Fayette County, Texas - The whole text, 1902 (part 8 of 8)

Praha is situated about three miles east of Flatonia, south of the Southern Pacific Railroad, on the Jesse Duff league. Located on a hill in a beautiful liveoak grove, it presents a very fine view. The high steeple of the Catholic Church may be seen for miles, reminding the faithful of the place of worship. The Catholic Church of Praha is the finest in the county, nay, even in the state - a very majestic structure. It is a solid rock building. Che aisle of the building is very high and makes a most solemn impression (jn the beholder. The altar is a masterpiece of artistic carving and construction. The imposing glass windows contain paintings representing scenes from the Holy Scripture. Rev. Father L. P. Nethardus is tlie priest of tlie church.

Praha is a nice town, being built around a public square. It consists of two stores, two saloons, one blacksmith and wheelwright shop, a meat market. It has a resident physician. Jos. A. Drozd ftnd F. A. Parma are tlie leading merchants of the place. Frank Vyvjala is the popular proprietor of a first-class saloon and owns also a fine platform and hall for dancing. Anton Jezek is the proprietor of a blacksmith and wheelwright shop and is prepared to do all kinds of work in tiji-top style.

Dbozd & Parma

The population of Praha and neighborhood is entirely Boheiiiian. The Bohemians commenced settling in this neighborhood in the fifties. First settlers: M. Novak, F. Branitzky, Jos. Vyvjala, Geo. Morysek, Jos. Hajak, M. Jares, Jno. Baca. The place was named Praha by Postmaster J5. Knesek in 187G. It was formerly called Mulberry. The first Catholic Church in Praha was built of wood in 1868. In 1875 anew church was built. The present rock building was completed in 1891.

There are two schools in Praha. Tlie public school has been for over twenty-five years under the able management of Prof. A. Nesrsta, a highly educated gentleman and a thorough teacher. The sisters' school was organized in 181»6, is taught by three Sisters of Divine Providence, and has actually enrolled from 1111 to 120 pupils.

In Praha are two lodges of the K. J. T., a Bohemian Roman Catholic Union of Texas, a benevolent society, which was organized in 181)5 at Moravan, Texas. (See Moravan.) F. A. Parma is the president of this union. The president of one of the Praha lodges of the K. J. T. is Chas. Lev, the secretary, John Vanek; the president of the other is Vine. Darilek, the secretary, Anton Jezek. The total membership of the two Praha lodges is from 80 to 1>0.

The Catholic Young Men's Society is composed only of unmarried persons. They pay to each member at his wedding a marriage portion. Quite an inducement, though it may be

Other societies are the Christian Society of Married Women (over thirty members), Altar Society of Virgins (twenty members) and a Reading Club. All these societies are Bohemian Catholic Societies; they are associated for worthy objects and tend to elevate and educate the character of young men and women to a higher plane.

Plum

Plum lies eight miles from La Grange on the Missouri, Kansas ik Texas Railroad. The surrounding country is prairie and postoak. It is a postoltice and a voting precinct of the county and consists of two stores, one saloon, two gins and iwo blacksmith shops. There is a resident physician in Plum.

Plum has a Baptist C'hurch, called Plum Grove Church, of which Rev. (i. T. Simpson is the pastor. Theie is also a Cattiolic Church at the place.

The ]:)opulation is American, German and Bohemian. Old settlers: Buck Drisdale, Ed. Manton (deceased), Jno. Drisdale (deceased), Jim O'Donnell.

Roznov is about three miles east of Warrenton in the eastern portion of the county. The land is sandy postoak with a great many fertile lands in the Clear Creek and Cummings Creek bottoms. The population is largely Bohemian with some Germans among them. It is a postoffice, but not a voting precinct of the county. The people of Roznov vote at Warrenton. It consists of a store and saloon and a blacksmith shop. The oldest settlers of the neighborhood are .Joe Weikel, John Halamicek, FredKnutzen, Bernhard Cordes, Joseph Orsak, Joseph Cerveuka.

with the finest dancing floor in the county, situated in a beautiful park, is the most popular resort of the young people of La Grange, Rutersville and surrounding towns. RUTERSVILLE, TEXAS.

