TX BIOS:  C. S. Bradley
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   [??]
   
   Folklore,
   
   Miss Effie Cowan,
   
   McLennan County, Texas,
   
   District 8.
   
   File NO. 240.
   
   Page NO. 1/.
   
   REFERENCE
   
   Interview with Mr C.S.Bradley, White Pioneer, Groesbeck, Texas.
   
   "I was born in Kentucky during the war between the States. My parents
   were of Scotch Irish descent. I attended such schools as the county
   afforded and labored on a farm. While I was a young boy we came to
   Texas in covered wagons. I have resided in this county since coming to
   Texas, soon after the Civil war ended. I attended Thornton Institute
   three years and taught school three years and have since practiced law
   continuously. I studied law of [DEL: nights :DEL] night's, Saturdays
   and Sundays , and during vacations, then stood the examination for the
   bar and was liscensed to practice. Have since published a book on
   Texas Practice and have written several subjects on State and General
   Practice books. I have belonged to the [DEL: merican :DEL] American
   Bar association and the Texas Bar Association for more than thirty
   years. I was President of the latter association.
   
   "I have never been a candidate for office, but was elected Groesbecks
   first Mayor under its re- [DEL: rganization :DEL] organization in an
   "ex-tempore write-in " contest. I have served by appointment of the
   government and election of the Bar on all the Civil Courts of the
   State, and declined regular appointments on them.
   
   Early Days.
   
   "When Limestone county was created and named, it embraced all of its
   present territory and also that later to become Freestone County.
   Springfield was made county seat. The greater part of the eastern
   section of the county w s owned by Mexican citizens who were
   interested in selling land, and this resulted in the more rapid
   development of this section.
   
     NOTE: C.12 - 2/11/[?] - Texas
     
   00022"Therefore the greatest part of the first settlements were in the
   eastern part of the county and outside of the towns, because of the
   sandy formation and of being covered by timber for the protection of
   their stock and having a shallow supply of water, [DEL: [?] :DEL] all
   of which was c ndusive to developing the land. About the time steel
   plows and barb wire came into use. [DEL: [?] :DEL] This enabled the
   stockman and farmer to fence his land and it was then they began to
   cultivate the black land in the western part of the county which was
   soon settled and put under the plow.
   
   "After the Civil War ended at [Appomatox,?] the Confederates returned
   to their homes broken in health and fortune, but strong in their
   patriotic determination to begin all over again; which with the
   assistance of such men as [DEL: Governor s :DEL] Governor's Coke, and
   Hamilton,would have succeeded much more quickly but for the enemies of
   the South and the Yankee element of designing politicians who lived by
   the misfortunes of the South and who, like vultures swooped down upon
   the unfortunate ones who had been patriotic, if misguided in their
   cause.
   
   "About the time of my parents removal from Kentucky to Texas,
   Limestone county (their destination) was the storm center of
   Reconstruction. When the radical element in Congress overpowered the
   President and disfranchised practically the entire white population of
   the South and delivered the voting franchise to the ignorant black
   ex-slaves and a few less worthy renegade whites, the people of the
   county suffered from the abuse and / domineering of the Carpet-baggers
   as white people have seldom suffered. 00035"These abuses have often
   been recited. The actors with few exceptions have now answered the
   last roll call. Under Providential guidance we have wonderfully
   reconstructed and rebuilt what we lost. The blacks along with the
   white people suffered as they have not suffered since. There is the
   story of many a black who was misled into trouble by the
   carpetbaggers, and renegade whites. They had their dens in the banks
   of the Navasota River and one, Merrick Trammel (negro) was a typical
   outlaw. He was credited with the slaying of a white man by name of
   Applewhite in Groesbeck, and which caused the county to be [DEL: place
   :DEL] placed under [DEL: Mar al :DEL] Martial Law , and during this
   time many negroes were slain in the county.
   
