Young County Schools, Post Offices
Gins and Stores
by D.D. Cusenbary
| The intention of this article is to preserve history of the schools, post offices, gins and stores of Young County for succeeding generations. So many have been of help to me. I cannot list the names of all of them and will just say thank you, thank you. I realize that errors have possibly been made and will welcome any corrections. The memories of school mates and teachers are cherished. The district school have passed and only memories and only history remains. The average salary for the teacher in the early days was $25.00 per month, and the average term of school was three months. It appears when a school was established a name and a number was given but the location was not mentioned. The first recorded school in Young County was the Indian school located at a place three miles east of Graham on the Brazos River Indian Resevation. The purpose of the school was for the benefit and education of the Indian children. As early as the years 1859 and 1860, we have evidence of schools in the county. One school was at Belknap and the teachers at different times were Henry F. Threkeld and Posey H. Gordon. It appears during these years the parents paid the teacher, but when a parent was not able to pay his pro-rata part the county would pay the teacher. Teachers who received pay from the county under this system during these years were: A.H. Latimer, James McMillian, Mary Ann Dyer, John H. Cochran, Roena Wilson and George W. Fleming. The name, number and location of the school was not mentioned. The only schools now in Young County are Graham, Newcastle and Olney. At a county trustee meeting on August 6, 1923, a motion was made by H.S. Thomas and seconded by A.C. Golden to authorize the reading of the Bible in school, making reading of the Bible as a part of the course of study for the public schools of the County. Young County's organization was abandoned near the close of the Civil War in 1865 and was re-organized in 1874. Aynesworth School site is about two and one-half miles southwest of Bunger and about one mile south. The school is located on the E.L. Aynesworth Survey, Abstract No. 1498 and near the south boundary line of the survey. Belknap was one-half mile east of Fort Belknap and one of the earliest towns in the County. The records show on November 19, 1856 E.F. Abbott deeded 50 acres of land out of the R.W. Woodruff Survey to Young County, which is south of the Belknap cemetery. The consideration in the deed is as follows, "For consideration of the location of a seat of Justice of Young County. Belknap Schools. An early school was held in the Fort Belknap Bakery building. A second school site was in Block 27 of the E. Whiteley Addition, 300 yards south of the Fort Belknap grounds. The third school was in a residence a short distance east of the Fort Belknap grounds. This building was moved and the school continued for about two weeks in a rock building south of the southeast corner of the Fort Belknap grounds. The final school site is two miles east of the Fort Belknap grounds and north of the Graham and Belknap highway. This location is 662 varas east and 94 varas north of the southwest corner of the J.H. Jones Survey, Abstract No. 1468. Baugh School. In 1908, Mary B. Pratt gave two acres in the southwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 65 for the Baugh School. The school opened in 1909 and closed in 1915. The first teacher was Cynthia McFarland and the last teacher was Lee Wright. This site is known as Union Hill, but the official County records show the school as the Baugh School. Bennett School. County records show the school was in operation for only 1893. The teacher was Bettie Millikin. The location was 10 miles east of Graham in a gap between the Cement Mountains. The gap was nick-named "Toe Holt Gap." The Cemetery Mountains are in the S.O.R.R. Company Survey, Abstract No. 269. Ben Waters School. The school was located three miles east of True on the boundary line of the northwest corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 537 and the southwest corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 538. Birdwell School. This school site is five and one-half miles southeast of Graham, near the southeast corner of the John Hartman Survey, Abstract No. 155. Bitter Creek School. There were three sites for this rural school. The first site was the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 305. The second site was T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 95 and near its north boundary line and half way between its northwest and its northeast corner. The last school site was T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 82 and near the west boundary line of the survey about half way between its northwest corner and its southwest corner. Blount School. This school is eight miles east of Graham and north of the Graham and Jacksboro highway. The site was in the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of the J. Poitevent Survey, Abstract No. 233. The school's name was later changed to Oakland School. Boggy Valley School. The first school site was at the northwest corner of the T.E. &L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 2093. The second site is near the northwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 777. The third site is near the north boundary line of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 767 and one-half mile west of its northeast corner. The last school stie is near the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 817. Brier Branch School site is four miles west, northwest of Graham in the northeast corner of the E.L.R.R. