This information was found in the vertical files of the Genealogy Department of the Longview Public Library.
THE AVINGER CITIZEN
Special Historical edition
June 18, 1954
Cage Linwood was born Oct. 15, 1879 where Mr. Oliver McNeil lives now. It was on the old Dr. Sturdivent place. Cage's mother's name was Classy Linwood.
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The old Presbyterian church was an old log building.
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The church near Gladys Smith's house was the old colored Baptist church, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. It was an old log building.
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Sally Orr was Polk Cotton's first wife.
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NOTES FROM THE AVINGER ECHO
Mrs. Geo. Estelle has a picture of Claude Adams with mule and team, also one of old house with all the family sitting around.
Mrs. Orr had eight newlyweds in her hotel at one time. A.V. Simpsons, H.J. Whitworths, etc. They had to build Mr. Simpson's office outside because the hotel was so busy.
Crawford Bruce built old hotel. He raised big watermelons.
Mrs. Cleo Orr Early was baptized on August 15, 1899 by Rev. W. W. Gollihugh.
Mrs. Fannie Coppedge joined the Methodist Church in Avinger December 19, 1927.
Alma Pattillo is having chills again. (Excerpt from 1915 Avinger Echo)
D.R. Coulter and Company paid $12.50 for cotton the week of December 10, 1915.
Henry and Jessie Whitworth of Bear Creek Community were here trading Tuesday, March 5, 1902.
Roger Brown and Miss Bernice Powell were married July 10, 1937 by Rev. Joe B. Wells.
Anna Sturdivent lived to be 92.
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There was a boarding house at old Coleman (Indian) Springs. Water believed to have medicinal value.
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About 1910 Baptist Church was reorganized. Mrs. Shamburger was Sunday School Supertintendant. The Shamburger's ran a business school in their home in Avinger.
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First movin was in the old Coulter Building and was operated by Mr. Jess Hartsfield. There were several sponsors.
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The Pitchfords and Harlans came from Allen County Kentucky. They first came to Texas in 1891 to Bonham.
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Charlie Douglas built old Bryner house for rent house. Also the Cook house.
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John Avinger has a picture of a Mr. Dodson, a former school teacher. Also pictures of Kit Avinger as a young fellow. Aso a tintype of negro girl. D. Avinger owned one slave, a negro cook who was brought in Texas at nine years old by his wife. She raised a big family but never married. She was called Old Aunt Hannah Taylor and some of her children were Dick Taylor, Tom, etc.
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Dr. Russell owned the old house next to the Bruner house.
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Herrne house was built in 1899 for A.M. Shelton and the Mitchell house was built in 1895 by Tom Duke. The Alsup house was built in about 1899.
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An old time citizen says he can remember the time in the early days of the town when he has seen as many as 78 wagons in sight at one time on the old freight trail, freighting from Jefferson, some going as far as 350 miles to the west. The road was dotted with small stores to accomodate the traveling public....like gas stations today.
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First school John Hearne went to was over across from Avinger in a home a little north and was later moved to the front of the Baptist church.
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The old colored church used to be where Knowles duples is now.
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Old Young's Chapel was about where old Coleman palce is and the big springs used to be a resort. They had a boarding house.
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Mr. John Hearne was appointed postmaster of Pettingill but it never did open.
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Mon Linwood says Doss Jones was about 10 years old when the Civil War closed.
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John F. Campbell of Green Co., Mo., also bought land through an agent.
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Hearne's old house was finished in 1871. Alf Hedick built the Friday house about 1886. The Baptist Church was being built then and John Nesbitt built it.
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During 1876, The East Line and Red River railroad, a narrow gauge reached Avinger. The first train came snorting and puffing pine sparks high in the air, about midnight.
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Mrs. Webb's sister, Kate Armsworthy and husband build old Rogers House and Mrs. Armsworthy died there.
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Dr. Avinger erected the first hotel which was run by Mrs. Dud Pruitt for some time.
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Mr. Will mozingo came to Avinger in 1912 from Turkey Creek by way of Morris County. He was born in Alabama in 1884 and came to Texas when 7 or 8 years old from New Orleans to Marshall then to Jefferson. He got off at Monday switch just this side of Patman switch on the S.S. S. railroad. He came from right below Tuscalosa near little town of Havana, Alabama.
