Freestone County, Texas Towns Luna Luna was a pioneer community at what is now the intersection of Farm roads 489 and 1451 in Freestone County. Luna lies between Donie and Teague. On December 22, 1826, empresario David G. Burnet received a contract to colonize this area; he later sold his interest in this land venture to the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company On July 25, 1835, this company granted a league (4,455 acres) of land to Gertrudis Luna, after whom the community was eventually named. It is not known whether Gertrudis Luna ever resided in the community. The first record of settlers moving into the area was in 1850, when the Ben Baty and Colonel B. A. Philpott families arrived. The Edward Ezell and Pete McSwaine families arrived around 1855 from Lauderdale County, Alabama. Both Ezell and McSwaine bought 700 acres for 50 crents per acre from this Mexican grant. The main industry was raising cotton and corn in the early days. Each family had about 80 acres of land. The land is drained by Haynes Branch that follows into Linn Creek on the east and Sanders Creek on the west. In the 1895 Rand McNally atlas, Luna was listed with a post office, but no railroad or express office. The same year, Luna Baptist Church pastored by J. W. Richardson had 19 members. The railroad for the steam train was built through nearby Teague in 1906, but it bypassed Luna. In 1910 the town had 250 residents and a general store, a doctor's office, a blacksmith shop, a cotton gin, and a steam gristmill. The economy of the town centered around cotton and corn. After World War I, the area lands were consolidated for ranching. Without a rail system and with a decline in the farm economy, people began moving from Luna. Luna had lost all of its businesses by the late 1920s. By the late 1980s only a few houses and the cemetery remained. Antioch Cemetery is about two miles south of the crossroads. In the 1980s, the main industries in the area are natural gas and lignite coal. Family gatherings occurred outside Luna at the old "salt lick" geological structure. Post Office: A post office opened there in 1880 in building that doubled as John and Jim Henderix's store. The Avant post office closed and used Luna as its post office in 1885 after being open for over thirty years. In 1907, Luna's post office closed and mail was diverted to nearby Teague. School: Many of the first children went to school three miles away at Box Church school near Mills community. The settlers plowed a furrow to the school from Luna so the kids would not get lost in the woods. Luna School (1866-?) The first public building in Luna was a combination church and school, built in 1866 at the site of what is now the Antioch Cemetery. Land for the church and school was donated by Rich Driver, Sr., and Edward Ezell, Sr. Frank Sanders was the first teacher. Luna school had 34 students in 1887. had 40 pupils in 1893-94 as many as 90 children in a one-room school house about 1915. eventually moved to Teague abt 1930s Churches: none in 1887 Reverend Yow did circuit preaching in Luna in 1907 Cemetery: This school land and more land totalling three acres was given by Rich Driver, Sr., and Edward Ezell, Sr. The first grave was Nancy Hughes in 1879. The "old Tacker burying ground near Luna" according to the Fairfield Recorder - June 24, 1887 issue was where Mrs. Nora (Cobb) Archer was buried. This cemetery would later be called Union cemetery. Social Organizations: Luna Farmers Alliance #585 (exists in 1888) Luna Camp of Woodmen of the World #1940 (exists in 1908) Businesses: Mr. Bess and John and James C. T. "Jim" Henderix ran general stores. James C. T. "Jim" Henderix started his general store in 1894 and later moved to Teague in 1906. Rev. W. A. Pritchard, a Methodist preacher, opened an "odds and ends" store. Dr. Jim H. Oliver was the first doctor to arrive, but left about 1874. Dr. Oliver's store was later