Navarro County Texas Archives News.....Blooming Grove Times 1939-1940 1939
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 November 19, 2009, 3:52 pm

Blooming Grove Times 1939
The Blooming Groves Times
Vol XLVIII No 12
April 14, 1939

Picture of Blooming Grove's First State Bank.  Of the first 100 banks chartered
in the state, Blooming Grove is one. Organized at Forreston, Feb 22, 1906, moved
to Blooming Grove May 15, 1935. Pres. R.Bruce McCormick; C.L. Tillman, VPre;
J.W. Fields, Cashier. Directors: R. Bruce McCormick, C.L. Tillman, J.W. Fields,
Drew Gillen, and J.P. Mayfield.

The Blooming Groves Times
Vol XLVIII No 12
April 14, 1939


History and Progress of Blooming Grove
by R.W. George

Blooming Grove is a town not burdened with longevity but Blooming Grove is
sufficiently up in hears to be well established in the minds and affections of
the general public. However in a little bird's eye glance back over the vista of
time one finds Blooming Grove not without some early history. Sometime before
the Civil war a many by the name of Darling conducted a sheep ranch where now
stands the town of Blooming Grove.  Those who love to live in the past may refer
to Darling's sheep ranch days as the halcyon days. In those days neighbors were
few and far between and instead of sheep-killing dogs, it was sheep-killing
wolves. Along with Darling's enemy wolves there were at that time wild turkey
roosts where now we boast of a great town, Blooming Grove. And occasionally came
scampering thru a wild buck with his tail behind him.

In those days it was Darling's sheep ranch up here and Gradyville, a hustling,
bustling little town a mile south later known as Old Town. In connection with
Gradyville history records the names of old timers like Dr. Ransom, Palmer, Dr.
David, Ham Sewell, Capt J.J. Jones and others.  Of its business institutions
Gradyville boasted of open saloons, and a briskly, typical western town it was.
 But fate made Gradyville a "Deserted Village".  Along about 1886 a
shrewd-thinking Cotton Belt R.R. official up in Chicago with his feel across a
mahogany desk and his eyes on  Texas saw in a Branch Line between Corsicana and
Hillsboro a good proposition.  Civilization, with torchlight in hand, had blazed
the way; happy ranch and farm homes could be seen nestled here and yonder over
the prairies; the wild turkeys had left out for the wilds of the Trinity river
bottom and the prairie dog's tracks could be seen in the sand going westward. A
new era had burst in upon this favored section in all its effulgent splendor.

And so, one dazzling afternoon in Dec 1887, while the business man of Gradyville
was plying his trade as usual the fun turned were drinking deep of hilarity,
could be seen down the lines toward Corsicana a huge headlight---it was the
coming of the first freight train.  At the improvised depot in a townsite
without a name came and stopped our first train. This hug iron horse with box
car tonnage a plenty was greeted not as Napoleon when across the Alps at sunrise
he appeared in Rome, but greeted by warm-hearted citizens who recognized in the
coming of the railroad an agency willing, able to help develop for this section
the untouched possibilities.  One good old sister, along with the crowd to say
"howdy" to the train, scanned it up one side and down the other, pushed her
bonnet back on her head and exclaimed: "God is mighty smart, but man has come to
be a pretty big rival."

So we find Blooming Grove at this time (1887) just a wide place in the road. The
boys down at Gradyville began packing up to move, and as it were, a new town up
on the railroad sprang up over night. We shall call it Blooming Grove from the
beautiful oak grove at White Church cemetery.  The new comers found Darling's
ranch absorbed by W.D. and Henrietta Grady. To the Fort Worth stock market had
gone Darling's sheep, to the land of flowers over the river Darling had gone.
The Gradys put up the Alamo hotel, and sold lots to Tom, Dick and Harry for
dwellings and business houses.  The town was incorporated by J.H. Jones, J.A.
Wallace, Capt High, Miles Trulove and others, a mayor was elected and we think
Will Fennell was the first city marshal. He was black-eyed, wore a black
mustache and to enforce his commands wore in his hip pocket a foot-long
pearl-handle six shooter.