Rutersville lies about six miles northeast of La Crrange in the fertile Rutersville prairie, hoji; wallow land, near the banks of Rocky Creek. It is located on the Franklin J^ewis league. Rutersville is an old historic place. In the early days it was a competitor for the capital of the Republic of Texas. At that time there was a military school owned by the state under the management of Prof. Forshea and a female college under the management of Supt. Thrall at Rutersville. On account of these schools, the town was a local option precinct. These schools were closed during the Civil War and not reopened thereafter. A stock company bought the college and sold it to the Lutheran congregation; they sold it to the Methodists, who for a long time used it for a school.

Rutersville consists or a store, a saloon, a gin and a blacksmith and wheelwright shop. It is a voting place of the county and a postoffice. Mr. G. D. Wessels is the owner of a fine hall for dancing, the best in the county. He also is the owner of a first-class saloon.

The Rutersville country was settled by Americans and Germans, but now thi country is almost entirely German with a sprinkling of Bohemians. Old settlers: C. Amberg, sr. (deceased), Geo. Mauer, J3. \V. Hobson (deceased), F. Luecke, VV. Hancord, the Mohrhusens, H. Harms, Carl Schulz, R. Pohl, L, Struve, Joe Brendel.

Stella

Slella lies about eight miles southwest of VVcft Point. It is a postoffice and ^a voting precinct and consists of one store. The surrounding country is postoak. The population is American.

Swish Alp

Swiss Alp is one of the most picturesque and fertile sections of the county. The rolling prairie is studded with elegant residences surrounded by gardens and trees. The blackland is very rich and productive; the population well-to-do, substantial farmers; they are progressive Germans. It is a comparatively new country, situated on the Fayette county school lands, about eleven miles from La Grange and seven miles from Schuleuburs. It is a voting precinct of the county and a postoffice. Geo. Vogt and Chas. Bruns are popular young merchants of Swiss Alp; L. C. Melcher, the proprietor of one of the finest gins in the county. There is also a blacksmith shop. It was settled in the seventies. Among the first settlers are Chris Steinmann, A. Franke and Mrs. Au^i^uste Boiling. At Swiss Alp there are large bone deposits, found especially in Mr. Knigge's pasture. They have been described by Mr. L. C Melcher in his essay on minerals of the count V.

Waldeck lies about fourteen miles north of La Grange on the La Grange-Ledbetter road. The country is black land and post-oak. The population is German. It is a voting precinct of the county and a post office. It consists of a store, a saloon, a gin, a blacksmith shop and a JAitheran church, of which Uev. Chas. Baer is pastor. Old settlers: Fritz Weber,

Walhalla lies fourteen miles in a northerly direction from La Grange. It is situated in Cottonwood prairie, fertile blackland. It is a post-otiice and a voting precinct of the county, and consists of a store, a saloon and a blacksmith shop. A physician resides there. The population is (German. Old settlers: William Koepke, (ierhard Imken, John H. Bluhme, Geo. Oetken, sr., Hon. J. C. Speckels, Hy Alhorn, Chas. Meinhold, Carl Sump, Carl Schubert, Louis Heller, Tom Heller, Dick Meinen and L. F. Tiemanu.

Warda lies about twelve miles north of La Grange on the La Grange-Giddings road, not far from the banks of Rabb's Creek. Tlie bottom lands of this creek are very fertile. The balance of the land is postoak and pinewood. In the early days tliere was a sawmill on the banks of Rabb's Creek that furnished lumber to a great scope of surrounding country. These lands were settled very early, about the year 1830. In the early thirties a Mr. Earthman of that place was killed near the present Nechanitz by marauding Indians. The population is mostly Wendish, a Slavic tribe that has become almost completely Germanized under the rule of the German government. They are a very religious people. A fine German Lutheran Church under the pastorate of Rev. Buchschacher is the center of religious life of that neighborhood. Said congregation supports also entirely by private means a school under the management of Prof. G. M. Schleyer, where the children are taught to walk in ways pleasing to God.

