India   India is located four miles east of Ferris. The name was changed from Morgan to India by the post office department. Postmasters were Samuel Wilkinson, Jan. 12, 1892; James Moyers, June 4, 1896; William Knight, April 18, 1899; discontinued May 25, 1899; reestablished Nov. 18, 1899; John K. Hall, Nov. 18, 1899; Valden D. Eder Jan. 16, 1901; Benjamin Wilkinson June 10, 1901; discontinued May 30, 1904. India, East India (east of India proper) and Carroll (located between India and East India) all had schools at one time, but consolidated in 1917. On Jan. 31, 1958, the Ferris Wheel published the following article: "Old Souvenir Program Found" Mr. Dee Witherspoon bought an old souvenir program by our office, the contents of which will be of interest to many of our readers. The cover bears the wording "India Public School, India, Texas, Term 1907-1908, and a picture of Dow Wallace Tate, teacher. Listed also is the Board of Directors which included B. E. Wilkinson, J. P. Singleton and W. P. Hurley. On the inside of the program is a list of pupils as follows: Girls: Eva Willoughby, Gertrude McCafferty, Edith Wilkinson, Billie Nolen, Bertha McCafferty, Bessie Myers, Ivy Noble, Tempa Wilkinson, Vera Hitt, Edith Wilkinson, Bessie Mohundro, Allie Mohundro, Daisy Jones, Edna Witherspoon, Nora Witherspoon, Dora Bacon, Abbie Watson, Valca Lewellyn, Minnie Jones, Nola Jones, Irene Messick, Alice Roe, Willie Burden, Cora Burden, Arvie Witherspoon, Mabel Witherspoon, Tempie Witherspoon, Bertis Thomas, Bee Stephens, Ida Roe, Allie Witherspoon, Irene Witherspoon Boys: Van Wooten, John Myers, Jesse Noble, Woodie Hitt, Ivan Hurley, Willie O'Briant, Walter Brignon, Leonard Wooten, Barney Brignon, Henry Noble, Orbie Hurley, Henry Witherspoon, Dee Witherspoon, Clay Witherspoon, Ronnie Mohundro, Arthur Mohundro, Jimmie Witherspoon, Willie Priddy, Henry Priddy, Calvin Jones, Otis Jones, Tom Jones, Emmet Jones, Robert Messick, Bluford Messick, Carleton Jones, Carlis Jones, Dewey Mohundro, Johnie Thomas, Henry Burden, Calvin Luther, Van Luther, Grady Lester, Arthur Thomas, Bird Thomas, Tommy Lester, Clarence Biggs, Earl Lester, Charlie McKay, Waymon Witherspoon, Harlie McKay, Clyde Pratt, Alton Witherspoon [The following was taken from a letter published in The Apostolic Way, Nov. 1, 1922. in Union City, Ga., by Clarence Teurman, husband of Allie Witherspoon] The India Meeting Our meeting closed last night. We had all kinds of hindrances - dangue fever, State Fair, picture shows, and worst of all, ungodliness, together with some bad weather. But in spite of all we had a good meeting. Bro. W. W. Tucker, formerly of Arkansas, but now of Munday, Texas, did the preaching, and I want you all to understand that he did the right thing in this meeting - he preached the gospel to the church. He also succeeded in converting the church, all of which made the meeting a grand success. It was all I could do to hold the "Arkansawyer" down to the work I thought was needed, but in spite of all, he would break over and 'spute' the question with the devil in general. Brother Tucker made some arguments in comparing the law of Moses with that of the law of christ that I never heard before, even in debate on the subject, all of which, I think is in harmony with other scriptures. For fear of making the report too long, I refrain from giving his scripture proofs. The meeting closed with better attendance than we had at the beginning. But let me finish telling why the meeting was a success in spite of no additions. First, he showed the church that in striving for masteries they could not be crowned unless they strive lawfully, and that anyone presuming to do this or that in the worship without precept or apostolic example is a rebel in God's sight and will be lost. Untold good was accomplished in the way and manner he presented the truth to the church. Yours for the way of the Lord. /s/ A. J. Witherspoon [father of Allie Witherspoon] Rt. 1, Ferris, Texas [The following is from a letter dated Feb. 28, 1975, written by Hester Kilman West, Royce City, Texas, to Mrs. D. R. Nelson, Elm Mott, Texas] Dear Mrs. Moyers Nelson, formerly of Ferris and India, Ellis Co. Tex. I moved from Hill County, Texas (Itasca) to Ferris during my seventh year. I was borned in 1891. We lived on the Hight place near Ferris about a year I think. We moved from there to the Ezell building near the main part of town. I would guess it must have been at the end of Main street next to the oldest Brick Yard. The Ezell place was a number of apartments. The Ezells lived above our apartment. He was editor of the Ferris Wheel. Next we moved into Ferris, either in the Orr residence or the iles residence. The