   "In the early seventies the present Southern Pacafic Railway (then the
   Houston and Texas Central) was constructed through the county. The
   construction company depended upon the donations of right-of way and
   the help of the towns and by contributions to help in paying the cost
   of the road. There was a most suitable place for crossing the Navasota
   river at old Springfield (the county seat). Above and below [DEL: it
   :DEL] the river was quite forbidding for that purpose. The [DEL: r il
   :DEL] rail road made their request for the help by donation of land
   and a not [DEL: i possible :DEL] impossible sum of money. This was
   refused by the people of the town and so the railway company went back
   down the line a few miles, changed the crossing on the river and
   missed Springfield some few miles and constructed their railway , thus
   destroying the town of old Springfield. [DEL: roesbeck :DEL]
   Groesbeck, five miles south , and Mexia [DEL: [?] :DEL] seven miles
   north was the result.
   
   "Springfield remained the county seat of limestone county until the
   railroad came through and the town of Groesbeck was built. Then the
   county 00044records were removed to Greosbeck in 1873. There were four
   Court Houses constructed in Springfield. A palasade structure near the
   old lake. A log house, a plank house, and a brick building. This brick
   building was built on the hill, and was destroyed by fire, but its
   remains are still visible.
   
   "After the removal of the county seat to Groesbeck, there was first
   used an old store house for court [DEL: urposes :DEL] purposes, where
   the county records were destroyed by fire. Then there was constructed
   on the site of the present Community House a beautiful structure,
   later torn down and rebuilt about the year 1889. and which was [DEL:
   [?] :DEL] rebuilt a year or so later and afterwards replaced by the
   one now turned into a community house, and the latter was succeeded by
   the present [DEL: cour house :DEL] courthouse which is one of the most
   beautiful and imposing court houses in the United States.
   
   Old Springfield-- Now Lake Springfield.
   
   "When nature designed this spot, it wrote in imperishable characters
   [?] Plus Ultra; Springfield Spring is perennial, flowing a large
   stream of blue water as it has done perhaps for centuries. It is now
   in course of transformation into one of the most attractive and
   beautiful State Parks in the State. Citizens of Mexia and Groesbeck
   recently purchased and donated to the State Park Board some seventeen
   hundred acres of the most beautifully located land embracing the
   Navasota [DEL: R ver :DEL] River bed and lands on each side ,and a
   C.C.C. Camp is now constructing Lake Springfield. This is some eight
   hundred acres to a depth of eight to thirty feet, and there is now in
   an advanced state of construction a concrete dam which is footed on
   solid rock fifty feet below the surface. The basin of the lake is
   being cleared of timber and when finished will be the most beautiful
   and attractive park for fishing hunting and boating and camping
   anywhere in the country. 00055Early Schools.
   
   "This county was a pioneer in advanced education. As early as the
   middle of last century the Presbyrterian Church had established and
   was successfully operating Trinity University, in Tehuacana, (home of
   the Tehuacana Indians). This was a first class school and [DEL: [?]
   :DEL] while there located , it turned out a class of pupils who have
   largely dominated the affairs of Texas. To make it possible such men
   as Judge D.M.Prendergast and Co. John R.Henry and like public spirited
   men, donated large portions of their fortunes, and that institution in
   return gave the state hundreds of men and women who have stood in the
   front of every walk in life. This institute has since been removed to
   the town of "axahachie some three or four decades ago and in its new
   location it still exerts a mighty power for good.
   
   "In the late seventies and early eighties Central Institute, situated
   on Honest Ridge, some ten miles Northwest of Groesbeck, ( another
   private institution ) operated by John Parker, educated many young men
   who became a large portion in later years of the business element of
   the state and whose influence are still powerful and wholesome. About
   the same time Thornton Institute, a State chartered educational
   institution with Judge E.C.Chambers as its head operated for many
   years an / institute with its curriculum equal to the best school's of
   that day. A diploma from this institute entitled the holder to enter
   the best seats of higher learning.
   
   "Westminster College is located on the historic site of Trinity
   University (which [DEL: move :DEL] moved to [Waxabachie?]) in
   Tehuacana, this is a recognized first class Junior College is composed
   of a corps of excellent teachers and doing a great work. 00066.
   
   Westminster is a protestant Methodist University and a worthy
   successor to old Trinity University. It is situated in a picturesque
   and charming location amid the hills of old Tehuacana, Hills , as it
   was called in the early days. In the spring they are covered with the
   Indian blanket and bluebonnet flowers as well as other beautiful Texas
   wild flowers. The towns of Mexia and Groesbeck now have swimming pools
   near where the tired business men and women and the younger generation
   can go for a swim at the end of a summer day and relax in the cool
   waters of old Tehuacana Springs.
   
