Cameron Herald (of Cameron, Milam Co., Texas) - Vol. 13, No. 26 (Whole No. 650) - Thursday, January 3, 1895
"The cotton gin at Freestone Co. was destroyed by fire Saturday night. "
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Jan. 21, 1895 edition - Page: 4
Fire Record
TOWN DESTROYED
Mexia, Limestone Co., Tex., Jan. 20 – Almost the entire business portion of Cotton Gin, in Freestone county, was destroyed by fire last night. W. F. Storey lost his entire stock and building, valued at $6,000; insured for $1,500 in the Greenwich and $1,500 in the Mechanics and Traders. Dr. Mean’s drug store was burned without any insurance. The other buildings burned were vacant.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Feb. 10, 1895 edition - Page: 7
Oglesby Adjudged Insane
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Feb. 2? – J. P. Oglesby, the ex-tax assessor of this county, was adjudged insane and taken to Terrell. His insanity is suppose to have been brought on by neuralgia in his head and face.
[same issue – page 12]
WEATHER NOTES [original printed this title upside down! but
everything else on the page is right side up.]
Fairfield, Freestone Co. – two degrees below zero was the register on the 7th.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Feb. 23, 1895 edition - Page: 5
Courthouse Double Marriage
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Feb. 20 – A couple came in to-day from Birdston accompanied by another young lady and gentleman and went into the county clerk’s office, where a marriage license was procured, and by the assistance of Judge Rufus Hardy they were soon made one. Both couples retired to a store for a while, and after a few minutes another young man came in and the march was again taken up to the courthouse. Another license was procured and Judge Hardy’s services were again required. He soon comforted the other loving pair, and they departed happy. The first bride was but 14 years old, but they had an order from her parents for a license.
[Freestone County,
Texas Marriage Book #5:
Myers, Joseph Asher,
Annie Feb. 20, 1895 by Judge Rufus
Hardy
O’Neal, Oscar Worthy,
Lona Belle Feb. 20, 1895 by Judge
Rufus Hardy
I still do not know who was the first couple and who was the second.]
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – March 6, 1895 edition - Page: 2
Small-Pox
…In Freestone county, near Cade, the same advices state there have been five cases and one death. This is about ten miles from the district mentioned above and from which it contracted the contagion. ….”
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - April 9, 1895 - Page: 5
700 ACRES OF LAND – All enclosed with seven barb wire; 300 acres of same in high state of cultivation; improvements first-class; located in Freestone county, 4 ½ miles from Oakwoods, on the I. & G. N. road; healthy location; one mile to good school and church; good value at $15 per acre; will exchange for good business property in a good size town. J. B. McDaniel, Hubbard City, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - April 12, 1895 - Page: 7
Sheriffs' Department
FREESTONE COUNTY
Bonner, Tex., April 6 – Stolen from H. M. Harriss, Bonner, Freestone county, Tex.: One iron-gray mare, 8 years old, branded a turned B on left thigh, heavy-set, 15 hands high, one iron-gray mare, 7 years old, 15 hands high, branded a C on left thigh; one flea-bitten gray mare, 15 ½ hands high, branded a C on left thigh, 8 years old; one bay mare, 15 ½ hands high, 6 years old, branded 1D on left shoulder. Above stock was bred to jack last spring and are only partially halter-broken. Any information leading to the recovery of stock will be liberally rewarded. I will give $50 reward for the arrest and conviction of thief. Address M. H. Harriss, Bonner, Tex., or D. F. Hughes, city marshal Mexia.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - April 19, 1895 - Page: 5
REPUBLIC SUED
Waco, Tex., April 18 – The jury in the United States district court is deliberating on the case of W. J. Faust, ex-assistant postmaster of Thornton, Freestone county, who is indicted on a charge of embezzlement of money order funds. At a late hour no verdict had been returned.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - April 12, 1895 edition - Page: 7
Sheriffs' Department
FREESTONE COUNTY
Bonner, Tex., April 6 -- Stolen from H. M. Harris, Bonner, Freestone, Tex.: One iron-gray mare, 8 years old, branded a turned B on left thigh, heavy-set, 15 hands high; one iron-gray mare, branded C on left thigh; one flea-bitten gray mare, 15 1/2 hands high, branded C on left thigh, 8 years old; one bay mare, 15 1/2 hands high, 6 years old, branded 1D on left shoulder. Above stock was bred to jack last spring and are only partially halter-broken. Any information leading to the recovery of stock will be liberally rewarded. I will give $50 reward for the arrest and conviction of thief. Address M. H. Harriss, Bonner, Tex., or D. F. Hughes, city marshal Mexia.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – May 17, 1895 edition - Page: 6
Wortham, Freestone Co. – A light rain fell here again this morning with good prospects for more. Farmers badly behind with their crops. Cotton very grassy.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - July 1, 1895 - Page: 2
WORTHAM MEETING
---
Minutes of the Closing Session of the Corsicana District Conference
----
ENNIS CHUCH DEDICATION
----
Coming Fourteenth Internal Convention of Christian Endeavor
at Boston
Will Include 200 Texas Delegates
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., June 29 - The evening
session of the this the fourth day of Corsicana district conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church south was quite interesting and President Annis, who is a
very fine presiding officer, rushed business in order to wind up to-day.
Rev. J. M. Wynne led the devotional exercises.
The minutes of the morning session were read and approved.
Rev. Mr. Hemphilee, a visiting minister from the Methodist
Protestant church, was introduced to the conference.
The committee on memoirs reported appropriate resolutions
on the death of Rev. W. B. Thompson.
...
Cameron Herald
(of Cameron, Milam County, Texas)
Vol. 14, No. 5 (Whole No. 680) --- Thursday, August 1, 1895
"Wm. Williams, negro, at Fairfield, Freestone Co., was found dead in front of his cabin, having died from hemorrhage of the lungs."
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - August 19, 1895 - Page: 9
Wortham
A Thriving Town on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in
Freestone
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., Aug. 14 – The thriving
town of Wortham is situated on the Houston and
Texas Central Railroad in the northwestern corner of
Freestone county, near the boundary
line of Limestone and Navarro counties, eight miles north of Mexia in Limestone county and twenty-two miles
south of Corsicana in Navarro county, and 189
miles from Houston and seventy-five miles from Dallas.
The town of Wortham does perhaps as much business and has as
much push and enterprise as any town of its size in the state.
It is surrounded by productive prairie lands easy of cultivation and
yielding bountiful returns to the husbandman.
