nearby in which to live. From trees cut in this timber Pa built a double log house for the family. While living in this house, Ma planted the pecans that made the trees, still standing. Seven years later Pa built a large two story house just north and planted trees all around. This site is now occupied by the Joe Sivley house.

Along with the work of building it was necessary to raise a crop. A young man, Pleas Igo was employed to break the prairie turf. With seven yoke of oxen yoked to a wagon and a plow fastened to the back of the wagon Mr. Igo broke the ground for its first crop.

SECOND PROSPECTING TRIP

While this black land was very fertile and easily tilled when seasons were normal it was very disagreeable to live on when rains were frequent. Pa could never become reconciled to the sticky mud. A few years later he made another prospecting trip to the interior of Texas, still intending to sell and move farther. Not being able to sell to advantage, and the soil proving fertile and the crops good, he decided to buy more land and remain.

While on this prospecting trip he was so well pleased with the mesquite grass that he dug up a few roots with his pocket knife, brought them home in his saddlebags, and raised a pasture full from those few roots. The mesquite pasture of John Stiles, that was still growing a few years