The public school of that place is under the able management of a thorough and conscientious teacher, Prof. J. H. Merz. There are few teachers in the county who are his equal m scholarship and there is none who takes a greater interest and devotes more care to the progress of his pupils than he. He is a born educator, a gentleman of unassuming manners, of broad views and of high moral character.

Warda is situated twelve miles from L? Grange and ten miles from Giddings. The whole surrounding country is tributary to its business. Falke Bros, are the leading merchants of Warda. They are the proprietors of a large department store hardly equaled anywhere in the county. Their store contains anything you may call for from a six-penny nail to a mowing machine, from a spool of thread to an elegant suit, from a shoepeg to a fashionable set of furniture. They are wide-awake, liberal and sell cheap, with very small profits. They take a

This business firm was established by A. E. Falke in the year 1875. It has been conducted by members of this family for 27 years. Therefore, it is one of the oldest - most probably, the oldest - business firm in Fayette County. Not only is it noted for its age, buf also for its reliability, financial standing and solidity. It is one of the very largest department stores of the whole county - equal to any, excelled by none.

In low prices, promptness and polite ti'eatment of customers it is a successful competitor with the largest department stores in any part of the county. Its sales are not excelled anywhere and it purchases at highest market prices its full share of cotton and country produce. It enjoys the perfect confidence of its customers and the respect of its competitors. u friendly interest in their customers and are, on that account, exceedingly popular. In fact, the writer would like to be shown better merchants than they are. He has not found them. They have money, they have strong financial backing, they have success and they deserve it. Sometimes merchants are called in newspapers in a kind of flattery, merchant princes. If any merchants in Fayette county deserve this title, they are the men. The writer has found so seldom wealth coupled with liberality and the feeling of obligation which wealth and high station impose on a man; here they are. Thus, the writer considers that the title of merchant princes of Fayette county is one to which they have a just and right claim. They are worthy of their wealth.

C. Froehlich & Son are tirst-class ginners. Their gin is as well equipped as any in the county. They pay close attention to business and turn out a fine staple. They do the best work in that whole section of the country.

Last, but not least, may be mentioned Dr. Paul Beckmann, one of the finest physicians and surgeons in the county. He is a graduate of Tulane University, the finest medical school in the South, excels in his profession and has effected wonderful cures,

Dr. Robt. H. Seymour

Warrpnton lies about thirteen miles northeast of La Grange on the La Grange Round Top road. It is located on the J. Shawleague. The surrounding country is rich blackland prairie, one of the linest agricultural sections of the county. The town was founded in the early sixties and named after Warren Ligon Warrenton. The Warrenton school is under the able management of Prof. Meitzen.

There are two churches in the town, the Lutheran, of which llev. Grosse is the pastor, and the Catholic, in which Rev. J. Chromcik of Fayetleville preaches. Two lodges are at the place: \\'oodmen, Wm. Neese, M. W., Chas. Brendle, secretary, and Sons of Hermann.

Bobbrt Voslkbl

Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Hardware, Crockery and Saddlery. Cotton bought. Highest prices paid for Country Produce. Call on us and examine our goods. You will obtain fine bargains.

gin and one saloon. Two physicians reside there. Of the gentlemen who thought well enough of the aim of the author to edit a book on Fayette county to the extent of patronizing him with an ad, he names, Chas. Franz, the popular postmaster of Warrenton, who is 0. K. and treats you 0. K. Dr. Robt. II. Seymour is a learned physician, an old resident of VVarrenton, and stands well among the people as well as among his colleagues. He is an Irishman, a good scholar and one of the few who are still versed in the Gaelic language. He is a leading democrat of that section of the county. VVm. Trueper is the proprietor of an up-to-date saloon and a fine hall that serves for balls, theatrical performances, public meetings, etc. The hall is situated in a beautiful park. Robert Voelkel is the proprietor of two meat markets, one at Warrenton and one at Oldenburg. He supplies these two communities with fresh meat twice a week. Marshall B. O'Bar is the ginner of the place and has been in the business for about thirty years.

sr,, the proprietor of the store, was killed by a negro burglar in 1872. After his death the Lutheran Church of that place was built and the place received its present name Warrenton, after Warren Ligon, an old settler.