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1307, owned by Roy Mote. Brushy Flat School site is north of Loving. The site is in the southeast corner of the J.R. Cooke Survey, Abstract No. 1405. Brown Hill School was first called Mrs. Brown's School for Young Ladies. Later, when Mrs. Brown's son was old enough to attend school, the school allowed boys to attend. The school began as early as 1881 and the school is named for its founder, Mrs. A. Don Brown. The exact location of the Brown Hill school has not been found. A. Don Brown owned T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1009, which is southwest of Loving, it is reasonable to believe the school was in their home on this tract of land. Bullock School. The site is five miles east of Fort Belknap on the south side of the Graham and Fort Belknap Highway and near the center of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1231. The school site is a short distance from the home of Jimmy Wray. Bunger. The town had a school, post office, gin and store among other businesses. Bunger had two school sties. The first site was a frame building east and across the highway from the second building. The last school was a rock building that has been converted into a private residence. California Creek School. The school site is 12 miles northwest of Newcastle and located on the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 338 and near its south boundary line. Camp Creek School site is three-fourths mile north of Padgett, near the northwest corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 90. Caseyville. The site of the town is two miles west, southwest of Bunger. The town was named for John C. Casey. Caseyville had a school, gin and store. John C. Casey was one of many men who operated a ferry on the Brazos River near the town. center Ridge School site is 10 miles east of Graham near the southeast corner of S.P.R.R. Company Survey, Abstract No. 268. Choat School. The Choat school was number 38, the same as Liberty and True. Under the heading of the Choat school, the words "Choat or Liberty." Etta Whittenburg was the teacher of the Choat School in 1893 and after that year, the Choat school name does not appear. In 1894, the school is named Liberty No. 38. Liberty changed its name to True and the school's name changed as well. The exact location of the school could not be found. Clifton School site is six miles northwest of Newcastle, near the southeast corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 599. Cluskey City was an oil boom town on the east side of the South Bend and Eliasville highway near the E.N. McCluskey ranch house. Colston School. The school site is in the Sylphia Tynes Survey, Abstract No. 274 and one-half mile south of a tract of G.W. Hoak land. The last site of the school is near the northwest corner of an 80 acre tract of land on Sylphia Tynes Survey, Abstract No. 274 known as L.R. Drum land. County records indicate a third school site but no location could be found. Conner Creek School site is nine miles southeast of Graham and near the northeast corner of the B.B.B. & C. R.R. Company Survey, Abstract No. 25. Cove Creek School site is south of Bunger and near the southeast corner of the north one-half of the Robert Alcorn Survey, Abstract No. 1767. Cribb Station School site is five miles north of Murray in the northwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 746. Cribb Station and Store site is three miles south of Proffitt in the Fisher Ranch pasture. This station was the first stop west of Fort Belkap on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. Crozier Post Office and store site is located half-way between Murray and Como communities on the north side of the "Old Wire Road" and near the McAbee farm. Drippery Store was nine miles west of Olney in the northwest corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 84. Drummond Post Office, Store and Gin was located 12 miles west of Graham and 200 yards northewast of where Miller Bend road intersects the Graham and Murray highway. Dry Creek School. This school was in session between 1879-1881. Trustees were M.F. Matthews, Jacob Nichols and J.W. Duty. County records indicate the school was east of Graham. Eliasville. Eliasville is a town rich in history. The community is situated near the banks of the Clear Fork river and located in the J.L. Dobbs Survey, Abstract No. 89. The town had a post