TX BIOS: Jago's Store 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 McGuire, Delise. PW District 17. Words 872 Briscoe County [Floydada?], Texas 200 pg. 1 JAGO'S STORE A. R. Jago established [Quitaque?] in 1892 when he built the first store there. This little store was the only one at Quitaque for 10 years and Mr. Jago handled a general line for the cowboys and ranchers in the surrounding country. The early mail service for this little community is also connected with his name since he was the third postmaster in the county. There were two at the [DEL: [?] :DEL] "F" ranch before the postoffice was moved to Mr Jago's store and he became postmaster. Mr. Jago with his two eldest sons, Ben and Clem , came to the Quitaque Valley in the winter of 1890. His three younger sons, Bruce, Joe and John joined them about three years later. The wife and mother died before they came to this country. In February 1891 Mr. Jago built the old Jago store building which was one large room about 18 by 24 feet. Later when he got the permit for the Post Office he built a "lean to" on the east side of the store, to house the Post Office. The Post Office was called Quitaque because that was the name given to it by Col. Charles Goodnight when the mail was distributed at the old "F" Ranch, at the time owned by Col. Goodnight. Mr. Jago and his sons lived for a time in a half dugout. They [filed?] on [?] land and came to own quite a number of sections of land that way. The boys raised some cattle and the father was in charge of the store. After a few years he had a nice five room house and painted it white. As the majority of houses in the county were half dugouts this home was considered very elegant. While the Post Office was still at the "F' ranch there was a mail route from [Clarendon?] to Colorado City. [?] Addleberry, of Clarendon was the mail carrier. He often stopped for the night at the ranch which was his only stop between Clarendon 00022and Colorado City. The cowboys were very fond of him. He always carried the keys to the mail bags and if he met anyone on the route inquiring about their mail he obligingly unlocked the pouches and looked through to see if there was any mail for the inquiring party. He always carried his camping outfit and if night overtook him a long way from a ranch house he just camped wherever he was. If a blizzard overtook him he made for the nearest ranch house and "Holed up" for the duration of the storm. He was owner of the Addleberry Motel at Clarendon. After the Jago store was built a new mail line was chartered from [Estelline?] to Silverton. Clem and Ben Jago carried the mail from Estelline. They would meet half-way which was on Turkey Creek, near where the town of Turkey is now located. They would exchange mail bags and ride back to their respective towns. Quitaque, being on the route, received her mail that way. On one occasion when John [Grundy?] had a young follow, named Peele, carrying the mail, and it so happened that there was over $300.00 in cash in the sack that day, Peele made in invisible slit in the sack and stole the money, so it was said. When he reached his destination he turned the bag over to Ben Jago at the halfway and turned back as usual. Ben did not notice the hole in the bag until he reached Quitaque. When he found the mail had been robbed he and his father, with a fast team hitched to a buggy, made a quick trip to Estelline to the home of John Grundy. He joined them and they gave chase to the fugitive. They caught him and recovered the money. The younger man was sent to the reformatory for [several?] years and later became a good citizen. This was unusual for the early day settlers were considered very honest. Up until 1902 Jago's store and residence was about all there was to Quitaque. During the fall of 1902 another store, a blacksmith shop, a school house and three more residences were added. Mrs. Lucile Graham, of Quitaque remembers Mr. Jago and paid him the following tribute: "Mr. Jago was a round little man with snowy hair and long flowing beard 00033and twinkling eyes. He had very kindly manners and [was?] the nearest [approach?] to Santa Clans I have ever seen. Every child loved him because he treated them with love and kindness, often giving them candy from his one small glass showcase. My father moved here in 1901. I was 8 years of age. We made a weekly trip to Jago's store for the mail. We settled on Roberts Creek September 1 and Mr. Jago died November 2, yet, in that short time he had so won my childish admiration that I cried bitterly when I heard of his death. I remember feeling a sense of complete loss." Just before Mr. Jago died he had started a new store building which was purchased by M. C. Potter, who used it for a grocery store. Mr. Potter purchased the old Jago Store and remodeled in into a residence, which burned down later. Grandmother [Bucher's?] present home was built on the site where the old Jago Store stood, a familiar landmark for years and years. BIBLIOGRAPHY Mrs. Lucile Ross Graham, ............. Quitaque, Texas -30- ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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