Navarro County Texas Archives History - Books .....Introduction 1933
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Cecile Coonrod cecile.coonrod@mac.com and Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 4, 2007, 9:45 pm

Book Title: Chapter V Through The Civil War

       CHAPTER V 
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR

THE early settlers in Navarro County found it essential, that their homes be
built near two prime requisites, these two essentials being wood and water. Wood
was necessary because of the need for it in building homes and making fences,
for heating and for cooking. Water was, then as now, the one thing which the
human race must have at very short intervals in order that it may live. With
today's conveniences and in this age of efficient mechanical contrivances water,
among other things, is at hand with only a turn of the faucet, and if we
sometimes become annoyed over trivial inconveniences it might be well for us to
think of the days when our forefathers found it necessary to walk, oftentimes,
miles or travel great distances in ox carts to procure a sufficient supply of
water to assure their very existence. During the early days in Navarro County
the prairies were looked upon only as grazing land and homes were always
established in wooded sections. It was also essential that the early settler
fence portions of his land both as a protection against encroachment on the part
of the buffalo or bad stock and also to keep his own livestock in bounds. 
Various things were used as fence, the most common of which in Navarro County
was the rail fence and hedge rows of Bois d'Arc The Bois de Arc was very hardy
and until this day there may be seen many remains of the early Bois d'Arc hedges
which served as fences. As soon as barbed wire came into use it immediately
superseded all other material for fencing and the old time rail fence is another
relic of the past.

  The family life of early Navarro County was of the most simple form. The
pioneer was concerned principally in establishing a home and sustaining life for
himself and family. Houses were built of logs and other materials at hand. The
fire place at one end of the log house served as both the heating unit and the
means of preparing meals. Cooking was done on the hearth and in pots swung by
cranes built into the fire place and prior to the Civil War there were few cook
stoves in use in Navarro County.

  Gothing was home spun of cotton or wool and shoes were, in most cases, made by
hand from the hides of cows or buffalos. The bed upon which the pioneer found
surcease from his daily toil was made of feathers of various kinds or from straw
or corn shucks. Bed springs were among the luxuries which were unknown and the
silken coverlet of today is the descendant of the early homespun blanket or
handmade quilt of our forefathers.

  The early settler worked all the week and found every moment of his six days
filled with activity but the Sabbath was universally respected except in the
case of some irreverent individual and any person who disregarded the Sabbath
was looked upon as outside the general pale of civilization. It is interesting
to note that a sincere reverence of the Supreme Deity accompanies those who live
under extremely rigorous conditions and in such cases an individual feels more
strongly the need of a protection beyond his own inherent strength, The family
Bible occupied a place of honor on the most prominent table or shelf and this
Bible was not only a source of inspiration and a guide to worship but also
served as the genealogical record wherein were entered carefully the births and
deaths of those comprising the family. Family prayers were held by many. The
religious influence was further promulgated by occasional camp meetings and at
such meetings the families were collected in wagons and carryalls, together with
food and arrangements for sleeping, to spend days or weeks. After the camp
meeting was over many families had no other social activities for weeks or months.

  Young folks had picnics, parties, horse-back rides and very simple gatherings
but life was as thrilling and meant as much as at the present. There was always
a feeling of hope and promise for the future and primitive conditions and
hardships were to them only existing conditions and accepted as such. Gradually
the methods of travel improved and more intercourse between various communities
increased interest in social affairs and soon better homes were built and at the
time of the Civil War a few brick houses had been erected in Navarro County.

By 1860 three court houses had been built in Corsicana and settlements
established at Springhill, Dresden, Chatfield, Taos, Wadeville, Rural Shade and
Pis-gah. Roads were being surveyed, political meetings were being held
occasionally, the court house and Masonic Hall saw temperance meetings and
fraternal gatherings, and social life in the community was having its inception.