office, bank, school, gin, mill and may other businesses. Eliasville was a friendly town which drew trade from a large area. The first school in the Eliasville community was a subscription school located three-fourths a mile south of Eliasville in Stephens County. The teacher was Wylie Jones. The second school was a subscription school three miles west of town. The building was a rock house known as the Ballew residence. Mr. Watson was the teacher. The first public school building in Eliasville was the rock building south of the business part of town and located on "The Hill." The last public school building was a brick structure located on the south side of the town. The building was on the south side and near the Eliasville and Graham highway. Dr. Harry Yandell Benedict and Dr. Homer F. Rainey were students at Eliasville. Both men became president of the University of Texas in Austin. Eliasville was also the home of Donnell's Grist Mill. The first mill west of Fort Worth and known far and near. The grist mill burned in 1929, but was rebuilt as a needed and useful enterprise. The suspension bridge across the Clear Fork was an added attraction and was used daily by many citizens. Enterprise School site was organized December 18, 1876 and closed after the 1882 school year. The location was south of South Bend. Some of the trustees of the school were John M. Kirby, John H. Wood and J.M. Rice. Farmer was first called Brushy, near the northeast part of the County. The town was located in the G.B.N. Company Survey, Abstract No. 118. Farmer was the largest town in Young County in the 1880s supporting a post office, school, two doctors, two hotels, boot shop, tin shop, grist mill, gin and other businesses. Farmer is incredibly rich in history. Filibuster School was norht of Henry Chapel school site one mile. The school was a simple log cabin. Fish Creek School. The first school for the community was a subscription school located two and one-half miles east of Murray. The building was a old tumbling log cabin of an unknown settler on Thomas Price land. Thomas Price was the first teacher. The first Fish Creek public school was two miles southeast of Murray in the southeast corner of Subdivision No. 9 of the Young County School land Survey, Abstract No. 1285 on the R.D. Tyra land. Flat Top School. This school was in operation from 1880-1884. During these years, the trustees were: G.T. Brown, Absalom Looney, W.C. Blakley, R.M. Richardson and S.J. Hawkins. Lizzy Clark was the first teacher.Flat Top Mountain school is near Flat Top Mountain, southwest of Loving. The school location can be seen near the Mountain. Flat Rock School was four miles southeast of Graham and had four school sites in its history. The first site was in the southwest corner of the H.C. Harmon Survery, Abstract No. 1455. The second site is in the northeast corner of the H.C. Harmon Survey, Abstract No. 1455. The third school was located in the J.C. Crouch Survey, Abstract 1299, near and south of the southwest corner of the survey. The last building was used for church and school purposes on the B. Taylor Survey, Abstract No. 1542. Flint Creek School site is eight miles northeast of Graham in the southwest corner of subdivision No. 4 of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1232, and one and one-half miles east of Jake's Station. Fort Belknap. The location is three miles south of Newcastle and near the east boundary line of the A. White Survey Abstract No. 1270. The site was selected in 1851 by General William Goldsmith Belknap. The fort was a part of the second line of frontier forts who's mission was to protect the settlers of the frontier. The fort was restored in 1936 under the leadership of the late Senator Ben G. O'Neal and the county. Today, Fort Belknap is a national attraction. Fort Growl was seven miles southwest of Graham in the I.L. Hill Survey, Abstract No. 126. Archie B. Medlan converted his home into a fort during the Indian depredation days. His 1875 home is a short distance from Fort Growl. The stone fort was torn down. Fort Murrah site is two miles south of Padgett and located on the Coy Eddleman land. At one time Fort Murrah was a voting precinct in 1861 and was in charge of the Frontier Regiment during the Civil War. This camp was for settlers to fort up. Young County records indicate that Fort Murrah had picket protection at the corners to protect the settlers. In the 1940s, the owner of the land bulldozed the site and the remains were scattered. Graham. The town is located in the Ben HIll Survey, Abstract No. 137. Graham was established in 1872 by Col. Edwin Smith Graham and his brother, Gustavous "Gus' Adolphus Graham, known as the Graham brothers. A name that will live long for the contributions to church, school, civic and social interests of the town. Graham family descendants continue to live in the town. Early history of Graham include the salt works, brick kiln, and grist mill all located near the banks of Salt Creek. Col. E.S. Graham had an artesian well dug on the northwest corner of the square. The