Denton County, Texas - Chapter 4, 1918

Chapter 4

The task of discovering and recording the history of the county has been easy when compared with the task of compiling the names of its settlers, who came from so many different sections of the country. Yet the people were then, and are today, of greater importance than the country, A roll has been prepared of the pioneer settlers remembered today. It is not complete but it is the best we could do. A date (1866) was selected to separate the old settlers from the new. That date was selected because many changes came at that time of "reconstruction."

The calling of the roll of old pioneers by settlements, to some may be tedious and thought to be useless, but to them, largely, belongs the honor and glory of the present splendid civilization of which we so proudly boast. "We reap what others have sown," and "Sow that others may reap." We dedicate a few pages to the memory of the pioneer, and in the language of Pope exclaim:

The immigrants came from the older states in "trains," of from three to ten families in a bunch, and settled near each other for many reasons. The oldest settlement was the Bridges Settlement near the present town of Hebron, and it began its formation in 1843. When the counties were formed in 1846 this settlement was partly in Denton County, partly in Collin County, and partly in Dallas County. It was here that the Peters Colony established its land office and settlers' store in 1843 and from this, as a center of the colony, all of its employes worked. All the records were kept here by Judge S. A. Venters. It was to the land office, at that time, that the immigrant had to go in search of and to file his claims for land. This was the office that was destroyed by the people in 1850 and the records as kept here were afterwards required to be turned over to the general land office as a part of the archives of the State. The records had been seci'eted by Judge Venters and were not burned.

Here we find that the church was represented. The Methodist by Rev. W. E. Bates, who came from Kentucky and settled here in November 1851 and held a revival meeting Christmas week, at John W. King's house, in the present town of Lewis ville; the Baptist was represented by the Rev. Jesse C. Portman, who came from Bonham and settled in 1854, and held many meetings for the pioneers. Many of them are dead and gone, but let us call the roll of Bridges Settlement : Messrs. Barksdale, Tom West, William Bridges, Alford Harington, Silas Harington, Ben Baccus, Jake Baccus, Pete Baccus, Dow Baccus, Oliver Hedgecoke, S. A. Venters, Rev. William E. Bates, W. P. Bates, Rev. E. T. Bates, C. C. Bates, Ed F. Bates, Rev. Jesse C. Portman, C. C. Portman, Mat Portman, Jim Portman, Abe Stover, Joe Stover, John M. Vardeman, George Vardeman, L. Vardeman,

Col. S. A. Venters

COL. S. A. VENTERS One of the founders of Denton, prominent in early - day history. County Judge and Legislator in the early days and venerated by those who knew him. He was born June 27, 1822, and died here March 12, 1881.

The Holford Prairie Settlement had its beginning in 1844. In this year John W. King and wife, Jane King, and their children, came from near Bonham and settled on the east end of the prairie, where the present town of Lewisville is, and in the fall of 1844 a large family connection moved from Piatt County, Missouri and settled on the prairie towards the west end. Among the number were John Holford and James Holford, for whom the Prairie was named, James Gibson, Jesse Gibson, William Gibson, Owen Medlin, Hall Medlin, and others. They brought with them their families, their dogs, guns, and religion - Baptist. They settled close to each other for self -protection, and as some of their history was written by Uncle Gus King (son of John W. King) it is given in full :

"The First Methodist class in Denton County was formed in July, 1846 by James E. Ferguson, then presiding elder of the Red Oak Mission. John W. King was class leader. The class was as follows: Peter Harmonson, Ann Harmonson, Eva Harmonson, Louise Harmonson, Martha Harmonson, Jane King, Rachel R. King, Nancy G. King, Ann E. Davis, Nancy Waggoner, P. K. Waggoner, Sarah Waggoner, Nancy French, Amandy Sutton, Vinson R. Sutton, Ann Garvin, Thomas Garvin, a total of nineteen. That class was organized in a log school house about seventy-five yards north of where Hugh McKenzie now lives (1884). The class met regularly, had monthly meeting from 1846 to 1852, and had some glorious revivals. In 1852 the membership was twenty-eight or thirty. The preachers in charge were as follows: Rev. James E. Ferguson in 1846-47, Rev. George Tittle in 1848, Rev. Randalls, a native Texas preacher, in 1849. That summer the first camp meeting in Denton County was held near the southwest corner of T. M. Smith's bottom field on Prairie Creek. The preachers in attendance were Randalls, Long, and old Father Minter. The latter is still (1884) living on Grapevine Prairie, near Minters Chapel in Tarrant County. At that time he lived on Mountain Creek in Dallas County. In the year 1850 Rev. T. D. Wright was preacher in charge. The first quarterly conference was held in June, 1850, presided over by Revs. M. Yell, P. E. Present, T. D. Wright, P. G. Smith, and Brother Minter, local preachers, and John W. King, secretary. No stewards; no money to collect. That meeting was held in a log house that now (1884) stands in Lewis ville, then the residence of John W. King. The names of the tenters at the abovenamed camp meeting were : John Waggoner, John W. King, Eli Pickett, Stephen Riggs, and Thomas Waggoner. In 1852, Rev. W. L. Nelms was preacher in charge; in 1853, Rev. John W. Chalk was preacher in charge; no preachers in 1854-55. In 1856, Rev. W. E. Bates was preacher in charge; Rev. J. M. Binkly was preacher in charge in 1857-58; Rev. - . - . Patillo was preacher in charge in 1859, and Rev. - . - . Shaw in 1860. I write from memory and may not be correct. More anon.

"They [the Piatt County, Missouri, settlers] were a peculiar people in some respects. They had but little property among them, and yet they were well enough to do. All seemed to be on an equality, and the sole object in living was to do all they could for the comfort and satisfaction of one anothei', and to make their way to a better world than this. They were a good people, and could have ruled this county for many years had there been business men among them. They never held any of the county offices, except John Holford who was commissioner once.

"In the winter of 1844, a lone man by the name of Hammons, a Baptist preacher, came to this county. In the spring of 1845 he organized the aforesaid family connection into a class and preached to them every Sunday. They would all go to meeting, men, women and children, carrying their guns and such other weapons as they had with which to protect themselves from Indians. In April, 1845 Hammons felled a tree on himself, and on Sunday, the day he was to have preached, he was taken from under the trunk of the tree and buried on Hickory Ridge.

