TX BIOS:  Mancell W. Cabiness
   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
   
   Life History
   
   FOLKLORE-- White Pioneer,
   
   Miss Effie Cowan, P.W.
   
   McLennan County, Texas,
   
   District 8.
   
   NO. of Words
   
   File No. 240.
   
   Page NO. 1.
   
   REFERENCE.
   
   Interview with Mr Mancell W. Cabiness, Reagan, Texas.
   
   "My parents were Frank and Charlotte Cabiness of Morton, Missippi,
   where I was born in the year 1850. Father owned a plantation in
   Missippi but sold it and moved to Texas in 1868, during the days of
   Reconstruction. He located in Falls county between the towns of
   Bremond and Reagan, but at that time these towns were not located and
   the community was called the Powers Community. Grand-father Powers
   came with the Sterling Robertson colony from Tennessee while Texas was
   still under the rule of Mexico. We settled on the Carol Powers place.
   
   "Some of our [DEL: n ghbors :DEL] neighbors were Tom Curry (father of
   Dr Hardy Curry of Marlin. ) Dr Thomas , was another doctor of the
   community , and our family physician was Dr Clark of the Blue Ridge
   community. We travelled by stage and the stage stand was called
   Tucker, so named from John Tacker who owned the stand , and a little
   store. The Little Brazos river was about a mile west of us and some of
   the families who lived west of the Little Brazos were those of Gilbert
   Ward, William Johnson and Dr Zinnard. A couple of miles further on the
   Blue Ridge the families of Johnson, Robertson, Powers Beal's and
   Anderson's lived. [?]About the year 1875 Henry Cowan and Jim Owens
   came from Tennessee and lived in the lower Blue Ridge settlement.
   Still farther towards what is now the Bremond settlement the Hagens
   family lived also the [DEL: famil :DEL] family of Dr George [?], whose
   son Eugene married a Miss Eliza Hagens, while Henry Cowan and Jim
   Owens and Sam Powers married Laura, Fannie, and Lizzie, sisters of
   Eugene Wyche. After the death of Mr Owens wife, Fannie, he married
   Miss Betty Robertson , a daughter of the pioneer family of Hazard
   Robertson who lived at the foot of Blue Ridge.
   
     NOTE: C12 - [????]
     
   00022"Thus the first families of the lower Blue Ridge, intermarried as
   did those of the upper Ridge. Perhaps the first settler in the Bremond
   area was B. Combs who came in 1857. He surveyed many acres of land and
   owned an interest in [DEL: them :DEL] land which had previously been
   merely a hunting ground for the Indians. Other first settlers of this
   settlement were the Keigwins, the James Campbell, Tom Jackson and
   Bennett families. These settlers hunted deer; wild turkeys and other
   wild game over the prairie which was covered with tall sage grass. The
   Bremond settlement was more of a prairie settlement. It is a legend
   that at one time Wm. Keigwin bought the town-site for a hack and a
   pair of horses.
   
   "In 1869 the Houston and Texas Central railroad was built thro' this
   settlement and the town of Bremond was established and named for Paul
   Bremond, a railroad official. Thus Bremond for a time became the
   terminal point awaiting constuction farther north to the towns of
   Marlin and Waco. Ed Roberts of Bremond has a book in which his father
   John Roberts wrote in May 1870, " Railroad has reached a point in
   front of my home". (This old Roberts home is one of the oldest
   landmarks near [DEL: [?] :DEL] Bremond ). Mrs Maude Davis daughter of
   B. Combs, Bremonds first settler, states that her father is authority
   for the information that the first old brick school house, built on
   the site of the present one was built to be a hotel. But when the
   railtoad was built the right -of- way did not come as far west as
   expected, so the building was too far from the town for a hotel and
   became a school building. Later a frame building was built in 1900,
   and the present school building was built in 1921. Lumber for the
   Roberts house was hauled from Galveston [DEL: ccording :DEL] according
   to the early recollection of some of the pioneers. 00033"Mac Hearne's
   father or W. A. Rumple built the first store in Bremond. The late Mrs
   Rumple told of how Mr Rumple and another man walked to Bremond from
   Calvert and had two carpenters come and build this store with lumber
   that had been brought in by wagon train from Galveston , in order to
   have the store ready for business by the time the railroad got to
   Bremond. In the boom days when Bremond was the terminal, the two-story
   frame building 's rented for as high as $100.00 a month. [DEL: he
   :DEL] The upper floors were divided into [DEL: offices :DEL] office's
   and used for business also, such as printing, etc. In the hotels the
   rooms were crude and the living quarters for families were often
   divided by cloth partitions. Few beds, some built into the walls, a
   few chairs, a stove and table constituted most of the furniture. There
   was very little space between the houses and one could almost step
   from one porch to another.
   
