Information for this page has comes from several different sources. The information was furnished by many individuals interested in preserving our history and helping others find their ancestors. We wish to thank everyone who furnished information especially the folks who spend their time scanning old newspapers and sending the information to us via email. Sibyl Creasey furnished the copy of The Southland Vol. XII. No 1. Additions, corrections, comments, complaints and compliments should be submitted to Betty Miller and Patsy Vinson.
1. Dr. Collins made 200 gallons of pure wine from his vineyard in 1902, which he uses freely in his practice to great advantage.
2. Alf. Moore, Thos. White, William Gibbert, the Brittons, the Langfords, the Burnetts, the Joneses, the Spears, the Fullers, the Elliotts, the Teals, the Wills are remembered by Elijah Sullivan as among the first settlers of Van Zandt.
3. Twenty cars of salt are frequently shipped from Grand Saline in a day.
4. Van Zandt county was named in honor of Isaac Van Zandt, minister to the United States during the Republis of Texas, and father of General K. M. Van Zandt of Fort Worth, Texas.
5. the first reunion of the old settlers held in Van Zandt County was in the southeastern portion of the county on Battle creek, where Chief Bowles was killed, on the 17th day of July, 1857, and was addressed by Everett E. Lott, George W. Chilton and r. B. Hubbard. John Walling, Sr., was present and pointed out the spot where Chief Bowles fell after receiving his death wound, which place was marked with a drawing knife in shaving off the bark of a red oak tree. the tree is now living. (Transcriber's note: There is now a marker on hwy 64 indicating where the battle of the Neches was fought and where Chief Bowles was Killed.)
6. The first white child born in Van Zandt county was Joseph Huffer, a son of Sam Huffer, a prominent surveyor in early days, and a grandson of Neal Martin, a pioneer who settled and died in Van Zandt county about three miles north of Wills Point. Mr. Martin was on the island of Galveston on the day that Jackson fought the battle of New Orleans.
7. The first printer to settle in Van Zandt county was George A. Hill, who settled on the north bank of the Sabine river about ten miles northeast of Wills Point. His home is now in Rains county.
8. The first newspaper published in Van Zandt county was by sid S. Johnson. He was editor and proprietor of the Canton Weekly times, 1860-61.
9. the first minister of the gospel to settle in Van Zandt county was Jesse J. Gage.
10. The first district court held in Van Zandt county was on Christmas day, 1848. Judge Bennett H. Martin presided and Andrew J. Fowler was district attorney. This court was held about two miles a little east of south of the present town of Grand Saline. Gilbert Yarbrough, then chief justice of the county, was foreman of the grand jury.
11. The first couple to enter into a marriage contract in Van Zandt county was thomas Cunningham and Mahala Brown.
12. The first cotton gin built in Van Zandt county was by Burren Hambrick,near the southeast corner and the first cotton ginned on this gin was marketed at old magnolia, a steamboat landing near palestine.
13. The first salt manufactured in Van Zandt county was by John Jordan and Allen T. McGee at Grand Saline.
14. The first water mill built in the county was by Sila S. Roaher. Mr. Roaher married the widow Huffer, the mother of the first white child born in the county.
15. The first election held in Van Zandt County was on Monday, in August, 1848. There were 87 votes polled.
16. The first brick kiln burnt in the county was by Frederick Ezell in 1857.
17. The first Tanyard in Van Zandt County was established in 1848 near Grand Saline by Leland H. Baughenan. The tanyard is gone and the spring is gone and no sign can be found of it anywhere.
18. Leland H. Baughenan was the first Justice of the peace in the county.
19. David T. Bundy whose father Jas. Bundy, was county commisioner at the time when the town of Canton was located and who, while acting as county commissioner, contracted to build the first court house in Canton, the said David T. got out most of the timbers of the building now lives in Lindale in Smith Co.
20. John Norman built the first jail in Canton, M. M. Norman, stone point, Anaan Knudson contracted under Norman to get out th etimbers and build the first jail in Van Zandt county. He is living in the now near Wise P. O.
21. Ambrose Fitzgerald was first county clerk of the county and died a few years since near Emery (sic) where members of this family now live.
22. peter S. Benton was first sheriff of the county and died in Johnson county and has a son, William S. who now lives at or near Alvarado.
23. The first school ever taught in Van Zandt county was in 1849 and 1850, and conducted by Jas. J. Kuykendall. It was taught in a log house on Saline Creekh of the present town, Grand Saline.
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