Freestone County, Texas Towns Flowerdale / "Square Hollow" (1856-1866) Flowerdale was founded by Richard T. Patton and George W. Dunagan. Flowerdale was apparently named for Mrs. R. T. Patton's (Anna's) flower beds in front of the stage coach stop. *21* While the area was referred to as Flowerdale as early as 1856, the formation of the village was not done until late March 1860. Digging of an artesian well to prepare for the community was begun in the winter of 1859 and was suspended in January 1860 because of the extreme cold weather. *7* Lots were advertised for sale in newspapers starting on April 14, 1860 for the actual sale to take place on April 28, 1860. *8* On April 22, 1860, Richard T. Patton died of pneumonia. *9* The scheduled sale failed to happen, but another 20 acres adjacent to the original 10 acres were donated. *10* Overall there was frustration that no store or mechanic bought with the intension to build a store or shop in the Flowerdale village. *11* Then as Civil War preparations was getting underway, the focus shifted away from improving the village to the war effort. *12*, *13* George W. Dunagan was the agent of the The Weekly Telegraph newspaper (of Houston, Tex.) starting in June 1861. *14* Actual Location: The ghost village of Flowerdale was north of Tehuacana Creek between Streetman and Kirvin, near Patton's Crossing on Big Tehuacana creek. *15*, *19* The village was located on the dirt road between Corsicana and Fairfield. *6*, *15* The village was a regular stage coach stop on the "US Mail Route" stage coach line where the riders spent their second night on the route. This location is supported by looking at R.T. Patton's land being part of the original grantee Hartwell Howard on Tehuacana Creek. *15*, *22*, *23* This vanished community was originally known as Square Hollow (H of FC, Vol I, pg. 201). Speculation: Speculation as to the demise of Flowerdale is that a number of its residents passed away early in the American Civil War. Its residents later move to the towns of Cade and St. Elmo. ] Post Office: *17*, *18*, *27*-*31* from April 4, 1856 (postmaster: Richard T. Patton at start) (post office listed in "Braman's information about Texas" by D. E. E. Braman in 1857 on pg 179) (postmaster: George W. Dunagan on May 16, 1860) (postmaster: T. P. Patton on Jan. 16, 1861) (postmaster: George W. Dunagan on July 12, 1861 CSA) (postmaster: David Burleson on Apr. 7, 1862 CSA) to Nov 5, 1866 (last known postmaster: Elizabeth Dunagan on Nov. 12, 1862 CSA) Businesses: Dunagan's restaurant *5.5* School: Churches: Tehuacana Church *20*, *24*, *25* Cemeteries: Cade Cemetery Dunagan Cemetery Nearby Communities: Known Past Residents: *32* Andrews, Joseph and family *6* Barbee, Andrew J. and family Barbee, Joseph and family Bird, Isaac *6* Bonner, Rev. Thomas Joell *6* (circuit preacher that lived close enough to ride by horse) Burleson, David Sr. *6* Burleson, Oliver *6* Coleman, widow Margaret (Benton) Coleman, Griffith Benton *6* *7* Coleman, William Wallace *6* Cooley, J. B. and family Cooper, James Dunagan, Charles G. *6* Dunagan, Elizabeth Dunagan, George W. *6* *8* *14* *31* *34* Eaves, Elder W. B. *25* Hill, William Benjamin and family Hines, William M. *6* Jefferson, T.R. Jones, Mr. Nealy and family Jordan, J. J. *25* Measels, Moses M. and family Miller, Frederick Haro and family Patton, widow Anna Patton, Richard T. *6* *9* Patton, T. P. Patton, W. L. *10* Patton, William T. Sr. *6* *7* *8* *12* *13* *33* Patton, William W. *11* Powell, Jesse and family Powell, Nathan and family Sloan, Robert Douglas and family Snailum, Thomas Christopher and family Van Horn, R. A. *10*, *35* Wall, Pastor S.W. =========================================== SOURCES: *1* = Civilian and Gazette Weekly (of Galveston, Tex.), Tuesday, February 9, 1858; page: 4. [Mail Routes] ... No. 8,625 - From Huntsville by Madisonville, Leona [Leon], Centreville, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Corsicana, Prairie Home, and Wilton to Waxahachie, 166 miles and back, three times a week. ------------------------------------------------------- *2* = The Civilian and Gazette Weekly (of Galveston, Tex.), Tuesday, May 10, 1859; page: 2 "A subscriber in Flowerdale sends us a sample of counterfeit coin found in that region, that we may caution our readers against it. It is a half dollar, dated 1855, apparently cast on light metal, from a mould made upon the genuine coin. A little attention to the color, weight, feeling and ring of the coin, will detect the counterfeit." ------------------------------------------------------- *3* = The Civilian and Gazette Weekly (of Galveston, Tex.), Tuesday, July 19, 1859; page: 2 "U.S. MAIL LINE" "FROM ANDERSON via Kellum's Springs, Madisonville, Leona, Centerville, Fairfield, Flowerdale and Corsicana to Waxahatchie. Through in three days, no night travel. Fare, Fifteen Dollars. Leaves Anderson every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, at 5 A.M. With a view to accomodate the visitors to Kellum's Springs, now the most popular and fashionable Watering Place in the State, the undersigned has put on between Anderson and the Springs, a comfortable and large four-horse Coach for the season. Fare to the Springs $1.00. H. Fanthrope, Agent. July 12w41/2 GEO. W. GRANT" ------------------------------------------------------- *4* = Southern Intelligencer (of Austin, Texas) – Wednesday, August 31, 1859 - Page: 1; Vol. 4. No. 2. Remedy for Weevil - a Letter from Flowerdale Says: Before the grain is cribbed, the floor of the barn or crib should be covered over with green leaves and stems of the China tree, and then as the grain is put in the crib to the depth of a foot, there should be another thin layer of leaves and stems, and at the depth of another foot another layer of leaves and stems, and so on, until the grain is all cribbed. I am sure this is a remedy which requires no labor in comparison to its value; and the China tree is a growth to be found in almost any Southern State. I have tried this remedy for a number of years, and never without success. It matters not if the weevil gets in the grain before it is cribbed, as this mode of cribbing will drive them out. The weevils get in most of the Texas corn before it is gathered. I will give you another instance of the value of the China tree. Bacon, while curing, smoked with the dry leaves, stems and berries, of this valuable tree, will prevent skippers. This looks almost absurd as well as incredible, but, nevertheless, it is a matter of fact, authenticated by personal experience, and not mere rumor. All that is necessary is, while smoking your meat after it is hung up, occasionally throw on the fire a handful of either the leaves, stems or berries, or a few of each, and keep this up for the ordinary length of time of smoking meat. ------------------------------------------------------- *5* = The Navarro Express (Corsicana, Tex.), Saturday, November 26, 1859 - Page 4 "U.S. MAIL LINE" "From Anderson via Kellum's Springs, Madisonville, Leona, Centerville, Fairfield, Flowerdale and Corsicana to Waxihatchie. The nearest and cheapest route to the upcountry. By this line, travelers have day=light to see the country they are passing over. The first day from Anderson they go to Centreville, 55 miles; the second day to Flowerdale, 50 miles; ..." ------------------------------------------------------- *5.5* = The Navarro Express (Corsicana, Tex.) - Saturday, February 4, 1860 Page: 2 TRAVELING CORRESPONDENCE ... But to return to our stage trip: Crossing Richland on the cedar bridge, only a mile further, Charlie reigned up at the splendid mansion of Capt. Wm. M. Love. There we changed horses, and dashed off in our Southern course to Flowerdale Post Office. Here an elderly gentleman, by the name of Patton, is engaged in boring an artesian well. The auger has already penetrated the eart about three hundred feet. I understand Mr. P. is a man of indomitable perseverance, and will bring water to the surface, if energy and perseverance can accomplish it. Already he has passed several streams of water. A mile from Flowerdale we pass Tahuacana creek, on another cedar bridge. Near this creek we passed a valuable cedar forest. Another mile, and we hauled up at Dunagan's for dinner, and to change horses. Everybody who eats at Dunagan's has the inner man refreshed, and invigorated; there you find good old fashioned substantial dinners. But we are not yet done with Charlie: With a fresh, and active team, he hurries on to the beautiful town of Fairfield.... [Charlie is identified as Charlie Syms later in the piece.] ------------------------------------------------------- *5.7* = Navarro Express newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - Mar. 17, 1860 edition - pg 1: Letter from Flowerdale FLOWERDALE, March 10th, 1860 Editors Express: Have you ever spent a week among the good citizens of this vicinity? If not, it is well worth your time to do so. I have just been sojourning with them ten days, and find all of them intelligent, moral, industrious and wealthy. The settlements are confined mostly to Tawacana creek, or rather near the creek, on either side. I would suppose from what I have seen of the neighborhood, that there are, at least, one hundred families who patronize Flowerdale post-office, which is situated about the centre of the settlements, and