well had a windmill with wooden trough. Leather buckets hung from the windmill in case of fire. It would take more than one volume for one to write a full history of Graham including the past incidents and happenings in and around the town. Graham Schools. During the 1870s and 1880s, Graham had several private and subscription schools. The Manlove school was located on Lot No. 32, Block No. 21. This lot was occupied for many years by the Graham National Bank. The City Hall has been located there since 1968. Mrs. Mae Voules taught a private school in her home located on Lot No. 10, Block No. 9. The Mason's built a school building located on the north side of Fourth Street, across the street opposite of the old 1879 Rock jail site. The jail is located on Lot No. 1 and 2, Block No. 7. This school was the first public school located in Graham. The Graham Academy was located between Third and Fourth Streets on Lot No. 5, Block No 7, known as the Moody Lot. Roxana College was located east of the Twin Mountain. The first brick school building for Graham was located east of the Twin Mountains, a short distance east of Roxana College. The building was a red brick building. This building was later condemned and razed. The next school building was erected on Virginia Street. Graham has four school buildings: Graham High, East Ward, Shawnee and Crestview in 1972. Graham Gins. Graham has four gin sites. The first gin was near the banks of Salt Creek and close to the grist mill operated by McDonald and Ellis. The S.R. Crawford gin was located three-fourths of a mile east of the Court House. The A.H. Jones gin was located near Salt Creek about 200 yards southwest of the Pump Station. The A.C. Anderson gin was west and across the highway from the Oak Grove cemetery. Gage Creek School site is four miles northwest of Eliasville and in the northeast corner of the M.L. Daniel Survey, Abstratct No. 1415. Grant School was an early subscription school located two miles north of Loving on the Grant land. Gray School site is on the south side of Jean in the southeast corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 787, near the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Sims. Gray Gin site is eight miles west of Olney on the south boundary line of T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 1594. Goose Bend School site is two and one-half miles northeast of Bunger near the Goose Neck Cemetery and near the southeast corner of the W.A. Baker Survey, Abstract No. 1293 and the G.W. Fore Survey, Abstract No. 103. The name of the school was later changed to Goose Neck School. Goose Neck School was first called Goose Bend School. The school site is two and one-half miles northeast of Bunger and near the Goose Neck Cemetery and near the W.A. Baker Survey, Abstract No. 1293 and the G.W. Fore Survey, Abstract 103. George W. Fore donated land for the school, cemetery and Baptist church building. Hardy School site is six miles north of Newcastle in the southwest corner of T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 499. Hawkins Chapel School. The first school site is two miles north of Loving in the R.M. Richardson Survey, Abstract No. 1525, near the Hawkins Chapel Cemetery. The last school site is in the northwest corner of a 75 acre tract of land out of the Susan Sallee Survey, Abstract No. 252 according to the deed. Harding was an oil boom town adjoining Clusky City on the south and on the east side of where the South Bend and Eliasville highway crosses the Clear Fork and near the E.N. McCluskey ranch home. Henry Chapel School site is 12 miles southeast of Graham near and on the south side of the Graham and Graford highway. The school site is in the B.B.B. & C.R.R. Survey, Abstract No. 29, near its north boundary line. Herron City was an oil boom town located near the northwest corner of the J. Abernathy Survey, Abstract No. 1360. Hoggard Store was located six miles north of Graham on the north side of the Graham and Newcastle highway at the intersection by the Jean Highway. The site is in the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 470. Hole in the Rock School site is six miles north of Murray and three-fourths of a mile southeast of Huffstuttle school site. The site is in the Nancy Morris Survey, Abstract No. 1735 and near the boundary line of that survey. Huffstuttle School site is five and one-half miles south of Murray out of the Nancy Morris Survey, Abstract No. 1735. The school site is east and adjoining the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 854. Humphries School site was southeast of Graham. The school was established November 1, 1877 and closed the winter of 1881. The trustee for 1877 were A.L. Denton, Charles Humphries and James Fulkerson. The site of the school was near the Charles Humphries residence in the P.J. Humphries Survey, Abstract No. 153. Hunt School. The site of the school was seven miles southeast of Olney. The first location was in the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 1367. The last location was near