Mesquite, Texas - Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas ..

Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas ..

There is a thriving little town of 000 population, situated on the high prairie twelve miles east of Dallas City on the Texas «fe Pacific railroad. It was established in 1872 as a railroad station. Being located in a rich prairie country it soon took rapid growtii and developed into an attractive little town. The first settlers were Major Bradfield, the station agent, and J. J. Gallaher. Only a few scat-

Bistort Of Dallas Count F.

No town in the county possesses more enterprising citizens according to her population than Mesquite. She has at present the following business houses:

There is here printed a iirst-class weekly newspaper; edited by the talented Hon. E. S. Kimbrough, the present State senator from this district. It is wide-awake, enterprising and aggressive. In fact, it could not be otherwise, being edited by the bold and fearless senator.

This paper was established by Mr. Kimbrough, in 1882, and has a very extensive circulation not only in Dallas county, but also in other counties.

Besides Mr. Kimbrough, there is another citizen living at Mesquite who is well known for his ability in the legislative halls of Texas, - Hon. J. C. Rugel. This gentleman served a term in the State Legislature and had a career of honor.

Four denonimations worship regularly here, and each has a creditable church building, viz.: The Baptist, Itev. Thomas Pinson, pastor: the Methodist, J. B. Adair, pastor; the Presbyterian, A. F. Stone, pastor; the Christian, - , pastor.

In addition to the church organizations there are the secret orders, which add much to the interest of the town, named: Science Lodge, No. 295, A. F. & A. M., S. B. Marshall, W- J^il ; J- C. Rugel, secretary. Mesquite Lodge, No. 2,996, K. of H., G. B. Gross, dictator; J. C. Rugel, reporter.

The school at this place is the pride of the citizens. A commodious house is furnished, and able teachers are always employed. It is conducted about six months in each year.

There are two cotton gins in the community near the town, and each gin annually from 2,500 to 3,500 bales of cotton. This little town marketed last year 4,114: bales of cotton. It is also a first-class shipping place for small grain and cattle.

WuKKEAs, on ti»e 16tli day of November, A. I). 1887, J. M. Knox and twenty-four otlier resident citizens of the village of Mesquite, in Dallas county, Texas, tiled an application in the office of the county judge of said county asking that an election be held to determine whether or not the town situated upon the land hereinafter described, to wit: The town of Mesquite, Dallas county, Texas, should be incorporated under the general laws of the State of Texas with the following limits, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the W. Lakey survey; thence west with said line to a point north and opposite the northeast corner of the S. D. Carver survey; thence south on D. S. Carver's east line to a point one hundred (100) yards south of the northwest corner of L. L. Thompson's tract; thence east to the west line of the .1. R. Worrell survey; thence north with said line to the Texas & Pacific railroad; thence east to tlie Texas & Pactic railroad tank; thence north to a point in the John McDaniel survey and immediately east and opposite the southeast corner of the W. Lakey survey; thence west to place of beginning; and, whereas, on said 16th day of November, 1887, an election was ordered by rae for the above stated purposes; and R. S. Kimbrough was appointed presiding officer of same; and, whereas, on December 3d, 1887, said election was held in accordance with the statute in such case made and provided, and resulted in a majority of the qualitied voters in said boundaries voting at said election, to wit: twenty-five voters in favor of incorporating said town of Mesquite and fourteen voters against. It is tiierefore ordered that the said town of Mesquite with the boundaries hereinbefore described be and the same is hereby incorporated under the provisions of Title No. 17, Chapter 2, of the Revised Statutes of the State of Texas; and it is further ordered that an election be held on Friday, December 23, 1887, in said town of Mesquite by the qualified voters residing within the limits thereof for the purpose of electing a mayor, a marshal and five aldermen for said town. R. S. Kimbrough is hereby appointed presiding officer of said election and is ordered to make due return thereof as required by law. Said election to be held at I. D. Browder's store in said town.

The first officers of the incorporated town as above set out according to the returns of the election ordered in said articles of incorporation were: J. E. Russell, mayor; S. E. Champion, marshal; J. M. Talley, L. L. Thompson, G. B. Gross, R. S. Kitnbrough and I. D. Browder, aldermen.

This place took its name from the cedar breaks on Mountain creek, which runs a short distance from the town. It is the second oldest town in the county, coming next to Dallas in age. It is situated on a high prairie hill, nineteen miles soutiiwest of the city of Dallas, and in 1856 experienced the sad fate of being blown ^way by a storm, leaving only two houses and killing eleven persons! The soil of the country surrounding Cedar Hill is of that mixture of white lime and black soil as to make it superior for small grain particularly, as wheat and oats. This soil is also well adapted to cotton. Cedar Hill is a fine shipping point. The Gulf, Colorado & Sante Fe railroad has a depot there on the line reaching from Dallas to Cleburne, and the citizens are thereby afforded ample means of shipping all their produce.

There is one hotel here, called the Lowe house; I. W. Lowe, proprietor, and two fine first-class cotton gins, one owned and operated by Jackson Bros, and the other by J. B. Ramsey.

It hoasts of one of the best academies in the county, and very justly so. This institution is owned by Professors E. W. Dallas and W. V. Teagarden. The building is handsome and commodious, and 120 students is about the average attendance. During the public free-school term, the students, taking advantage of the free-school money, are taught with the private students, so at this time the public free-echool is combined with the private.

There are three religious denominations who worship. regularly at this place, namely: The Methodists, Rev. Mr. Thomaston, pastor; the Baptist, Rev. Mr. Key, pastor; and the Christian, Elder W. F. Barcus, pastor.

Only one of the secret fraternities, the Masonic, is represented here. It has a membership of about thirty-six, and an elegantly appointed hall.

Cedar Hill is situated upon such a lofty, rolling hill, that the scenes in different directions over the wide expanse of the surrounding prairies afforded by creeks and ravines on which are growing timbers, are truly grand. Such magnificent sceneries cannot, doubtless, be witnessed from any other point in the county.

Some of the most enterprising citizens of the county live in this little town, and some of them have enjoyed honors in the county. Joe H. Stewart, the present clerk of the two district courts, lived here for eighteen years.

He is a :iative of North Carolina, an affable, congenial and talented gentleman. He has been connected officially in the county for several years, and his career has ever been clean and acceptable to every one. He is regarded as being one of the most popular gentlemen in the county. So great is his popularity that during the present campaign now before the people, every office of the county is contested by a different candidate except his for district clerk. He is a candidate again for this office, and up to this date, July 8, 1892, he has no opponent. Well may the little town of Cedar Hill esteem her most excellent and superior citizen, Hon. Joeepli H. Stewart!