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

LIBERTY COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED IN '50

The Lacy's, Simmons and Kay's were among the earliest settlers in this Avinger area community. Lacy's bridge across Cypress was named after a member of this particularly early family. A member of this same family had the first store and grist mill just this side of the bridge.

Other old homes in the east end of the community are the old Hale and John Haynes places.

The old Tom Haynes place later became the home place of the first Felker to come into the area, during the late 1860's, having recently arrived from Germany with a new English wife he had met on the boat. Story has it that she slipped off of the gang plank when boarding the ship and her husband-to-be heroically rescued her from the brine. Her maiden name was Welch. One of their sons was J.E. Felker who resided in Liberty community for years, acquiring considerable property in the course of a lifetime. J.E. Felker married Susie Blanton, whose father had been killed in the Civil War. Their children are: Mrs. Jodie Kay, of Liberty, Mrs. John Limeburger of Hughes Springs, E.S. Felker, and M.L. Felker Sr. of Avinger and Babe Felker of Dallas.

Other early families in the Liberty community were the Hatchers, Glovers, Fowlers, Moss'es, Laines and Stewarts. Mr. Turner Moss, presently of Avinger, came from Albany, Georgia, when 18 years old. They arrived at the old Hale place in 1888, which his father bought for 15 cents an acre.

The Stewarts, of which family W.G. Stewart of Avinger is a second generation descendant, came into the community from Little Rock, Arkansas. He married Miss Irene Goolsby, a member of a prominent Harris Chapel family. They have one son Edmund Joe Stewart of San Antonio.