  The first style of building in this new country was dependent solely upon the
materials at hand but as the settlements increased and the country became more
thickly populated various styles of architecture evolved and from the first log
house with its loft above and a lean-to in the back, the more pretentious log
house of two rooms — sometimes an open hall between, a gallery in front or an
"L" for kitchen and dining room, being erected by the more prosperous citizens.
In Navarro County this evolution brought plank houses, made of lumber hauled
from Houston or Jefferson, but following the same general style of architecture.
Between the Seventies and Nineties more elaborate homes began to be built and
towers and cupolas added and scroll work placed on windows and porches.
Following these came the ornate windows, many with elaborate designs of leaded
colored glass, as well as the open archway, bay window and the entire building
topped off by lightning rods. This era also brought into use the heater and the
cook stove, both of them burning wood, and in addition to the conveniences just
mentioned the household furniture evolved from hand-hewn necessities to the more
elaborate horse hair sofa and chair, and prosperous families covered their
floors with carpets which were securely nailed down completely around the four
sides of the room. Carpet cleaning time each year became an event of serious
proportions. Many of these first homes were early American, and other styles of
architecture and today these old houses may be seen in Navarro County after
having stood for three-quarters of a century and they will, with care, endure
for many more years. The Dawson home near the town of Dawson, the Robinson home
at Dresden, the Lisman and Hodge homes at Chatfield and several old Corsicana
residences bear mute evidence of architecture of the period. Much patience and a
great deal of ingenuity were required to erect these old homes and they should
be viewed with the respect and admiration due them, not only for the intrinsic
value, but also for the effort required to erect such a house in the early days
of Navarro County.

  The first churches and lodge rooms were built as one long room and the church
usually had a steeple on top and pulpit on the platform which was large enough
to accommodate a small reed organ and choir. The steeple of the church
invariably had its bell and the sweet tones called the pioneer to worship each
Sunday morning and made him realize that the Sabbath was a day of rest and
meditation.

  The school houses were log structures with puncheon seats and no backs. Later
came the frame building and long benches and boards upon which the pupil placed
his "Blue Backed Speller" and "McGuffie Reader." The patent desk of today and
the comfortable busses which transport the pupils to school and return them to
their homes are relatively new things in the world of education but many great
minds were developed under the hardships of the old school house with its
rigorous curriculum, the main item in many cases being a peachtree switch always
close by the teacher's desk,

  One of the prime requisites which the first settlers in Navarro County
possessed was ingenuity. The sources of supply were always far removed and in
many cases it was necessary to adopt substitutes for various articles of food or
clothing. When bread was not available buffalo meat was dried and mixed with
wild honey. This combination was not only healthful but also had a pleasant
taste and had the additional advantage of being plentiful. The wild honey was
easy to procure. Bees were plentiful and found flowers and mesquite blooms and
grasses and flowers in profusion from which to extract the nectar.
  A substitute for coffee was oftentimes made from parched grain or potatoes. A
beer-like beverage called Methiglen was made from wild honey. When it was
possible to get coffee the bean was purchased green and before becoming usable
was parched and ground. To procure coffee meant a trip to Houston overland or
purchasing it after it was brought up on little steamboats which plied the
Trinity and unloaded supplies at Taos or Bazette Ferry. Every grain of the
coffee was carefully hoarded and used only at special occasions such as Sunday
morning or when favorite company came for a visit.   Sugar was a rarity and the
coffee was imbibed usually in its natural state and without the addition of
cream or sweetening.

  When bread was made it was salt rising light bread of flour or of corn meal.
The "corn pone" was a staple article of food made by scalding meal and cooking
it in a greased skillet. Occasionally a pie or cake would be cooked in the iron
skillet or "dutch oven", and while the lack of our modern conveniences doubtless
limited the varieties the frontier housewife succeeded in preparing nourishing
and delicious menus.