the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 215. Indian Mound School. The first school site was near the Indian Mound Cemetery. The second school site is in the southwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 624. The last school site is in the southwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 455. Ingleside School. The first school site is west of Orth in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 51. The second school site is near the central part of the south boundary line of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 183. The last school site is 455 varas west of the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 200. Jake's Station and Store is six miles north of Grhama and located in the Filipe Jamies Survey, Abstract No. 157. The store is on the east side and near the Graham and Loving Highway. The station is a short distance short of where the Flint Creek road intersects the Graham and Loving Highway. The store closed a number of years ago but still remains on private property. Jean. The town of Jean is north of Graham and located near the northwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 628. The town has had a post office, bank, school, gins and other businesses including several brick buildings. Jeffery School site is west of Orth in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 628. The school site was given by pioneer family S.R. Jeffery. After one year in existence, the school's name was changed to Ingleside. Johnson School site is four miles west of Newcastle on the south side of the Newcastle and Proffitt highway. The site is near the southwest corner of the D.M. Bullock Survey, Abstract No. 15. Komo School sites were about 10 and one-half miles southwest of Graham. The first school site is 180 varas north of the southeast corner of the G.W. Hill Survey, Abstract No. 151. The second school site is in the northeast corner of the W.A. J. Akers Survey, Abstract No. 1363. The last site is the M.E. Criswell Survey, Abstract No. 1772 near its north boundary line and near the northeast corner of the W. Bellomy Survey, Abstract No. 2131. Kopenhagen School site is six miles north of Graham and out of the Filipe Jaimes Survey, Abstract No. 157. The location is 300 yards west of Jake's Station. Lacy Post Office and Store site is two miles north of Loving near and on the west side of the Loving and Wichita Falls Highway. The site is out of the Susan Sallee Survey, Abstract No. 252. The location is 40 yards southwest of the northwest corner of the G.& B.N. Company Survey, Abstract No. 120. Lake City was an oil boom town on the west side of where the South Bend and Eliasville highway crosses the Clear Fork about a mile south of the E.W. Harrison ranch home. Lamar Post Office and Store site is one mile north of the town of Jean, near and on the west side of Jean and Farmer Highway. The location is in the northeast corner of the T.E.&L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 891. The school was nicknamed Shinola. Liberty School site is in the town of True. The school's name was changed to True. Live Oak School site is three miles west, northwest of Murray and a short distance west of the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1088. Lone Knob School. The trustees for the school for the year 1878 were Charles Neuhaus, D.N. Killion and Daniel Messenger. The site was located near the northwest corner of the Indian Reservation in the Messenger Neighborhood. The Messenger survey is two miles west of Graham. Lone Oak School site is 12 miles north of Grhaam. The first school site is on the boundary lines between the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 991 and the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Comapny Survey, Abstract No. 996. This building burned and a new site was in the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 986. Lone Star School. The first site is four miles west of South Bend and about one-half mile west of the first crossing of the Clear Fork on the South Bend and Eliasville highway out of the E.D. Rhaton Survey, Abstract No. 243. The last site is on the James Bolton Survey, Abstract No. 12 and 300 yards southwest of the E.W. Harrison ranch home. Loving. The first Loving was located one mile south of the present town of Loving in what was then the Oliver Loving pasture, the grandson of cattle pioneer Oliver Loving. The second name of the town was "Old Loving." Old Loving was located in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 1949 and in the northwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 1950. Old Loving had the Stratton store, post office, school, gin and drug store. When the train arrived in 1909, the town was loaded on wagons and moved to its current location. Later a brick building was erected one-half mile south of the present Loving. In 1972, Loving has a post office, store and other businesses. The town has had a school, three gins and many businesses. Lower Brushy School. This school existed from 1880-1884. Names of some of the trustees were