Freestone County, Texas Towns The Town of Troy by Eric Bonner Wood The Town of Troy/Sand Town/(Pine Bluff - see its own writeup) No longer even a ghost town, Troy was located about the middle of Freestone County near the western bank of the Trinity River where the river swivels inward at its closest point to Fairfield. Today it's difficult to even locate it, and one has to search through brush to find any remnants of buildings or graves. Troy was located just north of Tyus Bluff and was set back just a bit from the river's edge. The town was founded in 1847 by M. Bateman near a crossing point on the Trinity River. Because of its location, many of the early settlers passed through Troy going into the area that was to become Freestone County. Troy was just north of the very short Rocky Branch that flows into the Trinity River. In the early 1850s, Troy was the largest town in the county. After Freestone County was created in 1850, Troy received some votes to become the county seat, but ultimately Poland (renamed to Fairfield) became the county seat. Perhaps locating the county seat more centrally was a factor in Troy's loss. Troy's post office was the first in the county beginning on Nov 4, 1850 with William L. Adams as postmaster and was discontinued after the civil war on Nov 5, 1866. The first Masonic lodge in the county, "Pine Bluff Lodge #85-A", was approved on January 23, 1852 in Troy gathering on the first Saturday of each month. The lodge had to get special permission to stay open after failing to meet regularly in 1865 because the Worshipful Master fell ill for six months and other problems occurred. The lodge relocated to Rock Springs at the end of the next year, 1866. In the final year at Troy, the listed members were B. H. Hammett (W.M.), Conrad Henry (S.W.), W. R. Standifer (J.W.), Ezekiel Weaver (T.), H. C. Bradbury (Sec), R. L. Alford (S.D.), H. S. Harper (J.D.), A. G. Lee (Tyler), J. Malone (past master), Joseph Coody (master mason), Benjamin Towles (master mason), R. Eskridge (E.A.), and W. L. Edwards (E.A.). Early leading families in Troy were those of Macaja/Micajah Bateman [#132]; General Bradberry/Bradbury; Joell Clapp; John Claypool; Benjamin Franklin Edwards; Goins; Dan Potter; Prater; Robert Malone Tyus; Berryman P. Hammett; L. Walker. The two leading trading firms were those of Bragg & Clough and the McLain firm. [My best guess for the residents of Troy in the 1850 Limestone census is between 104 and 133.] Because the Trinity River was prone to flood, Troy itself was half a mile inland to prevent flooding the town. In 1847, the first steamboat, the Reliance, under the command of Captain Thomas Webb came up the Trinity River to the river banks near Troy. *T1* In March 1848, the Reliance under Captain Webb brought down 973 bales of cotton, 479 hides, and 41 bales of furs from inland Texas to the coast. *T2* Troy had a number of warehouses in 1853 including James Day's warehouse. *T5* Troy appears in the list of post offices in Texas furnished by the postmaster of Galveston in December 1, 1856 to Dr. Braham who published "Braman's Information About Texas" printed in Philadelphia in 1857. Troy is listed as a "village" in 1858. *T8* A 1858 map by Jones, Roat and Company shows this transition (from Pine Bluff to Troy) with Troy listed and just underneath in the south was Pine Bluff. Troy declined after a new ferry at Magnolia in Anderson County began operation. Also, because of extreme fluctuations in water level, the Trinity River did not prove a reliable way for transit with travelers having to sometimes wait months for the river to rise enough to provide safe passage. By 1860, the census shows Troy had shrunk to only 49 people. Most of its population moved to Butler. In 1860, a store was burnt at neighboring Pine Bluff. *T9*, *T10* These raiders or band of thieves hit a number of spots over the course of a week. [Stewards Mill got raided at the same time but was rebuilt,] Troy never recovered and the raid sealed its fate. The post office at Troy closed on Nov 5, 1866 and the Masonic Lodge moved to Rock Springs that same year. By 1890, Troy and Pine Bluff had been totally abandoned. By 1918, any references to Troy on maps disappeared. Only a few people even remembered its location. My father, Forrest Edwards "Buddy" Wood Jr, remembers looking for stray cattle from horseback among the ruins of Troy in the 1950s on the Bonner land. All that was left then was the Edwards/Troy cemetery under a stand of trees and some stone/cement building foundations barely visible under the tall grass. There were 25 to 30 graves west of where old Troy stood. Other nearby known cemeteries are Tyus and Hammett. All of these cemeteries were abandoned and are very poorly maintained. School: Post Office: Troy Post Office (1850-1866) Social Organizations: Pine Bluff Masonic Lodge #85-A (1851-1866) [NOTE - please look at Pine Bluff Masonic Lodge under Social on this website] Churches: Cemetery: Edwards/Troy/Sand Town Cemetery (was just to the west of old Troy) Tyus Cemetery (was southwest of old Pine Bluff) Hammett Cemetery Businesses: Bragg & Clough trading firm McLain trading firm Mrs. Day's tobacco warehouse Nearby Communities: Pine Bluff Known Former Residents: Adams, Ann *PB3* Adams, Ann L. *PB3* Adams, William L. Alford, John R. Alford, R. L. Anderson, John Q. Barns, G. E. Bateman, Macaja/Micajah Bateman, Martha *PB3* Bennett, B. P. Blackman, John W. Bodman, Harrison A. Bradberry/Bradbury, General Hezekiah *1* Bradberry/Bradbury, Hezekiah G. [the general's son] *1* Bragg, Mr. Carroll, Abner Clapp, Benjamin L. (Mormon Elder) Clapp, Joell Claypool, John N. Clough, Zeno P. Coody, Hester Coody, Joseph Connally, John Cresswell, M. Lavenia *PB3* Daniels, Wm. F. Davis, John A. Day, James Dillard, L. H. Dorsett, Asa Edwards, A. J. Edwards, Benjamin Franklin Edwards, Elisha T Edwards, W. L. Eskridge, R. Evans, Jessie B Evans, Lucrecia Evans, Lungg C Evans, Sarah Evans, Thomas Gaston, Thomas A. Goins, Mr. Hammett, B. H. Hammett, Berryman P. Hardin, Joseph B. Harper, H. S. *2* Harper, Hugh *2* Harper, Thomas S. *PB3* Henderson, J.M. Henry, Conrad Hill, Allen *PB3* Holsclave, Eli *PB3* Lee, A. G. Malone, Isaac *3* Malone, J. *3* McCreight, James C. McDonald, Green McKnight, J. M. McLain, Mr. McLeod, Neil Morton, A. J. Oliver, F. C. Oliver, John E. Perry, Harriette Perry, William Potter, Dan Prater, Mr. Richardson, N. P. Satterwhite, Josephus Sekridge, R. Sevier, Enoch Shelton, Charles Standifer, W. R. Thomas, J. N. Towles, Benjamin (sometimes surname is written as Towls) Tyler, Derrill Tyler, Mary J. Tyus, Robert Malone Waldrum, John (sometimes surname is written as Waldrom) Walker, L. Weaver, Ezekiel West, C. D. (some documents C. B. West) Williams, George L. Williams, Isaiah Wilson, John F. Wilson, Leonidas F. Wortham, John Wright, John W Wright, Toletha Youree (or Gouree), James R. -------------------------------------- Tyus Bluff Tyus Bluff is located about the middle of Freestone County on the west bank of the Trinity River where it curves inward and forms its closest point to Fairfield. Because it was a high point in the landscape, it served as a landmark. It was named for Robert Malone Tyus who settled the property. Today Pine Bluff, Board Pile, and Arrowhead Chapel are located in the Coffield facility of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. *1* = Surname is mixed between Bradberry/Bradbury entries. *2* = Could be duplicates of other Harper entries *3* = Could be duplicates of other Malone entries ========================================================================== HISTORICAL SOURCES FOR TROY: *T1* = One account lists the size of steamboat "Reliance" as 130 feet long and 26 feet wide, but this may not be accurate since sometimes there was multiple boats with the same name even plying the same river. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T2* = Telegraph and Texas Register (see April 11, June 1, and June 8). -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T3* = River Mileages: Magnolia = 512; Blackshear's = 522; Bonner's Ferry (Cherokee Co.) = 535; Sulphur = 538; Parker's Bluff = 543; WEST POINT = 558; PINE BLUFF = 575; Jackson's Bluff = 595. Many of the Galveston papers from 1867 to 1869 post the mileages. For instance, The Galveston Tri-Weekly News (of Galveston, Texas) - December 31, 1869 - Page: 4. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T4* = The Star State Patriot (of Marshall, Harrison County, Texas) Sept 9 & 25, 1852 - Page: 2 A friend has kindly furnished us a letter on Freestone County, from which we take a brief extract - in order to show the credence given to Gen. Pierce's letter of denial to the New Boston Abolition sentiments, alleged to have been uttered by him. Troy, Freestone Co., Texas. September the 4th, 1852 We are in receipt of papers furnishing the most reliable poof of Gen. [Franklin] Pierce's Freesoil traits. It is now pretty certain, since Gen. Pierce is the Northern man, and not like little Kinderhook Van, but void of Southern principals, that even this portion of Texas will go for Gen. Scott, unless there can be brought to bear more substantial proof to do away with this New-Boston affair, than anything yet brought to light. After all their efforts to this end, it amounts to a puerile attempt at bluff, with general denials, without saying what should have been said on the occasion, and seemingly leaving the imaginative democracy to supply the omissions as occasions may require, to suit their own views, what he should, or rather what they would he should have said. TROUPE. [Notes to help understanding: Free-soil is an anti-slavery movement and political party. Franklin Pierce would later become the president of the United States in 1853 by defeating the Whig party’s candidate of General Winfield Scott. A focal battle ground of the abolitionist and slavery owners would be in Kansas during Pierce’s presidency. “Kinderhook Van” is a reference to Martin Van Buren, a former U.S. president, born in Kinderhook, NY.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T5* = Weekly Journal of Galveston, Tex. - Friday, February 18, 1853 issue - Page: 3 NOTICE - Having built a commodious WAREHOUSE at this place, I am now prepared to receive, store, and forward, all merchandise that may be shipped to my care, and pay charges on the same. Good Ash Wood furnished steam boats at $2.00 per cord. Troy, Freestone Co., Texas. ja 6 4m JAMES DAY. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T6* = Deseret News (of Salt Lake, Utah) - May 23, 1855 edition - Page: 5 Elder Benjamin L. Clapp, when last heard from, was in Troy, Freestone Co., Texas, and expected to take a company, mostly composed of his relatives, through to Utah this season. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T7* = Galveston Weekly News - June 12, 1855 - Page: 1 The body of Thomas J. Wilson, the man buried alive in the well of Mr. Gill, at Pine Bluff in Freestone county, has not yet been taken out, though we are informed that it is the intention of Mr. Gill to do so in a very few days, and give the body christian interment. We publish the following letter which was found in the clothes or bundle of the deceased, in the hope that it may possibly open some clue by which the friends of the unfortunate man may ascertain his whereabouts and untimely end. The letter is addressed to him by his father, and is dated Liberty Township, January 8, 1855. The state is not mentioned, and the county is badly written as to be unintelligible. It is something like "Montoileer." "My Son: I received your letter January 7th last, and was very glad to get a letter from you, for I thought you were certainly dead, as I had not heard from you for a long time. Your step mother is dead. I am in good health, and so are all of your sisters and brothers-in-law. I heard that Alvin* was going to get married and go to Alabama. How true it is I cannot tell, he never wrote to me in his life, for which I wonder. I have heard nothing from Washington for five or six years. Elijah is preaching the gospel in the lower counties of Pennsylvania. I this day send him your letter, that he may read it for himself. You may expect a letter from him shortly. I am living in the same place that I did when you were here, and getting it farmed by different farmers I had good luck with corn and buck wheat last fall. I have killed some fine hogs this fall. So that I will have good meet [sic, meat] by the time you come home. Please to come home in the spring as you anticipated. I will be glad to see you, and hear what wonders you have to tell us. I have no more at present, but send you my New-Year's wishes. Wm. H. Wilson. ----- * This may be a mistake, as the name is badly written This letter was directed to Magnolia, Anderson County, Texas to Thomas J. Wilson. We should judge from the language of the letter that is writer is perhaps a resident of the State of Ohio or N. Y. If this should meet the eye of the relatives of the deceased they can get information concerning his death by addressing Mr. Gill, Troy Freestone county, Texas, or this office -- Leon Pioneer, May 30." -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T8* = State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - July 3, 1858 edition - Page: 3 FREESTONE - The Pioneer thus speaks of Fairfield, the county seat: "Fairfield deserves a more extended notices for it we are to believe the report of travelers, we have one of the handsomest towns in the interior. Our Court-house of Brick is a large imposing building, costing at its erection some $10,000. Our Jail is made of brick, and for strength and durability, is perhaps unsurpassed in our State -- One huge and commodious church, erected chiefly by the Cumberland Presbyterians, is seen as you pass along main street. A famed Male Academy and large Masonic Hall, bespeak a liberality towards public edifices which are wanting in many elder towns. Three Hotels, offer to the weary traveler a comfortable place for repose and refreshment. Various Mechanic shops strike the traveler’s attention as soon as he looks at our villages: Wagon, Carriage and Blacksmith shops abound." There are also several villages in Freestone, Butler in the East; Troy or Pine Bluff on the Trinity; Cotton Gin in the West; and Personville situated near the Southwestern part of the county. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T9* = The Navarro Express of Corsicana, Tex. - Friday, November 2, 1860 - Page: 1 "LA GRANGE BURNT -- We learn from a gentleman from Waco, that the way bill brought by the stage driver just previous to his departure, stated that one side of the square of La Grange had been burnt. We learn that two barns in Rusk county, one in Tarrant county and a store at Troy, on the Trinity, in Freestone county, have all been burnt, and all set on fire. We presume it is the same with La Grange. What has become of our night patrol! We think it is the duty of our County Court to take this matter in hand; appoint a patrol for town and county, and compel each man to fulfill his duty. Corsicana may be burnt next." -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T10* = The Texas Republican (Marshall, Texas) newspaper - 10 Nov 1860, Sat. - Page 2 [Special - from Linda Mullen] From the Fairfield Pioneer, we learn that the store house of Mr. H. G. Bradbury with $4,000 to 6,000 worth of goods, at Pine Bluff, was burned on the night of the 6th inst. No doubt is entertained but it was the work of incendiaries, as evidences were observable where fire had been applied in several places. [EBW 5/28/2018 - It is believed that the actual store of Hezekiah G. Bradbury Groceries and Provisions was located at Troy, while the the store house where all the goods were received at was at Pine Bluff.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- *T12* = "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. ------------------------------------------------------- *T13* = "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. ------------------------------------------------------- *T14* = "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. ------------------------------------------------------- *T15* = "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. ------------------------------------------------------- *T16* = "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. -------------------------------------------------------