This information was found in the vertical files of the Genealogy Department of the Longview Public Library.

Taken from the Avinger Citizen
Special Historical Edition
June 18, 1954

HICKORY HILL COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED 1848

This community was first known as Hickory Hill with the school located on the old Jefferson and Clarksville road (ruts of which may still be seen across Poole's mill ground) about one mile east of the present business section. It's very first settler, Edward H. Kimble, arrived in 1840. He was followed shortly afterwards by various other pioneer families.

The Hickory Hill Baptist Church and Post Office were across the road and a short distance further east, on the old Lewis A. Patillo place. Thomas M. Kimble became the first postmaster when the office was organized in 1848. He was succeeded by his brother Lewis A. Pattillo who held the office until 1861. It was discontinued a short time later and then reopened April 8, 1867 in a log building located at the site of the Cattle Guard entrance to the present A.V. Simpson home, with Davis Hendricks in charge. This old log building was still in existence until about 25 years ago, being used in later years as a cotton house by A.M. Rhyme. A large oak tree that stood in front was still there for some time after the erection of the present A.V. Simpson home in 1927.

Hickory Hill also boasted a Presbyterian church, store, tannery, brick works, lodge and gravel yard. There were several residences strung out along the old, well traveled ox road. Among them were the home of L.A. Pattilo, Davis Hendricks, and M.D. Avinger. The latter, a brother of Dr. H.J. Avinger, built a store and residence on the site of the present Denman Yarborough place.

Five acres were deeded to the Presbyterian church for cemetery purposes by L.A. Patillo. This old cemetery, at the edge of the Rhyne addition, is one of the oldest in this part of the state and is of historical interest. In it are buried pioneer citizens, the Hendricks, staunch Presbyterians who were instrumental in organizing the first church, the Cottons, M.D. Avinger's, Sturdivants and Platts.

Davis Hendricks in his younger days was in love with Lewis Pattillo's daughter. Her brother, Dick Patillo objected and at one time stood behind a corner of the church while Davis stood behind a tree. Many shots were exchanged, but at the end most of them were in the corner of the church and the pine tree.

Mrs. Davis Hendricks died during an unusually heavy rainy spell. The ground was so water soaked that it was impossible to dig her grave so they took up a section of floor and buried her under the old Presbyterian church building.

During reconstruction days, many Federal soldiers were stationed at Jefferson and adjacent camps. Three of these soldiers were at Young's Chapel, 2 miles north of the present site of Avinger, nursing a sick comrade, who died. These three were accused of abusing some women near Mt. Pleasant. Three Confederates hunted and found them just as they were lowering the dead comrade into a grave at Hickory Hill. Dr. Avinger, Jake Rhyne, Mr. Little and another man were assisting in the burial. Without warning, and just at dusk, they commenced firing at the yankees. One was killed, one jumped on his horse and escaped, and the other feigned death by falling into the grave upon his dead comrade. The Confederates came up and at close range shot at his head. The bullet split the skin of his forehead and nose. He lay motionless until they left, then the citizens aided him in escaping.

At once, Davis Hendricks went to Jefferson and reported that Dr. Avinger, Jake Rhyme, Mr. Little and the other citizen did the shooting, whereupon they were arrested, taken to Jefferson and court-martialed.

When near the conclusion of evidence, the soldier who had feigned death came rushing in with arms uplifted and asked to be heard. He related the facts, about how these men were doing a friendly deed at the time of the shooting, and his testimony saved their lives. The burial was concluded the next day and the dead soldier was placed in the same grave above the other corpse. During the incident several bullets passed over the head of A.M. (Bud) Rhyne, then a boy of 11 years, who had been watching the burial.

Davis Hendricks, an old eccentric school teacher, became a meddlesome scalawag, reporting trivial things, greatly exaggerated to the authorities at Jefferson. Finally citizens got their guns loaded with small shot, called their dogs and gave chase to him. He ran to the home of Mrs. Ann Eubanks for protection. She saw him coming, got her three daughters inside and barred the doors. He ran into the hall and begged piteously to get in. The men came up, peppered him good with shot and told him if he gave them any more trouble they would kill him.

Many tragic and humorous incidents took place in old Hickory Hill community during the Civil War and reconstruction days. Hickory Hill was the first Stage Coach stop out of Jefferson, which at that time, was the third largest city in Texas. The stop was on the old Sturdivant place about where the Wilson McNeil home is now. Dr. M.K. Sturdivant, a counterpart of Dr. Avinger was reared on this land and opened his first office in the frame building adjacent to the M. D. Avinger Store.