W.T. Smiht, J.R. Mankins, W.M. Martin, J.C. Calvin and W.F. Cartwright. Lower Tonk School. This school was first located on the W. Tate (W. Eilite) Survey, Abstract No. 102 and near the north centeral part of the survey. This building was destroyed by a storm and the next building was erected on the L. MItchner Survey, Abstract No. 205. The location was 387 varas west of the southeast corner of the survey. Major's Store site is 12 miles southeast of Graham, near and on the north side of the Graham and Graford highway, located in the B.B.B. & C. R.R. Company Survey, Absract No. 28, and near its southern boundary line. Markley. The town of Markley is 21 miles northeast of Graham on the Graham and Wichita Falls highway. The location is where Block Nos. 13, 14, 17 and 18 of the Y.C.S. Land Abstract No. 1248 corner. The town was formerly called Plum Grove and was later named in honor of General A.C. Markley. Matthews Store site was seven miles north of Graham, on the Graham and Jean Highway and in the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 663. Mayes School. The first school site was two and one-half miles east of Murray and near the south central part of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 1229. The last site is five miles east, northeast of Murray, near and on the south side of the Murray and Graham highway, out of the Allen Hines Survey, Abstract No. 135. The location is one mile east of the Craig Ranch home. Medlan School is seven miles southwest of Graham on the I.L. Hill Survey, Abstract No. 126. The location is a short distance southwest of the Medlan's Chapel Primitive Baptist church building. Midway School site is three-fouths of a mile northwest of Newcastle in the northeast corner of the E. Crockett Survey, Abstract No. 58. Miller Bend School site is in the MIller Bend Community in the northeast corner of the J.S. Timmons Survey, Abstract No. 1548. Ming Bend School site is eight miles southeast of Bunger in the southwest corner of the S.H. James Survey, Abstract No. 1465. Monument School is five miles southeast of Loving in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 1989. The community was named in memory of the men killed in the Warren Wagon Train Indian Massacre where a monument was placed. Mount Pleasant School site is eight miles west of Graham in the I.L. Hill Survey, Abstract No. 126. The location is 300 yards west on the south side and near the Lewis Brooks road where it intersects the Graham and Murray Highway. Mountain Home School site is two miles south of Bunger and near the north boundary line of the D. McClendon Survey, Abstract No. 1622. Mount Hope site is six miles east of Murray and near the "Old Wire Road." Murray is 20 miles west of Graham on what was known in the early days as the Graham and Throckmorton road. The Murray post office was established January 12, 1880. Mary C. Cusenbary was appointed postmistress on that date. Murray has boasted of a post office, school, two church buildings, store, blacksmith, shop, gin, ball team and part-time barbershop. See also Fish Creek School. Newcastle located mostly in the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 846. The town was on top of extensive coal holdings. Newcastle was famous for its coal mines and large payrol. The Newcastle Register began in 1908, a weekly newspaper edited by the late Gaspard Neal. Newcastle had a post office, two banks, school, stores and gin among other businesses in its lifetime. Newcastle Gins. Newcastle had four gin sites. There was the Jones Brothers gin in the northwest part of town. The E.C. and Dan Keith gin located on the west side of town. A.C. Duckett operated the gin on the west side of the Newcastle and Olney highway. T.J. Routon operated the gin on the east side of the Newcastle and Olney Highway. In 1972, Newcastle had one gin in operation. That gin has now been torn down. Newcastle School. Newcastle has had two school buildings. The first building was a frame structure located a short distance east of the present brick building. Oak Grove School. This school was in operation from 1881-1883. During this time, the trustees where J.H. Wood, S.A. Brooks, John E. Morrison, B.H. Paynes, J.M. Kirby and Homer Ford. The school was located in the South Bend Community. Oakland School. This school site is eight miles east of Graham on the north side of the Graham and Jacksboro highway. The site is near the northwest corner of the Graham and Jacksboro Highway. The school was near the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of the J. Potevent Survey, Abstract No. 233. On July 31, 1888, E.J. Robertson gave the land for this school site. Oil City was a boom town eight miles south of Grham on the boundary line between the R.J. Dowdle Survey, Abstract No. 2215 and the J.A. Driver Survey, Abstract No. 1980. The west part of the town was on the Dowdle Survey and the east part of the Driver Survey. The location was near the south boundary of these surveys. Olney. The town of Olney is the heart of an area of productive farm land. With its