Freestone County, Texas Towns Kirvin/Kirven Kirvin is located east of Wortham along the Trinity & Brazos Valley (locals called it the "Turnip and Bean Vine") Railroad. Kirven's farms are drained by the Grindstone Creek that runs eastward towards the Trinity. Kirven was named for a former county judge, Oliver Kirvin, who donated the right-of-way to the railroad. Kirven really began in 1906 springing up from prairie land when the Trinity & Brazos Valley Railroad laid its tracks through the area. Even though the T. & B. V. cut through the county near the Shanks community (only 25 yards from the Shanks cemetery), the railroad created its depot at the crossroads that was to become Kirven because this intersection was the centrally located to the other towns in the area. When the railroad came through the area, it barely missed Woodland. The old Woodland (previously called "Bonner") community was located three-quarters of a mile to the west. The railroad's arrival spelled the closing bell for Woodland's business that moved to Kirven. Shanks (previously called "Nip n Tuck") is located three miles south of Kirven. To the southeast about a half a mile, Woods Chapel is located on the road to Fairfield. About a mile to west is Lebanon Church. The Kirven Free School District started April 9, 1906. Kirven post office opened its doors Nov 30, 1907. In 1911, the town of Kirven was incorporated. In 1911, there were three weekly newpapers in Kirvin. The 1920s saw a boom time for Kirven since the discovery of oil at Mexia (especially the November 19, 1920 drilling of the Roger's Discovery Well) in neighboring Limestone County and subsequent exploratory drilling in Freestone county. 1922 was a busy year for Kirven and Freestone County in the national news. January and February 1922, martial law was declared and bootleggers' stills through the county were raided. In May 1922, a famous murder of a school girl and subsequent burning of three African Americans by a vigilante mob of whites occurred in Kirven. In May and June 1922, there were rumors of race riots focused around Kirvin that turned out to be false. September 9th [according to the Fairfield Recorder September 22, 1922 Page: 1] the Ku Klux Klan made donation to Mrs. Sallie McCown at the Kirven State Bank and the Fairfield paper published the letter. In December 1922, there was an attempted assault on county sheriff H. M. Mayo's wife. Basically after the vigilante mob burning in May 1922, most of the people both blacks and whites left town. In these years following, many buildings were burnt for the insurance money to have money to leave or burnt for retribution real or perceived. Many properties and parcels around Kirven are for sale and are not purchased further ruining the hopes of the people of Kirven. In November 1922, the Kirven State Bank was liquidated into the First State Bank of Teague. Kirvin was eventually renamed from Kirven and continued on as a shadow of its prior self. Sheriff Sony Sessions was the author of the Kirvin Centennial (1906-2006) that talks about the town. Newspapers (3): Kirven "Commerical Record" (1911-probably July 1922) [William H. Norman was the last known editor for the Commerical Record.] (1911-?) (1911-?) Railroad Depot: Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway depot (1906-?) Post Office: 30 Nov 1907 to current day. When Stewards Mill's post office closed in 1914, it was sent to Kirvin. Masonic Lodge: Cotton Gin Masonic Lodge #154 (chartered 1855 in Cotton Gin. Moved to Kirven in Feb. 1916. New lodge hall started in 1960.) Social Organizations: Woodmen of the World (peaked at 125 members) Masonic Lodge School: Kirvin school operated from 4 Apr 1906 to 1949. Principal N. Teague oversaw 121 white and 212 colored students in 1918-1919 in the Kirven ISD. Churches: Kirven United Methodist Church Kirven Baptist Church (built in 1937) First Baptist Church of Kirven, Texas Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church (outside town to the northwest) [Shiloh is the "mother" church of the Zion Rest Primitive Baptist District Association. Started in 1853, when African Americans near Kirvin were given permission to prepare a place of worship. Delegates for the church to the district meeting in 1907 were R. W. Bell, J. A. Smith, and S. W. Moore. Present building built in 1922.] Caney Baptist Church (started before 1858) (outside town to northeast) (formerly known as Tehuacana Church) Grace Baptist