Freestone County, Texas History News of 1883 ======================================================================= The Galveston Daily News - January 5, 1883 Page: 3 FREESTONE Fairfield Recorder: Dr. J. E. Thomas says that Mr. Sam Hendricks, of Brewer Prairie, died suddenly, last Tuesday, of congestion of the lungs.... Monday evening, Mr. W. [N.?] Odom. of Ward Prairie, while returning home from town, was severely, and it was thought fatally, hurt by his horses running under the limb of a tree. Mr. Odom received a severe blow on top of his head, and also had a shoulder injured. For a day or two he was in a critical condition, but at last accounts was improving.... Mr. H. P. Davis, wishing to do a good act on Christmas day, thought of the prisoners in jail, and went around town and got up a large basketfull of nice provisions, and gave the prisoners quite a feast. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald February 8, 1883 Page: 2 Gibson Adams vs. Mullican; from Freestone county. A single question is presented - does there appear such privity of contract or estate as entities the landlord to a distress warrant for a debt due by the tenant against the property of the sub-tenant on the premises, consisting in produce raised by the sub-tenant on the portion of the premises rented by the sub-tenant, arising merely from that relation as subjects the sub-tenant to liability for the tenant's debt to the landlord, ... [same issue] New Mail Routes in Texas ...from Wichita Falls to Fort Sill, Indian Territory, from Vernon via Doans to Mobertie, from Wortham to Birdston, from Richland to Birdston, from Ranger via Caddo and Prairie to Ellasville,... ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald April 12, 1883 Page: 1 Wortham. Safe Blown Open and Robbed Wortham, April 7 - [Special] - The safe of J. J. Stubbs, one of our largest merchants was blown open last night and robbed of $1,632. The work was undoubtedly that of professionals. They broke open the front doors of the store with the use of a chisel and pinch bar. They went through the cash drawer in the counter and from there to where the safe stood. With a cold chisel and sledge hammer they succeeded in cutting a hole through the center of the top of the safe so as to blow off both the inside and the outside doors at one blast. The heavy outside door was blown some ten feet from the safe. They then rifled the safe of the contents of over $1,600, the most of which had been deposited by customers of the firm for safe keeping. They left no clue as to who they were, and there is litte hope of their capture. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald April 19, 1883 Page: 1 Mexia. Bad for the Burglar MEXIA, April 14 - [Special] - Last night a burglar entered the residence of Mr. William Hodges, in east Mexia, and stole a pair of pants of Mr. Walter Carter - a friend from Freestone cunty, who was spending the night with Mr. Hodges - expecting to make a good haul, as it was known that he had come over to Mexiato draw a lage sum from the bank to pay for a lot of cattle he had purchased. Fortunately, Mr. Carter had not drawn the money from the bank, and the burglar succeeded in finding only $10 or $15, which was in the garment. No clue to the party. Heavy rain-today. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald May 3, 1883 Page: 3 The Trunk Sold The Texas Trunk Railroad Sold Under the Hammer Yesterday It Was Bought in by Representatives of the Bondholders The Price Paid - Future of the Enterprise Other Local Notes and Comments ...A reporter of the HERALD called upon Captain S. J. Adams, and asked him what would be done with reference to building the road. He says parties in this city have bought up nearly all the construction claims, and have united with eastern capitalists, and that the road will be pushed forward rapidly to Sabine Pass. They will have ample capital to push through to completion, and that the company has not decided whether they will go to Palestine or by Fairfield, in Freestone county, as the country around the former place has been well filled with railroads, and they think by opening up a new country through Freestone it will be to mutual advantage. He assured the reporter, with great confidence, that the road would be completed as early a period as was possible. The reporter left with increased faith in the future of young and growing city. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald May 31, 1883 Page: 1 Wortham. Telegraph Operator Dead - Crops Wortham, May 26 - [Special] - Mr. Neal, night telegraph operator, died very suddenly here yesterday. Showers of rain fell here last night. Crop prospects are rather dull; oats have yielded about one-third of a crop; corn and cotton are looking well. