TX BIOS:  Mrs. Amanda E. Lockered
   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 -- White Pioneers
   
   Miss Effie Cowan, P.W.
   
   McLennan County, Texas
   
   District No. 8
   
   No of words 2,750
   
   File No. 240
   
   Page No. 1 Reference:
   
   "Interview with Mrs. Amanda E. Lockered, Chilton, Texas
   
   "I was born in Falls County in 1856. My parents were Newton B. and
   Susan [eathers?] Maxey. Father was born May 6, 1832 in Kentucky, while
   mother was born in Indiana. To them were born seven children, namely:
   Billie Maxey, of Marlin, Texas, Deceased; Steve Maxey of Chilton,
   deceased; John D. Maxey, Lorena, Texas, deceased; Mrs. Dicey Hyden,
   Chilton, Texas, deceased; Mrs. Mattie Shields of Mart, Texas, and
   Albert Maxey of Waco, are still living, the only two besides myself
   left of this large family.
   
   "During the Civil War father served under the Confederate flag, and
   was stationed at Calveston, Texas. He was home on a sick furlough when
   the war closed. He came to Texas about the year 1851 or '52. There
   were five families who came through driving oxen to their wagon train.
   They were all from Missouri, and were the Dixons, [rahams?],
   [McCutchans?], Maxeys and [Weathers?]. The daughter of Mr.
   [Weathers?], Susan, being my mother. They crossed the Brazos river at
   the Falls of the Brazos, and located in the settlement now known as
   Chilton.
   
   "Father built a log house south of where the depot now stands. He was
   the first white settler in the present town of Chilton. The nearby
   settlements were Durango to the southwest, and old Carolina to the
   south, and Mooreville five miles northwest. The county was wild and
   unsettled, we all lived in log cabins. The roads were just cow trails
   and when we needed any supplies we sent our produce-- corn, hogs and
   later on cotton, to [Millikens?], where they were exchanged for
   farming implements, clothes and groceries.
   
     NOTE: C - 12. Tex.
     
   00022They drove through in the ox-drawn wagons and would be gone from
   five to six weeks.
   
   "Another early settlement over towards Marlin was Cedar Springs, so
   called from a number of springs. One spring was located in the valley
   near the cross-roads to Marlin where [?] store stands today. Near the
   spring stood a large cedar tree and nearby a group of smaller cedar
   trees. Hence the name of "Cedar Springs". These springs are near the
   river and only a few miles south of the spot conceded to be the old
   site of Vienea. The mail carrier was "Croft Downs", so Mr. Green
   Roberts recalls. He was a bachelor and he always seemed to derive
   special pleasure from a plug of chewing tobacco and an occasional
   drink of whiskey, and carrying the mail in all kinds of weather. He
   rode horseback and carried the mail from Marlin through [Viones?] and
   on to the other communities. Later it was carried from Marlin to Eddy
   by a negro named John Love. This route went through Chilton and
   Mooreville.
   
   "The mail carrier's had the Brazos to ford at the Falls, or when it
   was on a rise if they did not appear on schedule--we knew the old
   river was on a rise and they could not swim their horses over it.
   There was a story of Croft Downs trying to swim the river while it was
   on one of these rises. The water was swift and near the flood stage,
   when he started across eye-witnesses said they saw the mail carrier,
   mail and all, slip under the pressure of the current, plunge over the
   falls and disappear in the deep, whirling water below. A party hurried
   to the 00033rescue, expecting to drag a corpse from its depths. But
   they were mistaken. The mail carrier, horse and mail, had drifted down
   past the bend, through treacherous Sumpter Hole, and had climbed out
   on the west side of the river. The mail went through--after having
   been delayed only an hour!
   
   "The Brazos bottom at that time was densely timbered and all kinds of
   wild animals lived in it. There was wild game to satisfy the greatest
   of hunters. Deer, bear and wolves, as well as all kinds of birds
   abounded in the timber. While on the banks of the river occasionally
   an alligator could be seen as he slept in the sun by the bank. This
   reminds me of a story of my father. It may sound a little far-fetched,
   but nevertheless it is true. He often hunted fifteen or twenty miles
   from home on the river. On one of these trips he carried several
   hunting dogs. They came upon one of these alligators on the river bank
   and the dogs attacked it. The alligator turned and swallowed the dog.
   My father immediately stabbed the huge alligator with his large dirt
   hunting knife, rescued the dog alive, from its stomach. It was all
   over in just a few minutes, only the time it took to stab the animal
   through the heart and cut it open and rescue the dog. Another time he
   killed a bear with this knife.
   