It is known and spoken of as the beautiful little city on the prairie.
The locality is high, well drained and healthy.
Timber abounds in profusion four miles east of town, extending to the
Trinity river, the eastern boundary of the
county. Water is obtained at form
forty to forty-five feet, good freestone water with occasionally a flow of
limestone water. The population of
Wortham is 753 souls.
The Houston and
Texas Central railroad did the following business at this place during the last
twelve months: Freight received:
4,854,912 pounds, earnings $1294.53; freight shipped, 11,573,683 pounds,
earnings $3168.84. Ticket sales,
$428.85. There was shipped from here
during this time 185 cars of cattle.
In will be remembered that small-pox quarantine regulations affected very
seriously and damagingly the business interests of the town of
Wortham during nearly three months of the present
year, beginning on the 18th day of February, yet the report of nearly
every business man in town shows that his sales and cash collections have been
larger and more satisfactory than the year preceding, notwithstanding the
extremely low price of cotton in connection with the quarantine regulations.
There are thirty-one business houses.
There is one weekly paper here, the
Freestone Vindicator, A. Eubanks
editor. There are four churches, in
which seven denominations of Christians worship, one Masonic hall, one Knights of Honor, one
temperance and one alliance organization, four Sunday schools, one Christian
Endeavor and one Epworth League organization, one cornet
band, a large and commodious hall for public exhibitions, two cotton yards,
three gins with mills attached and one large school building with a large and
flourishing school.
There is an opening here for a bank.
The business of the town
would amply justify and support such an institution.
Much inconvenience unavoidably results in transacting the financial
business of the town through banks at Corsicana and Mexia.
Much of the cotton raised tributary to this place goes to other places on
account of the absence of banking facilities.
Enterprising business men contemplate putting in a brick block in
addition to the present number of
business buildings already occupied.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - August 24, 1895 - Page: 4
PENSIONS
Washington, Aug 23 – (Special) – Texas – Reissue: Thomas Roberts, Fort Worth, Tarrant County; Nealy H. Cummings, Ben Franklin, Delta county; James Medcalf, LaPorte, Harris county. Mexican war survivors: Increase, Jas. S. Payne, Bonner, Freestone county.
Cameron Herald
(of Cameron, Milam County, Texas)
Vol. 14, No. 10 (Whole No. 685) --- Thursday, September 5,
1895
Miscellaneous News.
Texas State News:
"A. Mims, farmer, near Cade, Freestone Co., while hauling bailed hay, was thrown from the wagon and kicked by the team. He died."
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Nov. 10, 1895 - Page: 17
Religious Meetings
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Mexia, Tex., Nov. 9 – The sixth semi-annual session of the Waco district convention of Christian
Endeavorers met last night at the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
…Rev. J. S. Groves of Mexia invoked divine blessings, followed by
praise service led by Henry Bounds of
Wortham.
…
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Nov. 12, 1895 - Page: 3
KILLING FROST
Wortham,
Freestone Co.,
Tex., Nov. 11 -
Heavy frost and some ice last night.
Green vegetation all killed.
Cotton picking about over.
Very little being held by farmers. Receipts here will be a little less than half
???? year.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Nov. 25, 1895 - Page: 6
Leon County Difficulty
Buffalo, Leon Co., Tex., Nov. 23 – News was received here this afternoon that a sewing machine agent by the name of W. C. Hicks of Freestone county had a difficulty with a white woman by the name of Mrs. Sallie Schaver of this county, living nine miles south of this place. The woman was shot in the foot and the ball ranged upward and lodged in her ankle. Amputation is thought necessary. Mr. Hicks came in and gave himself up to the officers this afternoon. The cause is about some trouble the parties had several years ago. Mr. Hicks was put under $1,500 bond to appear Tuesday a week, Dec. 3, for preliminary trial.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Nov. 28, 1895 - Page: 4
MASONIC DISTRICTS
… No. 14. Leon and Freestone. …
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - December 2, 1895 - Page: 8
Sheriffs' Department
FREESTONE COUNTY
Fairfield, Tex., Nov. 28 – Stolen, on night of Nov. 22, from J. A. Tucker, one mile north of Fairfield, one bay mare, 4 years old, split in right ear. Will pay $5 for recovery of mare or $15 for thief and mare. Address J. A. Tucker, Fairfield, Tex., or J. N. Haydon, sheriff Freestone.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - December 3, 1895 - Page: 2
FIFTH SUPREME DISTRICT
Dallas court of civil appeals
Affirmed – James F. Bonner vs. A. W. McCreary, survivor, from Freestone; [This is actually James Isaac Bonner vs. Arabella W. McCreary (wife of William Hemphill McCreary) according to the court case.]
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - December 5, 1895 - Page: 8
High Masons Meet
Sixtieth Communication of the Texas Grand Lodge
THE ANNUAL REPORTS
Houston, Tex., Dec. 3 - ...
Longbotham 428, T. E. Longbotham, W. M.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - December 12, 1895 - Page: 6
Personal
At the St. George - … W. B. Moses, Fairfield, Tex.; …
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb. 3, 1896 - Page: 3
Society over the State
HILLSBORO
Mrs. W. D. Duncan of Mossey, has returned from Freestone county, accompanied by her sisters, the Misses Lindsey.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb. 17, 1896 - Page: 6
Mortuary
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., Feb. 16 – Mr. David White, a prominent farmer, died this morning.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb. 20, 1896 - Page: 3
H. and T. C. Railroad
THE CORNER OF
FREESTONE
...
Wortham - The Houston and Texas Central railroad touches the
extreme north-western corner of Freestone, having some two miles of track in the county. In this corner is
situated the pretty little town of
Wortham, alias Longbottom, alias
Tehuacana Station.
Do not suppose, however, that
Wortham's record is bad on account of its having two aliases.
It will probably compare favorably in the matter of morals with the
average Texas town of 400 or 500 inhabitants.
Wortham came by its aliases in this way:
"The Houston and Texas Central railroad,"
says Mr. J. C. Lee, one of Wortham's
first citizens, "reached this point in September, 1871.
The depot then established was named
Tehuacana Station, on account of
Tehuacana Hills, just over in Limestone county
five miles southwest and in plain view of this place.
The name, however, caused confusion as Tehuacana was already a village of
considerable note being the site of the Trinity university of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church of Texas, and also being a postoffice.
It soon became apparent that the naming of this place
Tehuacana Station was a serious
mistake, and in a year or so the name was changed to
Longbottom. It was so
named in honor of Mr. R. B. Longbottom, a pioneer citizen who came from Alabama
to this part of Texas some time in the forties.