airport, oil, farming and ranching interest and many businesses the town is numbered among the most progressive towns in the State. Althought Olney has been in Young county many years, the town was organized in 1909. Olney School. The first school building was a frame structure. Olney is noted for its school system and in 1972 had three attractive buildings: an Elementary, Junior High and Senior High. Olney Gins. Olney had five gin sites. Two gins were at the site of "Old Olney" and three gins in the present town of Olney. In 1972, one gin was in operation. Oneal Store. This store was three miles south of Murray, near and on the south side of the "Old Wire Line Road", and on the J.W. Cloud land near the north boundary line of the H. Hodge Survey, Abstract No. 134. Orth. The town with school, post office, gin and other businesses was located five miles south of Olney, on the Wichita Falls and Southern Railway near the southwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 303. Padgett. The town was located 11 miles southwest of Olney and Throckmorton Highway. Padgett is out of the northwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 330. The town had post office, school, gin, store and other businesses at one time. Plaxco Post Office was nine miles north of Graham located a little west of the north central part of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 445 known as the E.M. Ball tract. Pleasant Grove School site is south of Bunger and in the southeast corner of the Margaret Hall Survey, Abstract No. 1453. Pleasant Hill School site is seven miles southwest of Graham out of the A. Irvin Survey, Abstract No. 1779, near its south boundary line. The location is half way between its southwest corner and its southeast corner. Pleasant Point School. The teacher was Dora A. Smith. Trustees for the years 1880-1882 were W.A. Bennett, J.E. Scott, S.H. Evans, J.E. Williams and A.J. Harmon. The school was three miles from the Jack County line, east of Graham. Plum Grove School. This school was in operation from 1878-1884. The one room school was taught by Belle Bette Blakley. Trustees were W.R. Bynum, B. Huber, Jesse Martin, William Airhart and G.T. Brown. The school site was northeast of Loving on the Bethel Chapel road. Proffitt. The town of Proffitt was located in the T.E.& L. Company Survey No. 712, near its north boundary line. The town had a post office, school, store, gin and several other places of business. The first school burned and was replaced by a brick school house in the 1930s. That building has been turned into a private residence. Putman Gin site is seven miles west of Graham on the north side of the Graham and Murray highway. This steam-powered gin was on the west side near the Phil George Branch. Putman School site is nine miles west, southwest of Graham in the I.L. Hill Survey, Abstract No. 126. The first site was one mile northwest of the Medlan's Chapel Church building and the last site one-fourth mile northwest of the first school site. Both locations were on Putman land. Red Top School. The sites of the school are nine miles north of Graham. The first school site is in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 644. The second site is in the northeast corner of the J.P. Scott Survey, Abstract No. 257, a short distance north of the Red Top Cemetery. One can still see the old well-preserved school building. Rock Creek School site is east of Graham near the Jack and Young County boundary line in the northeast corner of the J.L. Jackson Survey, Abstract No. 1611. Rocky Mound School site is three miles northeast of Graham in the northwest corner of the east part of the T.E.& L. Company Survey, No. 1577 purchased by R.J. Robertson as shown in Young County Deeds, Volume 26, page 488. Rock Lake School. This school was only in existence for one term, 1879-1880. Trustees appointed were Thomas J. Lowe, E.H. Crow and J.W. Paddock. Young County records show that a school was designated and trustees appointed, but the school was never in operation. Rutherford Store was four miles north of Jean where the Olney and Farmer highway crosses the Jean and Archer City highway. The location is in the northeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract 901. Salem School site is southeast of Graham and 172 varas west of the southeast corner of the J.A. Jowell Survey, Abstract No. 1330. Salem Creek School site is four miles northwest of Graham and 40 yards east of the southeast corner of the A. McFarland Survey, Abstract No. 193. Shearer School. The first site of the school is north of Jean and 700 varas west of the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 1399. The last school site is out of the T.E. & L. Company Survey No. 3401, on the north boundary line of same and near the southwest corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 1394. Smith School site first appears in 1901 and is in operation until 1903. The first teacher was Frank H. Wilson. The trustees were L.W. Smith who owned T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract 440, J.M. Patterson