"Christmas, 1844, the Rev. Hammons officiated in the first marriage in this county. The marriage took place near where Doctor Gilbert now lives (1884) on his farm. The parties were Shelton Luttrell and Bettie Dierce. He married them without license and four years after I saw the same couple married over. At that time they had two children in their arms. When married the second time, it developed facts satisfactory that old man Hammons was all right. In 1846 the Rev. John A. Freeman came to this county. He was a missionary Baptist preacher and a very liberal man, he was pastor six years. In 1852 and 1853 nearly all of this family connection moved and settled near Alton. P. J. Holford lived on Denton Creek and some of the Medlins lived near Elizabethtown. - A. G. King."

Rev. J. A. Freeman, Baptist, was a great pioneer preacher. He reorganized this Baptist church at Lonesome Dove on Denton Creek in 1854 and continued its pastor until 1857. He then emigrated to California and organized a Baptist church, and is now (1914) living. He is ninety-three years old.

The first church house of note was called the Holford Prairie Hall. It was about midway of the prairie from east to west and on the north side at a grove that extended out into the prairie. The building was a two-story structure. The Masons occupied the upper story. The lower was used for school and church purposes. All denominations worshipped in it. Just south of the Hall Uncle Andy Crews and family settled on Timber Creek and established a blacksmith's shop. He was a splendid smith and filled a great need at that time.

To the south, on Long Prairie the Presbyterians established a church and camp ground ; they called it Flower Mound. Everybody was welcome and an annual camp meeting was held there for about thirty years. It was composed principally of E, L. Lusk, Rev. Newton Lusk, Sam Lusk, Matthew Cowen, Jim Cowen, Bob Donald, Matthew Donald, George Beavers, and others and their families. We have not been able to ascertain the membership and date of its organization but it was about 1854. At their camp meetings it was impossible to distinguish one denomination from another. They established in the southern part of Denton County a very high moral and religious standard. Many people for thirty and forty miles away came to their services and received inspiration to a divine and higher life. They made the very best of citizens. We will now call the roll of Holford Prairie Settlement in memory of our heroes :

Captain Sam V. Lusk

CAPTAIN SAM V. LUSK Captain Sana V. Lusk was bom in Monroe County, Tennessee, October 9, 1838. He moved to Denton County, Texas, in 1854. Enlisted in Captain Main's Company, Fourteenth Texas Cavalry October 28, 1861 at Denton. He was elected Sergeant, later Second Lieutenant, and then Captain for the last two years. Returned home after the war, was converted, and joined the Presbyterian church, and has been a brave soldier of the Cross ever since. Has been the greatest singer Denton County ever had, singing the gospel and attending the conversion of scores of souls led to the Savior by his ministrations.

Andy Cruse

Born in North Carolina August, 1823. Came to Austin in 1845, to Henderson County in 1846. Married Miss Eliza Gray January, 1849. Moved to Denton County in 1860. Heard Governor Henderson's inaugural address, and saw the flag of the Republic lowered and the State flag raised in 1846. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Flower Mound forty-six years. Died March 25, 1907.

veteran, having enlisted in McKittrick's Company G. During the war Mr. Bro\\"a was captured (February 11, 18G3) find sent to Camp Chase. He was wounded at Atlanta, Ga,, in July, 18G4, just a year before his parole by the United States.

W. B. Brown

Familiarly known as "Uncle Billy" Brown, and a well-known figure about town, has lived in Denton County since 1854. He was bom in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, February 5, 1834, and moved to Denton County in 1854, and in 1868 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips of this county. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Myra Brooks in August of 1897. Mr. Brown is a Confederate

John G. Boyd Thomas Milton Clayton

Born in Virginia in 1833. Moved to Missouri and then to Denton County in 1857. He was a Confederate soldier in Alexander's Regiment. A member of the Methodist church thirty years and a Royal Arch Mason fifty years. Died April, 1915.

This was a settlement on the east side of Big Elm in the, southeast part of the county, covering the mouth of Stewart's Creek and named after Isaac F. Stewart, the first settler. In the year 1844 the Ritters settled near the lake that is called Ritters Lake and made a ford on Elm that was called Ritters Ford. L. T. Higgins (Uncle Tiff) settljed here and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1848. Jim Chawning from this settlement was elected county commissioner in 1848 and served until 1860. Judge S. A. Venters had moved into this settlement and in 1848 was elected county clerk. This was a small settlement but had some splendid citizens, which the roll call reveals :

This settlement was started in 1850 by Peter Teel and his sons and sons-in-law, who were from Tennessee and were of the Methodist persuasion, affilliated at Bethel church. He was a brother-in-law to J. B. Rodgers and Clayton Rodgers. The settlement was made on the ridge between Stewarts Creek and Cottonwood Creek and between Little Elm and Frisco. The Teels and Morrells emigrated to California in 1868-69. In memory of them we call the roll :

Left to right (seated) : Addison Robertson, born in 1837; A. Wayne Robertson, born in 1843. Mrs. Rachel Hawk (nee Robertson) , bom in 1845. Came to Denton County in 1859.

This settlement was formed in 1844 by Kit King and his mother and their families. They settled on the bank of Little Elm Creek and made a ford called the King- Crossing. Mr. Shahan and his sons, John, George and Dock, and J. 0. Dickson, C, C. Dickson, John L. Dickson, and W. H. Dickson settled on the prairie between the two Elms in 1845, and the prairie was named Shahan's Prairie for them, and a ford was made higher up on the creek called Shahan's Ford. The first postoffice in the county was established at Kit King's residence on the bank of Little Elm Creek about one mile south of the present steel bridge, in 1845, in the days of the Republic, and was on an ovei'land route running from Preston's Bend on Red River south to Bird's Station afterwards called Birdsville, in the east edge of Tarrant County. This postoffice is older than the county and is still doing business at Little Elm. A man named Sparks built the first store house near the west approach of the bridge in 1859 and the postoffice was moved

Mr. And Mrs. Joel S. Clark

Joel S. Clark was born in Tennessee December 20, 1824. Moved to Denton County, Texas, in 1850. Married Mrs. Emily Jones (nee Teel) in 1851. He was a Justice of the Peace for six years, a Confederate soldier. He died October 24, 1905. Mrs. Clark died July 12, 1910.

there. In 1866 Henry Hill built a store house about one mile east (the present town) and the post office was moved there. The first church house was built on Cottonwood Creek at the John House Springs about one mile

Sam R. Davis

Bom in Hickoi-y County, Missouri, July 4, 1844. Moved to Denton County, Texas, in 1858. He was a Confederate soldier in Gano's Squadron and in John Morgan's Division. Married Miss Ora McKinney October 1, 1872. Was a successful stock raiser. Died December 22, 1905.

east, at which all denominations worshipped and the school was taught. It was hewed studding, weatherboarded with four-foot burr oak boards. It had a dirt floor and stick chimney. Several camp meetings w^ere held there. In 1853 Joel Clark and familylocated near the present town and after the war he was foremost in the organization of the Christian Church, and the house of worship was afterwards built on the corner of his land. He was a very good man and his life was a great benediction to his neighbors. He was a justice of the peace and dispensed justice and had the confidence of the people. His church stands today as a monument to his honor and a blessing to the neighborhood.

