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ZOLKLORE-WHITE PIONEER,
Miss ffie Cowan, P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 80
REFERENC.
"Interview with 'airs W.M.Anderson, Durango, Texas.
0. Of Words
File-NO,240,
Page N0.1.
I was eighty-sixrears old on the 11th day of March ,1938. I came to
Durango from aunt County with my husband in 1873. It was just a short
time after the railroad came to Dallas, Texas, near our home, and I can
recall its coming. It was an occasion for celebrating when the first
train came into Dallas. A big crowd assembled at the depot and when the
train stopped a group of gay young ladies climbed on the train and when
the bell rang and the whistle blew for it to start, the conductor tried
to get us to get off the train but we girls just stood waving and stayed
right on the train and had our first train ride on the first train into
Dallas.
"We arrived in Durango about the time the white people had the last
encou;er with the Indians. There was a band who were captured at Gates-
ville for stealing horses and several Indians were caught and a white
man who was thought to be the leader. We made our fi2st two crops before
we saw barb -wire. Brush fences and rails were used, Our farm was part of
the land formerly owned by Joe Jackson. 4)f course we had live stock of
our own, but ofttimes in those days we bought beef and never asked cluestions as to where it came from. 44e had the idea many times that we were
eating meat that had been stolen and sold to us, but there was nothing
we could do about it.
"When we went to Marlin, the county seat of our county(Falls), we crossed
the river on a ferry boat. Some times when the river was low people
would wade across to save the fare of the ferry.
70IKLORE-WHITE PIONEER,
Miss Efffie Cowan, P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO 240
Page NO. 2*
Money was desirable but more of a cariosity and we often resortedl'
resourceful-ness in getting what we wanted by trading. Mr Anderson
want into trade negotiations whereupon the three mules and horse which
brought us here was exchanged for 28 acres of timber land along Deer
Creek. The family stretched a tent in which we lived for ten months
our nearest neighbor being three miles away. We then started grubbing
the timber and when the land was cleared we planted corn and cotton.
We kept warm in the winter and cooked on a open fire at the mouth of
the tent.
between times "41. Anderson cut logs and hewed boards with which to
build our home. Our first crop was made with one work animal and the
use of a neighbors horse, which we borrowed. In six years time we had
saved enough outside of our living expenses to buy a sewing machine and
have bascuits to eat on 6unday is,once in a while, which were a great
luxury. Some times fortune was not so kind and we had failures in our
corn crops, and then we had to dig down into our saving and buy it. I
can remember when 4- cost $1.10 a bushel.
'ft 1878 we had ailstorrn which fell with destructive force in late
May roasting ears, cotton and oats, which showed fine prospects,were
mowed completely down. We had to plant all over again. Then in 1887
there came a droath and things got so desperate that the work anikals
and stock had to be moved over to Salt .dranch, near Cego, where they
Zr
were kept for two months* For our clothes we apun the wool Upend thread
for knitting socks and stocking and suits and dresses, and dyed the
thread with copperas or pecan bark.
FOLKDORE-WHITE PIONEER,
WieS Effie Cowan,p,w.
"cLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File 140. 240.
Page 140. 3,
And then a cyclone came; This was in May of 1892. Crops were in good
condition except for the need for rain. Farmers work all done at the
close of the day. We. looked at the clouds and thought "there would be
rain at last", but it was more than rain.
Funnel shaped clouds formed
quickly in the northwest above Rurango and there was a whirlwind of dust
,nd detris, then came a roaring crashing sound. The funnel shaped cloud
swept to the ground in terrific roar and force. It cut a path south-
eastward, uprooting trees tearing up houses and splintering trees.
Crops were destroyed,and then it was all over in a few minutes.