Church (Independent) Woods Chapel Primitive Baptist (started in 1874) (to the southeast, out of town) (building still standing and in usage) Businesses: The height of Kirven's businesses was in 1911 with numerous businesses: 3 churches, 3 banks, 2 cafes, 3 doctors, a feed and seed store, telephone exchange, 2 barber ships, a pool hall, 3 or 4 grocery stores, 2 gas stations, a confectionary, a light plant, a picture show, a large two-story hotel, a roller skating rink, and 3 weekly newspapers. D. F. Allen Blacksmith and Wheelwright Flat Top Grocery J. L. Green Notions & Furniture Green's drug store Guaranty State Bank Joseph E. Johnson, M.D. A. V. Kelly Hardware and Groceries and Grist Mill Kirven Garage LeNoir's Cafe Marberry & Smith cotton yard Mayo Hotel - large two-story wooden building McClellan & Goolsby Confectioner Neece Lumber Co. Paul Norman & Company General Store T. L. Potts J. W. Powell groceries and feed Riddle McCown, Tailor W. B. Teer Dry Goods and Groceries Lee Turner Store (Ice & Groceries, brick building) Dr. Whiteside's drug store wooden office building - housed a pool hall, barber shop, and laundry Modern Businesses: Reba's Ragtops Salon McCord County Cafe and Store Hogan and Sons Tractor & Heavy Equipment Rick's Tree Service A1 Hydraulics (James Hogan II, owner) Kirvin Storage (Mark & Reba Duke, owners) Croft Industries (Frank Croft, owner) K.D.T. Construction (Ken & Tina Sessions) Cemeteries: Session Cemetery (.6 miles northeast, on the eastern edge of town) Cox Family Cemetery (near Session Cemetery) Woodland Cemetery (1.4 miles northwest) Webb Branch Cemetery (2.3 miles miles north) Shanks Cemetery (2.4 miles miles south) Carter Cemetery Known Past Residents of Kirven: Adams, J. C. (general merchantile store) Alderman, David Allen, Drew Ard, W. E. Ard, W. F. (moved to Houston in 1907) Ausley, B. J. Ausley, Eula Bain, L. E. Bailey, John Baker, John Batchelor, Dr. Claude (doctor) Beaver, Emma Steele Beaver, George Whitfield Beaver, Neva Lucille Beaver, Walter Robert Bell, Joe (school board trustee) Bell, Katie Bell, Laura Bell, Lula Bell, R. W. Bell, R. W. Jr. Bennett, Sam Bertrand, G. T. Bosley, Sneed Brewer, Otho Brower, G. B. Calame, Mr. Ruby Carter, Alfred P. (school board trustee, census taker) Carter, Tom Cathey, Ben Chancellor, Charlie Chapell, Mr. Corley, Harmon Davis, William E. Day, Harry Day, Hugh Degatto, John (ran resturant, bootlegger) Elmore, C. N. Elmore, Dee Everett, G. B. (school board trustee) Everett, G. W. Everett, Hubert Everett, J. B. Everett, Sallie Faircloth, Preston Franklin, Aubrey Goolsby, James Claude Goolsby, Jewel McClellan Goolsby, Pete Green, John Gruver, Enders Gurley, Doyle Gurley, W. D. Hagan, Joe (twin) (garage) Hagan, Rufus (twin) (garage) Harris, Cliff Harris, Lynn Harris, M. H. Harris, Menard Henderson, Maggie (school teacher) Hogan, Rufus Howeth, Nora Howett, Buel Huckaby, Pete Hughes, J. T. Irvin, Miss Maude Irwin, M. A. Johnson, Dr. (doctor) Johnson, J. (dry goods & grocer) Kelly, A. Virgil Kirvin, Oliver Carter (county judge, later district judge) Leach, Reverend Pat (First Methodist Church preacher) Lee, Laura Bess Lenoir, Ike Loader, Jack (moved to Teague in 1907) Lott, Will Managan, R. Z. Marberry, Butch Marberry, Fagan Marberry, Jack Marberry, John Marberry, Mack Marberry, Will Mathews, Jerry Mathews, Joe May, W. B. Mayo, J. H. Mayo, Laura Bess McClellan, Bert McClellan, Hugh McCormick, Henry McCown, Riddle McCown, Ross Mitchell, Harold Moody, George Moore, J. A. Moore, John Lee Moore, S. W. Mosley, E. B. Mosley, N. B. Murry, D. C. Murry, John Myers, H. M. Neal, Archie Norman, Bill Norman, Paul Norman, William H. Odgen, Charles Quarles, Will Pickard, Guy Potts, J. T. Powell, Dora Powell, J. W. Powell, Lumus/Loomis Prouty, A. P. Prouty, C. G. Prouty, E. M. Pullins, Osier Pullins, Rural Rankin, Lester Richardson, A. L. "Bo" Richardson, Furney (school teacher) Richardson, O. T. (deputy sheriff) Robinson, Marie Sessions, Bill Sessions, Carter (rancher) Sessions, Jim (former sheriff) Sessions, J. R. Jr. Shanks, B. H. Shanks, Harvey R. (blacksmith & ginner) Shanks, J. A. Shanks, Dr. Robert (visiting doctor) (Wortham) Shay, B. F. Sheffield, Ray Shumate, J. G. (general merchantile store) Shumate, Sid Simmons, Guy Simmons, Sam Simmons, T. C. Smith, James A. Spurgeon, W. H. Summers, Seff (moved to Mississippi in 1907) Teer, J. B. Teer, J. W. Teer, W. B. Turner, Lee Utley, O. B. Walthall, Earl Whatley, Arthur Whatley, Everett