Freestone County, Texas History News of 1899 =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - January 12, 1899 edition House of Representatives L. D. Lillard of Freestone nominated Leo Satterwhite of Freestone. ==================================================================== Davis County Clipper (of Davis County, Utah) - Feb. 17, 1899 issue; Page: 4 BOUNTIFUL BRIEFS Elder John A. Call is traveling in Freestone Co., Texas =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - February 18, 1899 edition; Page: 8 Miss Demoss is Dead Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex., Feb. 17- Miss Demoss, living near Cade, who was badly burned about three weeks ago, died at her home this morning. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - March 5, 1899 J. D. Johnson Was Acquitted Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., March 4 - J. D. Johnson, tried for the killing of R. C. Beauchamp in August 1897 was acquitted. [same issue] Dates set for March 18: George McAdams vs. W. L. Moody et al from Freestone; ... =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - March 19, 1899 No Quorum in House ...The opponents of the bill are vigilant and determined. As I passed down the aisle of the house this morning Representative Kennedy of Freestone, who is extremely active in his opposition, informed me, with some evidence of delight, that the Dallas charter would not get a hearing... =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - March 31, 1899 Minor National Capital News ... A post office has been established at Lanely, Freestone county, Tex., with James K. Lane as postmaster. ... =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - April 12, 1899 Medical Examination Corsicana, Tex., April 11 - The medical examining board of the thirteenth judicial district met in the office of Dr. William Pannill to-day, the following members being present: Drs. S. W. Johnson and William Pannill of Navarro. Dr. Sneed of Freesotne. Dr. T. F. Oates, president of the board, Limestone county. The board examined F. R. Adamson of Mexia, L. E. Clark of Cotton Gin, W. W. Kirksey of Kerens and F. W. Thomas of Frosa?, Limestone county. Report on the application will be made later on. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - April 26, 1899 Sheriffs' Department Navarro County Corsicana, Tex., April 25 - On the night of April 19 the storehouse of J. J. Stubbs at Wortham, Freestone county, was burglarized and the following goods taken: Five pearl-handled knives, three blades; one box of brown handled knives, two blades, all branded John L. Huller & Co.; lot of sill hanckerchiefs, white and black. Ten dollars reward for thief by G. W. Wilder, Wortham, Tex. R. J. Allen, sheriff Navarro county. ==================================================================== [Probably Nancy Katie Willard b 16 Nov 1881 d/o Joseph Franklin Willard] Dallas Morning News - June 4, 1899 Unpublished Letters ...Katie Willard, Fairfield; ... ==================================================================== [Courtesy of Billie Bournais] Fairfield Recorder - Friday, June 10, 1899 Mr. Billie Sneed, who is attending school at the A. & M. College, returned home this week, school being out for the summer. Miss Berta Sneed and her little sisters, Ella and Alice, returned Wednesday evening from a two weeks visit to Dawson, Texas. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - June 12, 1899 Society over the State Misses Buard and Alice Sneed of Fairfield are in the city. =============================================================== [Courtesy of Billie Bournais] Fairfield Recorder - Friday, June 21, 1899 Miss Berta Sneed and her brother Jim left yesterday morning for Buffalo to attend the funeral of their uncle Dr. Oliver. Wedded Again Our well known townsman, Dr. Wm. N. Sneed, left for Alabama last week, and in the city of Troy, in that state, he was wedded to Miss Kate Adams, a well known lady of that place, and a member of one of the oldest and most respected families of that city. The ceremony took place on last Wednesday evening. The Doctor and his bride, on their return home, will spend a few days in New Orleans and then go up the river to Vicksburg and return home by way of Shreveport, expecting to arrive here some time next week. Dr. Sneed is one of our best known and most popular citizens, and the best wishes of his numerous friends in the county will go out to him and his for a happy and prosperous life. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - June 21, 1899; Page: 10 Declare Against Trusts Second Annual Meeting of the Hardware and Implement Retail Dealers THE ATTENDANCE VERY FLATTERING ...An auditing committee was appointed as follows: A.B. Taber, Dallas; Townes Longbotham, Wortham; W.M. Gunnell, Marlin. ...The following were among those in attendance upon the meeting: T. Longbotham, Wortham; L. L. Wilson, Belton; ... =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - June 23, 1899 Freestone Oil Fields Mexia, Tex., June 22 - The oil boom has struck many of our investors and many oil leases are being negotiated. The fields are in Freestone county near here. Unusual developments are predicted by those who are advised in regard to the matter. =============================================================== [Courtesy of Billie Bournais] Fairfield Recorder - Friday, June 28, 1899 Dr. W. N. Sneed and his wife arrived home last Saturday evening from Alabama. The Doctor returned sooner than he expected, having been called back unexpectedly by letters announcing family sickness and the death of his brother-in-law, Dr. Oliver, of Buffalo. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 1, 1899 Mortuary BLAIN - Mexia, Tex., June 30 - Major W. C. Blain died at his home near Dew, this morning after an illness of two weeks. He was a pioneer citizen of Freestone county, an officer in the confederate army and an old Indian fighter. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 1, 1899 Corsicana Budget ... Mr. Henry Ash, a West Virginia oil man has been in this section some time prospecting and has secured quite a number of leases, some of which are on lands in Freestone county, and on these Freestone county lands he will begin drilling for oil as soon as rigs can be put into position. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 14, 1899 Meeting at Mexia New Line Mexia, Tex., July 12 - The business men of Mexia are figuring on getting the railroad to be built from the Freestone county mineral fields to some point on the Central road. Yesterday afternoon an enthusiastic meeting was held at the city hall, with C[harles] L[ewis] Watson as chairman and Major N. P. Houx as secretary. A committee was appointed to confer with the agent of the company and endeavor to secure the road for Mexia. A proposition was submitted to the company this evening by the citizens which, if accepted, will insure the building of the road from this point. The road is said to be a certainty as there are valuable coal and other mineral deposits in Freestone county just north of Fairfield, and the race seems to be between Mexia and Wortham for the terminus. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 23, 1899 Religious Mulkey's Fairfield Meeting Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., July 20 - Rev. Abe Mulkey closed a successful ten days meeting here last night. There were [top of page] sixty-nine accessions to the various churches here during the meeting and there will be several others who will join. The free-will offering to Rev. Mulkey for his services was $270 and a considerable amount was raised for the Methodist orphan asylum at Waco. This town has not had such a revival for years. Rev. Mulkey and wife left last night for home and go to-morrow to Lewisville, Tex., where he begins a meeting to-morrow night. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 25, 1899 National Capital News Rural Free Mail Delivery Special to The News Washington, July 24 - A post office has been established at Shanks, Freestone county, Tex., with HarveyShanks as postmaster. The post office of County Line, Cooke county, Tex., will be discontinued after ... =============================================================== [Probably Nancy Elizabeth Odom Willard b 27 Jun 1843 w/o James Aaron Willard] Dallas Morning News - July 26, 1899 Society Mrs. Aaron Willard of Fairfield is a guest of Mesdames Odom and Fite. [same issue] Shot and Killed Buffalo, Tex., July 24 - Yesterday near noon, about ten miles north of this place, in Freestone county, a man named D. Welch was shot and killed. Further particulars are not obtainable. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 29, 1899; Page: 5 Death from Well Damp Oakwoods, Leon Co., Tex., July 28-Two negro men, Wm. Brown and Oscar Harris, lost their lives yesterday in a well at New Butler, Freestone county, on account of gas in the well. Brown went in and died. Harris went down after the dead man, but soon showed signs of suffocation. They hauled him to the top, but he fell back and broke his neck. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - July 31, 1899 Society Mrs. Georgia Barnett of Dallas is visiting relatives here and in Freestone county. Mrs. C. T. Harris and daughter, Miss Alma, have returned from Freestone county. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - August 2, 1899 Editor Satterwhite Injured Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., July 31 - News has just been received here over the telephone from Wortham, in this county, of the serious cutting of Lee Satterwhite by a negro. Mr. Satterwhite is the editor of the Wortham News at that place. Two negroes have been arrested. [same issue] Remanded without Bail Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., July 31 - The examining trial of Taylor Ham, charged with the murder of W. H. Welch in this county last Sunday, was conducted here to-night and the defendant was remanded to jail without bail. A writ of habeas corpus will probably be applied for before Judge L. B. Cobb. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - August 18, 1899 Freestone county, showing an increase of $48,800 over last year. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - August 26, 1899 Confederate Veterans' Column Confederate Pensions S. O. YOUNG Assistant General, Texas Division, U. C. V. Wortham, Tex., Aug. 12, 1899 - Dr. S. O. Young. Editor Confederate Column, Galveston, Tex. - Dear Sir and comrade: There is a subject which I think is or should be of vital interest ot every true and gallant ex-confederate soldier that is now engaging the attention of our U. C. V. association, as well as others outside of the organization. I refer to the advantages being taken of our late confederate veteran's pension law. The aim, object and intention of its provision were right, just, and commendable as far as the object in view was concerned, the pensioning of the old, disabled confederate soldier who is destitute of means and unable to make a support by manual labor. The pittance of $8 per month is a God-send to their declining years provided they and they alone are permitted to reap its benefits. But I do not think that their rights are properly protected by the legislature enactments which rendered the provision of the amendment a law. In the first place the word "indigent" is not as fully and scruplously defined as it might or should be, nor the line as clearly drawn between needy applicants and those who by a little stretch of conscience could be able to subscribe to the requirements of the pension law. Another lame place in the enacted law is where the question is asked, "Did you ever desert the confederacy?" The designing applicant (if there should be such) could have deserted the army in face of the enemy and then answer this question in the negative. Deserting the confederate army and deserting the confederacy are by no means syonymous terms. The spirit of the law no doubt is clear, phraseology in this particular will admit of a construction calculated to detract the ends of justice. If I were asked the question whether or not I deserted the confederacy during the war, and though I might wear upon my how the burning brand of a deserter from the army, I could truthfully answer no, and that I had remained within the limits of the confederacy during the entire four years of strife. But enough of this. The most humiliating feature connected with the pension law and its provisions is the rush of many applicants for a position uponthe rolls who under a strict construction of the law and its primary object and meaning are not entitled to its provisions. I was a confederate soldier for four years and three months. Fought through the campaigns of the army of Northern Virginia under the immortal Stonewall Jackson and his successor until the end of the fray. And I entered heart and soul in the contest for the passage of the amendment. In doing so I was firmly and decidedly of the opinion that no honest, true, gallant and patriotic confederate soldier would ever apply for a pension as long as he could possibly weather the storms of life without it. And I am convinced today that comparatively few of this class of grand old heroes have their names enrolled upon the applicant's list which is swelling so rapidly. The disabled and unfortunate of this class are the ones whose rugged path through the few hard old years yet left to them should be rendered as smooth as possible by at least the full constitutional allowance of $8 per month. But unless the county judges and commissioners exercise the greatest diligence and severest censorship in regard to the favorable consideration fo applications, these old worthy and needy battle scarred veterans of a lost but sacred and glorious cause will receive less than $8 per year, while other not so deserving or needy are seeking to gobble up the lion's share of the appropriation. I wish it borne in mind that I have the greatest respect and esteem and the highest admiration for the true and faithful confederate soldier that one man ever entertained for another, yet when I see so far as my observation goes less than 20 per cent of these old standing monuments of the world's greatest and grandest soldiers applying for a pension, I am forced to the humiliating conclusion that there are many seeking