A History Of Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, 1836-1936 - free ebook by Arch McKay

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A History Of Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, 1836-1936

Arch McKay

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A History of JEFFERSON

A History of JEFFERSON

Marion County, Texas FIFTEENTH PRINTING One-Time Gateway of Texas Retains Its Glory in Rush and Hurry Of Modern Times This pamphlet contains items of interest that we should know about our home town, and was compiled by Mrs. Arch McKay Mrs. H. A. Spellings Proceeds of sale to be used by Women’s Auxiliary, Christ Episcopal Church. FIFTEENTH PRINTING These items have been taken from articles written by various writers for the Shreveport Times Jefferson Journal Jefferson Jimplecute Houston Post-Dis

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JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON

“From the region of the Upper Trinity and the headwaters of the Sabine, each traveler tells us, as he passes, some new tale of how the wilderness is falling under the axe of the builders of habitations and opening up of the earth.” “The town of Jefferson, in the Southern division of our country, was but yesterday a mere name upon paper and now we are told, quite a number of buildings are going up—several persons will have goods there directly. It is a town destined to concentrate a large inland

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EXCLUSIVE SOCIAL SET

EXCLUSIVE SOCIAL SET

Jefferson even boasted an exclusive social set, left over from the Southern Aristocracy of Ante Bellum days, and keeping up the customs in the steamboats and parlors of the city hotels, both of which were palatial in their appointments. An example of a steamboat advertisement follows: REGULAR JEFFERSON AND NEW ORLEANS PACKET For Shreveport Grand Bayou Grand Ecore St. Maurice, Cotile, Alexander, Norman’s Berrin’s and Way Landings. Stand A No. 1 in all Insurance Companies The Light Draught Passeng

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STOCKADE

STOCKADE

Just after the war between the States the town of Jefferson was thrown into panic by the murder one night of a “carpet bagger”—carpet bagger being the name given to those men who came into the Southern towns immediately following the war to stir up the people, and especially the negroes, against the authorities,—it was necessary for the government to send troops to Jefferson to restore order. A stockade was built on the hill called “Sand Town,” this stockade was made of immense timbers, and was

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THE CORRAL

THE CORRAL

The Corral, now used as a swimming pool, and known to the young boys for years as the “swimming hole” was the barracks for the Federal Army and Infantry, which was later moved to San Antonio. The headquarters for Gen. Buell was situated on the corner, just across the Broadway railroad crossing, east of the Cypress Bottling Works....

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CHIEF JUSTICE HAUGHN

CHIEF JUSTICE HAUGHN

Chief Justice Haughn came to Jefferson in the early days of Jefferson’s history, with the backing of the U. S. Government to create discord between the white and colored population. He entered politics, after serving as Chief Justice a number of years, and became judge. He later had as his opponent for the office Judge S. W. Moseley who, regardless of the fact that every election box was compelled to have one negro to help in the election, was elected Nov. 22, 1882. A political meeting was held

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TEXAS’ FIRST FEDERAL COURT

TEXAS’ FIRST FEDERAL COURT

The first Federal Court to sit in the State of Texas met in Jefferson in 1879 with Judge Amos Morill on the bench. In a short time the court was made a circuit, which included San Antonio and Galveston. Three generations of Jefferson men served succeeding terms as clerks of the court—W. E. Singleton, W. E. Singleton, Jr., and J. M. Singleton. These men served for a total of sixty years. The first court met in the Post Office which had been established in 1842 and was located in the Northeast cor

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THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS as a MANUFACTURING DISTRICT IN 1871

THE CITY OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS as a MANUFACTURING DISTRICT IN 1871

The undersigned would respectfully invite the attention of capitalists, at home and abroad, to the manufacturing facilities of the City of Jefferson and its surroundings, with a view of securing such co-operation as our railroad prospects and natural advantages seem to warrant. We say railroad prospects, because our city will shortly become the Great Railroad Center of Northeastern Texas. Here the International Trans-Continental and East Line and Red River Railroad will all intersect ere many mo