also about fifteen miles from Cotton Gin; fourteen miles from Fairfield, and eighteen miles from Corsicana. Making it altogether the most promising place for a village I have seen in the State; and the time will be, and that not far distant, when there will be one started somewhere in the neighborhood. Unimproved lands in this vicinity is scarce. But what there is, is offered for sale at from $1 1/2 to $3 per acre. While improved lands are ranging from $5 to $10 per acre. And some very choice farms are held at $20 per acre. Small tracts of uplands, with neat improvements, will command from $5 to $12 per acre. The farmers tell me that their lands yield far better than any of their previous dreams of Paradise, notwithstanding the excessive drought that this country is annually subjected to. The grass in this portion of the country has departed never more to return. The artesian well at Flowerdale has been sunk to the depth of 237 feet. They ceased operations about Christmas, owing to the inclemency of the weather, and have not yet resumed it; but I am told will do so as soon as spring sets in, and the weather becomes mild enough. The old gentleman, (Mr. Patton), who is having it bored, informs me that it will not cost him less than one thousand dollars to have it sunk to the depth of five hundred feet. His impression is that he will have to penetrate about seven hundred geet before the water runs out. The last two hundred geet has been a kind a blue marl, and the supposition is, that as soon as this strata is gone through that they will strike the key-stone and then comes the water! They have passed one small vein of water, at the depth of one hundred feet, that just supplied enough water for boring purposes; and at the depth of two hundred and thirty five feet they passed another, which causes the water to stand within fifty feet of the surface. His motive in boring this well, I am told, is for the purpose of irrigating his farm, which lays most beautifully for the purpose. I will close this article by saying that I have never found a better or more beautiful country than this. F. L. U. ------------------------------------------------------- *6* = Navarro Express newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - Mar. 24, 1860 edition: "A new town site on ten acres of land that would be donated by R. T. Patton, was the topic of a town meeting called, with citizens from Tahuacana, Caney, and Richland Creeks on the 17th. Inst. G. B. Coleman was appointed chairman, and W. T. Patton secretary, and on motion, Flowerdale was unanimously elected as a site for the town. On motion, Joseph Andrews, G. W. Dunagan, W. T. Patton, Wm. M. Hines, and Isaac Bird was appointed a committee on resolutions. The land was situated within 1/4 of a mile of R. T. Patton’s residence, in Freestone county, near the road leading from Fairfield to Corsicana - 14 miles from the former, and 18 miles from the latter place, to be styled Flowerdale. Resolutions were passed and a committee was elected - Rev. T[homas] J[oell] Bonner, Joseph Andrews, G[riffith] B[enton] Coleman, W[illiam] T. Patton, G[eorge] W. Dunagan, Oliver Burleson, W[illiam] W[allace] Coleman, Wm. M. Hines, C[harles] G. Dunagan, and David Burleson." [Summary: 1) Flowerdale was between Fairfield and Corsciana 2) 1/4 of a mile of R. T. Patton’s residence 3) A new town site on ten acres of land donated by R. T. Patton. ] ------------------------------------------------------- *7* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - Mar. 27, 1860 edition, Page: 2: "Flowerdale FLOWERDALE, FREESTONE COUNTY } Editior Civilian: The citizens of the surrounding vicinity posted up notices a short time since, that they would meet is a convention at Flowerdale, on the 17th inst., for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of establishing a town in the most central point of the neighborhood. In pursuance of the call there was a large assemblage of the citizens, when on motion, G. B. Coleman was called to the Chair and W.T. Patton was appointed Secretary. Flowerdale was put in nomination as the most suitable, convenient and central site for the location of the town, and was unanimously elected. After the result of the vote was assertained, there was a committee appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The committee then returned and reported the following: 'We, the ciitzens of the surrounding vicinity, feeling deeply the want of the conveniences and advantages, viz: schools, churches, mechanic's shops, houses of trade, &c., and feeling assumed that this community has the wealth and ability to warrant such enterprise, have this day met in concert and selected a site for the collection of the same. 