Hopkins Co. TX - History of Saltillo - by Arthur 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. History of Saltillo Dictated by J. T. Arthur of Saltillo to G. G. Orren - 1937) In the early 1840's, Old Saltillo was just a camping ground and had no name then. It was located where two old by-roads crossed at the edge of the prairie in the eastern part of Hopkins County about one-half mile of the county line. About 1842, the old Jefferson Road, with right of way 60 feet wide and the first, first-class road east of Old Tarrant, was cut out and passed through the camping ground. The road began at Mt. Pleasant and went due west to and ended at a place called Old Tarrant, then the county seat of Hopkins County, five miles north of Sulphur Springs. It was called the Old Jefferson Road because of travel from Ft. Worth, Dallas, and surrounding country to Jefferson, the nearest cotton market. This was an excellent camping ground and people going east would camp early in order to let their teams graze on the prairie and those going west would travel late in order to do likewise. There was very much travel on this road and often one could see trains of wagons more than half a mile long and not more than 50 yards apart. From one to three spans of mules were used and from one to three yoke of oxen, mostly two of each. It took about eight or ten days with oxen and six to eight days with mules to make a trip from this famous camping place to Jefferson. John Arthur, father of J. R. Arthur, moved from Virginia to Texas in 1846. He moved to Titus County and stayed three years, the location is in Franklin County now. He moved to the camping ground that later became Saltillo in 1849. When he moved to this location, there was no business and no land in cultivation. He was the first resident there. Mr. Arthur was a coppersmith by trade, and the first business at the camping ground was a copper shop, run and owned by John Arthur. He made barrels, well buckets, water buckets, churns and tubs. The tubs were of three sizes. The smallest was called a keeler, the next size a foot tub for washing feet and babies in, and the largest was called a wash tub for washing cloths in. John Arthur went to the woods and cut down timber, sawed, split up and hewed down with hand ax, then put in draw-horse and shaved off with draw-knife to the size desired. The staves were made of oak and the hoops of hickory. He did all work by hand. John Arthur next put up a small store in addition to his coppersmith business. There was no post office there then and first one then another would bring the mail from Mt. Vernon for those that wanted them to and leave it at Arthur^Òs residence for them. This being so much trouble and inconvenient, the people began to want a post office. Then in 1851, the people began to make arrangements to see about a post office, but did not know what to call it and they had to have a name for it before they could get a post office. Some suggested one name and others suggested another, and they could not agree. Then all agreed to leave the name to John Arthur. He called it Saltillo, naming it for Saltillo, Mexico, the town Santa Anna started from with his 5,000 or 6,000 soldiers to conquer Texas. Saltillo, Mexico, at that time was a prominent city and Mr. Arthur probably thought it a beautiful Spanish name. But Saltillo was not the name of the town, it was Twin Groceries. There were two buildings, one built by John Arthur who had torn his first building down, the other by G.B. Hackerman (sic). These buildings were finished about the same time, hence the name Twin Groceries. Travelers and people coming there would remark, "Why, look at the twin groceries. We will just call the town Twin Groceries." That is how the town came to be called "Twin Groceries" after the post office was called Saltillo. The Hackerman (sic) store was located where Mr. Arthur^Òs cow barn now is and Mr. John Arthur^Òs store was just across the road in the corner of the grass lot south of the road. The first residence in Saltillo stood where Mr. Arthur^Òs garden now is. In the early days before the Civil War the people used doctors from Mount Vernon. They used Dr. Collins, Dr. Wright, and Dr. Dodson. The first doctor at Saltillo located there after the Civil War. His name was Dr. Welsh, who moved from Orangeville, Fannin County. The following is a list of merchants at Saltillo before the town was