  In order to give color to the homespun cloth, dyes were made from oak bark,
copperas or weeds of certain kinds. Flax made a durable cloth which became more
soft with usage. The clothes for the men were oftentimes of buckskin which was a
favorite winter material due to its warmth and durability. So well did the
frontier mother fabricate cloth on her loom and spindle that oftentimes the
garment lasted longer than the maker. As the demand for furniture increased
carpenters became more and more skilled as cabinet makers and beautiful examples
of workmanship still exist in some of the old homes. Many of the immigrants
brought their own silver and some utensils with them and the supply of kitchen
utensils was enhanced by the traveling "peddler" who exchanged tinware for
buffalo skins, eggs or any salable commodity.

  Rugs and carpets were made from scraps or woven on looms. They were seldom
made in any definite pattern, the stripes merely coming according to the color
of the material at hand. Floors were covered with dried buffalo skins and the
bottoms of the chairs were made from the same material. Some chairs were made
more restful by being cushioned with sheep skin on which the wool was allowed to
remain. This sheep skin also was greatly desired by the cowboys for their chaps
as it afforded a protection from the weather as well as from the shrubbery
through which they rode. These buckskin pants were oftentimes utilized in odd
ways. One of the early settlers* once found a bee tre£ while enroute home, and
having no other means for transporting the honey, removed his buckskin pants,
tied the legs at the bottom and with the improvised receptacle carried home a
bountiful supply of the delicacy.

  Frontier mothers learned quickly to make effective medicine and render first
aid services. Herbs were used and the services of the physician were rare until
settlements grew to considerable proportions. It was a simple matter to find
digitalis, foxglove, balmony or other plants which possessed medicinal
qualities, growing in profusion on the prairies. Many of these frontier mothers
became skilled in this direction and their reputation spread not only through
their settlement but to neighboring settlements and they were oftentimes sent
for as one would call in a specialist today. When the population increased and
this amateur dispenser of home-made herbs was displaced by the old time family

  *his man was Harvey Beeman, who came to Texas, participated in the battle of
San Jacinto, and settled in Navarro County in 1845. He built the third court
house—a frame house. His wife was a Miss Wantland. They have many descendants in
Navarro County. 

doctor, he found his time divided between administering to the sick and covering
intervening miles of trails on horse-back. The early physician deserves a great
deal of credit as he gave little thought to riding fifty miles over a rocky
trail, to become worn and exhausted and with the realization staring him in the
face that his pay might be a few bushels of corn or a side of meat. The call
might have come to him in the middle of the night and although faced with a long
and weary ride through a bitter Texas norther, never did he falter in his
mission to preserve life and lessen human suffering.

  To get a clear picture of some of the conditions which existed in Navarro
County in about the year 1844, we will quote from a history of this section
written in 1892 by one of the early residents:

  "Deer, antelope, buffalo, wild horses, bears, panthers, wolves, Mexican hogs,
wild turkeys, prairie chickens were in great abundance. The deer in herds were
to be seen in any part of the country. The antelope were not so plentiful as on
the plains. The buffalo came and went like a mighty torrent. They always
traveled against the wind even though it carried sleet and snow.

  "The wild horses were seen in droves of from two to fifty. There were a great
many on the prairies but more to be found in the cross timbers.

  "Bears prowled around the thickets and the panthers' wild screams and howling
of the wolves made night thrilling. The wolves in those days were large and
known as the loafer.' They gradually disappeared and gave place to the little
common prairie wolf of later years.

  "The creeks and branches did not dry up then as they do now and fish were
plentiful. Honey from wild bees was plentiful and about the only sweetening the
settlers had. The lack of salt was a great trial as it was hard to obtain.

  'There were no roads and they traveled over the country by course and by
prominent objects such as lone trees, clusters of trees and points of timbers."

  The first fair in Navarro County was sponsored by Navarro County Agricultural
and Mechanical Association with J. B. Jones as secretary.

  The fair was held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 16-18, 1860.
  The place was "back of Mr. Neblett's house." (W. H. Neblett's home stood near
the location of the present home of the Misses Freedman, on South Twelfth Street).
  This fair was held on the grounds near the present location of the union
depot. This was largely a livestock fair and Marion Martin of Wadeville,
Nicholas Graham and a Mr. Finch of Chatfield and many others exhibited fine
stock.   There were exhibits of sewing, cooking and other fields of domestic
accomplishment. In various ways it was an interesting fair but it was the last
for several years due to the war between the states.

