Houssels at his death was his wife and seven children. The children are John H. Houssels, Robert Houssels, Bismark Houssels, Mrs. C. A. Brown, Mrs. L. G. ;Hawkins, Mrs. J. N. Fain and Mrs. E. H. Archer.

In 1899 the population of Vernon was estimated to be 2800. EARLY~DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 95

J. H. Watts Family Moved I . to This County in 1892 .. Mr~ and.. Mrs. J. H. Watts, both who_ di~d in Vernon in recent years, came to Wilbarger County from Mt. Ayr, India~a, in 1892. Mr. Watts died in April, 1919. · His wife passed 'away July 17, 19~9. J. H. Watts was born in Fergus 'County, Canada, July 4, 1842. When _·but a young man he came to the state of. Michigan in· the United ·· States and at the outbreak of the Civil War served as a soldier in the Union Army. In 1868, four years after the close of the conflict, he was Mra. Rena Watt• married to Miss Rena Oyler, at Do­ wagiac, Mich. To this union two sons and one daughter were born. The boys are Captain Clyde Watts and Roy Watts; both reside in Wilbarger County. The daughter, Miss May Watts, died in 1895 at the age of twen­ ty-one years; After the arrival of the Watts family in this county, they located twenty miles north. of Vernon on a large tract of ranch land Mr. Watts had bought in that community. They continued to make that neighbor­ hood their home until 1900 when Mr. and Mrs. Watts moved to Vernon to spend their declining years. The ranch home and land holdings are still in possession of the two boys. Mr. and Mrs. Watts were both active members of the Methodist Church and while living at their ranch home in the Doans vicinity, were instru.. mental in the organization of the first Methodist Church, the first Metho­ dist Sunday School and the first Methodist Epworth League in that locality of the county. After moving into Vernon in 1900, Mrs. Watts assisted in the organization of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in the city. She was made president of the union a!ld was serving as an officer in that capacity when she died. She also at one time served as vice presi • dent of the W. T. C. U. of this congressional district and at another time in her life was elected and served as vice president of the state organiza­ tion of the same order.

In 1899 the "Vernon Guard" said Vernon had two cotton gins wita a capacity· of 80 bales a day. -96 ~ARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Wilbarger County's Second Treasurer Came in 1888

. (Editor's Note: Upon our request, Mr. Batchelor furnished us, in his own composition, his early day ex­ periences in Wilbarger. In his in- . '• teresting style he says): "The author of this sketch was born and reared in the state of Mis­ s1ss1ppi. Came to Centra~ Texas in 1883 and to Wilbarger County in 1888. Arriving in Vernon on the eve of the general election, found the little town all agog with much election talk. There appeared to be 'some disappointment over the elec­ · J. M. Batchelor tion of one J. J. Conn for sheriff. He was a young man and a Repub­ lican. His predecessor, J. A. Barker, was an old man and a Democrat• .He lived ten miles north of Vernon on his farm• . "The main hotel of the town was owned and operated by_ Joe Schmidt. This hotel was located about where the Underwood Funeral Home now stands. The ·City Hotel was on the lot about where the First State Bank now stands. There were no banks in the town at that time, but plenty o~ saloons. The cemetery was located about where the Frisco depot now stands. A.long about then the citizens would take much pride in telling you that the town and county was so healthy that it had been necessary to kill a man· to start a cemetery. At any rate, as I now remember, the first man to· be· buried there had been shot and killed. ."It may surprise some people in Vernon to know that they are now living over an old cattle trail over which hundreds of thousands of cattle were driven to the northern markets. It was a common sight to see herd'! of twenty-five to fifty thousand· moving north over this trail. So many a: times that· it would take them· probably a day and night to pass a given point. And should Pease River be too high to ford, as there were no ~ridges across this stream then, Pease Flats, as it was called, would be covered with cattle for°miles and miles around. · "In January, 1892, the writer was elected treasurer of Wilbarger County. I succeeded W. A. (Uncle Billy) McKinney, who had held the office since the organization of the county. After holding this office for six years, I was made county commissioner one term and later served as a member. of the. city council of Vernon one term. "The Baptist Church, of which I am a member~ at the__ time of my EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER· COUNTY· 97 arrival in Vernon had a very small membership. The church building, which was a small wooden structure, stood about where the First Christian Church now stands. W. A. Beauchamp was the pastor. In 1892 I was made treasurer and a member of the executive board of what was then called the Red Fork Baptist Association. This organization embraced the following counties: Wilbarger, Wichita, Baylor, Foard, Knox, King, Cot­ tle, Hall, Childress and Hardeman, and Greer County, Oklahoma. Greer County then was under Texas jurisdiction. "None but 'Old Timers' can realize and appreciate the wonderful changes that have come to Vernon and this section in the last 43 years. The old time blue norther, that would appear suddenly in the north and put cattle to bawling and scurrying to shelter-men to their homes, ii caught out on the prairies-seems to be a thing of the past. And the sand­ storn1s we have now are but mild zephyrs as compared to those that were so common in that day and time. "It was a paradise for jack rabbits and prairie dogs, but not for wives and mothers, _who could not obtain help for love or money. A commo4 saying in those days was 'that the country was fine on men and dogs, but h-1 on women and ho:rses.' The reverse of that saying seems to be now."

The Late T. H. Shive a Citizen in 1887

Among the pione~r implement dealers of Wilbarger County rightfully belongs mention of the late T. H. Shive, who died at Long Beach, Calif., February 18, 1925. Mr. Shive was a native Texan, born at Goliad and 68 years old at the time of his death. He came to Wilbarger County in 1887. On December 18, 1890, he was married to Miss Hattie Shive o! Vernon. To the union five children were born, all who survive their father with the exception of one daughter, Annie, who died when quite young.. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Shive are: Miss Olive Shive, Mrs. J. D. Hagler, Mrs. W. B. McCaleb and Tom, Jr. Soon •after Mr. Shive's arrival in this county he went to work for T. A. Scurlock, who at that time was engaged in the implement business in Vernon. He later went into the implement business for himself and for thirty years, the major portion of his active years was spent in this line of business. He sold his implement business in 1914 to Napier Brothers. Perhaps there was never a man in Vernon and Wilbarger County mor~ universally loved than Tom Shive. He was a loyal and liberal supporter of all movements for the betterment of his community. He devoted much of his time and money to furthering the Presbyterian Church of which he was a devout member. At various times during his life he held positions of trust in church institutions in Texas. He was equally prominent as a Mason, being a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knights Temp­ lar and a Shriner. 98 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Grayson County Man Move& Here· in 1888

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Creager mov­ ed to Vernon from Grayson County in November, 1888. Both were born and reared in that county.. Mrs. Creager's maiden name was Miss Ann Mounts. She died in 1914. Mr. Creager went through this_ country with a herd of cattle in 1885~ on his way to Mobeetie. The herd was watered on Paradise _Creek south of Vernon while the men got water and supplies at Condoi:i Sprjngs. In_ herding the cattle across Pease River the cowboys· had to get off their horses and wade out in the river and Taylor Creager drive them off sand bars. When they reached Red River the water was up and they could not make the cattle go over. A negro happened along and told them there was a bluff a few milesi below and that if they would get. the herd moving fast the cattle in the rear would push those in front off into the river. They did this and soon had the whole bunch across. . He stayed out there two years and then returned to Grayson County, but a short time later moved to Wilbarger County and settled on a farm near .Vernon. The following year he moved to town and built a house which was the family home for many years. · .Mr. Creager has three daughters, Mrs. J. Shirley Cook ·of Vernon, Mrs. G. C. Wright of Muskogee, Okla., and Mrs. 0. M. Taylor of Dallas.

Judge Cole Among Early Settlers

The late Judge Robert Cole was among the early settlers of this see­ tion. He moved to the West in 1885 and settled four miles east of Thalia in what was at that time Hardeman County. Margaret was the count9 seat. In 1891 Foard County was organized and in 1892 Judge Cole was elected county judge. He lived in that county until 1922 when he moved to Vernon to engage in the practice of law. In 1925 he was appointed district judge of the 46th Judicial District and held that office until his death in December, 1929• .Judge Cole is survived by five children: Grover Cole, L. C. Cole~ Kinlo·ck Cole, Mrs. Joe Couch and Miss Lottie Cole• . .,,_ EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 99

Roland Cobb Settled Near Harrold in 1890

Roland Cobb moved to Wilbarger County from Fannin County in 1890 and settled ten miles south of Harrold on land that is now included in the Waggoner Ranch•. He was born and reared in Fan­ nin '. County. In 1883 he was mar­ ried; to Miss Nettie Clower at La­ donia. Mrs. Cobb was also a native of fannin County. Eight children wer~ born to them. In 1905 Mrs. Cobb died; In 1909 Mr. Cobb wad married to Miss Mamie Dalby, who was born and reared in Red 'River County, Texas. Roland Cobb · Mr. Cobb disposed of his first hold­ ings in the county and bought more land. Since coming here he has always lived near Harrold. In 1914 he was ..elected county commissioner a11d served four years and retired. In 1918 he was again elected to that offica and has held it continuously since that time. · With a large part of the Wilbarger County oil field situated in his precinct, Mr. Cobb has endeavored to build up a system of roads that would take care of the travel. A gravel road was first built running north from Harrold to Elliott and during the past few years this type of road has in­ creased until he now has 25 miles of gravel road in the district. He also has 100 concrete culverts and bridges, giving the Harrold precinct one of the best systems of roads to be found in the county. In addition to his work as a commissioner, he has always taken an active part in community life of that part of the county.

A Canadian Locates in 1890

The late John Doan, who died in Vernon in March, 1922, was a native of Canada. He was born November 8, 1840. After coming to the United States to make his home he lived in Michigan and Kansas for a time. He came to Wilbarger County in i890 and Vernon thereafter was ·his home. Mr. Doan was a ~ontractor by trade. Four daughters survived him at hi.3 death. The daughters include: Mrs. T. M. Fergeson, Mrs. John Stinson, Mrs. Sam D. Stinson and Mrs. John Crumpler. -100 EARLY-DAY msTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Drieschner

Karl Drieschner, wife and son, J. Fritz Drieschner, sailed from Bre­ men, Germany, September 17, 1887, and arrived in New York City the same month. They came to Texas and settled at Corsicana in October,. 1887. Whil~ living in that city a daughter was born to Mr. and l\.Irs. Drieschner. Mr. Drieschner was born in Schmidts, Dorff, Germany, and. Mrs. Drieschner, whose maiden name was Miss Ida Stiller, was born in Obe:­ Pilau, I. Fritz was also born in that city. In the first part of 1889 the Drieschner family started to Wilbarger County to make their home and arrived on February 4. P. ·N. Mittenthal was on the same train with them coming here to make his home. After looking around a few days Mr. Drieschner bought out the Erty Beck. claira in Farmers Valley and on the way out there they got lost and had to camp out all night in a canyon. Mr. Drieschner planted an oat crop and the prairie dogs and wild cat­ tle ate it up, the crop being a complete failure. In 1890 he made another crop failure, but made enough wheat to get seed for planting in 1891. A bumper crop was harvested that year, but there was such a large produc­ tion over the country that very little money was realized out of the yield.· Mr. Drieschner had his crop threshed by an independent outfit going through the country and known in those days as a "chicken and pie eat­ ing outfit." After 1891 times got hard and for six years the farmers had a strug­ gle to exist. The Drieschner family were especially hard hit as t~ey could not speak very much English. Drouths and sandstorms kept them froiµ raising any crops, as wheat, oats and corn were about all anyone planted EARLY-DAY HIS'fORY OF WILBARGER ~OUNTY 101 in this country at that time. During these .years they cut wood and hauled it to Vernon and got a little money with which the barest provisions were bought to keep the family going. Fritz Drieschner recalls having come to Vernon in those days and the streets would be deserted. The family would have moved away as they were almost on starvation but could not, so they stayed. Cotton was tried in the county and in 1896 Mr. Drieschner planted some cotton, making two small· bales for which he received 3 1-8 cents per pound. The next year he raised three bales for which he got 4 cents per pound. In 1898 he purchased some land near his home, paying the big price of $3.50 an acre. He built a home on this place and moved into it. In 1904 they purchased 320 acres at $6.50 an acre and by 1908 the county was on a boom and, la~d in Farmers Valley was worth $35 an acre. In 1902 the .family went to Germany for a visit with relatives and in 1926 Mr. Drieschner went back by hinielf on another visit. Fritz Driesehner went into the army during the World War in August., 1918, and was honorably discharged in December of that year after the signing of the Armistice. Miss Sadie Driesehner was married to Louis Kempf and three children have been b_orn to. them. They live at Margaret. Fritz was married to Miss '.Ruby McAdam and twin girls were born· to them. They make their home with Mr. Drieschner's parents in Farmers Valley.

Fain Family Came Here from Johnson County

Mr. _and Mrs. J. J. Fain came to Wilbarger County from Johnson Coun... ty in 1890 and settled in the Pleasant Valley community, fifteen miles north of Vernon.· They lived there for seventeen years and during that time six children were born to them. Later they moved to Vernon. .. Mr. Fain was born in Georgia and came to Texas in 1859, stopping in Johnson County. Mrs~ Fain was a native Texan and before her mar­ ·:riage was Miss Florence Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Fain ·were charter members of the Jackson Springs Bap• tist Church, organized October 18, 1890. This church was later moved to t4e Bell school house and then to Odell and is now the Odell Baptist Church. After the death of Mr. Fain on May 25, 1909, Mrs. Fain has continued to make her home in Vernon. The children are Mrs.· Josie ·Plunk of Hedley, Mrs. Hattie Lou Lassi­ ter of Quanah, Mrs. J. W. Brock,_ Jr., of Vernon, J. A. Fain of Dalhart, R. Q. Fain of Vernon and Mrs. Jess Hancock of Dalhart.

The Vernon Guard of November 18, 1899, states that the first plank .• house constructed in Wilbarger county was built by one of the leading farmers, the late R. D. Rector. 102 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

.

Greevers .-Came to Vernon !i From Van Alstyne Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Greever came to Vernon from Van Alstyne, Gray­ ::~- son County, in 1884. Both were born in Johnson County, Tennessee. Mr. !ii...• . ::: Greever came to Texas in 1872 and lived in Grayson County until he 1 moved to this county. · l~±:!0! Soon after arriving here Mr. Gree­ :: ver went into the contracting busi­ ness and ei:ected a number of busi­ ness houses now standing in Vernon. Among them are the old Herring Na­ tional Bank building, the Pictorium Theatre, Bailey Hotel, the building on the corner of Main and Pease Mrs. W.W. Greever Streets formerly occupied by the Famous, Evans building, Hahn building and Ladd Motor Company's build­ ing. Mr. l}reever died a few years ago. Mrs. Greever has been one of the old timers who has seen Vernon grow from a small village to its present size. She recalled with a great deal of interest the big celebration staged in 1891 on the tenth anniver­ sary of the city of Vernon. Her son, B. B. Greever, was awarded first prize as being the best looking baby in Wilbarger County. After the death of her husband Mrs. Greever continued to live at the family residence on Mesquite Street and enjoys the visits of her large fam­ ily of children. The children are: H. K. Greever of Vernon, C. B. Gree­ ver of Frederick, Mrs. E. F. Piper of Vernon, Mrs. W. T. Clay and B. B. Greever of Wichita Falls and V. M. Greever of Fort Worth.

T. A. Scurlock A Citizen in 1888

,,. The late T. A. Scurlock, who died in Vernon in September, 1924, w~ born January 8, 1853. He was married to Miss Sallie May on Octob·er 25, 1887. They moved to this county in 1888. Soon after his arrival in Vernon he opened an implement store and for several years was associated. with the late T. H. Shive in this line of business. Mr. Scurlock was a man of a quiet, unassuming disposition, and had many friends in the county at the time of his death. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 103

W. 0. Anderson Came Here in 1889

W. 0. Anderson, for many years one of Wilbarger County's lead­ ing citizens, arrived in Vernon from Fort Worth in 1889. Born in Londonderry, Ireland, Mr. An­ derson sailed before the mast as a boy and after several years at sea came to Texas and settled in Fort Worth in 1879. While living there he married Miss Elizabeth J. Camier, who came to this state from Chicago in 1876. Mr. and l\iirs. Anderson came to Wilbarger County and he started a coal and feed business on Wilbarger Street on the site W. 0. Anderson now occupied by the J. R. Allison place. During that time Vernon was the trade headquarters, not only of this part of Texas, but all of Southern Oklahoma. Later he moved: his place of business to North l\'Iain Street on the corner of Main and Fann\n. He ran an elevator in connection with his feed business and at i one time during the wheat days stored as much as 75,000 bushels of grain. In 1906 Mr. Anderson, the late Robert Houssels and Frank Kell started the Kell Milling Company. Mr. Anderson held stock in that institution until a few years ago and for years was vice president of the company. Two ice companies had started up in Vernon but failed to succeed. The machinery was shipped out to other places. Mr. Anderson bought the building and in 1900 started another ice plant. This was located where the power plant of the West Texas Utilities Company now stands on the Fort Worth & Denver tracks. In June, 1899, the Waggoner National Bank was organized. Mr. An­ derson is the only original stockholder who is still connected with the bank and is now vice president of the bank. He still has the first dividend check issued by the bank in 1900 and has on it in red ink, "Dividend Check No. 1." An interesting episode in the business life of Mr. Anderson is the time when he bought the street railway system of Vernon at public auction. He happened in at the auction sale and bid $350 for the whole thing. The judge said he would take $450, so Mr. Anderson raised his bid to that figure. The system was knocked down to him. He started back to his place of business wondering what he was going to do with it and as he passed George Dilley's place, Mr. Dilley said, "What you got on your mind, W. 0. ?" Mr. Anderson told him he had just bought the street railway and ·104 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY ...... - ': ; .._

!lid not know what to do with it. Mr. Dilley asked for a price on the rails and was told he could have ·.:them for $700..~ .,,. Later in the· summer the ties were taken up and sold for $300; one of the street cars was traded to

John Coffee for 50 bushels of w.heat·, and the other one sold for a shoe re- pair shop. This ended the stree'~ railway venture in Vernon. Not only in the business circles of the city has Mr. Anderson been successful but in the civic development of the town. He served four years as alde~an before the Commission form of government was adopted. On this board at the time were J. H. -Pendleton, L. J. Massie, B. J. Parker and Bismark Houssels. When the . five . took over the reins of the city·: affairs the script was selling for 25c'. on the dollar. When their four yeard had ended they had raised it to par and left balances in all the funds o·f"; ~he to~. In addition to this, he s~rved several years on the school board and gave it the same consideration that he gave his own business. Three children were born to ~Mr. and Mrs. Anderson: Mrs. Daniel Bond, Mrs. Joe C. Sumner and Mrs. J. v~ Townsend (deceased) • .-

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The ice plant of W. 0. Anderson, built in 1900. Many old-timers will recall driving by and ... getting a cold drink on their way home when they ~ . lived north of Pease River. Mr. Anderson is seen in the picture on his gray horse.

On Jaunary 18, 1883, the Vernon Guard issued its first number. It was estimated then that there were 500 people in the county including the town of Vernon.-From The Vernon Guard of November 18, 1899. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY. lOi

Mr. and Mrs. J. G. .Ayers

In 1883 there came a family to this county from Arkansas whose in­ fluence for good citizenship has been felt all these years, not only in Wi~­ barger, but in Hardeman, the adjoining county. The head of -that family is Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Ayers. Upon their arrival in this section of Texas, they settled on a farm in the northwest part of Wilbarger County, not far from the Hardeman Coun• ty line. Today, a beautiful farm home stands at this same location where this pioneer man and his wife still reside. The Ayers family have been closely identified with the north side of this county. The first literary school taught in the county north of Pease River was taught in the. Ayers dug-out by Miss Gabbie Betts. The students were the Ayers children and i06 ·EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY those of some of the neighbors. A very historic tree once stood near the Ayers home. It was a very large tree and was used in. the early days for a meeting place by the religious worshippers. The seats placed under the tree were made from trees that had :floated down Red River during a head­ rise. Rev. C. T. Neese, a Methodist minister, was the first preacher to hold services there. In collecting data for this particular sketch, Mr. Ayers referred to a time when they all gathered under the tree for worship and Captain Mc­ Donald of Texas Ranger fame was present. He said they had all gathered for the meeting that Sunday morning and pretty soon Capt. McDonald and a bunch of Texas Rangers rode up. They were trailing some outlaws and had heard they were in that .part of the country. The men rode up and Capt. McDonald wanted to know what was taking place around there. Mr. -Ayers told him they were fixing to have- church and asked if they would join· them.. . The Captain. t!n"ew his bridle reins down on the ground, got a song book and led the singing.

i Mr. Ayers was a boy s.eventeen years old when the Civil War closed. He was held in the reserve. :corps, but just before the war ended was called out and· stayed in :camp .a short time. Later he was sent back home to make a crop as the:_army ofrjcials,felt _that food and supplies were very important ·at that tilne. ·· · ·

· Piper :: Family Among Early Settlers

Among the early settlers of Wilbarger County were Mr. and Mrs. L. Z. Piper. Moving from Dento.n County they arrived in Harrold in 1887. At that time Harrold was a . thriving . city and was the center of business aetivity• . .Mr. Piper was born• in Lamar County, Texas. Mrs. Piper, whose maiden name was Miss·Abbie Ratliff, was born in Montgomery, Ala., and came to Texas in i856 with her parents while a small girl. Mr. Piper died in 1919 and since that time Mrs. Piper has made her home most of the tim~ with her son, N.· M.. Piper, who lives on a farm near Harrold. E. F. Piper, another son, is one of the pioneer grocerymen of Vernon. He was associated with L. J. Massie for a number of years in the firm of Massie, Shive & Piper. After that partnership was dissolved he and R. D. Shive were in business together until 1931. Mr. Piper now owns the E. F. Piper· Grocery. Other children are L. E. Piper of Vernon, W. R. Piper of Dallas and Mrs. Gertrude Winfrey of Rawls. L. E. Piper is active vice president of the Waggoner National Bank of this city. He was with one of the Chillicothe banks for several years and came to Vernon as cashier of the Waggoner Bank. Later he resigned and went to California where he was with one of the large banking insti­ tutions. He was elected to the place of active vice president of the Wag­ goner National in 1925 and returned to this city to make his home. EARLY-DAY HISTORY ·oF WILBARGER COUNTY 107

Walter Ayers... _::.; a Texan Since Elev~~ ·Years of-Age-

G. W. (Walter) _:Ayers is the eld~ est son of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Ayers, who settled in W~lparger County in 1883. At .that time he was eleven years old and drove. the stock along with the · ·~agons · that move4 ·the Ayers family from Arkansas to Texas. -,. ·· Mr. Ayers "is now a man ,.~fa fam­ ily and lives at Canadian, Texas~· He is a prominent real estat_e dealer in that country and frequently visits his parents and old friends in Harde­ man and Wilbarger County. G. W. Ayers

Successful Farmer a Native of West Virginia

Back in 1891 W. B. Covert came from Pilot Point, Texas, to Wilbar­ ger County to make his home. He was a single man at that time. But after one year's residence in this country in his state of bachelorhood, Mr. Covert no doubt concluded that two in this county could live as cheap as one, because he went back to Pilot Point and on January 3, 1892, he was married to Miss Belle· Betts. Returning with his bride, they located· on 'a farm north of Pease River in the neighborhood that is generally called the White City community. There, Mr. Covert followed farming and stock raising for a number of years. By hard work and good management he, with his family, acquired some valuable land in that section of the county. He retired from active farm duties in 1928 when he moved his family to . Vernon to spend his declining years. Mr. Covert was born in Glennville, W. Va. He came with his parents to Texas in 1875 and located at Pilot Point. Mrs. Covert was born' at St. Marys, W. Va.,- and likewise moved with her parents to Pilot Point in 1889. To Mr. and Mxs. Covert two girls were born. Miss Marianna Covert and Mrs. Roy (Emma Lou) Hughes. 108 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

J. W. Klepper Freighted From Harrold in 1885

Along with . other old settlers of this country who settled in this sec­ tion of Texas, when coyotes and cot­ ton-tail rabbits were plentiful, is John W. Klepper of Foard County. Mr. Klepper came to this country from Plano, Collin County, in 1885, and settled near Crowell. At that time the Fort Worth & Denver ·Rail­ road had reached Harrold and lVIr. Kl~pper. did all his trading at Har­ rold. After the Denver Road built into Vernon he began trading here and is well known among a number J. W. Klepper of the first settlers. l\tir. Klepper tells a very interest­ ing story of freighting from Harrold to his home during the early days. It was in winter and the weather was extremely cold. He started on the return trip from Harrold and when several miles out one of the wagon wheels brokci down. . He sent the wheel back by a friend to be repaired and got it back next day. He resumed his journey and when within a few miles of home the wagon broke down again. This time he was delayed several days. During this time he had his bedding and slept on the wagon while waiting for the repair work to be done. J. W. Klepper was born on January 25, 1859, near Plano. On June 3, 18~4, he married Miss Lucinda J. Patterson and to this uni9n was born five children, four of whom are living. They are: T. B. Klepper, Mrs. Allen Fish, John H. Klepper and Mrs. E. S. Darby. A daughter, Ora, died at the age of four. Mr. Klepper is now serving as justice of the peace for the Crowell pre­ cinct. He has spent most of his life farming in Foard County. His wiie djed in Crowell on January 16, 1918.

Frank Gelhausen Native of Germany

Fran~ Gelhausen was born in Carden, Germany, ,and came to the Uni• ted _States and first stopped off in Dallas where he remained a short time before coming to Vernon in 1887. Mrs. Gelhausen, whose maiden name EARLY-DAY HISTORY ·oF WILBARGER COUNTY 10~ was Miss Johannah Claer, was born in ~o_enigsberg, Ger~any, ~nd came to Texas in 1884, settling at Sherman. ;She came to this county in 1896. Mr. Gelhausen died March 19, 19~3. .- Mr. Gelhausen was a familiar figure in Vernon from the early days until the time of ··his death. · Shortly after arriving here he opened a con­ fectionery and added to this a .bakery •and during the season handled fish and oysters. Throughout his long lifE:-time in Wilbarger County he was in some line of business and for a number of years before his death ran an ice cream factory that served Vernon, Wilbarger and adjoining counties. He was a member of the .Odd. Fellows Lodge and was active in lodge work at all times, seldom missing a meeting. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gelhausen are: Mrs. G-ertrude Hingst, Miss Agnes (died June 19, 1921), Miss Gussie, Hugo, Mrs. Frieda Mc­ Ilhenny, Willie, Irma, John and Herbert. All live in Vernon except Willi~, whose home is in Helena~ Mont., and Mrs. Mellhenny, who resides in Wich­ ita Falls.

Pioneer Contractor Came in 1891

The late S. C. Westbrook, one of Vernon's early-day contractors, moved to Vernon with his wife and family in 1891. Mr. Westbrook wa3 born at Atlanta, Ga., September 29, 1856. He came to Texas in 1879, locating near Mt. Pleasant. His wife's name before her marriage was . Miss Dora Fleming Black. Mr. Westbrook died in Vernon in June, 1924. Surviving him at the time of his death were his wife and six children. The children include: Mrs. W. E. Johnson, Mrs. E. W. McGee, Mrs. D. B. May, Miss Ina Westbrook, Mrs. Jed Morrow and Rufus Westbrook.

