Freestone County, Texas Towns Saint Elmo (St. Elmo) The Saint Elmo was located east of Streetman near Winkler close to the Navarro County line. Settlers began arriving in the area by 1849. The area is drained by Sandy Creek. Lyons Prairie was a strip of land near St. Elmo. The first known school, store and post office of the vicinity was located on Lyons Prairie. Post Office: Established August 5, 1875. Discontinued on November 15, 1906 with mail going to Wortham. Schools: St. Elmo School A school was opened about the late 1850s and closed for the Civil War, but later reopened. In 1875, the school was rebuilt and called "St. Elmo". In 1887, St. Elmo had 66 pupils. (Wortham only had 74 during the same period). Had 46 students in 1891-1892 school year. During the 1893-1894 school year, 79 kids were taught. In 1896, 56 kids were taught by Mr. Berry. 47 pupils taught in the 1909-1910 school year by Oda Key. On August 4, 1919 a petition consolidated the St. Elmo Common School District, the Winkler County Line District, and the Trinity River District into a single St. Elmo Consolidated County Line Common School District. In 1919-1920, 120 students were taught in the consolidated school resulting in the overcrowded building. From 1920 to 1922, the children were moved and taught at the New Hope Baptist Church building while awaiting construction of a new school building. The 1949- 1950 school year saw St. Elmo students busing to Fairfield. Voting Precinct: Began in 1878 and continued for many years. Churches: [NOTE - There were two New Hope Baptist churches in Freestone County. The other was located at Shanks.] [New Hope Baptist Church is sometimes listed as being in nearby Winkler] "Little Hope" Missionary Baptist Church was established in the area in August 1872 with initial membership of twelve. In October 1872, Little Hope petitioned to join Richland Baptist Association. Later it was affliated with the Prairie Grove Association and the Navarro County Associaion. In 1886, the church's name changed to "New Hope Baptist Church". In 1893, the church joined with the Freestone County Association and is currently a member of the Central Texas Baptist Association. Cemeteries: Saint Elmo Cemetery Social Organizations: St. Elmo Community Center (1948-1972) (was the old school auditorium until a fire in 1972.) St. Elmo Grange #43 (listed in 1874 led by J.S. Beauchamp) St. Elmo Farmers Alliance #782 (exists in 1888) Businesses and other Buildings: Nearby Communities: Winkler (in Navarro County, 1.6 miles west) Eureka (in Navarro County, 8.4 miles northwest) Nearby Cemeteries: Lee Cemetery (2 miles southwest) Greenbriar Cemetery (2.5 miles southwest) Oak Grove Cemetery (6 miles south) Present Day: There are no businesses in St. Elmo, only the cemetery. People known living in the area: Anderson, O. P. (constable, 1886-?) Bell, Joe Bennight, Bettie Bennight, Follie Bennight, Jewel Bigham, Carrie Lee Bigham, Lilliam Bigham, Theron Bigham, Vivian Brown, A. M. Darden, James G. Grayson, Robert (constable, till 1886) Hagler, Dovie Hagler, Emma Haywood, Albert Haywood, Roy Irwin, Martin A. Jackson, Lurline Jeffries, Edith Jeffries, Eva Jeffries, F. I. Johnson, Corrie Johnson, William Key, Oda Lewis, Augustus Lewis, James Saunders (returned in 1926) Lewis, William Lyons, John P. & Sarilda Carolione Lewis Marsey, Johny (might be Johnny Massey) Massey, Allie Massey, Frank Massey, Pearle Moore, Harry Nell, Alvin Platt, Vera Platt, Vernon Rouse, Elma Satterfield, Archie Satterfield, Ernest Shanks, Benjamin Shanks, Harvey Simpson, Charles Simpson, Frank Simpson, Pinkey Simpson, William Smith, Lillie Smith, L. W. Smith, Minnie Spaulding, Aron Spaulding, Worth Vinson, Berdie Vinson, Bonnie Vinson, Jewal Vinson, Lurline Ward, Buck Womack, Huland Womack, Manning Womack, Mattie Womack, Nana Womack, Verna Womack, Z. T.