Freestone County, Texas
History


News of 1884


Dallas Weekly Herald
May 15, 1884
Page: 1

Wortham  

Wortham, May 13 - [Special] - A centennial sermon was preached here on Sunday 
by the Rev. Armstrong, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church, south,
of the Waco district, to a crowded house.  Fifty-three dollars was raised on 
the occasion.
  The late floods of rain have greatly damaged crops.  The cotton replanted 
after the frost must be again planted, owing to the hard ground, packed by the
rain, making the third planting.  Millet is in the same fix.  Oats are heading,
and very promising.  Corn is very backward; farmers are busy plowing it the 
first time.
  The health of this county has been extra good for the last year or more, 
causing a considerable stir among the doctors.  Two of our most eminent 
physicians have moved to a less aluorious atmosphere, and three are leaving 
Mexia for Dallas, and more to spare.

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Dallas Weekly Herald
November 13, 1884
Page: 6

Freestone County

Wortham, Nov. 8 - [Special] - The officers in this (Freestone) county elected 
are:  Representative, R. E. Steel, Democrat; H. Childs, sheriff; O. C. Kervin,
county judge; T. Sims, county clerk; Joe Wormac, treasurer; P. Boyd, district
clerk.

[same issue]
Page: 7

Died

BARKLEY - At his late residence in this city at 1:30 o'clock yesterday, Major
James Ed Barkley.
  Major Barkley, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, December 19, 1824.  He 
moved with his parents to Ralls county, Missouri, and there, at an early age,
engaged in merchantile life.  He remained in Missouri until the gold fever 
broke out in California in 1849, when he emigrated to the Pacific Slope, casting
his fortunes with the early setlers of that region, engaging in minig with 
varied success until 1857, when he returned to Missouri.  He settled in Butler
county where he married Miss Margaret Moberly, to whom three children were 
born.  After his return to Missouri, he again engaged in merchantile business
which he conducted successfully until the breaking out of the late civil war.
He took an active part in the war, serving during its entire duration in the 
Confederate army.  Although well-to-do at the outbreak of the civil strife, at
its ending he, like thousands of others, was left poor, having lost his stock
of goods, his negroes and even his homestead, which was confiscated and his 
family turned out of doors.  When the Confederate cause had failed and the 
Southern armies were disbanded, Major Barkley came to Texas, settling at Cotton
Gin, in Freestone county, where he remained until 1869, when he moved to this
city.  For four years he was sheriff of Dallas county, making one of the most 
efficient and active officers the county has ever had.  To Major Barkley the
state owes more for the improvement of horses than to any other one person in
the state perhaps.  He loved a fine horse and it was his delight as well as his
pride to own thoroughbreds and improve horse stock.  He was a true friend under 
any and all circumstances.  A good neighbor, kind hearted and generous.  He was
always ready with open hand to help those in need.  A good man and a good 
citizen has gone and many there be who will miss him and sincerely mourn his 
loss.  Words are but as empty sounds to the hearts of those who grieve because 
of death's coming, but the HERALD condoles with the bereaved family of the 
deceased and tenders its sincerest sympathy in their hour of sadness and woe.