Whatley, J. C. Whatley, W. F. White, Buddy Withrow, Blake Withrow, Lemuel Hampton (ginner & grocier; moved to Kirven in 1905 from Ward Prairie; moved to Teague in 1919) Willard, James Daniel (grocier) Williams, Bertha Winburn, Alie (resturanter) Wolf, B. F. (moved to Montague County in 1907) Wolf, Ray Woolridge, Dr. (part time dentist) (Fairfield) Wynn, H. D. Wynn, Henry Yancy, Jimmie ================================================================= INTERESTING NEWSPAPER ARTICLES FOR KIRVEN: The Norwalk Hour (of Norwalk, Conn.) - May 6, 1922 – Saturday - Page: 3 THREE NEGROES BURNED TO DEATH AT DAWN TODAY IN KIRVIN, TEXAS, FOR MURDER OF 17 YEAR OLD SCHOOL GIRL WHO WAS STABBED THIRTY TIMES INCINERATION WAS IN CITY SQUARE IN PRESENCE OF MOB Victims Were Tied to Seat of a Cultivator; “Snap” Terry, 26, the First Victim, Was Caught After 36-Hour Chase with Bloodhounds; Is Alleged to Have Made Confession; Oil Was Poured on Body and Match Lighted; “Mose” Jones, 44, and John Conish, 19, Other Victims. Kirvin, Texas, May 6 (United Press) – Three negroes were burned here at dawn for the assault and murder of Eula Ausley, pretty 17-year-old school girl, whose body was found near here mutilated by thirty stab wounds. Tied to the seat of a cultivator, placed in the center of the city square here, the three negroes met their death before a mob of 100. OIL POURED ON BODY “Snap” Terry, 26, who was captured after a 36-hour chase with bloodhounds, was the first to be burned. He was tied to the seat of a cultivator after he is alleged to have made a confession. Oil was poured on his body and a match struck. As the flames mounted about his body, Terry shouted, “Oh, Lord, I’m coming”. Mose Jones, 44, and John Conish, 19, were the other negroes burned. Story of the Crime This was after Terry had been ignited and shouted “burn Jones and John Cornish – they are as guilty as I am”. Terry’s chant “Oh, Lord, I’m coming” rose higher and higher as the flames leaped. Then the body was completely saturated with kerosene and petroleum. Terry’s chant died away. Jones was then roped and dragged over the plow. Wood was thrown on. In about six minutes he died. John Cornish was lassoed and dragged onto the fire. Again more fuel was added and the three bodies were burned to a crisp. At 8 o’clock the fire was still burning. The capture of the three blacks followed the most thrilling man-hunt in Texas history. Farmers and business men of three counties began early Friday morning to run down the slayer of the white girl. With a clue from another negro that “Snap” Terry was guilty, creek bottoms and hills were beaten back and forth all day. Terry was captured about 5:30 Friday afternoon, five and half miles south of Wortham. News of the capture spread rapidly and within a hour, a large crowd had gathered about the jail. The black was slipped out and taken to Fairfield, where he was placed in the county jail. Under severe questioning the negro confessed and implicated the other two negroes at Kirvin. Two Whites Locked Up Fairfield, Texas, May 6 (United Press) - Two white men are being held in the jail here in connection with the killing of Eula Ausley at Kirvin for which three negroes were burned there this morning, according to Sheriff Mayo. Tracks leading from the scene of the murder to the home of the two men – brothers – and fitting the shoes they wore, were found, Mayo said. One of the men was captured yesterday and the second surrendered at the jail after the mob left here last night with the negroes. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Deseret News (of Salt Lake City, Utah) - May 6, 1922 – Saturday - Page: 3 THREE NEGROES ARE BURNED AT STAKE IN TEXAS Victims of Mob of 500 Men Were Accused of Slaying 17-Year-Old Girl Near Kirvin By The Associated Press KIRVIN, Tex., May 6 – Three negroes were burned to death at the same stake here at 5 o’clock this morning by a mob of 500 men, following their alleged implication in the criminal assault and murder of a 17-year-old Eula Awsley, white girl, whose mutilated body was found near here Thursday night. All three negroes were employed on the farm of J. T. King, a prominent farmer of this community, and grandfather of the dead girl, with whom she lived, both her parents being dead. King was present at the cremation and the mob leaders are said to have obtained his approval before lighting the torches. The lynching was carried out in orderly fashion. There was no discharge