Freestone County, Texas Communities Old Ghost Towns - Never had a post office: Boggy Prairie The Boggy Prairie community was located 4 miles south of Teague and about 1 1/2 miles northwest of the community of Freestone. Boggy Prairie must have been near the Limestone county line. Boggy Prairie was in the southern part of the county, two or three miles from Luna. *3* Boggy Prairie was famous for its all-day singing events with local singing or organist talent county-wide attended by neighboring communities during 1900 and 1901 on every second Sunday. *4* *5* The focal building in Boggy Prairie was the two story wooden frame school house where the first floor was the school and the masonic lodge on the second floor. *7* School: Boggy Prairie School (1885 to 1905) 36 pupils in 1887 42 pupils in 1891-2 . Led by Prof. Manderville *10*. 49 pupils in 1893-94 In 1905, students sent to the school at Freestone. Social Organizations: Boggy Prairie Masonic Lodge #739 (chartered Jan. 12, 1892-current) (moved to Teague on Aug 17, 1907) planning began in 1887 *1* organized Nov. 5, 1892 *3* charter granted in on December 8, 1892 in the upper floor of the schoolhouse building (this eventually moved to Teague in 1907) Boggy Prairie local union (of the Farmers Education Cooperative Union) *5* Boggy Prairie ball team *11* *13* existed in 1892 and 1897 Churches: Cemeteries: Oakes Cemetery (across in Limestone Co.) *2* Businesses: Communities in the Area: Beene Past Known Residents: Barnett, S. M. Bond, Bunion Hopson, W. T. Mandeville, E. N. Miller, Clarence Montgomery, J. D. Persons, W. C. Sandifer, Jessie T. Tacker, Joshua Alex Trotter, W. M. *8* ================================================== *1* - Fairfield Recorder newspaper - December 23, 1887 issue: "...Mr. J. B. Killborn, near Mills, and we learn from him that a movement is on foot to have the old David Lodge No. 318 revived, it having demised about thirteen or fourteen years ago, where David's Mill was destroyed by fire, the Lode room being in the third story of the mill house. If the Lodge is revived, it will be removed to Boggy Prairie, a more convenient location for the neighborhood, about four miles from the site of the old Lodge. The Masons interested are erectomg a new two story building for Lode and school purposes, has been made for the revival of the charter of David Lodge,..." ======================================== *2* - In the Fairfield Recorder in its Dec. 13, 1907 issue when Bunion Bond died, his obituary states that Bunion was living in his mother's household (Tacker surname household) in Boggy Prairie. I believe his tombstone is the Bunyan Bond tombstone. ======================================== *3* - Fairfield Recorder - Friday, December 2, 1892 issue "NEW MASONIC LODGE Mr. M. B. Greer was in town this week and informed us of the organization of a new Masonic Lodge at Boggy Prairie in the Southern part of the county, two or three miles from Luna. The Lodge is called Boggy Lodge and was organized on the 5th of last month, by Dr. J. B. Johnson, of Cotton Gin, acting as District Deputy Grand Master, for Dr. W. A. Botter, who could not attend. The Lodge was set to work with 20 charter members, and under the following named officers. T. H. Beaver............ W. M. J. M. Tacker............ S. W. W. L. Nichols........... J. W. M. B. Greer............. Sec. A. J. Oakes............. Treas. J. B. Kilborn........... Tyler The Lodge will hold its next regular meeting tomorrow nig[h]t." ======================================== *4* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, June 15, 1900 Page: 3 The write-up was done by D. Z. Canady. Male Singers: Kendrick Epps, Edward Hughes, Henry Harris, Willie Pardon, Lafayette Harris, Oscar Harris, Champ Beaver, J. A. Bishop, James May, H. T. Carroll, Ben Beaver, Sidney Jones, John Beaver, Oran Betts, W. J. Tacker Female Signers: Mrs. Exor Martin, Misses Anna Beaver, Annis Beaver, Lee Tedder, Ruth Bond, Ida Bond, Susie Carroll, Cora Kilburn, Mrs. Florence Brown. Welcoming Address: Miss Nellie Carter Second address: Mr. T. H. Beaver Afternoon address: Miss Lee Tedder Address and closing prayer: Rev. A. B. Tedder Presiding officer: Prof. J. C. Beaver ======================================== *5* = The Teague Chronicle - Friday, November 5, 1909 Page: 8 The Farmers Education Cooperative Union meets with Boggy Prairie local at Freestone