Hash Cohen, Mack Robinson came with uptown stores, J.T.S. Fitzgerald and Miles
Truelove, Tom Elliott, F.Y. Doke came.  Elliott with open saloon, Doke with
long-leaf pine lumber yard. E. Forgey appeared upon the scene to take the folk's
pictures. At Doke's lumber yard they had an umbrella china tree, under which
tunnelling white rabbits.  In the midst of all this came down from Marshal, Mo,
Gower, a fellow about the size of R.W. George. Gower was smart and he started a
newspaper and he named it the Blooming Grove Rustler. That was in 1890. Of those
here then to read Gower's first issue and who are here now we mention W.B.
Rutherford, Johnny Erwin, M.G. Deason, Mrs. Dashie Jones (nee Dashie Cobb), Lee
Ramsey, E. Forgey, T.M. George cannot quite qualify, he came about the time
Gower's Rustler was celebrating its first anniversary.  Another newspaper, the
Sun, burst forth one week end and its hieroglyphics looked like success, but the
Sun suffered a total eclipse.  The Rustler kept tugging away. P.O. Jones, under
Hen Roost Cluckings, made weekly contributions and no newspaper with P.O. Jones
(B.F. Carroll)  behind it could fail. The Rustler still lives under a new name,
the Blooming Grove Times.

The streets were named after the town was incorporated. Main Street, east and
west, along the railroad; Fordyce, north south, through business section;
Hinkley north side running north-sout; Kerr east side, running north-south.  In
those days (proverbially so) milk and honey trickled down the streets. The women
wore bustles, long, sweeping skirts, high top lace shoes. The pinkish glow about
the cheek was God-given and a permanent wave was a laugh.  The men as a rule
wore tight-fitting trousers, derby hats and fork-tailed coats. Every man parted
his hair on the side, blacked his own boots at home and recognized that it was a
breach of etiquette to smoke a cigarette in the presence of a woman.  That was
early Blooming Grove, at least a period coming up from the railroad year, 1887.
 Not a bad period. Those were also the days of mourner's benches right here in
Blooming Grove, the days whose custom it was to call preachers by the year. In
those days, the gallants went forth with horse and buggy, over in the rural
school house, it was a "square" and not a "round" dance. Easter came in the days
of early Blooming Grove just as Easter comes now. The Blue Bonnets blossomed
forth for Easter decorations back in the days of Gradyville with as much
effulgent beauty as they do today. In those early days of Blooming Grove, the
days back in the fall of 1887, there was not quite as much "style" possibly, not
so many rules laid down to cramp you when you talked and to pain you when you
laughed, but they were good old days. Memory cherishes them, history records,
adores and with miserly care preserves them for future generations.

But let us say before we get too far off the subject of early Blooming Grove --
let us say that in connection with early histoyr, one single item if no more
stand out today as one of the old landmarks--we refer to what is known as the
John W. Phillips dwelling on the eastern suburbs of what was then known as
Gradyville. That building was made of the right stuff. No doubt the material was
hauled over land by ox team from Houston. John W. Phillips and Mrs. Phillips
have passed away, the old dwelling stand in a fair state of preservation as
though it were founded upon the rock of Gibraltar.

Blooming Grove of today is "up town" in the estimation of its own citizens, is
great in the estimation of others, held up as a good town by all but what we are
we owe it to those who so nobly wrought and so wisely balanced the mortar that
went into the foundation work of a town destined to endure and go on through
tempest as well as through sunshine.

It might be well to mention some of the old landmarks about town. Every town has
them, but it is not on every occasion that it is in keeping with good taste to
mention them. The E. Forgey dwellng situated at the corner of Fourth and Hinkley
Street is probably one of the really outstanding landmarks of the town. This
building, back in the hectic days of Gradyville (probably as early as 1880)
stood down at Gradyville. When the railroad came through in 1887 this dwelling
house was moved to the new town.  We think it was the property of Park Eason'
later on W.B. Armstrong owned and occupied it. This building is now somewhat
disfigured, but as a whole it has withstood the ravages of time, the cyclonic
twists of wind, has withstood the snows of many winters and warded off the
erosions of many summers.

Another of the old relics that came from the old town was the O.J. Butler house
later owned by Capt R.D. George. Fire destroyed it three or four years ago.  The
John W. Phillips house, south of town where Claude now lives, is another of the
really old houses. Up here in town the house owned by the late Mrs. I.N.
Wilkinson used to be owned by Hash Coen, the dwelling owned by Mrs. Mollie
McCormick was in an early day the property of R.M.S. Grady, the dwelling now
owned by Mrs. R.J. Page in an early day was the home of Dr. Buckalew. These
three homes were probably the first three homes to be erected back in the late
89's immediately following the coming of the railroad.