of firearms nor was any undue violence attempted, although it is understood that the bodies of the negroes were mutilated before being tied to the stake. With the exception of a few shouts and the screams of the condemned men, there was little to disturb the early morning quiet of the backwoods community. The incinerations took place on a small open plot directly in front of two small churches. One of the negroes is said to have died singing a church anthem. Negro Confesses Kirvin, a town of about 500 inhabitants, is in Freestone County, East Central Texas, about 80 miles south of Dallas. King resides at Kirvin. Miss Awsley was riding her horse home from school which she attended, several miles from Kirvin, late Thursday when she attacked. Her body was found near the road with 23 knife wounds in the head, neck and chest. News of the murder spread quickly and late Thursday a hand of several hundred men from Freestone counties, and a large sheriff’s posse were scouring the neighborhood. “Snapp” Curry the first negro led to the stake, was arrested when his wife told officers he had come home with his clothes covered in blood on the night of the murder. Curry was taken to Wortham and imprisoned in a bank for safe keeping where it is alleged that he confessed to the mob that he had assaulted and murdered the girl and had in his confession he implicated two other negroes, J. H. Varney and Mose Jones. He was taken from the sheriff as he was being conducted to another town for safety. A mob gathered about and threatened to storm the building, whereupon officers spirited the prisoner through a rear window and started with him in an automobile toward Mexia, apparently en route to Waco. Resistance seemed useless, and the prisoner was surrendered. Maintain Innocence The mob divested the sheriff of his keys to the Freestone county jail where Jones and Varney were being held as suspects, unlocked the doors and took the two negroes in charge. All three were then rushed to Kirvin, the home of the dead girl, where the execution took place at an iron stake driven into the ground on a small square in the heart of the town. Wood saturated with oil to increase its inflammability was piled about the stake. Curry was burned first, then Varney and Jones. There was some delay in burning the last two as they steadfastly maintained their innocence, but were finally cremated on the strength of Curry’s testimony. After the third negro had been burned to a crisp, the three bodies were piled together and a mass of fuel and oil was flung over them. This was ignited, the flames soaring 25 or 30 feet into the air. At an early hour today the flames were still burning fiercely with the prospects that the bodies would be reduced to ashes. The mob dispersed rapidly. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Evening Independent (of St. Petersburg, FL) - May 6, 1922 – - Page: 1 NEGRO BRUTES BURNED ALIVE BY TEXAS MOB Three Taken from Sheriff and Tortured for Committing Foul Crime VICTIM, WHITE GIRL, WAS ONLY 17 YEARS OF AGE Attacked as She was Riding Home From School – Body Covered With Knife Wounds Teague, Tex., May 6 – Two white men were detained today for further investigation of their actions preceding the attack on and murder of a young white girl for which three negroes were burned at Kirvin this morning. No charges were filed against them, according to reports here. Kirvin, Tex., May 6 – (By the Associated Press) – Three negroes were burned to death at the same stake here at 5 o’clock this morning by a mob of 500 men, following their alleged implication in the criminal assault and murder of a 17-year-old white girl, whose mutilated body was found near here Thursday night. “Snap” Curry, the first negro burned was taken from the custody of Freestone county officers early last night as he was conveyed from Wortham to some point west. It is alleged that he confessed to the mob that he had assaulted and murdered the girl and that in his confession he implicated the two other negroes, J. H. Varney and Mose Jones. The mob divested the sheriff of his keys to the Freestone county jail where Jones and Varney were being held as suspects. Hurrying to the Jail, the mob unlocked the doors and took the two negroes in charge. All three negroes were then rushed to Kirvin, the home of the dead girl, and an iron stake driven into the ground on a small square in the heart of the town. Wood was accumulated and saturated with