Hopkins Co. TX - R.W. Harris Tells of the Old Days and its People Submitted by: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. Black Jack Grove is now named Cumby. R.W. Harris Tells Of The Old Days and Its People July 17, 1932 The Annual Old Settlers Reunion will meet at Sulphur Springs on July 19th, and continue until Saturday night, July 23rd. At that time many of the original settlers were still in the land of the living and it was, indeed, a happy occasion for them to get together and talk over the stirring times of the early days in the county. From the best obtainable information this county was organized in 1846, and the name Hopkins given it. The writer has been told that the name was given as an honor to the Hopkins family, and again it has been that this name was chosen as an honor to one Eldridge Hopkins who was the father-in-law to the late to L. D. King, and grandfather to our well known Sam. J. King, whom practically everyone in the county knows and admires. It is said originally these reunions were really devoted to what the word implies - a reuniting of old timers. It was away out in the country, and people sent in wagons and other conveyance and were prepared to camp out in a real old settler manner, under the shade of the trees, seated on logs and stumps, with likely a few old fashioned, split bottom chairs available, these old veterans of an early day renewed the associations of the frontier times, smoked and talked. Occasionally some one, oratorically inclined, would enliven the proceedings with interesting anecdotes and in all probability old time singing was indulged in. The younger element would withdraw a safe distance, and, unknown to Pa and Ma, would enjoy a reunion of their own, and John and Sallie, or Jim and Kate, would agree that come what would, era the snow would fall again, they would assume new and more tender relations so far as this life was concerned. Several days were thus spent by old and young, in innocent enjoyment, with an expense that was negligible. However, today this has all been commercialized. The older men and women are there, ^Ñtis true, but with the noise and excitement, caused by this fellow, that fellow trying to induct the gullible public to test out what he has to sell, and with the ever present and insistent candidate asking for help from the "deer peepul (sic)," the good natured and aged old timer has to be careful, or he will be run over in the grand rush. It has been said that all things change in the course of time, and as such matter of consequence, such gatherings, as "old settlers reunions" have likewise changed. We are not complaining for indulging in such would be useless, but simply recount the difference in now and several years ago. The State of Texas is a large State, and in size is an empire in extent. When Hopkins County was organized there was probably not 100,000 people in the entire State, and Hopkins County had a very scattering population. Having been in this place (Black Jack Grove) for more than 40 years it was our great pleasure to be intimately acquainted with many men who had lived in the county almost from its beginning. Living in the extreme western portion of the county, very naturally our acquaintanceship covered mostly this section. However, we knew quite a few living east of Sulphur Springs. Taking them in order of their coming to this county, among our first men to be acquainted with was Capt Merit Branom. Capt. Branom was born in the State of Missouri about 1820 and moved to this county about 1839 or 1840. He was a man of over average ability, for while he never had the opportunity to obtain an education, he was, nevertheless, one of the best posted men we ever knew and was of Judicial mind. He was a man who not only did right himself, but he believed in making others do right. He was a terror to all evil doers, and having the courage of a lion and almost the physical strength of a giant, what he might pursue was always given respectful consideration. He had spent four years in the Confederate Army and was a Democrat in politics. In early days in Texas, his home was the stopping place for Sam Houston, between whom a strong bond of sympathy and affection existed. His home was always open to a stranger, for which accommodation he would not accept one cent in repayment. Another rugged old pioneer in the southwestern part of the county was Jessie Garrett, who was born in Tennessee in 1840, and moved out here in an early day, locating on the place where he died a few years back. Mr. Garrett served for time as one of the commissioners of the county was esteemed and admired by all. He had also given gallant service in the Confederate Army. Miller Green was another man who was born in Marion County, Texas, in March 1836, just a few years after the fall of the Alamo, with its band of brave defenders. Mr. Green moved to this place with his parents and located on the corner that was afterwards known as the "Wharton place" on December 24, 1854, and Hopkins County was henceforth his home. During the