South Prong Community   South Prong Community was located about five miles south of Waxahachie on the South Prong of Waxahachie Creek. Take Hwy. 77 south to Boyce Grain and turn left on Hwy 55. When 55 makes a sharp turn to the right toward Nash and Avalon, continue straight on New Haven Rd to what is now Chisholm Trail. This was South Prong! The school and church were located on the northeast corner of the intersection. Chisholm Trail was known as the old Italy Road. Before the lake was built in the 1950's, there was a bridge across the creek which linked South Prong to south Waxahachie. Some of the first settlers came here about a century before Waxahachie Lake was built, and a number of the old home places are still standing a short distance to the south and southeast. See Photo Gallery for more South Prong images. One of the earliest settlers in the area was the Edward Sweatt Family. The old family farm was located on the south side of the South Prong of Waxahachie Creek, now Waxahachie Lake. The old family cemetery has been incorporated into the Lakeview Cemetery. The first burial there was Robert Hiram Sweatt, 1853. In 1907, one large stone was erected by a granddaughter, Quincy Davis Getzendaner, daughter of Mary Paulina Sweatt Davis which reads: In Memory of EDWARD SWEATT 1788 - 1854 His Wife, NANCY M. SWEATT 1798 - 1879 His Sons ROBERT HIRAM 1828 - 1853; ALEXANDER CAMPBELL 1832 - 1858' GEORGE BRADFORD 1832 - 1866 There are two new small markers beside the larger one with R. H. S. & G. B. S. (Evidently marking the location of the exact graves) Some pieces of two old stones are still on the ground which read: Alexander Campbell Sweatt [son] Feb 10, 1832 - June 12, 1858 Jack? [Illegible] Died Apr 13, Aged 75 years Mary Paulina Sweatt was the daughter of Edward Sweatt and a native of Wilson County, Tennessee. She married R. A. Davis, a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (McFarland) Davis, natives of Virginia and Tennessee respectively. R. A. Davis was born April 5, 1821, and came to Texas in 1851. He first settled in Collin County and came to Ellis County in May of 1854. He and Mary Paulina Sweatt were married in Wilson County October 22, 1845. They had six children: James Samuel, Fidelia, Mary Amelia, Edward S., Olvey and Quincy. Peter Apperson and his son, James P. Apperson, and Norman H. Whittenburg were well known families who had land grants between South Prong of Waxahachie Creek and North Fork of Onion Creek. Other early settlers were the Marchbanks, Roebuck and Herrington families. South Prong Baptist Church was established in 1884. The first pastor was Edward P. Burke and the Deacons were Guy Roebuck and Fonnie (Alfonso) Marchbanks. The church was later moved some four miles north to 101 Sunnyside Drive just west of the Dunaway Grade School in Waxahachie. Across the road from the School and Church were the farms of the Graston, Harley, and Henry Kenham families. If you continue south from the crossroad about one fourth mile, the Fletcher Store was located on the west side. Later Mr Fletcher moved the store to Nash. A little farther south on the east side is the old Vantreese home place. Bud Davis is the present owner and lives in the well maintained old home. Farther south Hwy 55 dead ends into West Road. Directly in front is the Roebuck farm. Near the present Roebuck home is one of the historical springs of Ellis County located on the North Fork of Onion Creek. To the right on West Road is the Fred Terrell farm. Left on West Road and about two miles east of the old church and school is the old Marchbanks home. Still further northeast on West Road are the old Herrington and Hanson family farms. West road crosses a dry creek bed that once flowed freely before the water was diverted. A grove of trees just north was a favorite gathering place and picnic grounds for the young people of South Prong Community. Some other families who lived in the area in the early part of 1900 were the Partens, Underwoods, Thompsons, Carrolls, Rays, Chipmans, Hamms, Wheatleys, Grastons, Fullers, Putmans, Jacobs, Browns, Wilburns, Rileys, Miltons, and Spillmans. THE VANTREESE FAMILY The Vantreese family originated in Chester County, Tennessee. Benjamin Franklin Vantreese, father of John and Valentine Vantreese, died there is buried at Jack's Creek. He enlisted in 1861 as a Private in Newsom's Tenn. Cav. Regt. and was a prisoner for two years at Alton Prison until Jan. 9, 1865. John and Emily Theresa (Rhodes) Vantreese were the first of the family to come to Texas from Jack's Creek, Chester County, Tennessee. He came to Ellis County and settled in South Prong in 1884. Their Children were Ada Geneva, Lizzie, Effie, Lawrence and Walter.Valentine Vantreese and his wife, Martha Jane (Horn) Vantreese, followed his brother, John, to South Prong September 9, 1897. The family first settled across the road west from the present Boyce Grain on some rent property. Across the road south was Ethan Jenkins, the "Fiddle Maker." Soon they bought the property on the old Italy Road where the present old home place still stands on what is now Hwy 55. Their children were Lucy, Franklin, William, Hugh, Leona, and John Elbert. John Elbert Vantreese, youngest son of Valentine and Martha, was born in Jacks Creek, Chester County, Tennessee. He married Virda Julia Hullett, a sister of Viola Underwood. John Elbert served in World War I in the Balloon Corp. or Signal Corp. Their children: Donnie P. Vantreese, born Oct. 20, 1922, married Ruth Ford. He served as a Quarter Master in the Army Air Corp., World War II. Donnie was a motorman on the Interurban to Waco from Waxahachie. Each day he boarded his car where it was left on the track that ran by what is now Boyce Grain, made the trip both ways and returned that night. The tracks have been removed but the electric line for the trolley still marks the route of the trolley. Donnie died in 1987 and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. Philip K. Vantreese, born Dec. 20, 1925, married Jo Ann Curry. He and Donnie both attended South Prong School. He served in the Infantry World War II under Gen. Patton, 3rd Army, Browning Auto. Rifleman. He still lives in the area. Lynn J. Vantreese, born in June, 1930, married Vernel Costolow. Lynn was an Army Cpl. In the Korean War. John Tommy Vantreese, born in November, 1933, married Joyce Cavender. He served six months in the Army. He died in 1989 and is buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Ellis County, Texas. Eddie Bob Vantreese, born July 28, 1936, married Margie Ann Martin. He served in the 1st Army in 1955. They still live in the South Prong area, and attend church at the South Prong Baptist Church. Jack Warren Vantreese, born Feb. 1, 1938, married Margaret Cavender. He served in the Army in Okinawa during peace time. He died in 1997 and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in the South Prong Community, Ellis County, Texas. References: 1. Interview and tour of the community with Bob & Phillip Vantreese. 2. Land Grants & Deeds, County Clerk Office, Ellis Co., Waxahachie. 3. Cornerstone on South Prong Church. 4. Sweatt Cemetery Inventory. 5. Family names listed in school picture on this page by Bob Vantreese. 6. Memorial & Biographical History of Ellis County; pub. 1892. 7. Early Vantreese Research by David Vantreese, son of Bob Vantreese. 8. Oral History and Family Records Bob and Philip Vantreese.   Copyright © 2003-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:27 MDT