Mr. Longbottom owned a league of land here and made liberal donations in
order to get a depot established here. He died some ten or twelve years ago.
The name of the town was again changed a little later on,
to what it is now is, Wortham, in
honor of Col. L. R. Wortham, deceased, who opened the first business house here, moving his store from the village of
Bonner eight miles east of
this place.
"While Col. Wortham ran
the first business house in this town, he was not the first man to sell goods here. Capt. White (whose initials I have forgotten), opened
a small stock of groceries, etc. in a tent and I bought the first bill of goods
from him ever sold here. Soon
afterward a man named Swing erected a little shed and opened a small stock of
canned goods, tobacco, candles, etc. in it.
Then came Col. Wortham from
Bonner, formerly known as
Woodland, where the Cumberland
Presbyterians, in years past, had quite a large college."
Among other early business men at
Wortham were
J. M. Byers and P. L. Stubbs, grocers; and T. A. Bounds, dry goods.
At present the business of Wortham embraces three general stores, two dry
goods and clothing houses, four groceries, two hardware and implement houses, a
furniture and undertaking establishment, two drug stores, a hotel, a restaurant,
a lumber yard, two cotton yards, two livery stables, a barbershop, a photograph
gallery, a meat market and three blacksmith shops.
There are also three cotton gins in and near the town with an average
capacity of from 25 to 30 bales a day each.
A corn mill is run in connection with each gin.
Wortham has no bank, but needs one
very much in order to facilitate the buying of cotton, cotton seed, cattle, etc.
Several of the stores here do from $25,000 to $40,000 worth of business
annually. There is a nice iron-clad, fireproof depot building at
Wortham which is 25 feet wide by 100
feet long. Some eight or ten new
residences have been built in the town during the last year.
Shipments-- Last season nearly 6000 bales of cotton, 187
cars of cotton seed and 122 cars of cattle were shipped from
Wortham.
The present season, up to date, only 3000 bales of cotton have been shipped and 103
cars of cotton seed. The yearly average of cotton shipments amounts to about
4000 bales. From five to ten miles east of
Wortham there are some extensive cedar brakes,
from which a great deal of railroad piling, posts, telegraph and
telephone poles are cut and shipped from here.
From 30 to 50 cars of cedar timber for various purposes are shipped here
annually, a considerable portion going direct to Germany.
Journalistic -- The first newspaper published at
Wortham was the
Democrat, established in 1890 by Martin Dies, now county judge of Wood county, Texas. After running the paper two years Mr. Dies sold it to Lee
Satterwhite, who published it about a year and half and sold it to a joint
stock company, who changed the name to the
Freestone Vindicator,
running it as a populist paper up to January 1895, then leaving the plant to Mr.
Abner Eubanks who now runs the paper as a free silver democratic journal,
retaining the name of Vindicator, but
beginning with a new volume number.
By Mr. Eubank's chronology the Vindicator
is at the beginning of its second volume, and is a six-column weekly folio.
The Christian Advance, of which
Mr. J. E. Bounds was editor was moved from
Corsicana to
Wortham in the spring of 1893, but its
publication was discontinued in December 1894.
Educational, social and religious --
Wortham has a
fine, large, two-story public school building, where some 150 pupils are being
educated. Prof. Monroe, with two
good assistants, is in charge. A
public term of eight months a year is taught and a subscription term of two
months. There is also a colored free
school of 30 or 40 pupils.
The religious denominations having organizations here are
the Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian, Presbyterian, Baptist, Primitive
Baptist, Methodist, and Methodist Protestant.
The secret orders having lodges here are the Masons, Knights of Honor
and Good Templars.
General notes--
Wortham is 189 miles north of Houston, 76 miles south of
Dallas, and 20 miles west of Fairfield, the
county seat of Freestone county. The town is upon a sandy
location of good natural drainage, with an abundant supply of fine freestone
water, insuring good health. It was
the purpose of The News correspondent prepare an extended article upon
Freestone County and he requested the tax assessor at
Fairfield to give him certain
important data for that purpose. The
assessor declining to do so, The News is not able give an accurate write-up of
the county, much as it would like to do so.
[Same issue – Page 6]
Shot and Killed
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., Feb. 19 – J. A. Deerdorff was shot and instantly killed near here to-day.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – March 26, 1896 edition - Page: 5
The Higher Courts
Criminal Appeals Court
Motions for rehearing overruled - … Dick Smith, from Freestone …
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – April 11, 1896 edition - Page: 4
Shot and Killed
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., April 10 – J. E. Byers was shot and instantly killed this evening. Byers was charged with killing Sam McLendon here last November.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – April 13, 1896 edition - Page: 3
THE HIGHER COURTS
Supreme Court
Writ of error refused - … James J. Bonner vs. A. W. McCrary, from Freestone; … ; [This is actually James Isaac Bonner vs. Arabella W. McCreary (wife of William Hemphill McCreary) according to the court case.]
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - May 22, 1896 - Page: 7
Sheriffs Department
Freestone County
Fairfield,
Tex., May 19 – All officers look out for and arrest
Sam McMillen, white man, about 25 years old, about 6 feet high, weight about 160
pounds, dark hair, rather light complexion, peculiar way of blinking his eyes
and throwing his head slightly up every few minutes, generally wears spurs and
pants stuffed in boots, talks a great deal, uses slang.
I hold capias for him charged with theft of a horse.
Also Jim Bright, white boy, 18 or 20 years old, light hair
and complexion, broad sleek face, rather heavy build, weight about 150 pounds, 5
feet 6 or 8 inches high, pretty good talker, seems to think himself smart,
parents living in Hearne, and brother somewhere near
them. I hold warrant for him.
Also Mack Taylor, black negro, about 40 years old, about 6
feet high, weight 160 pounds, a little stooped shouldered, mustache and
sometimes scattering beard on face, gambles with cards and shoots craps, is very
fond of women, was shot through the mouth some years ago, which left a scar, but
can not describe it. I hold capias
for him for theft of a horse.