In searching around for historic incidents for this special edition, we have
thought of the cyclone about the first of May either in 1889 or 1890. It used to
furnish spicy conversation for John B and Jack Jones when they got strung off on
that twister. These boys were painters and on this occasion were high up around
the cupola of a new Methodist church just being finished up where stand now a
more modern Methodist church.  Empty barrels and out houses, sheds, buggy
houses, plank fences, etc were hurled through the air like they were goose
feathers. Shade trees were twisted off at the root. These Jones boys made a good
story in telling how their eyes were filled with dust, how they dodged around
and as quickly as possible spread themselves out in a little cave and stayed
there until the elements quieted. That was a memorable occasion with all who
experienced this, the worst wind in the history of Blooming Grove. Mrs. Lollie
Smith (nee Lollie Farmer) 3 miles south of gown could doubtless relate today the
scare that storm brought to Blooming Grove, and Mrs. Jeff Stokes now in Dallas
is another whose memory goes back to that day.

For this special edition we were talking the other day with one of the old
timers, Mel Deason, and it may not be amiss to related some of the things Mel
relates touching the years 1887 to 1890.  Mr. Deason, to the best of his memory,
says the Blooming Grove cotton oil mill was established about 1889. A man by the
name of Wolfenden was architect and builder, but the oil mill was owned by home
capital. J.H. and Joe Jones and J.A. Wallace helped in the mechanical work. S.A.
Roberts, L.E. McCormick, J.H. Watson, Sam Grimes and others were heavy
stockholders. Bob Bryant was probably the first bookkeeper.

Mr. Deason says back in those days the town boasted of a canning factory, and
that was not all, there was a brick yard. Pete Hanson made brick over near Rose
Hill cemetery and nearly all the old buisness brick houses of the town were made
of Hanson's brick.  Another institution of that day was John Scott's livery
stable, and a fellow came along and put in a bakery. So you see we have a town
with a history.

Along with Mr. Deason's early observations comes Mr. Lee Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey can
tell you that S.W. Grimes was the towns' first banker and merchant, Henry &
Hartzell followed closely behind J.T.S. Fitzgerald with dry goods. Mr. Ramsey
speaks of Dr. Buckalew and Dr. Calder as the town's physicians of that day, and
the town's lawyer was Thos H. Jck. Among the mayors of the town, as Mr. Ramsey
recalls were Capt R.A. High, H.J. Jones, R.B. Grady and others.  In 1907 was
organizd an enterprise of far-reaching importance. We refer to the waterworks
and electric light business. The organizers embraced such men as Will High, Dr.
J.A. Green, J.L. Dorsey, T.M. George, J.A. Wallace. J.H. Jones, R.W. George, and
in fact nearly every business man in town took stock in order that the
enterprise might be established.  The first deep well, about 1300 feet, went
down in 1907. This gave the town waterworks and electric lights and then
followed bath room equipment and sewage.  Today we are enjoying these
conveniences, but the town was bonded in later years to finance the
establishment of the conveniences and this bond has not been fully paid off.

Today, with cherished past history the town is on a firm foundation. There is
not a prettier place in which to live. We have concrete , shade trees, al the
conveniences, and our lawns grow flowers and our gardens produce vegetables, and
while there is not too much wealth among our citizens, yet as a rule our folks
are out of debt, are in position to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. With a splendid public school system and a new concrete highway we
are even more fortunately situated than those who faithfully wrought back in the
eventful days of 1880 to 1900.


Funeral Service held for Mrs. J.C. Armstrong Monday. Mrs. J.C. Armstrong was
born in Benton County, Arkansas April 22, 1859, died at the home of her son in
the Emhouse community Sunday morning at nine o'clock.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the First Baptist
Church of which Mrs. Armstrong had been a faithful member for many years.

Rev. W.O. Patterson, pastor of the First Baptist Church assisted by Rev. Rawlins
Cherryhomes, pator of the Christian church, conducted the rites.

Surviving are five sons, L.W. Armstrong, Emhouse; Mose Armstrong, Corsicana; 
Pruitt, Sol and Jack Armstrong, Blooming Grove; 3 daughters, Mrs. G.P. Wilson,
Barry; Mrs. J.A. Harrington, Crosbyton, and Mrs. Earl Stokes, Five points; a
sister, Mrs. C.D. Idlett, Blooming Grove, a brother, W.M. Ritter, Negley; 33
grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.  Grandsons were pallbearers. Interment
was made in the Grange Hall Cemetery.

The Blooming Groves Times
Vol XLVII No 28
Aug 4, 1939

The Times is glad to publish the following letter sent in by Jas W. Bates, an
old timer and former resident of this community.

Having seen a copy of your paper at C.H. Nelson's and having spent my childhood
days there, I decided to write you a line to see if any of the old timers were
still there.

