Jones Co. TX - Newspapers - The Stamford American: April 10, 1925 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 28 December 2019 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American Friday, April 10, 1925 City Base Ball League now organize. J.S. Richardson, son of T.E. Richardson of Avoca, was buried at Highland cemetery in Stamford Sunday afternoon, having died the day before of Brightís disease at Colginís Sanitarium in Waco. He was 23 years old and leaves a wife and one child and his father. Service was held at the Avoca Methodist church, Rev. J.M. Youree of Stamford and Rev. Grimes and Rev. short of Avoca officiating. The young manís mother, Mrs. T.E. Richardson, died only a few months ago, so Mr. Richardson is doubly grieved having lost his wife and only child within a few months. Grandma McCorkle died in the Lueders community March 24, 1925. Mrs. A.L. McCorkle was born June 5, 1845, and was married in 1861. Her husband preceded her in death 43 years ago. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. N.E. Scott and several grandchildren. One son went home to God 8 years ago. Her body was laid to rest in the Clear Fork cemetery, March 25, 1925. A Pioneer Settler by Gladys Haley There lived in a town of Mississippi, in the nineteenth century, a widow, Mrs. Steven Ford, who had eight children. The responsibility of the family rested upon the shoulders of her eldest son, Solomon, who was at the unsophisticated age of 18. Mrs. Ford heard of the rich land past the Mississippi river. The pioneer spirit took possession of her and her family. The fact that Indians, bears, and panthers were thicker in the southwestern portion of the United States than in Mississippi, and that in Texas the can grew so thick and high that you could penetrate it only by following Indian or game trails did not alter their desire to move to the West. Mrs. Ford thought it best that Solomon look over the country before they should definitely decide to move. If he located a good section of land he was to pay the state for it, and then report to his mother. He caught the best cow horse on the ranch, filled his saddle pockets with food, powder and bullets, and tied a blanket, a frying pan, and a small coffee pot to his saddle. Into his belt he put enough money to buy a section of land at 12-1/2 cents an acre. In one hand he carried an old flint rock rifle. It was lonely as he jogged along. While journeying toward the Mississippi river he saw very few people. At the river he saw the last white man he was to see for a long time. After crossing the river he only had foot trails, made by the Indians in passing from the Natchez to the Cherokee tribes, to go by. He soon put the pine trees behind him and plunged into the hard wood district. He found the soil to be sandy loam. Solomon fed his horse on the wild cane. he made his bed by piling leaves together and throwing a blanket over them. He was lulled to sleep by the screaming and cooing of birds, the chattering of squirrels, and the rustling of leaves. Without hesitation he selected a section of land, near which now stands Abilene and returned home. They sold everything but their teams, wagons and slaves. After many weeks of travel, over bad trails they arrived at a place known as Georgetown. Their trail ended there. They cleared a road by cutting down trees and dragging brush. In a few days they were too far from camp to continue making a passageway. They moved their camp as far as the road had been made, and started making a road again. This they continued until they reached their destination. They cut logs and made themselves a warm new home. They also made cabins for the negroes. Dirt served as flooring for the houses. Rails were cut and made into pens for the stock and cattle. This prevented their running wild, and being eaten by wolves, panthers and bears. They cleared land for a field and fenced it with rails. Corn was planted by making a small hole in the ground with a sharp stick and dropping corn into the corn hole made. They mashed the dirt in on the grains with their heels. To keep the cane from choking out the corn it was kept cut down by the use of hoes. The following year the can roots would be sufficiently rotted for plowing the field. The boys soon learned to be cowboys. They did not farm to a great extent. They only raised the required food. It was many miles to New Orleans which was about their only market to buy or sell anything. Their clothes were made from cotton and wool grown by themselves, spun into thread, and woven into cloth on homemade looms. They had to pick the seed from the cotton with their hands. Every member of the house had to pick his shoe full of cotton before he retired. The bigger his foot the more cotton he was required to pick. As they made all their food and clothing money was not necessary. One of their main sources of revenue was derived from cheese which they made and sold by the wagon load. At times they milked as many as two hundred cows. The job was commenced at four oíclock in the morning. If they worked fast they would get to breakfast by eight oíclock. From eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, they worked about the farm. They would then resume milking until called for supper. They often went opossum hunting after supper. In the Spring they branded the calves. The steers of three years or older, which they sold to buyers who drove them overland to New Orleans for market. Other settlers followed. They cooperated and builded a school house. It was located four miles from the Ford home. All the boys, who were old enough, carried guns when they went to school. One corner of the school house was reserved in which they stacked their arms. At school they were taught reading, writing, spelling, grammar, Geography and Arithmetic. This was only one of the many notable families which helped to make our country what it is today.