   "Old frame buildings that sprang up during the railroad terminal days
   were hinged at the corners so they could be folded up and moved to the
   next [DEL: t n :DEL] town when the terminus moved on. Many of these
   buildings did move on when the road built on to Marlin and Waco. As
   time went on and these buildings were moved or torn down brick
   buildings took their place and the brick section was where Abraham's
   gin now stands or nearer Watertown. The first residence section most
   thickly settled was in Watertown district (deriving its name from a
   well which became a water center, as water was scarce in those days.)
   On the east side of town there was a hotel and on the west were two
   churches and a parsonage. Then there was built the [DEL: Ste ns :DEL]
   Stevens house, the Roland house, the Baker home and on the hill the
   Keigwins lived, which later became the property of the Gann heirs.
   00044"In 1871 Dr Snelling, Dr Pool, Dr Harrington looked after the
   health of the town. Passengers as well as [DEL: ight :DEL] freight
   came into the old depot in the south end of town , many years before
   the passenger depot was built on the present spot in the north side of
   Bremond. As for the twon and community burial place this notice [DEL:
   a eared :DEL] appeared in the newspapre of the day, the "Central
   Texan". Friday, August 12, 1870, and was the beginning of Bremonds
   cemetery. "We feel it our sacred duty to call the public attention to
   the necessity of providing our city with a suitable graveyard. Already
   the dead are being interred in a spot of ground in the rear of the
   Union church. By what authority this acre has been appropriated to
   God, whereupon to build a "silent city" we are unable to learn: but we
   know that the manner in which the dead are buried ________ we leave to
   your imagination, we call a meeting of ladies and gentlemen to meet at
   the Union church, Saturday, August 20th. (1870). and hope all who are
   interested will attend. And who are not?" A later bulletin states that
   a [DEL: r :DEL] Mr Morehead and Whitlow were among the first to be
   buried in Bremond.
   
   "J. B. Adoue and J. L. Leonard operated a bank, which was not used so
   much since good sums were indifferently kept in trunks and other
   places around the premises, sometimes buried under a tree in the yard.
   Before the brick Baptist Church was built in 1871, travelling
   ministers did the preaching in down-town buildings. These buildings
   were also used for social gatherings, such as church suppers, dances
   and so forth. Mollie Bailey, of travelling show fame and her husband
   had a dance hall and dancing school. They always played for the
   dances. The people from far and near, old and young attended these
   dances one night and the next would attend a prayer service in the
   same building. Religion embraced recreation then as now.
   00055"Referring again to the "Weekly Central Texan" newspaper, R. H.
   Purdon, editor of August 12, 1870, there was an advertisement of the
   Bremond High School with George W. Holland as principal. Mrs Holland
   had the first piano in Bremond and gave music lessons, and advertised
   her concerts with programs given by the school. This was the only
   piano at the time in a fifty mile radius.
   
   "In 1871, the town was incorporated for the first time and Mr Whitmore
   was elected mayor. Sam [DEL: orehead :DEL] Morehead was the
   postmaster. There were a number of saloons, blacksmith shops and
   commission merchants. [DEL: he :DEL] The mixed train which travelled
   at a snails pace brought both passengers and freight. Stage coaches
   and wagons drawn by six or eight oxen carried commerce overland, the
   destination being north to Hillsboro, and as far west as Comanche
   County. The sound of the bells which were kept on the oxen made a
   musical noise. They attached these bells to the head of the animals in
   order that they could be found when they were turned loose to graze
   while on the nights camp. The oxen or horses were always turned out on
   the range near-by at night and did not often wander away from camp. It
   was not an uncommon thing for them to give warning of the Indians
   approach by their becoming frightened and running to the camp.
   
