Freestone County, Texas Communities Rehoboth Rehoboth was a small community that that later became Young community. The Rehoboth cemetery was named for the Rehoboth community. Rehoboth was located north of Young overlooking Prairie Creek. Schools: Rehoboth school - 32 in 1887; 1888; 31 in 1891-2; Miss Ella Cook taught at the Rehoboth school in 1886. 1888 trustees were Pink Bennett, Mac Cockrell, and Billie Greer. Mrs. J. W. Hill taught at the school in late 1889. Churches: Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church Cemeteries: Rehobeth Cemetery (a.k.a. Rehobeth a.k.a. Rehobath Cemetery) Known people in Rehoboth were: Casey, J. B. Casey, J. D. Granberry, H. W. Young, Dr. Tolbert Fannin ==================================================================== Round Prairie Round Prairie was a farming community that would later be considered part of Young. Schools: Round Prairie school - 1888 trustees were John Sessums, Joe McEachern and W. H. Henderson. Churches: Round Prairie Baptist church Had 45 members in 1884 led by P.E. Kirvin Had 39 members in 1886 led by E.J. Brown Had 39 members in 1887 Had 80 members in 1889 led by E.J. Brown listed in Freestone County Baptist Association in 1895 but with no information James Sterling Newman was a deacon for many years Social Organizations: Round Prairie Farmers Alliance [number unknown] [exists in 1888. led by James Norelda Hayden and B. F. McMillan] Known people in Round Prairie were: Hayden, James Norelda McMillan, B. F. Newman, James Sterling ==================================================================== Prairie Creek Prairie Creek was a farming community that would later be considered part of Young. Prairie Creek runs from Young down past Rehoboth Cemetery and turns to pour into Tehucana Creek. Schools: Prairie Creek school - a free public school taught by Mrs. Lucretia Kent in Jan. 1872. Social Organizations: Prairie Creek Grange ==================================================================== Young / Young's Mill Young is just off Farm Road 1124 ten miles northeast of Fairfield in northeastern Freestone County. Young was located about three miles north and east of the Lake Chapel community. The farms around Young are drained by Prairie Creek on the west and Bear Creek on the east. Young was named for an early settler of the area, Dr. Tolbert Fannin Young, who moved to Texas from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1868 and taught school at Ward Prairie before returning to Tennessee to study medicine. Young received his doctor of medicine degree from Vanderbilt University in March 1874. He then came back to Freestone County and settled in the area now named for him. He married Margaret Hill and built a fine home where he also treated his patients. Young built the first general store of the community and also had a cotton gin, gristmill, and sawmill. He donated land for one of the three schools built in the vicinity. The school closed in 1940, and Young died in 1942. A post office operated in Young from 1883 to 1926. Community activities were centered at the Round Prairie Baptist Church, established in 1883. In 1885, village had two grocery stores and a gin and mill that were popular and operating. In 1887, Young was endeavoring to build a two- story school house/Masonic lodge building. The 1895 Rand McNally atlas shows Young with a post office, but no express office or railroad. In the same year, 1895, the Round Prairie Baptist Church had 60 members. Around this time frame, the rich land was used for farming and raising cotton and cattle. In 1900, the last vestiges of Rehobeth disappeared and merged into the Young community. The Fairfield Recorder issue of Jan. 26, 1900 writes "YOUNG - Some few of the people have moved the old Rehobeth Church in front of T. H. Mosteller's farm. The name of the building will now be called Mount Nemo." In later years Young was known as a bootleg capital during the Prohibition era, and its product, "Freestone County Bourbon de Luxe," was famous. The population was estimated as fifty in 1926. Cars came by Blount loaded down, and went up a sand hill. Good mash. Residents of Blount remember raids by local sheriff resulting in left over long 6' barrel staves being converted into porch swings with the addition of some cable and hogs enjoyed the mash. There famous raid by Texas rangers on moonshine stills in 1928 resulted in the death of Texas ranger, Tim Willard, but that was in a different place in the county between Wortham and Kirvin. In the late 1970s a decision was made that the area would be strip-mined for lignite coal to be used in generating electricity. In 1988 and 1990 the population of Young was twenty-seven, and the settlement had no rated businesses. Deer