J. H. Hayden, sheriff of
Freestone county.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 12, 1896 edition - Page: 4
For Good Roads
Freestone [no info on the roads] Avg. taxable value of land per acre: $3.00
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 14, 1896 edition - Page: 22
For the State Ticket
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., June 12 – The Freestone county democratic convention met at Fairfield to-day. Hon. L. D. Lillard was elected permanent chairman. Delegates to the state national, state nominating, judicial and senatorial conventions were elected. The present state administration was indorsed and instructed for without exception. Hon. Thomas Bail was instructed for congress. Hon. J. A. Wayland for state senator. John H. Reagan, Allison Mayfield and John D. McCall for the railroad commission. Judge O. C. Kervin for district judge and J. Ross Bell for district attorney. Hon. J. W. Blake and J. W. Bailey were named for delegates at large to the national convention. Delegates to the state national convention were instructed to vote for no delegate to the national convention who was not in favor of the free coinage of silver.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 15, 1896 edition – Page 2
Mortuary
LANELY – Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., June 12 – J. J. Laney died here to-day.
----------------------------
[Same Issue - Page: 3]
[Beneath a picture of a couple in the latest fashions of
1896]
CORSICANA
... Miss Eliza Bonner is visiting in Fairfield ....
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 21, 1896 - Page: 14
Mr. Big Hat
To Correspondents
HATTIE WILLARD, Fairfield, Tex. - Mr. Big Hat and cousins: I have been thinking about writing for quite awhile, but I have not had the courage to do so before. I am 14 years old. Mr. Big Hat, my cousins and I go to Sunday school every Sunday morning. We have a nice time. I have a horse and she is of fine stock. I have a pet chicken. I have three sisters and two brothers.
[Nancy Katie Willard b 16 Nov 1881. Sisters: Anna Inez, Elizabeth H., Virginia. Brothers: Douglas William and Nelson Alexander. Age: 14 yrs, 7 mths, 5 days.]
[Julia Bessie
Willard b 11 Feb 1883.
Sisters: Nancy Elizabeth, Maggie D.,
Alice
Bertha.
Brothers: Cantrell Bethel, Franklin Hall.
Deceased siblings:
John H.,
Nora, <infant son>, and Bennie. Age: 13 yrs, 4 mths, 10 days.]
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 2 and 20, 1896 – page 4 on 2nd, page 8 on 20th
Sheriffs' Department
Freestone County
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., June 29 – Arrest Sam Lee (colored), charged with assault with intent to murder. I hold warrant. Aged about 20 years, color ginger, height 5 feet 8 or 10 inches, weight 150 to 165 pounds, medium build, rather downcast look, high forehead, scar near edge of hair, a gambler at cards and craps, suppose to have been at Dallas, Athens and Tennessee Colony within the last few days. Wife lives in Dallas. Will give $20 reward for his delivery to me at Fairfield within next twenty days, or $10 for arrest and delivery in any jail within 300 miles of Fairfield. J. N. Haydon, sheriff Freestone county, Texas.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 20, 1896 - Page: 5
Senator Mills Will Speak
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., July 17 – The committee on invitation of speakers for the reunion of Camp W. L. Moody, U. C. A., at this place, to be held next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, have received replies from Senator R. Q. Mills and Judge Phelps accepting invitations to deliver addresses. Col. Mills will speak on Thursday and Judge Phelps on Friday. Judge Watts has signified his willingness to be with us, but it is not definitely known yet whether or not he can come. A large encampment is expected from all over the neighboring country.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Aug. 29, 1896 - Page: 6
Texas Daily Press
…The
[Mexia] Ledger says:
Freestone county
owes it to her present respectability and future prosperity that she allow no
bad man to gain place and power in her government at the November election.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Sept. 14, 1896 - Page: 2
Struck by Lightning
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., Sept. 1?- Henry Pulling was struck by lightning during a thunder storm last night. He was standing in his house by a window when struck. There was no damage to the house or any other of the inmates.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Sept. 20, 1896 - Page: 14
Mr. Big Hat
To Correspondents
OLIE MAE ROGERS, Bonner, Tex. – Mr. Big Hat and cousins: Here I come again, tapping at the door for admittance. I have written to the department once, but it has been such a long while ago that I guess you all have forgotten me. How I do think the Cozy Corner is improving! That shows it is enlightening to the cousins to write to The News. We get The News twice a week and read very near all contained it in except politics, and I never pay any attention to that. I especially like “Woman’s Century”, though I think the Cozy Corner most entertaining. We are having some real dry weather in this part of the Lone Star state, but from the looks of the heavenly bodies I think the earth will be quenched of her thirst by night. Some of the cousins speak on the subject of education. I think it is one thing all (especially boys) should endeavor to acquire. That is something that can not be taken away from you. Knowledge is power. It is the key that unlocks the warehouses of creation and opens to us the treasures of the universe. And what would the world come to if nobody strove to obtain an education? Why we would become as bad or worse than the savages. …
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Oct. 10, 1896 - Page: 5
Sheriffs' Department
Freestone County
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Oct. 3 – The reward of $20 heretofore offered for the arrest of Sam Lee, colored, upon a charge of assault to murder is hereby withdrawn, said case having been settled by plea of guilty to-day. I will not pay said reward. J. N. Haydon, sheriff Freestone county.
Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Dec. 26, 1896 - Page: 3
No Kick is Coming
Freestone
Railroad miles: 4.40;
Value: $43,114
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Jan 10, 1897 - Page: 14
The Cozy Corner
OLLIE MAE ROGERS, Bonner, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: This beautiful Sabbath morning I will try to tell you all some news from Freestone. I am the only one that writes from Freestone now. We have a beautiful country, good people, well taught schools and good churches. But one thing is lacking – we can not carry on a Sunday school. It never lasts longer than two or three months, then it breaks up. The cousins are discussing books, and I think no better subject could have been selected. I like to read books and have read many different kinds. I admire "David Copperfield" very much. I like the book, only I think Dickens represented too many characters. I think Pegotty a noble servant, and broke down and cried when Dora (David's wife) died. And I think it a pity David did not know Agnes loved him so well. I have read many interesting novels and some show in a strict sense how unjust people can be treated and charged with guilt they are innocent of, and how one person will strive to affront another. "Woman's Powers" by Dr. Talmage, is a very good book and very enlightening. I have read the "Beautiful Story," just a deduction from the bible, with bright pictures in it to attract the attention, and I think it a good plan, for I know several have read it that never read the Bible. "Error's Chain, or the Dark Continent," is one of the scariest books I ever read. One would tremble with fear for Stanley when he would meet with some of those African demons. Once upon a time he het with some that would not allow him to write, saying those dark lines would cause trouble for them. When one reads of their witchcraft one can't help but tremble with disgust. They would often have as many as a dozen men or women killed on account of one death, saying those slain had bewitched them. Let us all feel the profoundest sympathy for those ignorant people of the dark continent and pray that they may earn better as the years progress. Have any of the cousins read the "History of the World?" I have read some of it. The manners and customs of the people differ widely now from what they did then, I feel great sympathy for the queens when they would be dethroned and often have their heads cut off. Poor Queen May, with her head on a block, and oh! for a dog to sip the blood of a queen! Horrible! "The Life of Quantrell is a true, but sad story--how he fought for revenge, and revenge he got. Cousin Lena May Wise, I agree with you, for I do not exactly understand Samantha's language: it is too chopped up for me. But I always did like comical expressions, and Josiah Allen's wife just "takes the cake." Have any of the cousins ever read the Bible through? Mamma told me if I would read it through by the time I was 18 she would buy me a silk dress. I started and read twenty-seven chapters and found so many world I could not pronounce I gave it up. I often think of trying it again, but I am going to school now and have other fish to fry. Have you all read a letter from a lady in Texas when it was just settling up? We have one printed in our history, it is real amusing to read, telling of Texas so long ago. Just think, her nearest neighbor was forty miles distant, and she had to do without salt for a week.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Jan 19, 1897 – Page: 8
Convicted of Bigamy.