   "In the January 23, 1875 issue of "The Sentinel" published by B. W.
   Cammer, appeared the advertisement of the school / of Rev. H. M.
   Glass, " J. N. Fairbanks dentist," John Borglund,[-?] boot and
   shoemaker," and " A. Sheperd, manufacturer of bricks," some of which
   had been sold for [paving?] the streets of Bryan, Texas. This was some
   thirty or forty miles to the south. When the railroad was built
   farther north of Bremond the 'mushroom" houses were torn down and
   rebuilt at the next terminus. However a few had dared to leave Main
   street [DEL: [?] :DEL] and build their homes on the [DEL: rairie :DEL]
   prairie. 00066"And so as time went on and the railroad moved north to
   Marlin, Waco and Dallas, more homes were built in Bremond, and
   scattered over the community, brick buildings and churches replaced
   the two story frame structures of those pioneer days and stock-raising
   and farming became more [DEL: profitabl :DEL] profitable to the new
   towns and community. Sixty or more years ago about a half dozen Polish
   families came from Poland to live near Bremond. Being well pleased
   with the community south of town these diligent people sent for
   relatives and friends , until a large and prosperous community of this
   nationality was the result. In my next interview I will give you
   something of their history, the first families, their social life and
   so forth.
   
   "At the time I became a man on my own responsibility there was very
   little farming, and so I took up the stock industry for my livelihood.
   I have engaged on both for over forty years but my main interest has
   been the selling and trading in fine horses. I made trips to Tennessee
   and Kentucky to buy the finest thorough-bred horses. I have paid as
   much as a thousand dollars for a horse. I specialized in fine horses
   for transportation also for saddle horses, and race horses. One of my
   best horses was called Alice Wilkes, and was one of the finest race
   horses that ever trod the race tracks. She was a [DEL: entucky :DEL]
   Kentucky thorough-bred and I paid the sum of a thousand dollars for
   her. I still have the blue ribbons I received for the colts which I
   entered in the fairs which brought me $500.00 and $600.00 dollars. Tom
   Fountain, Senior, myself and Austin Robertson owned fine race horses
   and organized the Falls County Fair. 00077"Well do I recall the many
   times we held these Fairs! The very finest race horses were entered
   from all over Texas and other Southern states. It would be interesting
   to compare the races of today with those of the days I mention. Now
   the races are between the drivers of the modern race auto and the
   betting is on the ability of the driver. Where in our horse races the
   race was won or lost through the ability of the race horse. We
   selected our horse which we put up for the race and we stood by it,
   whether it won or lost. In memory I can see the old race track as my
   own Alice Wilkes circled around it and how we shouted and [DEL: we
   :DEL] were overcome with joy as she neared the end of the race and how
   we went wild when she won! In memory I can see the crowd as they
   selected their winner and how they shouted, threw their hats in the
   air and also went wild with joy over their choice coming out a winner.
   It was a community affair and many were the entries of our own men and
   boys for their race horses which they had so carefully trained, and
   many the times these horses won over the best [professional?] race
   horses.
   
   "Looking again down Memories Lane I can see the vehicles as they
   slowly wended their way to the Fair here the young boys who were
   riding their [DEL: firs :DEL] first ponies, riding near their parents
   and cantering happily along. There , down the road came the slow
   moving wagons filled with the large families of the day, driving the
   yoke of oxen . There [DEL: there :DEL] were the single young men of
   the neighborhood in their single seated buggy and the younger girls
   casting glance of envy at them. (How rich they were in their own
   estimation!). Still farther down the dusty road came the fine
   carraiges with the old negro ex-slave who used to be "Massa's
   coachman" driving the beautiful prancing high spirited team of fine
   horses to the family carriage. 00088"It was not all picnic's and races
   for the Bremond community,. There were the schools and churches. I
   have mentioned the schools, and will try to tell you something of its
   first churches. During the days of the stage coaches there was a
   series of meetings held in the vacant store buildings and the "First
   Missionary Baptist Church of Christ of / Bremond was organized, and
   the constitution was adopted in 1876.
   
   "In 1870 Texas Baptists were disturbed over the question of the
   location of Baylor University at Independence as this was not
   centrally located, so in August of 1870 a committee of forty-seven
   Baptists met in Bremond to settle this question. This was the
   begginning of meetings held for this purpose, the last one was in June
   of 1875, and as a result of these and other meetings Baylor College
   for Women was placed at Belton and Baylor University at Waco.
   