My father, F.M. Lewis [Bates], with his family, moved there about 72-73 years
ago [1857?]. It was called Gradyville then. Rube Grady had a store and Tom
Hendon a blacksmith shop. We lived about a quarter of a mile east of the store.
Later my father and G.P. Miller and a few others built a house on the east side
of Rush creek in a small post oak grove for school and church use and named it
Blooming Grove. I attended the first school ever taught there. G.P. Miller was
the teacher, Carmichael and Nute Hickman were next. Only a few patrons. I
remember Dr. Davis Gowan, Lyle Bates, Ransom Harper, Maberry Grady, Simpson
McQuary, Parker Gan and a few others in the first school.

Then the town and P.O. changed its name to Blooming Grove and we built a gin,
grist mill and added stores. We sold out, moved 3 miles east and I attended
Miller's Chapl. Jim Miller was teacher; went to Cryer Creek with Tom Smith as
teacher.

The railroad cam through and moved the town a little further north from the old
Foggy place, its present site. I haven't seen Blooming Grove for many years nor
have I seen the old swimming hole at Rush creek where I learned to swim and
caught a whipping for slipping off from school.

I am 78 years old past. My father was buried in the Blooming Grove cemetery on
Rush Creek near the old church if standing. If any of the old timers or their
descendants read The Time try your hand at elling some facts about the old
settlers and early days in that country. I knew nearly everyone from Cryer Creek
to Dresden and Milford to Corsicana, but haven't seen them in a  long time. Have
been here nearly 30 years. Wishing the editor and all his readers success in life.
Jas. W. Bates, Tuskahoma, Okla

Lieing Awake.  It is necessary in these days for many merchants to lie awake at
night to devise means to attract trade, S.W. Grimes & Co. decided to quit lying
awake studying how to draw trae, but instead are putting the knife into the
profits so that every article that is sold will be an advertisement for the
place. See for yourselt at the Racket Store. S.W. Grimes & Co.

J.M. Childers. Died at his residence, Cryer Creek, ages 71 years at 6:30 Monday.
His death was caused by old age and general debility.  Mr. Childers was one of
Navarro's pioneers, having settled here in the '60s. He leaves a host of friends
to console his children and granchildren. He wass buried in the Cryer Creek
Cemetey Tues



The Blooming Groves Times
Vol XLVII No 28
Aug 4, 1939
Frost news
R.B. Hightower and Miss Tulla Thompsen were married last Wed evening, creating a
great deal of excitement. Miss Thompson was to have been married to another man
who was at her house ready and waiting when Mr. Hightower came and told the
family that they just wanted to go to a neighbor's to have a dance. When they
returned they were man and wife. We haven't yet heard whether they found a place
to dance.
[R.B. was son of Raleigh and Jane Hightower. Viola Thula was the bride's name]

Rol Hightower will soon have completed a new residence.

S.W. Grimes & Co are arranging to have their store enlarged.

Court: #4446 Probate Docket. W.A. Robinsons, deceased, Administration Estate


The Blooming Groves Times
Vol XLIX No 52
June 28, 1940

===============
Items from Oct 1, 1888 The Blooming Grove Enterprise. This was the first paper
to be published here, running but a short time, two years before the starting of
the Blooming Grove Rustler.

With much regret we announce the death of Mr. J.T.S. Fitzgerald's little 11 year
old boy whose death was caused by falling from the crib onto a shed below,
breaking his neck. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.
[Albert O. Fitzgerald Feb 5, 1877 - Sep 27, 1888
Son of Jesse Thomas Schuyler Fitzgerald & Mary Elizabeth (Fredrick)
Shepherd-Fitzgerald]

F.A. McSpadden of Corsicana, and J.H. Gulbreath of Cross Roads wer ein town this
week taking items. We hope they were favorably impressed.

The contract has been let for the Christian church and work has begun. The style
of the house is that of a T with a seating capacity of 455 persons.

Mrs. D.W. Welch has been very sick. Dr. A.C. Sloan, of Corsicana was called to
consult with Dr. McClannahan the attending physician.

We are informed that a religious discussion will begin at this place on the 8th
of Oct, between W.H. Berry, Cumbeland Prsbyerian and C.M. Wilmoth, of the
Christian church.

Mary Haden of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Clay Wilsford nee Kate Martin,
Italy; Mrs. W.S. Howe, Long Island NY; Mr. O.R. Starus nee Mary Martin, Fort
Worth, were Blooming Grove visitors Thursday.
=========
Items from The Rustler 1911
The weeks and months have galloped away and the Rustler has another birthday
this month just 21.

Blooming Grove is a clean town free from "dives" and bootleggers are not known.