S. W. Bean is Given Two Years in the
Penitentiary.
When a man is confronted by two living wives while he is on
trial in court for bigamy, he is ready to admit that he has taken on hand too
much of a good thing. That is what
happened yesterday to S. W. Bean, alias J. W. Wood, in the Seventeenth district court.
He was accordingly convicted and given two years in the penitentiary.
Some time ago Bean was married to Miss Alice
Hardesty, daughter of John Hardesty, a prominent farmer living near
Grapevine. The vigilant county
attorney ascertained that Bean already had a wife living down in
Freestone County.
He was indicted and arrested and there is where his trouble began.
He was tried yesterday and both wives were present in court as living
evidence against him. Under these
circumstances there was nothing for Bean to do but plead guilty, and that is
what he did.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Jan. 24, 1897 - Page: 15
An Anecdote of Washington Irving
By Mrs. Emmett George
Mrs. Edward Rotan, in her sketch of Washington Irving,
in the Woman’s Century of Jan. 1, says:
“There is somewhere a story,” of a number of persons, one of whom was the
subject of her sketch, “traveling together in a stage coach,” etc.
Being one of those “simpler souls who turn to the human side,” I will
tell that story as ‘twas told to me by the young lady who, all oblivious of his
identity, asked the great author “what he thought of himself!”
The incident occurred in 1833, in a stage coach traveling somewhere near Hudson.
There were several passengers, Miss Octavia Walton of Pensacola, and her mother
occupied the back seat, and conversing in low tones in fluent Spanish, found
they were attracting the attention of a remarkably handsome gentleman of most
pleasing address, apparently about 40 years of age but in reality as stated by
Mrs. Rotan, at the time 50. As was
the stage coach custom in that day, he addressed Miss Walton without
introduction, using the Spanish language, which he also spoke fluently.
The conversation became general, in English.
Irving
as an author was discussed among other literary subjects.
All the passengers, excepting the fascinating gentleman, expressing the
highest encomiums upon his works.
Miss Walton, turning to the gentleman who had been so interesting on the other
subjects, said “Will you not give us your opinion of our great countryman?”
“Really,” said he, “I have no admiration to express.”
“Then,” she replied, with that tact which made her so charming, “you must
be Washington Irving,
for there is no other American in the whole world that can truthfully make such
an assertion.”
Miss Walton was afterward Mme. LeVert of Mobile,
and showed me many autograph letters from Irving,
and described a visit to him at his home,
Sunny Side on the Hudson.
She made an effort to raise a fund by subscription from the ladies of the
United States
to place a monument to Irving
on the lawn at Sunny Side. It was
not complete at her death and I have heard no more of it.
Mrs. Rotan's article is intensely interesting to me, for ‘tis pleasing to know
there are others that love, as I do, the greatest of American authors.
MRS. EMMETT GEORGE
Dew, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Jan 26, 1897 – Page: 5
FOR SALE – 200 steers, 3 to 7 years old; also 100 good cows. Address STUBBS & MAY, Wortham, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb 3, 1897 – Page: 5
Personal Mention
Arrivals at the Worth hotel to-day:
… J. H. Lane XE "Lane" , Wortham XE "Wortham" , Tex.; …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Thursday, Feb 4, 1897 edition
Bitten by a Mad Dog
Corsicana, Tex, Feb 3
Monday afternoon, Mrs. Herring of
Freestone County
was in the city with her son looking for a madstone to apply to a wound caused
by a watchdog biting the young man on the foot a few days previously.
They were referred to Dr. W. J. W. Kerr, who has a madstone.
On application, the stone adhered to the wound for 3 hours.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb 10, 1897 – Page: 3
Quarterly
Conference
Corsicana, Tex., Feb. 9 – The conference of Methodist pastors in the
Corsicana district
…
… F. A.
Winburn of Wortham, …
M.
L. Hallenbeck of Cotton Gin, …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb 11, 1897 – Page: 1
Postoffice Orders
Postoffices established: Beene, Freestone county, special from Mills, route 50,601. Personville, four and half miles southwest; Luna, six miles northeast.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb 23, 1897 – Page: 3
Personal Mention
Arrivals at the Worth hotel to-day:
.. Mrs. K. W. Sneed, Wortham, Tex.; …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – March 14, 1897 – Page: 10
Lignitic Measures
In Freestone county brown coal occurs in a branch of Tehuacana creek a few miles west of Fairfield and in the vicinity of Wortham and other points. …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – March 22, 1897 – Page: 2
Society over the State
MEXIA
Miss Adelle
Steele has returned from a visit to
Wortham.
Miss Florence
Williamson of
Wortham spent Saturday and Sunday in Mexia.
HILLSBORO
Miss Annie Ransom of Wortham is visiting friends in the city.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – April 19, 1897 – Page: 5
Seen at Wortham
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., April 18 – Capt. John A. Lilly, a prominent and reliable citizen of this place, a Mexican war veteran, claims that he saw the mysterious airship last night at 9:30. He says it was going straight up. The captain is noted for his truthfulness.