The people of •Jurango awoke to find that a number of tLeir relatives)
friends and neighbors had been killed or wounded. 4kAr and "rs tom
Weathers were killed with two of their children almost instantly. :4iss
Jessie Farmer sister of Lee 21a.rmer) a young lady in her teens, was
mortally injured. Others were injured, some seriously others less
seriouily. Uany, many marvelled at the miracles that happened seemingly
to save their lives. The cyclone swept by the house of Lee '41armer, fear—
ful of the tragedy he ran to the home of his parents which was squarely
in its path a mile away. He found the house a wreck and his sister badly
hurt and suffering. She died next day. The four of the deathers family
were buried in one graveathey were the people of "rs 2armer.)
"Mr and "'rs arnell who live a few miles east of 'Jurango saw the.whirl
ing wind and the dark cloud they heard the din and roar of the trees
and saw bits of household belongings blowing through the air. This was
followed by a heavy rain, they were so im-ressed by it they put the date
in the family Bible-- Ma 30, 1892.
TPOLKIJORE-WHITE PIONEER,
Miss lffie Cowan,P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO, 240.
Page NO. 4.
"There was not a nubile school near our home and our children were
first taught in a room of our home and when the weather got warm
in the spring and summer the men built a brush arbor joining our
hou2e for the oupils which b, that time had embraced the near neigh-
bors. .clank boxes were used for desks nd there were eight pupils
at one time. time went b: and Jurango esame a village there was
a schol there nd our children went in a cart, a distance of five
miles, carrying their lunch for themselves and the horse.
"Moscow was the first post -office in this section. It was located in
a field on the farm f lerrell Jackson, known today as the 3Am HArt
farm. The next post -office was West 2alls, not far from the old Carolina
cemetery. It was moved from there to the present sita of Durango. And
with the coming of the rural routes it was dicontinued and the inhab-
itants received their mail from Lott, Texas. Lee FArmer WInb8 family
has been identified -ith the settlement since the seventies, claims
that Dodson dells was known before Durango. These wells were watering
places for the travellers on the pioneer trail which connected ”iarlin
and 3eltom, county seats of Aell and 'ails counties. anny travellers
camped at these wells for the night when on their journeys through this
section.
One of the earlieetmail carriers was J.P.Weathers. His route was from
diArlin to Belton and he often had to swim the river on his horse. He had
many and varied ex eriences.lhater when a Waco toCameron road was laid
out it crosses the aArlin-s3elton road north and slightly westTward
Naturally the rost office was more convenient at the cross roads
7,OLKLORE- White Pioneer,
4iss Effie COwan,P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
Yile NO. 240.
Page NO. 5.
Automatically the spot became known as liest ialls and the post
office went there. 'or a long time it was known ander this name, but
later it became knlhon -s .Ourango. The town was a thriving business place
until the coming of the Ssin Antonio and Aransas Pass railroad which
brought the towns of -ott, Chilton and Rosebud into existence. tt was
then that many business men moved to these other towns.
"As late as 1892 Durango was a thriving settlement of 250 inhabitants.
An old directory reveals that the following were engaged in business
and professions at that time. W. H.Barnes contractor. R.R.Boyd teacher,
14avis ,nd Anderson grocers; J.C.Dulaney druggist; A.E.Ellis blacksmith:
S.Forenander contractor! J.W.and W.A.*Henslee merchants; G.E. HOctitt,
Methodist monister: A.R.Joyce, grocer; J.S.Llewellyn, physician: T.J.
Loughlin, postmaster: J.L.Russell, teacher: Stuart and Cox, dry goods;
J.D.Storey, blacksmith; and R.B.Whitesides, physician.
"In years succeeding, Durango dwindled as many of its inhabitants
moved to the towns located on the railroads only seven miles, leaving
only a farming community and a people devoted to good citizenship)im
stead of the thriving business center it oSce was --where stores and
workshops helped to keep the town alive and where the first West -Palls
county nespaper was published.
1 This story would not be complete without mentioning the names of
the first settlers of the Durango community. Long before the Civtl War
the Jackson family settled near 'L'eer Creek not far from where Durango
is today. Another pioneer who came before the Civil War was Uncle George
Storey. His house stands today. Hi wan a black -smith and made ploughs
?OtTLORE-WHITE PIONEER,
Miss ffie Cowan,P.W.