  There were many varieties of amusements held in conjunction with the early
Navarro County fairs. Tournaments were very popular for several years after the
war. Participants in a tournament chose the names of ancient knights. The knight
who caught the most rings on his lance rode, with a great flourish, up to the
gallery where his lady-love was seated, and she was crowned.

  During the latter part of the 1850's the life of the pioneer was enlivened by
heated discussions of States rights, extension of slavery and other political
questions. Texas was a divided state on the question of slavery and the
inhabitants did not fully realize the fury of the approaching storm, while this
issue was argued pro and con in every store and home and on every corner. Soon
Texas was drawn into one of the most terrible conflicts the world has known and,
after the South was vanquished, the inhabitants accepted their untold
deprivations and humiliations and forged ahead with courage and determination.
As the Union became more firmly welded the Lone Star State accepted its part of
National responsibility and inhabitants of Texas no longer remember, except from
an historical interest, the conflict which raged between the Northern and
Southern geographical sections of our commonwealth.

  About the year 1860 the town of Corsicana had a population of some nine
hundred white people and about three hundred negroes, while the population Of
Navarro County as a whole was something like double this figure.

  When the citizens voted on secession in 1861 two hundred and thirteen favored
it and only three opposed it. The question of secession was not the only one
involved between the North and South, since there were several political matters
upon which there was a difference of opinion. The slavery question, however,
precipitated the final dissention. A meeting was held in Corsicana and the
resolution to secede was adopted, the signers of this resolution being C. M.
Winkler, William F. Henderson, G. L. Martin, W. H. Neblett, Joseph Clayton,
Elijah Melton and J. P. Anderson. This resolution was voted upon with the
results enumerated above.

  Patriotic demonstrations were immediately held after the voting, Confederate
banners were raised over the court house and a company of men trained for
emergencies. Communications were immediately made with Montgomery, the capital
of the Confederacy from whence an appeal had been made for volunteers. About
ninety men responded to this call and William Melton was elected captain, J. R.
Oglebie, First Lieut., and J. H. Hill, Second Lieut. Capt. Melton felt he was
too old for service and resigned in favor of C. M. Winkler.

  In the Navarro Express of Thursday, August 8, 1861, was a roster of this group
of men who werebanded together under the name of the "Navarro Rifles."

A LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE NAVARRO RIFLES, AUGUST 8, 1861
C. M. Winkler, Captain.
Officers                                      State of Nativity
Captain, C. M. Winkler.                       N. Carolina
1st Lieut. Loughridge                         S. Carolina
2nd. Lieut., J. R. Ogilvie                    Tennessee
3rd Lieut., B. J. C. Hill                     Tennessee
1st Sergeant, Mat Beasley.                    Mississippi
2nd Sergeant, C. W. Pinnington, Commissary....Virginia
3rd Sergeant, Wm. G. Jackson                  Texas
1st Corporal, J. T. Beasley.                  Mississippi
2nd Corporal, J. D. Stewart                   Tennessee
Fifer, J. E. Melton.                          Georgia
Drummer, J. L. Utzman                         Tennessee