oil. Curry was burned first, then Varney and Jones. There was some delay in burning the last two inasmuch as they maintained their innocence. Third degree methods failed to bring a confession from them, and they were finally cremated on the strength of Curry’s testimony. After the third negro had been burned to a crisp, the three bodies were piled together and a mass of fuel and oil was flung over them. This was ignited, the flames soaring twenty-five or thirty feet into the air. Early today the flames were still burning fiercely. The mob rapidly dispersed, and as day dawned there were only a few persons remaining to witness the aftermath of the triple cremation. When the fire finally died down this morning nothing but ashes remained of the three bodies. All three negroes were employed on the farm of J. T. King, a prominent farmer of this community, and grandfather of the dead girl, with whom she lived, both her parents being dead. King was present at the cremation and the mob leaders are said to have obtained (Continued on Page 12) [Page 12 – NOTE – This section of page 12 is heavily smeared on the original. I had to compare other printings of the story to discern what was probably written.] his approval before lighting the torches. The lynching was carried out deliberately. There was no discharge of firearms. It is reported, however, that the negroes were mutilated before being tied to the stake. With the exception of a few shouts and the screams of the condemned men, there was little to disturb the early morning quiet of the backwoods community. The plot where the burning took place is in front of the two churches. One of the negroes is said to have died singing a church anthem. Kirvin, a town of about 500 inhabitants, is in Freestone County, East Central Texas, about 80 miles south of Dallas. The young girl was riding her horse home from school, several miles from Kirvin, late Thursday when she attacked. Her body was found near the road with twenty-three knife wounds in the head, neck and chest. ----------------------------------------------------------- The New York Times (of New York, NY) - May 7, 1922, Sunday MOB BURNS THREE NEGROES AT STAKE; Texans Take Swift Vengeance on Men Accused of Murdering White Girl. ONE CONFESSES HIS GUILT Grandfather of Their Victim Present and Gives His Consent Before Fire Is Lighted. KIRVIN, Texas, May 6 (Associated Press).--Three negroes were burned to death at the same stake here at 5 o'clock this morning by a mob of 500 men, following their alleged implication in the assault and murder of 17-year old Eula Awsley, a white girl, whose mutilated body was found near here Thursday night. “Snap” Curry, the first negro burned was taken from the custody of Freestone County officers early last night as he was being conveyed from Wortham to some point west. It is alleged that he confessed to the mob that he had assaulted and murdered the girl and that in his confession he implicated the two other negroes, J. H. Varney and Moses Jones. The mob took from the Sheriff his keys to the Freestone County Jail, where Jones and Varney were being held as suspects. Hurrying to the jail, the mob unlocked the doors and took the two negroes in charge. All three prisoners were then rushed to Kirvin, the home of the dead girl, and an iron stake was driven into the ground on a small square in the heart of the town. Wood was piled up and saturated with oil. Curry was burned first, then Varney and Jones. There was some delay in burning the last two, as they steadfastly maintained their innocence. Third degree methods failed to bring a confession from them, and they were finally cremated on the strength of Curry’s testimony. Bodies Burned Together After the third negro had been burned to a crisp, the three bodies were piled together and a mass of fuel and oil was flung over them. This was ignited, the flames soaring twenty-five or thirty feet into the air. The mob rapidly dispersed, and as day dawned there were only a few persons remaining to witness the aftermath of the triple cremation. When the fire finally died down this morning nothing but ashes remained of the three bodies. Curry, the alleged confessed slayer of Miss Awsley, is understood to have told his captors that Jones, Varney and himself had planned the crime since January. The original plan was to assault two other women as well as Miss Awsley on the same day and in rapid succession, Curry was quoted as having said. He