Jones County Texas Archives - History of Nugent - 1927 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American Thursday, June 30, 1927 Town of Nugent, Located on Clear Fork, has Interesting History; Has Three Churches and Brick School Building by Dollie Groom Nugent was named for Mr. Nugent who was running for Governor of Texas but died before election. He was running on the Populist ticket. Nugent is located 19 miles southeast of Anson on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. Nugent was built on Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Roberts ranch. The first family in Nugent was Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Jefferies. They bought the land from Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Roberts. The first store was owned by Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Jefferies. It was also used for a post office. The lumber was hauled from Fort Worth. Mr. Jeffries was the first postmaster. The mail first reached Nugent by way of star route from Abilene, coming first to Rising Sun, then to Nugent, Ebb Reynolds being the carrier. F.M. Arnold was the next postmaster and merchant after Mr. Jeffries moved away. The post office was next in the hands of T.J. Carr. Mr. Carr moved to Big Springs and Miss Winnie Blackwell took the post office. Miss Blackwell and Minter Setser married and moved out in the country, as the town was progressing. The post office and store were then in charge of B.C. Karnes. Mr. Karnes later moved to Abilene. He left the post office in the hands of Ira Munro. The post office, grocery and dry goods store were all together. Mr. Munro sold out to George Branch, after he had been post master for 7-8 years. Mr. Branch was post master and merchant about seven months. The building burned destroying the post office and the merchandise. The next post office was in J.C. HarberŐs store. Mr. Harber is the present postmaster. The physician and druggist was Dr. F.H. Godwin. In 1923 a fire swept the post office, drug store and dry goods and grocery store. The dry goods and grocery was in the first floor of the Woodman Hall. We have only two stores in Nugent at the present time. The grocery and dry goods store owned by D.G. Benchaff and the post office and grocery store owned by J.C. Harbor. The barber at the present time is Randolph Moorehead. His Barber Shop is also in J.C. HarborŐs store. The first telephone office was owned by Mr. and Mrs. W. Groom. It was located at their residence. The first person to talk over the first telephone at Nugent was Mrs. F.M. Arnold. The first school in this district was taught at Green Valley in a one-room building. About three-fourths miles from Nugent. A few years later it was consolidated with Rising Sun. The Green Valley school house was sold to the Baptist people for a church house. Another building was erected about three-fourths mile south of Green Valley, and the south side of Nugent. It was a two-room house. It was sold to the Church of Christ. The next school house was a two-story building. It was built about 20 feet from the present building. In February, 1922, the school building was burned. The school teachers at that time were A.K. Brannon, Miss Gladys Brannon, Frank Rogers and Miss Bessie Mae Sides. In a short time, a brick building was erected. It is the present building. There are three churches in Nugent, the Baptist, Christian and Methodist Churches. The Baptists bought the Green Valley school building and moved it a few feet north of the Nugent bridge. The first revival meeting was held by Rev. J.H. Edmonds. The church later broke up and was several years without a Sunday School. They reorganized and sold the building to Will Claxton. They built a larger structure northeast of Nugent, which is the present building. About one year ago the Baptist installed a light plant. They have services every Sunday. The Christian church people bought a school building for a church moved the house about two blocks north and held services in it for several years. About three or four years ago they tore it down and rebuilt. They have services every Sunday. The Methodist Church purchased their land from J.A. Roberts. The first Methodist Church in Nugent was erected in 1901. It was torn down several years later and a larger one built. Over a year ago they installed a light plant. They have services every Sunday. R.D. Jefferes was the first road commissioner and Justice of Peace. He had the Nugent Bridge built across the Clear Fork. T.J. Carr was the first blacksmith. W. Groom was the second blacksmith and first machinist in Nugent. Mr. Groom served Nugent as a machinist and black smith for several years. In 1912 his blacksmith shop was destroyed by fire. He later built a garage and is still in business. Nugent has one garage, one blacksmith shop, one general merchandise store, a post office and three churches. Nugent has a population of 71. Some advantages of Nugent are that we have plenty of water, as Nugent is located on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River; Nugent has good, rich soil for farming, gardening and also fruit. There is plenty of fruit raised near Nugent. There are plenty of good camping places on the Clear Fork River, and plenty of good places to fish and a good poultry farm near Nugent owned by Otto Roberts.