'The place is herein named by mutual consent and to be located on the plot of land situated within one-quarter mile of R.T. Patton's residence, in Freestone county, Texas, near the road leading Fairfield to Corsicana - fourteen miles from the former, and eighteen miles from the latter place, and to be be known by the name of Flowerdale. 'We, the ciitzens of Tahuacana, Caney and Richland creeks, feeling this to be our interest and our duty, for the good of all contigous, hereby 'Resolve, That we use our influence and hold out inducements to capitalists to invest their wealth, and to mechanics to bring here their tools and skill to be employed for the good of their success and the accomodation of the community, which is willing and anxious to patronize them.' This is the best step I have seen taken in some time -- for the citizens of this vicinity certainly need something of this kind, as it is fourteen miles to the nearest point of trade, and there is really no neighborhood more able in point of wealth to support a village than this. The lands are all of the best quality, and the citizens are moral and enterprising, and there are quite a number of them. The town is located in the most healthy portion of the State, and when the Artesian wells is completed at Flowerdale, (which will doubtless be the case early this summer,) the village is bound to grow up rapidly. The undertaker of this well was forced to suspend operations about the first of January, on account of the extreme cold weather, and has not yeat resumed the work; but will do so in a few days. Before he suspended, however, he had sunk the shaft to the depth of 237 feet, which caused the water to rise within 50 feet of the surface. The undertaker is under impression, from the present indications, that 100 feet more will be sufficient to force the water out. During the extreme cold weather this winter and the failing of the range, the stock raisers have lost fully one-half their cattle; some estimate the loss at two-thirds, but I think one-half is a fair estimate. TAHUACANA" ------------------------------------------------------- *8* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - Apr. 14, 1860 edition, Page: 2: "On the 28th of the present month the lots in the new town of Flowerdale, Freestone county, will be offered for sale. A store established at this place by some enterprising merchant would pay well, as also would a wagon making and blacksmith shop. There is considerable wealth in the settlement, and for free and easy genuine good fellows they can't be beat." [same page] "NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the lots in the town of Flowerdale, Freestone county, will be sold to the highest bidder on Saturday, the 28th day of April, 1860. Terms of sale will be made known on that day. G. W. DUNAGAN Chairman Board of Directors. W.T. PATTON, Secretary. a213t" ------------------------------------------------------- *9* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - Apr. 28, 1860 edition, Page: 3: "OBITUARY Died on the 22d April, at his residence on Tahuacana Creek, Freestone county, of pneumonia, R. T. PATTON. Mr. Patton was an old and highly esteemed citizen, and his loss will be deeply mourned by many. We should bear in mind, however, during our afflication, 'that our loss is his gain'." ------------------------------------------------------- *10* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - June 16, 1860 edition, Page: 2: "FLOWERDALE A friend writing to us from Flowerdale, a new town laid off near Tahuacana creek, Freestone county, writes as follows: FLOWERDALE, Texas, June 2d, 1860. R.A. VAN HORN, Esq.: *** I will also inform you, and those too who had made extensive preparations for building in the town, and were disappointed in the sale not coming off, that there has been a donation of twenty acres of land (immediately adjoining the previously selected site) tendered the Directory, which has been accepted, and will in a short time be laid off into lots and sold to the highest bidder, therefore they will loose nothing by the detention but time. I learn that several had purchased lumber with a view of building in the new town. I have nothing the shape of news worth communicating, except that the prospect for abundant crops are exceedingly flattering, though they now need rain. Lands in this vicinity are gradually advancing, and well they might, for we undoubtedly live in the "garden spot" of Texas. We are all easy down here about the split of the Charleston Convention, and are determined to vote for the nominee of the Richmond Convention, let him be who he may. We are for our