Ellis County News Yesterday....and....Today   Heritage Sunday, May 24, 1998 First United Methodist Church, Ferris, Texas In addition to other scheduled events, a field trip to Bluff Springs Cemetery has been planned. Interested persons should meet at the church (101 Redbud Drive) at 4:00 p.m. to caravan to the cemetery. This was the site of the church's beginning in 1874 when circuit riding Methodist preachers held brush arbor camp meetings there. A special musical presentation will take place in the Church Sanctuary at 5:45 p.m., followed by a costumed dramatic presentation by Rev. Doris Manning depicting the preaching and music ministry of the Methodist Circuit Riders from the mid 1700s to late 1800s. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the program. {Submitted by Charlotte Cottongame, Church Historian, May 11, 1998] [Source:The Graham Leader, Graham, Young County, Texas] [Feb 1888] Mrs. Mary V. Hogan has appealed for help in building a White Cross Home for Women which will be sponsored by the Temperance Union of Texas and located some 31 miles south of Dallas "to provide shelter for fallen women of Texas who desire to lead a better life. " [Jan. 26, 1888] Tragedy at Ennis. Seven people drowned at Sand Lake ten miles east of this city. Two young ladies, daughters of William Williams and a young man named Bobbit was skating when the ice gave way and they fell into water over six feet deep. Miss Bobbit and two Williams daughters, ages 9 and 13, also drowned while trying to rescue them. Another small Williams child fell into the water but was thrown out on the ice by one of the drowning young ladies. Mr. William's brother, who came to the rescue, was also drowned. His mother was pulled down but saved by a rope thrown to her by two of her daughters, ages 7 and 12. [Jan 12 1888] A fire Monday night at the general merchandise store of Ledwell and Ludley at Boyce completely destroyed the contents. Cause is yet unknown. Ellis County issued 308 marriage licences in 1887 and 394 in 1886. December has the best showing with 58 marriages in 1887. [Aug 13 1885] Mr. N. B. Rankin, of Ennis, in feeble health, asked his daughters, (ages 19 and 17) to go upstairs and get a small amount of spirits for him. Their candle caused an explosion, setting the house on fire, and instantly killing one daughter. The other died this morning. Mr. Rankin's house was large and costly and the entire contents was lost. He and his wife are barely alive. [June 8, 1888] Professor E. L. Barham of the Hope Institute at Italy was making a prohibition speech at Hamlett's school house when an empty whisky bottle aimed at him hit a lady in the audience, slightly wounding her. The persons responsible were fined the next day. [Jan 26 1887] Albert L. Cook, age 14, large for his age, left home Oct. 26, 1886, and his whereabouts are unknown. He was last seen in Corsicana on November 5th. Any information will be appreciated by his father, J. N. Cook of Ferris. [Nov 26 1885] William Penland of Ellis County has been found guilty of the murder of A. J. Saffell and is sentenced to life imprisonment. While Saffell was on furlough in February 1864, he was walking with his young wife in a wooded area, when he was fatally shot by Penland. According to testimony in the case, this was Penland's second attempt on Saffell's life. [June 30 1883] Mr. Sam Gilburn, son of F. W. Gilburn, (one of Waxahachie's wealthiest citizens) was married last evening to Miss Thompson who was to have married Eugene Donnoway next Wednesday. The young lady notified Gilburn that she would be his bride if he would come for her. Donnoway seems to be bearing up well. Both young men are "well thought of here." [June 14 1888] George H. Hogan of Ellis County has turned in a valuable report on his work over the past six years with Texas blue grass. According to his findings, this grass is not affected by winter weather and all stock seem to prefer it to wheat or any other winter fodder. [Source: Journal of the Texas Medical Association Austin, Texas Vol 6, 1911-1912] Dr. H. Forster of Waxahachie pled guilty in the Ellis County Court to practicing medicine unlawfully and was fined $50 and one hour in jail. The Ellis County Medical Society adopted a resolution of sympathy to Dr. W. P. Tims on the death of his wife in December 1910. New members of the Ellis County Medical Society