In 1859 Lively Lodge No. 237 A. F. & A. M. was organized at the Sparks store house, and afterwards moved to Little Elm. In 1852 Rev. William E. Bates and family moved from Bridges Settlement to this one and lived where Billy Wilks now lives, and assisted in killing a large panther near his house. From this incident the creek probably derived its name. He organized a Methodist church for this settlement in 1853. I now call the roll which brings to memory many pleasant incidents and faces :

Bom in Alexandria, Louisiana, November 11, 1852. Moved to Mississippi in 1861. Moved to Denton County in 1868. MarriedHo S. R. Davis October 1, 1872. Settled near Little Elm. Reared four sons: Thomas E., Frank C, Mat M., Ginney Ora, and one daughter, Robbie (Davis) Matlock. She has been a member of the Baptist church and the Rebecca Lodge of I. 0. 0. F. for forty-four years.

This settlement was founded in 1853 by Rev. Wm. E. Bates and in 1854 by W, H. Bates, Harry Hawkins, and the six sons and four sons-in-law of Harry Hawkins. It was near the east county line on the waters of Panther Creek. It was called the Kentucky Settlement by some, because these people immigrated from Kentucky. They were Methodist in their church affiliation. Many Kentuckians felt like they were kinsfolk of these people and settled by them. The Hawkins' predominating in numbers, it was called the Hawkins Settlement. Rev. William E. Bates organized them into a Methodist society and in 1857 they built a church house and called it Zion, after the old Zion church in Kentucky, from whence they came. Many great meetings were held here, and the people were very zealous and fervent in their worship. The standard of morality was high, resulting in a high order of citizenship to the honor of this Kentucky colony whose roll call will never grow old to the writer :

Rev. William E. Bates

REV. WILLIAM E. BATES A pioneer preacher and head of a family that has always been prominent in affairs of Denton County. Was bom in Amherst County, Virginia^ in 1812, and moved to Barren County, Kentucky, in 1820. He was licensee by the Methodist church in 1843 to preach, and moved to Denton CountyJ Texas, in 1851. He continued in active service of his church until his super-] annuation in October, 1868, and died in 1883, being buried at Oak Grove ten miles east of Denton. Mr. Bates had much to do with the establishment of Methodism in North Texas. In 1855 he had charge of the church at Lewisville and later organized the churches at Denton, Montague, Gaines-j ville, Jacksboro and other frontier points. On his last circuit he rode froit

Denton up Clear Creek to Chisum's ranch, thence to Decatur and Big Sandy; thence to Montague, thence to Jacksboro and Weatherf ord and back through Tarrant County via Birdsville, to Lewisville and then home in the eastern part of Denton County - a trip that would cause men of these times to dread even with fast automobiles. He had thirty-one appointments and it required twenty-seven days to make his monthly trip. Constant Indian depredations covered almost the entire circuit. He carried arms for selfprotection and had several narrow escapes from bands of wild Indians.

MRS. SUSAN (WRIGHT) BATES Bom in Barren County, Kentucky, January 1, 1816. Was married to Rev. W. E. Bates November 3, 1834. Moved to Denton County November 1, 1851. Died November 16, 1897.

Rev, William Allen

Bom in Kentucky, March 18, 1834. Moved to Denton County, Texas, n 1856. Was licensed a Methodist preacher in 1860. He was a Confederate soldier, a State Senator. Married Miss Abbie Mayes June 7, 1866. Died ^ugust 12, 1908.

Born in Adair County, Kentucky, April 13, 1846. Came to Texas in 1852. Was married to William Allen June 7, 1866. Served as President of the Foreign Missionary Society of Texas from 1888 to 1898. Teacher in the Methodist Sunday School for thirty-five years. Now lives at Frisco-

This settlement covered a scope of country north of Sand ?own and south of Ballew Settlement and between the two Elms, n 1846 Doctor G. T. Key and family came from Missouri and lettled near the present town of Weston, in Collin County, and in 858 he moved over on the brakes of Big Elm about one and onelalf miles southwest of the present town of Aubrey and built a bg school house. It was called Key's Schoolhouse. Around it he settlement clustered. He was assisted by Jim Wilcox, Joe vilcox and others. In 1861, when the war began, Professor Will )rake was teaching school here. It was the last school for about even years and when the town of Aubrey was established. Key's chool House was discontinued. There were some kind-hearted oiks hei'e and it gives me -pleasure to call the roll :

In 1856 Aaron Ballew, his sons, and sons-in-law, and other friends, came from Missouri and Kentucky and settled here, forming the nucleus, around which it gathered. It was so near Pilot Point that their trading point, their church affiliations, and postoffice were at the Point. We now call the roll in their memory :

Pilot Point is in the northeast part of the county, three miles from the Cooke County line, and six miles from the Collin County line. At an early day there was a large grove of post oak trees extending out into the prairie on this high ridge which could be seen for many miles, and especially from the Collin County I'idge. There being no roads people traveled by course, guided by visible objects, in the distance, and this grove was used as a pilot to the traveler. From this fact it received the name. Pilot Point, attracting its first settlers. Its first settlement was made in 1846. At that time there was a spring just northwest of the grove which furnished water for camping purposes, it being a favorite camping place for Indians, rangers, and cowboys. The first settlers were the Edlemans and Elmore >. The first child born here was Eliza Edleman, in 1856. ,

Samuel B. Tabor

Born in Monroe County, Tennessee, January 31, 1831. Moved to Jackson County, Alabama when a small boy and from there to Madison County, Alabama. Moved from there to Denton County, Texas, in the fall of 1855. Married Miss Elizabeth Ballew May 8, 1858. Served in the Confederate army about one year. Discharged February 3, 1863 on account of physical disability. Moved to Arkansas in 1867 and returned to Denton County in 1874. He now lives in Denton.