   "[DEL: Bremonds :DEL] Bremond's present Baptist Church of brick was
   erected in 1871, the builders descendents are still living. The old
   church bell has been faithful to ring for services, weddings, funerals
   and other occasions as of yore. Within its walls have been many
   spiritual revivals and many souls were born into Gods kingdom , so the
   records show. The pastors home of brick was built in 1889 and during
   this time has been remodeled and improved. The minutes show that the
   church has been served by the following pastors; Harris, Boone Lee,
   Scruggs, Stevens, Roland, Maxwell, Sanders, Morrow, McClurkin,
   Whipkey, Skinner, Wharton, West, Boynton, Carlisle, Crowder, Aldredge,
   Darby, White, Covington, Busby, Springer, and Dollahite. 00099"The
   records reveal that the Bremond Methodist Church began more than
   seventy years ago. A deed was issued by " Frederick A. Rice, Baraham
   Groesbeeck, trustees as by agreement, March 22nd, 1868, in
   consideration of $5.00 paid by T. P. Roads, Thomas Curry, Jesse
   Scruggs, T. A. Crouch and Thomas Saxon, trustees of M. E. Church,
   South, of Bremond --- certain lots---for the purpose of causing
   suitable buildings to be erected thereon to be used for devotional and
   educational purposes. " This lot apparently is the one upon which the
   parsonage is located. A subsequent deed from "F. A. Rice, T. W. House,
   trustees of March 22, 1869, for $75.00 paid by W. P. Brown, J. W.
   Turner, Franklin Ficklin, trustees of M. E. Church South and their
   successors--- [DEL: cert n :DEL] certain lots--- etc".
   
   "Apparently this last dead refers to the ground which the rpesent M.
   E. Church now stands. Some time during the pastorate of Rev. J. W.
   Wardlaw, (1912-1924) the former frame church building was damaged by
   wind.[/?] It was torn down and a more attractive frame building was
   put up. In 1930 or 1931 the building was again remodeled and made
   smaller, as it stands, appealingly inviting amid green shrubs today.
   Rev. E. J. Davis is the pastor and also pastor of Kosse.
   
   "From available church records the following pastors served the
   Methodist chruch at [DEL: [?] :DEL] Bremond: Reverneds Dimmitt, Allen,
   Stovall, Wootan, O. T. Hotchkiss, Cochran, Phair, Harmon, Williford,
   Collins : ([DEL: [?] :DEL] Reagan with Bremond) [-?] Chambers,
   Treadwell, Wagnon, Meyers, Biggs. (Kosse with Bremond). - Lindsey.
   (Hearne with Bremond). - Carr, & Wardlow : ([DEL: remond :DEL] Bremond
   and [DEL: circui :DEL] circuit) & Garrett [DEL: Bremond and circuit)
   :DEL] & Zimmerman (Bremond and Reagan). Sharp, DeWitt S. Hotchkiss,
   Ryan, Brient, Hull, and E. J. Davis ( [DEL: remond :DEL] Bremond and
   Kosse). 001010"Bremond now is served with an Independent School
   District which was created by Special Act of the Leglislature in 1919
   and comprises what was formerly [DEL: [?] :DEL] the original Bremond
   Independent School District, and all the former Wootan [DEL: ells
   :DEL] Wells Common School District. The area of the district is 35
   square miles. There are at present six public school buildings and one
   St Mary's Parochial School within the boundaries of the Bremond
   district. Thus the records show what Time has wrought between the past
   and the present.
   
   "As to my own life, I married Miss Annie Ward, a daughter of Gilbert
   Ward, our old neighbors in the Powers community, near little Brazos on
   the 24th, day of December 1872. To us were born five children. They
   are [DEL: W ll :DEL] Will, Frank, Mabel, Lottie, and Lillie. In 1897 I
   moved to the town of [DEL: eagan :DEL] Reagan where I reared my
   family. In 1923 my wife passed away and in August of 1926 I married my
   wife's half sister, Clara Ward, who lives with me in the home I moved
   to when I came to Reagan.
   
   "The towns of Bremond and Reagan are within a short distance of each
   other and in this sketch I have given you the partial history of the
   older town(Bremond). Perhaps at a later date I can give more history
   of the little town of Reagan.

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