Constitutional rights, and if we can't get them one way we are willing to get them by ---- I can neither write nor talk politics, but "I'm thunder to think." Your friend, W. L. P." ------------------------------------------------------- *11* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - August 31, 1860 edition, Page: 2: "LETTER FROM FLOWERDALE FLOWERDALE, Freestone county, } August 24th, 1860. } Editors Express: Some few months since there was a town laid off on Tahuacana creek, in Freestone county, and called "FLOWERDALE;" the object of which was to induce some person to bring a stock of goods to our neighborhood, and to encourage mechanics to establish shops in our midst, for their profit and our accommodation. This move was united on the part of the neighborhood. The citizens held a meeting on the subject, and selected a site. This was done to show to mechanics and capitalists, that we would not only encourage, but give them our undivided patronage. But as yet no one has made an attempt to establish either a mechanic shop or store in the town. Why this is the case I can not tell; but presume it is owing to the fact that those wishing to embark in such enterprise have prefered to listen to the misrepresentations of persons interested in the welfare of other places, rather than come and see for themselves. I will admit my knowledge of the merchantile and mechanical business is somewhat limited; yet, so far as my knowledge extends in this line, I am forced to acknowledge that this place has the precedence over most places in point of adaptability for the merchantile and mechanical trades. We are situated a long ways from any point of trade, it being 14 miles to Cotton Gin, about the same to Fairfield, and 18 miles to Corsciana. This is quite a distance to have to travel for a plug of tobacco, a drink of "strychnine," a yard of "caliker," or a pound of soap! I am well satisfied that our population and their pecuniary resources is all sufficient to support a village of fair size. Our lands are the best in the county, and I doubt whether the Brazons bottoms have every excelled them in producing. Our creek always had more produce to sell, and gets better prices than most other places; therefore money is generally plenty, and the people liberal and moral. There has been fifteen crops made on the creek, and never a total failure. We are not at war with other towns, but, on the contrary, wish them well. Our anxiety for a town in our midst originates only from an intense desire to accomodate ourselves and relieve us of the great burden of going so far to trade. My reason for making the above remark is that there is an artesian well in progress at this place, and I heard a conversation in Fairfield yesterday, and one of the citizens of that place remarked that he "would not encourage a well here from the fact that it would injure Fairfield." For the satisfaction of those interested in artesian wells, I will inform you that the work has been resumed again on the one at this place, and has attained the depth of 315 feet, and the undertaker says that it is his intention to continue the work now without intermission until it is completed. He hopes to succeed at lest than a thouand feet. He sinks his auger from 16 to 24 inches at a draught, and makes six draughts in a day, if not detained by coming in contact with rock or breaking tools. The number of rock gone through are 18 - but usually quite small ones - the largest being but thirty inches in thickness. I will close by asking mechanics and capitalists to visit Flowerdale and establishing themselves here. Your friend, W. W. Patton ------------------------------------------------------- *12* = Navarro Express Newspaper of Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX - December 7, 1860 edition, Page: 2: "Week before last we urged the propriety of military companies now being formed throughout the State uniforming themselves in home made jeans. Last Monday our enterprising friend, Wm. T. Patton, of Flowerdale, Freestone county, ordery sergeant in a new company organized in that neighborhood called the Praire Wake Ups, called on us dressed in the uniform of said company. It consists of a frock coat and pants made of home made jeans, with red and white worsted stripes on the breast and legs. It looked neat and comfortable, and instead of the money being sent North to feed our enemies, it was distributed at home. The spirit of this company is worthy of imitation, and we would urge the propriety on all companies being formed throughout the State, of having their uniforms made of goods of home