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CITY OF JEFFERSON

CITY OF JEFFERSON

The City of Jefferson is yet in its infancy. But a few short years have passed since the ground on which it stands was a wilderness, but its growth has been rapid and substantial. It now numbers not less than 12,000 inhabitants, and the business houses being constructed of brick, it wears an air of solidity, such as is seldom seen in this State. Its Churches and many of its private residences are unsurpassed in the State, in points of taste and elegance and its business men are quite as enterpri

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JEFFERSON AS A MANUFACTURING DISTRICT

JEFFERSON AS A MANUFACTURING DISTRICT

But great as our city is as a commercial center she will yet develop other and more important interests, and that too within a limited period of time for it has been demonstrated to the entire satisfaction of all capitalists, who have given their attention to the matter that there is not in the whole south a district which combines so many advantages for manufacturing on an intensive scale, such an endless variety of articles as the city under consideration &amp; the country immediately surr

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ARTIFICIAL GAS

ARTIFICIAL GAS

In making history—the first artificial gas plant in Texas started at Jefferson, the gas being made from rich pine and pine knots, which were cut and placed in iron drums called “retorts.” These retorts were about seven feet long, tapering off at one end like the mouth of a jug. The bottom was opened with a door which securely fastened the pine inside. The retorts were subject to intense heat; the steamlike substance which exuded from the pine during the heating process escaped through an opening

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JEFFERSON HAD FIRST ARTIFICIAL ICE

JEFFERSON HAD FIRST ARTIFICIAL ICE

Tradition, and a sworn statement, before a notary public, by the late Mr. B. J. Benefield, an honored citizen of Jefferson, gives to Jefferson, Texas, the honor of having had within its city limits the first artificial ice plant in the United States and many say in the world. Old settlers claim that it was in operation in the late 60’s but Mr. Benefield places the date at 1874 or ’75 because he returned to Marion County from Red River County in 1874 and began working for Boyle and Scott, as the

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CHURCHES EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CHURCHES EPISCOPAL CHURCH

On June 8th., 1860 the friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church held a meeting in the Cumberland Presbyterian place of worship for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal congregation. Bishop Alex Gregg, D. D. was called to the chair and E. G. Benners appointed secretary, the Rev. E. A. Wagner being present, the secretary read the articles of association which had been prepared in accordance with the canons. Signed by: Services were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Freemans Hall, and

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson was organized between 1846 and 1850 by Rev. Solomon Awalt, who lived many years in the Pine Tree neighborhood, three miles from Longview, Texas, an old fashioned Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. He was a German, a diligent bible student and a strong theologian. The first church was a small frame building located on the corner of Line and Jefferson Streets. In 1873 the brick church was built by Mr. John Ligon, on Jefferson Street. It was at that ti

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THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The 24th. day of March 1855 the first Baptist Church of Jefferson was organized. The first addition to the church after it organized was William I. Bateman in June 1855. The deed to the church lots where the church now stands were recorded Oct. 11th. 1860. The first conference after the war was Jan. 28th., 1866 with Rev. H. T. Buckner presiding. Rev. Buckner was known later as “Father Buckner” to his 800 orphan children, who loved him devotedly. He made Buckner’s Orphans Home the largest and mos

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JEFFERSON METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH Pastors

JEFFERSON METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH Pastors

The first Methodist preacher to be appointed to Jefferson was the Reverend James W. Baldridge. The year was 1844. That Methodist preachers had preached in Jefferson prior to this date is very likely. The great and wide-spread Harrison Circuit covered this country and, in all likelihood, the modest settlement which sprang up at the head of navigation was a preaching point for the circuit rider. The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had joined the conference in 1843. He served Jefferson for three years the recor

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The Famous Bell

The Famous Bell

Legend held dear in Jefferson says that in the year 1854 the famous Meneley Bell Foundry of Troy, N. Y., was called upon to cast a silver bell for the Methodist Church. To assure a silvery tone, 1500 Mexican silver dollars were raised and sent to the foundry to be melted down and cast into the bell. That bell hangs in the belfry of the Methodist Church today. Some of the present citizens of Jefferson tell that the 1500 silver dollars were the gift of one man, famous and beloved in this section,