civil war, he was a member of Co. K, 9th Texas Cavalry, and saw much hard service with his regiment with Ross^Ò celebrated brigade. He married a daughter of Wash Cole, a very prominent citizen of the county and a member of the State Legislature from Hopkins County in the early day. Mr. Green^Òs father, Ben. F. Green, was in the war with Mexico, 1846 and 1847, and went with Taylor who crossed into Mexico at Matamoras. Redelium Lindley was another prominent and well known citizen who was born in Polk County, Missouri, in 1835. In 1849, with his father, John Lindley, he located on South Sulphur in Hopkins County. At the age of 23 he married Miss Sayle, a member of a prominent and wealthy family in Hunt county. Mr. Lindley early gave his attention to the cattle industry and soon became the owner of a large lot of cattle. He would sell and buy and as he made money would purchase blocks of land, and when he died, was one of the large land owners of the county, besides possession of much other property. During the civil war, Mr. Lindley was detailed with a force to protect the frontier, but never saw service where actual hostilities took place. Charley Cate was born in Tennessee, but came to Texas at an early age and with his brother, Tom, engaged in the mercantile business in old Black Jack Grove. When a company of soldiers was organized here on July 5, 1861, he enlisted and spent four years in the Confederate Army. M. Deloach, who for many years sold groceries in old Black Jack Grove, was born in Mississippi about 1842. He was a brave soldier for the Confederacy four years, losing a leg at Vicksburg, only a short time prior to the surrender of the city to Grant by Pemberton, July 4, 1863. He came to this place in 1870 and bought the store conducted by the father of Co Smith. For many years he was a large stockholder in the First National Bank of Sulphur Springs. He died in August 1922. N. B. (Bony) and Luther Waggoner were sons of Solomon Waggoner who moved from Missouri to near Blossom Prairie in 1839. Luther was born in Missouri in 1833, but Bony was born near Blossom some time in the 1840's. The family moved to Hopkins County in 1849, and another son, Dan, who later moved out west and carved an immense fortune, was born also in Missouri. Solomon Waggoner is buried in a mile or two of Peerless. Luther is buried in Cumby, while Bony sleeps in the Pleasant Grove cemetery. Luther was a Confederate soldier during the 1860's. Jim Butler was another one of the pioneers of the county and came here at an early age. He fought in the Mexican war, a member of the Army under General Windfield Scott who invaded Mexico by the war of Vera Cruz. The writer has often talked with him about the stirring events of that distant day. Mr. Butler also wore the grey from 1861 to 1865. He is buried in the old Oakland cemetery, a short distance north of Ridgeway. Robert T. Junell, who lived south of Cumby, was born in Tennessee in 1849, moving to Hopkins county in 1863. He was one of those old fashioned, good natured men who lived an honest, upright life and did no one any harm. He farmed all his life, but was for a few years cotton weigher at the Black Jack Grove cotton yard when it was known as the Alliance Cotton Yard Association. He died in February 1907, and is buried in the Cumby cemetery. Dr. R. C. Holderness was born in Taswell County, North Carolina, October 11, 1827; graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1850, practiced medicine in Calhoun County, Arkansas, for several years, moving to Texas in 1863. For something like 20 years he did an extensive practice in what was then known as the "Prim Hill" community north of Ridgeway, and in 1884 located in Black Jack Grove where he continued to have a lucrative practice for many years. He died June 14, 1905, and is buried in the Cumby cemetery. He was a man of splendid educational attainments and was known far and wide over Hopkins county. J. R. "Reilly" Lindley was born in Kentucky in 1824, but when only eleven years of age his parents moved to Dade County, Missouri, where he grew to manhood. In 1850, in company with a large caravan in ox wagons he crossed the plains and after four months of slow transportation finally arrived in California. In 1853, he returned to Missouri and for some years was engaged in driving cattle from Arkansas too the State of Kansas. When the war broke out between the North and South in 1861, Mr. Lindley enlisted and became a member of that gallant bank of fighters under Gen. Joe Shelby. Shortly after the end of the war he moved to Texas where he became a heavy dealer in cattle and also bought hundreds of acres of land until it could be truly said of him that "he had cattle on a thousand hills." He died during the progress of the World War and is buried in Ridgeway cemetery. One of the best known citizens of the county was Uncle Dick Carpenter, who was born near Dublin, Ireland, and after serving in the British Navy for seven years during which time he participated in the Crimean War, and was within fifty miles of