Freestone County, Texas Communities Old Ghost Towns - Never had a post office: Campbell's Branch Campbell's Branch Church was located about two miles north of Cotton Gin. Located between the old communities of Shanks and New Hope. Nearby was Campbell Branch of Little Tehuacana Creek. To the east about a mile and the half was the Trinity and Brazos Valley railroad. The white public school at Campbell's Branch reached its peak in 1897 with 70 pupils. Nearby churches were Friendship and Rocky Branch churches located to the north about a mile away. The church was in existence in 1918. Campbell's Branch public school (for whites): open in 1888 29 students in 1891-1892 [as #10 school district] [goes missing until 1896] 47 students in 1896-1897 [as #25 school district] 70 pupils in 1897-1898 56 students in 1898-1899 55 students in 1899-1900 61 pupils in 1900-1901 61 students in 1901-1902 44 pupils (spanning all grades) in 1902. Professor Willis Griffin taught in 1902. 33 students in 1903-1904 29 students in 1904-1905 32 students in 1905-1906 Miss Swinburn taught in 1907. Miss Birdie Kirgan taught in 1912 *7* Singing School: Prof. Newman started teaching with 30 "scholars". *1* Church: Campbell's Branch Church famous for its "brush arbor" revival meetings apparently closed in 1907 *6* Nearby Communites: Cross Roads New Hope Friendship Shanks Teague Cotton Gin Nearby Cemeteries: New Hope Cemetery at Cotton Gin, TX. Cotton Gin Cemetery at Cotton Gin, TX. Other Buildings: Known Past Residents: Alderman, David Alderman, Edd Alderman, Eula Alderman, Jim Alderman, Roger Bain, Charles Bain, Harvy Bain, Jim Bain, Laura Bain, Lester Bain, Ruth Blakley, Almon Boyd, Billie Boyd, Edd Boyd, James [1904] *9* Boyd, Mary *2* Boykin, Eddie Butcher, B. B. Chancellor, Charley Chancellor, Jim Chancellor, R. M. *5* Cheshire, Mr. and Mrs. *5* Copley, Ethel Durden, Betty Ethridge, Oscar Gaulding, Marshall Horton, Ann Horton, Mr. and Mrs. Gid Horton, H. C. *5* Horton, John Horton, Sam Jurden, Ed Key, Mr. Keys, Tom Lee, Miss Otley Lewis, C. L. Lewis, Lee Manning, Emygene Manning, Jim Manning, Luther Manning, Oscar Y. Manning, Rufus Manning, Sudie Manning, Willie Manning, W. R. *8* McKinney, Albert McKinney, Clay McKinney, Elma McKinney, Elmer McKinney, Guy McKinney, John Calvin McKinney, Lloyd Moore, Vera Moses, Horace Norris, Carrie *2* Norris, Cornelia Norris, Fred Norris, Jack Norris, Luther Norris, Man Norris, Mattie Norris, Pete Norris, Sallie Reed, Mack [black, died in 1905] *8* Rivers, Henry Swinburn, Andrew Mitchell *5* Swinburn, Miss Mattie *5* Tolbert, Jennie Tolbert, Linnie May Tolbert, Phillip Alexander Tolbert, Robert *1* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, August 14, 1908 Page: 2 Cross Roads Items Aug. 10 Prof. Newman started a singing school at Campbell's Branch today with about 30 scholars. Several from here are attending. -------- [same issue, same page] New Hope Items Aug. 10 Several from here will attend the singing school which started at Campbell's Branch today. =============================== *2* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, July 10, 1908 Page: 1 Misses Carrie Morris [sic, Norris?] and Mary Boyd, of Campbell's Branch, visited here Sunday. =============================== *3* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, May 3, 1907 Page: 1 FROM NEW HOPE Apr. 25 The preaching at Campbell's Branch was quite a failure Sunday last on the account of bad weather. =============================== *4* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, July 23, 1909 Page: 3 Walter F. Whatley while in town Tuesday stated that the camp meeting out at Campbell's Branch closed Sunday night. There were forty odd to join the church and above sixty conversions. =============================== *5* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, July 23, 1909 Page: 3 Campbell's Branch Locals Mar 20 - We rejoice with the people of Fairfield in prohibition election. Miss Mattie Swinburn visited in Mexia last week. J. J. Manning was in our community Sunday night on his way to Fairfield. W. R. Manning accompanied him. Mr. and Mrs. Cheshire gave us a nice sociable Saturday evening. Andrew Swinburn gave the young people a singing Sunday night, which was much enjoyed. Our farmers are somewhat behind. Some have not planted corn and some are through. H. C. Horten [sic, Horton] is still loosing his cattle. R. M. Chancellor and family have been down with lagrippe but are better. RASSACO =============================== *6* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, March 22, 1907 Page: 4 Campbell's Branch Locals MAR. 17 - I am sure that it is not neccesary to give our readers a description of Campbell's Branch, for it was noted for its great camp meetings, and people came far and near to attend. It was then a lively little place, but we no longer enjoy those good old times, for there are only a few of the old people left, who tried to make our community a success, as many have long since "Crossed over the river and gone to their reward in that bright Home above", while others have moved to new countries. Of course, there are quite a number of people living here now, but they do not seem to take the interest in Campbell's Branch that the old people did, consequently, the church has died a natural death and we do not have a church at all now. Farmers are through planting corn and many are planting cotton. K. T. Manning, of New Mexico, spent several weeks here visiting relatives. He left last week for Wortham. Norris Bros., are having their house repaired. Mr. and Mrs. O. Y. Manning visited at J. A. Womack's Sunday. Miss Ella Goulding, who has been in West Texas for several months, returned home Saturday. Miss Bertha Pitts spent Sunday in Mexia. John Norris was a pleasant caller in our midst Sunday. We wonder what is going to happen -- Roger Alderman went to Cross Roads, Sunday. J. C. Keys went to Mexia, Saturday, on a business errand. There was an entertainment given the young people, Friday evening, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Horton. Miss Bettie Durden gave a singing Sunday evening. We think we will have several weddings to report in the near future. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Goulding visited at Shanks, Sunday. JIMMY DOLITTLE ========================= *7* = The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, October 25, 1912 Page: 5 "The following young lady teachers of Fairfield have begun teaching their schools: Miss Mary Womack, at Grange Hall; Miss Maggie Hill, at Rock Springs; Miss Florence Salter, at Pilot Knob; Miss Birdie Kirgan, at Campbell's Branch." ========================= *8* = The Fairfield Recorder - March 17, 1905 *9* = The Fairfield Recorder - Sept. 2, 1904