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The Church Buildings

The Church Buildings

The Methodist Church building entered into the early history of Jefferson. In the early days a private school was taught in the basement. Some existing records of the Jefferson Baptist Church point out that the preaching services of the Baptist were held “in the Methodist Church.” Possibly in the years of prosperity of the ’50’s a fine brick building is revealed in the remarkable “bird’s-eye-view” picture of Jefferson which is preserved in the Carnegie Library. It took its place with the magnifi

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Great Meetings

Great Meetings

In 1860 the East Texas Conference met in Jefferson on October 24-30. A half dozen young preachers were admitted on trial at this session who were to go out and make history in the state and church. Among these was one, John H. McLean, who served in Jefferson for two years, (being sent to Jefferson in 1863) and who in 1874 and 1875 served as Presiding Elder of the Marshall District, of which Jefferson was a station. He became an influential figure in Texas Methodism and education. There was excit

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Gifts to the Church Now Recalled Property

Gifts to the Church Now Recalled Property

The first title to property on which to build a church was granted in 1848. The first church evidently stood in property to which the church did not hold title. Mr. Allen Urquhart “sold” (the $100.00 of the transaction seems to have been given by Mr. Urquhart) to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the town of Jefferson the lot on which the present church stands. Construction of the brick church must have started shortly, for many older residents of Jefferson today state th

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The Gas Heating System

The Gas Heating System

There is a bronze plate hanging on the wall of the church with the following inscription: THE GAS HEATING EQUIPMENT IN THIS CHURCH WAS GIVEN BY MISS BERTIE TAYLOR IN MEMORY OF HER BROTHER WARD TAYLOR On the opposite wall rests this inscription: THE ELECTRIC FANS IN THIS CHURCH WERE GIVEN BY D. WURTSBAUGH IN MEMORY OF HIS WIFE MRS. LUVENIA CLEMENTINE WURTSBAUGH This last year (1935) Miss Bertie Taylor turned over to the church for safe keeping a copy of the “First Directory of the Jefferson Metho

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The Organ

The Organ

In the basement of the Methodist Church is the Sunday School Organ given in memory of little F. A. Schluter, only child of Mr. W. P. and Mrs. A. L. Schluter. F. A. died at Hughes Springs on August 21, 1892 at the age of 8 years. By adding to the savings their son had kept over a period of time, Mr. and Mrs. Schluter bought the organ to be used in the basement for Sunday School. The gift was most probably made in 1892 or 1893. Several Jeffersonians say that the gift was made shortly after the chi

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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

In April 1866 James M. Murphy and Allen Urquhart of Jefferson, Texas, donated, for the purpose of building a Catholic Church and school, to Bishop Claudius M. Dubuis, Catholic Bishop, of Galveston, Texas, lots 10-11-12 in block 29, Urquhart division, said lots fronting 50 feet on Polk street and 150 on LaFayette street. These lots are where Sedberry’s store now stands. The contract for building the church was given, by Rev. J. M. Giraud, a Catholic priest, to Mr. Benard Whitkorn of Nacogdoches,

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EXCELSIOR’S HISTORY

EXCELSIOR’S HISTORY

The northern end of the hotel, of frame construction, was built in the late fifties by Captain William Perry, from New Hampshire. Captain Perry was killed, through mistaken identity, by a Yankee soldier as Captain Perry was standing on the corner near his home. Captain Perry’s daughter, Lucy, is said to have been the first child born in Jefferson, and was the first native Jeffersonian to be married there. She was married to Captain Claiborne, and to them were born four children, Perry, Howard, F

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The Post Office

The Post Office

The property on which the Post Office and Federal Courthouse now stand was donated by Mrs. Kate Wood, once owner of the hotel. Today the hotel is noted for the many beautiful pieces of antique furniture. Among them is a “button bed”, a suite in carved walnut, old fashioned secretary, settees, marble topped tables, quaint lamps, a massive Chickering square piano and its stool with needlepoint upholstery, and many lovely pictures, one worked in wool, valued at $1,000. For each table in the spaciou

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“Queen Mab”

“Queen Mab”

In 1877 Jefferson gave a celebration in imitation of Mardi Gras, as put on at New Orleans, Louisiana, but called it “Queen Mab”, borrowing the conception from Shakespeare, with whose plays even frontiersmen and pioneers were familiar. The street parade was several miles in extent, made up of floats decorated with flowers and grotesques, carrying innumerable fairy folk and punctuated with bands of music with “Queen Mab” herself as central figure, the whole “blow out” winding up with a grand ball.