used to jump over the fence to eat in Dr. Young's garden. The Granberry family had general store there that sold tobacco. Sheriff Sessions chased boys that were moon shining from down near Edwards Creek one day and one of the boys lost his brand-new Stetson hat in the chase that the Sheriff returned to his father later that day at the store. Post Office: Young had a post office from 6 Nov 1883 to 15 Sept 1926 (after which mail went to Fairfield). The Cobb post offfice closed and sent mail to Young in 1896. The post offfice of the Blount/Blunt community closed in 1908 and routed to Young. The post office was temporaily discontinued on 31 Oct 1899 sending mail to Yerby till it was reestablished on 20 Dec 1900 by John J. Hale. Schools: Prairie Creek school - (see Prairie Creek) Young school - 47 in 1887 Rehoboth school - (see Rehoboth) Round Prairie school (see Round Prairie) a black school that students then attended Dunbar High School The last school in the Young area closed in 1940. Churches: Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church (see Rehoboth) Mount Nemo church (was old Rehobeth church building) Started in 1900. Round Prairie Baptist church (see Round Prairie) Cemeteries: White - Rehoboth Cemetery (a.k.a. Rehobeth a.k.a. Rehobath Cemetery) (located north of Young overlooking Prairie Creek) Black - Hopewell Cemetery (located to the southwest) Black - Gordon Cemetery (located to the southwest) Social Organizations: County Alliance Literary Club Round Prairie Farmers Alliance (see Round Prairie) Might be here: Prairie Creek Grange #41 (led in 1874 by W.T.C. Lane) Businesses: 2 dry goods and grocery stores in 1885 owned by Dr. T[olbert] F[annin] Young and Mr. J. A. Hill a "large and superior" gin and mill house in 1885 Nearby Churches: Mt. Zion Church (to the southeast) Hope Well Methodist Episcopal Church (to the southeast) Bethel Assembly of God Church (1934-1988) (to the south) Founder was Robert Quinton Hankins. Began in 1933 as brush arbor meeting between Hickory Grove School and Jameson Cemetery. Church building started in 1934. Original land was donated by Poindexter and Riley (a land company) and the parcel was previously owned by Arch Gunter. In April 1938, affliated with Assembly of God. Church closed in 1988. The church building was moved after its closure and now resides at the Freestone County Museum. Known former residents in Young were: [Special thanks to Wilbur Thirkield Bonner Titus for arriving at many of these names.] (Listed below are the names of families and individuals who at one time lived in the Young’s Mill Community of Freestone County, Texas.) Alford, Aaron Alford, Ed Baker, Mr. & Mrs. James Barker, John F. and Emily Bennett, Daniel Pink and Laura Betts, Annie and children Betts, J. W. and wife Hattie Coleman and children Betts, Jim , wife Minnie and children Betts, Robert Lee and wife Josephine Coleman and children Betts, William Jeffery (Jeff) and Josie and children Bryant, A. D. and Emma B. Byers, Price Carter, Ardela Mae Carter, John, wife Emmie and children Carter, Rachel Casey, John Benjamin and wife John Anna Casey, John Bullion and Martha Ann Casey, Mae Casey, Roy Sr., Modene and children Coats, Earnest, wife Lillie and family Coats/Coates, Marion Coats, Warren Cockerell, "Dean" Cockerell, Goinie C. "Goach" and Augusta Cockerell, Howard and Fannie Cockerell, James C. and Margaret Lillian Cockerell, Jessie Cockerell, John T. and Mattie Cockerell, Travis & family Cockerell, Virgil "Boss" and family Cockerell, William Henry "Mack" and Martha Cole, Louis P. and Lois Coleman, Charlie and Fannie Mae and children Coleman, Paul and Pinkie and children Coleman, Roger, wife Annie Myrtle Lee and children Coleman, Sidney and second wife Dicie Coleman, Sidney and first wife Mollie Cooper Coleman, William and Audrey Dailey, William (Will) and Doris (Dotsie) and Family Davis, J. P. (1/2 mile east) Deborde, B. C. Deborde, Miss Mary Deborde, J. J. Driver, Mr. Gibbons, Billie Giles, John Govan, Jessie and Fannie and family Govan, Sam and wife Mary Eliza Hunter (Mae Liza) Granberry, H. C. And Ruth and girls Granberry, H. W. Granberry, Joseph H. Granberry, Joe and wife Grayson, Perry and family Greer, Billie Gunter, Brady Gunter, Boisie and family Gunter, Brady and family Gunter, Mrs. Josie Gunter, Wiley and family Hale, John J. Hamilton, Thirkield and family Hankinds, Rev. Robert Harvey, Riley, wife Addie and family Hayden, Bradford Hayden/Haydon, Glen Hayden/Haydon, James Norelda Hayden, Lonnie Henderson, W.H. Hill, Jas. A Hill, Jim Hill, John Hunter, Amanda Marie (A. M.) (Sweet) Hunter, Arthur and first wife Yarborough Hunter, Author and second wife Josie Grayson Hunter, Sr., Bailey and Mary Eliza Thurman with 9 children Hunter, Jr., Bailey