Privates
  J. W.Duren (Mississippi),
 H. Harrison (Mississippi),
 J. W. Simmons (N. Carolina), 
J. H. Austin (Alabama),
 R. C. Armstrong (Louisiana), 
J. R. Beasley (Mississippi), 
W. G. Piatt (Mississippi),
 J. W. McMorris (Alabama),
 B. F. Harper (Mississippi),
 J. T. Green (Mississippi), 
J. W. Crabtree (Missouri),
 P. Smith (Alabama),
A. M. Lemmon (Missouri), 
T. L. Pursley (Arkansas),
 J. H. Hill (Tennessee), 
Jack Hill (Tennessee),
 J. C. Welch (Texas), 
Thomas Alfin (Alabama),
 T. J. Sessions (Mississippi), 
Ira Duncan (Tennessee),
 W. R. Jefferson (Freestone County),
 W. A. Fondren (Young County, Texas),
 R. H. Miller (Missouri),
 J. B. Owens (Alabama),
 R. N. Rice (Georgia),
 Joseph Hagle (Germany),
 E. S. Crabbe (Indiana),
 James H. Massey (Missouri),
 James Franklin (Kentucky),
 Charles Turpin (Kentucky), 
James Fagin (Tennessee), 
G. W. Henderson (Illinois),
 J. Q. Harris (Georgia),
 L. W. Rice (Alabama),
 E. M. Greer (Alabama),
 Dr. N. J. Mills (Kentucky),
 R. C. Holloway (Virginia),
 W. W. Fuller (N. Carolina),
 S. B. Terrell (S. Carolina),
 B. F. Childress (Alabama),
 J. A. Caddell (Alabama),
 J. W. Westbrook (Mississippi),
 J. H. Barnet (Alabama), 
S. Weil (Germany), 
John Holdeman (Tennessee),
 James Herbert (Tennessee),
 J. M. Polk (Missouri),
 J. J. Harrison (Alabama),
 James Hamilton (Texas), 
W. M. Temple-ton (Alabama),
 Wm. H. Mitchell (Tennessee)
 J. A. Foster (Virghfia)
 J. H. Westbrook (Mississippi),
 A. L. Meador (Texas),
 H. L. W. Killean (Tennessee)),
 James /Treadwell (Alabama),
 J. L. Anderson (Arkansas)
 M. L. Foster (Texas),
 T. A. Osborne (Alabama),
 Ira C. Jordon (Mississippi),
 Ambrose Barry (N. Carolina), 
E. G. Sessions (Mississippi), 
S. H. Neal (Mississippi),
 John Green (Kentucky), 
J. C. Walker (Kentucky), 
A. J. Brewster (Illinois),
 W. H. Boles (Nacogdoches County, Texas),
 G. S. Boynton (Ohio),
 John Pickett (Alabama),
 Wm. T. Smith (Hill County, Tennessee),
 F. P. Dillard (Virginia), 
T. M. Lummins (Limestone County, Alabama),
 H. E. Walker (Texas),
 W. P. Spence (Robinson County, Illinois),
 S. M. Riggs (Missouri),
 W. C. Towers (Georgia),
 M. Barry (N. Carolina),
 J. H. Neal (Mississippi),
 P. H. Osborne (Alabama).

  The county appropriated $2,500 for the purchase of arms and ammunition and a
training camp was established at Spring Hill, being located a mile or two
Northwest of the town.

  President Davis sent an urgent call to Texas for three regiments and this
company of Navarro Rifles was the first to respond. Before going to Harrisburg
for training several of the older men who had not expected to serve more than
one year were allowed to withdraw and the company was reorganized with the same
officers. There were three training camps in Navarro County, located at Spring
Hill, Corsicana and Raleigh. The captains of these companies were T. J. Haynes,
Elijah Bishop, L. D. McConnico, F. M. Martin, Joseph Clayton, Henry Jones, B. J.
Carroll, M. L. French, R. H. Matthews, Samuel Wright, Clinton Fouty and M.
Fouty. In 1862 three companies were organized of which two were cavalry troops
under the leadership of Henry Molloy and B. D. McKie. The third company was a
company of infantry, under the guidance of Capt. J. H. Halbert. This was called
the 18th Regiment of Texas Volunteers. Following is a roster of Capt. Halbert's
company:

  Capt. J. L. Halbert; First Lieut., James Talley, Corsicana ; Senior Lieut., C.
F. Fain, Milf ord; Junior Lieut. W. H. McElwee, Corsicana; First Sergt., A. M.
Miller, Milford; Second Sergt., N. H. Butler, Corsicana; Third Sergt., E. H.
Carter, Camp Speight; Fourth Sergt., J. H. Melton, Corsicana; Fifth Sergt., J.
E. Smith, Corsicana; Corporal, H. L. Caldwell, Milford; Corporal, L. J. Thomas,
Corsicana; Corporal, Champe Carter, Milford; Corporal, A. J. McCrary, Milford.