We should set our figures at 10,000 this season. We have the territory and
should have every bale due to us. Work for 10,000 bales.

Henry Ivey and family have moved to Athens

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Reid have a little babay at their house. a 9 pound boy.

Paul Cole lost purse containing $55 on train between Corsicana and Malakoff.

Miss Lorrie Tyler returned Tues from a visit to Hillsboro.
The singing school at Lone Oak closes Fri night with a concert.
Mrs. Tom Alexander of Powell is visiting here
===========
LONE CEDAR
Mrs. Blanche Boyd, Reporter
50 years ago where Lone Cedar now is was a mass of trees everywhere and a Cedar
tree stood in the midst of them. The tree gave Lone Cedar its name, and  here
our old settlers built their 2 and 3 bedroom houses and cleared up the trees
planting small plots for feed and garden. There was no place for churches or
schools. They first built a large brush arbor and had preaching under it with
home made seats, boxes and oil maps to furnish light. Later on, about 1895 they
erected a little house to have school and also to have preaching.

Geo. Brumbelow put up a gin. Mr. Lamb a store, Mr. Young added a Post Office in
the front of the store. Mr. Jim Atichenson was Postmaster. Mr. Nickels carried
the mail hourseback from Blooming Grove and we also had a doctor, Dr. Curd, also
a barber shop. Families living in and near the Grove were Mrs. Nickels and famly
Mr. Predy, Mrs. Pierce and family, Mr. Got Spurier, Mr. Soab Hendrick and
family, Mr. Jim Atkerson and family and sisters: Aunt Cora and Miss Bell, Mr.
J.F. Page and family, John King and family, Bill Sinclair and family, Bud woods
and family, John Robinson and family, Johnie Erwin and Hemod Fredrick, Mr.
Morris and Mr. Toliver and Mr. Jim Gantt and families, Mrs. Geo Boyd and family,
Mr. Outlaw and family.

Most all the old settlers have passed on to another world. About 1904 Frost gave
us a rural mail rout and the Post Office was put here and in the place of the
little three room home stands thelate and up todate homes and our farms are all
terraced and up to the standard of any place and we have a nice 3 room school
building and a nice church builging, electric fans, the homes schools and
churches all have electric lights. We have also a store here, a gast station. A
good Sunday school near 100 on roll. Preaching once a week, Sunday School every
Sunday. Fine people and a nice place to live for all the latest and up to the
best we have to help us along lifes journey. We give God the praise.

The old Cedar tree or a part of it still stands just a few feet north of the
school building. When the Frost torm passed through here it blew off most of the
limbs. We also have a nice 4 room house for the teachers in our school. 50 years
ago we hardly had a road, we could travel over and an old bridge made of logs
that just reache across the bed of the creek.
===========

The above picture is of the first Blooming Grove band, made some forty years
ago. The names of the members are setting: Singleton Bros, George Bay, Paul
Allen, Mitt Kirk McCormick, Will Huff.  Second row: C. Huff, Tom Grady, Walter
Berry, T.H. Butcher, Thompson, Pat Henry and Dock Powell.


Fifty Years Ago.  50 years ago this still was very much of a cattle country.
Great herds of cattle were driving to Blooming Grove, as a shipping point. Few
of the old cattlemen are alive today. The Sanders and Grimes rancehs, the
Pevehouses, the Fitzgerald and Welch ranches can be remembered by many. The
McClures of the Lone Oak community, the Johnson of the Dresden community and the
Sheppards were all cattle raisers on a large scale.

It seems as if cattle are beginning to come back into their own again with a
continued stagnant market for farm communites. Much poor, and also good land is
being gradually put back into pasture.

The names of Tom and Al Pevehouse, Dee Fitzgerald, R.S. High, Bob Cagler, Gilmer
Sheppard, Ed Carroll, and Pruitt Armstrong can be mentioned as men who see a
brighter future for cattle.


This is a picture of the first train to run through Blooming Grove after the
completion of the tracks in 1887. We can get first hand information from M.C.
Deason, who has the distinction of being the only person to ride the first and
last train that came over the Cotton Belt branch. When this train made its first
run, a new eara was inaugurated in Blooming Grove. The running of the last train
was but another step in progress. In the place of this train, we have a bus line
with a service twic daily each way, and will soon have a freight line with twice
a day service.

The last regular train to run through Blooming Grove, Monday April 22, 1940.
This picture was snapped as the train was leaving the station showing part of
the crowd.

The only person to ride the first and last train that ran through Blooming Grove
was M.C. Deason, standing on the steps of the last train as it left the station.
Mr. Deason came to Blooming Grove in 1875 and is one of our best known citizens.



