Grand Bluff

"Know Your Heritage"

Panola Watchman, Carthage, Texas, 4 May 1975
By Leila B. LaGrone

Perhaps the Grand Bluff Ferry across Sabine River provided a gateway for more settlers to Panola County, and to East Texas in general, than did any other crossing on the river. A busy village grew up in the vicinity of the bridge on the old road to Marshall. Many records locate places by their proximity to the Grand-Bluff to Douglas Road. Grand Bluff had a U.S. Post Office from 1847 to 1887. It was called Brewster's Bluff in the earliest road records for the first ferryman there.

Only a few reminders are present now to acquaint the visitor with what once transpired there. It is truly a "ghost town." The original settlement was situated on a high bluff on the west bank of the river and a cemetery was located about one-half mile down river.

The cemetery site is a large knoll on the bluff in a grove of huge cedars, most of which are now dead, still standing as sentinels of a dead village. There are many unidentified graves, at least a hundred. MR. S.T. ALLISON identified two of these graves in his "History of Fairplay". ROBERT WYATT's wife and little FRANCES HOYLE had become seriously ill on the way to Texas. They both died after reaching Grand Bluff and are buried there. Evidently none of the earliest graves were marked with permanent stones.

A large mound of crumbling brick vaults near the center of the cemetery is especially interesting. One mound covers six or more graves. In addition, there are two single vaults at the end of the main family mound. One of these single vaults is fairly recent, perhaps within the last 30 years; but no family identification is to be found.

Shells cover the tops of a good many graves. Other artifacts, such as small vases and novelties, often mark the head of a grave. One could only speculate as to how long they have been there. Cedar trees still living - and at least 18 inches in diameter - mark the head and foot of two graves. Not far from the center of the plot is a large indentation, as if a grave has been dug up. Those who have been familiar with this cemetery for many years say they know the hole has been there for at least 20 years.

A family plot, daughters of DR. M.D. STERRETT, is fenced with iron grill work and the gate lock bears a Masonic emblem. Many clumps of iris mark graves which are still visible mounds in neat rows.

The cemetery boundaries are not difficult to locate, as the fallen fence is still to be found in sections entirely around the plot. Though the last gravestone date of death is 1898, some mulberry posts are still standing.

Near the River, at the townsite, stands an aged oak with scarred rings where once the ferry's cables were tied.

Grand Bluff - Another Chapter

Panola Watchman, Carthage, Texas, 27 Apr 1975

The earliest ferryman at Grand Bluff, before Panola County was established, was named Brewster and the place was called Brewster's Bluff. No farther identification of the man is given in available records.

Grand Bluff citizens and other settlers in the area made a real bid for the county seat in 1846, but Pulaski won the election. This election was later declared illegal and Pulaski was named county seat pro tern. When a second election was held in 1848, the law spelled out clearly that the county seat must be within five miles of the center of the county. Neither Grand Bluff nor Pulaski qualified, so the choice finally fell on Carthage, which was only a forest at that time.

The first Chief Justice (County Judge), JOHN ALLISON, lived near Grand Bluff and he favored it as county seat. His views were publicized and he, along with all the commissioners but one (RICHARD GOLDEN), was defeated in the election of 1848. Carthage Book Club's History is in error in saying he served in that office four years. THOMAS G. DAVENPORT was elected and began his term at the first court held in Carthage in the fall of 1848. The next year JOHN ALLISON moved to Fairplay.

In January 1847, the court granted a ferry license to LUCINDA VAWTER. Fees were set at that time for all county ferries as follows:

4 or 6 horse wagon ......................... 50 cents
2 horse wagon or one yoke steers at wagon .. 37 1/2 cents
I horse carriage ........................... 25 cents
Footmen .................................... 5 cents each
Loose Cattle and horses .................... 5 cents each
Hogs ....................................... 3 cents each
When the River was out of banks, double the price was to be paid.

Grand Bluff was named a voting box in 1848 and the court cut MRS. VAWTER's fees to only half the usual price. Later that year a citizens' petition from Grand Bluff asked the Court to rescind the August orders as unfair. The Court studied and revoked the order as unjust and unfair. By 1848 JOHN VAWTER was named as election judge.

In 1852 LUCINDA VAWTER was charged $20 for a ferry license, several times the amount charged any other ferryman in the county. From this time until bridges were built, Grand Bluff license cost a greater fee than any other in the county, evidently because it was most in demand.

Walking through the forest on this bluff, one wonders at the stories these trees could tell. Here, as in other places in this county, the pioneers left footprints:

Pioneer Footprints

The gentle, rugged Sabine
Both friend and foe to man,
Made chasms wagon trains must cross
To reach East Texas land;

And, yet, the Sabine's waters
Brought cargo to the town
And gave supplies to citizens
Who stayed to settle down.

At Grand-Bluffs famous crossing
Where thousands found their way;
From Jefferson and Shreveport town,
They came this great highway.

The ferry transferred slowly;
And travelers pitched their camp
To make their meals and nurse the sick
By open firelight lamp.

One hundred and a quarter
Of years have flown since then,
But their story still is written
Though not with ink and pen.

For here, a mighty Oak Tree
Is bound with cable scar;
And there, are rows of mounds for those
Who only came this far.