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald June 7, 1883 Page: 12 Wortham. Killed by Lightning - Cheering Crop Notes Wortham, June 6 - [Special] - Two good brood mares were killed by lightning on one farm, and a jack and jaennet on another, during the late storm. The late rain, the first in some time, has been of great advantage. Hundreds of acres of cotton will be planted after this rain, besides much of it already planted will now come up. The country is healthy and prosperous. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald August 16, 1883 Page: 3 Wortham Wortham, Aug 9 - [Correspondence.] - We are sorry to have to report an unusual amount of malarial fever in this locality, which we attribute to a heavy flood of rain, which filled all the basins and creeks, recently. R. B. Longbotham, one of the pioneers of this country, died here yesterday at a very advanced age. This town is built on his head-right. The crops are doing well with a promise of a fair average yield. The bolls on the old cotton are ver small. The turf is yet green and yields a heavycrop for the haycutters, who are busily saving hay. They haven't forgotten the heavy loss of stock last winter. We have plenty of the best of peaches for home use, but not enough to market. Our camp-meeting here was a success, but was greatly perplexed on account of the absence of our presiding elder, who was expected to take the lead of it, Rev. Armstrong Steppand. Rev. Mr. Wells, of the Corsicana Messenger, did acceptable service, and accomplished much good. It was suddenly closed on account of the great amount of sickness. Another steam gin is going up, to meet the increased demand. Our brick-yards are actively engaged. Woodland gave a barbecue last week, at which the amendment question was discussed before the people, but the masses are careless on the subject. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald August 30, 1883 Page: 1 Wortham. Compromising Situation - Fence Cutting Wortham, Aug. 28 - [Special] - Rev. Mr. Williams, of the Protestant Methodist church, struck Rev. Mr. Starks, of the same church, several blows with an axe-handle, felling him to the floor insensible, at Mr. Linley's store. It was several hours before consciousness returned. Rev. Mr. Starks was accused by Mrs. Williams of coming to her bedside in the still hours of the night, with criminal intentions. Rev. Mr. Starks says he was only placing the cover on Mrs. Williams' children in the bed. The affair has created quite a sensation. The fence cutters have reached our section, and are doing active work. The drouth yet continues. ======================================================================= The Dallas Weekly Herald November 22, 1883 Page: 8 Wortham. Wortham, Nov. 17 - [Special] - The Methodist Episcopal church south is to have Rev. Mr. Haggard, and the Protestant Methodist, Rev. G. P. Miller of Corsciana for the ensuing year. The Christian church Rev. Mr. Sikes, of Springfield. There was a killing freeze to all tender vegetables Friday night. Pork's plentiful and better still; beef is at least down at prices in reach of all. The heavy fall in cattle is owing to the expense of carrying them through the winter, stockmen fearing such heavy losses as were incurred last winter. Some attribute the loss in prices to fence-cutting, because a few stocks have been forced on the market by this means. Some are looking to the Legislature to do big things as to the fence laws. ======================================================================= Source: Collin County Genealogical Society McKinney Weekly Enquirer (McKinney, Collin County, Texas) September 15, 1883 Freestone Co., Tex. From the Fairfield Recorder: Old BARCUS, an old negro.... died last week at a very old age thought to be something near 100.... He had a pleasant home at General Moody’s since the war, and when the [Moody] family broke up last year, they provided for his board and maintenance at the old home, which he did not want to leave. Old BARCUS...talked as he pleased, and did as he pleased, and by his own color was regarded with the greatest veneration and awe, some thinking him nearly a super-natural being. ======================================================================= Source: Collin County Genealogical Society McKinney Weekly Enquirer (McKinney, Collin County, Texas) November 3, 1883 Land for Sale. One hundred and thirteen and on-half acres of good prairie land, known as the HERRING tract, in the G. W. DANIEL survey, in Collin county, situated eight miles north of Vanalstyne [sic]. Address L. D. LILLARD, Fairfield, Texas. ======================================================================= Source: Collin County Genealogical Society McKinney Weekly Enquirer (McKinney, Collin County, Texas) December 8, 1883 S. A. SNEED, of Fairfield, killed a bald eagle, measuring eight feet from tip to tip of its wings, and an alligator weighing 300 pounds was killed by another in the party.