Freestone County, Texas Social Organizations The Waco Daily Examiner (of Waco, Texas) Issues from between March 17, 1874 and April 19, 1874 all on page 4 A List of Subordinate Granges, Reported as Organized in the State of Texas up to February 14th, 1874 No. Name of Grange Town County Name of Sec'y P.O. Address ... 23 Cotton Gin Cotton Gin Freestone G. L. Jordan Cotton Gin ... 26 Woodland Woodland Freestone W. E. Bonner Longbotham [note: numbered 26 but listed after 24 and before 25. So I guess they got out-of- order] ... 28 Shiloh Fairfield Freestone R.G. Mannning Fairfield 29 Fairfield Fairfield Freestone F. R. Huckaby Fairfield ... 33 Ward Prairie Ward Prairie Freestone J.F. Hubbard Fairfield 34 Longbotham Tehuacana Freestone Miss Susan Burns Longbotham ... 39 Pin Oak [blank] Freestone Elisha Wallace Fairfield 40 Prairie Creek [blank] Freestone W.T.C. Lane Fairfield 41 Antioch [blank] Freestone P.R. McSwane Cotton Gin 42 Saint Elmo [blank] [blank] J.S. Beauchamp Saint Elmo ... 76 Butler Butler Freestone J.R. Steeley Madisonville[sic, Butler] [looks like they got the P.O. Address column off around #46] [There are a total of 133 listed] Number of Granges Organized in the following Counties: ... Freestone.................10 ... ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Waco Daily Examiner (of Waco, Texas) April 21, 1874 - Page 4 Letter from Freestone County Eight Miles Southeast of Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, April 13, 1874. Mr. Examiner: I don't see anything from this part of the State, in the columns of your interesting and valuable paper, relative to the Grange, crops, etc. As nothing has been said I will try to give you the items from this vicinity. Antioch Grange is in a flourishing condition, (numbering about fifty members,) every one wieing with each other in striving to promote the good of the institution, and to haste, as speedily as possible, the good time coming. They have come to the conclusion that the brain, and not muscle is the great lever or mainspring of human action. Our master, Capt. G. W. Ingram, (who fills that important office with honor and integrity.) is now in Austin. Our Secretary, Capt. P.R. Swayne, sees his duty handsomely; he is a gentleman of culture, and eyes open to the good of the Order. In the hands, of such officers we see stamped upon our banner, "Success". The most of the farmers of this vicinity are wide awake to their interests and mutual welfare. Most of them belong to the Order, and meet in the Grange room at least once a month, and put their heads together and lay plans, chalk out the road to good living, ease and prosperity. They are beginning to see the evil of the credit system and resolved to buy less and pay more as they go. Raise less cotton and more corn and hogs, instead of having the smoke house in St. Louis, or some other Northern city; are determined to have it in every yard in the country. When they come to this conclusion, what will naturally follow? Instead of runined credit, and "dilapidated" confidence - money to lend(?) - peace, prosperity and plenty showered throughout the land. May God spped the time that the present reckless manner of farmers in doing their business may soon give place to a recoperative genius of an enlightened and intelligent people. They must read more, think more, buy less and pay as they go. A Grange was organized on the 11st inst., at the farm of Col. J. Moreland's, Captain Kennedy, from Cotton Gin, officiating. Colonel Moreland, Master, and Mr. Thompson, Secretary. It is an intelligent a looking Grange as can be found in the State, I dare say, and will do well. May harmony and peace prevail. There has been an abundance of rain for the last two months. We have scarely found time to plant corn, and a good deal of corn has been planted in bad condition. Very little cotton has been planted. The ground is now full of water. It will be a week or more, if it stops raining now, before the ground will be dry enough to work. The signs are that it will rain more yet. We had a frost a few nights since, but it did but little damage. Some few garden vegetables were bitten down. The people are not discussing politics; all seem satsified with the present administration and of course are not uneasy while their affairs are in the hands of such honest, noble and patriotic men as are now at the head of the State. They don't seem to care about the Constitutional Convention, knowing that the present odious one will be fixed up or a new one formed as soon as possible. Having confidence in their public servants, they do not comment on or censure their actions. Yours truly, John G. Winston ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Waco Daily Examiner (of Waco, Texas) May 08, 1874 - Page 1 PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTIES FOR SENATORIAL DISTRICTS ... 9. Navarro, Freestone and Limestone counties, G. W. Ingram, postoffice Cotton Gin, express office Mexia. ...