moved: John Arthur, Williams bought an interest in Arthur^Òs store, Williams died, then Arthur bought his interest in the store. Arthur then sold to Clay Tittle and Ellison and then re-bought the store from Tittle and Ellison. In the early 1870's, Arthur went out of the mercantile business and entered the gin business with W. E. Arthur, his oldest son, but in the early 1880"s reentered the mercantile business. Then John Arthur died, and W. E. Arthur continued the business until 1886 and then sold to J. D. Arthur, his brother. In 1888, J. D. Arthur moved the business to Saltillo on the railroad. Bill Reagan operated the third store at Old Saltillo and quit business before the location of Saltillo was changed. G. B. Hackelman (sic), operated one of the Twin Groceries. Jim Hackelman (sic), his nephew, succeeded him. Jim Hackelman (sic) sold his business to J. T. and Greenberry Griffith. They ran for several years and then quit business. Tom Montgomery moved to Saltillo from Old Gray Rock and established a business and then died in a few years. No one succeeded him. Crockett Woods, father of Frank Woods of Sulphur Springs; Frank Turner, uncle of Jack Turner, and Lish Turner, father of Jack Turner of Saltillo, ran a partnership store. They operated several years and then quit business. Basemore then was in business a while. Bear (sic) sold whiskey by the quart for about six months, went broke, and then quit. He was succeeded George Redding who continued business for a while then quit. Jess Jones moved from Lollar^Òs Store, operated a store and the post office a while, then quit and moved to Greenwood. Lindsey operated a store a short time. Morrell operated the first blacksmith shop at Saltillo. Other blacksmiths were Solomon Ramsey, Hall and Yates, and then Bud Black and Lanly operated a wood shop and blacksmith shop combined and built the first tar-pole wagon in this country, which was later bought by the Arthurs. They went out of business and John Arthur continued to operate the shop. Ellison and George Givens made gyms, or tintypes, at Saltillo for a number of years and were succeeded by W. E. Arthur. The first schools were taught in private residences, outhouses (sic), or arbors in the summer time. These were subscription schools, and usually ran for two months in the winter and two months in the summer. An example of such a school was a school taught by Mrs. John Willeford, the mother of Virgil Willeford, and attended by Mrs. Eppie Hamilton, Molly Holbert, W. E. Arthur, the Agees and others. This school was taught in a residence about two miles southeast of Old Saltillo, just up on a hill out of Big Creek bottom about three-fourths miles northeast of the M. D. Orren farm. Another school was at Big Creek church, three miles northeast of Old Saltillo. Nothing remains there now but a deserted graveyard in Walter Burns^Ò field north of his house near the railroad. In the late fifties a church and school building combined was built one-fourth mile south of Old Saltillo. This building was used by all denominations and a man named Shelton was the first teacher. Later a school was established at Stouts Creek church. These schools were considered in the vicinity of Saltillo. Later free schools were established which ran in the winter and subscription schools continued in the summer until the district system was established that did away with the community schools. The first and only gin and mill at Old Saltillo was built by John Arthur and son, W. E. Arthur, in the early seventies. They bought a second-hand portable boiler and engine and grist mill from Colonel Perkins at Cooper, and a 40-saw Hersly gin made at Daingerfield, Texas, from Weis Parchman of Mt. Vernon and then made a home-made wooden press. This gin was traded to Marvel Holbert for a 50-saw Eagle gin. This gin was discarded and a Pratt gin was bought from a Mr. Hopkins of Sulphur Bluff. This gin was succeeded by other gins and modern machinery. Early citizens living in the vicinity of Saltillo were John Arthur, D. H.Agee, Bill Redding, Mr. Fleming, Bob Agee, Andy Kenny, Clark Huggins, Mrs. Miller, G. B. Hackelman, Jim Hackelman, Clay Tittle, G. B. Griffith, J. T. Griffith,. W. E. Arthur, Bill Reagan, Lish Turner, Frank Turner, Crockett Woods, Tom Montgomery, Asa Bennett, John Willeford, Wash Thomas, the Whitworths, Keelings and Arnolds. The second wave of settlers included John Woodard, Jim Wardrup, John