   "It was just a few weeks after they reached Texas that my grandfather
   [Weathers?] was killed accidentally by the hired man who mistook him
   for a bear. They were out hunting and had killed a deer, grandfather
   [Weathers?] had on a coat made of bear skin and was leaning over the
   deer, skinning it, when the hired man saw him and thinking it was a
   bear eating the deer, he fired the fatal shot which cost my
   grandfather his life. He was the 00044first person buried in old
   Carolina cemetery. Carolina was once a settlement between the present
   town of Durango and Chilton, some few miles west of the town of Marlin
   and in what we called West Falls County. Today all that remains is the
   old cemetery where our loved ones lie. We went to the old Cow Bayou
   Baptist Church, the minutes dating from its organization are in
   possession of my daughter, Mrs. Susie Miles, of Chilton. This old
   church was rebuilt once, the members worshipped there on the banks of
   the bayou for many years, and at times at old Cottonwood school house,
   finally building a church on the hill at Mooreville (five miles away),
   overlooking Cow Bayou, not far from where the early Mooreville school
   house stood. Later lightning struck the church after it had been moved
   to the hill and it burned to the ground. The congregation met for a
   number of years at the school house. Some time after the World War,
   this church dissolved, members having moved away. The Methodist Church
   established on its present site in 1874 served the community since.
   Its Sunday School being regularly attended by children and members of
   other denominations in the community
   
   "The minutes of the old Cow Bayou Baptist Church gives the names of
   the early settlers of the Chilton-Mooreville community, especially
   those who came during the ten year period of 1848 to 1859. Reading
   from these minutes we read as follows: 'The Cow Bayou Baptist Church
   of Falls County, was organized July 14, [1869?]. The following persons
   having presented themselves on Cow Bayou: Z. E. Mix, Elizabeth Mix,
   Rebecca Dixon, Martha A. Herndon and J. [?]. Harris, with their
   letters and the following brethren and sisters who were baptized
   during the week previous, namely: Susan A. 00055Brabbin, Laura E.
   Harris, Mary E. Kirkpatrick, Jospeh Herndon, John T. Moore, Anthoney
   [?]. Elythe and [?]. F. Kirkpatrick, these desiring to be constituted
   into a Baptist church and all of them having been baptized upon a
   public profession of their faith in Christ by a regular Baptist
   minister, was by their request constituted into a Baptist Church
   according to the usual forms. J. [?]. Harris was chosen clerk and John
   McLane, Pastor.
   
   "At the next meeting (fifth Sunday in July, 1859), S. [?]. McCaib,
   Margaret Moore, Robert Moore, W. Z. Dixon, and Margaret Jackson were
   received into membership by letter and Cora Ann [lythe?] was Baptized.
   A month later (fourth Sunday in August, 1859) "Brother John McLane
   preached at candlelight and Newton B. Maxey (my father) and Lucy Smith
   joined by faith "and in the following month went down into the waters
   edge (Cow Bayou) and were baptized."
   
   "Later minutes reveal other families who came to make this community
   their home, this settlement extending almost to old Carolina and
   Durango on the south, to the McLennan County line on the north, and
   the Bell County line to the river on the west and east. Some of these
   settlers lived deep in the woods where the timber has since been
   cleared and the towns of Satin and Chilton are located.
   
   "That the Cow Bayou Baptist Church of Falls County, was active and
   progressive is revealed, in that, as early as 1859, it made
   application to the Baptist Association for membership; that it was
   accepted and Robert Moore, Z. E. Mix and W. Z. Dixon were delegates to
   this association in 1859, as shown by these minutes. Since these
   minutes throw some 00066light upon who the early settlers were, listed
   below are additions to the Church for the first eleven years, namely:
   "Joined, in 1859: [Wm?]. [rabbin?], Joshua Smith." These minutes
   reveal no services were held in this church in 1860, but that services
   were held in the various homes. Perhaps the log cabin had not been
   built in which as a girl I worshipped, I do not recall if I have heard
   from my elders this fact or not. Perhaps since the Indians were still
   keeping the settlers in fear it was thought best to have the services
   in the homes.
   
   "About the time of the breaking out of the [ar?] between the States,
   the minutes show that the church was still receiving members and some
   new names appear. "Joined in 1861: Augustus Carback, John [?].
   Fortune, Leonard Magee, J. [?]. McCaib, Robert Shields, Thadeons
   Nixon, A. C. Brandon, Sarah Brandon, Naomi Nix, N. Nix, G. A. Nix."
   Again there is a skip in the minutes from August 1861 to November
   1863. This was during the war and the best of my memory the community
   was in such an unsettled state that the minutes were not kept while
   the war was raging, or if this alone was not the only reason, the
   church clerk must have been away to the conflict. I was just a very
   small child as you may note.
   