Former County Commissioner Came in 1888

J. S. Archer., well known farmer of near Tolbert, and at one tim~ county commissioner of Precinct 3 in Wilbarger, was born in Scott County, Mississippi. He came to Texas in 1870 and located in Freestone County. In 1886 he was married to Miss Anna Lundy who is a native of Georgia. In 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Archer moved to Wilbarger County. In the latte:9 part of that year they moved and lived for a short time across Red River in what was known then as Greer County, Oklahoma. Returning to this county in 1889, Mr. Archer went to work for the late Dr. St. John as a cow hand on a ranch that he owned west of Doans. In 1906 Mr. Arche.t" was elected county commissioner of Precinct 3 in this county. He served the people in that office for sixteen years. At present Mr. and Mrs. Archer are living at .a nice farm home north of Tolbert. Children born to the union include: E. H. Archer, Mrs. W. C. (Cassie) Lawson, and Mrs. C. A. (Eunice) Brock. 110 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Banker, Stockman, Farmer and Business Man Locates in 1882

Away back in 1882, when Wilbar­ ger County was just one year old as a commonwealth, J. P. King, prom­ inent banker, stockman, farmer and business man, moved up to this lo­ cality of Texas from Clay_ County with the late D. A. Turner. Mr. King stopped in the eastern portion of this county where he remained for two years. In 1884 he moved north of Pease 'River and established a ranch home in the neighborhood of what is generally called now Red Bluff. In that locality of the county J.P. King he farmed for a period of two years while a Mexican he had employed looked after his sheep. He recalls hav­ ing at one iime as many as 4,000 head of sheep on his ranch and that he shipped two car loads of wool to Philadelphia along about then. The Com­ missioners Court recognized his ability as a sheep man and he served as an inspector from 1886 until 1888. He disposed of his sheep business in 1888. After disposing of his sheep business, Mr. King acquired some valuable land holdings south of Pease River in the neighborhood of Oklaunion. To­ day he owns four raections of land in that same community. From 1883 until 1903, before Mr. King retired from active farm duties and moved t•) Vernon, he was recognized as one of the county's big wheat growers, as well as other crops adapted to this country. In later years he has cut his land acreage into smaller tracts and it is being looked after by tenant farmers. As good evidence that Mr. King's business judgment is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, is the fact that he has been called on so many times to head both private and public offices. He served this county as one of its commissioners from 1888 until 1892. And shortly after moving -to Vernon he was elected as one of the city commissioners and acted from 1916 until 1920. He gave his time as a member of the Vernon school board from 1922 until 1926 and for two years of that time was president of the board. He was interested in a number of the county's early-day banks and at this time is president of the First State Bank of Vernon. He also owns stock in the "Vernon Daily Record" and is serving that organ- EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 111 ization as its president. John P. King was born in Mason County, West Virginia, and caine to Texas in 1880 and settled in Clay County. He was ~ young bachelor when he arrived in Wilbarger County, but in 1885 he went back to his old home state and was married to Miss Jesse Fadlie. Mrs. King was_ born-·. in th~ same county and state as that of her husband. In politics, Mr. King is a _Jeffersonian Democrat. He. is a close -ob­ server of market quotations and his judgment is often sought on economic questions. He is an ardent fisherman and when away from business duties, enjoys nothing better than to tease the "finny tribe" with a fishing pole. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. King include three boys and two girls: Carl, Ralph and Earl King, Mrs. Horace Pitts and Miss Minnie King.

The Late CA. (Charlie) Allingham Arrived in 1886

The late C. A. Allingham, who died in Vernon l\tiay 3, 1925, came to Wilba~ger County in 1886. Mr. Allingham was a native of Illinois and during the Civil War was a soldier in the Federal army. At the close of the war he w~nt to Oregon. He remained in that ,Eitate for a few years and came to Texas in 1873. He accumulated considerable wealth during his life time in Wilbarger County. At the time of his death he was the owner of large tracts of land and oil stocks. He never married and made his home in Vernon for a number of years with a single sister, Miss Sallie Allingham. Allingham Park in Vernon was named for him.

Wilbarger Lost a Valuable Citizen in 1925

When but -a small lad, the late A. M. Hiatt, who died in September, 1925, left his native state, Kentucky, and came to Texas to make her a citizen. In 1888 he cast his lot in Vernon and from then on until his death he was always loyal to Wilbarger County. Shortly after his arrival in this community, he was appointed county and district clerk. In 1892 he was elected city secretary of Vernon and served the people in that capacity for four years. Following the expiration of his term as city secretary, Mr. Hiatt formed a partnership with E. L. McHugh and tha two conducted an abstract business for several years. At the time of his death he was one of the stockholders in the Wilbarger County Abstract . Company. He also owned considerable land holdings in the county. In 1893 Mr. Hiatt was married to Miss Maggie Hazelwood. To this union seven children were born, six of whom, with their mother, survived him at the time of his death. The children are: A. M. Hiatt, Jr., Mrs. Howard (Hazel). Lisman, Mrs. Clyde (Elizabeth) Smith, Mrs. Eugene (Helen) Berry, and Misses Birdie and Margaret Sue Hiatt. .112 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Pioneer Paint Contractor Arrived in February, 1889

Born in Middleton, Tenn., in 1856,. the late J. R. Allison came to Texas in 1882 and located near Terrell. In 1884 he was married to Miss Flor­ ence Heninger. In lt"'ebruary, 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Allison moved to Ver­ non. He died in Vernon in Decem­ ber, 1925. Outside of two or three years when he conducted a racket store in Vernon, Mr. Allison followed the paint contracting business. Many of the early-day homes in Vernon and this county received their finishing Mrs. J. R. Allison work by him and men under his supervision. He was a man of a quiet and pleasing disposition and thereby left many friends in this community when he passed away. He was survived at the time of his death by his wife and three daughters. · Mrs. Allison, with the youngest daughter, Miss Merle Allison, still reside in Vernon. The other two daughters, Mrs. R. R. (Lois) Smith and Mrs. E •.J. (Flor-­ ence) Edwards, live in different states.

T. N. {Uncle Tommy) Baker a Citizen in 1888

T. N. Baker, better known to the first settlers of this county as "Uncle . Tommy," arrived in this community in 1888. Mr. Baker was born in · Illinois and at the age of seven years was left an orphan boy. He came to Texas in 1870. His first marriage was to Miss Angeline Nancy Henry. She died at Lamesa, Texas, in 1919. His second marriage was to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Cato. She died in September, 1925. Mr. Baker sur­ vived his last wife one month, passing away in October, 1925. He and his first wife were the parents of five children, two of whom survived him at his death. Harve Baker, whose home then was in Portales, N. M., and Mrs. Fannie Duff of Lamesa, rexas. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 113

"Squire Griffiths" Performed 626 Marriages While a Justice of Peace

The early day settlers of Wilbar­ ger County, recaII the late T. J. G1·if­ fitbs, as baggage and transfer man in Vernon for a number of years. Those who settled in this country in later years remember him as being J ustic~ of the Peace in this county for a period of twenty-five years. T. J. Griffiths was born near the town of Hay, Radinor Shire, Wales, in 1842. When a young man at the age of 27 years, he came to America in 1869. In 1874, he came to Texas and settled in McLennan County. T. J. Griffiths From that date until 1881, Mr. Grif­ fiths made his home in the counties of Palo Pinto and Throckmorton. In the year of 1887 he was employed by the Fort Worth & Denver Railway and was stationed at Quanah and Clarendon. He came to Vernon in 1888 and remained here until he died October 4, 1925. Mr. Griffiths was married to Miss Sarah E. Perry of McLennan Coun­ ty, Texas, July 25, 1875. She died in Vernon January 18, 1926. Two children survive them. They are: T. P. (Perry) Griffiths, Vernon, and Mrs. D. T. Stone of Clayton, N. M. T. J. Griffiths was elected Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1, in Wil­ barger County, November, 1900. He was serving his tenth term in that office when he died. During his tenure of office, he established a reeor1 for marrying couples few men can equal in the same period of time. Young couples from all over Northwest Texas, New Mexico. and Oklahoma, going into the holy bonds of wedlock, came to Vernon for "Squire Griffiths" to tie the knot. He married 626 couples while in office. His face was a familiar one around the county court house and he died "in the harness'" as he desired.

Wilbarger County's first brick court house was built at a cost of $40,- 000 in 1886. The Commissioners Court letting the contract was composed of J. P. Orr, judge; D. A. Turner, J. W. Drury, J. A. Creager and J. T. Estes, commissioners. 114 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

·Vernon's First Tinner Came · in 1885

Landing in Texas from Tennessee. c;Iuring those ~ays ~hen the best man was the first man to draw his gun from ·his hip pocket, J. L. (Cully)' . Swartwood relates many interesting incidents that have t~ken place in his life since 1875, that being the yea·r he landed in · Marshall, Texas. He . ' was the only support .__of his ·widowed mother and. three sfaters, and for several years he took care of the1n by working at the tinner's trade at Marshall. "From time to time," Mr. Swartwood said, "I would have a J. L (Cally) Swartwood hunch that there was something bet- ter for me somewhere else in Texas,. in the way of wages than I could find in Marshall and finally one day l give up my job." He left Marshall with the intention of going to Houston. but a railrold conductor on the Fort Worth & Denver who was an acquain­ tance of his, persuaded him to come to Wichita Falls, which was the term­ inus of the Denver at that time. Wichita Falls at that time, Mr. Swartwood said, was just a tented city, made up of saloons and rooming houses, and a "tough place it was," is the way he expressed it to the writer. He went to work at the tinner1 s trade at Wichita Falls and later bought out his boss' interest and moved the business to Harrold, following up the Denver road as. it built westward. While at Wichita Falls he said he gained the distinction of having made the first galvanized tub ever seen. He made them for ranchmen who were having trouble with their wooden tubs falling to pieces during dry weather. From Harrold Mr. Swartwood came on to Vernon in 1885 and started a tinner's business. He followed this line of business for several years and later a line of hardware was added. His hardware trade continued to grow under the name of Swartwood & Company, and when sold to the North Texas Hardware Company a few years ago was one of the largest establishments of its kind in this section of the state. Mr. Swartwood, now retired from active business duties, spends the summers with his wife in Colorado. In December, 1889, Mr. Swartwood was married to Miss Hattie Far­ rell. Their wedding was the first one that took place in the Methodist Church in Vernon. To Mr. and Mrs. Swartwood three children were born. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 115

The children being Bailey, Clint and Miss Esther. The two latter are, living in Vernon and the oldest child, Bailey, died in 1926.

Farrell Family Settled in Vernon in 1687

; James F. Farrell and family moved to Vernon from Mineola in Woo~ County in February, 1887. Mr. Farrell was born in New York state and: came to Texas in 1871, stopping in Wood County. Mrs. Farrell, whos~ maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Porter, was born in Berkshire, Vermont~ Mr. Farrell died April 11, 1897, and Mrs. Farrell passed away April 17~ 1916. Their two sons, C. J. and H. B. Farrell were reared in this county~ H.B. Farrell was with the state banking department for a number of years as examiner and at the time of his death on March '1, 1929, he was in the wholesale oil and gas business in Vernon. C. J. Farrell has been postmaster in the city for a number of years. He first served sixteen and a half years and when Woodrow Wilson wen~ in as president, Judge J. V. Townsend was appointed postmaster in bis place. With the return of the Republican party to power Mr. Farrell again went in and has held it since then. When he first assumed the office the postmaster was allowed one clerk and the pay for that person was $16.33 per month. The office was placed in the first class in 1929, ~nd in 1931 there are twenty employed in the local office.

W. E. Johnston Family Came in 1886

W. E. (William Edwin) Johnston (deceased), a native of Lowden, Tenn., moved his family to Texas in 1883 and located at Hillsboro. :Mr:1. Johnston, who, before her marriage, was Miss Laura Jane Hackett, was born near Atlanta, Ga., but reared near Ringgold, Ga. In June, 1886, the Johnston family came from Hillsboro, Texas, to Wilbarger County to make their home. Early-day settlers of this county will recall Mr. Johnston as having conducted a hardware and implement business in Vernon for a num­ ber of years. His business was conducted in a two-story brick building he built at the corner of Wilbarger and Main Streets. The building was erected in 1889. The Johnston family moved from Vernon to Georgia in 1899. After a few years stay in that state they moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., where Mr. Johnston in 1905 died as result of an accident. Children living of this union include: Mrs. John M. Rhoads, Okla­ homa City, Okla.; J. Roy Johnston, Washington, D. C.; Albert C. Johnston Waco, -Texas; Mrs. Ollie T. Youngblood, Vernon, and Sam M. Johnston of South Texas. 116 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Typical Westerner an Early Day Cowboy

William A. Wheeler w~s born De­ cember 4, 1842, in Jackson County, Alabama. When he was two years old his parents moved to Missouri. When William reached the age of fifteen years his father died and he was left to shift for himself. Short­ ly after the death of his father, he and his mother came to Texas and located in Parker County. In 185~ lVfr. Wheeler became a Texas 'Ranger. In 1862 he joined the Confederate Army in General Walker's Division. He was in the smoke of the hottest engagements fought on this side of William A. \Vheeler the Mississippi River. In 1865, just before the close of the Civil War, Mr. Wheeler was mar­ ried to Miss Eiliza Amos. To this union ten children were born. Two of the daughters, Mrs. Prudence Rowland and Mrs. Jim Polk, lived in Wil­ barger at one time. Soon after the Civil War Mr. Wheeler became one of the typical cow­ boys of the West. Along about then he worked for W. B. Worsham, who was one of the big cow men of Texas. In 1876, while employed by Mr. Worsham, he was sent to the Worsham ranch which at that time was near where the town of Chillicothe is located. At that time there was not a house, dug-out or any other sign of civilization between the Worsham ranch and Henrietta. A few years later, Vernon started up and Mr. Wheeler moved to Vernon. For several years before a railroad was built into Altus, Okla., Mr. Wheeler carried the mail between Vernon and Altus. Later, before the Orient railroad built into Crowell he was route man from Vernon to Cro­ well. After the railroad reached Crowell, he moved to that city and was in the transfer business there for several years. He is now making his home with a son, W. B. Wheeler, at Austin, Texas.

First Postmaster at Fargo Came in 1883

When people living in this county now, especially those who have made the county their home for several years, think of the Fargo community, they think of James Stafford and his family. The Stafford family came EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 117 to Wilbarger County in December, 1883, and from then on for· several years the Stafford's were closely identified with the Fargo neighborhood. Mr. Stafford died in February, 1931. His wife, Mrs. Kate Stafford, died in 1926. James Stafford was born in West Virginia. He came to Texas in November, 1~77, and_ located in Grayson County. After moving his fam­ ily to Wilbarger County, he bought land in the Fargo community, estab­ lished a -home and kept pace with his neighbors in improving a thinly settled section to one of comfortable homes. When the Fargo post office was established, Mr. Stafford was made postmaster and had charge of the mail there for several years. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Stafford include: Frank, George, Oscar and Theodore Stafford, the four boys. The girls are: Mrs. Sallie Harrington, Mrs. Annie Hood, Mrs. Jennie Coffee and l\,Irs. Essie Edwards

W. W. Hood Family Citizens in 1886

An interesting bit of history is woven around the life and character of Mrs. Nancy Jane. Jones Hood, who died at Claude, Texas, March 15, 1929, at the ripe old age of 97 years and 24 days. Both she and her hus­ band were natives of Tennessee. They came to Texas in December, 1870, and located in Johnson County. In 1886 they moved to Wilbarger County, and were citizens of the Fargo neighborhood for several years. Short sketches taken from a long obituary account of Grandma Hood's life has the following to say about her: "Few are the women in this world who have enjoyed such a long and useful life as Grandma Hood. Few are the mothers in this world that have lived 97 years and 24 days. And dur­ ing those years have reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are still living. Besides her seven living children, she is survived by forty-one grandchildren, 92 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. "Early in her young womanhood she moved with her parents to Carth­ age, Jasper County, Mo., where in 1853 she met and married Norris Frank­ liD: Hood. · The first years of their married life were busy and happy years. Then war clouds began to gather around their home, which was located almost on the line of national dissention. During the early years or their home life five children were born. They are Laura Hood Thornton, who died at Lockney, Texas; C. A. Hood, who died in his youth; Mrs. A. A. Hudman, Alamagorda, N. M., Mrs. E. L. Richardson, Fargo, and N. F. Hood, Claude, Texas. · "One of the dying wishes of her soldier husband was that his brother, W. W. Hood, take care of his wife and three children. True to that wish, after the war was over, Mrs. Norris Frankiin Hood and Mr. W. W. Hood were married in 1866. In ~his second family were born four sons: J. A., W. W., H. A. and F. A. Hood. All are residents of Claude, except H. A. Hood who lives in Vernon." ll8 EARLY-DAY msTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

·Brought Crab Grass Seed to County in 1886

In giving the history of the early settlers of Wilbarger County who 'were instrumental in. beating out the first paths in this western country, the late John Showers will be re­ called by ·a number of the "old tim­ ers" who are· living in this county lfd today. Mr. and Mrs. Showers came to this !. county from Kaufman County in 1886 and located southwest of Ver­ non. He bought up two or more sections of land in that vicinity and ~ engaged in stock raising and wheat John Showen growing. It has been said of him that he was a great lover of fine stock, especially taking pride in fine horses and mules. Another thing that is often told on this early-day citizen is that he was the first man to intro­ duce crab giass in Wilbarger County. It has been said the crab grass seed was brought to this country when Mr. Showers shipped his implements here from Kaufman County. While both these pioneer people are dead, Mr. Showers having die~ in 1915 and his wife in 1925, they left behind them boys who are p1·oud of the name and re~ord their parents made for them. These boys are: I. G. Showers, who lives south of Harrold, W. J. Showers, nortµ of that city, and A. N. Showers, who lives at Bowie and is the father of J. L. and Ches­ ter Showers of Vernon.

S. W. Mabry Family Citizens in 1887

In 1887 S. W. Mabry and his family moved from Waco, Texas, to Vernon to make their home. For over twenty years Mr. Mabry was en­ gaged in the harness and saddle business in Vernon. The Mabry family returned to Waco in later years where both Mr. and Mrs. Mabry died. Chil­ dren born to this union include: Frank Mabry, Mrs. T. P. (Willie) Lisman, Seth Mabry, Charlie Mabry, Manly Mabry, Mrs. Clark (Mary) McKinney, and Mrs. Lottie Johnson. EARLY-DAY filSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 119

Odell's First Justice of the· Peace Came in 1889

The late P. L. Hart, who died at his home in Odell in October, 1926, came to Wilbarger County in 1889. In 1890 Mr. Hart was married to Miss Etta Holloway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Holloway, who, in 1888, established a home one mile east of where the town of Odell is now located. Mrs. Hart was born in Limestone County, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Hart bought a farm near the Holloway estate and in after years proved themselves to be an in­ fluential couple in building up that section of Wilbarger County. To }Ir. Mrs. P. L. Hart and Mrs. Hart five children were born, one son and four daughters. All, with their mother, survived Mr. Hart at his death. The children are: W. L. (Willie) Hart, Mrs. Nick (Cora) McDaniel, Mrs. Sam (Mary) Williams, Mrs. l\fike (Ada Belle) Gearhart, and Miss Etta Fay Hart. P. L. Hart died with the distinction o_f being Odell's first Justice of the Peace. He was serving in that office when he died. His fair dealing with his fellow man made him many friends. It was often said of him if he had an enemy no one knew it.

Real Estate and Loan Dealer Came in 1886

Along about the middle of April in 1886, through the influence of . ' the late Wm. Cameron of the Cameron Lumber Company, one of Wilbar- ger County's valuable citizens was induced to cast his lot in Vernon. That citizen was T. P. Lisman, Sr., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Lisman said at that time he was employed by a mortgage company and was sent out by them to different sections of Texas. He happened to be at Harrold, which was then the terminus of the Fort Worth & Denver Railway. There, he met up with Mr. Cameron. As both he and Mr. Cameron had busines·s matters to attend to at Vernon, they made the trip together from- Harrold. And it was on this trip that Mr. Cameron told him about the wonderful possibilities of Vernon and Wilbarger County. After a permanent location in Vernon, Mr. Lisman entered into the 120 EARLY-=DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

·real estate ·and loan business. •He has continued in that business since that time. , In addition to bis real estate and loan business, during the early days in this county, Mr•. Lisman was engaged to a large extent in buyil!~ and selling cattle. Probably no other man in Wilbarger County is more familiar with the county's real estate values, or knows its section lines bet­ ·ter than T. P. Lisman. But with all his business dealings, he has always found time to perform the acti~e duties of a good citizen. He has the dis­ tinction of serving for twenty-one years on the school board of Vernon. -He was one of the members of· the school board when the Central School -building was built in 1890. This was Vernon's first brick school building. Mr. Lisman is a native of Kentucky. His wife, who, before her· ·mar­ riage, was Miss Willie Mabry, i!ied in Vernon in October, 1928. To·-this :union four boys_ were born: T. P. Lisman, Jr., Bert Lisman, Edwin Lis._ man and Ho'\Yard_ I:,isman, deceased.

Bradfords Came to County in 1886

Mr. and Mrs. James T. Bradford came to Wilbarg~r County in 1886 and settled nine miles east of Vernon where they farmed. Both were born in the eastern part of Tennessee. Mrs. B-radford was Miss Mary Jane Mc­ Clary before her marriage. Mr. Bradford died in 1896 and Mrs. Bradford passed away \n 1917. · Surviving are six children: Mrs. W. M. Long of Papalote, Bee Coun­ cy; Mrs. W. H. Hancock and Mrs. John Nabers, both of Vernon; Henry Bradford of Canyon, Bill Bradford of Vernon and Roscoe Bradford of Dar­ _?owsett, Lipscomb County.

John Hull Family Located in 1889

In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. John Hull, with their children, which included eight girls, moved up to Wilbarger County from.. Pottsboro, Grayson Coun­ ty, Texas. The Hull family bought land and located a few miles north­ west of Doans. As the community was thinly settled at that time, they took an active part in building up that section of the county for several years. After the dau~hters of this family had all married off and. left home, the mother and father established a home in Vernon where .. in recent years both passed away. Their -daughters include: Mary Hull, Mrs. George (Sophia) Tibbits, Mrs. W. M. (Minnie) Stalcup, Mrs. Ed (Lizzie) Austin, Mrs. Charlie (Belle) Holloway, Mrs. Garrett (Mable) Taylor, deceased; Mrs. Wesley (Johnnie) Sears, deceased, and Mrs. Harve (Connie) Johnson. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 12i.

Nowlins -Among Early Settlers In This Section

D. C. Nowlin was among the early settlers of this part of the country. He was born near Georgetown in Williamson County. He came to Wilbarger County in 1885 and work­ ed on cattle ranches. Mrs. Nowlin, whose maiden name was Miss Ella Wheatley, was born in Washington County, Kentucky. She came to Texas. in 1886 and settled 1n Rockwall County. In 1899 she came to this section of the state. She and Mr. Nowlin lived southwest of Ver­ non in what was at that time a part of Hardeman County and now Foard Mrs. Ella Nowlin County. In 1889 a Baptist Church was organize'd at the Nowlin school house with seven charter members. This church is now known as· the '11halia Baptist Church. The present Thalia cemetery was also started ·on the Nowlin farm but in later years was moved to Thalia. . Two bodies were never moved and the graves still remain on the farm. In 1899 the Nowlins moved over into Wilbarger County, moving from the old Three S Ranch to a place fifteen miles west of Vernon. In 1903 the family came to Vernon to make their home. . · Mr. Nowlin died a number of years ago and is survived by :Mrs. Nowlim and three children: F. E. Nowlin of Oklaunion, l\irs. Beulah Nowlin White and Mrs. Jewell Nowlin Lockett, both of Vernon.

From Grayson County to Wilbarger in 1891

In 1891 Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Stalcup moved to this county from Gray­ son County, Texas, and located in the Doans vicinity. The,y were citizens in the northern section of the county until they moved to San Patrico County several years ago, where they still reside. At the last location Mr. Stalcup served San Patrico County six years as c.ounty treasurer and six _years as tax collector. Children of this union include: Mrs. Baber (Stella) Hockersmith, Raymond Stalcup, Mrs. Roy (Irene) Stegall, Mrs. John (Willie Mae) Cal­ lahan, Clyde Stalcup and Louis Stalcu~. 122 EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARG~R COUNTY

. .

Wm. Crutchfield Came to Vernon in 1889

William Crutchfield, veteran busi­ ness man of Vernon, came to this county from Gainesville in 1889 to make his home. He was b'>rn in Wayne County, Kentucky, and came to Texas in 1869, settling in Collin County. Mrs. Crutchfield, who be­ fore her marriage, was Miss Lenie N. Eller, was born in Adair County, Kentucky. She came to Texas in 1869, stopping in Denton County. On leaving Bonham Mr.. Crutch­ field started west. .He stopped in Gainesville where he worked for a time before coming to Vernon. He Wm. Crutchfield was first with a firm here handling groceries, grain and hides.. Shortly after settling in the city Mr. Crutch­ field disposed of the grocery business and started buying and selling wool, hides and wheat. When cotton was introduced in the county he was the first to buy and sell this commodity. In later years he went in the produce business, buying chickens, eggs and turkeys. When cotton was first marketed in the county Mr. Crutchfield was out one day and an employe bought some c.otton from a farmer. A few days later the man was back again with cotton and Mr. Crutchfield wanted to bid on it. The farmer told him to go to -- as he was going to sell it to Crutchfield, for he was the only one who would buy his stuff before. The cotton raiser was much surprised when he went to get his money and was paid off by Mr. Crutchfield. Another time a man from Knox County brought in some cotton and made several trips to Mr. Crutchfi.eld's office, asking ,if he could raise his bid a little on the lot. Mr. Crutchfield raised the price from 5 to 5 ½ c.ents a pound and finally wanted to know who was bidding against. him. The Knox County man told him nobody-he was just asking him if he could pay more. He bought the cotton. Mr. Crutchfield h~s been very active . in the work of the Methodist Church since coming to Vernon. He is also a great lover of music and seldom misses a meeting of the Wilbarger County Singing Convention. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crutchfield. They are Mrs. H.. K. Greever of Vernon and Mrs. Myrtle Fisher (deceased). EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 12J.

Sewell Family Came to Vernon in 1890 ·

: S. Sew~ll and family came to Vernon in 1890 and started in the feed;: grain and fuel business. Mr. Sewell ·was ·born in Williamson County. He; was married to Miss Mary E. McCown, who· was born and reared in Lavaca; County. _ Mr. _Sewell and his two sons,· I. S. and M. R. Sewell, engaged in busi•' ness here until 1924 when they sold ou;t. In later years they added a flour; mill to their equipment and manufactured flour that was sold all over this· part of the ·country. After selling out the feed and fuel business, the: boys opened up the Sewell's Corn~r Drug Store in September, 1925. · Mr.. Sewell was one of the charter members of the Cumberland Pres-1 byterian church· in· Vernon and was actively identified with the work of'. the church. until his- death in 1925. I. s~ Sewell served as mayor of Vernon from 1912 to 1916. He was the second mayor under the commission form of government, succeeding, J u4ge L. P. Bonner in that office. · ··In· addition to the· two children there are three grandchildren, Hubert Sewell, Mrs. Ruth Bourland and Miss Virginia Sewell.

Judge J·. A. Nabers a Citizen in 1884

In 1884 there came a young man from Wichita Falls to Vernon to make his home, who, in later years, proved to be one of Wilbarger County's :most valuable citizens. That man was the late Judge J. A. Nabers. Judge Nabers was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1858. He died in Vernon in May, 1926. When but a small lad he moved with his parents to Mississippi where i~ later years he graduated with honors from the University of Mis­ sissippi. His first location in the state of Texas was at Buffalo Gap. There he was elected county attorney. Later he came on up to Wichita Falls ~nd stayed there awhile, before coming to Vernon in 1884. The first po­ litical· office he held in this county was that of county surveyor. In after years he was elected county judge of Wilbarger and held that office for twelve ye_ars. Later he was elected district judge of the 46th Judicial District of Texas and held that office for ten years. Judge Nabers came from a family of illustrious Southern people. His father distinguished himself during the Civil War and also served in the U. S. Army during the war with Mexico. His mother was a double eousin to the late Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy. And an uncle of his was once governor of the state of Mississippi. In 1889 Mr. Nabers was married to Miss Tip Bradford. To the union eight children were born. Four of whom, with their mother, survived him at his death. They are: John B. Nabers, Robert Nabers, Miss Maybelle Nabers and Mrs. W. M. (Ida) Summers. 124 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

A Tennessian Stays and Makes Good

The state of Tennessee furnished Texas and Wilbarger County with a number of its early day citizens. Among those who came from that state to this county in its pioneer days, stayed and made good is W. F. McKee. Mr. McKee was born at Lebanon> Tenn., and came to Texas and Wil­ barger County in 1889. A brother of his, T H. McKee, who died at Chil­ licothe, Texas, in March, 1928, came to this country in 1888. It was he that induced W. F. to come on out W. F. McKee to this western country. W. F. McKee, soon after his arrival in Vernon went to work for the Kell Mill & Elevator Co. He made. a hand as a manufacturer of flour for eight years. ~In the meantime Mr. McKee was far-sighted enough to see the possibilities of the Lockett community as a farming section ~nd bought a fine body of land in that neighborhood. A brother, R. E. McKee lives at Los Angeles, Calif., and a sister, Mrs. W. R. Patterson, at Amarillo.