the benefit of this appropraition whose war record was made far away from the surging front where victories were won and martial glory decked the brow of many struggling with adversity and scorning to apply for a pension. This may sound very strange coming from an old confederate soldier, but I feel deeply upon this subject and I but voted the sentiment of a great many others whom I have heard express themselves in regard to this matter. I have heard of some and I know of others who have applied for pensions who are able to and are making a good living while are others who claim to be indigent circumstances when their wives or children own good, comfortable homes. These things cast a dark shadow over the name of the confederate soldier, but they exist all the same and unless strict measures are taken to confine the pension and benefits of the pension law to those actually in need and unable to make a living the law will prove a failure, its benefits a farce and its repeal will be only a matter of time. The abuse of the federal pension law is a burning shame and disgrace and not only to the American congress but to the people as well. And unless the present tendency in that direction is checked and closely guarded the same shameful condition of things will sooner or later obtain and exist in connection with our own state pension law. The law allowed pension attorneys (God forgive the mark) should be abrogated, as these sharks on the alert for possible fees and doubtless urge the application where there is any grounds upon which to base one. Already a number of these thrifty fellows are advertising themselves as "pension attorneys" and soliciting the patronage of these wanting pension. The provisions and requirements of the law are so plain that the services of an attorney could very well be dispensed with thereby saving his fee of $3 and eliminating open fruitful element of possible fraud from the applicants' list. Let us guard our pension law against frauds. J. S. KIMBROUGH =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 8, 1899 Colquitt Tax Law Reviewed Fairfield, Tex., Sept. 4 - (To The News) - Haivng been employed by Freestone county as attorney to enforce by suits collection of delinquent taxes under what is known as the Colquitt law, as amended by act of the twenty-fifth legislature, I have had occasion to examine said act carefully and to consider all its provisions, together with such rulings as have been given out by the state departments and the decisions of our higher courts, and inas ... [same issue] Central Texas Freestone County Fairfield - The continued dry weather has told seriously on the cotton in this county. Reports now indicate it will be about one-half or two-thirds of what it was last year from the information of the best farmers around here. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 11, 1899; Page: 9 Society Over the State CORSICANA Miss Maggie Mullins is in Wortham. ... Miss Beulah Lott of Fairfield has returned home. ... Mrs. Walter Anthony is visiting in Wortham. Mrs B. B. Campbell has returned from Wortham. ... Mrs. Thomas Longbotham of Wortham is in the city. ... MEXIA Miss Fannie Payne of Woodland is here. Mrs. Mont Hurst visited in Wortham the past week. Miss Kate Quinby of Wortham visited here last week. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 13, 1899 National Capital News A postoffice has been established at Harp, Freestone county, Tex., and Wm. T. Roney commissioned postmaster. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 15, 1899 Smallpox at Wortham Genuine Case Found by State Health Officer - Is Isolated Wortham, Tex., Sept 14 - Dr. Blunt, state health officer, came up yesterday evening to investigate a suspicious case supposed to be smallpox. Immediately upon seeing it he pronounced it a genuine case of smallpox and ordered it isolated, together with all that had been exposed. This is the second time smallpox has broken out here this year, the first case having been brought from Tehuacana. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 16, 1899 Freestone County Republicans Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Sept. 9 - Pursuant to call of Chairman Dawson the republican executive committee of Freestone county met at 2:30 o'clock. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the national administration and William M. McDonald of Kaufman county for national committeeman in 1900. County Chairman Dawson was commended and the drawing of the color-line deprecated. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - September 24, 1899 Industrial Convention ----- Secretary Fishburn Regards the Outlook Very Promising Secretary Fishburn said to a News representative yesterday: The committee on the industrial convention to be held in Dallas on Oct. 20 and 21 ... Fairfield, Tex., Sept. 21 - Mr. S. A. Fishburn, Dallas, Tex.: Dear sir - I hate your letter regarding the appointment of delegates to represent Freestone county in the state industrial convention. I have made the appointment of several of our best men, some of whom I hope will be present at that time. The following are the names and addresses of those appointed: W.H. Miller, Dr. W.N. Sneed, Fairfield; F.R. Huckaby, Fairfield; J.A. Wright, Mexia; R.Y. Chancellor, Israel; M. H. Harriss, Bonner; G. T. Bradley, Stewart's Mill; D.S. Clark, Dew; Prof. J.D. Montgomery, Mills; Dr. E. Headlee, W.L. Edwards, Butler; H.C. Hackney, Wortham; and W.F. Storey, ... [same issue] WANTED - Second-hand engine and boiler in good repair cheap; not less than 40 horse engine and 60 horse boiler. Address C. J. Turner, Wortham, Tex. [same issue] District Court Work Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Sept. 22 - District court adjourned here to-day after consuming only three of the four weeks alloted to this county. There were seven convictions, in felony cases, but one new trial was granted. The grand jury returned fourteen indictments for felony cases and there are now left on the criminal docket only eight cases. Judge Cobb will return home to Groesbeck to-morrow and will get a week's vacation before court convenes at Corsicana. District Attorney O. C. Kerven has been absent in Colorado during the term on account of his health, but will resume his duties at Corsicana. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - October 20, 1899 National Capital News The following post offices have been ordered discontinued after Oct. 3: Texas - ...Young, Freestone county, mail to Yerby. ... [same issue, in the advertising section] WANT to correspond with good pottery man. Address C. A. HARP, Harp, Freestone county, Tex. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - October 27 & 28, 1899 FARMS AND RANCHES FOR SALE FOR SALE - Small, well improved farm for sale cheap or trade for land in eastern Texas; situated near Fairfield, Freestone county. Address: Tim Lake. Yerby, Freestone county. =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - November 24, 1899 Union Central Railway Headquarters Have Been Established at the Town of Wortham Wortham, Tex., Nov. 23 - The projectors of the Union Central railway have established headquarters at this place. Their engineers are running the line east about centrally through Freestone county to the Trinity river. The corps is now camped at the crossing on Tehuancana creek, to which point they have the line surveyed. Location of the line east of Tehuancana will be rapidly pushed. Contract has been let for fifteen miles of the grade and work will begin about Dec. 1. As soon as the timber belt is reached construction will begin to the west from this point to Waco. This road will open up the best part of Freestone county and ere long this county will bloom like a rose. =============================================================== Fort Worth Morning Register - December 22, 1899 Union Central Railway New Line Projected from Houston to Red River Special to The Register Austin, Dec. 21 - The attorney-general's department today approved the charter of the Union Central Railway company, and it will be filed for a record in the secretary of state's department. This proposed railway has a capital stock of $600,000, and its general offices will be operated and maintained at Wortham, Freestone county. The projected road will commence from the city of Houston, through Harris county, thence through Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Madison, Leon, Freestone, Anderson, Henderson, Van Zandt, Raines, Wood, Hopkins, Delta and Lamar, on Red river, in this state, in a northerly direction from the city of Paris, in said Lamar county, and form a junction point on said line in said Montgomery county, in a northeasterly direction through the counties Montgomery, Grimes, Brazos, Madison, Robertson, Limestone, Falls and McLennan, to a point near or within the city of Waco, and form a junction point in said Freestone county in a westerly direction through the counties of Freestone, Limestone, and McLennan, connecting with said last mentioned line near Waco. The rail... =============================================================== Dallas Morning News - December 31, 1899 Lost While Hunting Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Dec. 23 - Mr. L. Childs, deputy postmaster, and Mr. L. C. Kirgan, editor of the Fairfield Recorder, had a very unpleasant experience last night. They went out to Caney Creek, about five miles west of town, yesterday evening to shoot squirrels and, after hunting [bottom of page] ... [clipping only has first half, rest of column lost]