Jiles home stood just across the street from the parents of the famous Bonny Parker (the outlaw) but she was borned much later after we moved. Several years later we moved to India. There was a saloon, a drug store on a corner facing the school, Egels store faced Main. That made the side next [to] the drug store. A Dr. Lasiter ran it. There were several other stores on Main [&] later, the artisan well up the street from the drug [store] that ran to the big two story house belonging to the Widow, Mrs. Moyers, but it was off the main road. On the corner where you left the main road was a large pasture where they kept sheep. A rent house was in the corner. I had a girl friend who lived there. Later she robbed the Moyers of several garments. I loved the girl more than any girl I have ever known, so it broke my heart. I have wanted so much to know she has surrendered her life to Christ, turning from sin, but I never saw her again. Walter Moyers rode a big red horse. I knew him well from sight, but do not recall ever knowing him personally. Mrs. Ava Z(we called her) Moyers Warden was a widow. The oldest one of the girls I knew, much older than I, Eppie was next, perhaps 17 or 18, when I lived there between the Moyers road and India. Dolly Ruth was near my age. The other girls were married and I never knew them. but believe there were several more sons and daughters. There was a Richard (Dick) Hurley I think was a cousin to the ones you mentioned. Lucy Hurley married Charley Watson. A daughter, Abbey, and we Kilman girls, Rosa and I, were great Friends. Ruth Watson, a younger girl, stayed with grandma Hurley. I don't remember the younger Watson children. I am not sure but I believe Herbert Moyers was the one that lived on the corner I mentioned. I believe it was Will Hurley that grandma Hurley lived with. I left India for Royse in 1912 in November, so I was only an occasional visitor after that, so I missed you. I knew three families of the Witherspoons - ran around with their children for years. I do not remember the Steavens place by name. It could possibly be the sheep pasture I mentioned, it was a large tract of land. In reading this account, please bear in mind, I am nearly 84 years old, naturally forgetful. Wishing you good luck in finding your family. I am Resp. Mrs. Hester Kilman West. P. S. The Kilmans you may have known. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kilman, mo oldest sister Mrs. Lillian (T. W. Priddy), Rosa (Mrs. J. B. Palmer (?), Mrs. Alma (Clide Snow), Henry and Dewey Kilman, the younger children, Ernest, O. K., and the baby boy Loyd, baby girl, Leslie. Sister Verda married here as I did. Verda, Dewey, O. K. and Leslie are all, beside myself, that are now living. Mrs. Mitchell's father was our only child. He was killed in world war ]?] so our granddaughter is doubly precious to us. A grocery merchant at India about that time was name Willeby. His daughter married Tom Priddy's cousin, Erven Priddy. Drs. Dunn, McGowen and Kinkade were Drs. at India while I live there. I think I said Grandma Moyers lived in the big white house. I believe the centennial paper said she was a Witherspoon. Abbie Watson married a Lonnon boy, Harvy, I believe. Dick Witherspoon. The girls were not married when I left East India. Elick Witherspoon married (I don't know who). The third Witherspoon I remember was Dave. He had a large family. I believe Marsh was the oldest. There was a traveling show that showed at India one night. I was eleven or twelve. A drunken ruff gang from elsewhere came in and broke it up. Papa took us home when he knew trouble was brewing. After we left,. one of the drunks (we were told) was picking on one of his younger brothers when Marsh walked up and said, "Why don't you pick on someone nearer your size?" The drunk turned on him, cut his throat and left him. Marsh staggered across the street, caught the corner porch post of Egle's store and said, "God, how it stings," and dropped dead. Next in line were Burt and Ira Witherspoon. Ira married a wonderful girl named Jessie Singleton. Burt married a girl named Ollie Black. They separated. A daughter, Pearl, married Marvin Newman. Her sister, Edna, married Dick Dunn, a brother to Viola Dun. Jim married Allie Mahundro. Dee married Ruby Moore, daughter of a Methodist preacher. They settled in Ferris. I keep house, in a way. I sew some, study my bible and write devotionals, little stories and memories. Very few articles are in print. I'm waiting for my granddaughter to retire, correct and type my work. Resp. Hester Kilman West My poems are well known even though only a few are published   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:09 MDT