· Baskerville Family Were.Natives of Tennessee

On January 10, 1888, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Baskerville, with their chil­ dren, landed in Wilbarger County from Tennessee. Both the father and mother of this family were also natives of that state. Mr. Baskerville was born March 30, 1844 in Middle, Tenn. His wife was born December 4, 1844, in Sumner County, Tennessee. Mr. Baskerville died January 20, 1924. His companion passed away September 3, 1922. Soon after the arrival of this family in this county they took up farm­ ing, locating six mile% northeast of Vernon. The year following they moved to Vernon, where Mr. Baskerville, for a number of years was one of the county's "village blacksmiths." Many pioneers recall him with his cheerful disposition as he wielded the hammer over some farmer's plow­ share, or drove a nail that clinched a horse-shoe on some Comanche Indian's steed. He was an ex-Confederate veteran. And during his latter days was a faithful member of Camp Cabell, U. C. V.-always loyal in his service and EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 125

disposition to the boys who wore the gray. On March 30, 1890, six Vernon boys lost their lives on Pease River when a sand cave, in which they ~ere playing, fell in on them. Three of the boys were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Baskerville. The other three were sons of Mr. and Mrs. K. R. Womack, a neighboring family. The Basker­ ville boys wer~ Richar~, age 15; John 13; and Buford 11. Th~ Womack boys were Sidney, 15; Julius, 13; and Leslie, 11. The accident that took their lives happened a short distance west of the first bridge that spanned Pease River; north of Vernon. These boys were always 'pals" at play. And today, out in East View Cemetery, in two large graves, side by side, they sleep.. , Three large slabs above ·their heads bear this inscription: "Our Darling Boys." Two·· -other Baskerville boys and· four daughters of Mr. and .Mrs. BaS:. kerville survived them at their · death. They are: Gilbert Baskerville, · G. C. (Grover) Baskerville, Mrs. J~~- W. Moore, Mrs. F. W. Grogan, Mrs~ W. J. Lang and Mrs. H. V. Moore.

.C~gressm.~Q. Stephens. Moved to Vernon in 1889

John H. Stephens, for eighteen years Congressman from the 13th Dis­ trict, moved to Vernon from Montague County in 1889 and sta~ed prac­ ticing 13::w. He was born in Shelby County and later moved to Tarrant County to ma~e his home. He was married to Miss Annie Chrisman at Mansfield. Mr~. Stephens was a native of Jackson County, Missouri, and moved to Tarrant . County in 1864. Mr. Stephens received his education in the public schools of Mansfield. He was ,graduated from the law department of Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1882, and came -back to Texas and settled in Montague County. While living there he served as State Senator in the 21st and 22nd Legislatures. In 1896 he made the r~ce for Congress from the 13th District and was electe4. He served in that capacity for eighteen years. This district was known as the Jumbo District of Texas. It was made up of 79 counties with a population estimated at 200,000. The boundaries ~xtended from Parker County north to Red River and took in every county west of there and north of the Texas & Pacific Railway. In those days Abilene, Amarillo and El Paso were the leading cities served by Mr. Ste­ phens. Mrs. Stephens died in 1906. In 1911 he was married to Mrs. Lizette Bristow of Portland, Oregon.

After retiring from Congress Mr. Stephens moved to Monrovia7 Calif., where he- made his home until his death on November 17, 1923. The surviving children are: Mrs. S. W emyss-Smith of Riverside, Calif.; John A. Stephens of Riverside, Calif.; Fred C. Stephens and Mrs. Chatles H. White, both of Verno·n; and five grandchildren.. 126 · EA'RLY~DAY .HISTORY OF WILBARGER. COUNTY

Came to Vernon on Lark in 1886; Still Here:

Dr~ R. W.. ~ix, pioneer physician of Vernon, caiµe h~re. on a "lark" in 1886 and liked the country so well he remained tQ make it his home. He was born in Georgia and after studying · medicine moved to , Parker County, Texas, and. hung out . his shingle~ · H~ was building up a nic~ practice in that section of the state. In April, 1886, he was married to Miss Stella Van Eman. Her father, Rev. George Van Eman, was preach­ ing in this county and went back home to perform the wedding. Rev. Dr.·R. W. Hix Van Eman decided to move to Wil- barger County, so Dr. and Mrs. Hix came along with the wagons as a honeymoon trip, arriving· in Harrold on the night of June 4, 1886. That was the ·end of the Fort-\\ orth & Denver Railway. Next day they came on to Vernon. · · · · Dr. Hix rode around over the country and went down on Beaver Creek where all kinds of wild game could be found. Turkey, deer and quail were plentiful Rev. Van Eman urged the Doctor to stay here. Dr. Hix· told him all he had was a small pony and he hated to leave Parker County as he had a· goo·d·practice. However, the country appealed to him, so -he took up some land down on Beaver Creek and started farming and practicing medicine. He made one good crop and that was in 1891. He and. Dr. H. H. Rhoads were good friends and both had a wide prac­ tice over this section of Texas and Southern Oklahoma. The. doctors of that day rode· horseback and carried their medicine in saddle bags. Before going to the farm Dr. and Mrs. Hix rented a furnished house. One day Mrs; Hix started to sun the bed and when the f eath er-bed was lifted off the mattress t)lere lay a big horse pistol and a belt of cartridges. At one time this house had been used as a gambling place and the ceiling was full of bullet holes where shootings had taken place. The attic was full of gambling paraphernalia. In October, 1899, Dr. Hix sold his farm and moved to Vernon. The house he now owns was purchased and remodeled and is one of the few remaining houses of the early days. Mrs. Hix died a few years back and Dr. Hix and five children survive, Mrs. Beth Stephens, Mrs.. Ellen Tomes and Ulis, George a~d Elme! Hix. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF· WILBARGER COUNTY 121

Pioneer Druggist Settled in Vernon in 1885

T. M. Fergeson, who, for many years, was in the drug business in Vernon, came to Wilbarger County from Van Alstyne in 1885. He was born in Tennessee and came to Texas when a boy. After reaching this city he started working for T. H. Jones and ret:eived· $20 and his. board. In 1886 he bought the interest of the late Dr. H. H. Rhoadf> in Pendleton's Drug Store and for ten years the firm name was Pendleton & Ferge­ son. In 1896 he sold out to Mr. Pendleton and opened a store of his own. From that date until 1921 he T. M. Fergeson was actively connected with the store. In 1901 Mr. Fergeson ~rected the brick l;>uildin_g in which the store is still located. In 1918 Roy McConihe and F. M. Taylor bought in the firm with Mr. Fergeson and in 1921 purchased the entire business. H. Y. Pitts then bought an interest in the store. In addition to his business in Vernon Mr. Fergeson owned considerable land in both Wilbarger and Foard Counties. During his life time he re­ c:illed many interesting events of the early days. All of the early settlers knew him and it is said that he never refused to sell a man medicine when sick and without money. . Mr. Fergeson died July 14, 1928. Surviving are three children: Mrs. Clint Swartwood, Mrs. Frank Byrd and Thornton Fergeso1;1, all of Vernon.

Mrs. Virgie Hewitt

In March, 1888, Mrs. Virgie Hewitt arrived in Vernon from Hillsboro, Texas, to make Wilbarger County her home. She has never thought best to leave this community and today lives in a comfortable home at the corner of Pease and Bowie Streets. For a period of over 41 years she has resided at this same location and has -the distinction of living in the same house longer than any other person in Vernon. Soon after Mrs. Hewitt's arrival in Vernon she opened up a dress:- 128 EARLY-DAY .HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY making and millinery shop near the corner of Pease and Main Streets. The building at that time belonged to the late Tom Jones. She l~ter moved from that location to a building near where the Liberty _Cafe now standa on Pease Street. In the rear end of that building, Mrs. He~itt, with some of her relatives, who were in Vernon 1at that time, made their. home for B short period. From there Mrs. Hewitt moved to the house where she now resides, and for a number of years conducted a 'dress-making business. Many a woman in Wilbarger County today, who, when getting their matri­ monial wardrobe together, called on Mrs. Hewitt. After acquiring ei,nsiderable property interests in the city, she re­ tired from the dress-making business several years ago. She enjoys read­ ing and keeping herself well posted on current events of the day. N~ doubt Mrs. Hewitt is one of .the best known women in the county and en­ joys a host of loyal friends.

Womack ·Family Citizens in 1887

Mr. and Mrs. K. R. Womack and their children moved to this county in 1887~ They located in Vernon, establishing a home in the northwest part· of the city. Mr.· Womack followed the carpenter trade in this county for several years. This family moved from here to Old Mexico. In later years they returned to establish a home in Oklahoma. Children born to - this union include three girls and five boys. The girls: Agnef, Ella and Cora. The boys: Sid, Julius, ·Leslie, Kinch and Guy Womack. The three first mentioned boys, in company with three Basker­ ville boys, were' killed on Pease River March 30, 1890, when a sand bank caved in on them.

W. M. Walker Family

_M,r. and Mrs. W. M. Walke~ came to Wilbarger County on January 2, 1883, and settled in· the sorith~a~t part near Beaver Creek. Mr. Walker was horn in Missouri and came to Texas in 1854 to live in what was then Titus County and later cut off and named Morris County. Mrs. Walker was born in Mississippi an:

Chief Justice Hall Once a Wilbar~er Citizen

Hon. Robert Walker Hall, Chief Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals, of Amarillo, Texas, and the subject of this sketch, became a citizen of Wilbarger County, August 28, 1890. He located in Vernon and took up the practice of law. From the date of his arrival until he left Vernon 21 years later to assume his dutl' with the Court of Civil Appeals, probably no other citizen did more toward shaping the county's policie.3 in its earlier days than R. W. Hall. As evidence that he was man of influence when W 1lbarger County claimed him as a ciLizen, we have only to name a few of the positions Hon. R. W. Hall he was honored with. He served the city of Vernon from 1903 until 1908 as mayor. While serving as mayor, he advocated and started a movement for a local option election to rid Vernon and Wilbarger County of saloons. Sentiment, both for and against prohibition, was a fiery question in those days. But Mr. Hall pressed hi3 movement, regardless of the fact that he was opposed by a committee of business men. The saloons were voted out. Commenting on this particu­ lar election in later years, Mr. Hall said: "I have lived to have every one of them tell me since that I was right." While a citizen of Wilbarger County Mr. Hall took an active pa~t in both local and state politics. More than one time his name has been sounded out through the editorial columns of Texas newspapers as the right kind of man for governor. But he. has always modestly declined. Choosing rather to do his duty as a private citizen in voicing the affairs of the state, than to be given the high office to execute them. When a citizen of this county, Mr. Hall was a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee for four years. He was also presidential elee;tor at large for two terms, and since he has served as a presidential elector for the 20th District one term. Wilbarger County lost him as a citizen when he was appointed a place with the Court of Civil Appeals in 1911. He has been re-elected to this position five times without oppo- . sition. At conventions, conferences and social gatherings of any kind, he was 13-0 EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY always one of· the outstanding speakers, in the early years of bis life. At a political convention at Henrietta, Texas, in 1896, he was given credit for the nomination of the late John H. Stephens for Congress from the 13th District. At another convention of the same nature at Galveston,. he was credited with the nomination of the late John W. Robbins for State Treasurer. It was Jim Hogg, while Governor of Texas, who once said, "that at political conventions, Methodist conferences, cowboy reunions, etc., Mr. Hall did more to advertise the Panhandle than any other speaker." Governor Moody appointed him four years ago as one of the sixteen members of the Civil Judicial Council of the state. This council was cre­ ated for the purpose of simplifying the practice and procedure of the courts and speeding up the business of the judiciary. Hack in 1902, Vernon and Wil­ barger County had the privilege of seeing and entertaining a president of the United States for a short time. The occasion was when Theodore Roosevelt was en route to Oklahoma for a wolf hunt near Frederick. The President came in on the Fort Worth & Denver Railway and stopped to await a train over the Frisco out of Vernon. Mr. Hall was selected to introduce the "Big Chief" of our country. Many old-Limers still re­ call a statement he made in his in­ troductory speech. He said: "Fel­ low Citizens: I congratulate you to­ day upon being residents of the little city located on the line of travel be­ tween Washington and the coyote dens of the Indian reservation. I have heard that every creature had its appropriate place in the economy Teddy Roosevelt and R. W. Hall of Nature, and have often wondered why God created wolves, put I know now. It was in order that we might have the glorious opportunity of seeing, hearing and paying homage to the world's most eminent wolf hunt­ er, whether it be the lobo of our western plains, or the ravenous wolve~ of finance and commerce..... You have heard that our fields are full of waving grain; that 0Jir pastures are full of white-faced calves, and we have arranged this crowd so that you can see our yards are full of red-faced babies. There is no race suicide in the Panhandle." During Mr. Hall's twenty years residence in Vernon he was in· part:­ nership at· various times with H. C. Thompson, J. M. Basham, James R. Tolbert and the last law firm with which he was associated was Stephens, Huff & Hall. Robert Walker Hall was born in Rusk County, Texas, Jurie 19~ 1863~ -EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 131

His wife, who was Miss Sarah Neal before her marriage, was .born October 20, 1865, at Danielville, Ga. She moved with her parents to Texas in November 1866, and located at Carthage, Panola County. 'Io Mr. and Mrs. Hall six children were born, two. of whom are deceased, Clio, who died at Crockett, Texas, Februa.ry 12, 1928, and Alice, who died in infancy. The other children who are living are: Dr. Neal Hall of Amarillo, and the three younger daughters, Marcialete, Elise and Mary.

J.B. Crawford Bought Land in County in 1888

J. B. Crawford came to Wilbarger County in 1888 and bought two sections of land down on Beaver Creek, _eighteen miles south of Vernon He moved his family out here· in May, 1890, and farmed and raised live­ stock until 1898. Mr. Crawford was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was living at Plain Dealing, La., when he came to this country. Mrs. Crawford, whose maiden name was Miss Elizabeth Holloway, was born in Sherman. The family started from Louisian~ driving 186 head oi cattle. They were eight weeks on the road and the household belongings were · carried in four ox wagons. Like most of the other pioneers they endured the hard­ ships of the early days and went through the dry years of the early 90.'s .. Mr. Crawford was elected county treasurer in 1898 and moved· from the farm to Vernon to take office. He was re-elected for four terms and died during his fourth term, in 1906. Mrs. Crawford passed away in De­ cember, 1927. Surviving are eleven children: Jim of Beaumont, Walter of Sadler, J. M. of Dumas, Monroe of Belcher, Tom of Plain Dealing, La., Jeff of Southland, Hol of Vernon, Bob of Amherst, Mrs. Alice Scates of Duncan, Okla., Mrs. Lizzie Creager and Mrs. Vallie Veteto, both of Vernon.

Pioneer Real Estate Man Native of Tennessee

John W. Abbott, pioneer real estate man of Vernon, was born in Cam­ den, Tenn., and came to Texas in 1880, settling in Belton, Bell County. In 1886 Mr. Abbott moved to Wilbarger County and for many years was one of the leading real estate dealers of this section of the state. In the Vernon Guard's special edition of 1899, the following was said about Mr. Abbott: "This firm does a general real estate business, buys and sells property of all kinds, does conveyancing and all other business coming under the scope of legitimate real estate transactions. J. W. Abbott, the head of the firm, is one of the best known real estate dealers operating in the Panhandle. His long residence and intimate knowledge of real estate mat- 132 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY ters make him a good judge of real estate; and his judgment in such mat-­ ters is accepted without question." Mrs. Allison, . whose maiden name was Miss Hettie Tate, was born in Lee County, Alabama, twenty-one miles from Columbus, Ga. She came to. Texas in 1888 an-d lived in San Marcos a year before coming to Wilbar-­ ger County. She was married to Mr. Abbott on May·14, 1890. He died April 7, 1907, leaving his wife and six sons. Mrs. Abbott was married to A. Allison on April 23, 1919. :Mrs. Allison's sons are: · John T. Abbott, manager of the Shambur-­ ger Lumber Company at Wichita Falls; Roy W. Ab.bott, ass~tant cashier of the Herring National Bank of Vernon; Leland W. Abbott of Amarillo, with the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company; William B. Abbott, with the North Texas Building & Loan Association of. Wichita _Falls; Joe H. Abbott, who died in 1917, and Herman H. Abbott, with the Joseph E. Morgan Construction Company of El Paso.

Mr. and Mrs. I. M. Jacka

Pioneer citizens will recall I. M. Jacks as one of the early-day far• mers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Jacks and their two daughters movect to Wilbarger from Ellis County in 1889. Mr. Jacks· farmed north of Pease River for several years, later following this business on a farm east oi Vernon. He died in Vernon in 1906 and his wife passed away in 1907. f, Both are buried in East View Cemetery. . The two daughters who survived their parents are: Mrs. Banks C. (Tura O.) Bennett, and Mrs. W. B. (Odessa) Harris.

Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Scott

On October 23, 1885, R. F. Scott, with his wife and- children, moved to Wilbarger County and located three miles east of Harrold. Mr. Scott ·was born in Madison County, Kentuck-y, March 8, 1828. He died in Ver­ non February 15, 1907. His wife, who was Miss.·Elizabeth Jane 1Conn be­ fore her marriage, and a sister of J. T. Conn, former sheriff of Wilbarge.1· County, was also a native of Kentucky, born near Lancaster, Februar-y 22, 1845. Children born to tly.s union include:. John Y. Scott, Vernon; Mrs. John Reese, Vernon; Mrs. J. B. Robertson, Quanah; Mrs. J. 0. S. Holt, Dal­ las, and Mrs. Susie J. Scott Coleman of. California. Mrs. Coleman, generally referred to.· as. Miss Susie, is credited with having taught the first school at Farmers Valley. · She taught ther.e from 1895 until 1897. From 1897 until 1927, a period of .thirty .years, she was a primary teacher in the Vernon public schools .... EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 133

Mr. and Mrs.: J. R. Renfro r( ~,, _--.J<""' ·-\·~ __ •kM••

.~:,

The late J. R. Renfro, for many years a hardware merchant of Ver­ non, came west with the boom of 1890 and settled in Vernon. Mr. '.Renfro was born in Barren County, Kentucky, and moved to Ector, Fannin County; in 1885. He came to Wilbarger County on July 3, 1890. As a young man he farmed with his father in Fannin County and one day d~cided to go .in business for himself as soon as he aecu1nulated enough money. He was handy with tools and started out at the carpenter's trade. In 1890 he returned to Kentucky and married Miss l\iiary E. Moore, the wedding taking place at the home of her mother in Rocky Kill.. They came to Texas and as a boom was on in the West the newlyweds kept travel-· ing until they arrived in Vernon. A terrible sandstorm was blowing on the afternoon of July 3 and Mrs. Renfro was ready to go bac~ to her home in Kentucky. They stayed on here and Mr. Renfro worked at his trade as a carpen­ ter and contractor~ He helped build the Central school building. A few years later he went in.to the hardware business and from that day until his death his store was headquarters for the carpenters of Vernon. In civic affajrs Mr. Renfro was always quite active. He was one of the early advocates of hard surfaced roads and took a leading part in get-• ting the Colorado to Gulf Highway straightened out and shortened. One of the great days of his life was to ride over the paved highway east of town a short time before his death. He was a member of the Central Christian Church and was an active worker in all departments of the church. Surviving are his, wife and two children, Mrs. A. F. Winston an~ Curtis Renfro and two grandchildren, Betty and Virginia Winston. i.34 EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBA'RGER COUNTY

W. C. Johnson Family Came From Tennessee

· The fame of Wilbarger County as a wheat growing country brought W. C. Johnson and family here in the ,early part of the Nineties. He was born and reared in the mountains of Tennessee. He was married to Miss Louise C. Me.Millen, also a native of that state, and settled in Celina, ·Tenn., where he was e successful ·merchant. In 1892 he moved his family to Wilbarger County and en­ dured· the hardships of the years fol­ lowing the crop failures. Mr. Johnson was a devoted mem­ Les K. Johnson ber of the Church of Christ and personally superintended the erec• tion of their house of worship~ This building is now known as the Ameri­ can Legion hall, having been sold upon the completion of the new brick building. Mr~ Johnson died in June, 1920, and is survived by his wife and four children: Mrs. John A. Fain of Oklahoma City, Mrs. W. D. Berry and Les K. Johnson, both of Vernon, and C. B. Johnson of Amarillo. · For many years Les K. Johnson has been active in business circles of Vernon. Upon his graduation from Southwestern University at George­ town he taught school in Vernon during the term of 1900-1901. He then became associated with the C. T. Herring Banking Company and in 1906 resigned and was manager of the Herring lumber yards in this section of the state until 11910. He again went with the bank, which was chartered as the Herring National Bank in 1903, and served in various capacities. He was ·active vice president until the death of Col. C. T. Herring in July, 1931~ when he was elected president. He was married to Miss Jessie H. Herring and to them two daughters were born, Misses- Cornelia and Louise Johnson. In addition to -his business ~ctivities Mr. Johnson has found time to devote to the civic interests of the. city. He has served on various city committees and with the° Chamber of Commerce and has always been a great advocate of everything for the growth of Vernon and Wilbarger County.

In 1899 Wilbarger County had· 31 schools exclusive of Vernon. Thir­ ty-three teachers w.ere employed.. . EARLY-DAY-~HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 135

L. G. Hawkins Came to Ver­ non as Railroad Cashier

L. G. Hawkins, president of the Waggoner National Bank, came to Vernon in 1892 as cashier for the Fort Worth & Denver City Railway. Later he was made sta­ tion agent and stayed here until 1897 when he was transferred to Bowie. He returned to Vernon in 1900 and became cashier of the Waggoner National Bank. Mr. Hawkins was born in Mans­ field, La. He came to Texas in 1869 and settl~d at Marshall. He was married to ?riiss Senie Rosa­ mond· Houssels o.f Vernon Novem­ LC:. Hawkins ber l, 1893. Mrs. Hawkins was born in Linden, Tenn., and came to Vernon with hei;- father, the late Rob­ ert Houssels, -in 1891. They have one daughter, M~s. · Sylvester S. Munger of Dallas. Since 1900 Hr. Hawkins has been actively identified with the business life of Vernon. He served as cashier of the bank for several years and was then made vice president. Upon the death of Robert Houssels, the president, he was elected to that office. H'.e has se~ed as a member of the school board and various capacities for the betterment of the city and county. Jn Masonic circles he is known all .over the, s~t~. Mr. Hawkins has held the highest offices in all the local Masonic Lodges and afrer the forma­ tion of Maskat Temple in Wichita Falls served one year as potentate. He is a past grand commander of the Knights Templar of Texas. He is also a thirty-third degree Scottish R.ite Mason, the highest honor ~onferred. When Mr. Hawkins came to Vernon it was a small village and he had never been in the West before. Coming up on the train a man asked him_ if he had ever seen a West Texas sand storm. Mr. Hawkins said when he got off the train a good one was blowing and if there had been another pas­ senger train back the other way he would gone back. He walked through the sand up town and secured him a room and bought a few necessities to fit out his new boarding place and had very little cash left. Next morning he started to the depot to report for work and the sand was still blowing. He had purchased a small, soft felt hat and he reached up and got hold of _the brim and started to pull it down good so t.he wind would not blow it off his head. He pulled a little too hard -136 E:A'RLY-DAY HIS'rORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY and the whole brim came off and down around his neck. So that is the way he looked when he walked in the depot and told them he was the new cashier. Mr. Hawkins was a great base.ball fan and took an active interest in the game back in his railroading days. He was always able to. get the team by on the· train to go to neighboring towns and Ve1·non boasted one of the best teams in the West. In the early days Mr. Hawkins said there were no sidewalks, paved streets or conveniences. ~e has seen the town grow from the small West-:­ ern village to the modern city of 10,000 people and has had a great deal to do with the progress made in th~ intervenin~ years. ·

The Beavers Located in County in 1888

Countr:y Home of George Beavers and Wife

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Beavers are natives of Texas and came from Den · ton to Wilbarger County in 1888. They bought land and located in. th~ Fargo neighborhood where they made their home until in late years. when they moved to Vernon. As a farmer and stock raiser, l\ifr. Beavers did his part along with his ne!,ghbors in developing the northern section of this county. Since his retirement from the farm, the Beavers estate is being looked after by his youngest son, George Beavers, a picture of whose hom~­ appears above. Other children of Mr. and. Mrs. Beavers include: Clarence Beavers, Clay Beavers, Olin Beavers, deceased; :lYir~. Louie Samuel an~ Mrs. Ruth Real. EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 137

Sumner Family Moved to Wil~ barger From Missouri

Joseph Chatten Sun1ner, eldest son of Judge D. W. Sumner and Eliza-­ beth Chowning Sumner, was born in Monroe County, Missouri, . October 27, 1848. He was educated at Wesi­ minister College at Fulton, Mo., and after,vards taught school in Au­ drainne County, Missouri. . May 31, 1878, he mari-ied Miss Frances Ann Cauthorn, youngest daughter of Carter Cauthorn and Elizabeth Colvin Cauihorn of Mex­ ico, Mo. l\,fr. Sumner came io Texas in tl1e early Eighties where he engaged in buying and shipping cattle from Clay Mrs. Frances A. Sumner and neighboring counties to his stock farm in Audrainne County, Missiuri, where they were fattened for the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. Deeember 13, 1888, on account of bad health, he brGught to Texa~ his family, which consisted then of his wife and three children; two 4augh­ ters, Willie and Alice, and one son, Joseph Chatten, Jr. He established a ranch about twelve miles north of Vernon, south of Red River, and one at Haystack Mountain in Greer County, Texas, now in the state of Oklahoma. 1\1:r. Sumner was interested in the building of the Vernon Cotton OH Mill in 1898 and was first president of that institution. He was also pro1ninently connected with the early oil industry of Wilbarger County starting in 1912. Mr. Sumner was a member of the Methodist Church South, serving on the board of stewards before his death. He died April 7, 1913, and was survived by his wife and seven children, all now living: l\lisses Alice, Adele and Mary Sumner, Joseph Chatten Sumner and Dan Gauthorn Sum­ ner of V crnon, Mrs. J. S. Wood and Mrs. Fred Hanna of Altus, Okla.

Charles T. Sullivan and Wife

Charles T. Sullivan came to Wilbarger in 1889 from Eddy~ Texas, near Waco. Two years before that time he had moved to Texas from Tennessee. Soon after his arrival in Vernon he was associated with an 138 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY exclusive book store. In lateJ."" years he was with W. H. Evans in the gro­ cery business for seven years. He ~nd his son, Linton Sullivan, bought the store when Mr. Evans retired from the business. They continued this stor~ until the out-break of the World War. Mrs. Sullivan, who before her marriage was Miss Lillie Johnston, came to Vernon in 1886. Her brother, W. E. Johnston, had one of the first hardware and implement stores in the county.

The Bates Family

Mrs. Lucy P. Bates, age 76, who died in the Mack settlement in 1926, w~s the mother of a pioneer family that located in Wilbarger County in 1889. Her husband died in 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Bates were an influen­ tial cpuple in their neighborhood, taking an active interest in church work. The children who survived them at their death were: John, Eugene and Oscar Bates, Mrs. Whitt Sands, Mrs. S. E. Hawley, Mrs. Henderson Wilkerson and Mrs. Virgil Alexander.

Says Vernon Was a Hard Place in 1884

Mrs. S. M. Purvis, whose home is now at Arlington, Texas, writes that back in 1885 s\le and her husband moved t.o Vernon. They bought a home in the city from Tom Carruth and continued to make their home here until 1888 when they moved to California. She recalls that their neighbors in those days were the 'families of Dick Sanders, E. L. Witty, Tom Jones and John Tolbert. She also mentions that Rev. J. T. Hosmer was pastor of the Methodist Church at that time. Religious services, she says, were con­ ducted in a cottage near where the Methodist Church building now stands. "Vernon was rather a hard place in those early days,'' so states Mrs .. Purvis. Continuing, she says: "I think there· were more saloons than any other business, but the vote of local option put them out of business and. some of the prominent business men along then said that the town would go back to the bats and owls." At the time of Mr. and Mrs. Purvis' aITival in Vernon the railroad stopped at Harrold. They employed a wagon and teamster to mo·ve their household goods to Vernon. Property was very cheap. It was a good time to buy, but a very poor time to sell, ]!rs. Purvis writes. Mr. Purvis died sev:~ral years ago.