Whitten, Doss Jesters and Tom Cavener, a school teacher; Mr. McCraw, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Cade, Jack Ray, Jim Crowder and Jim Corley, the Peoples, Solomon Ramsey, Mills and Gents. In 1886-87 the Cotton Belt Railroad was built through this region and about two years later Old Saltillo moved to a location on the railroad called the "Switch." The first building in Saltillo was built by Jno. Hatchel and was located north of Rua Arthur^Òs house about where the highway is now. This house was built about 15 years before the railroad came through. This building collapsed but the roof stood up so people could get under it for protection and often did this while waiting for trains, as there was no depot there. This place was soon known as "Sprawls Tavern." The second house was built after the railroad came by J. D. Arthur where Mrs. Sophie Arthur now lives. J. D. Arthur was the first business man, first postmaster and first ticket or depot agent of New Saltillo. Other business men were M. D. Wagley, who sold wine; Simpson and Brumley, Jeff and W. E. McGill, J. T. and A. W. Sparks, Frank Ferguson, Malcolm Gill, Loss Shelby, John Hatchel, Dr. Arthur, A. S. Johnson and sons, Willis Hatchel and sons, J. T. Swinford, Jiff Moore and brother, H. D. Arthur, Will Barnett and Cooper, Eric and J. T. Arthur, Rua Arthur, Terrell Arthur, E. B. Wilson, M. S. Goswick, Joe Newman, Lin Webb, Tom Holbert, Bruce Whitten, Majors brothers, R. L.Williams, A. M. Fuquay, Clyde Griffith and John Leftwich, Hayworth, P. D. Henry, George Rhyner, Hall and Bingham, W. E. White, Walter Griffith, J. A. Penn, Farm Labor Union, Wess Hughes, W. H. Orren, Jim and Will Stevens, Jones, Hagel Payne, Elmer Bedgood, Williams and Sons, Tone McAfee, and Rees Irby, Jess Inloe, Pomp King, Charley Haines, Emmett King. Garage and filling station operators: Wister Arthur, John Leftwich, Moore Goswick, Raymond King, Fontaine Garner, Lindo Webb, Less Stevens, Wardrup, O. D. Roberts, Grady Gist, A. C. Lowry, L. D. Franks, Leonard Smith, George Jennings, Guy Hatchel, Orren and Dennis, Wilder, E. B. Wilson. The first blacksmith at Saltillo was Efe Majors. Others were Frank Dillon, Garner, Johnnie Bexley, Jim Teague, Couch, Will Koonce, Bevis, Wardrup, Walter Swinford, Hathcoat and Roger. The depot agents at Saltillo were J. D. Arthur, John Hatchel, T. P. Holbert, J. T. Sparks, Graves Powell, Minky and Brown. Graves was the first telegraph operator. Bob Ray was the first barber at Saltillo. Other barbers were Lonnie Turrentine, John Ed Young, T. P. Holbert, Will Branch, Joe Henry, Pete Johnson, Minter Barnett, Melvin Briley, Wade Franks, Bob Ferguson, Ross Briley, Bertram Williams, Horace Hollis, Alcorn. The following have served as postmaster at Saltillo: J. D. Arthur, John Hatchel, T. P. Holbert, Willie Bennett, Pearl Lollar, W. E. White, Walter Griffith, Perry Griffith, Grace Gaddis, Homer Hammonds, Finis Lester, J. A. Penn, Ott Penn, and Rua Arthur. The first doctor at Saltillo was Dr. W. H. Arthur who practiced medicine about 50 years. Other doctors were Dr. Wiley, Dr. Mahaffey, Dr. J. M. Shrode, Dr. E. I. Mead, Dr. Tate, Dr. Davis, Dr. Woods. Saltillo has had three doctors at one time, but has no doctor now. About 1905, two large hardwood saw mills were built at Saltillo, one by Broshus and Markham and the other by Pitts. The mills were located near the oil loading rack, or Cotton Belt water tank. A tram road was built to White Oak bottom, the source of timber supply, and the logs were pulled out in carloads by "dinkey" engines. Most of the timber was quarter-sawed for furniture but much plow stock material and ax handles were also made. The mills gave employment to many people and was the first thing to start Saltillo to growing. Most of the saw mill houses are still standing as a reminder of the once flourishing saw mill business. These mills were operated about four or five years. The machinery was moved and the tram road and rolling stock sold to the Texarkana Creosote and Lumber Co. This company used portable tie mills and used the tram road to deliver the ties at Saltillo. They continued in business about two years or until most of the good timber was sawed. The tram road was next used to haul cord-wood from the bottom to Saltillo where it was shipped. The contractor of this wood was called "Wood" Smith. The tram road was then taken up and moved. This ended the large