the battle of Balaklava, when the Light Brigade immortalized by the Poet Laureate of England, Alfred Tennyson. He was with the navy, and the above battle was only composed of land forces. After seeing all parts of the world, Mr. Carpenter came to the U. S. in 1856, crossing the Atlantic on the old Great Eastern, at the time the largest ship that had ever been built and being the vessel that carried the Atlantic cable when it was landed. J. A. Brewer, who for about 45 years, was one of the most prominent citizens of this place, was born in Arkansas, January 18, 1847. At an early age he moved to this county and engaged in the sheep industry down in the lower part of the county. He moved to Black Jack Grove some time about the middle 1870's, and was engaged in several lines of business until 1891 when he and his son-in-law, S. D. Greaves, opened a dry goods business here which proved very prosperous. When the First National Bank was organized here in March 1901, he became its first president, which office he conducted for many years. He was considered a very level headed business man and all his business ventures proved successful. At his death, March 26, 1923, he owned a large body of land located in the southern part of the county and several brick business houses in Cumby. He was laid to rest in the Cumby cemetery. Wilson A Green was one of the pioneer merchants of old Black Jack Grove. He was born about 1810, came to this county sometime in the early 1850's, and was for many years one of the prominent merchants of Hopkins county. He died here in April 1891, and is buried in the Cumby cemetery. Rev. R. W. Davis, father of the late Billie Davis, was a pioneer Methodist preacher. He was born about 1820, and after coming to Texas carried the Gospel over a large section of North Texas. His home for many years was about two and half miles north of Ridgeway. He died in 1899 and is buried at the old Oakland graveyard where many of the prominent early day settlers are sleeping their long last sleep. Rev. B. F. Stephens came here some time in the 1850's, and married a daughter of Wilson A. Green, for whom he clerked in the store. During the civil war he belonged to Co. K, 9th Texas Cavalry and saw plenty of excitement during those stormy days. He was a Presbyterian preacher, and there are many people living all over the country at whose marriage he officiated. Another well known preacher and universally beloved man was Rev. Fletcher Young who lived down in the Gafford^Òs Chapel community. No better man ever lived in Texas than Uncle Fletcher Young. He would divide his last dollar with the poor unfortunate who would apply to him for aid and it was often said of the man that contributions given him as means of support he would often give away to others whom he thought needed the help worse than he. He also belonged to Co. K, 9th Texas Cavalry and fought under Gen. Sul Ross. The writer never heard any one speak one word of disapprobation of Rev. Young, but all who knew him venerated and esteemed him. He is buried in Oakland graveyard, there to wait the Resurrection morn. One of the old time citizens of this part of the county was Edward Finley who was raised in Missouri, but moved to Texas about 1830. He resided on his farm two or three miles west of Ridgeway and lived a life that proved a benediction to all who knew him. He was honest, industrious, religiously inclined, and raised an admirable family of children. He was buried at the Plunkett School house a few miles east of Cumby. Rev. Robert Greaves was born in the State of Mississippi, and came to Texas in the latter 1830's, and his first work in this section was as a member of the Republic of Texas Rangers. He was stationed at what is not Daingerfield, when the report came that a band of Comanche Indians had murdered an entire family near what is now called Mt. Vernon, when the company at once was sent out in pursuit of the savages. Shortly after this, Rev. Greaves married and moved to within some three or four miles of this place, where he lived for some 15 years or more and then moved to Erath county, but after spending a few years there, moved back to Hopkins county. It is said that all the children of Rev., Greaves were born in this county with exception of his son, Sidney D., who was born in Erath county. Rev. Greaves lived in this county the rest of his life, and farmed and preached. He died some time about the middle 1880's, and is buried in the Mt. Zion graveyard. One of the best men who ever lived in the west part of the this county was Uncle Wat Bone, who^Òs hospitable home was only a few miles north of Miller Grove. He was just plain, hard working farmer, but was of that heroic mold that caused him to make his pilgrimage through life, and to so conduct his actions with his fellow man that every one that knew him only had praise for him. He died more than 30 years ago, and sleeps in the Miller Grove cemetery. His son, John, was elected as county collector along the middle 1890's, but died after only holding the office a few months.