  Following are the privates: W. J. Adams, Patton Anderson, and V. E. Burdine,
Milford; William Bru-ton, Riley Beebe, James Bryant, Corsicana; H. G. Bost-wick
and R. E. Carter, Milford; P. E. Carter, Camp Speight; John Carr, William
Clapton, J. S. Cull, Corsicana; G. W. Couchman, Milford; P. R. Dean, Coryell
County; J. E. Dunning, Milford; Jonathan Fowler, Corsicana; S. G. Fuller, W. F.
Graves, W. H. Graves, Corsicana; J. T. Graves, Milford; J. N. Graves, Milford;
G. H. Graham, J. T. Graham, G. W. Goodman, C. H. Harris, A. B. Highnote, J. H.
Highnote, William Hunter, Levi Hooper, Corsicana; R. S. Hilburn, Milford; Frank
Hensje, Galveston; William Hooper, Camp Daniel; Richard Ingraham, Corsicana; B.
F. Jackson, Milford; T. B. Jackson, Milford; J. P. Jones, Milford; J. H. Kutner,
Camp Speight; Jacob Lorley, Corsicana; J. Malone, G. W. Mantooth, Felix Miller,
M. W. Miller, L. C. Miller, Milford; James Maiden, W. M. McKinney, Corsicana; J.
P. McElrath, Galveston; F. M. Reed, Corsicana; W. O. Rankin, Corsicana; David
Reno, Milford; Thomas Ramsey, Texarkana; Charles Ramsey, Texark-aha; Jepe
Rector, T. J. Robinson, Milford; J. S. Roger, J. M. Scales, W. J. Smithey, John
Westbrook, Corsicana ; R. P. Stringer, Milford; T. J. Wilson, Corsicana; W. J.
Graham, Hillsboro; H. P. Pippin, Camp Daniel; J. M. Zachary, Corsicana. 


Top:    Allyn's Corner, Beaton and Collin Streets in 1872.
Center:    Third Navarro County court house, built in 1858. The picture shows
negro Federal soldiers guarding election proceedings in about 1869 or 1870.
Lower:   Present Navarro County court house, built in 1905.

  Navarro County sent practically all of her able bodied men to the War, there
remaining only a home guard of men too old for service or disabled soldiers who
had returned from the battlefields. Of these elderly men and disabled soldiers
patrols were formed which held misdemeanors in check and preserved law and order.

  Texas did not suffer so much from the Civil War as the other Southern States.
The farms were neglected and business in general suffered but the fact that
Texas bordered on the Gulf and had several ports, which remained open, kept up a
certain amount of commerce during the conflict. Women and children did the work,
spinning and weaving clothing for the soldiers and doing all possible, to hold
their homes together. The War lasted four years and these were four years of
frugal living, hard work and much sadness and distress. At the end of the War
the survivors returned to find their slaves freed, their farms neglected and
fortunes dissipated. The reconstruction period required as much stamina as did
the years of the conflict.

  After the War, Union soldiers, some of whom were arrogant and abusive, were
sent to Texas, but some of these men were of the highest type and records
indicate that one captain in particular, A. R. Chaffee, won the respect and
appreciation of all Navarro citizens for his many good qualities. Capt. Chaffee
later became a general in command of United States troops in the Philippine
Islands.

  In 1870 Texas was readmitted to the Union. In 1874 Federal soldiers were
withdrawn and Texas again passed back into the hands of Texans.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of Navarro County
by
Annie Carpenter (Mrs. W. F.) Love

Southwest Press
Dallas, Texas

Copyright, 1933
by
Annie Carpenter (Mrs. W. F.) Love

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