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McDonald’s Machine Shop

McDonald’s Machine Shop

In the machine man’s history of Jefferson, the story is incomplete without the mention of what is now the Jefferson Foundry and Machine Shop, a descendant of one of the community’s enterprises, now owned and operated by E. B. McDonald. The original machine shop was Miles and Co., and its beginning about 1870. Morris and McKeoun followed as the new steps in the ladder of the Foundry’s ownership. M. Bower acquired Morris’ interest in the business and the name became McKeoun and Bower, later McKeou

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Sedberry’s Drug Store

Sedberry’s Drug Store

One of the leading drug stores of Jefferson is Sedberry’s. It has been in business in Jefferson since 1865, and is said to be the oldest drug store in Texas, or even in the United States, continuing under the same name. For more than 75 years this store has been serving the people of this and surrounding territory carefully and efficiently....

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THE KELLY PLOW WORKS

THE KELLY PLOW WORKS

The name Kelly has been identified with East Texas iron ore development since the Civil War and Reconstruction days. But in order to have a better appreciation of the Kelly family we copy from a paper that was prepared by Hubert M. Harrison, vice president and general manager of East Texas Chamber of Commerce, and a copy was sent to Mrs. McKay, a relative, by Mr. R. M. Kelly. It follows: “About seven years after the historic Battle of San Jacinto, while Texas was a republic, John A. Stewart, lat

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SMELTER WAS BUILT IN 1887

SMELTER WAS BUILT IN 1887

About 1887, John A. Crews, of Chicago, promoted a 60-ton furnace to smelt the surface deposits of iron ore found near Orr Switch and Lassater on the L. A. &amp; T. railroad. The smelter operated intermittently from 1887-1905, under changing managerships, until the high cost of transporting coke for fuel for the furnace made profitable operation impossible. Several governmental—federal as well as state—investigations and surveys were made of the ore pits in an effort to ascertain the possibil

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The Nash Iron Works

The Nash Iron Works

The Nash Iron Works was built in 1847—was operated by Boose and Ab Nash—and was located eighteen miles west of Jefferson on the Coffoeville road. The main output consisted of wash pots, all kinds of kettles and kitchen utensils, and cannon balls. In connection with the Iron Works, there was operated a pottery, where plates, bowls, pipes and jugs from 1 quart size to ten gallons, were made. Those plants were in operation during the war, but no records exist as to how long after the war....

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HOMES

HOMES

Beginning with what is known as the Presbyterian Manse, and was, in the early days, known as the Gen. Rogers home we have what is conceded to be the oldest home in Jefferson, though along with this may be mentioned the following: The stately mansion of the late W. P. Schluter stands out as a monument to the city. The home has remained in the Schluter family since it was built many, many years ago and is located on Line Street. The S. W. Moseley home was built by Mr. J. C. Preston, later known as

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SCHOOLS

SCHOOLS

Numerous educational institutions had advertisements in the 1871 directory, among them the following: English and German select school in the Patillo Academy on Benners street—principal, Professor A. Rosentspitz. St. Mary’s School, corner Market and Henderson streets—Teachers, Sisters of Charity. Collegiate Institute, for male and female, corner Broadway and Alley streets—Principal, Professor J. T. S. Parks, Vice Principal, Professor M. Parks. School for Boys and Girls on Friou street of which P

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PROMINENT CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON IN HER EARLY DAYS

PROMINENT CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON IN HER EARLY DAYS

Many of the prominent men who had a part in the making of Texas were born and reared in the little historic town of Jefferson. Mrs. Anna Hardwick Pennybacker was living in Jefferson and wrote the greater part of her “History of Texas” while here. Her father, Dr. J. B. Hardwick, was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jefferson....