This settlement was located in the forks of Big Elm and Hickory Creek, and was started in 1852 by the French's and McCurley's. They settled on what was known as the McCurley Prairie just west of the Wantland Lake. The French, the Ligon, and the Dickson crossings on Elm were on the borders of this settlement and these crossings were of considerable note in the early days as Big Elm was considered difficult to cross. This territory has lost its identity. It is known today as Garza, The roll call is:

On November 26, 1850 the Legislature changed the county seat to Alexander E. Cannon's residence on Hickory Creek, a little over five miles south of Denton, and transferred with it, the name, Alton. We conclude from the act that no one lived there but Mr. Cannon. The first store built here was in 1852 by Henderson Murphy. In 1853, Jim Chisum and John L. Lovejoy, Sr., put in stores and in 1854 J. M. Smoot & Co. put in a store and in 1855 Henderson Murphy put in a hotel. The mail route from Preston to Bird's Station was changed to go by Alton and the postoffice called Alton. They afterwards received the mail from Dallas via Birdsville. The mail was received once a week.

tice meted out were of the primitive variety. Many amusing court incidents have been handed down. One is recited to show the method of their coui't procedure in this temple of justice. A certain defendant was charged with hog-steahng, being tried in the forenoon by a jury and convicted. His punishment was fixed at so many hxshes on the bare back. Court was adjourned for dinner. While the judge and attorneys were eating dinner, the sheriff, without their knowledge, took the defendant down on the creek a short distance away and gave him the whipping as ordered, as he thought, by the verdict of the jury. After dinner court was opened and the attorney for the defense (unawaie of what had happened) made application for a new trial and proceeded to argue his case. The defendant was green and timid and became very nervous and was trying to motion his attorney to quit, but could not make him understand. Finally he blurted out to his attorney: "Mr. Everett, don't get a new trial. They have already whipped me and if you get a new ti'ial they may whip me again." This was often referred to as "speedy justice," administered by the sheriff to his prisoner instead of a noon-day meal.

This settlement was not a natural settlement, but one made by the county seat and soon ceased to exist when the county seat was changed. The first man sentenced to the penitentiary from Denton County was tried in this old log court house and W. B. Brown, W. H. Bates, B. R. Hodges, and W. T. Clark were a part of the jury.

In 1857 the county seat was changed to Denton and this logcourt house, the temple of justice of Denton County, was cremated on a festive occasion. "Tom and Jerry" (a mixed drink) was made and served in the presence of the following witnesses : C. A. Williams, Felix McKitrick, Teague Coleman, Henderson 1 Murphy, John L. Love joy, Sr., Sam Young, Charley McElroy, and i Doctor Huddleston. All the commercial enterprises were moved " ! with the county seat to Denton. The settlement remained, and we call the roll in their memoiy :

This was the fourth and last county seat selected and was not referred to as a settlement but as the "county seat," which was the cause of its formation.

Prior to this time Spencer Graham lived in the north side of town in a log house near the Lacy blacksmith shop, in which Joel Hall Graham was born in 1848, being the first child born in Denton. (He now lives at Monument, New Mexico.) Bill Lovpg and Hiram Cisco and William Woodruff had located land here. I The Legislature had passed an act authorizing the people pf the county, by a majority vote to "change the county seat," where it was over five miles from the center of the county. The pounty commissioners had called an election for that purpose to be held on the first Tuesday in November, 1856. Two propositions for a county seat were made to the people. E, Boon piobosed to deed to the county fifty acres of land on the brakes of Jickory Creek, near the present pest house; Hiram Cisco pro- )osed to deed forty acres, Bill Loving forty acres, and William A^oodruff twenty aci'es, a combined proposition of one hundred

Col. Otis G. Welch

Bom in Monmouth, Maine, December 21, 1836. Graduated from Yale. Taught school and practiced law in niinois and Virginia. Came to Alton, Denton County, in 1852 and moved to Denton in 1857. He was the legal advisor in the establishment of the county seat. He married Mrs. Nannie E. Lowery (nee Chinn), January, 1874. Died in Denton in 1880.

Born in Grayson County, Ken^ tucky, February 18, 1852. Moved to Fannin County, Texas, in the fall of 1858 and to Denton County in 1868. Graduated in surgery at the Louisville Medical College February, 1874, and since then distinguished himself with much credit in medicine and surgery. He served one term as president of the Medical Association of the State. He married Miss Annie L. .Ritcheyi Febiniary 27, 1876. I acres, where Denton now stands. The latter proposition received the largest vote, and was selected as the county seat and its name changed from Alton to Denton. The county commissioners received the deeds to the land and ordered the town laid off into lots, and resei-ved for the county the present public square and block 23, selling the remainder to the people at a public sale on January 10, 1857.- 0. C. Welch, as the lawyer, assisted by C. C. Lacy, and William Woodruff, as surveyors, plotted the city, and named the first streets of the city, selecting as names the

Mr. And Mrs. J. F. Morrell

James Farris Morrell was born in Tennessee July 2, 1827. Moved to Denton County in 1851. Melvina Crane (Bates) Morrell was born in Kentucky September 2, 1835. Came to Denton County in 1851. They were married September 26, 1861. J. F. Morrell died April 2, 1898. Mrs. Morrell now lives in Prescott, Arizona.

Mr. And Mrs. F. M. Ready

F. M. Ready was boi'n in Kentucky in 1836. Moved to Denton County in 1854 with his parents, John and Rosanah Ready. Melisa Jane (Bates) Ready was born in Kentucky in 1841. Came to Denton County in 1853. They were married in Denton County in 1858, and now live at Sanger.

John Henry Hawkins

Born in Kentucky January 3, 1826. Came to Nacogdoches County in 1846, and to Denton County in 1853. He married Mary Ann Byrd April 19, 1855. Died January 23, 1913.

Rev. E. T. Bates

Eugene Taylor Bates, aged seventy-three years, and for the pasi several years very feeble from a chronic illness contracted during his fou] years' service in the Confederate army, died at 3:30 Friday morning at th( home of his brother, Ed. F. Bates, at 100 West Sycamore Street, after hav ing been confined to his bed for several weeks.

The funeral services are to be held at the Ed. F. Bates home Satur day morning at 9 o'clock, and the remains are to be taken to Lloyd for in terment in the Oak Grove cemetery at 11 o'clock. A number of friends and relatives from over the county are expected here to attend the funeral service, and it is expected that the commitment service at the grave will be attended by many old neighbors and friends of that community.