E.H. Forgy.  Another of our old time citizens that was born and reared in this
community is E.H. Forgey. Mr. Forgey was one of Blooming Grove's first business
men, operating a photography gallery north of the railroad. For many years he
has been interested in photography and has many old and new pictures he has taken.

Our Oldest Citizen. In thinking of who is the oldest citizen, we would natrually
think of some very aged, white haired person getting up into the 80's or 90's.
That is the natural way of thinking but we would be wrong. K. Hartley has the
disction to be the only man alie today who was a citize of the town when it was
incorporated, and is still a citizen of the town.

Photo of Central Texas College.  The Central Texas College built in 1898.
Operated as a private school until 1911 under the direction of D.R. Adkinson,
E.T. Harrison and W.M. Board, J.H. Wiseman, pastor of the Methodist church was
Financial Agent with W.M. Board. The buildings were town down in 1914. Many
residents of this community attended this school. Mrs. J.R. Griffin was a
student here and later taught music for three years.

Blooming Grove it's past. From what we can learn, the first settlement in this
community, the very beginning of Blooming Grove was made at what is now the
White Church Cemetery. We do not know the names of the first settlers in this
community, but among the first are the Shephards, Fitzgeralds, Fredericks,
Pevehouses, Carrolls, Grayds, Campbells and Meltong.

In the White Church community the settler build a church, which was painted
white, therefore the name. The name of Blooming Grove was first applied to this
White Church community.  The first road from Corsicana came by this place and
ran through what is now Old Town. The first school we can remember hearing about
was held in the White Church, or as wa then called Blooming Grove. The town of
Gradyville (Blooming Grove) was gradually built up where Old Town is now. In
1887 the railroad came through and the town was moved to its present site. The
first settlement a far as we can learn was made in this community about 1848.

The above picture, taken in 1908, of the Lone Star Co., J.E. Walker and R.B.
McCormick, proprietors. A line of furniture and hardware was sold. The names of
the men standing front of the building are from left to right: Blake Thompson,
Frank Cumpston, R.B. McCormick and C.F. Lewis.

The picture on the Left is of the Blooming Grove school of 1887 while the one of
the modern building is the main building of five buidlings being used today. The
three R's Readin' Ritin' and Rithmetic probably were the main subjects taught
fifty-three. Today the local school has twenty seven and a half units of
affiliation with standard colleges and univrsities and has a standardized
grammar for elementary school for the first seven grades. There are eighteen
white teachers and one negro teacher.

Today the school operates four busses and the children who ride them attend
school more days than they could have five years ago. Even the child who lives
fifteen or sixteen miles from the school, can attend as regularly as the child
who live a half mile distant.

Today the school is the largest business institution in the community. It
employs more people, and has a larger pay roll. It offers a much greater variety
of opportunities. And, belive it or not, most all the pupils hate for school to
close in the spring.

Photo of 2nd school building built in Blooming Grove, the year of 1889, where
the present building stands. Almost all of our middle aged citizens that are
here today were students of this school. We call to maind a few of the teachers
that will bging back emmories to lots of us. G.G. Herring, Miss Lucy Jones, Prof
Hipps, E.H. Campbell, Prof Seymore, Miss Annie Stoker, Miss Fannie George, Profs
Ellison, Clark, Hamilton and Julius Dorsey.

GRADY HOTEL
Above is the Grady Hotel built in 1889, soon after the city of Blooming Grove
had moved from Old Town. The man standing on the upper porche is R.B. Grady, and
the second from left on lwoer porch is Mr. Grays' mother, Mre. Henrietta Grady,
the others are boarders, names unkonw. Old landmarks like this are fast
disappearing, once crowded wtih traveling salesman and moustached and booted
cowmen, it was a vital need in the community.

The Cotton Belt Depot, built in the Spring of 1888, just after the completion of
the railroad. We are sure someone will recognize all in this picture, but we can
place but three. Second from left, we believe is Will High, third, Postmaster
R.B. Grady, fourth Tom Grady, assisting at the depot at the time. Notice plank
platform and in the distance the bueiness district. Picture was made about 1890.

First Christian Church. The members of the First Christian Church entertained
with a party the evening of June 19t at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.G. Deason,
honoring Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Isbell, who have moved to Ennis where Mrs. Isbell is
Superintendent of the Christian Church Sunday School and taught a Sunday School
class.  Mrs. Isbell assisted with the music and also taught a class.  A number
of entertaining games were enjoyed of which Mrs. Frank B. Taylor was in charge.