did not say why the plan had failed. The three negroes were employed on the farm of J. T. King, a prominent farmer of this community, and grandfather of the dead girl, with whom she lived, both her parents being dead. Mr. King was present at the lynching and the mob leaders are said to have obtained his approval before lighting the torches. Mob Acts Deliberately The lynching was carried out deliberately. There was no discharge of firearms. It is reported, however, that the negroes were mutilated before being tied to the stake. With the exception of a few shouts and the screams of the condemned men, there was little to disturb the early morning quiet of the backwoods community. The plot where the burning took place is in front of the two churches. One of the negroes is said to have died singing a church anthem. Kirvin, a town of about 500 inhabitants, is in Freestone County, East Central Texas, about 80 miles south of Dallas. Miss Awsley was riding her horse home from school, several miles from Kirvin, late Thursday when she attacked. Her body was found near the road with twenty- three knife wounds in the head, neck and chest. News of the murder spread quickly and Thursday night a band of several hundred men from Freestone and Limestone Counties and a large sheriff’s posse scoured the neighborhood. Curry was arrested when his wife told officers he had come home with his clothes covered with blood on the night of the murder. He was taken to Wortham and imprisoned in a bank for safekeeping. A mob gathered about the bank last night and threatened to storm the building, and officers spirited the prisoner through a rear window and started with him in an automobile toward Mexia, apparently en route to Waco. The mob quickly surrounded the card and demanded the negro. Resistance seemed useless and the prisoner was surrendered. TEAGUE, Texas, May 6 – Two white men were detained today for further investigation of their actions preceding the attack and murder of Eula Ausley for which three negroes were burned at Kirvin this morning. No charges were filed against the men, according to reports here. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Victoria Advocate (of Victoria, Texas) – May 7, 1922 edition - Sunday – Page: 1 [Note – Unusual mix-up of column titles in the actual paper] Three Negroes Are Burned By A Mob In Kirvin, Texas, For The Murder Of A Young School Girl Last Friday Mob Avenged Girl’s Death By Burning 3 Murderers By United Press KIRVIN, Texas, May 6 – Stacking them up like sticks of cord wood, a mob of more than five hundred persons, burned Snap Terry, aged 26, Mose Jones, aged 44 and John Cornish, aged 19, all negroes in the public square of this city at daylight this morning. The burning of the three negroes was the climax of a day and night man hunt for the attackers of Miss Eula King, a seventeen year old school girl, who was found dead in a field near her home Thursday night. The negro Terry was the first one place on the pyre and he confessed assaulting and aiding in murdering the girl. As he was strapped to the seat of a plow under which the fire was stated he said, “Burn Mose Jones and John Cornish, they are as guilty as I am.” As the flames were fanned by the slight breeze that was blowing and stated leaping upwards, igniting the negro’s clothing. Terry began signing, “Oh Lord, I am coming.” Jones and Cornish were then placed on the gruesome pyre and at eight o’clock this morning the fire of death was still burning, hundreds of visitors being attracted to this little city to see the terrible sight. The capture of the three blacks was the most thrilling man hunt in Texas history. Farmers and business men of three counties began early Friday to chase the slayers of the white girl. With a clue from another negro, who told them Terry was guilty, the creek and river bottoms and hills were beaten back and forth for the negro. Terry was captured yesterday afternoon. He and the two other negroes were taken in Fairfield and placed in jail there. A mob from Kirvin overpowered the sheriff and his deputies and carried the negroes back to Kirvin. The negroes were tortured and mutilated very badly before they were burned. For a while Friday it appeared as it the negroes had succeeded in making good their escapes, however, bloodhounds, which were brought here from the penitentiary at Huntsville, via airplane, picked up their trial [sic, trail] and the mob soon caught up with the