Hamilton County Texas Archives History .....Founding Of Hico By Mrs. W.E. Russell In 1934 1934 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub searchersofourpast@gmail.com June 1, 2024, 8:00 pm Founding of Hico By Mrs. W.E. Russell in 1934 In 1860 J.R. Alford, then a young man, later known as Dr. Alford, moved a small stock of dry goods from Freestone County, locating on the banks of Honey Creek, about two miles south of Hico. There were only about 11 or 12 families in and near that vicinity. They were Zack Medford, Sr., the oldest settler I can find any record of, having moved there in 1854; Thomas Malone, S .B. Borkin in 1856; John Z. Anderson, my father; Ike Malon, son of Thomas Malone in 1858; Palitta Fuller, father of Mrs. M.E. Wood in 1859; Henry Fuller, John Barbee, Daniel Self, Tilford Self, Greenville Morris and Henry Brewer. At that time the mail was being carried on horseback from Meridian to Brownwood. Iredell was the nearest post office. The settlers being desirous of better service, sent a petition to the post office department at Washington asking for an office here. With this petition a name had to be submitted. Alford was a Kentuckian and his home town was named Hico so he submitted that name, and the post office was established in 1861. J.R. Alford was the first postmaster. I have related this to authenticity founder the present town Hico. In the Spring and Summer of 1880, the Texas Central Railroad was built through this county and the town was moved to its present location. It was November 11, 1880 the first lots were sold, the first passenger train as an excursion for this occasion. The first lot was sold to Capt. J.C. and John Hutchinson at the price of $155. It is known as the Connally lot. The second lot was bought by S.C. Stovall, now the Corner Drug Store. There were seven houses moved from Old Hico, two by Bill Fuller, the house now occupied by Dr. Hays. It was used as the old town as a meat market and a log house and some of the logs can be seen in the back yard at Lee Rainwater’s two by Mr. Spafford, the Blacksmith Shop in front of the Alpine Hotel and a resident on Shafferd Street across from L.L. Hudson, Dr. J.R. Alford’s residence where Mr. Lowe lives; Capt. J.C. Huchingson’s residence; and Hol. Medford’s residence now the Alpine Hotel. Capt. Johnson moved his residence from his farm on the Bosque above the iron bridge and it can be seen in the bac of Jim Carmean’s lot. The oldest house built here is that of Dr. Snelling by the ice plant. This land was owned by Zack Medford, Sr., the grandfather of L.N. Lane. The town grew rapidly and on July 28, 1883 it was incorporated. By 1892 it had over 1,000 citizens which gave it the rank of a city and the privileges of a Mayor. Mr. William Henderson was first Mayor, Dan Oldham first postmaster. The town continued to grow until it was necessary to increase the city limits. Hence on June 4, 1894 the Cox and Weaver addition was included and the Grubbs Addition August 5, 1901 and the town continued to grow. Organizations of the Churches were as follows: The Methodist Church was organized in 1881 by Rev. Hearne. The charter members were D.G. Barrow and family, Delleshaw and family, and Hyliar and family. The first pastor was L.B. Hickman. The Baptist Church was organized in 1881 or 1882 with some members of the Mt. Zion Church at Old Hico. Some of the charter members were Capt. J.C. Hutchingson and wife, John Hutchingson and wife, Dr. Snellings and family, Mrs. Fuller, mother of Mrs. M.E. Wood, J.C. Rodgers and wife are the oldest living members having joined in 1884. The Christian Church was organized in 1881 by Rev. J.N. Volaw, charter members were J.M. Volaw and wife, Barton and wife, Helms and wife, and Wilson and wife. The first school was started in 1881 in the house now occupied by Dr. Hays by a Miss Delia Taylor of Waco. The house was later used for the first printing office by a Mr. Halcom. Mrs. Jack Woods, Isaac Anderson, John Wilson and I were pupils of this school. In 1881 or 1882 the first school building was erected on the lot where Bill Richbourg lives, a one room building. Later another room was added. As the town grew, likewise the school. It became necessary to have to have a larger building, so the site was changed to its present location. Mr. A.J. Woods had the contract to make the brick and check the buildings, beginning work in 1891 and finished February 14, 1892 at the cost of $7,645. That term of school was finished in the new building with Prof. Long Superintendent. Later it had to be enlarged and the 11th grade added. E.H. Persons, Watt Petty, and Mrs. Lusk Randals were some of the first to graduate from the first eleventh graders. And still the school grew and in 1921 our present High School was erected. As citizens, we should feel proud of our school. Our State Treasurer, Charlie Lockhart, was once a pupil here, also his bookkeeper, John Washam [now deceased]. Robert Cox has a chair in the State University, and Miss Mettie Rodgers, head of the Latin Department at Baylor University, Waco, was a student at Hico, also several of our girls teach in Dallas – Miss Zora McAnally, teacher in the Nurse Department at the City Hospital in Austin; Wendell Hall, surgeon in Philadelphia, and others too numerous to mention have climbed the ladder of fame. It might be interesting to some to know that in 1875 Dr. J.R. Alford and Dr. Wysong went before the State Medical board together to get their license to practice medicine. 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