In 1899 "The Vernon Guard," a newspaper published in the city, said: "The city's total indebtedness consists of $17,500 outstanding bonds due in 1910. Money is now on hand to redeem $500 of the bonds as soon a5 they can be located." EA'RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 139

Vernon Printer's Grandfather Came Here in 1886

The subject of this sketch, the late J. C. Camp, was not only ~n early­ day citizen of Wilbarger County, but Texas can claim him as one of its pioneers. He was a native of Geo1·­ g~, but during the war between the states he was employed by the gov­ ernment to freight cotton from Sher­ man, Texas _to Houston. Mr. Camp was in and out of Wil­ barger County long before Vernon became a town, but in 1886, with hi3 wife by second marriage, he perma­ nently located here. His second wife's name before her marriage was Banks C. Bennett Miss Florence Ford, a daughter ot J. C. Ford, a pioneer minister of Clay County, Texas. A. L. Camp, who served '\\7ilbarger County one time as county attor• ney, and J. (Tol) Camp, who was once a citizen of the ,county, were sons of J. C. Camp by his first marriage. J. C. Camp was the grandfather of Banks C., Edward C., and C. B. (Boyd) Bennett, on their mother's side of the Bennett family. The Ben­ nett boys were deprived of the care of a father and mother in their youth­ ful days and came to Wilbarger County soon after their grandfather's set• tlement here to make their home with him. Banks C. Bennett, whose picture appears, lives in ·v ernon today anJ is en1ployed with the Vernon Daily Record .as one of the printers. He received his apprenticeship under Early Hendricks as late as 1889, when Mr. Hendricks ,vas connected with the Vernon Guard.

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Coleman

James Agne,v Coleman was born December 10, 1833, in Ohio. His wife, ,vho was l\fiss Rachel E. Da,vson before her marriage, was born June 17, 1839, in Tennessee. Mr. and l\iirs. Coleman came to Wilbarger County October 24, 1884. They established a home in the eastc1n part of the county and ,vere citizens until 1899. Their children include: Arthur E. Coleman, now of California, and Mrs. Mattie Ray of Edna, Kansas. 140 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Lon C. Eakle

Lon C. Eakle was among the early settlers of Wilbarger County, com­ ing here from Grayson County in 1884. During the winter· of that year he worked on~ a ranch as horse wrangler. He was born in Tomkinsville, Ky., and came to Texas with his parents. in 1879, settling in Grayson County. A few years later he came on West. He lived with Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Jones for a time and ran a truck farm. During the early days he was quite a hunter and trapper as wild game was plentiful in this part of the state. In 1899 Mr. Eakle was elected city sec­ retary and was in that position until 1906. He also served as an alderman at one time, and later was a member of the City Commission. Mr. Eakle died in 1930. On December 22, 1888, he was married to Miss Lillie Kathryn Cole. The wedding took place in the little white school building of Vernon at that time and Rev. Evans, nephew of the. late W,. H. Evans, performed the cere­ mony. To this union eight children were born: Mrs. Belle Cole of Ver­ non, Mrs. Mae V. Tanner of Dallas, and Miss Pearle. Eakle, Mrs. Hazel K. Brown, Miss Dorothea Eakle, Miss Helen Eakle, Paul Eakle and L. C. Eakle, J" r., all of Vernon.

As late as 1899 there were four newspapers published in Vernon. The Vernon Guard, edite,d by B. Wilson Edgell; the Vernon Globe, edited by Judge J. P. Orr; the Vernon Call, edited by D. D. McConnell; the Ver­ non Hornet, edited by Early ITendricks. Of these four the Vernon Guard was the oldest publication, which was established in 1883. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 141

J. W. Coffee Family Citizens of Wilbarger Since 1886

. . (By J. E. COLLINS) John W. Coffee inherited the pio­ neer spirit from his parents, who in an early day emigrated from_ Ten­ nessee to Illinois. The journey was made in wagons and- there was smaU place for the transportation of lux­ uries. _John ,vas born in a covered wagon somewhere between Nash­ ville, Tenn., and Woodburn, Ill. l\'.Ir. Coffee came from a distin­ guished family, but disposes of the history of past generations by say­ ing, "Never mind the ancestry," tak­ ing no credit to himself for thei~ achievements and feeling in no way John W. Coffee responsibl~ fo1· their failings. Mr. Coffee grew to manhood in IDinois, and the outdoor life, hard work and simple living of the pioneer developed in him a strong body and a vigorous mind. Early in life he developed those distinguished traits of character that have made him always a valued citizen, a strong love of liberty, loyalty to conviction and courage in the :face of obstacles. A believer in the democracy of Thomas Jefferson he has never yet scratched a Democratic ticket. In 1881 Mr. Coffee was n1arried to Miss Annie Bradley and in 1886 they came to Wilbarger County and settled on a ranch in the Doans com­ munity, where they lived for twenty-five years, Mr. Coffee being activelr engaged in farming and stock raising; moving to Vernon about twenty years ago to enter the !wholesale oil and gas business. Before moving to Vernon, at the earnest)solicitation of friends in his community, he served as deputy sheriff for a number of years. Being en­ tirely without fear, he seldom carried a. gun. He was always kind and affable, though· very particular in enforcing the law. Quick of temper but of tender heart and gentle ways. Anything that had the look of sternness was the result, not of harshness, but of high principles, and even the crim­ inal e:Iement with which he has often had to deal, could not fail to be im­ pressed with his simple, kindly spirit and the combined modest, unassuming and self-reliant character of the man. It has often been said of him that he would impoverish himself in an effort to help :others. He has always words of sympathy at command anil is ever ready to perforn1 acts of sympathy for those in distress. Those who write the early history of our country seem so concerned 142 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

,vith the doings of the men that they take little note of our pioneer women. In all the undertakings o_f_ Mr. Coffee, Mrs. Coffee has been hi~ active part­ ner and companion, ever ready to make the sacrifices incidental -to pioneer living. K~nd, considerate and charitabl~, respected and loved by her ~riends and neighbors. It is not permitted the writer to offer to one still living the credit that her courage, faith and affectionate devotion dese:rve, but it may be simply stated that in his wife he found his greatest human resource, and to her wise counsel he gave more heed than to that of any other. And he never fails to express to those nearest to him the inestimable debt he owes to her. Mr. and Mrs. Coffee have five living children. They are R. H. and R. L. Coffee, Mrs. Etta P_etty and 1\-Irs. Texas Kuhn, all of Vernon, and l\Irs. Mattie Petty of Tipton, Okla. Following in the footsteps of their father and mother, they are all honored and respected citizens.

Wm. H. Cooper Family

Mr.· and l\'.Irs. ,vm. H. Cooper ,vere among the_ early settlers of Wil­ barger County. l\Ir. Cooper died in September, 1901. Mrs. Cooper then made her home in Georgia for a number of years. She died in 1923 while visiting in the home of her daughter, Mrs. S. C. Hogsett in Vernon. The children are: i Mrs. Hogsett, Vernon; l\1rs. W. J. Kh-by and Mrs. C. S. Hill of West Point, Ga.; A. B. Cooper of Savannah, Ga., and W. H. Cooper of IIumble, T·exas.

Willis Holston Family

Willis Holston ,vas born in l\ilississippi and came to Texas in 1869 and settled in Bosque County. He came to Wilbarger County in 1886. l\Irs. Holston, ·whose maiden name was l\Iiss Mary Jane Turknett, was born in F'airfield, l\'Iiss., and came to Vernon in 1884. l\Ir. Holston opened the first barber shop in Vernon, in 1888. Before moving here he was going through Doans with a herd of cattle in 1881 when _they. were talking of organizing the county. At that time Vernon ,vas known as Eagle Flat and Doans was the largest to-wn in the county. Children of Mr. and 1\-Irs. Holston are: Perry \V. Holston of Skiatook, Okla.; l\Irs. l\Ionro Huey, Wichita Falls; James H. IIolston, Amarillo; lVIrs. T. B. Smith, Vernon; l\Irs. Z. A. Jeter, Stamford; William A. Holston, An1- arillo_, and Edgar Holston, ·Amarillo.

The brick for the first court house were made in Vernon. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COL"~TY --- - ··••· - - -- - . -· ------Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Hensley

L. J. Hensley and family came to Wilbarger County in 1880, settling at Doans store, the trail crossing on Red River. The follo,.ving winter they moved to their farm, one and one-half miles south of Doans. Several years ago ~Ir. and l\Irs. Hensley 1noved to Stratford, Texas, on the plains. l\Ir. Hensley ,vas a native of Arkansas and his ,vife, forinerly Miss Amanda Kirk, was born in Tennessee. They moved from l\fissouri to l\!ontague County in 1871 and in 1875 moved to Clay County, eoming to WilbargeJ 144 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY from Clay. · .Mr. Hensley- was ·one of the first settlers of the county to engage in farming. He was an extensive small grain grower and engaged in thresh­ ing. · His ·machine was one of the kind that used horses for power and about thirty men were employed, including those who came to watch the others work and stay for dinner. lVIr. Hensley died in California. Mrs. Hensley died at Stratford. - · Five children were born of this union: Laura Frances, born in Wright CouJ1ty, Missouri, in 1868; James M., born in 1872, and lives at San Diego, Calif.; Flora Bell, borri in 1885, and buried in East View cemetery; Wil­ liam Arthur; born in Clay County in 1877, and resides at Okmulgee, Okla.; John· Luther Hensley, born at Doans Store in 1880, living at Stratford. Mrs~::Laura Hensley -Tittle lives at Mangum, Okla. This sketch was con­ tributed by· Mrs. S. -H. :(Laura Hensley) Tittle, wife of a pioneer sheriff of Greer County, Oklahoma.

The C. B. Mason Family

-In 1890, · a fmnily located in the Elliott community who was pr<:>mi­ nently identified with· that section of the county for a number of yea1~s. The heads of this family were !\'Ir. and Mrs. C. B. Mason. So closely asso­ ciated were ¢he Masons ·with the early-day social · affairs of their vicinity, today, when pioneers think of the Elliott community, they recall "Uncle Charlie" Mason. He ·was ·a native of mid-dle Tennessee. He died in Ver­ non .in· 1928. This city was his home the last few years of his life. Beside his wife, the children surviving him at the time of his death were: Dave, Ed and· E·arl Mason, the boys; Mrs. W. R. (Amanda) Ste­ phens, Mrs. J. 1\-I. (Myrtle) Downs, l\:Irs. R. L. (Mattie) Moore, and l\liss Vera l\'.Iason, the girls.. Another son, Albert P. Mason, served Wilbarger County for four years as tax assessor, now deceased.

Nebraskans Comes to County in 1890

Among the fall1ilies·:,vho settled in Wilbarger County as late as 1890, were that of Mr. and J~frs~ A. W. Blain. This family, along with the J-~ I-I. Robertson family and Mr. and l\:Irs. S. l\L Purvis, who had left Wilbarger County in 1888 to go to California, all emigrated to. Texas from Nebraska. Tl1e Blain family and J. H. Robertson family settled ten miles north of Vernon. i\Ir. and Mrs. Purvis again took up their resid~nce in Vernon. A. W. Blain died February 17, 1928. A.t his death he was survive

. .

Green Family Settled on He~o of Alamo Lands

Another pioneer family living in Wilbarger County today, who came here as early as 1888 and located in the vicinity of what in later years became Oklaunion, is Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Green and children. Mr. Green, upon his arrival in this community, bought a large body of land in t~at ·section of the county from the heirs of Tatum, who was one of the heroes of the Alamo. He took up farming and stock raisin~ and for a number of years was rec­ ognized as one of the county's larg­ est wheat growers. In 1912, at D. L. Greea which time all their children had married off and left the family fireside, they retired from the farm and moved to Vernon; At present they reside in a nice brick home on East Wilbarger Street where they are spending their declining years in peace and contentment. After Mr. Green retired from active farm duties, he sold off some of his land holdings, and divided another portion equally with his children. And now, while somewhat advaneed in years, he still takes an active in­ terest in the rent farms under his supervision. He is one of the directors of the First State Bank of which institution he has been a stockholder for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the Central Christian Church and have for many years taken an active interest in the affairs of the church. D. L. Green is a native of Tennessee, born June 12, 1855. Mrs. Green, formerly Miss Ellen Sumrow, was born in the state of Tennessee in 1857. Children born to this union include: Mrs. Hale (Cora) Davis, Mrs. A. M. (Nora) Tacker, Mrs. C. P. (Hattie) Smith, Mrs. J. S. (Myrtle) Buchanan, Mrs. W. Hy (Georgia) Rogers, Mrs. Emory (Jimmie) Rhoads, Clois L. Greene, C. D. Greene, Dr. Sumrow Greene, dee.eased; Mrs. H. M. (Regina) Alexander, and A. D. (Judge) Green.

In 1894, "The Vernon Globe" made this statement: "The Commis­ sioner's Court passed an order to fund the $33,000 8 per cent court house bonds to 6 per cent interest-bearing bonds. 146 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COU~TY

Gilbert Family Located in Wilbarger i11, 1888 .

M. G. Gilbert, who died in Ver­ non of a late year, was a native oi Kentucky. He came to Texas 1n 1854 and located in Denton County. His first wife was also born in Ken­ tucky and died in Vernon in 1912. Mr. and l\'.Irs. Gilo€rt moved to Wlibarger Coun~y in 1888. lvlr. Gil­ bert was an extensive trader, dealing in livestock and land. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and was serving as an elder of this church when the Vernon con­ gregation built their first house to W. Walter Gilbert ·worship in. His second marriage was to Mrs. Ida Scott, who survived him at his death. Children born to Mr. and lVIrs. lVI. G. Gilbert include: Mrs. Lee (Liz­ zie) Bivins, C. · C. (Charles) Gilbert, Mrs. J. R. (Emma) Tolbert, Lucian Gilbert, deceased; Jennie Gilbert, deceased, and W. W. Giibert. The last ~amed son, whose picture appears in this sketch, served Vernon several years as chief of police.

W. H. Hancock Family

Along in 1886, quite a few of Wilbarger County's pioneer citiz~ns arrived in this section of the state and located near Oklaunion. At that time there was a vast scope of prairie country in that neighborhood and ~t all appealed to those early-day settlers as an attractive country for stock raising and wheat growing. _ Among those pioneer citizens was W. H. Hancock and family, who moved to ·this county from Polk County, Tennessee, and located in thar vicinity i:n 1886. Mr. Hancock acquired some valuable land holdings around him and for ~ number of years was rated as one of the cour~ty's outstanding stockmen and wheat growers. After retiring from the farn1 he moved to Vernon where he died in July, 1928. His ·wife, four boys and one daughter survived him at his death. The boys, Bradford, Clint, Roy and Jess, and Mrs. C. P. (Annie) Clayton, the daughter. Mrs. Hancock, who was Miss Mattie Bradford before her marriage, still resides in Vernon. EARLY-DAY IDSTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 147

Hampton Family Came to County in 1889

The W. M. Hampton family _came to Vernon in January, 1889, from Terrell, Texas. The late W. M. Hampton often said that he had been cheated out of his rights as his mother and father were both Texans and had gone to Arkansas three _weeks before he was born, and returned to Texas three w-eeks later. Mr. Hampton was born in Ric'iunond, Sevier County, Arkansas. Mrs. Hampton was formerly Miss Maggie Phillips and was born in Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky. Her family cam~ to Sher­ man, Texas in November, 1873, moving to Terrell in 1874._ The family was engaged in farm­ ing on an extensive scale for the first seven years, in the south part of the county. Later Mr. Hampton was public weigher for two terms. Following his terms as public ~-eigher, Mr. Hampton established a plumbing shop in Yernon and th~ business has been conducted through the years by his sons. Since the death of Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Hampton has resided in Cor pus Christi. E. W. Hampton, the first son born in the county, owned the first service car in Vernon. This plucky little Vernon's First Taxi two-cylinder Jackson automobile ne­ nogiated the sandy streets of Vernon, but with such noise that officers told the owner to keep the thing off the streets or he would be arrested for s~ar1ng. ~norses. Other children are W. M. Hampton, Mrs. Louise Cooper, Mrs. Bernice Blantot, Mrs. Eleanor Hampton, R. M. Hampton and Mrs. W. F. Ladd.

Dry Goods Man Comes in 1888

J. N. (Jake) Denny, who died in Vernon in November, 1926, came to Vernon in 1888. For years Mr. Denny was associated with his brother. Wm. Denny, in the dry goods business. In later years he was with Fer­ geson Drug Company. At his death he was survived by his wife and two children. Mrs. Denny died in Vernon December 26, 1931. The children are; Mrs. Fred (Edna) Thompson, and a son, Price Denny. This family made many friends in Wilbarger County. 148 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGE'R COLl\TY

Krebs Came Here From Switzerland

Christ Krebs came to Wilbarge?­ County in 1883 frim Switzerland and took up some school land about twelve miles from Vernon in the Pease River valley. Mr. Krebs said the first English he learned was not "parlor English" and he had to learn all- over again• . He farmed for many years and for the past few years has been mak­ ing his home in the west part of Vernon. In discussing the early days of Wilbarger County, he said he made a big crop in 1891 but the year fol­ Christ Krehs lowing did not do so well. "Times were .sure enough hard then. Lawyers did a land office business going around ove, the country taking up the mortgaged property,:' he said.

The T. W. Carruth Family

Among the early-day cowmen in this section of the country was T. W. Carruth, wh~ now lives at Davidson, Okla. Mr. Carruth, with his wife and children, moved to Wilbarger County in 1884. He was born in Collin Coun­ ty, Texas, and his wife, who was Miss Susan M. Jones before her marriage, was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Carruth was a sister of R. E. and T. H. Jones, also early-day settlers of Wilbarger. In giving in this biographical sketch to the writer, Mr. Carruth stated that after coming to this county his first venture in the cow business was to range them in what was then Greer County, Oklahoma. In later years he was associated in the cow business on Beaver Creek in this county with a brother-in-law, John Tolbert. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Carruth include: Bert Carruth, Mrs. H. G. (Ethel) Boyd, Lawrence Carruth, Roy Carruth, Mrs. Tom (Anna) Campbell, Otho Carruth, Mrs. Paul (Jewel) Swan, l\:irs. Fred (Bertha) Dunn and Dallas Carruth. The mother of this family died in 1916. In 1919, T. W. Carruth was married to Miss Blanche Yell of Con­ roe, Texas. EARLY-DAY HISTORY. OF WILBARGER COUNTY 149

A Confederate Veteran Comes To Vernon in 1891

L. D. Newton came to Wilbarger County in February, 1891, from Sherman, Texas, where · he had en­ gaged in the mercantile business. He was the son of a pioneer Arkan­ sas family. His father, Green New­ ton, moved from Alabama to El Do­ rado, Ark., in 1829. · He brought with · him to Vernon his sister, Miss Cornelia Newton and his two children, Walter and Lillian. After eoming to Vernon he engaged in farming. Mr. Newton was a Civil War vet­ eran. He was in school when he en­ Miss 1Lillian Newton listed in the Confederate Army, and for a year he followed Stonewall Jackson in Virginia. Later he was trans­ ferred to Company B, Kentucky Cavalry, with "Dashing" John Morgan as leader. He was captured in one of the raids through Ohio and spent two ye~rs in Northern prisons. lVIiss Corenlia Newton died in 1923. Walter Newton was an invalid the greater part of his life and died in 1927. L. D. Newton died ·in 1929 in his eighty-fifth year. Miss Lillian Newton is at present librarian of Wilbarger County Library.

Judge F. P. McGee Arrived in 1883

Judge F. P. McGee, ,vho died in Vernon in November, 1929, came to Wilbarger County in 1883. He was born in Georgia in 1853. A short biographical sketch of his life, taken from the· files of a newspaper, states that he ·was reared on a farm and worked during· the spring and summer months and attended school during the fall and winter. He graduated from the S. E. Normal at Cape Girardeau and later from the law department in the state of Missouri. Mr. McGee was one of the familiar figures around Wilbarger County's ~ourt house for a number of years. Surviving him at his death was his wife and six children. The children: J. B. McGee, George L. McGee, Mrs. M. A. Peterson, Mrs. A. V. Works, Mrs. G. W. Blankenship and Mrs. Frank Elam. 150 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COU:NTY

Eminent Jurist Came to Wil­ barger County in 1888

The late S. P. Huff, who passed away at · Amarillo, Texas, at the age of 66 years, came to Vernon from Montague County in 1888. Judge Huff was a native of Missouri and moved to Texas with his parents in 1859. His wife, who was Miss Ellen C. Martin before her marriage, was born at Montague, Texas. Mrs. Huff and three children survived this emi­ nent jurist at his death. The chil­ dren include: Mrs. C. B. J'ohnson, Mrs. R. A. Pittman, and one son, Vance .Huff. Judge S. P. Huff The following account of his death, which also includes a brief biograph­ ical. s.ketch of his life, appeared in an Amarillo newspaper following his death: "Judge Huff was a native of Missouri. He was born in Springfield, l\fo., the son of Dr. and Mrs. A. M. Huff. With other members of the family he came to Grayson County, Texas, when very young. Later he went .to Montague County, Texas, where he was admitted to the bar and served as county attorney. · "With his family he moved to Vernon in 1888 and began the practice of law. He was a partner of John H. Stephens, who served twenty years in Congress from the old Thirteenth District. At the time Mr. Stephens was elected to Congress he was a member of the law firm of Stephens, Huff and Hall. The third m~mber of the firm was Judge R. W. Hall, now asso-. ciate justice of the Court of Civil Appeals. · "Judge Huff served ten years as judge of the Forty-Sixth District, which included Wilbarger, Hardeman, Foard, Childress, Hall and Collins­ worth Counties. He was elected chief justice of the Seventh Court of Civil Appeals at Amarillo in 1912 and was re-~lected without opposition in 1918. "In 1918 he was appointed by the governor as a member of the com­ mittee of appellate judges to assist the Supreme Court of Texas in clearing its dockets. He was prominent in political affairs of this section of Texas for more than a quarter of a century, and was many times a member of the state Democratic conventions an.d a presidential elector from Texas." The following resolutions drawn up by a committee. of the Amarillo Bar Association, shows the esteem in which Judge Huff was held by this organization. A part of this resolution is reproduced on following page. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 151

"RESOLUTION FOR JUDGE HUFF PASSED'' "Appellate Court Chief Justice Memorialized by Amarillo Bar" "Resolutions, passed by the Amarillo Bar Association, memorializing the late Judge S. P. Huff, chief justice of the Seventh Court of Civil Ap­ peals, are expressive of the esteem in which he was held by the local bar, an_d are published in full, as follows: "To Hon. J. B. Dooley, President Amarillo Bar Asiociation, Amarillo, Texas: "We, your committee, appointed to prepare resolutions of respect to the memory of Chief Justice S. P. Huff, beg leave to report as follows: "It is har,d to express an estimate in a few sentences of the qualities and character of the late Chief Justice Huff; and we are wholly unable to adequately express our deep sense of bereavement, and the loss we feel, occasioned by his death. With the Amarillo Bar there was a companion­ ship in which admiration and affection were joined with respect; and, feel­ ing as we do in grieving over his death, language is insufficient for us in characterization of him as a jurist and as a citizen, and in expressing the loss of his services to this country, which in times like these, the country could ill spare. "Be it resolved that we, the members of the Amarillo Bar, comprising in part the Bar of the Appellate Court of which he was Chief Justice, de­ sire to express our profound regret at his death, and record our high ap­ preciation of his life and character and conspicuous services to his country. "WM. BOYCE, Chairman, "H. G. HENDRICKS, "J. W. CRUDGINGTON, "W. E. GEE, "Members of the Committee of the Amarillo Bar Association."

The A. C. Swinburn Family

In October, 1884, there came a man with his family to Wilbarger County from Henrietta, Texas. That man was A. C. Swinburn. He wa~ a brick contractor. He not only has the distinction of making the first brick in this county, but assisted in the construction of a number of Ver­ non's first brick buildings. Among the brick structures was the county's first brick jail and its first brick court house, which was built in 1886. He also built a brick jail at Margaret, Texas, in the early days when that town was recognized as the county seat of Hardeman County. A. C. Swinburn was a native of Illinois and Mrs. Swinburn was born in Florida. Mr. Swinburn died in 1924 and his wife passed away in 1930. Children born to this union and surviving their parents at their death include: 0. A. (Oscar) Swinburn, M. F. (Mat) Swinburn, Mrs. W. F. (Eula) Turney, and Mrs. W. C. (Vennie) Martin. 152 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Parker County People Came in 1885

In 1885 a Parker County citizen moved up here and settled in the southwestern part of Wilbarger Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Haney County, who from the date of his arrival begun taking an active interest in behalf of the farmers. That citizen was T. M. Haney. So active has been his interest in the man who tills the soil, his farmer_. friends have seen fit to trust ·with him responsible positions in several farm organizations. Mr. Haney, for several years, served as one of the directors of the Farm Bureau. When that organiza­ tion was taken over by the Farm Board in 1930, he was called upon to act as one of the me-mbers of the advisory board. In addition to this work in behalf of the farmers, he is also .president of the Farmers Co-operative Gin Association in his community. After Mr. Haney's location in this seetion of Texas, like many other early-day farmers, he went through the "ups and downs," so to speak, but he is now retired and lives eomfortably in a nice home with his wife. at Thalia. Mr. and Mrs. Haney are the parents of eight children. The children are: E. M. Haney, C. D. Haney, T. S. Haney, Mrs. John (Leta) Rasor, Mrs. Ogle (Ruth) Maynard, Miss Velmae Haney, Miss Coreen Haney and lVIiss Frankie Haney.

W. Leak and Family

W. Leak, with his wife and children, moved to '\Vilbarger County in 1888 from Johnson County. Mr. Leak bought a farm north of Pease River, which was the family home for several years. In later years he moved to Vernon and engaged in the coal and feed business. He died in Vernor.. October 16, 1918. Surviving Mr. Leak at the time of his death were his wife and six chil­ dren. The boys, L. H. Leak, Marlin, Texas; S. H. (Sam) and J.· W. (Jim) Leak, Vernon. The girls, Mrs. J. R. Truelove, Mrs. Belle Petty and l\'.lrs. J. D. Jobe, deceased. Mrs. Jobe died in Vernon July 26, 1931. W. Leak was a na"tive of Georgia. His wife, who was Miss Sarah New­ ton Hardy before her marriage, was born in Kentucky.

A statement from the Vernon Globe, a weekly newspaper published in Vernon as far back as 1894, says the Commissioner's Court on adjourn­ ing after a three days' session, allowed themselves $9 each. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 153

Pioneer Physician Locates in Vernon in 1889

Coming to Wilbarger County in 1889 from what was known then as the Indian Territory, the late Dr. J. E. Dodson, Sr., was for a number of years the only surgeon in Vernon and this section of the state. He died June 26, 1923. Dr. J. E. Dodson, Sr., was born in Hickman County, Tenn., May 12, 1847. At· the age of 14 years he enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was a mem­ ber of Co. B., W allers Battalion, Green's Brigade. At the close of the war he attended Vanderbilt Med­ Dr. J. E. Dodson, Sr. ical College and was a member of the first class to graduate from that school. Returning to his native state he praeticed medicine there for a time. In 1885 he left Tennessee for the Indian Territory where, for four years, he was in governmental ser­ vice as a physician and surgeon. After Dr. Dodson's arrival in Vernon and until his death in 1923, his :services as a physician and surgeon were highly esteemd in this section of Texas. In his latter days while practicing medicine with his son, Dr. J. E. Dodson, Jr., the two were surgeons for both the Fort Wo~h & Denver and Frisco Railways for a number of years. Not only as a physician and sur­ ge.on was Dr. Dodson's influence recognized in this county during his days, but as a civic leader he was always in the front ranks. He organized the first 'Red Cross chapter in Wilbarger County. He was a prominent Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner, and at one time served the Methodist Church in Vernon as one of its stewards. Children born to Dr. and Mrs. Dodson include: Robert E. Dodson, Mrs. T. G. Lomax, Mrs. C. H. (Mamie) Fisher (deceased), Dr. J. E. Dod­ son, Jr., Mrs. L. H. (Jesse) Squires, J. M. Dodson, C. A. Dodson and Dr. A. E. Dodson.