Mr. Bates was one of the best known of the old pioneer circuit ministers in this part of the State, having taken up the work begun by his father, who was William T. Bates, member of an old Virginia family, who moved to Kentucky in the early days and later moved to Texas, riding a circuit at one time three hundred miles long, with thirty-one preaching engagements each month over Cooke, Denton, Wise, Jack, Montague, and Clay counties, jand going into the Indian wilds on each trip as the last white settler could be found. E. T. Bates was the only one of the four brothers who continued the circuit riding work, his circuit being over much of the same territory that his father rode many years before. Of late years, however, he had been Compelled because of his chronic trouble, to retire from active work, only preaching at times, and conducting funerals when requested to do so for old friends or acquaintances. He was born in Barren County, Kentucky, March 12, 1842, and came to Texas with his father's family in 1851, then a small Doy. Several years later, in 1858, he joined the Methodist church at Zion, md three years later enlisted in T. W. Daugherty's Company A, 29th Texas pavalry, for service in the Confederate army. He returned home after the urrender of General Lee, reaching Denton in June of 1865, and two years ater was licensed to preach. He joined the Trinity Conference in 1868 and vvas assigned as junior preacher under Rev. D. F. Fuller, Sr., to Preston ircuit. He continued in the ministry in the Trinity Conference, the North Texas Conference, Northwest Texas Conference, and last, the Central Texas onference, having held during the last few years a superannuated relation o his Conference on account of poor health. Four years of his more than hree score and ten years were given to his country, forty-seven to his hurch. He had been Chaplain of the Sul Ross Confederate veterans for several years, and as many of his old comrades as can do so will attend his uneral.

Mr. Bates is survived by three brothers, Ed. F. Bates, former mayor )f Denton, A. T. Bates of Denton, and William P. Bates of Wilbarger Couny, who will be unable to come for the funeral on account of feeble health, le being seventy-eight years old. Three surviving sisters are Mrs. S. J. Button of near Lloyd, Mrs. N. A. Witt of Navo, and Mrs. M. C. Morrell of Prescott, Arizona, who also is not expected - Denton Record-Chronicle, Vlarch 28, 1914.

Charles L. Smith

This settlement extended for about five miles up Doe Branch in the eastern part of the county. This is a small creek and when settlement began it had considerable timber on it from Little Elm northeast for about seven miles, and had quite a number of springs and was considered well watered. The settlers strung out up the creek, some on one side and some on the other. Louis and Jake Rue and their families settled on it in 1854 and later on built an ox-mill to grind corn. They built a churchhouse and called it Good Hope. It has been rebuilt and a Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized, and the organization now exists. They have a cemetery adjoining, where most of the old pioneers are sleeping, awaiting the roll call :

This was a Cumberland Presbyterian settlement and named after the Rues because they were most numerous, but Calvin Copenhavier and Carrell Jackson were its real leaders, and when Mr. Copenhaviei' moved to Pilot Point Henry Parvin took his place.

This was a name derisively applied to the settlement between the two Elms and just north of the present Oak Grove church. Here the soil is very sandy and sub-irrigated. Two branches flow perpetually. Grassy Branch and Clear Branch. Here on these branches the Indians used to camp and spend the winters hunting and fishing. When not on the wai"path with the whites they would trade dressed deer hides for corn, two bushels of corn for a hide, and no one could dress a hide so well as the Indian. He was an expert at the business. There was a log schoolhouse built in 1862, and around this the neighbors clustered. The schools were poor but were the best they could do at that time. Mr. William Robertson built a small steam mill on Running Branch just at the close of the war, and William Daniels built a stillhouse just above it. At that period Sand Town and Daniels'

Still wei'e known a great distance ; Sand Town as a deception and the other for "white mule whiskey," which was the fighting kind and was a source of great annoyance to the settlement.

Judge Joseph A. Carroll

Born six miles from Louisiana, Missouri, November 23, 1832. Located at Denton in 1857. Licensed to practice law by W. T. G. Weaver. Married to Celia J. Burris in 1859 in the Murphy tavern on the southeast corner of the square. Elected First Lieutenant in Welch's Company in 1861. Elected District Judge of the Sixteenth District February 16, 1876. Organized the Exchange National Bank and was its president until he died, October 28, 1891.

P. C. Withers

A veteran of Quantrell's command and a citizen of Denton County since 1868 is P. C. Withers, who was bom in Clay County, Missouri, May 21, 1844, and who joined the Confederate army in 1861, with Shelby's brigade. Mr. Withers' first trip to Denton County was in 1863 with Quantrell and he liked it so well that he came back after war closed and has been here since. He married Miss Bettie Lacy, a member of a pioneer family here. Mr. Withers served as City Assessor and Collector for fifteen years and then as County Tax Collector for four years. He died July five on the north side of the public square. It was a twostory structure built of wood, tweny feet wide and forty feet long-. The lower room was for court, the upper room was partitioned off for offices. The stairway was built on the outside. (This building was burned down Christmas week, 1875, and the lot was sold at auction on January 7, 1876 to B. F. and Perry Paschall for $393.00.)

On February 9, 1860, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the County of Denton to levy a special tax to build public buildings, which levy was made. C. C. Lacy was appointed land surveyor for this land district in 1855 and moved from near Fort Worth to Denton when it was located. He lived on the coiner now occupied by the Kincaid three-story structure. He had a hotel called the Lacy House. He was in the rebellion of the citizens against the lo-

W. H. Pierce

County, Kentucky, May 15, 1842, and moved to Denton County in 1875. He was married to Miss Annie M. Clay August 3, 1858, she dying in tliis city January 21, 1913. Mr. Pierce served six years as deputy surveyor under tlie late Elijah Biggerstaff, and was himself elected County Surveyor in 1886, 1888, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1912, when he declined to seek the office again. Mr. Pierce for many years promoted better livestock, and did much for the livestock interests of the county, as president of the Denton Fair Association and also as president of the Texas Swinebreeders' Association.

William T. Clark

Mr. Clark, who was the father of Mrs. R. H. Hofi'man of Denton, was one of the early settlers of Denton County and is well remembered by the older people of the county. He died in May, 1897, at the Clark home on Hickory Creek, near Argyle. Mr. Clark was a native of South Carolina, and was born in Pickens County, October 14, 1819. He moved to Mississippi with his father's family when a small boy and at the age of twenty-five married Miss Holland Carrington. In 1857 they moved to Denton County. They made their home on Hickory Creek, south of the present R. H. Hofl'man farm.

new county seat : W. C. Bains and W. H. Mounts ; J. M. Smoot and Doctor Sutton, J. M. Blount and Doctor Mcllhaney, and Steven Hyett. In July, 1861, on Sunday afternoon about one o'clock a part of the town was destroyed by fire. The houses

Judge J. M. Blount

Another pioneer who ol'liciated at the establishment of Denton was Judge J. M. Blount, a Mississippian by birth, who came to Texas in 1856, at the age of thirty-four years, settling in Denton County. He assisted in the laying out of the county seat, Denton, and was later elected County Judge, which office he held for several terms. He was a State Senator in 1866, going out of office with the Throckmorton administration in the reconstruction. He afterwards held several other city and county offices. Judge Blount was a Eoyal Arch Mason and a member of the Baptist church. His wife, Sophia Caudle, died in 1869, thirty years before his own death, which occurred February 22, 1899.