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Col. D. B. Culberson

Col. D. B. Culberson

Col. Culberson was congressman from the First Congressional District for twenty-two years. He was one of the leading lawyers of the State, and was prominent in the famous Abe Rothchild case. He was the father of C. A. Culberson, who was born and reared in Jefferson and started his political career as County Attorney of Marion County and was later Attorney General of the State, Governor of Texas, and was elected to the Senate of the United States. He was known as Senior Senator for a number of ye

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W. L. Crawford

W. L. Crawford

A leading criminal lawyer of Texas. Upon leaving Jefferson he moved to Dallas....

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Hector McKay

Hector McKay

Hector McKay, born in Tennessee, came to Texas with his mother and family when very young, settled near Elysian Fields, where the family remained many years. The old McKay burying ground is there. He was a member of Ector’s Brigade during the Civil War, enlisting at Marshall. He attained the rank of Captain. After the war, he practiced law in Marshall where he was a law partner of Judge Mabry and later of W. T. Armistead. Captain McKay was one of the prominent lawyers of early days of Jefferson.

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Captain Moss

Captain Moss

Captain Moss, the grandfather of Mrs. Will Sims, of Jefferson, in 1836 operated and owned one of the finest steamboats on the river—The Hempstead. He assisted Captain Shreve in blowing out the rafts to make Cypress Bayou navigable to Jefferson and during the Mexican war he transported soldiers across the river into Texas....

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Mr. T. L. Lyon

Mr. T. L. Lyon

Mr. T. L. Lyon, with his family, came to Jefferson during the summer of 1867. For many years Captain Lyon was a member of the firm, Mooring and Lyon, buying cotton and doing general mercantile business on Dallas Street. They commanded a wide scope of business in the palmy days of the city. Later in life business reverses came and he accepted a clerkship in the “Lessie 13” a small freight packet, which burned. After which Captain Lyon was clerk on the Alpha. Both boats were commanded by the late

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Royal A. Ferris

Royal A. Ferris

Mr. Ferris was a leading lawyer of Dallas, Texas, and he too was reared in Jefferson....

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Nelson Phillips

Nelson Phillips

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and a leading lawyer of the State, made his home in Dallas and was a product of Marion County, living near Jefferson....

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W. B. Harrison

W. B. Harrison

A leading business man and banker of Ft. Worth, Texas for many years started his business career in Jefferson during the palmy days....

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The Bateman Family (King, Andy, and Quincy)

The Bateman Family (King, Andy, and Quincy)

This prominent family in the business and social life of the early days of Jefferson, branched out into the business world in Jefferson and when Jefferson began to lose navigation, along with it, many of her population, the Bateman family moved west and were helpful in building Ft. Worth, Texas, in business and banking lines. In fact Jefferson furnished many of the leading business and professional men, who went west in the early days and built the State of Texas. Jefferson is truly the “mother

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Benj. H. Epperson

Benj. H. Epperson

Benj. H. Epperson was born in Mississippi in about 1828. He was educated in North Carolina and at Princeton University, New Jersey. He came to Texas and settled at Clarksville sometime in the ’40’s. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced with marked ability and success. He was active Whig politician before and after the war and was the candidate of his party for governor in 1851 at a time when he was below the constitutional age. In 1852 he was at the head of the Texas delegation

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W. P. Torrans

W. P. Torrans

W. P. Torrans, born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1849 moved to Houston, Texas and in 1850 came to Jefferson. He established a general mercantile business on Austin Street, in the building next to the present Goldberg Feed Store. In 1862 he was Tax Collector, but maintained his business also. In 1872 built the first brick block on Polk Street, where the Torrans Manufacturing Company is now located. The W. P. Torrans home at one time stood in the middle of this block, made into an office building and us

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Story From Past Recalls Worth of Two Jefferson Men Captain DeWare, Col. H. McKay, Have Sons Prominent Here Now

Story From Past Recalls Worth of Two Jefferson Men Captain DeWare, Col. H. McKay, Have Sons Prominent Here Now