scale lumber enterprise but later other small mills have been run at Saltillo, sawing mostly bridge timber. About 1907, the Gulf Pipe Linen Co. built a pipe line that passed about three-fourths miles east of Saltillo from Tulsa, Okla., to Port Arthur, Texas. In 1909, the Gulf Company placed a pump station about a mile southeast of Saltillo, and several times it has been added to. Now it is about third largest of the Gulf^Òs stations. The pipe line and pump station gave Saltillo its second "boom." The superintendents, or "chiefs," at the station were Armstrong, W. D. Bryce, L. H. Deaton, and Mr. Cagle. About 1912, a bank was organized at Saltillo. It was named The First State Bank of Saltillo, and had capital stock of $10,000. And occupied part of the lower floor of the old Masonic Hall. A short time later a new brick banking house was completed north of the railroad and the bank was moved to it. George Rhyner was the first person to make a deposit in the bank. In 1920, the bank stock was increased to $25,000. The presidents of the bank were J. D. Arthur, W. D. Bryce, and Geo. Moyer. The cashiers were Whitley Reed, Claude Smith, Cicero Parchman, J. T. Sparks, and Whitley Reed again, who served until 1929 when the bank closed. The Saltillo Nursery was established in 1894 by W. E. and J. T. Arthur and is now still operated by J. T. Arthur. This nursery has done a large business in Texas and some business in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Also some cuttings have been shipped to Northern States. The first cotton gin was built at the present gin site in the early 1890's by Davis and Blocker. Other owners of the gin were S.O. Loving, Sr., Ball Brothers, Sethe King, A. J. Johnson, and sons, Tracy Williams. This gin has been kept modern in every respect and is now equipped with the latest machinery and is a credit to any town. Tracy Williams also runs a feed mill that grinds feed for the public. Several newspapers have been published at Saltillo but the most famous one was the Saltillo Signal, published by Mrs. Whitley Reed. Saltillo at one time was a big rabbet market and shipping point. Later a chicken dressing plant, shipped much dressed poultry, packed in barrels of ice. The first rural carrier at Saltillo was W. T. Barnett. Other carriers included Lonnie Turrentine, Edgar Poor, Jim Gilbreath, Horace Choat, Homer Hammonds, H. J. Avaritt and Earl Wilder. Dr. Arthur bought the first car in Saltillo. It was called the Brush, was painted yellow, pulled by a chain, had two cylinders and the driver sat on the right-hand side. It was considered quite a treat to get to ride around the block in this car. Dr. Shrodes bought the second car, a Ford. The first telephone exchange was installed in Saltillo in 1913, by J. T. Arthur. Finis Lester put in the first telephone. The Saltillo telephone system was quite an extensive system. At one time with lines extending eight miles from the switchboard and with about 225 boxes. In 1924, W. A. Hildreth purchased the system from J. T. Arthur, and in 1930 Hildreth sold the system to the Southwestern States. Interest in telephones has decreased and now the system contains about 50 phones. Melbin Henry operated the first café in Saltillo in a tent. Saltillo was a great peach and watermelon shipping center at one time. For several years 75 to 100 carloads of watermelons and peaches were shipped each season. An airport was established on the A. W. Sparks farm in 1933. This is a beautiful port, gives employment to a few and is quite an honor to a town as small as Saltillo. Saltillo has a beautiful $25,000. brick school building which is well equipped. The school is fully affiliated and has eight or nine teachers. The system operates from two to four school buses with some doing double duty. Saltillo is located on State Highway No. 1 and National Highway 67. The highway is known as the Jefferson Highway, Bankhead Highway and Broadway of America. Saltillo has two lateral highways. Saltillo has four churches - two Methodist, and two Baptist. The Christians also have an organization but no church building. Saltillo made its third move when the concrete highway was built thru here in 1928. The stores were north of the railroad and moved to sites along the highway, south of the railroad. Saltillo now has an oil loading rack that receives and ships from 20 to 30 tanks of oil each 24 hours, from the Sulphur Bluff field.