negroes and captured them. ----------------------------------------------------------- Berkeley Daily Gazette (of Berkeley, CA) - May 8, 1922, Monday – Page: 1 TEXAS RANGERS TO QUELL RACE RIOTS By United Press KIRVIN, Texas, May 8— Two detachments of Texas rangers were rushed to Kirvin today following an outbreak of race disturbances. Frederick Green, negro, was lynched today – the fourth to die by mob action since the assault and murder of 17-year-old Eula Ausley here last Thursday. Green, 23 years old, was implicated in the crime by “Snap” Curry, negro, who confessed before he was burned. Curry said that Green was with them when the girl was assaulted. The body of Green was found hanging to a tree half way between Fairfield and Kirvin. [same issue, same page] Sends Rangers AUSTIN, Texas, May 8, Governor Neff today ordered two detachments of Texas rangers to Fairfield, county seat of Freestone county, immediately to prevent an uprising by negroes that Sheriff Mayo declared imminent. Mayo said negroes of Freestone county threatened to avenge the death of three negroes burned at the stake at Kirvin Saturday for the assault and murder of Miss Eula Ausley, 17-year-old school girl. Captain Frank Hamer of ranger headquarters company at Austin will leave at once for Fairfield with one detachment of rangers. The other detachment is to come from Fort Worth under the command of Captain Tom Hickman. ----------------------------------------------------------- Lewiston Daily Sun (of Lewiston, Maine) – May 8, 1922 edition – Monday – Page: 1 TROUBLE FROM 300 NEGROES FAILS TO MATERALIZE Reported Colored Men Preparing to “Wipe Out” A Texas Town Kirvin, Texas, May 7 — Despite rumors from various towns in this vicinity that armed negroes were marching on the city to avenge the death last Saturday of three negroes accused of the assault and murder of a 17-year-old white girl, the town was quiet tonight. There was no indication of trouble, according to O. C. King, city marshal. Marshal King said he had investigated several reports of negro gatherings but that in each case these reports proved false. A religious gathering of three score or more dispersed when advised that their meeting might possibly be misconstrued. A report from Corsicana, that three hundred negroes were en route here also proved without foundation. City Marshals along the highways between Kirvan [sic, Kirvin] and Corsicana report that negroes in their respective sections are quiet and that no bands of negroes have been seen in this vicinity. Fort Worth, Tex., May 7 – In a long distance conversation with The Associated Press correspondent at 9:15 o’clock tonight, the manager of the telephone exchange at Kirvan [sic, Kirvin] Texas said that a mob of 300 negroes reported marching to Kirvin to “wipe out the town” to avenge the burning of three negroes last week, had dispersed and that State troops from Wortham had gone back to headquarters. The negroes had gathered during the afternoon but dispersed quickly, he said. ----------------------------------------------------------- Lewiston Daily Sun (of Lewiston, Maine) – June 2, 1922 edition – Page: 1 NEGROES AND WHITES PREPARE FOR BATTLE NEAR KIRVIN, TEXAS Several Thousand White Men, Heavily Armed, Reported Rushing To Scene Where Bad Feeling Has Existed Since Three Negroes Were Recently Burned – One White Man Killed Yesterday Fort Worth, Texas, June 2 – Jack Marshal, chief dispatcher of the local railway station at 9:45 tonight stated that a mob of 400 white men from towns surrounding Kirvin were hurrying to the Powell farm south of Kirvin with machine guns. Teague, Texas, June 2 – A crowd of men estimated at 500 left Teague at 7:25 tonight for a place near Kirvin where it was reported 75 to 100 negroes were preparing to march against the white residents of that section. Mexia, Tex., June 2 – One white man was reported killed and two others seriously wounded by negroes at the John King farm, near Kirvin, this afternoon. The white men are reported to be relatives of Miss Eula Awsley, whose slaying recently was followed by the burning of three negroes and the hanging of another at Kirvin. Mr. King, grandfather of Miss Awsley, was reported among the wounded. The number of negroes said to be involved has not been determined, although it was said to be a good many. Four loads of county officials have left here for the scene to assist officials of Freestone county. Officers said “bad feeling” had existed