Mr. Williams has lived in Texas under three flags, coming to what is now Collin County in 1845, before annexation. He was born in Crawford County, Arkansas Territory, April 8, 1832, and after living a while in Collin County, moved to Denton County in 1852. He served in the Confederate army three years, was sheriff of Denton County, and is today the best historian of early-day happenings in Denton County, being among the very few who recollect the details of those early days in Texas. He is still active despite his eighty-five years, and is still in business, although the details of the business have fallen on younger shoulders.

Fires occurred in several other towns at the same time, and it was believed for a while to be the work of the "Union League," (a band of Northern sympathizers upon whom much suspicion then rested,) quite a number of whom were hanged because they belonged to the league. These fires, however, were later attributed to combustion of the "prairie matches" by the exceedingly hot sun that day. These matches were the first on the market here and were made of compressed paper, dipped in a sulphur preparation. It was demonstrated later on that excessive heat would ignite them.

The town was just four years old when the Civil War began and was in its swaddling clothes, remaining that way for about ten years. But few of the people remain here today to answer the roll call, which we wish we had space to turn into a biography of these people:

George Henry Blewett

GEORGE HENRY BLEWETT Born in Warren County, Kentucky, November 15, 1846. Came to Texas in 1853 and lived at Richardson, Dallas County, until 1890, when he moved to Denton County. In 1873 he married Miss Elizabeth Skiles. Organized the Denton Milling Company and was its president and a director in the Denton County National Bank from its organization. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for many years. He died at Denton, June 4, 1917.

W. F. or ("Uncle Bill") Egan was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, January 11, 1834, but moved two years later to Randolph County, Missouri, where he lived until his removal to Denton in 1859. He went out to the war from Denton County and served as First Sergeant of Company A, 29th Texas Cavalry, from 1862 to the end of the war. He married Miss M. E. Taylor in October, 1868. Mr. Egan was elected sheriff of Denton County on the first Monday in July in 1869 and served nine years. He was elected Tax Assessor in 1886 and served six years, and as City Tax Assessor and Collector from 1906 to 1912, making twenty-four years as a servant of the people. Although past eighty-thi-ee years old, he is still in fairly good health and when he shaved his whiskers off the other day for thrfirst time in about thirty years, friends thought he was some new boy who had just arrived, failing to recognize him minus the beai'd that has been shaved only three or four times m liii. life.

This settlement was started in 1847 by John and Dan Strickland settling on Big Elm near the north county line and extending down Elm to the mouth of Clear Creek. The Sullivans settled here in 1850; being more numerous the settlement was called after them, This settlement was often visited by the Indians as they would come in from the northwest and they would slip down the creek without being discovered, and do their murder and theft. Quite a number of raids were made here and several Indians lost their lives in the scraps that followed. In one fight an Indian shot an arrow into Dug Ledington's thigh, the spike of which was carried for fifteen years before it rotted its way out. Ledington killed the Indian.

When the Mexican War began in April, 1846, Wilham Twitty made up a company in Collin and Denton counties and joined Colonel Daniel Montague's regiment in Wahl's brigade to Mexico, In this company were John, Dan, and Dave Strickland, who came from Missouri in 1844 and located a claim where the town of McKinney now stands, which they lost on account of a prior claim. On their return from the Mexican War in 1847 they moved to Denton County and started this settlement. Dan Strickland was tax collector for several years. The roll call :

Mr. And Mrs. J. H. Sullivan

Both early settlers. Mr. Sullivan was born in Cooper County, Missouri, May 13, 1838, and came to Denton County in 1856, settling between Elm and Isle du Bois Creek, near the north line of Denton County. Mrs. Sullivan was Miss Mary Strickland, who was born in Missouri in 1842 and came to Collin County with her father, John Strickland, in 1844, and to Denton County m 1847. She is another who has liven in Texas under three flags. She and Mr. Sullivan were married in 1858. Mr. Sullivan died May 24, 1916.

This settlement had its beginning in 1845, by a man named Smith, who built a double log house and cleared four acres of land. In 1847 he sold out to Abraham S. Loving (father of Jesse

Loving) , who lived there five years (1853) and then sold to Elisha Chinn. Here there wei'e four springs that furnished water for the settlement that clustered around them - the Lockhart Spring, Murphy Spring, and the two Loving Springs. The settler well understood that he was to haul watei' fi'om these springs or fi'om Hickoi'y Creek, as no wells had been dug at that time. These spi'ings were a very important factor in making this among the first settlements. Nearly all the early settlers settled on ci'eeks or near springs.

Preachers would occasionally pass this way, and runners would be sent out to invite the neighbors in to some I'esidence for preaching. The settlers were always glad to go at any time in the week ; week-day appointments were common then.

Four good ladies - Mrs. Chinn, Mrs. Pinkley, Mrs. Wakefield, and Mrs. Loving - met and resolved to have a church house built. They had no money, no lumber, no nails, and nothing, apparently, but giit and determination. They determined to build a log

Elisha Chinn

Born in North Carolina, October 3, 1802. Married Mary Stowe in 1830. Moved to Denton County in 1853. Settled six miles west of Lewisville and established Chinn's Chapel camp ground. He died in 1875. His wife died in 1871.

church thirteen rounds high, twenty feet square, dirt floor, rib pole and board roof, split-log benches. They set a day to build the house, and each neighbor came and brought his portion of the logs and boards assigned to him, and the house was built at the Lockhart Spring. In a short time a preacher named Tyler, passed through the neighborhood and dedicated the crude temple to the service of Almighty God. The house was first called Antioch, afterwards Chinn's Chapel. Here many camp-meetings were held that will long be remembered. There are three villages now in this settlement - Shilo, Waketon, and Bartonville - for whom we call the roll :

In the fall of 1847 Louis Medlin and his brother, Charles Medlin, and their ten sons, George W., Robert, Wilse, Jack, James, Wilson, John T., Will 0., J. W., and C. C. Medlin, and Jesse Eads, and his seven sons, Isaac, Richard, James M,, John, Jordan, William, and Perry Eads, crossed Red River at Preston's Bend, and moved south down the Dallas and Preston Road and made their way to the Peters Colony office, to secure homes for themselves.

From there they came west to the southwest cornei' of Denton County at the edge of Grand Prairie and lubbed out the moccasin tracks, settling on Marshall's Ci'eek, which flows northeast into Denton Creek. New additions continued to come from Missouri and other places. Log houses were built on their claims and a j trading house had been built on Elizabeth Creek called Elizabeth Town. They had to go to Alton for their mail.

