Fayetteville, Texas - Fayette County, Her History and Her People

Fayette County, Her History and Her People

Located on the eastern edge of the rich and fertile Ross Prairie, lies one of the most beautiful little cities of Kouth Texas, the City of Fayetteville. All around Fayetteville lie fertile prairie lands ; one mile east of it, postoak begins, about three miles west of it, the timber lands of Cumming's Creek limit the prairie. The substantial farms, the beautiful gardens and the fruit-bearing fields speak of the industry and the wealth of the population and are the delight of the traveler. Faj^etteville is situated about twelve miles east of La Grange on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad. Occupying the slopes of a hill, it is of picturesque appearance. In the middle of the large public square stands the court house, which was erected there by the county to serve as the justice's court house. Of the more noticeable buildings may be mentioned the Chromcik school, the Germania school, the Catholic church, the Presbyterian church and tlie Z:rpp building, the latter a handsome brick building at llie northwest side of the public square,

Fayetteville is a very old place. It used to be called in the early times Sam Alexander's, thus named after the first settler in that country who had come there during the early days of the republic. In the year 1847 it was laid out by P. J. Shaver who owned the land on which it is now situated as a town. Tlie population of the to\yn and surrounding country was at that

Fayetteville, Texas

Crockery and Hardware. He also keeds Fresh Beer on tap and invites your custom. Call on him and you will call again. Pays highest market lirice for country produce.

Tiie people of Fayetteville are a free and open hearted |)eople. They are known throughount the cotinty as a jolly set, and are therefore accordingly popular The entertaiinnents, bal!s and festivities which the people of this city arrange have become famous throughout South Texas. Tlie easy manners, the cordiality with whicii a visitor is received by these generous people are not the least attraction which these festivities ofier. The Fayetteville music band furnishes delightful music and has come out victor in more than one band contest. The Fayetteville Saengerbund under the leadership of Prof. J. Hansen has repeatedly received recos;nition and applause at state "saengerfeasts." A club that deserves favorable mention for tlie balls and entertainments it arranges is the Germania Verein with Hon. Max Meitzen as president and Mr H. W. H. Zapp as secretary. The Verein owns a fine large two stor}^ building which also serves as a school house.

Of the religious side of life two churches, the Catholic with Rev. Father J. Chronicik, and the Presbyterian with Rev. Wenzel Pazdral take care. There are a great many Bohemian Catholic Societies under the auspices of the Catholic Church. They have associated then:iselves to promulgate the teachings of that church and to serve in the interest of hum mity and religion. Tiieir names are: St. Joseph's, Father J. Chromcik, presitlent, Valentine Michalsky, secretary, Frank Machala, corresponding secretary ; St. John's, Aug. Pavel, i)i'esident, Roiidan Kallus, secretary ; Bohemian Catholic Workmen Society (Benevolent Association), Rohdan Kallus, president, Jgnaz Rek, secretary ; Bohemian Catholic Young Men's Society (Stanislaus), Joseph Slansky, president, Louis \V . Machala, secretary; Altar Society, Mis. Mary Wichita, president, Mrs. Agnes Kubena, secretary.

etteville is Corpus Christi Day. A long procession led by the Catholic priest starts in the morning from the Catholic diurcli, walks around the square and stops at each corner to hold services. Very often thousands come to Fayelteville from far and wide to witness this impressive ceremony. The reader finds a picture of this attractive scene.

Fayetteville has two schools, the Chromcik school and the Germania school. The Chromcik school was founded by Faither Chromcik and named after him. It is under the management of Mrs. \Vm. Langlotz. The Germania sciiool has been for a n'lmber of years under the able management of Prof. Wm. Eilers, a teacher of great reputation ; this year it will be taught by Prof. John L. 8tierling, former superintendent of the Shiner schools. The school is taught in the building of the Germania Verein, a large two story frame building of which a picture is given in ihia book.

Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Shoes, Notions, Drugs, School Books and Supplies of every description. Handle the Celebrated Standard Cultivators and Implements, Newton Wagons, New Home Sewing Machines, etc. Highest prica paid for cotton and country produce.