The great cattle trail from the southern ranges to the north ran through what is now the state of Oklahoma, and for a number of years during the early history of Vernon, over 300,000 head of cattle were driven north over this trail.-From "Vernon Guard." 154 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Steve Castlebury Came to County in 1888

Stephen A. Castlebury tells some interestin2" events which occurred during the first three hours after his arrival and which he hasn't forgot­ ten during these years he has lived in Vernon. Steve arrived in Vernon on the Ft. Worth & Denver train on his eighteenth birthday, l\'Iarch 3, 1888. There was no passenger depot here at that time and the train stopped where the old freight houie now stands. On that spot and where Mr. Backus' marble yard is located was Steve Castlehury Vernon's first "graveyard." "There used to be some very noted characters in Vernon," Mr. Castlebury says. "Three of these that I men­ tion were "\Yill West, Dave l\IcBride and old man Capps. The citizens of Vernon had purchased the site of the present East View cemetery from Dave McBride, who then owned that section of land. A contract had also been made with these men to move the 'graveyard' to East View. "The train arrived in Vernon five minutes after 4 o'clock in the after - noon. I had a little suit case and about $15 or $20 worth of clothes, be­ sides what I had on, and $6.50 in money. It was cloudy that day and a high wind was blowing from the southwest. When I alighted from the train and came around the corner of the freight depot, right where Mr. Backus' marble yard now stands, I saw these men I've mentioned, with two little old ponies hitched to a wagon without any end-gates in bottom of it with three boxes dug up out of the ground and loaded into the wagon. One was pushed in the wagon and stuck out the front end until it nearly touched the horses; the other one was pushed in the back end and stuck out about four feet out of the back end of the wagon. The third was set up cross­ ways on top of the wagon. "Most all the passengers got off the train and walked up to town, carrying their luggage. As we came by the wagon, Mr. Capps, who wa:-.; about 7 5 years old, got up on top of the coffin that was cros~ways of the wagon, with a quart of 'white mule' whiskey in his hand and waved it at us and said, 'Boys, here goes for East View Cemetery.' These three bodies were taken out and interred in East View Cemetery about 5 :30 that after­ noon. I doubt very seriously if there is any other person in Vernon who EARLY-D~Y HISTORY OF--WILBARGER COUNTY 155 remembers the exact date the first body was buried in East View-now it is a city of the dead. "J. H. Pendleton and T. M.: Fergeson were running _a drug store on the southwest corner of Main and .Pease Streets. When I got to town I went in ther'e· and made my first acquaintance in Vernon with T. :iv.I. Fer­ geson and bought a cigar from him. He W3$ very friendly and kind to me and I got permission from him to leave my grip there until I could get out and find out just where I was; as a result of that kindness I have traded with Ferges~n Drug store ever since. While in the drug store. I heard some loud and boisterous shooting taking place next door and in the street,

and walb..'ing out on the little plank sidewalk: laid in front of the. drug store, saw a dray loaded with men with ·a span of big, black mules hitched to it, coming down the street in a long~ sweeping trot, the driver yelling, 'Come on, boys--let's go to the races.' . He· yelled· at me and I jumped on the fl.oat. I came near getting run over three or four times· by the cow­ boys before I got on. They thronged the streets then _lik~ the automobiles do now. "We went south to what is now Wilbarger Street and turned west and headed for the race track which was situated where the old fair grounds were. Quite a large number of people were there. They .started the horses at the west end of the track and ran east towards Vernon. "While there a man whom I later learned was John Davidson, and who was drunk and waving a $10 bill and crying, 'Two to one on the stocking legged horse.' Seeing the maneuvers of the stocking legged horse, I was sure the other one would beat him and stood halting between the two im• pulses, as the $6.50 in my pocket was every dime- I had in the world, but I took it and won. I have never bet on another horse race to this day. "I lived out south of Vernon on Beaver Creek with my sister for three or four years. I grubbed out mesquite grubs and farmed, hauled buffalo bones, played the fiddle for cowboy dances, and did anything that was hon­ orable to make a living. The fact of the business, times and conditions got to where some of our best citizens had to take the hides off a few pole­ cats to keep the meal bins from getting entirely empty." Mr. Castlebury was the first constable- of Precinct No. 7, Wilbarger County, on Beaver Creek. He qualified and went to work in the sheriff's office when eighteen years old, under G. T. Conn. He was constable of Pre­ cinct No. 1 for several years; worked in the sheriff's office under D. P. IIenry, who succeeded Conn. Also was deputy sheriff under J. T. Williams during his entire term of office, which was about twenty years. Owned and run a cow ranch five miles west of Vernon until 1913. After leaving the sheriff's office, he has been farmer and ranchman. He was vice president and a director of the South Vernon Oil Com­ pany when it d1·illed in the discovery well of South Vernon oil field, fore~ runner of extensive oil development in Wilbarger County. Mr. and Mrs. Castlebury have two daughters, Mrs. Leon H. (Margaret_) Brown, 1\1:rs. Vergil E. (Georgia) Tims, and one son, Stephen Arthur, Jr. 156 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dalmasso

C. ·H. Dalmasso arrived in Vernon in February, 1890, and started in business within a short time. He was born in Italy and came to the United States in 18~0. He first went to Omaha, Nebr., where he remained until 1882 when he moved to Wills Point, Texas. From there he went to Ter­ rell and in 1886 he moved to Dallas where he remained until he came to Wilbarger County. Mrs. Dalmasso, who was Miss Annie Gerl, was born in Berlin, Ger;. many. Her family came to this country and settled at Brenham in 1890. They lived there a short time, then moved to Dallas and came to Vernon in August, 1890. She was married to Mr. Dalmasso June 28, 1891. Mr. and Mrs~ Dalmasso have four children livi11g: Mrs. Lela Jenkins of Sulphur, Okla., J. W. Dalmasso of Thurber and Fred and Frank Dal­ masso of Vernon.

S. H. Wilkinson Family

Among the prominent settlers of the Mack community in Wilbarger County was the S. H. Wilkinson family. They moved here in 1888 from Hunt County and have been identified with the development of Wilbarger County. Mr. Wilkinson died in 1932. His wife and eight children survived him: Henderson, Sam, Roy, Merrell and Robert Joe Wilkinson and Mrs. Nathan Reed, Mrs. Noah Dugan and Mrs. Elmer. Schaub. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 157

Peter T. Smith Family Texas Pioneers --- Some interesting historical data is woven around the late Peter T. Smith and -wife, who, with their five sons and one daughter, namely: J. B. (Joe), J. C. (John), C. P. (Charlie), Ed S., W. 0. (Walter) and Mrs. F. H. (Jennie) Wright, moved to this coun- ty in 1889. A family record of the parents of Mr. J . B . sml ·th and Mrs. Smith, reveals that they were the decend- ants of Texas pioneers, who located in Dallas County as far back as 1853. Peter T. Smith was born at Bowling Green, Ky., in 1836. At the ag~ oi 17 years, in a covered wagon with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith; and other _members of the family, he emigrated to Texas and located in Dallas County in 1853. Dallas at that time was but a small village. Mrs. Peter T. Smith, who was Miss Jennie Louise Broad, before her marriage, was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1840. She-, too, with her par­ ents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Broad, emigrated to Texas and iocated in Dallas County in 1855. Peter T. Smith and Miss Jennie Louise Broad were1 married July 7, 1859. Soon after their marriage they located in the southern part of Collin County, near where the town of Plano now stands. It was there that the five Smith boys, named above, and their sister, Mrs. F. H. Wright, were reared. The P. T. Smith family continued to make that locality their home until 1881, when they moved to Denton County and lived there for eight years. Having heard of the wide fertile prairie lands in Wilbarger County, the father with one son, J. B. (Joe), made a prospecting trip to this county in 1888. A short time afterwards, P. T. Smith bought two sections of land six miles north of Vernon and the family located in that vicinity February 11, 1889. Peter T. Smith will be recalled by early-day settlers in this county as · one of the pioneer ministers of the Church of Christ. He preached for the Vernon church for several years and organized the- Fargo Church of Christ. His membership was with the last named church when he died on October 23, 1911. His wife died July 4, 1904. All the children of this family, with the exception of one son, who died in infancy, survive their parents. Three of the boys, J. B., J. C., and C. P. Smith, taught school at one time in the county. J. B. Smith, in addition to farming near Fargo, taught the Fargo school for a number of years. J. C. Smith at one time in the 1890's, was superintendent of the Vernon schools. C. P. Smith served Wilbarger County as county attorney from 1898 until 1904. Ed S. Smith has always given his time to farming ani.t stock raising, is the owner of some of the county's best farm lands. W. 0. Smith farmed in the county for several years, and has served Vernon as one of the city commissioners. 158 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER·COUNTY:

Lon Byars Here Before County Was Organized

Lon Byars came to this section of Texas before the county was organ­ ized and has been a resident of Wil­ barger County since. He writes very interestingly of his life as a pioneer as follows: "On November 3, 1879, my father and family moved from Montague County and camped at the mouth of Paradise Creek. My father afte1·­ ·ward located on the J. P. King farm, and built a dug-out, 18x24, made of timber off Pease River. "At that time there were only :five families here, but a little later, Uncle Lon Byars Ben Simmons and family joined the few, coming from Montague County. Our mail was sent to Cambridge, which was then a government fort, near where Henrietta now is, and was brought to ms by cowboys. The Indians and cowboys were very friendly. The Indians coming through would trade us beads and moccasins for a few groceries, and often camped near our dug-out. "The first school was located on the river, then the Golden section, later owned by Ladd, and now the Gregory farm. It was taught in a dug­ out by Mrs. A. T. Boger, in the year of 1882. The school was later moved, in 1884, to a dug.;out owned by a batchelor by the name of Alex Dawson and the school was then named Dawson Valley. "In the spring ef 1880, G. W. Darbey and I dug a dug-out, and set out some cottonwood trees where the Vernon Drug Store now is. The trees stood there until the first pavement was laid in Vernon. We had to get our supplies from Cambridge, to meet the needs of the cowboys on their trail to Dodge City. Being so many large eagles here in the country, we named our place Eagle Flat. That was the beginning of the town of Vernon. We had to go to Gainesville in Cook Cou:r;.ty, to get our merchan­ dise. It would take ten to twelve days to make the trip with horse teams, and forty to fifty days with oxen. "The country was covered with tall sage grass, and lots of wild game of all kinds, sueh as antelope, deer, buffalo, wild turkeys, geese and prairie chicken. We could get wild plums, grapes and currants, and also persim­ mons and pecans. The old settlers' occupation was poisoning coyotes for their hides and gathering buffalo bones, hauling them to Gainesville, selling them for $20 to $22 per ton. Later on, when the railroad came to Wichita EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 159

Falls, we had a market there." Lon Byars was born in Palo Pinto County in 1868. His wife, who w~s Miss Mary Harvey before her marriage, was a native of Alabama. She moved to Texas with her parents in 1879 and located in Erath County. From there they came to Wilbarger County in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Byars were married July 24, 1889. Nine. children were born to this union, name~ ly: Mack, Rufus, Ben, Lon Jr., Dewey, Henry, Earl, Lesley, the boys, and one daughter, Mrs. Edgar (Ira) Tidwell.

Prominent Family Came From Arkansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clarence Johnson came to Wilbarger County in February, 1889. Mr. Johnson was born in Columbus, Ark., and came to Texas in 1872, settling at Sulphur Springs. Mrs. Johnson was born and reared in that city and before her marriage was Miss Romina Blythe. Mr. J-0hnson engaged in the grocery business in Vernon from 1889 to 1892 in the firm of Johnson & Hatchett. They sold out to Parker, Colbert & Gill. He then went in the hardware business and remained in that until 1900 when the family moved to Altus, Okla. The firm of the Johnson Hardware Company did business in Altus until 1914 when Mr. Johnson retired and moved to Miami. He was the first superintendent of the Methodist Sunday S_chool in Vernon, and was a steward in the Methodist Church from the time of his conversion in 1880 until his death in 1929. Mrs. Johnson died in 1912. They were survived by eight living children: Clarence T. Johnson, Breckenridge; Mrs. Clint James (Ludric) Farrell, Vernon; Mrs. Victor E. (Edna) Conkle, Oklahoma City; Shem Johnson, Dallas; Mrs. M. G. (Lela) Emmert, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Blythe Johnson, Oklahoma City; Hansel John­ son, Tulsa, and Eunice Johnson, San Francisco, Calif.

The A. J. Haney Family

A. J. Haney was born in Polk County, Tennessee, August 16, 1855. In 1877 he came to Texas to make- his home and settled at Springtown, Parker County. He was married to Miss Sina Morton in Wise County on April 10, 1881. Mrs. Haney was born in Lamar County, Alabama, and came to Texas in 1873 and settled in Tarrant County near Fort Worth. In August, 1885, Mr. Haney and his brother came to Wilbarger Coun­ ty and filed on land in the southwest part of the county. He brought his family here to live December 10 of that year. For many years he was one of the prominent farmers of the county and helped develop the southwest part of Wilbarger County. In 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Haney moved to Vernon to make their home. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haney: W. 0. Haney, T. B. Haney, lVIiss Ethel Haney, and Ernest Haney, who died in 1~08. 160 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Wright Located Near Fargo in 1889

The subject of this sketch, F. H. (Frank) Wright, is not only an early day citizen of Wilbarger County, but. along with his parents he can right­ fully he classed among the pioneer settlers of Texas. He was born at Bloomington, Ill., and after moving to Texas, located at Plano, in Collin County in 1875. For several years in the boyhood days of Mr. Wright's life, he was a druggist in Collin County. On Feb­ ruary 15, 1882, he was married to F. H. Wright Miss Jennie Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Smith, who were among the first settlers in Dallas County. When the Smith family moved to Wilbarga- County in 1889 they were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Their first start at farming in this commur..ity was to rent 320 acres of land adjoining the Smith farm six miles north of Vernon. They continued to rent this farm for a period of twelve years when they bought the place. In 1920 they sold their farm, moved to Vernon and now live comfortably in a nice home in the city, retired from active duties. Mr. Wright, in speaking of conditions in Wilbarger County in 1889~ and what his earthly belor.. gings consisted of then, said that when he l~nd­ ed here he had $5 5 in money, a wagon and team, a walking plow and one­ double shovel plow. He gave $35 to get possession of the land he had rented, and went to work. His newly acquired farm, he said, was im­ proved with a dug-out and had 35 acres broke out. His first year's work in the county was grubbing up mesquite grubs and putting more land in cultivation. However, his first year here he. raised a five-acre oat crop ·which was threshed by the late W. H. Evans, who threshed over the country with a horse power outfit. He sold most of his oat crop to Greer County, Oklahoma, citizens f,gr 75c per bushel. He never raised any cottor..,. he said, but gave his attention to the raising of grain, feed and young n1ul~8. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wright are devoted members of the Church of Christ and along with others in their neighborhood were itstrumental in establishing the first congregation of Christian worshippers at the Fargo SGhool house in the days when it was called Richland. Early-day citizens 01 that community will recall Mrs. Wright's father as being one among the fi1·st gospel ministers in that community. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 161

P. L. Sneed Family Arrived in County in 1889

: Along with other early-day set­ tiers of Wilbarger County, and espe­ cially of Vernon, rightfully belongs ~ record of the late P. L. (Uncle Pete) Sneed, who, with his wife and children, settled in Vernon Decem­ ber 19, 1889. Mrs. Sneed, with some of her children, live in Vernon now. , "Uncle Pete," as he was familiarly called by those who knew him, died September 27, 1925. The Sneed family came to Vernon from Tarrant County and settled in the southeast part of the city. Ace Sneed, a brother of P. L., also came P. L. (Pete) Sneed to this country the same time hb brother and family did. He died in Vernon in 1926. For a number of years in this country P. L. Sneed gave a greater portion of his time to dealing in live stock. He was an authority, so to speak, on good horses, especially those fitted for the race track. His first trade venture in Vernon was the wagon-yard, coal and feed business. La­ ter he dealt in fine stock. The children are: Mrs. J. W. (Bernella) Greathouse, Vernon; Mrs. Howard (Rubye) Bridendoll, Quanah; Mrs. Frank (Fannie) Moore, Wel­ lington; ]IIrs. T. J. (Grace) Bridges, Vernon; Misses Mabel and Mattie, deceased; Joe, W. B. (Bill) and Bob, all of Vernon.

T. A. Berry Native of Alabama

T. A. Berry, for many years a carpenter in Vernon, was born in Rus­ sellville, Ala., and came to Texas in 1883, settling on Beaver Creek. He was married to Miss Laura Russell at Lampasas in 1886 and this young couple started out housekeeping in the Beaver Creek community. Mrs. Berry was born in Mississippi and moved to Lampasas County, Texas, in 1884. The Berrys· lived on Beaver Creek until 1902 when they moved to Vernon. Mrs. Berry die!d in 1904. For many years Mr. Berry followed the carpenter's trade in the city. He died in May, 1926. Surviving chil­ dren are: Mrs. Elizabeth Justin, W. T., C. M., M. C., and Ruben R. Berry. 162 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. I. Davenport

Back in ·June, 1884, this county acquired a citizen from Piatt County, Illinois. Asione of the pioneer farmers and cattlemen of Wilbarger Coun­ ty, he acted the part of a good citizen toward developing this western country. His name was I. Davenport. l\'Ir. Davenport died July 26, 1.903. Surviving him at his death were his wife and five children, four boys and one daughter. They are: D. H. (Dave) Davenport, S. C. (Sol) Davenport, G. H. (George) Davenport), S. I. (Steve) Davenport, and Mrs. J. L. (Car­ rie) Littlefield. I:ri the early days of this county, Mr. Davenport served the county two terms as a commissioner for Precinct No. 2. In 1886, which was a year for a general election, the voting place was at the home of Mr. Davenport, six miles west of Vernon, and a record shows the following voters partici­ pated: George Von Emans, D. H. Reece, J. W. Black, Christian Streit, Fred Streit, Christian Krebbs, Rudolph Hoffman, M. L. Hutchinson, Jim Beard, W. E. Beard, G. W. Mears, F. M. Duckworth, George Ruschmann, S. C. Russell, J. W. Smith, I. Davenport, J. L. Kirkwood, George Kempf, J. M. Morgan, W. C. Jordan, L. A. Rodgers, J. R. Rodgers, George Upfold, 'R. D. Rector, Jay Probasco, A. J. Haney, G. W. Creed, E. A. Upfold, George Probasco and Elijah Lowe. Some of the trials, trouble, joys and tribulations the Davenport family endured when they first settled in Wilbarger County are told in an inter­ esting style by one of the sons of the family, S. C. Davenport. He writes: "In Jnne, 1884, my father came to Wilbarger County and filed on two sections e,f land, six miles southwest of Vernon. The following winter we EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 163 moved from Deland, Piatt County, Illinois. "At that time Wichita Falls was the nearest railroad point-with no town between there and Vernon. The old Mobeetie freight road ran from there and the stopping places were stage stands, where the U. S. mail driv­ ers changed horses. One north of Iowa Park was called Toksana and one east of Ha;rrold, Cottonwood Stage Stand. These stands were dug-outs, with corrals for the freighters to use while camping. "Wilbarger County was then a vast prairie-in fact there were only two or three houses in sight from Wichita Falls to Vernon. The country did not settle much until after the railroad was built in '86. Vernon wa!: very small: two general merchandise stores, a drug store and four saloons. "}Iy father began preparations for farming and stock raising at once. While our home was built and the place imp1·oved, we lived in a half dug­ out on Paradise Creek. Most of the land was plowed and cultivated with ox teams. The same were used for freighting, hauling wood and all kinds of transportation. "Farming proved to be· rather hard for a few years-on account of drought, prairie dogs and range cattle. Being close to the old cattle i.rail, at times a trail herd would stampede and ruin a small crop almost as quick ly as a Wilbarger sand storm. During the drought of '86 and '87, Wil"." barger settlers had a hard time getting food and clothing. Men freighted, hauled bones, or worked on the railroad under construction. "My father and I went to Fort Sill to work for the government among­ the Indians. (They were teaching the Comanche Indians how to farm). It took us five days to make the trip with oxen. After being stuck in the mud in Red River for several hours, some of Waggoner's cowboys came along and pulled us out with their ponies and lariats. When we arrived at Wolf Creek, we found Lon Byars and Ed Bennett, with their fathers, there for the same purpose-to make a little 'chuck money.' ''After about eighteen months' drought and no feed nor grass for cat­ tle, we fed prickly pears-after burning off the thorns. Thousands of prairie dogs starved to death that winter. "In '85 the Fourth of July picnic was held in the school yard, with a big basket dinner. Cowboys, ranchmen, nesters, saloon men and Indians attended. Such sports as sack race, potato race, climbing a greased pole and horse races were given. Ed McHugh, our present county auditor, won the potato race. "On Christmas the same year, a Christmas tree was held in an empty store building on the northwest corner of the square. Everyone sat on the counters down each side of the room. The tree was plentifully sup­ plied with red bandanas for the men and shawls for the women. Judge Orr officiated as 'Santa Claus.' When the performance was nearly over a band of cowboys began to ride around the building and shoot. The sheriff and some Rangers made for the door, but got out too late to catch the offenders. In those days that was their way of leaving to,vn, but it broke up the Christmas tree. "The first churches were hel~ in a one-room school h~use on the llUh- 164 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY lie school site across the street from the present Baptist Church. All de­ nominations held sessions in the same building. "Game was plentiful at that time. The prairies were covered with antelope, deer, wild turkeys, wild chickens and quail. Fruit was very scarce -wild plums and pie melons being our only varieties. "Though there were wild horses and coyotes in great numbers, we found only the bones of the buffalo here. Huge piles of these were over all this western country. Some people made their living by gathering these from over the plains and shipping them. Great trains of wagons could be seen on the freight road from Mobeetie to Wichita Falls. Here the loads were shipped to northern points to be made into fertilizer. Th~ advantage in numbers was in helping each other across the rivers, as there were no .bridges then. Each team would consist of six or eight yolk of oxen, or about that many spans of mules. On the return, these wagons would take back supplies for Mobeetie, Clarendon or several ranches far­ ther west."

From Georgia to Texas in 1891

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Cain, who now live at Melrose, New Mexico, came to Texas from Georgia in 1891 and located in this county. They mat

The W. H. Lyon Family

Another citizen who came to Wilbarger County. in the late 80's and watched and had a part in developing this western country from a cow­ man's section to that of a land of farmers' homes, is W. H. Lyon. He is now a citizen of the Jackson Springs community, in the northwestern part of this county. Mr. Lyon was born in Lamar County, Texas, and came to this county in 1889. He was married to Miss Ellie Combs, November 3, 1889. Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Lyon in this country he settled south of Harrold. From that neighborhood he moved to Greer County, Oklahoma, in 1891. Returning, he lived south of Beaver Creek for a num­ ber of years. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lyon include: Emmett H. Lyon, R. J. Lyon, W. H. (Billie) Lyon, Dewey Lyon, deceased; Mrs. S. P. (Bessie) Brooks, Mrs. Willie (Maude) Collier, deceased; and Mrs. Truett (Myrtle) Lynn. Mrs. W. H. Lyon died :March 3, 19 2 9. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 165

M~. and Mrs. Robert Boyle

Mr. and lvirs. Robert Boyle crossed the Atlantic in 1889 to make a home in Wilbarger County~ A brother, Thomas Boyle, had settled here in 1881. Thomas Boyle was born with a pioneering spirit. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to Australia and New ZealaLd, living there for twenty-one years. Wanderlust seized him again and he embarked for America. He came directly to Texas, as did Robert Boyle, and lived in San Antonio until Wilbarger County was organized. He located a sheep ranch on Lily Creek, sixteen miles south of Vernon. He was assisted by another brother, David, and a cousin, Ed Beare. David died in 1889. Thomas then persuaded Robert and family to come to Texas. In the fall of 1889, the Boyle family, a brother, Samuel, and a sister, Jane, and a niece, Lizzie Caskey, came to try their fortunes. in the far West. :Niany pounds of wool were sold in Vernon from the Boyle ranch in the early days. In 1906 the family moved to Vernon and for a long period of time, Mr. Boyle was employed with the Parker-Smith Grocery store. He retired from business several years before he died. l\i1r. Boyle was born in Culnady, County Derry, Ireland. He received his education in Glasnevin Model School in Dublin, Ireland, and was a stu­ dent in the University at Edinburgh, Scotland. The family has traveled extensively, making three trips to Ireland. Mr. Boyle died April 28, 1924.. · l\Ir. Boyle was married to Miss Nancy Hyndman in Ireland. Two daughters were born to l\Ir. and Mrs. Boyle: Mrs. Eunice (Elizabeth Mary) Wilson and Miss Janie- Boyle, who, with their mother, live in Ver­ non. Miss Boyle is a teacher in the public schools and was educated in the Texas University and Denton State Teachers' College. 166 E.t\.RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Conducted Sheep Ranch South of Vernon in 1881

A short biographical sketch of Thomas Boyle appears .on the pre- . ceding page. It was he who per­ suaded the Boyle brothers to leave their native home in Ireland and con1e to America and establish homes. l\:fany of the first settlers in this county recall the Boyle brothers ar..d their sheep ranch sixteen miles south of Vernon. The ranch wa~ located on Lily Creek, which strealn is still referred to by that name. A large portion of that part of the county is now referred to as the W. T. Waggoner Ranch. Thomas Boyle

T. J. Lockett Family

On March 16, 1890, a Tennessee family settled in Wilbarger County whose. influence for the good and upbuilding of this western country is still recognized. Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Lockett were the head of this family. Both were born at Castilion Springs, Tenn. Mrs. Lockett's maide-n name was Mattie Scott. Childre-n born to this union include: Frank S. Lockett, Mrs. John H. Lowe, John B. Lockett, Mrs. Chas. H. Cato and Jetter E. Lockett. Upon the arrival of this family in the county, they settled west of Ver­ non and that neighborhood is still referred to as the Lockett community. Around the site of the Lockett home place a small village in late years has grown up and the name of the little town is Lockett. An up-to-date gin, a grocery store, fillir..g stations, churches and a school building are some of the advantages of the, town. Frank B. Lockett, a son of the family, in speaking about their first years in this county, said: "For three years after we arrived in Wilbar­ ger County, we farmed with one yoke of oxen and three head of horses. Our principal crop in those days was small grain. At the time of our ar­ rival, there were only two fields in cultivation between Vernon and where we located." EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY , 167

The S. A. Naylor Family

S. A. Naylor was born in Kentucky ar.. d moved to Texas and located in Dallas County in 1875. He was a citizen of that county until 1888 _when he and his family moved to Wilbarger County. After the Naylor family's arrival in this community they located on a section of land in, the IJ,orthwest part of the county that Mr. Naylor had bought. They co~tinued to make that location their home until 1902 when they moved to Chillicothe. For a number of years Mr. Naylor was r.ecognized as one of the outstand­ ing farmers and stock raisers in his neighborhood. After moving to Chilli­ cothe he was engaged in the dry goods business for several years and in addition to that business acquired valuable property in other sections of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Naylor are now retired from active life and 'live comfortably in Vernon. Children include: Edna Naylor, Homer Naylor, Grover Naylor, Ruby .Lee Naylor, Dennis L. Naylor and Mrs. L. S. (Hallie) Walker. -

Druggist and Business Man Came in 1889

Born in Navarro County, Texas, in 1862, T. L. Pierce, the subject of this sketch, moved to Vernon and cast his lot with the citizenship of this . cour,.ty in De-cember, 1889. Upon his arrival in this county he engaged in the drug business and for years ,vas one of Vernon's leading druggists. Along about the time Oklahoma acquired its statehood, when Frederick was growing up as a new town on the Frisco Railway out of Vernon, Mr. Pierce opened a drug and jewelry store in that city in addition to his drug business in Vernon. Other business activities of lv!r. Pierce that required his personal attention during the earlier days of this western country was his banking and farm ir.. terest. At one time he was connected with the Herring National Bank in Vernon. Also he was once interested in the First Guaranty State Bank of Verr~on, ·which in late years has assumed the name of the First State Bank. He helped to organize and was inter­ ested in the Bank of Commerce at Frederick, Okla., which was the first bank in that city. Along during those years he was also interested in a bank at Altus, Okla. And while now retired from close business duties, which in former years required his attention, he still takes an active part in thir:gs he considers to be for the best interest of his town, county and state. Speaking of his boyhood days as a young Texan, lvlr. Pierce says: "I was raised on a farm twelve miles from Corsicana, Texas. My father, Thomas Pierce, was a stock farmer who raised cattle, horses, mules, sheep and hogs." In the early days of his life, he said, along with his father they dealt exclusively one time in the cattle business in Hill and Runnels Counties, Texas. 168 · EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Selden B. Scoville

Selden B. Scoville, pioneer citizen of Wilbarger County, now deceased, was a noted stock raiser of this section of the Panhandle. 1\ir. Scoville bred and trained fine harness horses, and introduced Galloway cattle into the county. He and A. L. Tschefally, a former business man of Vernon, brought the first Poland-China hogs here. Always t interested in exhibitions of blooded stock, he was one of the main promotors of county fairs, and assisted in managing the fairs at this place as long as he remained in Texas. He acted in the capacity of judge at the track events. 1vir. Scoville was born in Bethel, Oliio, March 17, 1859.: and died at •Cincinnati, Ohio, October 29, 1913. He came to Doans, Wilbarger County, in 1882, where he engaged in horseshoeing and general blacksmithing. Later he moved to his ranch near what is now known as Fargo. He was married to Miss Ca1·rie Irons of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1887, and brought her to Texas where they lived on the r3:nch ur... til 1904, when the, family moved to Ohio. Mrs. Scoville was born at Lebanon, Ohio, Pebruary 14, 1860, and died November 22, 1923! Their three children were born here in Wil­ barger County. Samuel Selden of Cincinnati, Maria~ne-, now Mrs. Guy Pettit of Vernon, and Owens, deceased in 1915. The eldest son, Sam, is an ex-service man, having served over-seas with the 34th Engineers. He is now engaged in the United States Naturalization Service with head­ quarters at Cincinnati, Ohio. He is married and has a son, Selden Sco­ ville IV. Mrs. Guy Pettit, the daughter, who makes Vernon her home, finished her education at Cincinnati, majoring in art at the Ohio Mechanics In­ stitute.