Fort Worth Register (of Fort Worth, Texas) – April 22, 1897 – Page: 5
City News
Advices were received in the city yesterday, by Dr. and Mrs. R. B. Kelly, of the death of little Kenneth, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Johnson of Wortham. Mrs. Johnson is a sister of Mrs. Kelly, of THE REGISTER, and a significant fact connected with the death of the little one, is that these two sisters, peculiarly attached to each other, have both lost their first-born. Mrs. Kelly’s grief over the death of her little one two years ago, is still fresh in the memory of Texas people, and her many friends sympathize with her and her sister in their recent loss.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – April 24, 1897 – Page: 3
Fire Record
Residence and Contents
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., April 23 – The residence belonging to W. B. Allen was destroyed by fire at 9:30 o’clock last night. Only a part of the contents were saved. No insurance on either house or contents.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – May 3, 1897 – Page: 2
Society over the State
MEXIA
Miss Dodd of Wortham is visiting in the city.
Mrs. V. E. Kirven has
returned from Wortham.
CORSICANA
Miss Annie Scott of Wortham was the guest of friends the past week.
The Fort Worth Morning Register (of Fort Worth, Texas) - May 9, 1897 – Part 1; Page: 1
City News
Mr. N. P. Houx, an old time printer and newspaper man, known all over the state, having for a number of years resided in Austin, called at THE REGISTER office last night and met old friends of the craft. Mr. Houx will soon establish a paper at Wortham, to be called the Wortham News, and the best wishes of his friends are with him in his venture.
The Fort Worth Morning Register (of Fort Worth, Texas) - May 23, 1897 – Page: 4
The Wortham News is a new venture in Texas journalism, by Houx & Catheart, two veteran printers, who will give the good people of Freestone XE "Freestone" county a first-class paper, if the appearance of the first number counts for anything. The News, as its name indicates, is bright, newsy and up-to-date.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – May 30, 1897 – Page: 14
Little Mr. Big Hat
Just Missed Peggy
OLLIE MAE ROGERS, Israel, Tex. – Dear Cozy Corner:
Our school closed Friday, and we had our concert Friday night, and it was
a success. Gracious!
Just look at the people looking at me!
I can’t speak before so many of you.
Oh, yes; there sits Cousin Lawrence George.
Please move down further, some of you, and let me have a seat by
Lawrence, for I always try to help any one out of a scrape, if I am always in
one myself. Don’t you let them
scare you, and don’t you be bashful, for your cousin will stand by you.
But there is Myrtle March, the one that got all those big words off on
me. I don’t see through what they
meant, but if she has lost anything I am willing to help her hunt for it.
Yes; and there sits Herbert Taylor, all sulked up because when he split his
tongue that time it made two of it; so when he is talking folks keep looking
around thinking two are talking. Has
Ludie Sanders actually decided to quit us?
Do come again, Cousin Ludie.
I can chop as much cotton as anybody when the plum orchard and dewberry patch
are not too close by. I very much
prefer the country and the fields to the city, but I guess you city cousins like
your homes best. Joe Farmer, I agree
with you; I do not think any human being could correctly tell others what books
they should read; but I think one should read all the good books he has an
opportunity to. What has become of
our cousin from Brazil? I have
forgotten his name; Edgar was his given name.
I wish he would write often about that far-away land.
There is a family here that once lived in Brazil, and it is real funny to
hear them talk the “Brazilian” language.
I wish the foreign cousins would write and tell us about their homes and
occupations. I study of different
lands, and often desire to see them, but while larger boats may venture more,
smaller boars must keep near shore.
I see many of the cousins have been telling of Indians.
Papa had a friend once who was stolen by the Indians, and carried away
until the Indians were so closely pursued that they left him on a mountain in
west Texas. He stayed there until he
was nearly starved, and his mother dreamed one night where he was, and made the
searching parties look for him. They
found him in the very place where she dreamed he was.
Dreams often come true. You
all who have read the Bible know that when great kings and rules would dream
some curious dream, they would send for some prophet to tell them what it meant.
I have been reading a dialogue about which was the greater man,
Washington or Lafayette.
I do not think Lafayette ought to be compared with Washington at all.”
LANE SATTERWHITE,
Wortham, Tex. – The cousins are having such a jolly
time I thought I would join them. I
see Luther French is trying to pull Lawrence George in.
I hope he will succeed in getting him in, but I am afraid somebody will
have to pull Luther in after a while.
I enjoy fishing better than anything else when I can get a good place to
fish. I expect to go to the river on
a fishing excursion this summer. I
see that most of the cousins enjoy reading, and so do I very much.
I have not read many books, though.
I have read “Robinson Crusoe” and “Forty-Six Years
in Texas”, both of which I think very interesting books.
Lawrence George must be a reader from the way Miss Lottie Porch writes.
Come again, Thaddeus Sherill.
I think your letter was very interesting.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 10, 1897 - Page: 2
The Druggist's License
In Local Option Districts, It is Argued,
Will Prove a Boomerang,
as It Is Too High
Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., June 8 - The bill recently
passed by our legislature requiring druggists in local option towns who sell
liquors on prescriptions to pay a license, which became a law without the
governor's approval and which goes into effect on the 21st of August next, will
be of interest to the people living in local option towns and districts
throughout the state.
This law imposes an occupation tax of $200 and requires a
liquor dealer's bond of $2500. This
$200 state tax may be supplemented by the commissioners' court with a county tax
of $100, and if in an incorporated town $100 city tax, which with the federal
tax of $25 would make $425.
To comply with the druggist's bond and have his
prescription duly honor and filled the physician must be a regular practicing
physician; he must address his prescription to the druggist, must write it with
ink on white paper in his own hand-writing, date, number and sign it, giving the
physician's and patient's place of residence and certify on his honor that he
has in person carefully examined the patient and that he finds him actually
sick, giving the disease as near as he can, and that the patient is in immediate
need of an alcoholic stimulant such as prescribed.
The prescription can not be filled if presented later than three days
from when it was written.
L. D. Lillard, member of the house from
Freestone, in a private letter says of the
law:
"The intention of the bill by fixing a tax and requiring
bond is to drive out blind tigers from local option towns and make it so that
one reputable, responsible house in a place would be able to make the bond and
pay the license and sell according to law.
It is believed by the friends of the bill that the new law will do this,
though experience may rove that they put the license too high.
It is to be hoped, however, that in very many if not in all local option
districts one substantial person will be found who will make bond, pay the tax
and run the business according to the law, and by so doing cause all the blind
tigers to go out of business."
It is to be feared that nothing by a blind tiger, and a
good healthy one at that will be able to do business under this law.
The advocates of the measure evidently labored under a mistake as to the
quantity of liquors prescribed in regular practice.
They did not seem to know that in a great many of the most common
diseases stimulants are contra-indicated and never prescribed.
A physician may do weeks of active practice without having occasion to
write a prescription of this kind.