in Kirvin between whites and negroes since the burning of the negroes. Deputy Sheriff King and City Marshal King, of Kirvin, with a posse of men, arrested Leroy Gibson, a negro, this afternoon at the home of Mose Gibson, about five miles north of Teague. Three negroes in the house opened fire with rifles as they were leaving with the prisoner, the officers reported. During the battle Leroy Gibson was killed. Shortly after the shooting of the youth between 40 and 60 negroes are reported to have taken possession of a deserted house on the Powell farm four and one half miles south of Kirvin. They are said to be armed with rifles and to have threatened to resist any attempt of a crowd of whites to enter the house. Houston, Tex., June 2 – Corsicana and Wortham report that advices of the race difficulty at Kirvin, had been received and that several thousand (Continued on Page Four) [Page 4] men heavily armed were rushing to the scene. Dallas, Tex., June 2 – All telephone lines between Dallas and Kirvin, except on line through Wortham, have been cut, the local telephone office reported. Corsicana, Tex., June 2 – According to reports received here, a gathering of negroes estimated at between 75 and 100 is lined up about three miles southeast of Kirvin. They were reported heavily armed. All citizens of Streetman, eight miles north of Kirvin, except a few left on guard, the report said, have responded to calls for help. A Corsicana hardware store received an order from Kirvin late today for all the arms and ammunition in stock to be delivered at once. Many persons from Corsicana are reported to be en route to the scene of the trouble. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Victoria Advocate (of Victoria, Texas) – June 4, 1922 edition – Page: 1 Freestone County, Texas, Is Quiet After Spending One of Wildest Nights in the History of Co. By United Press TEAGUE, Texas, June 3 – Freestone County is quiet after one of the wildest nights in its history. State rangers patrolled the streets during the night, but they believe that the danger of a race riot has passed. The trouble started yesterday afternoon when officers took Leroy Gibson, 18-year-old negro, into custody, when he was ambushed near Simsboro. Two and possibly three negroes were killed. The lowlands surrounding Kirvin and Simsboro are still crowded with scores of armed men this morning. Immediately following the reports of the killing, wild rumors of race riots swept the surrounding counties. Gibson was arrested in connection with the murder of Eula Ausley, aged 17 years, for which crime four negroes have been lynched. [same issue, same page] By United Press KIRVIN, Texas, June 3 –An automobile army which invaded Kirvin last night when race war rumors were widely circulated over the state, entirely disappeared tonight. Stragglers made their way to their homes in nearby towns when it became evident that the “uprising would probably not materialize....” As day progressed, negroes came out of their homes and went about their regular business. Although officials emphatically say no further trouble is expected, there was great tension over Freestone County which failed to disappear. Trouble started late yesterday when officers went to the home of Mose Gibson, but arrested Leroy, 19 in connection with the murder of Eula Ausley, last month. Gibson was shot and killed when he attempted to escape. Officers were fired upon from the Gibson house. They returned fire, killing Allie Gibson. Reports stating that a negro mob was being formed, brought thousands of armed white men together. ----------------------------------------------------------- Fairfield Recorder - 1935 King Kronicles Kirven School News The juniors presented the play, “My Dixie Rose” Friday night. A large crowd was present and the funds that were made will be used to entertain the seniors with a banquet in the near future. Marie Robinson, Laura Bess Lee and Fagan Marberry were absent from school Monday. ============================================== [Need to double check this:] Kirven's businesses in 1888 was: Shumate & McCormick groceries J. Johnson, dry goods & groceries E. B. Mosley, dry goods & groceries W. E. Davis, groceries J[ames] D[aniel] Willard, groceries M. A. Irwin, groceries L[emuel] H[ampton] Withrow, groceries and cold drinks (also ran a gin in town) Alie Winburn, resturant John J., resturant H[arvey] R. Shanks, blacksmith (also ran a different gin in town)