who owned the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 433. The site of the school is west of Olney at the location of the airport. South Bend School. The first school site is two miles south of South Bend, near and on the east side of the South Bend and Breckenridge highway and in the northwest corner of the C. Smith Survey, Abstract No. 1634. The last site with a white brick building is in the northeast corner of the J. Garrett Survey, Abstract No. 108. South Bend had the first gymnasium in the county. When the brick building was torn down, the brick was used in the costruction of the Agriculture wing of the Graham high school. South Bend. The town was first called Arkansas but then changed to reflect its being near the South Bend of the Brazos River. The town has had a post office, stores, gin and other businesses. During the oil boom of 1917, there were 5,000 people living in the town. South East School. The first school site is two miles south of South Bend, near and on the east side of the South Bend and Breckenridge highway and in the northwest corner of the C. Smith Survey, Abstract No. 1634. The last site with a brick building was in the northeast corner of the J. Garrett Survey, Abstract No. 108. Spring Creek School. This county line school was on the Throckmorton and Young County line. The school building and site were in Throckmorton County. Stewart School. School No. 42 first appeared in 1901 operating until 1903. The one room school house was taught by Louis Winfrey. The school did not operate in 1904 and 1905. Stewart school appears again in operation in 1906 with W.M. Plaster as the teacher. Young County records show in 1906 that the name "Loving" is written above the Stewart School name. In 1907, School No. 42 is Loving. Stiffler School. This one room school house began operating in 1903 with William Bridwell as the teacher. In 1905, Grace Bullock was elected teacher. In 1906, Lona Hudson became the last teacher. The trustees were A.M. Stewart, J.L. McDaniel and Ed Stiffler. The school was located northeast of Loving in the Sylvia Tynes Survey, Abstract No. 274. Store. This store was located on the south side of the "Old Wire Road" one-half mile west of where the road crosses the Brazos River. The natural stone crossing was in the Captain Burnett community later known as Komo. Tankersley School. The first school site is one mile west of Proffitt and near the north boundary line of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, No. 756. The last site is two miles west of Proffitt and near the east boundary line of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 768. The school is also known as the Fickling school. Thomas School. this school site is seven miles southwest of Graham near the south boundary line of the D. Franklin Survey, Abstract No. 1425. This was first a subscription school and the building was a log cabin with dirt floor and split logs for seats. Later, a different building was erected on this site and the name was changed to Upper Tonk Valley School. Timmons School. This school was established November 1, 1877 near the Timmons Crossing on the Clear Fork. The A. Timmons Survey, Abstract No. 1258 is near the second crossing on the Clear Fork on the highway from South Bend to Eliasville. Trustees for the school were: F.M. McGlothin, W.W. Edwards, Joseph Allen, John Z. Martin, H.G. Doss and John Lewis. The trustees lived near the Timmons Survey and the school is located in that survey. Tonk Valley School site is five miles southwest of Graham on the west side of the Graham and Breckenridge highway near the southwest corner of the S.T. Seddon Survey, Abstract No. 273. True. The town of True was originally called Liberty. The town had a post office, school gin, church buildings, and several stores and businesses. True was an early town and G.W. Terrell was the founder. The town was a gathering place especially for the local stockmen. There is much history to be written of this little community. Upper Tonk School. The location of this school is seven miles southwest of Graham and near the south boundary line of the D. Franklin Survey, Abstract No. 1425. This school's building was erected on the Thomas school site. The Thomas school building was a log cabin with dirt floor and split logs for seats. This was the first public school in Young County. Victory School is four and one-half miles east of Graham and in the northeast corner of the J.R. Jones Survey, Abstract No. 1328. White Rose School site is six miles northwest of Graham and in the southeast corner of the T.E. & L. Company Survey, Abstract No. 647. On November 3, 1879, Joseph Allen deeded four acres of land out of the southwest corner of the Jospeh Allen Survey, Abstract No. 1662 for school purposes. This school site is four miles sotuhwest of South Bend. In 1880, a school called Lake Valley appeared on the record. The trustees for the Lake Valley School were F.M. McGlothin, W.W. Edwards and Joseph Allen. The White Rose School site and the Lake Valley School site are the same location. |