Alma, Texas History By Jean Caddel and Jane Bell Smith   Alma is located on U. S. Highway 75, four miles south of Ennis. Before it came into existence, several communities had grown up in the area and were later absorbed into Alma. The earliest settler I have found was Thomas Smith from Tennessee, who came before Ellis County was formed, probably around 1846 and bought a thousand acres of land out of the Jett and Johnson surveys. It was located on a branch and pond just south of Alma, called Willow Pond because of the numerous willow trees. Smith was called "Willow Pond Smith," and soon his real name was forgotten. John O. Smith, son of Thomas, became a well known land owner. Thomas Smith's daughter married a Pippen, who was father of the well known lawyer of Dallas, Charlie Pippen. Willow Pond served as a stage coach station between Waxahachie and Marshall, operated by Mr. Cashion. Because of its beauty, Willow Pond was desirable for picnics, Sunday afternoon walks, and camping grounds. Jesse H. Curlin came from Tennessee to Texas in 1832, but did not settle at Willow Pond until 1870. In 1875, he bought two hundred acres from John O. Smith and built a home. The campers at Willow Pond expected the Curlin boys to supply wood from the nearby forest for their needs. Soon this beauty spot lost all attraction for the boys. By 1872, the Houston and Texas Central Railway had come through Alma. V. J. Tiebout came from Illinois to Alma in 1879. He became a prominent land owner and was instrumental in establishing a post office around 1881, which required a population of two hundred in the township. The post office received the name of Alma, possibly after the daughter of a local banker. In 1883, William Whitfill came from Kentucky. He purchased one hundred sixty acres from Tiebout., joining the Curlin land, for two dollars fifty cents an acre. Whitfill gave the land for the interurban throuh Alma in 1911. The first church in Alma was the Northern Methodist built in 1880. It served as school and a place of worship. The first teachers were Mrs. Alexander and Johnson. The land for the church, school, and cemetery was given by Mr. Fleming in honor of his daughter, Alma. Jenny Penny died in 1881, and was the first to be buried in the cemetery. The church building was sold to the Catholics, Father Lee closing the business transaction. The Catholics built a new building in 1906. This was destroyed by a storm in 1921, a new one was soon erected. A school building was erected in 1912, and served as the educational center, especially for the lower grades, until the district consolidated with Ennis. Some other teachers in 1923/24 were Miss Mae Venable, Elton Rogers, John Kubin, and Frank Betik The building stood vacant for many years until it was destroyed by fire. On February 17, 1885, the Wylie Moses Warren family moved from Bazette, Navarro County, to a farm in the Alma Community. The family consists of W. M. Warren, his wife Amanda Cuthbertson Warren, and their children: Minnnie L., born in 1875; Jennie N., born in 1876; William Henry, born in 1878; Christine, born in 1880; L. M. (Mack), born in 2882; and Elsie, born at Alma in 1889. Through the years, Alma has had a number of thriving businesses, among these were: J. L. Stewart Grocery store, who stayed in business longer than any other, and who is remembered by Vera Baldridge Evat for giving her an apple when it was not even Christmas. There was also. the Will Zerwer Grocery store. There is a rather large plat of the Zerwer family in Alma Cemetery. One of them is John Arthur Zerwer, who died Mar 4, 1938. It bears a Civil War Marker inscribed with "Texas Wagoner 53, Field Arty, 18 Div. Others were Dick Whitfill Grocery, the Baldridge Grocery, operated by Mrs. J. E. Baldridge, Andy and Ike Whitfill Gin, T. G. Wright Gin, and three banks, with J. H. Henderson, president of one, E. A. Wright, and W. A. Stockard, presidents of the other two. The Benton Store supplied the needs of the community in 1972, the only business house in Alma at that time. A Rural Branch Post Office had a prominent section in the store with Mrs. Benton as clerk. There were 150 residents in 1900, a school, a church, and six businesses. By 1915, the town had a bank. A high of 250 residents was reached by the mid 1920's, but dipped briefly to about 100 by the end of World War II, then climbed to 200, where it remained through the early 1960's. By 1964, Alma had lost its post office and had a population of thirty and three or four businesses. In the late 1970's the population had increased to 117, and the town incorporated. In 1990, the population was 205. Other families who came while Alma was still a young community were: the McKees, Hobbs, Bastins, Lennons, Tunes, Woods, Willis, McDowells, Findleys, Beards, Wilsons, Lawsons. Also the Lusks, Davis, Harrisons, Lummuses Slovaceks, Toths, Hortons, Treadaway, Edwards, Marvins.and Dolezalks; the Dostals, Baumgartners, Vavras, Hortons, Sosliks, Bernards, Olsens, Omelinas, and Days. Citizens who served as postmasters of Alma: J. M. Dixon, August 3, 1881; Vernon J. Tiebout, August 24, 1881; George E. Alexander, February 28, 1882; Wm H.Wright, September 28, 1882; William W. Butt, December 10, 1883; Benedict I. Fowler, October 23, 1885; Benjamin Whitfill, March 11, 1891; Elisha N. Fears, August 25, 1898; Jeremiah P. Worsham, April 22, 1899; Miss Nelmar Preuss, December 3, 1900; Mrs. Nelmar P. Grizzard, November 13, 1901; Harry K. Reed, April 26, 1902; George W. Collard, April 20, 1905; Leo Mitchell, June 8, 1914; John A. Zerwer, October 8, 1916; William H. Sands, April 14, 1924; Clara I. Ruffin, August 24, 1926. References: Hawkins, Edna Davis et al., History of Ellis County, Texas; pub. Waco: Texian, 1972. Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County; Chicago, Lewis, 1892; rpt Ellis County History, Ft Worth Historical Pub., 1972 "ALMA, TX" The Handbook of Texas Online Names of other families and teachers taken from school pictures on this site contributed by Jane Bell Smith. In 1869,  Mr. Treadaway married Josephine H. Alexander, a daughter of Matthew and Anna (Borden) Alexander of Cleburne County, Alabama. They had twelve children: James Mathew, Annie Caroline, Fannie Nancy, George Thomas, Joel Birch, Henry Borden, Mattie Hudson, Jack Alexander, and Grady Woodfin.  Three babies died at birth. Mr. Treadaway is a member of the Knights of Honor, and the family are members of the Christian Church. Joel D. Treadaway died in New Orleans, La. in 1906; Josephine Treadaway died in Ellis County in 1916.  Both are buried in the Rice Cemetery, Navarro County, Texas. References: Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas; Chicago, Lewis, 1892.   Copyright © 2003-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:30:20 MDT