Photo First Methodist Church

The First Methodist Church in Blooming Grove was organized about 1890 by L.D.
Simpson, S.A. Hodges, A.A. Roberts, Hinton C. Ivy, J.P. Willeford and others and
the first house of worship was erected on the present site soon after
organization.  It is not known if any charter member of the church survives.

The church has a present membership of 262 and is active through its auxiliaries
in all the phases of the work of the denomination.  The church building now in
use was built in 1913 under the pastorate of Dr. E.B. Hawk.

Throughout almost all of the history of the church there has been an active
Woman's Missionary Society. Mrs. Maggie Richards, the only surviving charter
members, is still active in the work.

Pastors who have served this church are Bros Majors, Musset, Vughn, Galligar,
Odom, Clark, Evans, Wiseman, Chappell, Hawk, Bryan, Herron, Little, Walker,
Clark, Wagoner, Karnagee, Morton, Story, Shuler, Noe, Utley, Whitefield,
McDaniel and Van P. Morrison.

====

On January 10, 1909, thrityfive local Baptists met in an upper story of a frame
building known as the I.O.O.F. hall. The declaration of faith as contained in
Pendleton Church Manual was read and subscribed to by the body. R.D. George,St
was moderator and J.R. Bryant clerk. This little better than a third of a
hundred Baptists show the names of such men as J.H. and Joe Jones, R.D. George,
Sr, and R.D. Jr, Mrs Lula Thompson; J.H. Sears; J.S. Crisp, St, Bob Bryant, J.S.
Crisp Jr, Alice Bryant, Alva George, J.A. Wallace and wife, Dora and Sarah
Wallace and Mrs. Cinda Tillman, Ora and Leila George, Mrs. Minnie Loyd, Miss
Vera Hill, Bessie Reid, Mrs. R.B. Grady, Mrs. Ruby Kelsey, Mrs. Sallie Hill,
Mrs. M.E. Vandiver, Mrs. Mollie McCormick, Eula Dorsey and others.

The following Sun Jan 17, 1909, another meeting was held. Bro Hailey, of First
Church, Corsicana, was present. Bro Hailey read the church covenant from
Pendleton's Manual, which was subscribed to. A Church was organized and they
named it Central Baptist. J.S. Crisp Sr. was made church clerk, R.D. George Sr,
and J.R. Bryant deacons and W.M. Ingram treasurer.  A collection was taken for
the cooperative work under the State convention.  This collection amounted to
$50. Through the kindness of the Christian Church folks the meetigs were from
this on held in the Christian church with Pastor C.R. Taylor half time pastor.

A large ingathering of new converts came in that summer, representing some of
the town's best young business men. Lots were bought, a new church erected out
of mortar and concrete blocks and toward the close of the same first year, 1909,
Dr. G. W. Truitt, was invited and the church was regularly dedicated to the Lord.

50th Anniversary of the Blooming Grove Times 1890-1940

This anniversary edition would be almost a misnomer without a rehearsal of the
checkered career of The Times and a little sketch of R.W. George.

Long about the first months of the momentous year of 1890 came to Blooming Grove
a man of small stature by the name of Gower. Gower came from Marshall, Mo and
seeing untoched possibilities said, "Here I shall plant a newspaper and call it
The Rustler".  At first the paper was printing in Hillsboro, then an old
Washington hand press the Ben Franklin kind was secured, a few fonts of type
moved in and from that time the papers was recognized as a home product.  Soon
Gower began to pine for the snow clad mountains of his native state, and shaking
the Blooming Grove dust from his sandals, he bad The Rustler adieu.  But The
Rustler by this time had become a vigorous youngster.  Unlike the human babes of
today it was able to stand flat-foooted, withouth being stiumlated by codliver
oil. The paper learned in early liife that "He that tooteth not his own horn,
the same shall not be tooted".  The business men gave ear to the clarion call,
saw the need of a newsaper in the town and gave it support.

It was in the early fall of 1895 that a beardless youth came along. His name was
R.W. (Dick) George.  He was a native of Alabama, the Yellowhammer STate. He was
turned somewhat to letteres, but we venture to say, being from the Yellowhammer
country, had not had too much chance to become lettered. Old Dick walked
aimlessly into the newspaper office that afternoon reciting a little rhyme from
Edgar Guest which ran something like this:

Gold, scarlet, tan
Purple and gray
What's lovelier than
An autumn day?