   "Then in 1863 the minutes started again and again we have new names:
   "Joined in 1863: B.[H?]. Fugett, O. P., [?]. S., and [?]. T. Fugett,
   Jane Rayfield, [?]. F. [Roye?] and wife, Mary C. [Roye?]. In 1864 we
   have the following names which still show that other settlers had come
   into the community: "Joined in 1864: G. Z. Tarker, Peter Simons,
   [Catherine?] Vinson, [Alizabeth?] Nixon, Robert Moore, Isaac Mayfield,
   [Willis?] Roye, 00077Susan Maxey (my mother), Mary J. Young, Sarah
   Nichols, Eliza Jane DeGraffenreid, Mary Helen Degraffenreid, Elizabeth
   Hines, Mary Simons, Mary Tarker, Mary Stephenson and Margaret Nixon."
   
   "Again another year passes by with no records of any admissions into
   the church, this was the year 1865. Several called for letters of
   dismission. Perhaps the closing of the War had something to do again
   with the work of the church. "Joined in 1866: B. [?]. Martin and wife,
   E. Martin, Susan Martin, A. B. Blackwell, Lucinda Blackwell, A. E.
   Brandon, and wife, Sarah Brandon, O. P. Littlefield and wife, Frances
   Littlefield, Samantha Nix, Marion Nix, Thos. Burnley and "Sister" A.
   A. Griffin, H. C. McLaughlin, [arah?] Greer, S. J. Moore, Mary
   Parker."
   
   "Joined in 1867: W. J. C. Grayson and sister Doranda Grayson," This is
   all the new members shown for this year, but a collection was taken to
   build a new church. The records do not show if one was built then. One
   notes that each year shows that new families have come into the
   community by their affiliation with the church.
   
   "Joined in 1868: George L. Wright, Ellen, Mary A. and Ellen [?].
   Wright, Sister L. D. Leftin and Thomas [Stolawn?]." An interesting
   note is here found in the minutes for this year: "following
   considerable discussion and prayer foot-washing was rejected by a vote
   of the members. Joined in 1869: J. [?]. Eddins and wife Margaret
   Eddins, C. Littlefield, Rachael Bronson. Joined in 1870: None."
   
   "Joined in 1871: Tisel Jackson and H. Jackson, Martha E. Grayson, John
   and Sarah Burrows, James Williams, William Maxey and sister M. R.
   00088Maxey, J. W. McNeely. Joined in 1872: Frances Bruner, N. J.
   Young, Robert Jones, Wm. and Mary Ruble, Ransford Jones, Thomas Jones,
   Jesia and John DeGraffenreid, Wm. Littlefield, L. C. and W. F. Martin
   and four people named Hayes, no initials, were listed: Y. P. and M. A.
   Pinson Joined in 1873: Harriet Ruble. Joined in 1874: Moses H. and
   Lenora ann Mears."
   
   "Frequently letters of dismission were granted and many received their
   letters whose names were not listed in the minutes, they probably
   joined the church and their names failed to be listed, possibly
   through the changes of the church clerks. To complete the reference to
   this old Cow Bayou Baptist Church it is well to reflect that the old
   minutes offer a glimpse into some of the early trials of the pioneer
   age. Throughout the records of the church "in conference", "labored"
   and prayed with members for bad behavior pertaining to dancing,
   drinking, getting drunk, selling whiskey, swearing, stealing cattle,
   shooting a man, or unbecoming conduct." The church too, in a number of
   instances, sat as a jury to settle misunderstanding between its
   members. Human pathos often creeps out, when it is recorded that some
   members came humbly before the church and asked forgiveness, were
   forgiven and received with open and loving arms again into the
   fold--into the care and Watchful protection of the church."
   
   "When father returned from the war, I was nine years old and can
   remember how the community began to settle rapidly. Many came from the
   north. [We?] moved near the mouth of Cow Bayou to what is now the
   [Corruth?] 00099Springs settlement. Among the new emigrants were the
   Howells, Less, Dixons, Cox and Landrum families.
   
   "In 1890, the San Antonio and [Aransas?] Pass Railroad was built from
   Cameron to Waco, thereby making the final connecting link to the
   coast. The new towns sprang up along the road. Chilton was in its
   path, so the settlement along Cow Bayou moved to the railroad and our
   new town was named Chilton, For L. [?]. Chilton who owned the first
   store here. Another mercantile establishment was Crawford and Lane.
   The old town used to be on the Marlin road, but when the depot was
   built, the business houses moved nearer the depot. N. R. Flowers also
   owned a store and the postoffice was in his store for a while. Dane
   and [Steen?] had a saloon and Gordon Gaither also had a store.
   
