Mountain Peak   Mountain Peak is west, northwest of Waxahachie about seven miles on FM 875, just past the intersection of FM Road 663, about six miles south of Midlothian. The Singletons ,who settled at Mammoth Springs, just a short distance south of Mountain Peak, were considered the first settlers. The settlement was first known as Singleton, but the Singleton post office operated for a little less than two months in 1878. On May 2, 1878, the name became Mountain Peak with postmaster Wm. H. Robinett. Other postmasters were William L. Kizziar, April 20, 1881; W. B. Mansell, Oct. 10, 1881; William W. Major, April 14, 1883; George A. Burks, Feb. 15, 1884; Ed. C. Vance Dec. 14, 1885; Frank C. Whipple May 10, 1887; James A. Orr, Nov. 8, 1887; Robert W. Dillard, April 3, 1890; R. P. Burks, Oct., 23, 1893; William M. Cathey, Aug. 21, 1897; Robert W. Dillard, Jan. 15, 1900; Rufus H. Morton, March 6, 1903; office was discontinued Aug. 6, 1906 and mail sent to Midlothian. Granville Pettes built the first house in 1875. According to Walter Reeves, Mountain Peak was virtually the mother of Midlothian, Concerning the suburban neighbors, he wrote: "In the year 1874, John W. Burks gave five acres of land on which to build a church. This included the famous old spring at the Peak and also the cemetery. The timbers for the first school house were hauled from Cross Timbers, fifteen miles west of the Peak, by 'Uncle' Alf Forbes, John W. Burks and Jim Smith. The house was built principally by 'Uncle' Alf." He goes on to describe more about the church . "The two-story building was built in either 1876 or 1877, the contractor E. H. Griffin. For many years both the Baptist and Methodist denominations used the house of worship. It was also used for a school and Masonic Lodge. For many years Mountain Peak was noted as an educational center, and pupils came to attend school from many parts of the state. This was particularly true while Prof. J. K. Smith, and later, his son, J. C. Smith, were at the head of the school." In the early 1890s, the community had 160 residents, two churches, a school, cotton gin, and a half dozen businesses, including a general store and blacksmith shop. Some of the other early settlers were the Burks, Forbes, Pealls, Smiths, Clarks, Harpers and Fields. Later came the Moores, Sewells, Dillards, Blairs, Majors, Burlesons and others. Some who have risen to more or less prominence are Floyd Singleton, who served as county judge; Henry Forbes, who made a record as sheriff of the county; L. O. Moore, who served as county commissioner; Tom Burleson, district clerk. Many of the well known business men of Midlothian came from Mountain Peak. Some of these were Dr. J. E. Sewell, druggist and mayor for several years; I. O. Moore, ginner and ex-county commissioner; M. A. Dillard, manager of the oil mill; R. W. Dillard, mailman and grocer; R. H. Morton and Hugh Page, general merchants; W. E. Sewell, farmer and cotton buyer; W. W. Major, president of the 20th Century Tire Protector Co.; W. M. Stanberry, editor and publisher of The Argus; B. P. Burks, manager of the Citizens Lumber Co. and G. A. Burks, manager of the Farmers' Gin. After the turn of the century, the population began to decline until there were only twenty residents in 1990; however, should you visit there today, you will see a historic community surrounded almost entirely by suburbs that have spread south from Midlothian. One of Midlothian's new schools is a short distance away, and is called The Mountain Peak School. According to Walter Reeves, Mountain Peak was virtually the mother of Midlothian. References: A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Ill. 1892. U. S. Postal Service Records, Washington, D. C. "MOUNTAIN PEAK, TX" The Handbook of Texas Online "Our Suburban Neighbors", by Walter Reeves; written for the Midlothian paper (no date).   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:14 MDT