“Before the final adjournment of district court and during a short recess Saturday evening, at Jefferson, the friends of Sheriff J. M. DeWare of Marion County presented him with a Smith and Wesson forty-four caliber pistol and belt. The weapon was elaborately carved, pearl handled, inlaid with gold, and bore this inscription: ‘J. M. DeWare, Sheriff, Jefferson, Texas. From his friends, Jan. 1, 1887.’ A graceful and appropriate presentation speech was delivered by Col. McKay.” Taken from the “Dall

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James Jackson Rives

James Jackson Rives

James Jackson Rives came to Jefferson from Caddo Parish, La., before the Civil War, and established a cotton and hide business after returning from the war. When his son, Herbert Rives, returned from Sewanee Military Institute he joined the business of J. J. Rives and Son, which continued until the warehouse was destroyed by fire about 1902....

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R. Ballauf, Merchant and Banker

R. Ballauf, Merchant and Banker

Rudolph Ballauf was born in Hamburg, Germany, June 30, 1832. At the age of 16 years he sought his fortune in America. Arriving at New Orleans, La., he obtained employment. Later he obtained a position with the Mallory Steamship Lines and gradually worked up to the position as interpreter. He was serving in this capacity when the war between the states was declared and he joined the Confederate Army. He was married in 1866 to Miss Mary Louise Hottinger of New Orleans. To this union seven children

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Robert Potter

Robert Potter

March 3, 1843, Senator Robert Potter, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first secretary of the Navy of the Republic, was murdered at his home on Caddo Lake. He was born in Gainesville, North Carolina, in 1800. Served in the U. S. Navy from 1815 to 1817, then he returned home and studied law and in 1826 he moved to Halifax and practiced law. He served in the legislature in North Carolina; was elected to the House of Representatives of the 21st United States Congress as a Jacks

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Rogers National Bank

Rogers National Bank

Captain T. J. Rogers, founder of the Rogers National Bank of Jefferson, and one of Jefferson’s oldest citizens, was born in 1832, in Hinds County, Mississippi. In 1849 he came to Texas with his father and family. In 1856 in Gilmer, Texas, he married Emily Mayberry and they moved to Jefferson, living in what is now known as the Brewer home, with the family of Dr. B. J. Terry. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army in General Ochiltree’s regiment (the 18th) in General Waul’s divis

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ONLY ONE BANK IN FIVE CAN QUALIFY FOR THIS HONOR

ONLY ONE BANK IN FIVE CAN QUALIFY FOR THIS HONOR

What is a “Roll of Honor” bank, and what does it mean to you as a depositor, or as a possible depositor, that this institution has been given that rating in the banking “hall of fame?” A “Roll of Honor” bank is a bank that has voluntarily provided double protection for its depositors by building up its surplus and undivided profits account to a point where this reserve fund is equal to, or greater than the capital of the bank. The laws, either National or State, do not require any bank to provid

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David Browning Culberson

David Browning Culberson

David Browning Culberson was born in Troupe County, Georgia, Sept. 24th, 1830; was educated at Brownwood, La., and Grange, Ca., and studied law under Chief Justice Chilton of Alabama. He was married to Miss Eugenia Kimball, a lady of sterling character and brilliant mind. It was to her influence and encouragement that he owed a large measure of his success. To this union three children were born, Charles A., the oldest, was one year old when the family moved to Texas in 1856. Robert Owen and a d

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CLUBS The 1881 Club

CLUBS The 1881 Club

The 1881 Club was organized in Jefferson, Texas in October 1881 at the home of Mrs. W. B. Ward, where a room full of enthusiastic members organized a chautauqua circle. Among the charter members were: Mrs. J. H. Bemis, Mrs. J. P. Russell, Mrs. Sallie Dickson and Miss Sarah Terhune. The circle was composed of both men and women and met at night. Captain J. P. Russell was the first president with Ben Epperson as Secretary. At the end of four years diplomas and credits were given. Without a break i

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THE WEDNESDAY MUSIC CLUB

THE WEDNESDAY MUSIC CLUB

The Wednesday Music Club is one of the oldest music clubs in the state, having been organized in 1909 by the late Mrs. W. H. Mason, for the purpose of study and to assist the 1881 Club in putting on a program when the 1881 Club entertained the Third District Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1910. The Music Club requested membership in the Federation at this meeting and was a member of the Federation of Woman’s Clubs until the Music Club began a separate organization. The members of the club who ar