The first Sunday School in this county was organized in 1882. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 169

• •

The J. W. Campbell Family Among Early Settlers

J. W. Campbell, who will be re­ called by a number of Wilbarger's early-day citizens, with his wife and children first located in Tarrant County, Texas, after moving from his native state, Virginia.. After about two years' residence in that section of the state, the Campbells moved to Wilbarger County in the fall of 188-0. They located north of Pease River in the section generally referred to now as the forks of Pease and Red Rivers. At the location of this family in the county, Vernon was not known Mrs. J. B. Smith and a post office was established in their community and called "Julia." Mrs. J. W. Campbell was made post­ mistress. The mail to this early-day post office came from Henrietta and was carried on to Mobeetie, Texas. \. t!-.ry few people in the county today recall this particular post office as it was of short duration. At the organization of Wilbarger County on October 10, 1881, the records show that J. W. Campbell was one of the few citizens who partici­ pated in the organization and election of the county's first officers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell died several years ago. They were the parents of eight children, two boys and six girls. Four_ of the children are dead and four living. The de.ceased are: Charlie and Tim Campbell, the boys; Mrs. Lucian (Jettie) Gilbert and Mrs. R. M. (Lou) Cody. The living are: Mrs. R. L. (Virginia) Waggoner, Mrs. Matt (Jewett) Jones, Mrs. Percy (Nora) Cornelius and Mrs. J. B. (Etta) Smith. Mrs. J. B. Smith is the only member of the Campbell family that is

now a resident of this county. She was married to J. B. Smith in 1891:1 They reside in Vernon and are the parents of three children which include l\'frs. J. H. (Jennie) Perry, Homer Smith and Helen Smith, the latter, a daughter, deceased.

B. J. (Joe) Norris was the first constable of Wilbarger County. Mr. Norris was an ex-Confederate. soldier from North Carolina.

In 1895 four Post 'Routes ran out of Vernon. One went to Altus, one to· Crowell, one to Talmage and the fourth to Pinta. 170 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. E. Lo,ver..

Mr. and Mrs. E. Lowe, both of whom have passed away in this cou~ty in recent years, along with their children who survive them: truly deserve to be recorded as a family who have done much to­ ward the development of this wes­ tern country. Mr. Lowe was a native of Ver­ millian County, Indiana. His wife was born· in McMinn County, Tenn. They were married in Dal­ las County, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe moved to Wilbarger County in January, 1882. On their ar­ rival in this county they located a few miles east of Vernon and lived there for a short time. From there they moved southwest of Vernon where they purchased a section of land. Their first dwelling was a "picket house," made of saplings and with a dirt floor. A short distance away, in later years, a better and more substantial house was built where they spent the remaining days of their lives. Along about 1923, Mr. and Mrs. Lowe called in to their beautiful county home, \heir children, grandchildren, close friends and neighbors to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. It was a happy occasion for this pioneer couple. A sumptuous meal was enjoyed by the wedding party and a newspaper reporter was on hand to reccn-d the event. In an inter­ view with this news reporter at the time, Mr. Lowe said: "I have seen dozens of antelope grazing in that field," pointing to a cotton patch near the house. "When we came here there were not many deer, but antelope could be seen by the hundreds. It was not far west of here where a few buffalo could be found. In 1882 there were r..o houses between our place and Vernon, while our nearest neighbor to the south­ west was at the U. L. A. Ranch headquarters, 35 miles distant." Mr. and l\'Irs. Lowe were the parents of eight children. Five of whom survived them at their death, include: J. B. Lowe, Mrs. F. S. Lockett, Mrs. W. H. Ar.. derson, Mr:ii. Bradford Hancock and Mrs. H. W. Wensel. Mrs. Lowe died January 9, 1929. l\ir. Lowe passed away May 4, 1929.

Ohioans Located in County in 1887

Back in 1887, Mr. and lirs. Joseph P. Owens came to Wilbarger County from Ohio to make their home. They located a few miles west of the present site of Fargo. At that time the village of Fargo was not EARLY-DAY HI,sTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 171 in existence and the neighbors of J\ir. and Mrs. Owens were few and far between in that locality of the county. · While a citizen of the county, Mr. Owens devoted his time to farming and stock raising. Owing to the wheat failures in this county in the _early nineties, Mr. Owens left Texas and in later years died in his native state, Ohio. Mrs. Owens, who was Miss Ladora Scoville before marriage, was also born in Ohio. She and their daughter, Mrs. Frederick J._ (Bessie) Wendt, survived Mr. Owens at his death. In furnishir..g the publishers a biographical sketch of the family for this book, Mrs. Owens, who lives at Lebanon, Ohio, recalling early day in­ cidents of their life in Wilbarge1· County, wrote: · "I recall I presided at the organ at the first Sunday School organized at Doans. C. F. Doan led the singing and also at different. times accompanied on a cornet." She recalled witnessing thousands of head of cattle cross Red River which were beir..g driven up the Western Trail for the northern markets. On another occasion, she remembered a thrilling camping and fishing experience she had with friends and neighbors in Oklahoma. The state at that time was known as the Indian Territory ar..d she said they camped on the present site of Lawton, Okla. "The Indians were camped all around us," she said, "and we witnessed the government agents issuing beef out to them."

Q. Gilliland Family

Q. Gilliland came to Vernon in 1886 and settled on Section 18, Block 18, in the Talmadge community in the southwest part of the county. l\Ir. Gilliland was a native of Tennessee and moved to Texas when a young man. He came to Wilbarger County from Gainesville. He died in 1903. The family consisted of four boys and three girls: J. A. Gilliland, R. A. Gilliland~ Lee Gilliland~ George Gillilland, Mrs. Laura Christopher, Mrs. Lora Haney and Mrs. Mary Davis.

The Bond Family Settles Near Harrold in 1887

Since Harrold, Texas, was the terminus of the Fort Worth & . Denver Ra.ilroad for a period before its promoters built it on further west, a num­ ber of the first settlers of Wilbarger County bought land and established homes in and around Harrold. Among the families to settle in that locality in the early days was that of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Bond. They located south of Harrold in 1887. Like a number of the first settlers, they followed farming and stock raising. lviiles Bond died several years ago and was survived at the time of his death by his wife. Alf Bond, a son of this pioneer family, was married to Miss Fannie L. Baker of Tarrant County, who came to Wilbarger County in 1891. To this union six children were born. 172 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Key Family Were Stockmen on Beaver Creek in 1888

In December, 1888, N. M. Key and family arrived in Wilbarger County to make their home. They located south of Vernon on Beaver Creek, where Mr. Key and his sons engaged in the stock raising business. Mr. Key, who was a native of Alaba1na, died in 1890. His wife, who was born in Mississippi, and was Miss Mary Jane Groves before her mar­ riage, died in 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Key were the par­ ents of eight children, four boys and four girls. The boys, W. F. (Will) Key, J. D. (Jim) Key, R. I. (Rube) J. D. Key Key. L. E. (Ed) Key. The girls in-

elude Mrs. i. C. (Julia) Williams, Mrs. E. M. (Lula) Gardenhire,1 J\ilrs. Joe (Mollie) King, deceased, and Mrs. G. L. (Sallie) Myers. One of the boys, J. D. Key, was sheriff of Wilbarger County for several years and also served the city of Vernon at one time as chief of police and city fire in- spector.

Hon. J. A. Lucky and Family

A special edition of the "Vernon Guard," issued November 18, 1888, by B. Wilson .Edgell, its editor, had the following to say about Hon. J. A. Lucky, one-tin1e prominent lawyer and mayor of Vernon: "Born and raised in Shelby County, Texas, he, like. a number of Texas boys in the early days had many adversities and obstacles to surmount. In 1890, he with his family, which consisted of his wife, one son and one daughter, moved to Vernon to cast their lot with the good people of Wil­ barger County. After a short residence in this county, Judge Lucky gained the confidence of the people of Vernon and was elected mayor by a big majority." Judge Lucky died in Vernon several years ago, survived at the time of his death by his wife and son, Erwin, and daughter, Miss Verna. But in more recent years they, too, have passed away and thus what was once a prominent family of Wilbarger County, all sleep the last sleep in East View Cemetery. EARLY-DAY JIISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 173

L. J. Massie Started Grocery· Store in 1888

L. J. Massie, pioneer merchant of Vernon, started out in the grocery business in this city May 10, 1888, and h~s been connected with the gro­ cery business since that time with the exception of the year 1891. lVIr. Massie was born in Green County, ~entucky, and came to Tex­ as in 1877 and settled in McKinney. He came to Vernon in 1888 where he made his home until a few years back when he moved to Calif01·nia. He was married to Miss Cora Lee Probasco. Mrs. Massie was born in Monroe County, Missouri, and can1e to this county in 1889, settling ten miles southwest of town. L. J. Massie In a short sketch of his business careex in Vernon, Mr. Massie writes: · "I bought half interest in a very small grocery store from W. H. Pen­ dleton in a little wooden house on the west side of the square, where, the Vernon Drug Store is no.w located, on the 10th day of May, 1888, and have been in the grocery business ever since except the year 1891. Your fellow townsman, S. L. Mallow, and I opened the present Massie-Hogsett store, now located east of the library, in February, 1892. At the enp of four years I bought his interest in the business and sinc:e January, 1896, have had several different partners in the business. So far as I can learn the Massie-Hogsett store is one of the oldest in Texas." The Massie store£ are now located in a number of ·to·wns in Texas and southern Oklahom~. He is vice president of the Herring National Bank of Vernon and has considerable business interests in California. Mrs. Massie died in 1931 and was buried in California. Mr. Massie's three daughters are: Mrs. Glen Tressler of Long Beach, Mrs. Kathleen Bixby of Long Beach and Mrs. Virginia Heyden of Beverly Hills, Calif.

J. G. Ayers, E. L. l\IcHugh and T. Bunker used characteil's as their in­ dividual brand marks in the early days. W. H. Hancock used "1888." A. F. Eaton used "77' and "61" as his brands. P. P. Ackley used letters, fi­ gures and characters. 174 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER'COUNTY

Judge Tolbert a Citizen of County in 1886

Among the early-day officers of Wilbarger County, who achieved for themselves. a record for administrative ability, was James R. Tolbert, who now resides at Hobart, Okla. Judge Tolbert is a native of Tennessee and came to Texas when a boy. He came to Wilbarger County in 1886. In 1890 he attended the State University at Austin, anq .studied law. He re­ turned to Vernon and was elected county judge in 1894. A special edition of the "Vernon Guard," published by B. Wilson Edgell in November, 1899, had the following to say about Judge Tolbert's record as judge of this county over a period of years: "A successful county judge must have an administrative or executive ability, for upon him to a great extent, depends the financial condition of his county. That Wilbarger County's judge has these qualifications to ~ marked degree,. must be, and is, admitted by all unbiased minds." ·. ''In 1894," continues the Vernon Guard, "when Judge Tolbert was first elected judge of Wilbarger County, script was poor property at 45c to 50c on the dollar. Today it is worth one hundred cents on the dollar. The present total indebtedness is less than 3 per cent of the assessed val­ uations." Judg~ Tolbert and his family moved to Oklahoma shortly after the Frisco -Railway built into Vernon and new towns in Oklahoma, including Hobart ·and other cities along that road were built up.

J. T. (Johnny) Williams a· Citizen in 1882

The late J. T. (Johnny) Williams, whose fearless and fair record as an officer of the law, was known all over this western country, located in this county in 1882. He served Wilbarger County as sheriff and tax col­ lector for five consecutive terms. It was during his tenure of office that these two official duties were made separate offices and Mr. Williams was elected tax collector. Mr. Williams also at one time served the county as deputy under Sheriff J. T. Conn. And in the early 90's, whe-n Vernon was experiencing her first boom days:; he was appointed city marshal to suc­ ceed John Hammond, who was accidently killed at the county court house. While sheriff of the county in 1899, a special edition of the "Vernon Guard," paid him the following tribute: "In our present sheriff, Wilbar­ ger County has an officer of whom she is justly proud. Texas boasts of no braver man than Jphn T. Williams. He is quiet, cool, calm, fearless and at the same time unassuming. He inspires all with respect." Mrs. J. T. Williams, who survived her husband at his death, was mar­ ried to him in 1890. She moved to Vernon with her parents from Lamar County in 1889. Besides his wife, four children survived l\'.Ir. Williams at his death. They include: Mrs. Paul (Allie) Goetze, Mrs. Clois (Win­ nie) Green, l\tlrs. John A. (Rubye) Storey, and Mrs. Keith (Louie) Be1·ry. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 175

Pioneer Lumberman Settled at Harrold in 1889

P. M. Morris was born in Georgia and when a young m.an moved to Cass County, Texas. There he was married to Miss Martha Ellington, also a native of Georgia. During the early days they moved to Haw­ kins, Wood County, where they re­ sided uLtil 1889 when they moved to Harrold. At Harrold Mr. Morris engaged in the lumber business for a number of years and at the same time bought considerable land. He and his sons were among the leading farmers and stockmen of the county. In 1906 Mrs. P. M. Morris Mr. and Mrs. Morris moved to Ver- non to make -their home. He passed away in 1924 and Mrs. Morris died in 1931. This family was promiLent in the development of Wilbarger County. Coming to the Harrold country in the early days when it was one of the leading towns of the country, Mr. and Mrs. Morris always took an active part in the civic and religious life of the community. Surviving are four sons, John B. Morris, D. E. Morris, Andrew P. Morris and G. C. Morris. J. B. Morris ran a drug store at Harrold in the early days and in re­ cent years has devoted all his time to looking after his farming interests. D. E. and Andrew Morris look after their farming. G. C. Morris has bee.n with the Herring National Bank since 19_:04 and is at present active vice president and cashier.

D. R. Britt an Early-Day Attorney

Among the lawyers who went into general practice shortly after Wil­ ba1·ge-r County was organized in 1881, was D. R. Britt. Lawyer Britt was forceful in his arguments before a jury and gained for himself a wide reputation as a prosecuting attorney. He left this county a number of years ago for Roswell,, New Mexico, where he now resides. 176 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Rhoads.

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Rhoads were born and reared in Tennessee. They moved to Tei:as and stopped in Denton County for a short time. They ar­ rived in Vernon in May, 1885. Soon after moving to Vernon Mr. Rhoads formed a partnership with Tom Jones and bought a bankrupt stock of goods. They were first located on the west side of the square on the northwest corner but later moved to the southwest corner on the south side. He sold his interest in this busin&Ss ar:.d entered the grocery and feed business. When he sold out this store he: moved to his farm southeast of Vernon where he lived for seve,n years. Upon returning to Vernon Mr. Rhoads bought grain for a number of years. He died at his home in Southwest Vernon in 1928. Mrs. Ed S. Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads, was the first girl baptize:d into the Baptist church of this city. Services in the early days were held in the school building before a church was erected. At the time of Mr. Rhoads death be was survived by his wife and three children: Mrs. Smith, John 'Rhoads and Marion .Rhoads.

The Brand Record of Wilbarger County is a very interesting book. Brands were recorded, trans£ erred and discontinued. Among the early en­ tries found in the books are the Beaumont Cattle Company with 31 brands registered; T. M. & T. A. Coleman of Corpus Christi, 13 brands; and W or­ sham Cattle Company, 8 brands. Brands ·ran as letters, figures and char­ acters. The DDD brand of D. Waggoner & Son was well known. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 177

The Rowans Came in 1889

Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Rowan and their son, Crockett Rowan, and his four children, consisting of three boys and one girl, namely: Edd, Sam, John and Jennie, the latter now Mrs. F. L. Massie, arrived in Wilbarger County in September, 1889, to make their home. Both S. J. Rowan and his son, Crockett, were . born in Tennessee. Crockett 'Rowan came to Texas with his parents in 1868 and the family located ·at Peoria,· in Hill County. Upon the arrival of the Rowan fa~ily in this county in 1889, S. J. Rowan and wife established a home on a section of land they owned, five miles southwest of Vernon. That section of land for a number of years was generally known as the Rowan section. This same body of land now belongs to the Bitner estate. . The nearest neighbors to the Rowans at that tim~ were the families of Lowe, Keltz, Lockett, Anderson and Creed. Crockett Rowan and his four children remained in Vernon and Mr. Rowan was a partner in the dry goods firm of Rowan & Alexander. This clothing establishment was located on the south side of the court house square. In addition to his dry goods business, Mr. Rowan was also engaged in the real estate. busi­ ness in Vernon for several years.

The J. E. Prince Family

Mr. and Mrs. J. E. ,.Prince and seven children came to West Texas in January, 1890, settling in what is now West Vernon. Mrs. Prince, who was Miss Mary Edward Burton of Anderson County, was a descendent of one of the first families in that part of the country. Mr. Prince was born and reared ·in Ellis County, having the distinction of being the first white child born in that county. The family first settled in West Vernon an'd then moved to Harrold, where they lived for a few years. When the Indian· Territory was opened Mr. Prince took part in the drawing and moved his family to Frederick, Okla. After residing there for a short time they returned to Vernon. The Princes experienced the usual privations of the pioneer days, having many ups and downs, especially during the agricultural depression of 1893-1895. which was similar to thei depression starting in 1929. When: the tenth anniversa1-y of the organization of Wilbarger County was celebrated in 1891 on Paradise Creek, all the settlers of this part of the country attended and scores of Indians from Oklahoma. The Indians consumed about three-fourths of the barbecue prepared for the occasion. Mr. Prince engaged in the land business and had extensive farm holdings up until the time of his death in 1923. Surviving are his wife and six children: Burton, Doc, Jack and Miller Prince, Mrs. J. M. Under­ wood and 1\-Irs. W. W. Cox. Another daughter, 1\-Irs. T. F. McKenzie, died a few years ago. 178 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