as of June 25, 1912: R. W. Poplin, Sarlvo, O. P. Sweatt and S. H. Watson, Waxahachie, J. S. Terry, Ennis and M. B. Weeks, Maypearl. BRISTOL, TEXAS - A PIECE OF THE PAST A dealer at a recent "First Monday" in Canton, Texas, noticed a visitor wearing a cap bearing the words "Bristol, Texas," and wanted him to look at a quilt he had purchased in Arkansas. The center block had the words "Bristol, Texas 1915" and was surrounded by some 24 additional blocks with embroidered names. We had to see for ourselves and it was really a touching moment to look at work which had been done years ago by some of our relatives. Names included: Lillie Lowery, Mrs. C. Bentley, Emily Thompson, Blanche White, M. M. Mullican, Regina Dixon, Othella Gray, Mellie Staton, Mrs. Glen, Maud [hard to read] Hefley, Georgie Sparkman, Mrs. Bobo, Mrs. Staton, Maudie Secrest, Polk Mullican, Eddie White, Rosa Burris, Pearl Scarborough, Mrs. Jones and Effie McKay.[contributed by Charlotte Cottongame and Joanne Dunn April 1998] FROM TENNESSEE TO TEXAS A party from the vicinity of Petersburg started last Tuesday for Texas. R. A. Murdock and wife, J. W. Murdock and wife, J. T. Wilkinson and wife, J. B. Robinson and wife, R. L. Swinney, B. C. Tippen, W. E. Brewers and Rufus Lockwood will locate at Greenville and R. E. Colyer and Geo. Thomas at Waxahachie. We wish them all prosperity. [Source: Fayette Observer, Lincoln County, Tenn., p. 3, col. 3, dated August 23, 1894 - contributed by Sylvia Smith April 1998] Bishop George F. Pierce preached Thursday night at the C. P. Church to a large congregation. Although he was evidently somewhat fatigued from recent labors and travel, his discourse was forcible and convincing and fully sustained his reputation as our ablest and most effective preacher. [Source: Ennis Saturday Review Sept. 2, 1876, contributed by Christine Sloan Feb 1998] Clean Sweep by Bulldozers "The Quarters" - the last of the three structures known by that name was taken by the giant sweep of a bulldozer in January. Believed to have been built before 1917, the house was the home of Buck and Amanda Kilgore. Mr. Kilgore, and possibly T. P. Turner, his co-worker at the Midlothian Oil and Gin Company, are believed to be the first black men to live in Midlothian. Boyce-Rosenwald School Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932), Chicago philanthropist and president of Sears and Roebuck, was one of several weathy whites who took an interest in the educational needs of southern rural Blacks. His concerns were practical as well as humanitarian: the U. S. needed more productive agriculture to support urban and industrial development. Rosenwald believed that this could be achieved only by creating better trained African-American labor forces through vocational education. Construction of Rosenwald Community Schools boomed throughout the southern states. They were to serve as models of modern rural school design. Standardized plans were developed which reflected the Fund's philosophy. Each school had to include an industrial room in addition to regular classrooms. There were plans for separate shop buildings and teachers' homes where home economic lessons could be practiced. All schools had to have at least two acres of land to allow for gardens as well as playgrounds. There were 4,977 schools built throughout the 14 southern states - many continued operation into the mid-1960s when the process of desegration phased them out. There were 464 schools built in Texas. One of these, the only one in Ellis County, was constructed in Boyce. Mr. Ed Clark of Ennis remembers this school and is doing some investigative work in order for ECHC to assist in a proposed survey by the Texas State Historical Commission. This Survey is to prepare statewide multiple property nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. New Preservation Tool The Texas Historical Commission has created a new preservation tool to help save the historic cemeteries in Texas. The program, called the Official Texas Cemetery Designation, was developed to respond to vandalism and destruction of historic graveyards. Individuals and organizations may apply for the designation if a cemetery is at least 50 years old and deemed worthy of preservation for its historic associations. Gerron Hite at THC is in charge of this progra. Contact him at or call Pam Tekell (972-938-1871). History of Red Oak Sylvia Smith, the guiding force behind this project, states, "A small group of early pioneer descendants met on Saturday, February 7th, to begin work on a history of this community. Although we were few in number, we were united in our goal - the year 2000, the Millennium year - that's our goal and our deadline." Suggested topics for the book are Possum Trot, New Red Oak, MKT RR, businesses, schools, clubs and organizations, churches, family histories, interesting stories and legends, stagecoaches, doctors, funeral parlors, post offices - the list goes on and on. "Then the stories will progress on up through time describing the changes, development and growth. Everyone is invited to take part; being a pioneer descendant is not a requirement." Save Texas Cemeteries Ellis County promises to be a leader in this effort. Pam Tekell and others interested in historical preservation are combining efforts to identify and restore cemeteries. The McCulloch-Witten descendants recently cleared out a lot of brush from that cemetery, made arrangements for a fence to be erected and talked with a representative from a monument company who gave valuable pointers on restoration of stones and cost involved. Bluff Springs Cemetery On Sunday, February 9, 1998, Pam Tekell, Ellis County Cemetery Preservation and Sylvia Smith, Chair of the Ellis County Historical Commission, met with James Henderson of Grand Prairie and James Pratt of Dallas at the Bluff Springs Cemetery, only to find that the graveyard had been vandalized over the years, but many of the remains of early graves had beem washed down Red Oak Creek. "Ididn't know about Bluff Springs until I began to research my ancestry," stated Henderson. "When I found it in this terrible condition, I was very disturbed. I furnished material and enlisted an Eagle Scout Troop to install a gate in an attempt to prevent further destruction." Pratt found the fence around his family plot was suspended over the bank of the creek and his ancestors' graves threatened by flood waters. A person, name not available, has used a bush-hog to clear pathways and eliminate many of the briars. Henderson and Pratt would like to see enough interest generated locally and among descendants, to form some kind of an association to repair and maintain this piece of hallowed ground. Contact Sylvia Smith or call her at 972-617-3811 or Pam Tekell or call her at 972-938-8357. Ancestors' Graves Moved Early in 1998, Douglas family descendants Max Harper, Jr. and some cousins visited the Couch Cemetery on Bell's Chapel Road between Red Oak and Rockett where their great-grandparents are buried. They were puzzled as to why Dr. Henry Douglas chose to bury his wife and sons in this cemetery rather than a few miles away in the Douglas Family Cemetery. A decision was made to move their ancestors' remains to the Douglas Cemetery, and Mr. Harper made arrangements for this to be done, Following proper procedures. Volume 1, page 48, and Volume 3, page 28, Ellis County Cemetery records should be corrected to reflect exhumation of the names listed below and the location of re-interrment: Douglas, Ellen April 21 1840 - July 8, 1886 wife of Henry Douglas, Henry Dec 18, 1827 - Dec. 7, 1892 Douglas, Samuel - Aug 1 1873 - Feb 8 1874 son of Henry & Ellen Roberts, Sue Bell Jan 8, 1874 - Oct 6, 1897 dau of Dr. Henry & Ellen Douglas [contributed by Sylvia Smith] Brick Yard Destroyed The saddest things which has happened in Ferris in recent years was the loss of the old brick yard. The kilns were destroyed last weekend and with them went the hopes for a brick museum which would have brought a tourist attraction to Ferris, as well as a gathering site for the community. This is the end of an era and now there is not even a reminder left. It is a sad day for preservationists when a community destroys a part of its heritage. The onion sheds, which came in the 1940s, were not anything more than tin car ports and only lasted a few years, but the brick yard dated back to the late 1880s! That was real history! If you want to get involved and help preserve whatever we have left, join the Ferris Downtown Association. [From Ferris Footnotes by Joyce Baran, Ellis County Press, page 13, February 26, 1998.] contributed by Sylvia Smith]   Copyright © 1996-2017, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:19:40 MDT