When stimulants are prescribed at all it is usually in small quantity, and
seldom more than one prescription is written for the same patient.
On this account the liquor sales of an honest druggist who runs his business
according to the law is a very small item of his trade and will not justify his
paying such a license.
Take the town of
Wortham as an example.
Here there are three drug stores, only one of them selling spirituous
liquors. The tax would be $325.
This store has the patronage of the four local physicians ad occasionally
fills prescriptions from Cade,
Bonner and Tehuacana, three neighboring towns,
in which liquors are not sold. From
the 1st of November last to the 1st of June, a period of seven months, there
were filled at this store 1674 prescriptions, of which 119 were for liquors,
amounting to $73.45. This amounts to
about $10.50 a month or $126 a year.
It will be seen at once that this drug store can not afford to continue in the
liquor business after the new law goes into effect.
Doubtless nearly every town in the state where prohibition is in effect
will be in the same fix.
Instead of a protection to the druggist, which its authors
intended it to be, the law will be a
benefit only to the saloons. It will
turn all the trade of local option towns into the nearest saloons, a thing far
from the intension of the makers of the law.
W. ALLEGRE
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - June 25, 1897 - Page: 4
Snap Shots
Hon. L. D. Lillard of Freestone is satisfied with the work of the legislature. He therefore enjoys sensations experienced by none other of the 3,300,000 people of the commonwealth.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 5, 1897 - Page: 2
Society over the State
CORSICANA
Mrs. Will Newman is the guest of Fairfield friends.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 12, 1897 - Page: 2
HILLSBORO
Misses Irene and Linda Sims of Freestone county visited here last week.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 16, 1897 - Page: 8
The Sheriffs Adjourn
A communication from Sheriff Powell of Freestone, regretting that he could not attend the convention was read. …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – July 27, 1897 - Page: 4
Corsicana Personals
Corsicana, Tex., July 26 – Sheriff Henry Powell and his deputy, J. McTaylor, of Freestone county were up to-day on official business.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Aug 8, 1897 - Page: 14
Little Mr. Big Hat
CLAUDE M. WEST, Dew, Tex. – Mr. Big Hat: I see so many of the cousins sending little stories that I thought I would send one. My father is a farmer living near Dew. I am an 11-year-old boy. I hope my story will escape Peggy. I will do my best to make it fit for publication.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Aug 20, 1897 - Page: 5
FOR SALE – 50 extra yearling heifers, $9.50. Red Poll Bulls with them this year; 200 coming twos steers, best in district, $13.50, castrated when calves. WATSON BROS., Fairfield, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Aug 25, 1897 - Page: 6
Horses for the Fair
Corsicana, Tex., Aug. 24 -- M. H. Harris of Bonner,
Freestone county,
arrived at the fair grounds to-day with a string of four
thoroughbred racers and a fine trotter, which he will enter in some of the
events on the race programme during the fair.
Judge Hightower, secretary of the Fair association, reports
that he has received four entries for the four and one-half furlongs stake race
to be run on the first of the fair.
This is a race for 2-year-old colts and fillies owned, bred and raised in Texas,
entrance $5 and $10 additional to start, $100 added.
The entries will close Sept. 1 and Judge Hightower expects to have at
least a dozen entries by that date, as he has received a great number of
inquiries for entry blanks and programmes from Texas horse owners.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Aug 26, 1897 - Page: 5
Races Arranged
Corsicana, Tex., Aug. 25 – George Bradley of Freestone county has arrived at the fair grounds with one of his fine horses, which he will be put in training for the races. Two interesting match races have been arranged to be run on Saturday at the race track. The first will be between two horses from Rural Shade at a distance of 400 yards, and the second will be a half mile race between two flyers whose identity will be made known later.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Aug 27, 1897 - Page: 4
Released on Bond
Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Aug. 25 – J. D. Johnson, charged with killing E. C. Beauchamp about seven miles south of Fairfield last Monday evening, was released on $2000 bond to-day to await the action of the grand jury.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Sept. 21, 1897 - Page: 3
Taken to Fairfield
Corsicana, Tex., Sep. 20 – Deputy Sheriff Taylor of Fairfield came up yesterday after a negro named Eaton, who has been in jail here for safe-keeping for several weeks. The grand jury now in session at Fairfield has found an indictment against Eaton on a charge of assault with intent to commit criminal assault, and his trial was set for to-day.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - September 27, 1897 - Page: 6
Gen. La Fayette
A Reminiscence of the Visit of the Nation’s Guest in 1825
The event has been so graphically described to me that it
dwells in my memory as vividly as if I had been an eye-witness, and among my
most valued possessions is a scrap of lilac silk from a dress worn on that
occasion by my mother, then Eliza Browning, a little girl of 15.
Cahaba, now in ruins, was at that time capital of the new
state of Alabama. The marquis,
embarking at Montgomery on a small passenger boat on
the Alabama river, only left the boat at Cahaba, en route for Mobile.
One can well understand how the little town was on the qui vive when the
boat came in sight. He was received
and escorted to his temporary residence on foot, while his suite walked about
the town and mingled with the people.
My mother’s most satisfactory view of him was when he went
with two other gentlemen into Mr. Hitchcock's house.
This gentleman’s wife, or some member of his household (I do not remember
the exact relationship now), was a daughter of Henry Clay, from whom the marquis bore letters
of introduction. Mr. Hitchcock was
the father of the recently appointed United States minister to Russia, Ethan
Allen Hitchcock of St. Louis.
The house where Lafayette was received had four small rooms
and for the occasion their supply of mahogany chairs was supplemented by those
of a neighbor. The official
reception, or ball, as it was styled, was held in the senate chamber of the
capitol, and the poor marquis shook hands with every single one of the immense
crowd that had made such strenuous efforts to be there to welcome him.
He was quite gray, looked charmingly happy and possessed a
most benign manner. The ideal, brave
and dashing young hero of Brandywine that floated in the admiring and romantic
imagination of the young country girl was an illusion dispelled by a
white-haired, benevolent old gentleman placing his hand tenderly upon her head
and calling her “grandchild of my beloved comrade.”
Upon some, the grand-daughters of personal friends, he bestowed a warmer
greeting, apparently satisfactory to both participants, except in one instance.
He had just removed his lips from the cheek of a lovely girl when a
matron, burdened with many winters and much inclined to embonpoint, presented
hers. Even the gallantry of the
gallant Frenchman was not without its limits, and with French gesture, in broken
English, he exclaimed: “Plenty,
madame, plenty.”