   Politics.
   
   "The county has always been active in politics since the days of the
   Reconstruction period and even farther back [DEL: be ore :DEL] before
   the days of the Civil War. It has furnished among other notable men
   two Comptrollers and one Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and
   Attorney General, a [DEL: Commission :DEL] Comminsioner of
   Agriculture, a Superintendent of Public Instruction and a Collector of
   Internal [DEL: evenne :DEL] Revenue, and indirectly a member of the
   Court of Civil Appeals. It has furnished other states a United States
   Senator, a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, a
   Governor and at least two members of Congress.
   
   "The town of Tehuacana was settled first by Major John Boyd, who was
   given a large [DEL: rant :DEL] grant of land that included a good part
   of Tehuacana hills. In the old cemetery on the hill where so many of
   the old pioneers rest , a tall marble shaft marks the resting lace of
   Major John Boyd. The inscription says that he came to Texas in 1835,
   fought in the Texas Revolution was a member of the first congress that
   met in the Republic of Texas, and was sent as Legislator. In 1869 he
   gave 1500 acres of land to establish Trinity University. T 00077"A
   pioneer minister, Rev. J.W.Pearson who bad been closely associated
   with Tehuacana and a close friend of the earliest settlers, was a
   great leader in the affairs of the county. He graduated from a Trinity
   University in 1879 and won outstanding recognition as a leader in the
   moral forces of Texas. In 1906 he was drafted and placed in the race
   for governor of Texas against Tom Campbell, who was also an ex-student
   of Trinity at Tehuacana. But the minister lost in this race, but it
   was with a calm satisfaction he stated that he "ran for principle."
   
   Indians Legends.
   
   "According to Rev Pearson , Major Boyd located his league of land
   about the year 1835 or 36 and at this time the tribe of Tehuacana
   Indians had been destroyed. Their stronghold was its headquarters at
   Tehuacana and the story of their destruction has been handed down as
   legend. Long ago when the Indians roamed this country the interests of
   the different tribes often clashed, causing bloody wars and the savage
   memory never forgot the scars of the battle's. To the east of the
   Tehuacana's lived the powerful Cherokee's and the two tribes were not
   friendly.
   
   "The story goes that the warlike Comanches stole a band of horses from
   the Cherokees and fled, followed by the Cherokee braves who were bent
   on recovering their loss. The Comanches were the victors and made
   their get-away and the mad and dissapointed Cherokees turned their
   steps toward their home returning by way of Tehuacana. On sight of the
   peaceful homes of the Tehuacana's the old grudge came to the minds of
   the Comanches and in the bloody battle which was fought between the
   two tribes the wigwams were burned, the women and children murdered
   and the tribe completly destroyed, with the exception of eight
   warriors who 00088fled with the young son of their chieftain. It was
   believed they went west and joined the Lipan tribe of Indians. Some
   time in the sixties the son of major John Boyd (the founder of the
   town) was standing near one of the beautiful bluffs on the west side
   when he saw an Indian. In a friendly manner Major Horace Boyd greeted
   the Indian, but silent as if he were dreaming he stood gazing upon the
   land of his fathers. Then drawing himself up to his full height he
   took one long look and as silently tread over the bluff and
   dissapeared in the valley below.
   
   "Many years later Rev. Pearson learned that an Indian answering his
   description joined two small tribes in what is now Oklahoma. There he
   was made a chief. Following clew after clew , Rev. Pearson learned
   that a chief over a few scattered tribes had died at the age of 90
   years. He was thought to have been on a return visit to his native
   home when he was suddenly come upon by Major Horace Boyd and as
   silently went away.
   
   "There are many other stories rich in legend and lore about Tehuacana.
   There is a large rock that the old pioneers, before our time, have
   pointed out as the place where the sole survivor of the Battle Creek
   Massacre, having crawled eighteen miles after being wounded in a fight
   with the Indians , in which his comrades were killed , hid under the
   shadow of this rock. The stones will not speak, nor will the earth
   yield her secrets, a land full of tradition and legend. No more
   important point of historical interest can be found in Central Texas.

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