Freestone County, Texas
Communities


Old Ghost Towns - Never had a post office:


Antioch (a.k.a. West Antioch)

The "Old" Antioch Baptist Church was built in 1866 and is located about a mile 
or less east of old Luna.  The area was settled in the 1850s.  The area is 
drained by Haynes Branch that flows into Linn Creek.  Salem Church was about 
two miles to the east and Rocky Mount School was about two miles southeast.  
Enon Church was about a mile and a half southwest. 

Antioch Church was a combination church and school for Luna. Land for the 
church/school was donated by Rich Driver, Sr., and Edward Ezell, Sr. Frank 
Sanders was the first teacher.  



School:  
  Antioch School had 23 students in 1887.
  
Churches:
"Old" Antioch Church (1866-?)
   Services on first Sunday for Methodist Protestant
      former pastors have been Rev. Bounds
      
   Services on third Sunday for Baptist
      former pastors have been Elder J.T. Blackwell
      had 19 Baptist members in 1895 led by pastor, J. W. Richardson

Cemeteries:
"Old" Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery


Social Organizations:
Antioch Grange #40 (led in 1874 by P.R. McSwane) (lists Cotton Gin as its post 
  office) (about 50 members in 1874)  *1*

Antioch [West] Grange #41 [was Prairie Creek Grange #41 in 1871] [met at Box 
  church in 1888]

Businesses:


Nearby Communities:
Luna
Enon
Salem

Nearby Churches: 
Salem Church
Enon Church
 

Known Former Residents:
Ingram, Capt. G. W. 
McSwane, Capt. P.R. 
Winston, John G. 


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SOURCES:

*1* = The Waco Daily Examiner (of Waco, Texas).  April 21, 1874 - Page 4

Letter from Freestone County

Eight Miles Southeast of Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, April 13, 1874.

Mr. Examiner:
  I don't see anything from this part of the State, in the columns of your
interesting and valuable paper, relative to the Grange, crops, etc. As nothing
has been said I will try to give you the items from this vicinity.
  Antioch Grange is in a flourishing condition, (numbering about fifty members,)
every one wieing with each other in striving to promote the good of the 
institution, and to haste, as speedily as possible, the good time coming. They
have come to the conclusion that the brain, and not muscle is the great lever
or mainspring of human action.
  Our master, Capt. G. W. Ingram, (who fills that important office with honor 
and integrity.) is now in Austin. Our Secretary, Capt. P.R. Swayne, sees his
duty handsomely; he is a gentleman of culture, and eyes open to the good of the
Order. In the hands, of such officers we see stamped upon our banner, "Success".
  The most of the farmers of this vicinity are wide awake to their interests and
mutual welfare.  Most of them belong to the Order, and meet in the Grange room
at least once a month, and put their heads together and lay plans, chalk out 
the road to good living, ease and prosperity.
  They are beginning to see the evil of the credit system and resolved to buy 
less and pay more as they go. Raise less cotton and more corn and hogs, instead
of having the smoke house in St. Louis, or some other Northern city; are 
determined to have it in every yard in the country. When they come to this 
conclusion, what will naturally follow? Instead of runined credit, and 
"dilapidated" confidence - money to lend(?) - peace, prosperity and plenty
showered throughout the land.
  May God spped the time that the present reckless manner of farmers in doing 
their business may soon give place to a recoperative genius of an enlightened
and intelligent people.
  They must read more, think more, buy less and pay as they go.
  A Grange was organized on the 11st inst., at the farm of Col. J. Moreland's,
Captain Kennedy, from Cotton Gin, officiating. Colonel Moreland, Master, and
Mr. Thompson, Secretary. It is an intelligent a looking Grange as can be found
in the State, I dare say, and will do well. May harmony and peace prevail.
  There has been an abundance of rain for the last two months. We have scarely
found time to plant corn, and a good deal of corn has been planted in bad 
condition. Very little cotton has been planted. The ground is now full of 
water. It will be a week or more, if it stops raining now, before the ground
will be dry enough to work. The signs are that it will rain more yet.
  We had a frost a few nights since, but it did but little damage. Some few
garden vegetables were bitten down.
  The people are not discussing politics; all seem satsified with the present
administration and of course are not uneasy while their affairs are in the 
hands of such honest, noble and patriotic men as are now at the head of the 
State. They don't seem to care about the Constitutional Convention, knowing 
that the present odious one will be fixed up or a new one formed as soon as
possible. Having confidence in their public servants, they do not comment on
or censure their actions.
     Yours truly,
          John G. Winston