The population of the place is now German and Bohemian, with a sprinkling of Americans among them. First and old settlers: Joel W. Robison (deceased), D. Ahrens, Warren Ligon (deceased), John Speckels, sr. (deceased), John White, W. S.

West Point lies on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad and the Waco branch of the Sun Anlonio and Aransas Pass Railway, about twelve miles from La Grange. The section from which West Point draws its main trade is the rich fertile Colorado bottom, deep alluvial soil. The town consists of three stores, one drug store, two physicians, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, two cotton gins, one molasses press owned by Mr. House who turns out a superior molasses known over the county, and one cannery. The latter is owned by a stock company of enterprising citizens and was completed this year at a cost of $6500. The rich surrounding country has various kinds of soil, mostly rich loam beds. It is very favorable to the raising of fruits and vegetables. West point deserves the credit of starting the industry which (the conditions warrant the belief) promis*-s to become a success. Other sections of the county may follow the example set, quite increasing thereby tlie income of the farmer and making him independent of the staple article, cotton.

keeps in his department store a full line and a large assortment of Faijcy andlStapie Groceries, Drnojs and Patent Medicines, Dry Goods, Ready Made Suits, Shoes, Roots, Hals, Hardware, Tinware, Saddles, Harness, Crockery, Glassware, Furniture, Coffins and First Class Undertakers' Goods, and a complete line of the Latest Improved Farming Implements. This reliable firm sells its first class goods at low prices. It enjoys tlie confidence of its patronsi and is always able to offer them specially good bargains.

Dr.. M. E. Clary West Point, Texas

Point and is the leading merchant of that place. F. J, Johnson is the postmaster at West Point, a druggist and a grocer. Mr. Shelburne is a leading democrat and Mr. Johnson a leading republican. 0. L. Lee is the proprietor of a first class saloon and keeps the purest and best brands of whiskies. Dr. M. E. Clary is a resident pliysician of West Point. He has practiced there since 1891, is a fine physician and is regarded as such by the people and by his colleagues.

The first settlers in the West Point settlement arrived about the year 1840. The town is located on land that formerly belonged to Bill Young. It is a postoffice since 1872. The population is American with a few Germans among them. Prominent settlers: J. Darby, C. W. iMoore, J. L. House, A. W. Young (deceased), T. C. Moore (deceased), W. A. Young (deceased), J. H. Baker, Seth Green, F. J. Johnson and others.

Winchester

Winchester is situated in the northwestern part of Fayette county on the Waco branch of the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad. It is about twenty miles distant from La Grange.

Solid, reliable, enterprising, receives daily freight consisting of Staple and Fancy Groceries. ]Jry Goods, Hardware, (."rockery, Glassware, etc. On account of immense sales, all our goods are fresh, new and up-todate. They are sold at snaall profits.

The fertile Colorado River bottoms close by are tributary to its bisiness. Part of the land is fertile mesquite prairie. There is also a great deal of postoak near Winchester. The Ingram prairie and the Cunningham prairie, lithe latter in Bastrop county, are in its neighborhood.

The town has a Lutheran Church, Rev. A. L. Grasens, pastor; a Baptist Church, Rev. Duke, pastor; a Presbyterian Church, Rev. J. W. Montgomery, pastor; and a Methodist Church, Rev. C.illoway, pastor.

The town of Winchester was founded and laid oil' about the year 1857 by John Frame, who now lives in Falls county. It consists of seven general merchandise houses, one hotel, one butcher shop, two drugstores, two physicians, one saloon, one own the most popular and favorably known resort in the northern section of the county. They keep the finest brands of Whiskies, Liquors and Wines, Cigars and Fresh Cool Beer. Your custom invited.

Of all the towns of Fayette county which are not incorporated Winchester does the largest business. It has become a lively town, due to the energy and business talent of her merchants, of whom Messrs. Sam F. Drake, W. A. Giles and E. Zilss may be mentioned as the most enterprising. Little cfe Mohler is the only saloon in the town; they are liberal and popular men and do as much business as any saloon in the count}^ Dr. A. F. Verderi is an old resident eminent physician of Winchester, who has effected a great many cures.