Their first mill was a steel mill nailed to a tree. It resembled a wall cottee mill, only it had two cranks, one for each hand. It held about one peck of corn. It required a strong man to run it, from which fact it was called the Armstrong mill. It cost $8.00. People would come for miles and grind all day long to get a turn of meal. They had to go "back East" to get "bread corn" and it would take about ten days to make the trip in an ox wagon. Usually two or thi'ee wagons would go together and bring corn for the entire settlement.

In 1852, Jesse Eads built a band mill on the banks of Marshall's Creek to grind corn and wheat. It was a simple structure to which horses were hitched, and it pulled round like a sorghum mill. There was an upright shaft gudgeoned at the top and bottom with a beam mortised into it for the horses to pull by. The top of the shaft was spoked and rimmed like a wagon wheel, only the rim was grooved out to hold a rawhide band which extended outside of the horses' circle to a shaft that turned the millstones. The rim, which was overhead, was about sixteen feet in diameter and turned the millstones very fast unless the rawhide got wet and stretched, in which event the mill was shut down until the sun dried the belt out. The wheat was ground and put througli a hand-sifting bolt which set off to one side and was turned with a crank like a grindstone. In 1855, Silas Christal built an ox mill on Denton Creek. He ground corn only.

The first church established here was by John A. Freeman in 1854, or rather it was the church which was organized on Holford's Prairie in 1845 moved here and named Lonesome Dove. It is an organization today. The first schoolhouse built in this settlement was a log house built on Marshall's Creek at the crossing of the Alton and Birdsville Road. Professor Comstock was the teacher. A primitive Baptist church was orrjanized in this schoolhouse and had as pastors Revs. Fisher, John Clark, and Joe Loving.

The buffalo drifted west as the people moved in. The last buffalo killed here was in 1856 by Hall Medlin, at Grapevine Springs, on the north end of Grapevine Prairie. It was a large bull buffalo. Mr. Medlin had secreted himself in a bunch of sage ^rass. As the animal approached, Mr. Medlin gave it a death \vound, which so infuriated the buffalo that when it discovered him, it rushed upon him, tossed him over its back with its horns, then dropped dead. It had disemboweled Mr. Medlin and so ivounded him that he could not get away, and he laid there oversight before he was found and cared for.

There were different bands of wild Indians roaming over :his section of the county. Sometimes they were friendly and ometimes hostile. On one occasion an Indian claimed a horse ;hat a settler owned and about seventy-five Indians presented ;hemselves at Mr. Medlin's house and demanded the horse and fi fight was finally averted by arbitration.

The borders of this settlement were enlarged and two thrivag towns are in its borders, Roanoke and Justin. Quite a number of the old pioneers and their descendants are here yet. We ;all the roll:

Samuel F. Reynolds

Bom in Missouri, September 6, 1832. Settled near Roanoke in Denton County in 1847. Married Miss Isabel Choat of Grayson County, May 12, 1854. Was a Confederate soldier in Company E, 29th Texas Cavalry. He started in life a poor boy and developed into a wealthy stockman, and was president of the Exchange National Bank when he died.

This settlement had its beginning in 1854 and extended from the present Stony south down the creek. It was not in a compact form but like a shoe string stretched up and down the creek. As in the early days, they did not settle out on the high prairies. Owing to its formation it could not defend itself well against the wild Indians, so they made frequent visits to this settlement and did much damage.

In 1857 a schoolhouse was built over on Oliver Creek near the present town of Drop. Professor Bill Goday and Professor J. D. White taught the school. Later on a school was established at Stony, and a trading point was started which has not made much advancement. The present town of Ponder is in the borders of this settlement and it is surrounded by one of the best

Rev. Silas G. Christal

Born in Macon County, Missouri, February, 1847. Came to Denton County, Texas, in 1853 and married Miss Mary A. Burnett (daughter of Jerry Burnett.) He is a Baptist preacher of great power and gathers much of his inspiration while tarrying on his knees in prayer.

' Mr. Cook is one of the early settlers of the county, coming here when sixteen years of age with his parents, Gideon and Edith Cook. Although in ill health for the past several years, Mr. Cook has taken an interest in local affairs. ITe served three terms as Tax Collector of Denton County, and one term as County Commissioner. He was prominent in Masonry, being a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar. He was an almost lifelong member of the Baptist church. Mr. Cook was bom in Carroll County, Tennessee, in 1847, and was married in 1870 to Miss Lucindy Christal. Mr. Cook served four years in the Confederate army, going out from Tennessee. He died September 14, 1916.

Joseph W. Cook

This was a settlement within the bounds of the Denton Creek Settlement and near the town of Justin, and for a description of the same, I quote from an article in the Record-Chronicle of May 12, 1894, written by Alex W. Robertson :

"In February 1848, the French in the city of Paris, France, dethroned Louis Phillipe, and established a provisional government, afterwards a republic.

"There was a party in France, called the Socialist, which had on their banner, "Liberty, Fraternity and Equality." They and the troops of the republic under General Cavaignac, had a battle in the streets of Paris which continued three days. There were 30,000 people killed, and the Republic was triumphant.

"Some of the Socialists concluded to plant a colony in Texas, and made a contract accordingly with old man Peters, who was then in Europe. In the summer and fall of 1848 the advance guard of the Socialist community, calling themselves Icarians, i and numbering about one hundred and fifty men under the leader- I ship of Doctor Adolph Gonnough came from France to New Or- '"' leans, thence up Red River, and from there, some in wagons, with i ox teams, and some pushing hand carts from Shreveport, Louisiana, appeared in Denton County,

"The agent of Peters' colony had made a contract with tht Icarians to introduce five hundred families into the colony The colony was to build a cabin, break and fence at least si> I acres of land, furnish a year's provisions, arms, and ammuni- ^ tion, farming implements, and 640 acres of land to each hea( of a family, and 320 acres to single men. In addition the company was to establish stores, where colonists could purchase all necessary supplies at reasonable prices. They also agreed to buy and pay reasonable prices for all the products that th*^ colonists might raise off of their farms, as the markets wer good. A section of country over one hundred miles square hat been surveyed and sectionized by the colony, and its headquarters' office in Texas was on the east side of Denton County at Stewartsville.

"The Icarians went from Stewartsville westward through < the crosstimbers now known as Frenchtown Prairie. They made their selection on the fine land at the mouth of Oliver Creek between that creek and Denton Creek. The Peters' colony did not, and probably could not, fulfill its promises as far as building cabins, breaking and fencing land, and furnishing a year's supplies. But it had a store at Stewartsville where a good grade of goods were sold at fair prices, considering the cost of transportation. The goods were mostly of English manufacture, and were of superior quality.