10-Lennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO. 240.
Page NO. 6.
iind wagons for people all over the country. Over near where Chilton
is today the Weathers, Coxes, Landrams, Gardners and Wrights lived.
Uncle Brace Storey, Uncle Ben Boachillion and 1r white came after the
Civil War from Alabama and settled near where the twon of Durango stands.
I mentioned Ur Weathers carrying the mail during the war, and because
be was carrying it for the Confederates he failed to receive any pay.
Mr Dodson settled on his farm among the first settlers near Dodson's
Wells, which were used to furnish water for the community. Others who
of:me to the Durango settlement right after the Civil War were the Lewell-
yns, Farmers, Stewarts and Uncle Dave Carrie. Mrs Cox was a long time
resident of Durango She died onlra:few years ago, She1had a good mind
to the last and often related historical incidents, she was personally
acquainted with Gen. S m Houston.
Another settlement which played a historic role near us was the old
Qarolina settlement located m the site of what is n.sw the 'arolina
cemetery and ch.arch, all deserted exeept these two landmarks. This
community was so closely related to Durango in its pioneers and their
activities that it may rightfully L, be considered the *rogenitor of
Durango. If the history of Jarango were carried back to the fifties it
would lead to old Carolina. The earliest pioneers west of the Brazos
river settled along the sandy -loam ridge upon which Carolina sprang up
first as a center of activity, then Durango. A church was built about
1853 at Carolina, and it is supposed the same building !vie used for a
school.
FOLKLORE -WHITE PIONEER, rile *O. 240.
KO Lerman County, Texas, Page NO. 7.
Effie Cowan, P.N.
District 8.
"It is generally conceded that the same building used for the school
was also used for the Presbyrterian church, and as far as history goes
the first kresbyrterian church that came into existence west of the
of this building,
Brazos river. In the upper story A, a Masonic lodge was organized but
it was finally moved to Chilton, where it is in existence yet.
It was on the 12th day of October that the Carolina Presbyrterian
Church was organized with eleven members and two ruling elders., namely
A.V.Lee and J.Hobbs and hiev.J.T.: Black. The organization took place at
the home of A.V.Lee on Elm Creek, five miles from Cameron. This church
was first named Elm Creek, but as most of the members soon after,de14.-
-Jouil^to move to peer Creek in county, it seems that the name was
changed to Deer Creek, before the organization was reported to the Pres-
byrtery.
The name was changed to Carolina in October 1854. A young man named
A.B. Frazier, was appointed clerk of the session, but it does not/appear
that he was an elder. He was drowned soon after in Elm Creek. Rev. A.L.
Tenney took charge of the church in the fall of 1854 and was installed
as pastor in April of 1856, by the Presbytery, which held its spring
meeting then and this relation continued until the end of 1859.
The first church building was erected in 1859 built of ;.amber sawed
by Iiirs Lea's sons, by hand. Later a church was erected in 1883 and dedic—
sted in 1884. N.C.Smith preaching the sermon. Ur Balch preached for the
church several times and ordained the elders chosen in 1854. L.Tenney
preached to the church thost of the time from '63 until '68 and again
supplied from '71 to '76.
FOLKLORE -WHITE PIONEER,
Miss ffie Cowan, P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO. 240.
Pnge NO. 8.
Rev. 8.A.King was S.S. daring 1868 and J.A. Walker in 1870: R.M.Loughr-
rid ge from 1876 to 1880: J.F.Pnxton in 1881 to 1890; S.W.Mitcbell 1890
and'91: S.J.MoMarry,1892 -'93; J.M.Cechran from Oct. some time, (The
4
Above figures were taken from History of Presbytery of Central Texas,
by Rev. L.Tenney who took charge as I have stated of the -resbyrter-..