The business of FayelteviUe is mostly merchandising. The city consists of 4 ^zeneral merciiaudise stores, 5 groceries, 2 dry goods and notions stores, 4 full saloons, 5 beer saloons, 2 blackstnilii and wlieelwright shops, 2 fiirnitore and hardware stores, 1 tin and hardware store, 1 saddkr, 2 gins, 2 beef markets, 2 beer agencies, 1 Jivery stable, 2 hotels, 2 drug stores, 5 physicians, 1 lawyer, and 1 lumber yard. Among the business men of Fayplleville the writer especially mentions H. \V. H. Zapp, the owner of the oldest and largest mercantile establishment in Fayetteville; Dr. C. J. Scliramm, a physician of fine learning and widespread reputation and ))roprietor of the leading drug store in Fayetteville; August Heinsohn, the proprietor of an immense lumber yard, the largest in Fayette County; Otto A. Vetter, the jovial proiirietor of a saddlery ; F. Kallus, merchant tailor, equal in skill and workmanship to the best in any city ; C J. Klimicek, F, J. Piwetz and Kubena & Co. are successful business men, they are in tlie saloon and grocery business.

Fayetteville. Texas

etteville, the same is at present not in operation. People as is always the case have to n\y fur their experience in business whi'jh they do n )t know. Bat tliere is no reason why a ci'i'a n.-i-y under proper management should not prove a success.

Fayetleviile is a husilin^ town. In 1882 it was incorporateil for the purpose of improving the town. Hon. JNIax Meitzen was the lirst in:iyor uf the to.vn. In October. 1S87, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston railroad - which later on was bought by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas - came into the city, and since tlien Fayeltevilie lias been on a steady and healthy growth. 'J'here is now quite a difference between the city of Favetteville of to-d.iy - a thriving railroad station of the M., K. & T. - and the sleepy countr}^ town of seventeen years ago. The reader will lind a picture of Fayetteville seventeen j'ears ago and make tlje comparison, in 1S93 four business houses burned down and elegant, substantial buildings were erected in their stead.

Fayetteville is well protected against fire. A well and windmill and a large water tank have been erected on the public square. Mains have b.^en laid over the largest portion of the town with hydrants at convenient distances. A volunteer fire company under command of Captain Henry Steves is prepared to do efficient service in case of fire. ]

Below follows a list of the oldest settlers of Fayetteville, | prepared by Prof. VVm. Filers, and a list of the oldest Bolieniian' settlers, prepared by Judge Tom Hruska. They will no doubt be most acceptable to the readers and recall to a great many of them the memory of their dead friends.

Fayettevillk, Texas

First settlers of the Fayetteville neighborhood : - Jack Crier, was assassinated, when he was over one hundred years old, near EUinger ; Sam Ross, after whom Ross Prairie was

Klave Jarmon ; Jim Gay and U, Gay, after whom Gay's Hill was named; Sidney Gregory; Kidd Chirk; W.Cook; tlie breeding family which numbered thirty-seven members ; Nie. Ware, relatives to Tanner; the Barnetts, near Biegel settlement;

First Bjliemian settlers : - Tom Batla; deceased, came to Fayetteville in lS5o ; Vine. Rypel in BSjI ; both came from Bohemia; Jos., John and Baul Wychopen, Jos. Bastovica, Jos. Jecmenek, Paul .Jecnienek, all deceased, and Jos. Hlawaty, still living, came from i\B)ravia to Fayetteville in BS5.") ; John Hruska, John Odlozelik, Frank Horak, Jos. Horak, tlie latter still living, came from Moravia to Fayetteville in LS5().

The present officers of Fayetteville are : Henry Tftuch, mayor; Conrad Bertsch, marshal : Dr. C. J. Schramm, O. A. Veiter, John R. Kubena, Geo. Z)ll and John IJelble^ alderiiieu,

Hinrich Eilers, born Nov. 24, 1820, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. He came to Texas in 1845, lived at Warrenton two years and then moved to Ross Pi-airie where he lived continuously until his death Jan. 23, 1899.

H. G. Cook, born March 12, 1824, in the Gx-and Duchy of Oldenburg. He came to Fayette County in 1845. He died at his old home in Ross Prairie March 16, 1880.

Jacob Laferre was born in Germany Sept. 23, 1828. He came to Ross Prairie in 1847. Left for the gold fields in California in 1849, returning to Ross Prairie after an absence of several years, and lived there to the time of his death, Aug. 28, 1901.

Joseph F. M. Sarrazin came to Cat Spring, Austin County, in 1834, from Westphalia. He moved to Ross Prairie in 1843 and Jived there up to the time of his death.

Chas. Aug. La ^g'.otz was born at Schoenfeld, Saxony, Feb. 23, 1826. He came to Housron in 1848, and moved from there to Fayetteville in 1850, where he still lives.

K John Christodemus Helble settled at Biegel in 1844. He left for the gola fields in California in 1849 and returned in 1851. He died some years ago over, 80 years of age.