"The Icarians went to work in good faith, built about thirty or forty houses, some out of logs, some out of clapboards, broke some land and did some fencing, sowed some wheat and made >, every preparation for those of them who had families to send for . them. They were to be reenforced by another detachment the following year, of one hundred and fifty or more. The buffalo had just left the country, but were plentiful forty miles west of here. Deer, antelope and turkeys were in abundance, and the Icarians had shotguns. Consequently there was no scarcity of meat. Denton and Oliver creeks were then full of fish, and large numbers of cattle then roamed the prairies. They could put the calves in the pens and the cows would come up every evening to be milked. There was an abundance of venison, turkey, antelope, fish, milk and butter, which could be had for nothing, and the grass furnished ample forage for their oxen, both summer and winter.

"Although they were the outside settlement, there was no danger from Indians, as the Icarians were not more than eight miles west from the ranger trail and the nearest ranger post. The rangers liked the Icarians and were anxious for them to make a success. The frontiers were then protected by the rangers, with "posts" about every twenty miles on a line from north to south, and a mounted patrol of ten men rode every day, each way, from one post to another, passing each other. If Indian signs were discovered pursuit was commenced, and couriers and signals summoned reenforcement and equipment from the post for a long chase when necessary. The Icarians had few or no horses, and there was nothing to attract the predatory bands of Comanches. These colonists were a sturdy people and were well able to hold their own with any foe. They were never molested by Indians.

"But New Icara, as they called it, was a failure. The year 1849 was the rainiest known for years. The Icarians planted crops in the spring, but as the sod was very thick and in bad condition, but little was made. The season being so wet it was very sickly. Doctor Gonnough was not acquainted with Texas' chills and fevers, and probably did not have a sufficient supply of quinine, as it was very scarce and high. The colonists having to use creek water for drinking and cooking purposes, they all took sick. The Doctor's mode of treating fever, which was to get in the shade on the creek and remain there until the fever ended, proved ineffectual. Some of them died. The colonists lost confidence in the medical skill and leadership of Doctor

"The colonists selected a new chief, after which they purchased a quantity of supplies from the Peters colony store at Stewartsville, paying for some, and owing for the balance. The Peters' Colony Company sued them, running attachments on their personal property for the debt. The Icarians, being disheartened, made no resistance, but abandoned their settlement, nevei- proving up any right to their land. They scattered, some stopping in Dallas County, where others from France joined them. Some went to another Icarian colony in Illinois, and some returned to France."

This settlement was made on Clear Creek and extended up it to the west county line in a shoestring formation. The settlers then pi'eferred to settle hei'e because plenty of good water and timber wei'e available for their uses, and because they came from timbered countries and were prejudiced against what they called the "high prairies." This settlement was often called the Clear Creek Settlement, but the people themselves gave it the name of Bolivar.

A trading point was selected on a tract of land originally owned by William Crawford on the north side of the creek and about seven miles from the west county line. William Crawford sold the land to Rev. Hiram Daily, a Methodist minister, in 1859. Hiram Daily was also a doctor. He built a storehouse and put in a mixed stock of goods, selling goods, practicing medicine, and preaching the gospel. He laid off a town with the streets running north and south and sold lots. Mr. Daily built his store on the east side and sold to Mr. Blake a lot on the west side for a stoie. Mr. Blake put in a mixed stock of goods in 1860. They also had a blacksmith shop.

Mr. And Mrs. J. W. Gober

MR. AND MRS. J. W. GOBER J. W Gober was born in Marietta, Georgia, March 14, 1826. On November 8, 1846 he married Miss Mary Ann Camp. Moved to Texas in 1851 and to Denton County in 1853, and settled on Duck Creek, two miles north of Bolivar. In 1857 he moved on the south side of Clear Creek one and onehalf miles south of Sanger. He was a Master Mason. He served four years in the Confederate army. Mr. Gober then moved to the city of Denton, where he died February 21, 1905. Mrs. Mary A. Gober was born in 1826 in Mareitta, Georgia. She died in Denton, Texas, in 1910.

William Crow Weight

Born at Clarksville, Texas, February 28, 1837. Moved to Denton County in 1858 and raised horses and accumulated land. Was in Company F, Madison's Regiment. He engaged in twenty-two battles, receiving one wound. Mr. Wright organized a company in 1866 to help drive the Indians from the county. He accumulated much property. Married Miss Julia A. Gober January 7, 1869. He died in May, 1906.

The town had been named New Prospect by Doctor Daily. Ben F. Brown, who had immigrated from near Bolivar, Tennessee, and settled one mile noith of New Prospect, proposed to change the name to Bolivar. He and Doctor Daily submitted the two names to a vote of the people at an election held in 1861 (on secession), and Bolivar was chosen. The town has borne that name ever since. Jim McConnell, Thomas Saunders, and A. J. Nance had business establishments there after the war.

Fort Belknap via Pilot Point and Bolivar, and had an operator at each of these stations. A dirt road followed these poles and was called the Wire Road. An incident out of the ordinary occurred, when a man from near Pilot Point, with more hot blood and rebellion against the United States than he should have had, shot the glass insulators off the government telegraph posts. The Federal officers at Tyler had him arrested, a writ of habeas corpus w^as sued out before the district judge at Denton, who set the prisoner free. This dis-

I. D. Ferguson

Born in Warren County, Tennessee July 4, 1850. Moved to Denton County, Texas, in 1857. Served in the Confederate army in McCord's Regiment. Was in the Indian Scout Service. In 1872 he moved to the town of Denton, served as mayor, city attorney, four terms as county attorney, five terms as county judge and five years as attorney for the M., K. & T. R. R. Married to Miss M. E. Chadwell in 1877. They left one daughter. Miss Irene Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson died February 6, 1916.

Andrew Jackson Nance

ANDREW JACKSON NANCE Born in Williamson County, Illinois, in 1839. Moved to Denton County in 1859. Was married to Miss Henrietta Cash April 21, 1861. Was a Confederate soldier; a prisoner at Camp Douglass; an Indian scout on the frontier; a county commissioner for sixteen years; president of the Old Settlers' Association three years; president of the Exchange National Bank at his death. He died May 9, 1917.

trict judge was fined $500 for interfering with Federal Court procedure. He had to make a trip to Tyler to defend himself and pay the fine. Thus the people of Denton County were taught the important lesson of respecting the Federal government's property. Many of the best citizens lived in this pioneer settle-