-ian church at Old Onrolina in 1854, and installed as pastor in 1856.
Total number of communicants inrolled was 154, as against the num-
ber enrolled in 1895,as being 48. This decline in enrollment in 1895
shows the effects of the pas.:,ing of the railroad east of Carolina .Today
It is known as one of Palls counties most well known cemeteries. 4raves
mark the resting place of many pioneers who wrought in western Falls
county. A smAll church still stands nearby, but it is seldom used. he
communicants of this chruch are now listed on the rosters of other v
churches.
"If the *eAl story of Durango and Carolina could be brought to light,
with the struggles of its pioneer families it would be an inspiration
to the younger generation. These two settlements occupy as unipe and
i:portant a place in the history of Tails county as does Blue Ridge on
the eastern section. Both communities wrought indelibly in history, yet
the spirit of these piOn ers were modest. _lost of the oldest settlers can
recall vividly the untiring worli of the country doctors as they rode hors
back over the muddy roads in the winter and were always ready for the
most$Umble call. Chief among these was Jdr John Llewellyn, father of the
latellint Llewellyn of Idarlin. Dr S.P.Rice father of the late Rr S.P.Rioe
of Marlin, and -or R.B.Wltssldes who lives at liott today.
FOLKLORE- White Pioneer,
4iss lffie Cowan,P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO. 240.
Page NO. 9.
I failed to mention another organization which Game into existence
during the hey-dey of Old Carolina was the United Friends of Temperance.
This is revealed in ancient mindies of that organization ib possession
of is Annie Poulson of Lott, Texas. This organization flourished in
the seventies and the roster of its membership is a glimpse into the
early families of Carolina and Durango. The charter members were W.3.
Jackson, Joe Lea, Hugh Lee, Ben ireeman, Tilman Busby, Jesse Hedriok,
Alton McLain Bad Peters, James Snodgrass, Sam Jaskoon, Dick McCullough.
And the following Sister of the organization, Kate LOP. Sae Wright, Ida
Freeman, Annie Wright and George Bonner.
n Other members who joined this order soon after formation were, J.S.
Johnson, Joe Hanegautt, LPFayette Hood, J.W.Storey, S.Crump,'W.A.Cook,
Miss Annie Wright, Iamie Harwell, S.B.Peters, Tom Gaither, Millie Gaines,
Charner De Graffenreid L.H.H411, Forrest Gaither, James Gaither, Ed Lane
John Edge, John English, J.H.Bone, Lida Meatcheon T.B.GPrland, Miss
Josephine Daffin, Mr e Mary Gaither, I.R. Richard and many others I do not
recall.
Jesse Hedrick charter member and recording secretary of the United
Friends of Temperance lived at l'arango when it was a thriving community
and was publisher of a newspaper known ,as "The Durango Enterprise". He
was justice of the peace at lurango, county commissioner and deputy sheriff
of ?ails county at different times.
FOLKLORE -WHITE PIONEER,
dies Zffie 0owan,P.W.
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
File NO.'240:
Page NO. 10.
"In 1919 my husband W.M.Anderson died Eleven children were born to
as, five of whom are now living. They are ATS Mary Gardner of Durango,
Mrs LAS B. Marshall of Marlin, Mrs Joe Waite and Gillis Anderson both
of Durango, and OaDtain Charles Anderson of San Antonio. I may claim to
be the sole survivor of the first families which came to the Durango,
Carolina settlement in the early days.
"On the 11th day of March 1838 I celebrated my eighty.sixth birthday
at my home a half mile west of the Durango -Bell Falls road, where the
school and chrach is located. Yes I have seen lots of things that have
happened in the early days of this community There's much I love about
Falls county, of coarse I've experienced dissapointments and heart ,aches
and for many years was not satisfied about leaving Hunt county in 1873.
I felt that perhaps we should have stayed there, bat our destiny brought
as here. I've lived a long and comparatively happy life and am ready for
the call Over There to the Great .deyond.