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MARION COUNTY

MARION COUNTY

Possibly few counties have the distinction of having been a part of so many other counties as has Marion County, so no wonder she is so “tiny” in size after having been sliced and served to six different others. The records at Austin, Texas, tell us that Marion County was first a part of Red River County, later a part of Shelby, Bowie, Titus, Cass and Harrison. Cass County was for ten years known as Davis County. Thus again taking the name of Cass, so really another “slice” may have been taken o

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STERN MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

STERN MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

Stern Memorial Fountain was given to the City of Jefferson by the children (Eva, Leopold, Alfred and Fred) of Jacob and Ernestine Stern in 1913. In the gift of this splendid piece of work lay the life time love of Jefferson, a devotion of a little immigrant girl grown to womanhood, and the gratitude of her children to a little city that had given Mother and Father happiness. The fountain is entirely of purest bronze and is 13½ feet high, with bowls of 7½ feet broad, and has a statue six feet tal

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WALNUT GROVE

WALNUT GROVE

Five miles south of Linden there stands today an immense walnut grove. Planted on both sides of the old dirt road, one hundred or more of these trees are all that are left of the 320 planted by Mr. Jim Lockett, more than 60 years ago. The trees make a dense shade and a beautiful lane. The story is, that Mr. Lockett in a reminiscent mood, thought, that the country some day would run out of split rails, with which to make fences. Realizing that wire would some day be used for making fences he knew

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MURDER ALLEY

MURDER ALLEY

“Murder Alley” may be reached by taking the left where Line Street divides, going south to the river, leaving the Barbee home on the right. The name “Murder Alley” was derived from the fact that one and often two dead bodies would be found each morning in this alley. Col. Lowery is said to have edited a paper in the Barbee home during these much trying days. It may be of interest to many Jeffersonians to know that the original courthouse was, according to the Allen Urquhart plan, located just in

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THE STORY OF DIAMOND BESSIE

THE STORY OF DIAMOND BESSIE

This sketch of a famous murder case in Jefferson is mostly from the pen of W. H. Ward who lived at that time and later moved to Texarkana where he was editor of “The Twentieth Century” and this sketch is taken from the December issue, along with a few other legends from other sources. The recent mysterious murder of a woman in Jefferson, Texas, recalls the death of Bessie Moore or “Diamond Bessie,” who was believed to have been slain by her husband and erstwhile paramour, Abe Rothchild, within r

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THREE “CITIZENS” OF JEFFERSON “Aunt Viney”

THREE “CITIZENS” OF JEFFERSON “Aunt Viney”

There were three Citizens of Jefferson who were not so prominent but they were well known and will be remembered by the “Children” of forty and fifty years ago. First we would remind you of “Aunt Viney.” Surely there was never another just like her. She was a real African, large of stature, black, kinky headed and had a style all her own. She modeled her robes of “tow sacks,” often making them many layers thick, according to the weather. Sometimes her robes were long and again they reached the s

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“Aunt Maria”

“Aunt Maria”

Another well known character was “Aunt Maria.” She was entirely different from Aunt Viney in appearance and manner. She was tall and slender and wore her dresses trailing in the dust. She would stand for hours, on the street shaking her skirts and speaking fluently to an imaginary audience. She was perfectly harmless unless tormented by the boys who thought it rare fun to tease her....

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“Sugar Boy”

“Sugar Boy”

Sugar Boy was the son of an adopted daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walker, a highly respected couple who lived in Jefferson more than fifty years ago. Barry Benefield, the son of our own Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Benefield, who is a writer of great note has mentioned “Sugar Boy” in his books but he did not tell you that the real “Sugar Boy” was red-headed, freckled and always dirty. He had a better mind than many gave him credit for having. He was always ready to play but when he grew tired he made it hard f