The settlement is one of the oldest in the whole county. As early as 1822 John Ingram, after whom Ingram's Prairie is named, came into tliat neighborhood and settled on the prairie. John C. Cunningham was another old settler of the Winchester neighborhood, but he settled in Bastrop county on the prairie named after him. The oldest settler of the Win- Chester neighborl^ood now living is A. D. Saunders. He has

Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps, Hardware, Cutlery, Crockery and Glassware, invites your custom. He pays the highest market prices for cotton and country prodace.

I do not pretend to compete with "Cheap John" goods. I handle the best makes, brands and productions and sell them as cheap as they can be sold in any market.

come there in the early forties and still remembers the last Indian raid in that neighborhood. Other prominent settlers are J. H. McCullom, Paul Haske, Dr..A. F. Verdery, G. C. Thomas, Mrs. James roung, Joseph Mohler, sr., Mrs. T. T. Parr. -

The population of the settlement is largely American. Of late a great many Germans have come in. Winchester is a railroad station, postoffice and voting precinct of the county.

Zapp is situated about seven miles north of Fayetteville in the extreme eastern portion of the county on Willow Spring. A more jdeasing landscape can hardly be found in the slate. The elegant white painted farmhouses, tiie substantial large barns, in the midst of verdant fields, speak of the industry of its people. The people rre well-to-do, independent and contented. They enjoy life, being well fixed against any contingencies, The pop-

Is The Proprietor Of A.

Dry Goods, Hardware and Crockery. Patronize him and you will be pleased with your bargains and your treatment. Buys country produce at market prices.

ulation is German and Bohemian. The place was named after C. T. Zapp, who was the first postmaster in that place (1881.) Zapp is also called Willow Sprino^s, after the school hy that name, which for the last few years has been under the able direction of a thorough and conscientious teacher, Prof. Wm. Haverlah.

C. F. Garlin, a very accommodating gentleman, is the present postmaster and merchant of that place. His reliability and congenial ways deserve the custom of the neighborhood. Ad. Weige is a youno- blacksmith at that place, a skillful workman

Zapp is a very old settlement. It was settled early in the thirties and as early as 1839 it is spoken of in the minutes of the commissioners' court as the German settlement. Old settlers are F. Garlin. Ad. Schuiz, Wra. Krebs, Gerh. Peinsohn, VVm. W'eidemann, V. Scharnberg, Mrs. Johanna Heinsohn (age 96 3^ears), Julius Krebs. Among the old settlers who have passed from life and gone to whence there is no return Carl Albrecht, A. Muenzler, F. Pagel, Christian Henniger may be named.

Addendum

The following letter of Mr. J. C. Melcher contains additional valuable information in regard to minerals of Fayette county. It was received after his article had been printed. It is here given in full as addendum.

Dear Sir and Friend: - Since reporting for you last on your valuable book on Fayette county, some new discoveries in the mineral line have been made, as follows: great kaolin deposits on the J. Bartlett league. The stuff is nearly pure white, comparativeh^ clean, over nine teet thick and is quarried like common soft sandstone. Pumiceous dust is used for tooth polish, for polishing all kinds of metals, glass and chiuaware and for healing powders. Baked into soft bricks, it is used for water filters, candlesticks, oil torches, glycerin sticks, artificial madstones, fire brick, boiler covers, porous water vessels and decanters.

Last month I accidentally came across a vein of metallic ore on top of a high hill on tlie No. 4 S. F. Knight league. The ore seems to be valuable and contains silver, lead and iron.

Last week 1 received the new map of the U. S. geological survey ot Texas. Upon this map is marked a mineral field of o0x30 square miles, covering part of Fayette county. The east boundary line of this mineral field runs north from near Engle Station to West Point and thence to Winchester.

There are sixty-one such mineral fields marked down on the map of Texae. Texas will be a great mineral state in the future. This latest map was a consolation to me, because ic proved that I was right in claiming that parts of Fayette county are mineral sections. Yours respectfully, J