Ben Hodges was printer-foreman and he said, "You'll make an editor". The answer
was "All right; what will you take for this outfit? I'm pretty short on money,
but awfully long on things like long drawn out due bills".  The next week the
paper came out, R.W. George, half owner.  Ben Hodges went away and Frazier
Nelson came in.  R.W. bought it all over and Nelson stayed with the paper six
years until the paper began to be recongized by the business men as a real asset
to the town. Those, I guess, were the halcyon days, but as sure as you live, no
newspaper is without a checkered career. The Rustler saw plenty of high water
when swimming was at a premium and then in turn witnessed dust storms pile dust
banks high in the middle of the road.

R.W. George learned soon to be what we call a practical printer-editor. He used
always local help like Frazier Nelson, Ed Butcher, Claude Peters, Mike Campbell,
and others. He shall never be forgotten by the newspaper fraternity about here
that when Mike Campbell came along to handle the silent messengers of thought
the terse remark he made by way of explaining his way of running a newspaper.
"Put the fodder down where the calves can reach it."  And that's the way too.
The Rustler printers were not too well rubbed up on printing and editing, but
they never saw a job of printing too big for them to bid on nor a pulbic
question so intricate but that something might be said of it, though it may be
only a line and a half comment.  One thing we think may be truly said of
George's way of running a newspaper and that was to steer away from
personalities, sarcasm and try always to have his newspaper crry the attitude of
seeing the silver lining regardless.

Clarence Smith, a Baylor University product, came up from Waco after George had
been in newspaper harness about 20 years and Smith bargained for The Rustler and
changed the name to Blooming Grove Times. Old standby like Lee Ramsey, W.B.
Rutherford, Mrs. Mit Allen, Med Deason and others di not much like the change in
name. But we have learned to rather prefer the name of Times. The name Times for
anewspaper falls gently upon the ears, carrying a musical flavor, and that's
what we all prefer. Clarence Smith didn't like a country town much, so he shook
the Blooming Grove dust from his sandals and R.W. George was happy again in the
ownership.

We cannont complete this little write-up of the newspaper without mentioing P.O.
Jones. P.O. Jones was a regular contributor to the paper from the beginning. He
had a style peculiar to himself and it was his contributions that won much
support to the paper.

The newspaper still in the hands of R.W. George ran along smoothly without a
break until long about 1926 when Dudley George grduated from Baylor University
and came to try his hand in the career of journalism. The Georges, father and
son, conducted the paper on the oil boom in East Texas that broke out like
wildrife. That was June 1, 1932 and they sold the paper, lock, stock and barrel
to W.A. Crawford. This issue rounds out a half century and there are not too
many instituions in Texas dating back fifty years that are still strong,
vigorous and growing year by year in the affections of the folks wome they serve.

Picture above is a good likenss of the late T.M. Smith, a well known Educator of
Navarro County from 1875 - 1906.

Mr. Smith was born December 19, 1852 at Arkadelphia, Ark, obtained his education
at St. Johns College, Little Rock. The following four years he taught school in
his native state, and then like other young men of his day, heard the call of
the west, he mounted a hourse and headed for Texas landing in Blooming Grove at
the age of 23 [1875]. His first night in this community he spent with Dock
Carroll, a prominent farmer who lived about 3 miles south of Blooming Grove. The
house of Mr. Carroll's which sheltered him that first night still stand at this
time in a good state of repair, and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Neal.  Mrs.
Neal is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Carroll.

With some asistance from the Hightowers of Frost, Mrs. Smith was elected as
teacher of the old Cross Roads school, which is now the farm of Lewis Pevehouse.

After two successful years of the Cross Roads school he went to Cryer Creek.
This was long before consolidated schools, but it was here that Mr. Smith
succeeded in uniting three schools into one, making the largest school in the
county. A boarding house was erected to care for out of town students
(supplanted now by our school busses). Many grown men enrolled here, names
familiar to Blooming Grove residents; John Calicutt, Matt Calicutt, Tom Hill,
Mike Howard, J.H. Watson, Bob Burroughs, McCords and Hightowers.

After 3 or 4 years at Cryer Creek, Mr. Smith was elected to a position as
teacher in the Dresden colleg at Dresden where he taught several successful
terms. He then came to Blooming Grove and taught in both the old and the new
town schools.

Mr. Smith was married to Miss Ella Mabry, sister of Russel and George Mabry. To
this union three girls were born. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Smith
married Miss Mollie Wall with him at Dresden and Blooming Grove.  To this union
six girls and one boy were born.  All the girls are teachers, and the boy a lawyer.

In 1899 Mr. Smith moved to Kerens where he served as superintendent of the
Kerens school until 1903 when he was elected as County Superintendent of Navarro
County which office he filled until his deaht which came in his second term in
1906.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/navarro/newspapers/blooming157gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/

File size: 40.0 Kb