Telico   The original town of Telico, first called Trinity City, was located on the west bank of the Trinity River at a spot known in the last century as Grassy Bank "old boat landing." This landing served the entire area, and goods were shipped in by boat and barge to be transported by ox wagons to their proper destinations.  By the mid 1850s, the community had been renamed Telico, after Telico, North Carolina, a plantation and manufacturing center. In an effort to encourage local growth, Thomas A. McCray established the Telico Manufacturing Company in 1854. Other investors spent over $100,000 on the plant, which covered a 100 by 200 foot area and used four large engines to produce cotton and wool cloth. By 1856, the community had several business establishments and a hotel and was apparently quite a bury little town. There is a story [never verified], that Telico had a chance of being designated the capitol of the State of Texas, but lost by three votes. According to neighborhood gossip, one of the officers of Telico Manufacturing Company who was sent to Europe with $60,000 to purchase machinery, left the country and never returned. As a result, the company more or less dissolved and about the same time, an overflow and flood destroyed most of the landings at Telico. The Civil War ended the existence of the old community and the manufacturing company, and a new Telico was established up land some distance from the river. Present Telico is located on a FM Road formerly known as the Rexall Highway. Thomas H. McCray was appointed postmaster on March 10, 1856. He was followed by William W. Hazelwood May 10, 1858 and Owen C. Powell, March 1, 1860. Service was discontinued Jan. 23, 1867. In 1894, the new community received a post office which remained in operation until 1905. During the 1950s and 1960s, the population reached eighty and in 1952 there were four business establishments. By 1990, the population was reported at ninety-five. Rev. W. G. L. Quait organized the Kirkpatrick Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in May 1867. Capt. Henry Pannill and wife, Margaret, gave the ground for the church and cemetery the same year. W. R. Kirkpatrick and his brother hauled cypress lumber from Louisiana with oxen drawn wagons to build the church in 1867/68. Trunks of huge oak trees were used for a foundation. The original outside dimensions are the same; the ceiling joists and rafters are tied together with wooden pegs and the church is put together with square nails. There has been a false ceiling put in below the original and it has been re-shingled several times, but the roof is the same height as when first built. In 1957, the Baptist congregation met in the church twice a month and an association maintains the cemetery. The latest recorded services held were July 2, 1961. Pastors known to have served the church were: W. G. L. Quait, (Oct. 26, 1867 to [?]); Jerry Archer, (Oct. 1925-1928); J. B. Ingle (unknown to 1938); Oscar McCollum (Sept 4. 1838 to July 8, 1945 and July 8, 1945 to April 23, 1861). Charter members were Mrs. Mary Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Bettie M. Megee, Mr. N. R. C. Rodrikus, Mr. A. J. Killen and Mrs. G. F. Kirkpatrick. Trustees were W. J. Megee, G. Killion and G. F. Kirkparrick. A tornado struck the buildiing Oct. 13, 1960. At that time there were thirty members with Rev. Joe Hixon, pastor. After 1961, the building fell into disrepair, vandals did extensive damage and age took its toll. At the 1984 meeting of the cemetery association a recommendation was made that the building be torn down. Several people objected and a building committee was appointed. The next year, David Jurney, an archaeologist, Bill Young, a historian, and Dennis Maloney, owner of Navarro Restoration Company, were brought in to make a study of the cost of restoration. Estimated cost would be $30,000 to $40,000. The old 1892 pews and the old pulpit have been restored and evidence of a forgotten steeple was discovered in the attic. Based on the hardware, it was estimated that the steeple originally held a brass Spanish bell. The steeple was repaired and it is hoped that one day the bell will be replaced. At one time the church could be reserved for special occasions, and so far as we know, it is still available. An interesting historical footnote concerns a reported shoot out which took place inside the church during services sometime in the late 1800s. Evidence of this was uncovered when bullet holes were found in the board removed from the back walls of the church. Another interesting side note to this history is that Clyde Barrow, the well known desperado of the early 1930s, (of the Bonnie and Clyde team), was reportedly born in Telico in 1909and attended Telico church with his family as an infant and young boy. A Texas Historical Marker was dedicated at the church May 21, 1988. References: A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, 1892. U. S. Postal Records, Washington, D. C. "TELICO, TX" The Handbook of Texas Online History of Ellis County by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger Waxahachie Daily Light May 27, 1888, "Telico Church Gets Marker"   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:28 MDT