and Liza and son Van Hunter, Bailey R. and wife Emma Titus, and sister Ida Blanche Hunter Hunter, Brady Howard Hunter, Burks, wife Theresa and sons Mack Alvin and Morris L. Mitchell Hunter, Sr., Reverend Eldridge and wife Catherine Abney, 14 children Hunter, Sr., Reverend Eldridge and wife Adline Roberts and children Hunter, Sr., Reverend Eldridge and second wife Betty Johnson Hunter, Earnest and wife Laura Betty Roberts Hunter, Elridge Emanuel (Pete) and wife Florida and son Hunter, Elridge Emanual and second wife Annie Mae Govan Hunter, James and wife Harriette Burks and children Hunter, Samuel (Sam) and wife Lila Carden and son Freddie Lee Hunter, Oscar Hunter, Terrell and wife Lorecia Ward Hunter, Warren C. (Duck) and wife Viola Dailey Hunter, William (Willie) and wife Lydia Grayson and chldren Ingram, Jack Ingram, William C. Jackson, Starling, wife Daisy and family Joiner, A. Hugh and wife Malinda Jackson Joiner, David, wife Bessie Grayson and children Joiner, Ethel Jones, Eldridge and Minnie Lamb, Reverend Larry S., wife Lorraine Hunter and children Lee, Ben and family Lee, Charles, wife Liney and children Lee, Freddie Lee, Hardy, wife Mary and daughtrs Flower Bess and Maple Lee, Henry Jr. Lee, Jimmy, wife Florida and children Lee, Joe Lee, Sr., John Wesley, wife Ruthia and children Lee, Mrs. Mattie Lee, Robert, wife Clara and children Manahan, Sneed Marstellers, Thos. McEarn, sp. McCarn, Lester, wife Mattie and Family McEachern, Dick McEachern, James W. McEachern, John McEachern, Josephus Love "Joe" McEachern, N. O. McGuyer, Wallace Medaries, Katie Medaries, O. C. Medaries, W. P. Misseldine, Millege Mostella, T. H. Mostella, W. T. Mosteller, Tom Newman, James Sterling Newman, Theodore Ernest Owens, D.W. Owens, Thos. F. Owens, W. G. Powell, Gussie Powell, Minnie Presley, Hamp and wife Maggie Keeton Richards, Mrs. Grace Richards, Hoyt Roberts, Willis (near Young) Rye, Captain Sanders, Ashley Sessums, John Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Shields, Boyd (? Boy) and family Small, Mrs. Lucille Smith, Jim and wife Sarah (Miss Gal) Mims Smith, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Spencer, B.A. Spencer, Ella Stroud, Mr. Titus Columbus and Polly and family Titus, Sam Titus, Woodrow Wilson and wife Ola Mae Jackson and daughters Titus, Woodrow Wilson and second wife Bennie B. And children Traylor, Thos. E. Weaver, Johnnie Webb, J. W. Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Tommie Woodall, William Woodard, Young, Hattie Young, J. R. Young, Joe Young, Miss Bertha Young, Dr. Roger, wife Hattie and children Young, Roger, Jr. and family Young, Jr., Talbot (Talbert) Young, Sr. and family (Talbert) Young, Tolbert Fannin Jr. Young, Tolbert Fannin Sr. (M.D.) ===================================================================== YOUNG COMMUNITY "COLORED" Betts, Buddie Coleman, Sidney Coleman, Trit Dickens, Henry Ford, Jack Ford, Lennie Franklin, Crate Franklin, Dollie Jackson, Lacy Keaton, Fannie Lee, Boykin Lee, Florida Lee, Jimmie Shumake, Wade Thomas, Rosie Titus, Alberta Titus, A. N. Titus, Charlie Titus, Governor Titus, Willie ===================================================================== SOURCES: *1* = Dallas Morning News - October 20, 1899 National Capital News The following post offices have been ordered discontinued after Oct. 3: Texas - ...Young, Freestone county, mail to Yerby. ... ------------------------------------------------------------- *2* = Fairfield Recorder - Nov. 6, 1885 "A VISIT TO YOUNG We made a business visit to our neighbor village Young, last Friday and was well pleased with the part of the county we saw. Young is situated ten miles northeast of Fairfield, and is prettily located in a thrifty and fertile section of the county. The village is in a thickly settled community, and contains two dry goods and grocery stores, kept by Dr. T. F. Youn and Mr. J. A. Hill; a large and superior gin and mill house, and last but not least, a neat, commodious church. Our stay was limited to only an hour or two, and we could only take notes hastily, after attending to the business we had in hand. We made a short inspection of Young's gin and mill and think we can say it is one of the best and most convieniently arranged of any we have seen. He is doing a large business this year, running two gins, -70 and 50- saws, and is able to turn out twelve bales a day. His press works upward from the ground, and receives the lint cotton about five feet from the condensers. The bales, consequently, are turned out upstairs and much unnecessary work is thereby saved. The whole machinery is well arranged, and is the steadiest running, and quietest of any we ever saw. Two or three years of good crops would make Young a prosperous town."