manufacture." ------------------------------------------------------- *13* = The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Tuesday, December 18, 1860 - Page 1: "HOMESPUN UNIFORM - Mr. W. T. Patten [sic, Patton], of Flowerdale, called upon us yesterday, and informed us that the military feeling was up to the acting point in Freestone. He is the Orderly Sargent of a company, called the Prairie Wake Ups. They are handsomely uniformed in home made jeans. The uniform consists of frock coat and pants with red and white worsted stripes in the breast and legs. Mr. Patten had his uniform with him. It is a very near thing, and carries us back to revolutionary times...." ------------------------------------------------------- *14* = The Weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Tex.), Wednesday, June 5, 1861 - Page 1: AGENTS FOR THE TELEGRAPH ... Fairfield......L. L. MORELAND ... Flowerdale.....GEO. W. DUNNAGAN Cotton Gin.....J. S. STOREY ... ------------------------------------------------------- *15* = Dallas Herald (of Dallas, Texas) - Oct 9, 1861 - Page: 2 Advertisement Inviting Proposals for Transportation of the Mails in Texas Post-Office Department } Confederate States of America } Richmond, Va., Sept. 4, 1861 } ... No. 8,625 - From Anderson by Madisonville, Leon, Centerville, Moody's Cross Roads, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Corsicana, Prairie Home, Cummings' Creek and Wilton to Waxahachie, 154 miles and back, twice a week. [Summary: 1) Flowerdale was between Fairfield and Corsciana 2) The mail carriers went by.] ------------------------------------------------------- *16* = According to Mr. and Mrs. Osier C. Pullin in the "History of Freestone County, Volume I", Page 90: "The Flowerdale Post Office site was on Tehaucana Creek, FM 80, about 100 yards west of the now existing bridge, approx. 4.5 miles NW of present Caney Baptist Church." [FM 80 runs thru Kirvin going north towards Streetman. FM 80 crosses Tehaucana Creek south of Streetman and south of its underpass under I-45.] ------------------------------------------------------- *17* = Flowerdale appears in the list of post offices in Texas furnished by the postmaster of Galveston in December 1, 1856 to Dr. Braham that published in "Braman's Information About Texas" printed in Philadelphia in 1857. ------------------------------------------------------- *18* = The post master lists comes from "History of Freestone County, Volume I", pg 31. ------------------------------------------------------- *19* = "History of Freestone County, Volume I", pg 65 mentions that Flowerdale was "north of Tehuacana Creek between Streetman and Kirvin" and "near Patton's Crossing on Big Tehuacana creek". ------------------------------------------------------- *20* = According to Mr. and Mrs. Osier C. Pullin in the "History of Freestone County, Volume I", Page 90: "1858 Tehaucana Church, Freestone County, Flowerdale Post Office. Pastor, S.F. Wall; Clerk, C.G. Donegan [Dunagan]; Delegates, G.W. Donegan [Dunagan], T.R. Jefferson, C.G. Donegan [Dunagan]." Their source was described as "Texas Baptist" records "published in Anderson, Texas" found at "Texas Library on Baylor campus". ------------------------------------------------------- *21* = "History of Freestone County, Volume I", pg 65 refers to "Mary Horn of Streetman stated: 'Given name because of many beautiful flower beds of Mrs. Patton whose husband had Stage Coach Stop on line between Waxa[ha]chie and possibly Huntsville.' She has seen foundation of buildings." ------------------------------------------------------- *22* = The 1855, 1858, and 1860 tax rolls for Freestone County show R.T. Patton owning land of original grantee Hartwell Howard on Tehuacana Creek. [In 1860, R.T. Patton donated some acreage to the town.] ------------------------------------------------------- *23* = Jos. Martin's "Map of Freestone County" (February 4, 1858) and Louis C. Wise's "Map of Freestone County" (February 19, 1874) show that most of Hartwell Howard's patented parcel was located north of Tehuacana Creek with just a small piece across the line in Navarro County and a larger piece located south of the creek. ------------------------------------------------------- *24* = Tehuacana Church later became the famous Caney Baptist Church at Kirvin. The church name was called Caney at least by 1884. [source - Caney Baptist Church's historical marker and the 1886 Prairie Grove Baptist Association records.] ------------------------------------------------------- *25* = see Biography of Deacon J. J. Jordan elsewhere. ------------------------------------------------------- *26* = Tehuacana Church hosted the 11th annual session of the Trinity River association of United Baptists ------------------------------------------------------- *27* = "The Texas Almanac for 1857" done in 1857 on page 30 lists Butler, Cotton Gin, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Keechi, and Troy of Freestone County, Texas as having an active post offices. ------------------------------------------------------- *28* = "The Texas Almanac for 1858" done in 1858 on page 181-3 lists Butler, Cotton Gin, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Keechi, and Troy of Freestone County, Texas as having an active post offices. ------------------------------------------------------- *29* = "The Texas Almanac for 1860" done in 1858 on page 226-228 lists Butler, Cotton Gin, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Keechi, and Troy of Freestone County, Texas as having an active post offices. ------------------------------------------------------- *30* = "The Texas Almanac for 1864" done in January 1864 on page 41 lists Butler, Cotton Gin, Fairfield, Flowerdale, Keechil [sic], and Troy of Freestone County, Texas as having an active post offices. Dunbar Bragg of Fairfield is listed as the Confederate tax collector. ------------------------------------------------------- *31* = "The Texas Almanac for 1865" done in 1865 on page 54 lists Butler (J. T. Gill), Cotton Gin (J.W. Story), Fairfield (D. Bragg), Flowerdale (G. W. Dunagan), Keechil [sic] (H. C. Stagner), and Troy (H. G. Bradbury) of Freestone County, Texas as having an active post offices. ------------------------------------------------------- *32* = The 1860 Freestone Co., TX census done July 13th & 14th, 1860 shows the families of Flowerdale: 1) Robert Douglas Sloan and Mary Jane (Lamb) 2) William Benjamin Hill and Margaret Jane (Coleman) 3) James Cooper 4) Margarette (Benton) Coleman and her son Griffin Benton Coleman 5) Anna (?) Patton and her widower son William T. Patton, Sr. 6) Jesse Powell and Louisa P (?) 7) Jason Nathan Powell and Mary C. (Moore) 8) Joseph Anders and Rachel (Henderson) 9) Nealy Jones and Nancy Ann (Wilson) 10) Joseph Barbee and Delila (Townsend) 11) Thomas Christoper Snailum (d 1884) and his wife Mary Ann (Rogers) 12) C. C. Cooper and Bethany D. (?) 13) Andrew J. Barbee and Sarah F. (Jones) 14) Moses M Measels and Mary J. (?) 15) Frederick Haro Miller and Mary S. (Boyd) 16) J B Cooley and Mary J (?) ------------------------------------------------------- *33* = The Navarro Express (Corsicana, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. [6], Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 2, 1861 Page: 2 Capt. John Karner, with some [f]orty men from Freestone, passed through our county yesterday on their way to rendezvous at Lost Valley, Jack county, in order to take an active part in the grand buffalo hunt. We noticed among them our friend Wm. T. Patton, of Flowerdale, who was armed with one of the Col'ts six shooting rifles, pistols, &c. They are all well armed and "good men and true," and we are willing to vouch for their good behavior when the hour of trial comes. Those who desire to join them can do so by meeting them at Lost Valley previous to the 15th of January, at which time they are to leave for the "buffalo rouge" alias Indian "stamping ground." A company is being formed here, and all who desire to go can find an opportunity by meeting here on the 8th inst., at which time the company is expected to leave. All who are fond of adventure, or wish to avenge the murder of womand and children, should avail themselves of this opportunity. ------------------------------------------------------- *34* = The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 12, 1861 Page: 1 AGENTS FOR THE TELEGRAPH ... Flowerdale..........GEO. W. DUNNAGAN Cotton Gin..........J. S. STOREY ... ------------------------------------------------------- *35* = The Navarro Express (Corsicana, Tex.) - Thursday, October 10, 1861 Page: 2 FARM FOR SALE! A RARE CHANCE! I WISH TO SELL MY FARM, 16 miles south of Corsicana, on the lower Fairfield road, (crossing Richland at Burleson's bridge). There are 261 acres of land in the tract, about 30 acres under fence, with dwelling house, smoke house, stable, well, &c. The place is beautifully situated halfway between Corsicana and Fairfield, in the edge of the timber and prairie, embracing about equal portions of each. The timber growth is shumach, hickory, black jack, post oak, &c. Pay would be taken in stock, or a reasonable credit would be given to a responsible purchaser. Apply to Messrs. Henry E. Eppes, or J. D. Clark, about a mile from the premises, or the undersigned at this office. R. A. VAN HORN Corsicana, April 10, 1860. tf -------------------------------------------------------