This last I tell as it was told to me;
it did not come within the periphery of my mother’s vision.
In honor of their distinguished guest the governor and his
aids (one of whom was my uncle) were at the ball in French court dress.
While the country was skimmed for the crème de la crème of the most
desirable representatives of wit, wealth and beauty, the proletariat was very
much in evidence. In a cotillion in
which a girl who had come thirty miles to be present was dancing my mother was
accosted in a falsetto voice:
“Lizer, how many times have you danced tonight?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Serehy.”
“Well, I ain’t enjoyin’ myself at all.
I ain’t danced but twice tonight, on’et with Jake Maul and now with Sam
Cotton.”
A touching incident of LaFayette’s visit was told me by
Mme. LeVert of Mobile.
The marquis wrote to the latter’s grandmother, Mrs. Walton, to meet him in
Mobile. She was growing old and sent
to represent her was her little granddaughter, Octavia, afterward Mme. LeVert.
The grand old marquis took Octavia on his knee and while
tears streamed from his eyes told the gentlemen around him in infinitely
touching pathos of his friendship for George Walton, signer of the
declaration of independence from Georgia, with whom he had corresponded until that
gentleman’s death. He then
complimented little Octavia on her correct French accent and said:
“My dear, when you receive praise let it be an incentive to you to do
greater things; never let it become a mere tribute to your vanity.”
Dew, Tex. MRS.
EMMET GEORGE
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - September 29, 1897 - Page: 3
Young Lady Terribly Burned
Corsicana, Tex., Sept 28 -- News was received here yesterday of the probable fatal burning of Miss Annie Lee, the 14-year-old daughter of John L. Bonner, who formerly lived here, but is now a resident of Freestone County. Her clothing was ignited from a fire in the yard where she was working and before aid could reach her she was so terribly burned about the body and limbs that her recovery is regarded exceedingly doubtful.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - October 9, 1897 - Page: 3
Personal Mention
Corsicana, Tex., Oct. 8 – N. P. Houx of the Wortham News was here yesterday afternoon.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - October 19, 1897
Corsicana Budget
[social news]
W. M. Peck is here from
Fairfield.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – October 22, 1897 - Page: 22
The Round-Up
Ex-Postmaster Mont Hurst of Wortham came up to the fair yesterday.
Editor N. P. Houx of the Wortham News is among the press boys at the fair.
The Fort Worth Morning Register (of Fort Worth, Texas) - October 23, 1897 – Page: 2
Fell to His Death
Wortham, Tex., Oct. 22 – While Monroe Hunter was cleaning out a well he was overcome with gas and while being drawn out fell back and was killed.
The Dallas Morning
News (of Dallas, Texas) - October 24, 1897 - Page: 7
[Also Nov. 21, 1897 on Page: 18]
[Also Nov. 23, 1897 on Page: 5]
FOR SALE – 100 head long 1s and 2s, prime steers, four miles west of Wortham, $14. WILLIAM PECK, Fairfield, Tex.
WE have 800 head mixed cattle for sale. Don’t write, but come. WATSON BROS., Fairfield, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Nov. 26, 1897 - Page: 5
FOR SALE – 100 head long 1s and 2s, prime steers, four miles west of Wortham, $14. WILLIAM PECK, Fairfield, Tex.
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Nov. 29, 1897 - Page: 3
Fifth Supreme District
Proceedings in
the court of civil appeals at Dallas, Nov. 27, 1897:
Affirmed
- … Alice Blaine vs. Nick Blaine, from
Freestone; …
Cases
submitted – Josie Lynn et al. vs. J. H. Sims & Co., from
Freestone; …
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Dec. 15, 1897 - Page: 6
Germans at San Jacinto
Mexia, Tex., Dec. 13 – In your “Questions and Answers” of yesterday, an
inquirer asks: “Were there any
Germans in the battle of San Jacinto, if so, how many?”
John Karner of this place was in that
battle and took an active part.
Mr. Karner was born Aug. 15, 1817, in
Bavaria, and emigrated to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1831.
He came to Texas in 1835 and a few year after the battle of San Jacinto
he settled in Robertson county.
Mr. Karner is one of the old ante-bellum
Indian fighters and continued in that vocation when occasion offered until 1859.
One of his last Indian battles was fought in Palo Pinto county, where, in
a personal encounter, he killed the noted chief, Jose Maria.
Mr. Karner has lived in
Freestone and
Limestone counties since 1856, and no
man in this county is better known or more respected.
W. E. DOYLE
The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) – Dec. 19, 1897 - Page: 8
Diversification of Crops
How to Land on the Rock of Prosperity with Both Feet
Bonner, Freestone Co., Tex., Dec. 14 – I note Mr.
Crawford,s letter from Franklin of
Nov. 30. I did not see his former
letter mentioned, nor the criticism.
From the reading of the letter, however, I see that his position is correct,
eminently correct. He says the
remedy for the farmer’s troubles and dissatisfaction, yes, his everlasting ruin,
is in diversifying crops. Wherever
you find a man who as a rule produced all needed supplies at home, you find that
he is well fixed. Where the farmer
keeps out of speculation and has engineered his business without going beyond
his income, you’ll find him easy and quiet, not growling about hard times.
He will admit that cotton is very low, but he has plenty of all needed
supplies, owes nothing, is not losing sleep, religion, manhood nor self-respect
on account of hard times, which so many thousands are doing.
I agree with Mr. Crawford all
along the line, and will say further that the only hope – the salvation of the
country – is in diversifying crops, it needs no argument to prove it.
If you’ll think a few minutes, can you imagine a man more independent
than he who has plenty of all he needs for family and stock and owes nothing?
No man will deny the fact that everybody who tries to at farming can have
enough, or all he needs, if he will put forth the proper effort, intelligently
applied. If proper effort is not
made he has no right to complain: no
one to blame but himself, his own indolence, or pure, unadulterated cussedness,
as Mr. Crawford says.
I speak from the pages of my own experience of many years, thirty odd of
them right here in this
neighborhood. I have planted, made
to grow successfully and plentifully, yea, bountifully, everything needed for
the farm, as well as family supplies, except sugar, coffee and salt, ax handle,
plowstocks, etc. Now the rule is to
buy everything from toothpicks up to wherever you please to go.
The cotton planters may meet, resolute and organize if they please, but
until they produce needed supplies at home, keep out of debt, they will be
hewers of wood and drawers of water.
When the farmers do that they will get better prices for cotton, because there
will be less of it to sell
G. W. EVERETT