From Tennessee to Texas in 1887; to Wilbarger in 1888 (By J. E. Collins)

~~~:::... Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Harbison were born and reared in east Tennessee. They came to Texas in 1887, stop­ ping in Grayson County. In the fall of 1888 they moved with their fan1- ily to Wilbarger County and settled north of Verr.. on on Salt Creek, where Mr. Harbison established a sheep ranch. His range extended north towards Doans and south to Pease River. In 1897, as the coun­ try was being rapidly settled and the ~;,~::,:~~>=: range for stock dimir.. ishing, 1\-Ir. Harbison closed out his sheep busi­ W. H. Harbison ness and moved· to Vernon where he lived until his death October 1, 1928. Mrs. Harbison passed away in 1900. Early in li\e Mr. and Mrs. Harbison united with the church. Mr. Harbison was a member of the Masonic fraternity and dearly loved this order. He enlisted in the Confederate army during the war between. the states and was a member of Company E, 5th Tennessee Cavalry. He, with other members of his company, were captured and spent several months in a Northern prison. He was active for many years in the local camp of Confederate Veterans; always attended the reunions, and was ever loyal to the old South. There were three children in the Harbison family: W. M. Harbison and Mrs. Mattie Fowlkes, both now living in Vernon, and Ed Harbison, who died in 1897. During the early days the Harbisons were noted for their hospitality, generosity and kindness. The latch-string was always on the outside for rich and poor alike. They passed on as they had lived, loved and respect­ ed by a large circle of friends and neighbors.

The John A. White Family.

Mr. and Mrs. John A. White, both of whom have passed away in recent years, located in Wilbarger County in 1886. Mr. White was a native of Tennessee and came to Texas in 1870, locating in Erath County. His wife EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF.WILBARGER COUNTY 179 was born in Alabama and also came to Texas in 1870 and located in the· County of Erath. Mr. White was a brick contractor and a number of the: business and resident houses standing in Vernon today, are buildings which. were put up under his supervision. His reputation as a good _contractor· and fair dealer was not confined to this county. While following his voca­ tion he built thirty-three court houses and jails in the State of. Texas, as well as a number of business houses. He built the court house at E·astland, - Texas, where the famed horn frog "King Tut," was said to have been found alive in one corner of the building, when this particular structure was razed a f~w years ago. He was contractor and supervised; the workmen that put up the court house at Decatur, Texas, which is still in use. Mr. White was the first to plant alfalfa in Wilbarger, which in recent years has be• come one of the county's big hay crops. Mr. and Mrs. White were the parents of eight children, six girls and two boys. All of the children received their early education in Vernon and all are living with the exception of one daughter, Mrs. R. A. (Pearl) Kelly, who died of late years. The other children are: Mrs. R. E. (Luna) Chand­ ler, Mrs. Della Houssels, Mrs. W. K. (John) Long, Mrs. Hub (Tot) Colley, Mrs. A. B. (Pat) Swartwood, Hugh A. White and Walter White.

From Alabama to Texas in Wagon.

H. A. (Harve) Wilson came to this community from Clay County with his parents and a step sister a short tim~ afte,r the organization of Wilbar­ ger County. His parents, who were Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wilson, on their ar­ '.rival in this county, located four miles south of Ronda on Camp Creek. The Wilsons were natives of Alabama and before coming to Texas bought their land in this state at fifty cents an acre. They made th~ trip to Texas in a wooden axle wagon and came by way of Austin to locate their land. After arriving at the capitol they found some of the real estate located in Tom Green County, some in Archer County and some in Clay. They came on up to Clay County and settled at Henrietta before any wooden buildings had been built in that city.

R. A. Gilliland Settled in 1888

R. A. Gilliland, who for many years was in the dairy business in Ver­ non, came to Wilbarger County from Polk County, Tennessee, in Novem­ ber, 1888, and settled west of town. He was married to Miss Harriett Lillard, also a native of Polk County. In February, 1891, Mr. Gilliland started a dairy and continued in that line of business for thirty-seven years. Mrs. Gilliland died in September, 1913. There are three children: Mrs. C. M. Blair, C. W. Gilliland and W. H. Gilliland. 180 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

. .

J. H. Kincheloe Family Arrives in Fall of 1889

J. H. Kincheloe, prominent farmer of the southwest part of the county, came to Wilbarger County October 3, 1889, with his wife, five children, · t,vo little teams and $250 in cash. They settled on the ridge between Beaver and Coffee creeks, where they made their home for a number o.f years. Mr. Kincheloe was born in Mis­ souri and came to Texas in 1861. Before moving here he lived in Ham­ ilton and Wise counties. Mrs. Kin­ cheloe, who was Miss Margaret Neel, was born in Nebraska and married J. H. Kincheloe Mr. Kincheloe in Collin County. l\ir. Kincheloe sowed his first wheat in Wilbarger County in Novem­ ber, 1889. At first there were lots of neighbors but as the bad years came on and crops fdiled most of them moved away. He stayed with his land and finally good years came again and he soon had a fine farm. In dis­ cussing the early days, Mr. Kincheloe used to say: "I would have moved, too, but I owed so much I had to stay for they would not let me go." In 190,-0 he moved from the ridge to the Pease River Valley country southwest of Vern~n and today has one of the finest and best improved farms in. the county. In addition to his land, he owns a number of busi­ ness houses in Vernon. Twelve children were born to Mr~ and Mrs. Kincheloe, eleven of whom are. living. There are six daughters and five sons.

B. F. Simmons Family

The following write-up of the B. F. Simmons family was prepared for this book ·by a member of the family. It was written in such good style that the editors are running it without any changes. The article follows: "Uncle 'Benny' Simmons was born in Kentucky in 1845. At the age of three, his parents moved to Mississippi where the family lived for sev­ eral years, moving from there to Texas. At the age of seventeen he EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNT-Y 181 joined the Confederate Army and served through the four years of the Civil War. In 1871 he was married to Miss F~rances Barnett, who still survives him at the age of 80. "In 1879 the family filed upon a section of Wilbarger County land. Pacing off the requisite distance, he ran a furrow around the section and established himself and his · family in a dug-out on the river bank. The:re he was when the county surveyor put his revised lines over Wilbarge~, griddle wise, and the new-comer discovered that he had filed on an odd section to which a title was n·ot clear. He quickly stepped off an.other section of land, where they now live, before the county was org3:nized. Thoughts of cheap land in the far West was the cause of their coming, it is asserted. "On October 10, 1881, Mr. Simmons assisted in the organization of the cour.a.ty and until his declining years took a -great interest in the prog­ ress made by the county of his adoption. H·e was one of the first men of this county to realize the agricultural value of this part of the state and followed farming as a livelihood. "His children attended the first school in Wilbarger at the old Daw­ son Valley school house near his farm and he always took a great interest in educational affairs of his neighborhood. He arrived to till the soil of the far West, as he termed it, and like all old pioneers, he delighted in: recalling the days of long ago when Indians crossed Pease River near his -home on their way to trade in the county seat. Cattle on their onward :niarch toward markets in Dodge City, Kar.sas, in the early 80's wore a trail near his prairie home: He saw the steel laid for the building of the Denver Railroad, and witnessed the arrival of the first ti·ain over these rails. He assisted in building the oldest house in the county, in 1881- the adobe at Doans, and attenaed the laying of the cornerstone of the first court house at Vernon. "'Ben F. Simmons died September 3, 1922, and members of Camp Cabell, United Confederate Veterans of V~rnon, of which he was a mem­ ber, with other old friends, were honorary pall bearers."

Judge G. A. Brown

A special edition of the "Vernon Guard," issued in November., 1899, had the following to say about the late Judge G. A. Brown, who was judge of this district at that time: "Judge Brown, a native Texan, was adn1itted to the bar in 1873. He moved to Dor;ley County in 1882 and upon the organization of that county he was elected the county's first judge. Upon the creation of the 46th judicial district in 1888, by the state re-districting committee, he was ap­ pointed by Governor L. S. Ross as judge of this district." Surviving Judge Brown at his death were his wife and four children: Three boys, Floyd R., Peyton E. and Leon H., and a daughter, Genevieve. 182 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

P. P. Ackley Was Early Resi­ dent of the Harrold Community

P. P. Ackley, · former Wilbarger County resident now living at Elk City, Okla., and Donna, Texas, was located at Harrold before the c01n­ ing of the railroad to that town. He owned a stage stand not far from where Harrold townsite was laid out and had no neighbors for miles around. When a youth of nineteen sum­ mers and wanting to see the world, he went up the trail from Dodge City, Kans., to Ogalalla, Neb. Young P. P. Ackley Ackley's people lived near Dodge City at that time, the year of 1878, and the boy started out bareback to join a herd. He made a hand, too. In 1879 he accompanied a man to Hardeman County and herded sheep near Medicine l\Iound. The Indian scare of 1879 caused the R2 boys to move the young §beep herder into Foard County on Mule Creek ,vhere some dugouts were located. Mr. Ackley says the men saved his life. The owner of the sheep had gone "below" ( down in the state) to get provisior...s and the larder had run low when the cowboys. took the situation in band. After that he went farther west to grow up with the country all'd made a hand for l\filler & Maberry, when times were "wild and wooly." In 1882 l\ir. Ackley moved to the cottonwood stage stand and store in Wilbarger County. In 1886 he was married to Miss Ella F'oreman in Missouri. l\'Irs. Ackley died four years ago. They made their home in Vernon until 1896 when they moved to Wheeler County. He was made a deputy trail brand inspector while he lived near Har­ rold. Here he saw vast herds of cattle as they wended their way through this county to the, cattle markets in Kansas. Trail lore has always inter­ ested this pioneer and in later years he has headed the trail marking move­ ment. At present he is engaged in planning t,Yo markers in each county through which the trails pass. A generous offer of $1,000 in cash by Mr. Ackley caused the placing of the handsome marker on the old trail at Doans Crossing on Red River in the north part of the county. Because of his interest in the work and the large contribution, :Mr. Ackley's likeness is seen in: the, bronze plaque mounted on a horse. He also contributed a fence which encloses the monu­ ment and a gas engine for irrigation of the flowers and shrubbery there. Mr. Ackley was born seventy-nine years ago in Indiana. Since then EARLY-DA): HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 183 he has seen lots of the world. He, through strict attention to business, has amassed a substantial fortune which he spends freely in his declining years for the bettennent of humanity and historical research. He has made trips into Canada and Mexico in his work in marking the trails and is well and favorably known wherever the cattle trails are marked. Mr. Ackley sp~ds the summer and spring in the northern part of the state and Oklahoma. When the northers begin to howl he goes to his winter home in the Rio Grande section at Donna. He is an active member of the Methodist Church.

The James H. Robertson Family

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Robertson and children moved to Wilbarger -County in 1890. The S. M. Purvis family, the A. W. Blain family and the J. H. Robertson' family all came to this county at the same time from the state of Nebraska. S. M. Purvis with his family, locatec. in Vernon, while A. W. Blain and J. H. Robertson ,vith their families, establisheµ homes on land .they bought ten miles northwest of Vernon. James H. Robertson was born in Barren County, Kentucky. His wife, who was Miss Lucy E. Wingfield before her marriage, was born in Mont­ gomery County, Missouri. Early-day citizens of Wilbarger County will recall J. H. Robertson as being elected county c:ommissioner for the north part of the county in 1892. He died December 4, 1892, before he was officially sworn in for service. Mr. Robertson was survived at the time of his death by his wife and four children. They are: E. P. (Ed) Robert­ son, Wade H. Robertson, Bird C. Robertson and l\lrs. T. R. (Carrie) Easter­ ling. Mrs. Robertson and one son, E. P. Robertson are the only members of the family that still reside in the county.

Denny Bros., a Dry Goods Firm in 1886

"Denny Bros., Dry Goods and Clothi:ng," was the name of a well known dry goods firm in Vernon for a number of years. It wai establish~ by William and Ben Denhy in 1886. The business was located for several years on the west side of the square and a large cottonwood tree, with a public water pump near by, familiarized its location. Another brother of the Denny family, J.; N. (Jake) Denny, who came: to Vernon in 1888, bought his brother Ben's interest in the business. The firm continued in the dry goods business until 1919, when they sold out to Perkins-Timber­ lak~, another dry goods store in Vernon. William Denny was born at Burgin, Ky. He came to Wilbarger Coun­ ty from Van Alstyne, Texas. He died July 11, 1920. Surviving him at his death were his wife and two children-, Artie Denny, a son, and Vineta, a daughter. 184 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Young Attorney From Lamar County, Texas, Came in 1886

In 1886 a young man from Lamar County, Texas, came to this section of the state to make his home. The counsel and advice of this young man in years that have followed has had no little part in shaping the destiny and affairs of Vernon and Wilbarge1· County. This young man was none other than Judge L. P. Bonner. On the arrival of Judge Bonner in the county he was a law student, but the following year he was admitted to the bar after passing a legal exan1- ination under Judge P. M. Stine of Judge L. P. Bonner Henrietta, Texas, who was judge of :this judicial district at that time. In 1892 Judge Bonner formed a law partnership with Judge C. C. Wells, an'd the law firm of Wells & Bon- ►. ner existed in v7"ernon until 1897. In 1908 Judge Bonner was elected mayor of Vernon. He was re­ elected in 1910 and again in 1916, when he was petitioned to make the race without opposition. It was under his administration as mayor of Vernon that the city obtained its first water and sewer system, Vernon be­ ing one of the first towns in West Texas to take this sanitary step. Ver­ non's first city hall was also built under his tenure of offic.e as mayor. Judge Bonner is now serving Wilbarger County as its judge, having been appointed by the Commissioner's Court in 1932 to fill out the unexpired term of Judge J. V. Townsend, ·who resigned. In 1888 Judge Bonn·er was married to Miss Belle LaHue, daughter of l\,Ir. and :Mrs. J. T. LaHue, one of Vernon's early-day families. Children born to ~Ir. and Mrs. Bonner include two boys and I one girl. l\!Ior1·is and Harrold, the boys, and lvirs. C. B. (Lenice) Cameron, the daughte1·.

Mrs. E. L. Hooper

Mrs. E. L. Hooper was born at Linden, Cass County, Texas, and later moved to Hawkin·s in Wood County. There she was married to William Robert Hooper. 1\1:r. and lVIrs. Hooper and four children came to Vernon on May 3, 1891. In those days Vernon boasted of a street car drawn by horses and EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 185 on this day the car jumped the track three times between the depot and the business section. They went to A. J. Morris' home, Mrs. Hooper's father, at 1024 Texas Street. She no,v lives in this home. The children who came to Vernon with Mr. and Mrs. Hooper were Joe Anna Hooper, Robert Lewis Hooper, Alma Mae Hooper_ and D.ewey Jackson Hooper.

R. M. Hooper was born while ! the family was living on Beaver Creek and Walter 'Raleigh Hooper was born -in Vernon. Mr. Hooper, who ,vas born in Greenboro, ...i\..la., died January 24; 1901.

R. S. Kelly Family

A history of Wilbarger County would be incomplete without a sketch of R. S. Kelly, one of its leading citizens from the time he can1e to Vernon in 1883, up until the time of his death on November 17, 1920. Mr. Kelly was born in Alabama and came to Texas with his family when a child and they settled near Rusk. He was married to l\irs. Alice Perry, also a native of Alabama in 1875. l\irs. Kelly died in February, 1917. For many years l\ir. Kelly was engaged in'. active business enterprises in Vernon. His advertisements were ahvays original and were widely read. During the last few years of his life he retired from business and devoted his time to looking after the interests of his daughter, Mrs. B. J. Parker. l\.'.Ir. Kelly had the distinction: of being the first elected mayor of the city of Vernon. The town was. incorporated in· 1889 and James R. Tolbert appointed mayor upon the organization. When the first election was held in 1890 Mr. Kelly was elected mayor and served until 1892, when he re­ signed. In the religious life of Vernon he was also activ-e. He was a member of the Baptist Church and served as chairman of the board of deacons for several years. He was superintendent of the Sunday School for a number of years. Two children: survived him at the time of his death, Mrs. B. J. Parker and R. A. Kelly.

Located Near Oklaunion in 1888

Living today at New Orle_ians, La., and still active as a cotton broker at the age of 83 years, is P. C. Staley. With his wife and children, Mr. Staley moved to Wilbarger County in 1888 and located three miles north­ east of Oklaunion. He was one of the big farmers and stock raisers in that section of the country for a number of years and took an active part in the development of his section of the county. P. C. Staley ,vas born at l\Iarion, Ohio. His wife, who passed a,vay several years ago, was born at Coopers ton, New York. Children born to the union include: C. R. Sta­ ley, E. H. (Edd) Staley, 1\-Irs. E. E. (Eva) Whatley and Mrs. Bei.ssie Brown. \ 186 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Judge W. N. Stokes Was First Official Court Reporter in County

Judge W. N. Stokes, judge of the forty-sixth judicial district of Texas, is a Mississippian by birth. He is a son of the late Rev. 'R. F. Stokes, who with his family, moved to Ver­ non December 2, 1894, to accept pastorial work with the First Bap­ tist Church of Vernon. W. N. Stokes ,vas born at Tooopola, Pon­ totoc County, Mississippi. His :par­ ents moved to Texas in 1885, and settled in Hopkins County. In 1904 W. N. Stokes was mar­ ried to Miss Hattie Simmons. She Judge W. N. Stokes was born in Tennessee and moved

with her parents to Texas in 1887, locating in Red ,River County. Judge S.tok'fs received his early education in the public schools at Coleman, Texas, and Howard Payne College at Brownwood. Later on in years ihe took a business course in Hill's Busin,ess College at Waco. In 1899, a few years after locating in Vernon, he became associated with Huff & Hall, la'\\ryers, ·where he studied law, and ,vas appointed court reporter for this judicial district. He was admitted to the bar June 18, 1903. In 1908 he was elected ciOunty attorney of Wilbarger County and served two terms. In 1910 he ,vas elected city attorney of Vernon and served two terms. On January 1, 1930, he was appointed district judge of the forty­ sixth judicial district by Governor i\'Ioody and was elected for the four­ year term the san1e year. Judge Stokes was the first professional ste:r.:ographer to live in Vernon and ·was also the fh·st court reporter in this district. On March 9, 1899, he issued a call for the stenographers of the state to meet at Waco and was instrumental in organizing the Texas Stenographers' Association. He was elected the first president of that organization. A few years after, the name of this associatton• was changed to the Texas Court Reporters' Association and is still a flourishing organization. Judge and Mrs. Stokes are the parents of three children, which include two boys and one daughter. Robert C. and William N. Stokes and Miss Alice Frances Stqkes.

Wilbarger County's tenth birthday was celebrated October 10, 1891. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 187

•

An Old Time Cowboy That Has Survived Fron- tier Days

S. L. Mallow, familiarly known to the first settlers of this county as "Smith Mallow," is one of the few· old time cowboys of West Texas that has survived his day. Regard­ less of the fact that the plow, hoe and modern farm tractor has long since torn up the co,v trails he once 1·ode over in this country, Mr. l\ial­ low is still frequently seen on his cow pony, drivir..g some small herd of beef cattle that he has bought for the 1narket. Smith l\,Iallo,v is a native Texan, S. L. Mallow born at lvicKinney in Collin County. At 12 years of age he became a young frontier cowboy and frequently made long drives with big herds to the northern n1arkets. At the age of 18 years he "went up the trail" with a big herd of cattle whi,ch brought him through Vernon, he said; but that was several years before he came to this courfty to make his home. l\.:lr. Mallow came to WiJbarger County to establish his citizenship in 1886. A few years later he went back to Collin County and ·was married to Miss Hattie Faulkner, who is also a native Texan and was born in the same dounty as that of her husband. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, Johnnie, who in recent years was married to A. B. Cole. OutsicJ.e of a few years that Mr. ].\,!allow was associated with L. J. Mas­ sie in the grocery business in Vernon, also at another time with Sewell & Co., grain and mill business, and later with Frank l\.finarik in the whole­ sale and retail meat business, the balance of l\ir. Mallow's years in Wilbar­ ger County has· been devoted to dealing in livestock.

A negro by the :aame of John Bro·wn, is said by many of the first settlers of this county, to be the first one of his race to establish a home in Wilbarger County.

In 1899 "The Vernon Guard" had the following to say: "Wilbarger County is on a cash basis and it's script is worth one hundred cents on the dollar." 188 · EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Move-s Stock West in 1886

From the time that Texas was admitted to the Union as one of the several states, on until of late years, the stockman who ranged his herd i~ East Texas, was forced to move them further west from time to time in order to obtain more grass. This was due to the state gradually set­ tling westward. W~ E. Gamble, the subject of this sketch, is one of Texas' pioneer stockmen. Mr. Gamble was born in Platt County, Missouri, and came to Texas with his parents when a boy. In 1886 Mr. Gamble moved a herd of cattle and horses from Cooke County to this section of the country where grass land was more plentiful. In 1888 he moved his. family to Vernon and established a permanent home. Children' born to Mr. and Mrs. Gamble include one son and five daughters. The son, W. R. Gamble. The daughters, Mrs. Arthur (Lula) Hensley, Mrs. Tim (Hattie) Floris, Mrs. Arlis (Annie) Rogers, Mrs. 0. (Ruth) Searcy and Mrs. John (Fay) Cresen. Mrs. Gamble died several years ago.

Col. C. T. Herring

Col. C. T. Herring, prominent citizen of Wilbarge;r County for many years, was born in Smith County, Texas. In the early eighties he came to this section of Texas and Southern Oklahoma and started in the cattle · business. His cattle ranged in Greer County, Oklahoma, and Col. Herring made Vernon his trading center. In 1893 he established his home in Vernon and continued to carry on his business 'in Oklahoma. In 1899 he organized the C. T. Herring Bank­ ing Company and this concern operated as a private banking company until 1903 when a charter was secure4 and the Herring National Bank forn1ed. In addition to the banking business, Col. Herring had a number of lumber yards through this section of Texas. Col. Herring moved his ranching interests to the Panhandle section and in 1907 went to Amarillo where he made his home until his d~th in 1931. At Amarillo he was actively identified with the development of that city. He helped organize the Amarillo National Life Insurance Company, which was later absorbed by the California State Life Insurance Company. In later years he was largely responsible for the erection of the Wilbarger Hotel and the Herring National building :in Vernon and a number of large hotels in Amarillo. He ,vas the first president of the West Texas Chamber of Commerce and president of the Tri-State Fair Association of An1arillo. Surviving at the time of his death ·were two children: l\frs. Les K. Johnson of Vernon and Will Herring of Amarillo. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 189

Judge J. M. Basham· Family

The late Judge J. M. Basham,· who was one of Wilbarger County's outstanding lawyers during his citizenship in Vernon, moved his family to this city from Scottsville, Ky., in November, 1890. · Judge Basham was born and reared on a farm near . Horse Cave, Barren County, Kentucky: After finishing a co·urse in a country school, he went to Glasgow, Ky.; where he read law and was admitted to the bar. Judge Basham made Vernon .his home until 1897 when he moved his family to Decatur, Texas. In later years he returned to his native state of Kentucky, locating at Bowling Green. He died at that place in March, 1919. lVIrs. Basham died in Wichita Falls in 1924. Early-day residents of Vernon will recall Mrs. Basham as a member of the Baptist Church, who took an active interest in all religious affairs. Children born to this union include one son ·and a daughter. The son, C. E. (Charlie-) Basham, for years was eonnected with the Waggoner Na­ tional Bank of Vernon as cashier. He now lives at Wichita Falls and is cashier of the City National Bank of Wichita Falls. . 'l"he daughter, M1·s. W. R. (~fary) Lane, lives in Vernon.

The C. L. (Charlie) Hall Family

Mr. and l\'Irs. C. L. Hall came to Vernon in January, 1883, ·from Sey­ mour. Mr. Hall was born in Virginia and came to Texas and settled in Baylor .County. He- was married to Miss Prudena Findley, a native Texan. For years Mr. Hall was in the harness and saddle business in Vernon and was well known all over this western eountry by the cattle men and farmers, who purchased his goods. Mrs. Hall, in describing the early days in Vernon, pointed -out that she could stand in her front door ~nd count practically all of the houses in town. She has seen Vernon grow from the small frontier village to the modern, thriving city, and went through the hardships ·of the early days. In telling of some of the pioneer day incidents, l\Irs. Hall related one about Rev. Cason, who preached once a month in Vernon for the Baptist, church. The minister stopped in Seymour with ,her gr2.ndmother and then drove over in his two-horse hack. He stopped at Beaver Creek for lunch and ,vhile fishing happened to look across and on the opposite bank was a panther -calmly· watching him. This was the minister's last time to stop and. fish along the creek between appointments. Eight children were born to Mr. and ·Mrs. Hall. 1,.f rs. Hall and seven of them sre living today. They are S. H. (Buddie) Hall, who has been city secretary of Vernon for many ye_ars; Peck I-Iall, 1,Irs...... \.Ima Povrell, Robert N. Hall, Mrs. Gertru

An Active and Influential Citi­ zen Came in 1889

Born in Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas, December 11, 1870, Harry Mason, one of Wilbarger County's distinguished lawyers, who has had much to do in shaping the destiny of this western section of Texas, moved to Vernon with his parents in the early fall of 1889. His parents, Harry S. Mason and J e:r.nie Darst Mason, will be recalled as having lived in this city for sev­ eral years. Both of whom have pass­ ed away in recent years. Another son of this family, Turner Mason, also came to Vernon with his par- Harry Mason ents and is now employed with the -Texas & Pacific Railway Co. Harry Mason, around whom this biographical sketch is woven, received his early educaticln in the private schools of Ri~hmond, Texas. In the years of 1884-85, he was a student in St. lVIary's Catholic College at San Antonio, Texas. Later he attended Coronal Institute at San Marcos, Texas. Short­ ly after his arrival in this county, he entered the law firms in Vernon, com­ posed of Parker & Pearson and Bradburn, Smith & Basham, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1892 and the same year was elected justice of the peace. of Precinct No. 1, arid held that office until 1896. Fol­ lowing these years, Judge l\!ason's ability at the bar of justice became known over the forty-sixth judicial district. This dist1ict at that time was com­ posed of the counties of Wilbarger, Hardeman, Foard, Childress, Collings­ worth and Hall. He was appointed district attorney in 1901, and was re­ elected and served until 1911. .Judge .G. A. Brown and the Hon. S. P. Huff were judges of this district !at different periods, when he was district attorney. W,hen the city of Vernon adopted its commission form of government, Judge· Mason assisted in writing the city's charter, and wa~ appointed city attorney.• He ,vas ele~ted'mayor of Vernon in 1918 and served until 1926. Or...ie thing that can be said to Judge 1"Iason's credit, he was never defeated for an office. On July 10, 19.-01, Judge Mason was married to Miss Gussie Collins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Collins, one of Vernon's early-day families. Judge and Mrs. Mason are the parents of on~ child, a son, Evans Mason. He is now employed at the Waggoner National Bank. Evans J\fason ·was . EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGE'R COU;N,TY 191 married to l\Iiss l\:lildred W om.ack, and they are the parents of little "Miss Harry Louise Mason," ~ young 'daughter, who, her grandfather says, is the . "autocrat" of the ·.Mason family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mason are active members of the Christian Church. In politics, Judge Mason is a Democrat. And in granting this interview with the writer, at the mention of politics, he said: ''In these piping times of Herbert Hoover ·prosperity and his noble experiment, we are all doing fairly well, living on bread, butter, bacon and beans," but, he continued, "I want it recorded I have always supported the Democratic nominees and upheld my party's platform."

The Withers Family Locates in 1889

Both natives of Kentucky, Jerry B. Withers and his first wife, who was Miss Henrietta Trible Hardy before her marriage, came to Texas in 1887 and located in Johnson County. In 1889 they moved to Wilbarger County and located north of Vernon in the Fargo community. Mr. Withers followed farming in ·that neighborhood until 1893 when he moved his fam­ ily to Vernon. l\irs. Withers died in Vernon February 4, 1907. In 1924 Mr. Withers went back to Kentucky to obtain his second wife and on May 28 was married to Miss Louann Cincilar. Children born to the first union include three girls and five boys. The girls: l\ilrs. T. M. (Opal) Conger, Mrs. D. 0. (Rhoda) Nash and Mrs. D. W. (Sue) Liles. The boys: Charles, Owen, Alvis, Jerry B. Jr., and L. G. Withers.

A Railway Representative Came in 1889

At the organization of Wilbarger County in October, 1881, the H. & T. C. Railway Company, owned not otly sections of land in this county, but land in other crounties in this western section of Texas. In 1889, J. S. Napier, who was a representative of the H. & T. C. Railway Co.'s land in­ terest, moved his family· to Vernori from Waco, Texas. Land was selling at that time all the way from $2.50 up to $7.50 per aere for good land. l\fr. Napier bought and owned for a number of years 160 acres on Pease River which included the body of land where Vernon's Country Club is now located. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Napier include six boys and one daughter. The boys: Earnest, Walter, Coke, Myatt, Joe and Sam. The daughter, Mrs. T. H. Shive.

Had not the po~tal authorities objected, the present site of Vernon would have been called "Eagle Flat." 192 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGE'R COUNTY

Boger Family Among First Settlers of County

Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Boger, n~tives of the state of Georgia, were among the early pioneers who contributed a great deal to the development of Wilbarger County. They were living in Big Sandy in East Texas when they decided to come west and make their home. They moved to Clay County in 1879 . ~nd in 1880 Mr. Boger came to Ver­ non· and looked the town over. He was offered an· interest in the town­ site if he would put up a plank house so he returned to Clay County and ,.vent to Gainesville after a load of Mrs. A. T. Boger lu.n1ber. A. T. Boger and his father had put in a ,vheat crop and the death of his father a short time after that necessitated him~ remaining in Clay County until 1881. Mr. Boger traded two loads of lumber for a claim otr a sec.ti on of land in Wilbarger County. -~fter they arrived here Mr. Boger and his son, Lon, went down on Beaver Creek and cut some cottonwood logs and built a nice two-room dug-out. This v1as•. or..ie of the show spots of the county, as most of the dug-outs were just one-room. affairs.. In the development of the county, Mr. Boger had an active part. The records of the county show that be was county commissioner in 1882. A fey.r years later a situation was confronting the county where Ia,vlessness w~s getting the upper hand and he was appointed sheriff-, and in this office he soon ibad the lawless ele111ent under control. Mr. Boger died in 1917. Mrs. Boger also played an important part in the early-day school his­ tory of the county. She taught the first public school in Wilbarger County in a little dug-out about half a mile from her o,vn home. She was issued the first teachers' certificate in the county. · The first school lasted four months · and Mrs. Boger received the large salary of $12.50 per month. The school fund was $50, 'this amount being refunded to Wilbarger County upon its organization by Baylor County. After gettir~ their new home completed, Mr. Boger constructed· chairs, tables and other household equipment out of logs. The first spring he was in the county he put in thirty-five ae1res of corn and had a hai·d time raising it as he did not have money enough t-o build a. fer:ce. The prairie dogs and ground squirrels were poisoned, and his son, L-On, with' his dog, herded EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF "\VlLBARGER COUNTY 193 the cattle and antelopes off the field in the day time. In 1907 the family moved to Vernon and Mrs. Boger still resides at the family home on Wilbarger Street in Vernon. Her two children, Mrs. Cecil Storey and Loll' Boger, also live in this city.

The J. J. Manis Family Moved to County in 18'89

Born in Bradley County, Tennessee, J. J. Manis moved to Texas in 1880. His ·wife, who was Miss · Flora B. Edgar before her marriage, was born at Louisville, Ky. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Manis moved to Wilbarger County and established a home in the southern portion of the county on Beaver Creek, near what is known as Rock Crossing on that stream. Mr. Manis followed farming and stock raising and continued to make ibis home in that locality for several years when he moved his family to Vernon. In Vernon, Mr. l\'.!an_is ·took over the agency for Waters Oil Company, a subsidiary ·of the Standard Oil Co., and remained in the wholesale and retail oil business until two years before his death. He died in Vernon November 9, 1931. His wife passed away in Vernon November 20, 1927. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. l\,!anis include two sons and one daugll.­ ter: R. V. (Roddie) l\ianis and C. C. (Connie) l\'Ianis, the sons, and Grace E. Manis, the daughter.

M. Harvey Family Located in 1886