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Mr. Brag Duncan was interested in railroad and boarded with McCains and later married Mrs. McCain's sister. Built a house before they married.
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Mrs. Archer ran a private school on the first floor of the old two-story brown house. Public school at that time was over at Methodist Church.
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In conjunction with all of this information about whose ancestor came to Texas first, one whole branch of one family's ancestry was here to meet the others when they arrived. The Quills family, whose paternal ancestor was a full blood Cherokee Indian, fall into that category. There are other fmailies in the community with Indian blood in their veins, also, and they, like Will Roger's, can truthfully say that their ancestors "met the boat."
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Avinger the highest point in Cass County.
Besides being the highest point topographically that is, in Cass county, Avinger is also the higest place on the line between Greenville and Shreveport. Its elevation adcording to the National Geodetic survey marked the back of Connor's store, is 397 feet at that particular point. The highest point within the city limits of Avinger, however is 410 feet above sea level, according to topographical map made prior to installation of the city sewer system.
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A. A. Myer was depot agent before Mr. Montgomery. Walter Glass before Mr. Myers. Noble Moore was a former agent.
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John Avinger has a picture of Carrie Avinger, Alice Sturdivent, Julia and Buck when just children.
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NOTES FROM THE AVINGER ECHO
Mrs. Connor is a charter member of PTA, also Mrs. Genevieve McKenzie.
Mrs. R.C. Connor's aunt was Mr. Lena Pattillo Allen. Henry Allen later moved to Mineral Wells. Joe Lane Allen is grandson of the Henry Allens.
Jarvis W. Smith was teacher of school year 1910.
Dr. Peebles build the Langford house in about 1910.
Old Methodist Parsonage was built by Newt McCain. Jim McCain, preacher, was son of Newt. Dee McCain was the son of Jim McCain.
Tom Blair house was built by old man Bob McCain.
Dr. Sturdivent bought the Pattillo house about 1885. He couldn't go up and down steps so he built old one story house where Minnie Cope's house was.
Dr. Sturdivent and Mrs. Webb's mother set out the old Magnolia trees in front of the old Young and (Sentell) place
Young's place then sold to Sentell. Then Sentell to Monk Linwood. White negroes inherited it from the Linwoods.
Dr. Russell built Johnson house that Kirk King owns now.
Young's house was old stage coach inn at Youngs Chapel.
Avinger was a German colony, Rhynes, Stormans, Fites, Felkers and Limburgers.
Negro who allegedly killed Dr. Avinger belonged to Uncle Jim Coulter who refuged from the Civil War near Downy's mill.
First theater ran through summer of 1913 on into summer of 1914. Had 4 cylinder motor and generator for power, which John Avinger still has.
Marshall K. Sturdivent was a charter member of the Hickory Hill Masonic Lodge.
T.B. Keasler died Jan 30, 1914. T.B. Keasler married Jane Eubanks. Oldest child is Lonnie Keasler.
Mrs. Bell Black, born Jun 26, 1847. Walter was born Sept. 11, 1870 and died Nov. 13, 1951
Town has had two existences. Mr. J.R. McCain built present building in 1903. He opened J.R. McCain Gen. Mdse. Store.
Kings house is built out of lumber from the old Pattillo house.
Kimballs buried in the old Pattillo cemetery and one stranger, an old man Sutton.
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ONLY COTTON GIN FOR MANY MILES
The local cotton gin, owned and operated by Mr. Oliver McNeil, is the only one left for miles around. It was built in about 1928, by F.A. McKenzie, Sr., contractor, and is still going strong at its location on East Depot street.
Several thousand dollars were spent last fall in installing a new process for sterlizing the cotton in order to keep down insect infestation. Gins without this extra equipment are now outmoded.
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The Mrs. Wicker buried in the old cemetery was a Cotton.
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Lena Pattillo and Dr. Sturdivent were sweethearts. However, she married Henry Allen instead.
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Baptist Church: Preaching every 4th Saturday at 3 p.m. and 4th Sundays at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Rev. G.K. Williams, paston. Sunday School every Sunday at 10 a.m. A 1903 Church calendar notice: Era Johnson, Sup't. Clara Howell, Sec'y
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Democratic primary to be held July 22, 1916. For Congress: Eugene Black
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