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JIMPLECUTE

JIMPLECUTE

Sixty years of service, with one idea: to upbuild Jefferson and Marion County. The Jefferson Jimplecute was first issued as a weekly, then semi-weekly, daily, then again as a weekly. It never lost an opportunity to advocate every proposed plan that had in it anything that would put Jefferson or Marion County to the front. The Jefferson Daily Jimplecute founded in 1865 by Col. Ward Taylor, is the only one of twenty-three newspapers, published at one time or another in Jefferson, to endure until t

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WHAT IS THERE IN A NAME

WHAT IS THERE IN A NAME

(The following is the last explanation of the word Jimplecute and it is reproduced for this issue.) Since the compilation of the word JIMPLECUTE, the curious, the thoughtless, and thoughtful, the learned and the unlearned have been curious to know the significance of the word. The linguists of renown have failed to find any trace of the word in any of the live or dead languages. We have at last decided to place before our readers the origin of the word, and let those who have characterized the n

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JIMPLECUTE HAS SEEN 23 FAIL

JIMPLECUTE HAS SEEN 23 FAIL

We leave with pride and satisfaction the explanation of the word which has so long been slandered as being meaningless, unpronounceable, and such complimentary econiums. To all such the JIMPLECUTE sends greetings, and in the kindest of spirits says “that he who laughs last, laughs best.” While perhaps, “a rose would smell as sweet by any other name,” yet there is no name that we are familiar with that carries with it so much promise, so much significance, such hope, as that grandest of words, Th

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CADDO LAKE

CADDO LAKE

The same shaking up of the earth that made Reel Foot lake in Tennessee caused the sinking of the ground and formation of Caddo Lake with its connecting chain of lakes and Cypress Bayou in Marion County. A dam of logs, the accumulation of years, piled up in Red River, backing the water up into the lake and bayou so as to make them navigable by the largest steam boats. The fine sandy land adjacent to these lakes produced excellent crops of cotton of the finest grade, and the planters of the Old So

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OAKWOOD CEMETERY

OAKWOOD CEMETERY

It has been truly written that the history of Jefferson—its struggles, its earlier fight, its romance—is written in this old cemetery. From the two iron posts that stand a few feet apart, once joined by iron chains, which marks the resting place of two artists who killed each other and are buried together, chained together, and unnamed, to the tomb erected by the State of Texas over one of Jefferson’s leading citizens, and down to the tiny sunken, graves of innumerable infants who died in the mi

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General Ochiltree’s Tomb

General Ochiltree’s Tomb

The State of Texas has placed over this famous son a lovely red granite marker, and from this marker we learn that General Ochiltree was Judge of the Fifth District in 1842, Secretary of the Treasury in 1844, and Attorney General of the Republic of Texas in 1845; also that the County of Ochiltree was named for him. Another monument that passersby regard with reverence is that of D. B. Culberson, long a Senator from this District and father of the Texas Governor, Chas. A. Culberson. The inscripti

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“DIAMOND BESSIE”

“DIAMOND BESSIE”

Almost everyone in the state has heard the story of “Diamond Bessie” and her murder, but not every one knows that a few years ago the Cemetery Committee, Mrs. Arch McKay and Mrs. H. A. Spellings, working late on the grounds, returned early the next morning with their crew of men and found erected on the grave of “Diamond Bessie” a new monument with the simple inscription, “Bessie Moore—12-13-1876.” The monument that had marked the grave was entirely removed. The marking of this old monument, hav

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Humor There

Humor There

There is humor too in the old cemetery. Placed prominently in the center of the headstone, under glass, where it has remained since 1855, is a photograph of a much bearded man. It is a photograph of W. W. Sloan, who was born in 1830 and buried in 1885, and his stern face still rebukes those inclined to take lightly the facts of death and the grave. Mr. Sloan was a photographer in Jefferson for many years. On another stone there is this rhyme: “Remember, friend, as you pass by, As you are now, so

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Rose and Robertson

Rose and Robertson

When “old timers” are in a reminiscent mood you can hear many interesting incidents of the early days of Jefferson, and one that few remember, and often wonder about, is the story of two men whose graves are in Oakwood Cemetery, unmarked other than by two iron posts that were chained together. Mr. J. E. Hasty knew the men and gives this information: Rose and Robertson let their hatred of each other and their love for a woman, cause them to take the life of each other, a most unusual coincidence.

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