The late }Iadison Harvey, who came to Wilbarger County as early as May, 1886, '\'\-ith his family, located near Oklaunion, and was one of the prominent farmers in that section of ·the county until his death April 16, 1823. His ·wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Genoia I-Iorton before her mar­ riage to ~ir. Harvey, died January 10, 192~1. Both i\ir. and Mrs. Harvey were natives of Tennessee. Mr. Harvey was born in Fayette County, Tennessee, June 11, 1844. l\1rs. Harvey was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, July 1, 1842. They vvere married in their native state and moved to Texas in November, 1878, locating in Erath County. Children born to this union include: Mattie Ann Turnbough, Tennie Eugenia ~liorris, Mary Ardenia Byars, William M. Harvey, Sallie Elizabeth Key, Lorena Smith and Cassie Bell Smith. During the existence of the Madison parvey home near Oklaunion it has been said it was ahvays a congenial g2fhering place for both old and young. It was often said "if everybody would live as Madison Harvey lived, there would be no use for jails." 194 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Hunted Buffalo in County in 1877

H. J. Farnhafn of Porterville, Calif., writes that he was in Wilbarger County, as early as October, 1877, buffalo hunting. This was four years before the county ·was organized. . Speaking of that particular occasion, he says: · "In September, 1877, W. R. McCarty and W. E. Perciville and my­ self started from Denison, Texas, on a buffalo ihunt. On October 5th we camped on Paradise Creek in what is now Wilbarger County, after we had visited the Brown Ranch on Beaver Creek. We saw our first buffalo and crossed Pease River at Antelope Springs. I killed my :first buffalo that day. We crossed over Red River and went to a buffalo camp in the Indian Territory." Due to the sickness of one of the party, they returned to their home at Denison, he said. Continuing, Mr. Farnham says: "In February, 1878, I wa_s back on Beaver Creek buffalo hunting. It was then that I got ac­ quainted with Alex Dawson and W. M. Holmes, who had brought a herd of hogs up from Clay County and were herding them on Beaver Creek. I bought a third interest in Dawson & Holmes' hogs and Dawson and I went down ·near the mouth of Pease River and started to farm. Holmes was left to look after the hogs. I plowed and Dawson commenced work on a dugout for us." The :fir£t night the dugout was :finished, he writes, "A stranger came by and spent the nig,ht with us." Next ,morning, Mr. Farnham continuing his letter, 'says: "One of the Chowning boys, who was located at a camh in the county at that time, came by and told us that the Indians were on the warpath and insisted that we go to his camp and stay." At this point in Mr. Farnham's letter he describes the killing of Joe Earl by the Indians, which took place, it is generally supposed, somewhere in what is now Hardeman County. He writes: "The Indians had killed a man by the name of Earl from Clay County, Texas. Earl was traveling with two men in a v;agon and was walking quite a distance ahead of the wagon when the Indians attacked him. Tihe two men riding in the wagon saw the Indians coming toward Earl and :first thought they were a herd of horses. But after recognizing them to be Indians, they immediately unhitched the horses from the wagon, mounted them and rode away. The Indians burned the wagon. This Indian raid took place on a road that ran between Pease River and the Belcher Ranch on Wanders Creek." Following the killing of Earl, lVIr. Farnham says: "Both Da,vson and myself plowed for several -days ·with our guns swung to our plo,v handles." "I was living at Antelope Springs in the dugout that Dawson and I built, when Wilbarger County was organized," Mr. Farnham writes. Set­ tlers begun to arrive as early as 1879 and 1880, he says. Telling about -his first year at farming in. Wilbarger County, he writes: "We made a little corn and some millet ar..d the first winter I put in my time hunting deer and antelope and poisoning wolves and _skunks." The v,riter then goes into a narration of what the early-day settlers EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 195 term were "wild and wooly days in Vernon.'' He recalls a livery stable that was burned in Vernon shortly after the eounty was •organized. The stable, he says, was alleged to have. qeen burned to destroy a calf hide that contained a brand of a stolen yearling. A short time after that, he said,· two men were killed._ "I was in Vernon_ when men would be sitting on the sidewalks with a six-shooter strappe:d around them and a Winchester across their knees." These are the world~ Mr. Farnham uses in describing conditions in those days. Mr. Farnham is a native of Pennsylvania. His wife was born in Ar­ kansas. They are the parents of eight children. Three boys and five girls. They are: 0. H., T. W. and J. M. Farnham, l\rirs. Maude Thompson, Mrs. Beulah· Thomas, l\Irs. ~rene Lamons, Mrs. Gert:r.ude Turney, Mrs. Jessia Lang and Mrs. Georgia Chillcott.

-The Monroe King :Fa~ily Tennessians

In numerous cases when people living in Wilbarger County today think of the 1\1:onroe King family, their minds revert to Harrold and Okla­ union, two active towns in the eastern section of this community. This is due to the fact the King 'family has been so closely associated with that section of the county so long. The 1\1:onroe King family are natives of Tennessee and landed in ~!ilbarger County in 1889. Like many other early-day citizens who arrived along about that time, they fell in love with the vast fertile prairie country around Oklaunion. They bought land in that vicinity and in years 1that followed, Monroe King along with some of his sons, became big wheat growers and stock men. Both Mr. and Mrs. King, ·as head of this family, hav~ passed away in late years, but they left nine children who are a credit to the different places w•here they reside. T.hey are: J. Mont King, Dr. J. C. King, E. S. King, Mrs. Emma Ralston, l\'.Irs. l\'.Iary Boyd, Dr. T. A. King, Ilugh King, Roy King and Ulys King.

The H. F. McKibbin Family

H. F. l\'IcKibbin and family moved to Vernon in 1893. Shortly after the arrival of Mr. McKibbin in this county he entered the mercantile busi­ . ness in Vernon and was one of the city's substant'3.l merdhants until his death· in l\i!arch, 1928. Mr. McKibbin was a man of high morals and took an active interest in the growth of Vernon and Wilbarger County. His wife and five children survived him at his death. The children include: ' Mrs. R. T. (l\iaude) Stewart, l\Irs. Myatt (Mary Belle) Napier, Mrs. W. N. (Irma) Bonner, l\frs. Jack (Nell) Gri~by, and one son, Archie McKibbin. 196 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Veteran Meat Market Man a Native of Austria

In 1886, a mother, her two sons and a daughter, landed in the Uni­ ted States from Zlyn, •.\.ustria. One of those sons was Frank Minarik, veteran meat market man of Vernon, who was born in Austria in 1874. His brother, Joe Minarik, and sister, Mrs. J\fary Baumgarden, are also classed as early-day citizens of w-n­ barger County. After the arrival of the Minarik family in the States, they settled at West, Texas. After a few years' stay in that location of Texas, they Frank Minarik came on up to Wilbarger County in 1888. Carl Zipperle was in the meat market business in Vernon along about that time and Frank Minarik went to work fo~ him. It was while associated with Mr. Zipperle in this business that he learned the• butcher trade. Time went by and it found Mr. Minarik conducting an exclusive wholesale and retail meat business in Vernon for ,himself. At a recent date he has added a line of groceries for his trade. In 1902 Frank Minarik was married to Miss Amalie Wesley. They are the parents of six children, who are John W. and Fred C. Minarik, the boys, Hattie Mae, Helen Amalie, Fran-ces J·osephine and Dorothy Pearl Minarik:, the girls.

An Ex-County Commissioner Came in 1891

V. 0. l\1orris, an ex-county commissioner of Wilbarger County, arrived in this county December 21, 1891. He was a citizen of this county for 37 years, moving with his family to Donley County, Texas, in August, 1926. l\'Ir. l\tlorris was born in Simpson County, Kentucky, .May 21, 1869. His ·wife, ,vho was l\1iss Tennie Eugenia Ilarvey before her marriage, moved to Wilbarger County with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. Harvey in May, 1886. Children born to this union include: C. M. Morris, V. C. Morris., Bet­ tie Ola :Morris Lester, :Mrs. Floyd (Lela Eugenia) Grisham and Emory Lee l\'.lorris. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBAR-GE'.R COUNTY 197

Mr. and Mrs. John T. Cameron

John Cameron was reared in Johnson County, and when he was a boy that was a cattle country and the frontier of T'exas. In the early days of his life, Mr. Cameron was employed on cattle ranches and became thor­ oughly familiar with this business. In the early eighties he accompanied a surve~d.ng party through West Texas, spending several months in this work. He became familiar with and saw the possibilities of this vast sec­ tion of country. 1\1:r. Ca111eron came to Vernon March 16, 1886, rented a house from J. T. Williams and opened a grocery business. After operating this busi­ ness for several months ihe sold out and for the next three years served as deputy sheriff under J. T. Conn, one of the early-day sheriffs of Wilbarger County. In 1890 Hedley & Cameron opened a jewelry store which they o,vned and operated for many years. In 1894 Mr. Cameron was married to Miss Gertrude Shropshire, a native Texan, reared in the West. Mrs. Cameron was born in J ohnso1n County, Texas, and c:ame West with her parents, arriving in Harrold April 2, 1886. This at the time was the terminus. of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad. Harrold at the time had fifteen hundred inhabitants, nineteen saloons, with as many or mo;re gambling houses, but no church and no school house. After spending three days in Harrold they left for Doans, and Mrs. Cameron and her mother stopped at Dave lVIcBride's hotel while Mr. Shrope­ shire went on into what was then known as Greer County, Texas to build a house ,on land on which he had filed. Before leaving Harrold he bought the lumber for the ·house from Wm. Cameron & Co., and this lumber, to­ gether vdth their household goods, was freighted into Greer County. When the Shropeshire family moved to Greer County their nearest neigihbors were five miles avray. For some time Doans was the nearest post office, a distance of hventy-five nules. l\1rs. Ca1neron made weekly trips for the mail, making the round trip in a day on 'horse-back. Mrs. Cameron received the first teachers certificate issued in Greer County. Judge Orr, then of Vernon, was a member of the examining board. While living in Greer County they were often visited by the celebrated Indian chief, Quanah Parker. He was very fond of music, and the Shrop­ shires were a family of musicians. The Shropshires moved to Vern.on in 1890. After the marriage of 1\1:r. and l\.Irs. Cameron they continued to live in Vernon for many years. In 1907, lVIr. Can1eron bought stock in the Harrold Bank and Mercantile Company and n1oved to that place. After successfully conducting this business for fourteen years, ihe sold out and moved to Claude, Texas, where Mr. Cameron had purchased a large tract of land, later moving to Plainview, VJ"here they nov.r live. Of all the pioneers of Vernon and Wilbarger County, none were more 198 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY loved and respecte:d than Mr. and Mrs. Cameron. Having no children of their own, they would, in a wa-y:, adopt all the children in their neighbor­ hood and are dearly loved by the young people. A typical son and daugh­ t~r -of the old West, kind, hospitable, charitable, loyal to friends and home and country, and possessed of that rugged ho-nesty ·characteristic of our pioneers, having thelped to pave the way for future generations, they are spending their declining years in peace and quiet, with the full conscious­ ness of a life well spent.

W. A. Ownsby Fonner School Teacher

W. A. O,vnsby came to Vernon September 7, 1889, as a school teacher and taught two terms in the county. He v;as elected principal of the Ver­ non high school. Mr. Ownsby was instrumental in getting shade trees set out on· the grounds of the old school building and many of the men and women of Vernon today were his pupils. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Ownsby left Vernon, returning to Tennessee. For the past twenty-five years he has been in the drug business in Liv­ ingston, Tenn..

The B. J. Parker Family

B. J. Parker, pioneer groceryman of Vernon and civic leade1"' for many years, came to Vernon in 1889. Mr. Parker was born in Alabama and first settled in the eastern part of the state. He ·was married to Miss Birdie Kelly, daughter of the late R. S. Kelly, another early-day settler o-f the county. 1\1:r. Parker died in 1914. l\'.Ir. Parker entered the grocery business in Vernon and in the early days conducted both a retail and wholesale house. He was known all over this section of the state and did a large volume of business. As a civic leader, ·he ·was in ·the forefront in Vernon. He took an active interest in everything connected with the advancement ·of the city and served for fourteen years on the school board. As a tribute to his untiring efforts for the upbuilding of the schools of Vernon, the '\Yard building in the north­ east part of town was named "Parker School" in his honor. Following his death, lhe firm continued in business with his son, Joe Parker, connected witih the store. The business was closed out several years ago. l\'.Irs. Pa1·ker lives at the family hon1e on Wilbarger Street and she and the follO'wing children survive l\1r. Parker: ].\'!rs. Dee (E-dith) Norwood, Joe Pai-ker, l\Irs. Aleene Caraway, l\rirs. J. T. (Geraldine) :Miller, Miss :Mo­ zelle Parker and Kelly Farker. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 199

W. T. Waggoner Had Part in. Development of County

W. T. Waggoner was one of the men w;ho had a great deal to do with the early development of Wilbarger County and yet never n1ade it his home. He was born in Hopkins County, Texas, and in 1872 came to Wichita County. Since the early days he had been in the cattle busi­ ness and today has two large ranch­ es, one in Texas and one in New l\i1exico. In 1882 1\-Ir. Waggoner bought his first land in this oounty and later sold it to George Dilley. Mr. Dilley then sold it to l\fr. Waggoner again. W. T. Waggoner F"or some time a big iherd of cattle :ranged on Beaver Creek. !vlr. Waggoner went over into the Indian Terri­ tory and leased something like a million acres of land and put his cattle over there. Along in 1897 when it appeared that the Territory would be closed he came back to Wilbarger County and started buying up land south of to,vn. Today the Waggoner Ranch embraces 250,000 acres in Wilbar­ ger County and nearly the san1.e amount in Vvichita, Baylor and other coun­ ties adjoining. Within the past few years Mr. Waggoner bought a big ranch out in New l\iiexico. In addition to his cattle interests, Mr. Waggoner has always been more or less identified with various enterprises in this county. He was one of the original organizers of the Waggoner National Bank and at one time served as president of the institution. Back in the Nineties, when the coun­ try was in hard circumstances from a financial standpoint, he came to the aid of the banking institutions n1ore than once. R. L. More, manager of the Waggoner Estate, said that the ranch headquarters ·was always in Wilbarger County after the purchase of land ·was started. Upon the discovery of oil in Wilbarger County, the best pools have been located on the Waggoner lands and today the '\Vaggoner Refinery in the east part of the county is one of the really large independent plants in the United States. J\:Ir. Waggoner has his o,vn production, manufacture and distribution of the business. Mr. and l\:[rs. Waggoner now live in Fort Worth. They have two sons,

Guy and Paul Waggoner, and a daughter, Electra1 ,vho died a fe·w years back. 200 EARLY~DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Judge C. W. Cook Family Are Natives of the "Blue Grass" State

Back in January, 1889, Judge • ...--.W).···""'"'°~-=:9: • Charles William Cook, with his wife, :~~~~-~- moved to Vernon from Sherman, Texas. Being a lawyer by profes­ sion, shortly after his arrival in the county, the Judge hung out :-· his shingle in the county metrop­ olis, and took his stand along with other legal advisors here at that time. In 1890, the year following, J. Shirley Cook, son of this pioneer couple, who had also been admitted to the bar, followed his parents from Sherman to Vernon. Soon after be­ Judge Charles William Cook coming a citizen, he entered into a law ·partnership with his father bearing the name, Cook & Cook, and de­ spite the fact the senior member, Judge Charles William Cook died in Ver­ non in December, 1906, his son, still ~arrying on, has never thought best to change the title ·of the law firm, Cook & Cook, which, in name, still exists in Vernon today. Charles William Cook was born in Barren County, Kentucky, October 10, 1832. He graduated from the Virginia University in 1853 and entered into the practice of law at Madisonville, Ky., the same year. In 1857, he married Miss Virginia Staples and continued to practice law in Kentucky until 1883, when he moved to Sherman, Texas. l\rlrs. Oharles Willi~m Cook died in Vernon in October, 1905. Another son of this family, Sale Cook, ·who was also a citizen of the county for a number of years, died in Vernon in 1908. ,. Shirley Cook was married to Miss Ellie Creager April 7, 1900. She is the daughter of l\:lr. and l\'Irs. Taylor Creager, also listed as pioneers of Wilbarger County. Mr. and Mrs. J. Shirley Cook are the parents of two -daughters, Mrs. Damon (Audrey) Shive and Miss Dorothy Cook, both of whom live in Vernon. ,::- J. Shirley Cook for a number of years served Vernon as city attorney. Still active in his law office today, you will always find him advising numer­ ous clients who seek his judgment. He is a staunch Democ1·at in political ~aith, and is proud of the fact he has ever been true to his party. On a J?-Umber of occasions he has· been found taking the stump, fighting for the principles of. Den1ocracy. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 201

The J. W. Ladd Family.

J. W. Ladd and his family came to Wilbarger County from Tarrant ~ounty in 1891. Mr. Ladd was born in Christian County, Kentucky. Ile came to Texas and first settled in Grayson County. He next moved to Tar­ rant County and then came on here. He was married to Miss Elizabeth King, a native Texan. Mrs. Ladd died in 1881. Later he was married to l\fiss Melissa Orr. When Mr. Ladd first came to_ this county he bought a farm seven miles south of Vernon in the tight land. He thought this would be the best farm­ ing part. of the county. However, after a few years of buying seed and feed from farmers on the sand he sold his place and bought a farm on Pease River. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd both passed away in recent years and eleven child­ ren survive today: Mrs. W. S. Bourland, Mrs. V. A. McGinnis, C. M. Ladd, Walter Ladd, Mrs. W. S. Lundy, Ed Ladd, l\ilrs. l\ilack Byars, Mrs. R.ufe Byars, John Ladd, l\irs. Roy Thompson and Mrs. Ruth Simmons.

From Tennessee to Texas in 1889

T. J. l\.'IcGill, Sr., ex-county commissioner of Wilbarger County, who died in Vernon in ·December, 1918, with his wife moved to this section of the state in 1889. For some reason Mr. and Mrs. McGill did not remain in the county long after their first arrival. After two or three months away from their old home state, they were back in Tennessee again. But not to stay. The vast fertile prairie country of Wilbarger County no doubt had caught their fancy and in 1890 they returned. After their sec:ond ar­ rival in the community they bought two sections of railroad land twelve miles southwest of Vernon, located: in that neighborhood and were very in­ fluential people in helping to develop that part of the county. Both being active members of tihe Methodist Church, Mr. McGill along about that .time set out to organize a band of Christian workers in his neighborhood. As a result of his efforts, he ,vas instrumental in helping to build the Wesley Chapel Church house in his section of the county. That church house still stands. Aside from the interest 1\1:r. MeGill always took in moral and religious duties in his loeality, he was also actively interested in the general welfare of Wilbarger County. His service as county commissioner of the county one time, is even now referred to by many of the first comers as being one of economy and practical judgment. When he and Mrs. McGill left their farm in 1908 and moved to Vernon, the ability of Mr. McGill being already recognized, he was given a place with the board of appraisers in assessing the valuations of city property. Both l\,!r. and Mrs. l\f.cGill are natives of Tennessee. Mr. l\ticGill was 202 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY born l\'Iareh 13, 18.49. His boyhood days were spent in that state and were one of "hard knocks," as he was left to support his widowed mother. Mrs. McGill still resides in Vernon on West Wilbarger Street where she has made her home since 1908. This pioneer· couple are the parents of one son, T. J. McGill, Jr. He is manager of the Long-Bell Lum,ber yard in Vernon. In 1923 he was married to Miss Gladys Allison, and they are the parents of one son, James Kenneth McGill. .

E. T. Murchison Family

Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Murchison came to Vernon from Terrell in 1888. Mr. Murchison was born in North Carolina and moved to Texas in 1880. Mrs. Murchison, a ·native of Florida, whose maiden name was 1\Hss Lila Easterling, was the daughter of a Methodist preacher, who was presiding elder of the Dallas district when she and Mr. l\iurchison were married.. After coming to Vernon Mr. Murchison entered the implement busi­ ness.. Later he disposed ·of this store and was in the life insurance busi­ ness at the time .of his death in 1908. Mrs. Murchison died in 1923. Mr. Murchison was very active in the Masonic work in this section of tlie state. He was the first commander of the Vernon Commandery and was a Past Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter of Texas. When the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Vernon it was named the E. T. Murchison chapter. This name was carried until a few years backtwhen it v;as changed to the Vernon chapter. Two children surviv~ Mr.. and Mrs.. Murchison. They are Frank Mur­ chison, who is with the City of Vernon light and Water Department, and Miss Lillian Murchison.

The C. E. Woods Family

C. E. "Uncle Charley" Woods came to Wilbarger County from Tar­ rant County in July, 1889. He was born in Tennessee and came to Texas when a boy, seven years old. l\1rs. Woods, whose maiden name was Miss Harriett E. Rowe, was born in l\1issouri and when she first came to Texas, lived in Electra. Mr.. Woods farmed for a number of years and of late years has been running a planing mill in Vernon. In discussing the early days he said he had seen Vernon grow into a small city in the early -days and then go down when the dry years came .on and wheat failed. But he was glad to have lived to see it come back and develop into a thriving, modern city. One thing has always marked Uncle Charley's life-he has always helped the other fellow.. Back in the early days he helped his neighbors and in recent years he has spent a great deal of time each December in making hundreds of toys to be distributed to the children of Vernon. Mr. and Mrs. Woods have two daughters, Misses Gladys and Eula Lee Woods-. EARLY-DAY HIST·ORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 203

..

:xli-%:-~-•...... County Clerk Spent Boyhood · =~=~~~==:?;• Days on Cow Ranch ,; J. E. Collins is a native of Geor­ gia, coming from a pioneer family of that state, who rendered disting­ •Uished serviee to their country in both the Revolutionary and Civil \Vars. lVIr. Collins, when quite a young man, recovering from a severe ill­ ness and acting on the advice of his physician, went to Southwest Texas and spent several months on one of the largest ranches in that section. Coming to Wilbarger County in 1892 he settled in the Doans community, where he was employed on what was ------...... ------· J. E. Collins then known as the "Rocking Chair rn.anch." Leaving that neighborhood in 1897, he came to Vernon and was actively engaged in business until 1928 when he was elected county clerk of this county. He was re-eleeted in 1930 without opposition and in 1932 was again elected for a third term. I-le has perhaps, a larger acquaintance than any other man in the county. Being gifted with a faculty of remem­ bering faces and names, the result is very few people living in this county do not know Jess Collins, as he is fan1iliarly called. For thirty years Mr. Collins has kept in close touch with the pioneer citizens of this county, and as a result is familiar with its people. He has furnished The Times with much valuable information and has written a num her of articles appearing in this book. He is a 1\'.[ason, an Odd Fellow and is also a loyal supporter of the church. After a residence of forty years in this county, his honesty, integrity and good citizenship has never been questioned.

The T. H. Richards Family

Mr. and Mrs. T. H. (Tom) Richards and family came to Wilbarger County in 1888. Their first location in the county was at Harrold, where Mr. Richards engaged in the beef market business and later opened a drug store. He moved to Vernon in 1891 and was engaged in business for sev­ eral years, but for the past thirty years has followed· farming. Children born to the union include: Ben, Roy, Lem, Joe and Bernis, the boys, and :Mrs. l\Iaude Camp and Mrs.. Marvin (l\Iamie) Price, the girls. 204 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBAR.GER COUNTY

A Native Texan and Confed­ erate Veteran Locates in 1880

Among the short list of those who in reality were the pioneers of Wil­ barger County, a check-up of the life of the late J. A. Creager, shows hiµi to have been one of its most active citizens in organization, development and general welfare work for the ad­ vancement of this section of Texas. At his death, which occurred in Ver­ non February 1, 1925, the "Texas Free Mason," a publication of the Masonic order, paid the following . tribute to his memory: "On Sunday, February 1, 1925, James Ashley Creager there passed to his reward James A. Creager, one of the oldest and most honored citizens of Wilbarger Coun­ ty, in his eighty-fourth year. "He was the son of William and Bexia MeKinney Creager, born in Red River County, Texas, November 26, 1841. When he was four years old his parents moved to Grayson County, where he gre,v up on his father's farm. When the great struggle between the Nor.th and the South began, he joined Capt. Tom Bowen's company, Stone's Regiment, Ross' Brigade, and served throughout the war. He was a true son of the South, a valiant soldier, and a faithful comrade. "Comrade Creager located in Wilbarger County in 1880 and became one of the leading citizens of the county. ~e was made a Mason in 1865, a:r:id advanced in office to be Worshipful Master in Mantua Lodge. "In 1865 he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the First l\ilethodist Church of Vernon, now an1ong the largest churches of Northwest Texas, was organized in his home, he, his wife, and his son be­ ing among the charter members and through all the years since he had been

a faithful and consistent ._..:member." Mr. Creager served Wilbarger County at one time as one of its county comm1ss1oners. He was the first Democratic posbnaster in Vernon, being appointed under Grover Cleveland's administration; he served one term. He was one of the organizers of Camp Cabell, U. C. V ., in Vernon, a local organization of the Confederate soldiers of the Civil War. He was ever loyal to the "boys who wore the gray'' and rarely missed attending their national reunions. His wife, who was Miss Janetta Ann Cave, before her E ...t\.RLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUl~TY 205 marriage, ,died in Vernon June 10, 1909. Children born to this union include: James H. Creager, Joe S. Creager, l\irs. F. D. (Janette) Little, Miss Nina Creager, L. H. (Logan) Creager, Mrs. W. S. (Epsie Lee) Overton, W. J\L Creager, deceased, and I\'Irs. Geo. T. (Alice) Douglas, deceased.

Pioneer Poultryman Came in 1891 The late J. A. Peck, who died in Tennessee several years ago, was one of the pioneer poultrymen of Vernon and Wilbarger County. While en­ gaged i~ this business, hundreds of carloads of poultry ,vere shipped from this county under .his supervision and n1any a Vernon boy in those days acquired his extra spending money by picking turkeys at "Peck's Poultry House." His wife, Harriett Josephine Peck, who has also passed away in recent years, _was born in Tennessee. lvlr. and lVIrs. Peck moved from Ten­ nessee to Texas and first located at Keller before coming to Vernon in 1891. They were the parents of four children, two of whom survive them. A. P. (Pryor) Peck, Vernon, and lvirs. Frank (Leda) lVIarable, Knoxville, Tenn. :Robert Peck and Mrs. George (Mamie) Trice, the deceased.

The J. H. Carson Family John Henry Carson, ,vho died in Vernon in November, 1932, ·was the eldest child of John and Jane Carson, both of whom were natives of the old country. His father was born in Ireland and his mother in Scotland. John Henry was born October 8, 1844, in Philadelphia, Pa. He ·was left at a youthful age to !help support a widowed mother, four brothers and two sisters, as his father went with the "49ers'' in the gold rush to California and never returned. His m:other, a few years after, with her children, n1oved from Pennsylvania to Ohio ,vhen John Henry was quite young. He worked in the pine forests of Michigan at logging and earned money for his education. In later years he learned the carpenter and cabinet maker's trade. Some of the furniture he n1ade before he was man·ied in Ohio to Miss Nancy Ann Bordner, in 1874, is still in use in the Carson home in West Vernon. lVIrs. John Henry Carson was born in Ohio and died in Vernon in May, 1932. She was the eldest -daughter of Jake and Sara Bordner of Quaker descendants. Mr. and l\'.Irs. Carson's first location in Texas after leaving the North, was near Valley View, in 1882. Leaving there some two years later, they settled in Wilbarger County near Beaver Creek. Their next move was to West Vernon where they built a home and lived there con­ tinuously. lVIr. and Mrs. Carson were the parents of nine children, six daughters and three sons. Two sons died in infancy, and a daughter, Emma, died several years ago. Surviving are a son, Roy Carson, and five daughters, 1\-Irs. Jack Robinson, l\iirs. C. J. Lawton, l\Irs. W. J. l\iay, l\Irs. A. P. Peck and Mrs. Evelyn McDonald. 206 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY

Errata

Through an oversight on the part of the publishers the picture of J. B. Crawford was overlooked when his sketch was printed on page 131. He served as county treasurer of Wilbarger . County from 1898 until his death in 1906.

On page 84 appears a sk~tch of the J. C. McGill family. Through error the initials in this article are "T. J." and should be "J. C."

J. B. Crawford~

Samuel C. Fowler Family Are Pioneers

San1uel C. Fo,vler was born in Clay County, Tennessee, March 11, 1841. He can1e to Texas in 1885 and shortly after that time located in Wilbarger County. Pioneer citizens of Vernon will recall nim as having been engaged in the livery, steam laundry and hotel business at different tin1es. He also engaged in farming in this county for several years. Later along, he moved to Harrold and was postmaster there for several years. :He also conducted a drug store and hotel in th2.t city. On Noven1ber 20, 1866, he was married to Miss Nancy Davis Hall. To them eleven ,children were born. Among the children are Frank Fo,v­ ler, forinerly of Vernon but who now lives at Snyder, Okla., and is con­ ductor on the Frisco Railway out of Vernon. Clark and Paul, two other sons of this family, were ,v-ell known in Vernon for a number of years.

First Negro Wedding in Vernon.

D. D. l\:IcConnell, ·who established The Vernon Call in 1889 and was its editor for a number of years, stated before his death in 1931, that John Brown was the first negro to make his home in Vernon. He got license to marry a negro girl nan1ed Adeline. l\tir. lYicConnell, justice of the peace, was ·called to perform the ceremony. When he asked Adeline if she took John to be 1her lavv-ful husband, she said "No," and :ran and jumped out of the window. EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY 207

Trail Driver's Mo-nument at Doans

. 11111 . The monument pic­ tured here was dedi­ .cated to the memory of trail drivers who followed the old West­ -ern Trail, in an im­ pressive ceremony at Doans in 1931. The n1onument is located on the site of the old Doan store where the trail d1·ivers· equipped themselves for the long ,drive to northern mar­ kets. The n1onument stands ten and a half feet high, f eatu ring a bronze plaque of a herd of cattle crossing Red River and an in­ scription to the trail drivers on one side and fifty brands of pionee1

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The trail which passed through Vernon, named by various people, the "'Longhorn Chisholm Trail, "The Western Trail," "The Trail t(j Kansas" and the "Fort Griffin and Dodge City Trail," was supposed to have been established in 1876 when Millett and Irwin crossed a herd near the later established Doans Crossing. One of the early herds to pass by Doans was the Adams brothers' herd. Whether this was one of the herds Judge J. Doan saw pass the ·old picket store and house in the spring of 1878, is not known. 'Records kept by C. F. Doan throughout the entire life of the trail showed 110,000 cattle had passed up the trail in 1879. George W. Saunders, president of the Old Trail Drivers' Association, an authority on Texas livestock industry history, and a man who has spent fifty-five years on trail history, in a recent article, said: "The famed Chis­ ,holm cattle trail, about which more has been written than any other south­ western trail, cannot be traced in Texas for the reason that it never existed in this state." It was always understood by pioneer cattle men that they would strike the Chisholm Trail "\vhen they crossed Red River at Red River Station, into the Indian Territory. From t:"iis authority and the evidence 208 EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF WILBARGER COUNTY gathered from many other reliable sources, the Old Trail Drivers' Associa.. tion designated the trail that crossed Red River at Doans Crossing as the Western Texas-Kansas Trail. Mr. Saunders further states in the same article: "It is safe to say that 10,000,000 of the 11,000,000 :horses and eattle that went to Northern markets during this trail driving period, crossed Red River at Red '.River Station, and at Doans Crossing. I would say about 4,000,000 at Red River Station and 6,000,000 at Doans Crossing, as Doans Crossing was used many years longer than Red River Station. From the sale of these vast herds, $250,000,000 was brought back to Texas, which started the development of Texas, induced capital and emigration, saved Texas ·from bankruptcy) and brought about the development of a great empire."

Officials of Wilbarger County

Since the organization of Wilbarger County, the follow­ ing -have se1·ved as county officials: COUNTY JUDGE-J. Doan, 1881-1884; J. P. Orr, 1884- 1886; T. Windsor Robinson, 1886-1888; L. C. Heare, 1888- 1890; J. W. Blankinship, 1890-1892; J. P. Orr, 1892-1894; James R. Tolbert, 1894-1900; J. A. Nabers, 1900-1912; J. B. Copeland, 1912-1916; E. L. McHugh, 1916-1923; 0. T. War­ lick, 1923-1924; J. V. Townsend, 1925-1931; L. P. Bonner, 19 31 ( unexpired term of J. V. Townsend) . COUNTY CLERKS (in the order named)-L. N. Perkins, lVL D. Davis, -E. L. :NicHugh, W. B. Townsend, E. L. l\1cHugh, E. l\'.I. Rogers, l\:Iiss Verna Luckey, J. '\V. Brock, Jr., and J. E. Collins. COUNTY ATTORNEYS-F. C. Beckett, J. P. Orr, W. L. Gordon, D. R. Britt, R. P. Elliott, J. Vi/. Sn1ith, S. P. Sadler, '\V. L. Camp, W. D. Berry, C. P. Smith, P. P. McGhee, W. l't Stokes, F. P. I\-1cGhee, 0. T. Warlick, S. A. L. l\Iorgan, 0. 0. l\iicCurdy, R. D. L. Killough and R. R. Donaghey.

SHERIFFS (in order,::- named)-Uel :Musick, T. L. Stewart, i\.. T. Boger, (short term by appointment), :Horatio Chowning, (sho1·t term by appointment), G. T. Douglas, W. N. Barker, J. T. Conn, D. P. Henry, R. P. Sanders, J. T. Williams, J. D. Key, W. A. Ish, W. F. Edmonson and R. L. Rheay.