   "As a girl I went to school to Mrs. Gordon Gaither who at that time
   was a Miss Florence Darrow, of Waco, Texas. I will give you some
   extracts from some notes by Mrs. Gaither on these early days and the
   coming of the railroad. (Mrs. Gaither passed away last winter, 1938).
   She was a lovely character. To quote from her diary: "I claim I am a
   native Texan, although I was born in Canada. The first I ever knew of
   life was in Waco, Texas, a few months after I blinked at daylight.
   There, I grew up, received my education, and got a position as teacher
   at Durango, Falls County. At that time Durango was the leading
   community west of the Brazos river in Falls county.
   
   "With the railroad pushing its way through Falls County to Waco, it
   was my good luck to be the first young woman to ride the train to
   Waco," 001010(Mrs Gaither writes) "I managed to get to Lott, the
   nearest station to take the train, and to my chagrin when I got there,
   I was the only woman at the station, and it looked like an army of
   working men, men of all types, tall, stocky, some rough looking, with
   greasy overalls and whiskers hair and hats. They talked loudly and I
   got the impression half of them were drunk."
   
   "Mrs. Gaither asked, "Reckon its safe for me to get on the train with
   those men?" "Of course", was the reply. "Railroads are supposed to be
   safe, and the conductor and engineer will take care of you." "I kinda'
   blinked, bolstered up my courage and went aboard. The train whistled
   and men--a train-load--climbed on. A few minutes later we were on the
   way--not going as fast as we should as a rain had damaged the track,
   so we just rolled along. In a little while after I got aboard, I was
   having the time of my life. The men were quite gentlemanly and
   considerate and being a young woman and the only one on the train, I
   received plenty of attention:
   
   "Mrs. Gaither's diary continues. "After we had traveled an hour, some
   one called out 'Chilton". The train came to a stop, and I looked
   around and couldn't see a thing but a mesquite thicket, it just looked
   like a stop in the road. Chilton's stores were three-quarters of a
   mile up the hill on a spot near where my home stands today. It could
   not be seen for the mesquite trees and being up the hill from the
   train. It was nearly dark when the train reached Waco, and some of my
   family met me, and after I reached home a thousand questions were
   asked. How we managed to get along on the new railroad without going
   into a creek 001111or a dump, etc.?
   
   "Mrs. [aither?] was elected to teach school at Chilton, where she
   resided with some of the other teachers in the Gaine's home. After
   teaching until the school term closed, she was re-elected to teach at
   Durango, where she taught two full terms, but after two years, she
   again taught in Chilton, and was assistant to A. [?]. Eddins, who
   later became the superintendent of the Falls county schools. The
   trustees of that day were John Bryant, John Sylvester and [Sam?]
   Gaither; and as Professor Eddins used to say, Gordon Gaither stole one
   of the best school teachers Falls county ever had when he married
   her."
   
   "On the first day of January, 1874, I married Benjamin M. Lockered, a
   native of Georgia, who worked for John [lliott?] in a general
   mercantile business. To us were born seven children, namely: Mrs
   [Bertie?] Lands, Chilton; Mrs. J.C. Aikens, Chilton; Mrs. S. E. Miles
   (with whom I make my home), Chilton; J.R. Lockered of Hillsboro,
   Texas; Newton B. Lockered of Bryan, Texas; Mrs. J. L. Allen of Mart,
   Texas. My husband passed away in February, of 1895.
   
   "And so the past as it rises up before me looks as if it were a dream,
   times are so changed. As we look back over our little community
   history it is the history of other communities, and these other
   communities make up the whole of our history and country. There have
   been lulls in the trek of mankind toward civilization. All efforts to
   stay the hands of destiny failed, and the men with the modern trend of
   a newer civilization moves on. Whether he is happier or not does not
   001212alter circumstances. To us who have been here through the turn
   of the century, we see from both viewpoints.
   
   "But destiny is still on the march. Some of the events we do not like.
   We could serenely cling to the old traditions--the old ways. I feel
   that this is especially true of us of the older generation. On the
   other hand there are many dissatisfied among the younger set with
   things as they are. Whether they should be satisfied--whether it is
   their fault that they are not more contented, or whether some destiny
   over which they have no control rules them, the facts are, changes in
   the old order of things are upon us. The demands of a more complex
   society remains to be solved by the younger generation. We have done
   our part, and we were happy in doing it. We lived simply and enjoyed
   living for the very joy of life!"

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced 
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of
this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives
to store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/

Thanks to the Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/txcat.html
***********************************************************************