occupied by various merchant firms, the last being Jim Hendrix when it fell down in August 1906. Dr. J.L. Autry opened a general store with his doctor's office adjoining in 1876. Later, Dr. Autry sold his store to Philpot Norman. Edward Ezell, Sr. built a blacksmith shop operated by John Hughes. Butler Webb and Rueben T. Long, Sr. built the first cotton gin and grist mill powered by the adjacent stream. Dr. Steadman Carroll built a general store and drug store. Luna had a saloon as well. E. P. Hughes has a cotton gin. A. C. Archer ran a blacksmith shop. By 1884, Luna had 100 residents, a gin, a gristmill, a school, and three churches in other nearby communities. In 1887, Luna had a farmer, one doctor and merchant, one preacher and school- teacher, one store and a school-house. Did not have any churches directly in Luna. Nearby Churhces: Antioch Church (1 mile walk) Enon Church Salem Church Old Communities In the Area: Avant Antioch (West) Enon Salem Freestone (1.9 miles west) Cemeteries in the area: Philpott Family Cemetery (1.8 miles northeast) Salem Cemetery (2.7 miles northeast) Kendrick Family Cemetery (3.1 miles north) Known people in Luna were: Acuff, Nellie Adams, Hattie Adams, J. H. Adams, W. E. Archer, A. C. Archer, Miss Johnnie Archer, Mrs. Rachel Autry, Dr. J. L. Aycock, Alepheus Baty, Ben Beasley, Bond, T. W. Brewer, J. W. Bulin, Andy Bulin, C. F. Bulin, Francis Bulin, Louis Bullin, Sterling Carroll, Dr. Steadman Carroll, Warren Cartright, Thomas Cartwright, Crocket (1896) *1* Cochrum, Garnett Green Sr. Cochrum, Nancy Jane (Ezell) Cothran, J. L. Crider, Josh (1896) *1* Curry, Node Despain, Katie Despain, Marsh Driver, Rich C. Sr. Driver, R. W. Driver, Wash Duskin, Catis Everts, Virgil Ezell, David Crockett Ezell, Edward F. Sr. Ezell, Francis "Frankie" (Howard) Ezell, Jane Ezell, Jessie Irene Ezell, Mr. Louis Ezell, Martha Ezell, Mary Ararilla Ezell, Sallie Ezell, Thomas Ezell, Vicy Ezell, William Ezell, W. J. Folk, Brother R. E. Foreman, Ed Goodyner, Bertie (1896) *1* Grayson, Charles E. Green, G. W. Hancock, Lawrence Edgar "Eddie" Harman, John (carpenter) Hasty, Ely Hendrix, J. C. T. Herrell, Hulet Hill, Lowry Hill, Lydia Hill, Maxine Hill, Myrtle Hill, Otis Hughes, E. H. Hughes, Edward P. (cotton gin) Hughes, John Hughes, Rufus (moved from Jones County to Luna in 1907) Knight, Mrs. Bettie Knight, Bruce H. Knight, Dick Knight, Elwood Knight, Mrs. Fannie Knight, J. C. Knight, John Knight, Lena Knight, Leroy Knight, Lillie Knight, Linda Knight, Modene Knight, Robbie Lacur, John Lamberth, J. L. Long, Rueben T. Sr. Long, Sallie Long, Tommie Love, W. H. Lucas, Ben Lucas, N. A. Mandeville, Benny Mandeville, Billie Mandeville, Cora Mandeville, Emily (Prather) Mandeville, Professor D. A. Mandeville, Nell McDaniel, Charles McDaniel, Maggie McDaniel, Sam McSwaine, Pete McSwaine, R. G. Moncrief, Bill Moncrief, Minnie Moncrief, W. F. Norman, H. P. Norman, Philpot Oliver, Dr. Jim H. Oliver, R. P. Oliver, Zulie Philpott, Colonel B. A. Pierce, Lilbern Prichard, Rev. W. A. (preacher, postmaster, and general merchant) Rife, C. E. Rife, Charlie (1896) *1* Rife, Cora (1896) *1* Saunders, Frank Shaw, George Davis Shaw, Frankie Leonia (Ezell) Shelton, G. P. Shelton, Jack Shelton, Roxie Shelton, Will Shelly, J. T. Smith, Ed Strand, A. C. Stroud, Asa Thompson, A. W. Thompson, Mrs. Ann Thompson, Dixon Thompson, John Thompson, Oscar Vann, Luvicie Lunice (Ezell) Vann, James Mason Webb, Butler (cotton farmer) Webb, Claud Webb, Clydell Webb, H. E. Webb, Kerry Webb, Laura (1896) *1* Webb, Minnie Webb, Mr. Odes Webb, Otis Wren, Georgia (Clark) Wren, Teabe ============================================== SOURCES: *1* = The Fairfield Recorder - December 11, 1896 Page: 4 Freestone County District Singing Convention No. 1 Mills, Tex., Nov. 30, 1896 ...Luna sent as delegates: Misses Cora Rife, Bertie Goodyner, Laura Webb, and Messrs. Charlie Rife, Josh Crider, Crocket Cartwright....