every 1st and 3rd Satruday afternoon at 3 o'clock. - T.E. Martin, president; B.L. Seely, secretary ======================================== *6* = The Fairfield Recorder = Friday, June 21, 1901 Page: 1 New Providence Locals June 17, 1901 ... On the second Sunday the people of New Providence and several other communities attended an all day signing at Boggy Prairie, commencing at 9 o'clock a.m. The meeting was called to order by J. C. Beavers, who presided on the occasion. Mr. Offie Martin and Mr. Aleck Tacker were appointed committee on arrangements. S. A. Thomas and D. Z. Canday were appointed as committee on program. The following is a list of the names of the leaders and organists who took part in the music during the day: Lafayette Harris, Kenderick Epps, D. Z. Canday, S. A. Thomas, Henry Harris, J. C. Beaver, W.J. Tacker, Ben Beaver, Terry Carroll, John Beaver, Thomas Beene, C. W. Beaver, Will Pardon, Edward Hughes, Edgar Hardin, D. P. Thomas, J. T. Robertson, J. L. Thomas, Hardy Goolsby, and Robert Pickett. Each of the leaders rendered his part well. The organists were as follows: Misses Laura Tacker, Anna Beaver, Tilly Justice, Arnie Oakes, Minnie Tacker, Dora Tacker, Ida Bond, Mrs. Leila Thomas, Misses Bruce Norman, Olga Norman, Susie Carroll, and Miss Penman. At 12 o'clock all partook of a royal repast such as the good ladies of Boggy know how to fix up. The day was immensely enjoyed by all singers and lovers of singing, to say nothing of sweethears, whose names were "legion". [same issue] Beene Locals June 17, 1901 I attended the all day singing at Boggy Prairie on the second Sunday, and can say it was a most pleasant occasion to everyone. I do not think the Childrens' Day at Mills could have beat it. On our arrival Miss Minnie Tacker was delivering the address of welcome, which was very appropriate. Next was a welcoming song, and in a short time we had a speech on Music by Mr. T.H. Beaver, of this place. Mr. J.C. Beaver conducted the singing throughout in a business-like manner. Many leaders from various parts of the county were present, also many good organists. Consequently we had fine music and all passed the day most pleasantly. At 12 o'clock dinner was announced, and I can assure you there was dinner in abundance. The Boggy Prairie People know how to make their visitors feel welcome. We hope to repay them for their hospitality, as we expect to have an all day singing at Beene in the near future. After dinner there was more good singing, and then a response to the address of welcome, by Miss Myrtle Savage. We had singing until 4 o'clock, and all went home with many pleasant recollections of the day. ======================================== *7* = The Teague Chronicle - Thursday, September 24, 1992 Page: 1 ======================================== *8* = The Teague Chronicle Friday, August 3, 1906 Page: 4 W. M. Trotter, of Boggy Prairie, was in town Thursday and reports good crops in his section. ======================================== *9* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, April 12, 1895 Page: 8 From Mills ... We have a new doctor in our neighborhood. He is located on Boggy Prairie. ======================================== *10* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, December 2, 1892 Page: 2 Letter from Luna Noc. 28th 1892 ... Prof. Manderville has commenced his school on Boggy Prairie. He is known as one of the best teachers in our county. ======================================== *11* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, August 20, 1897 Page: 1 Luna Locals [DELAYED] August 11, 1897 The Boggy Prairie ball team played Prairie Grove, in Limestone county, Thursday, and lost the game 11 to 12. ======================================== *12* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, March 11, 1898 Page: 5 Mills Locals March 8, 1898 On last Sunday we heard the clatter of horse's feet and the roaring of buggy whee;s as they came thundering down the road, and we say J. M. B. leaving the village of Mills for the Boggy Prairie neighborhood, all dressed up and looking very happy. ======================================== *13* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, March 11, 1898 Page: 5 Dew Raps July 13th, 1897 Some of the Boggy boys came over and gave us a nice game of ball Saturday. The game resulted in favor of Dew. The Boggy boys treat you "white".