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Folklore,
Miss ffie Cowan,
McLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
113F3REtN0a,
iile NO. 'AO.
Page NO. 1/.
Interview with r C.S.Bradley Aite Pioneer, Groesbeck, Texas.
II Was born in Kentucky during the war between the States. iy parents
were of Scotch Irish descent. I attended such schools as the county
affo4vied and labored on a farm. While I was a young boy we came to Texas
in csytared wagons. I have resided in this county since coming to Texas,
soon after the Civil war ended. I attended Thornton Ihstitute three years
and taught school three years and have since practiced law continuously.
I studied law of nighsj aturdays and Sundays/1nd during vacations, then
stood the examination for the bar and was liecensed to practice. Have since
published a book on Texas fractice and have written several subjects on
State and
General Practice books. I have bel-7,nged to the A'arican 3ar asso-
ciation and the Texas Bar Association for more than thirty years. I was
President of the latter association.
'I have never been a car:di.dte for office, but was elected roesbecks
first Ilayor under its re —organization in an 'extempore write.lecontest.
I have served by appointment of the government and election of the Bar
on AA_ the Civil Courts of the State, ._,na declined regular L ap ointqlents
on them.
'T
3arly Days.
When Limestone county was created and named, it embraced all of its
[resent territory and also tht later to become 2reestone county. S -ring
field w. s made county seat. The greater ::art of the eastern section of
the county w s owned by Mexican citizens who were int,irested in sel'ing
land, and this resulted in the more rapid development of this section.
7olklore
Miss ffie Cowan,
mcLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
a'jle '10. ;AO.
2tige NO. 2.
'Therefore the greatest part of the first settlements were in the eastern
part of the county and outside of the towns, because of the sandy forma-
tion and of being covered by timber for the protection of their stock and
having a shallow su)ply of water, 44,41 of which was c ndusive to develop-
ing the land. About the time steel ploWs and barb wire came into use0
enabled the stockman and farmer to fence his land and it wrs then
they began to cultivate the black l!_nd in the western part of the county
which was soon settled and put under the plow.
After the Civil iar ended at Acpomatox, the Confederates returned to
their homes broken in health and fortune, but strong in their patriotic
determination to begin all over again; which with the assistance of such
men els governor's Coke,and damllton,would have succeeded much more quickly
but for the enemies of the South and the Yankee element of designing poli-
ticians who lived by the misfortunes of the south and who, like vultures
swoc ed down upon the unfortunate ones who had been atriotic if misgui-
ded in their cause.
"About the time of my parents removal from rentucky to Texas, Limestone
county (their destination) was the storm center of iieconstraction. When
the radical element in Congress overpowered the President .:nd disfranchised
practically the entire white ocilation of the South and delivered the
voting franchise to the ignorant black ex -slaves and a few less worthy
renegade whites, the reo:)le of the county suffered from the abuse andfromi-
neering of the Carl et -baggers as white eorle have seldom suffered.
?olklore,
Aiss Effie Cowan,
A4cTannan County, Texas,
Vistrict 8.
These abuses have often been recited. The actors with few exceptions have
now answered the last roil call. Under Providential guidanoe we have
wonderfully reconstructed and rebuilt what we lost. The blacks along with
the white people suffered as they have not suffered since. There is the a
story of any a black who was misled into trouble by the carpetbaggers,
and renegade whites. They bad their dens in the banks of the Navnsota
River and one, !Orrick Trammel w a typical outlaw. Ale was credited,witb
the slaying of a white man by name of Aulewhite in 'iroesbeck, and which
caused the county to be placed.. under Mail Law, and during this time
many negroe's were slain in the coutity.
File NO. 240'
sage NO. 3.
In the early seventies the present Southern Pacafic Railway then
the aouston and Texas ‘;entral) was constructed through the.aounty The
construction company depended upon the donations of right -of way and the
help of the towns and by contributions to help in paying the cost of
the road. There was a most suitable place for crossing the Aavasota river
at Old Springfield (the county seat).Above and below 44,was quite for-
bidding for that -arpose. The Aail road made their request for the help by
donation of land and a not i0possible sum of money, This was refused by
the people of the town and so the railway company went back down the lint
6 few miles, changed the crossing on the river and missed Springfield somok,.
few miles and constructed their railway thtAA destroying the town of old
Springfield. groesbeck five miles south1and Aexia "2N( miles north
seven
was the result.
"Springfield remained the county sett of limestone county until the rail-
road came through and the town of droesbeck was built Then the county
Folklore,
lass 3ffie
fictennan County, -1-exas,
District 8.
Pile NO. 240
rage NO. 4.
records were removed to Greosbeck in 1873. There were foar Boart Houses
constructed in Srringfield. A ralnsade stracture near the old lake. A log
house, a plank house, and a brick building. This brick building was built
on the hill and was destroyed by fire, but its remains are still visible.
"After the removat of the county seat to Greasbeck there was first'ased
an old store house for court purposes, where the county records were destroy-
-ed by fire. l'ben there was constructed on the site of the present Community
Rouse a beautiful structure, later torn down and rebuilt about the year 1889.
and which was reAft.i.iti a year or so later and replaced by'the one now turned
into a community house, and the latter was saccieded by the present courthouse
which is one of the most beautiful and imposing court houses in the United
States.
16 Springfield-- Now Lake Springfield.
1 When nature designed this spot, it wrote in Werishable characters
'le Plus Ultra Springfield Spring is perennial, flowing a large stream
of blue water as it has,done perhaps for centuries. It is now in course of
transformation into one of the most attractive and beautiful State Parks
in the State Citizens of exia and Groesbeck recently purchased and donated
to the State Park Board some seventeen hundred acres of the most beautifully
located land embracing the Navasota aver bed and lands on each side ,and
a C.C.C. Camp is now constructing Lake Springfield. This is some eight hun-
dred acres to a depth of eight to thirty feet, and there is now in an advan-
-o
wed state of constraction a concrete dam which is footed on solid rook fifty
feet below the surface. The basin of the lake is being cleared of timber
and when finished will be the most beautiful anh.attractive park for fishing
hunting and boating and camping anywhere in the country.
Folklore,
Wiss Effie Cowan,
414oLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
a;ile NO. 240.
‘age NO. 5.
Early Schools.
"This county was a pioneer in advanced education. As early as the
middle of last century the Presbyrterian Church had established and was
successfully operating Trinity University, in Tebuacana,(home of the Tehu-
acana Indians). This was a first class school and while there located) it
turned out a class of pupils who have largely dominated the affairs of
Texas. To make it possible such men as Judge D.U.Prendergast and Co. John
R.Henry and like public spirited men, donated large portions of their for-
-tunes and that institution in return gave the state hundreds of men
and women who have stood in the frost of every walk'in life This insti-
-tate has since been removed to the town of uaxahachie some three or four
decades ago and in its new location it still exerts a mighty power for
good.
In the late seventies and early eighties Central Institute, situ-
ated on Honest Ridge, some ten miles Northwest of Groesbeck, (another pri-
vate institution)operated by John Parker, educated many young men who
became a large portion in later years of the business element of the state
and whose influence are still powerful and wholesome. About the same time
Thornton Institute, a tate chartered educational institution with Judge
2.C.Cniambers as its head tperated for many years a nstitate with its ourgl
iculum equal to the best school•s of that day.A diploma from this instititte
entitled the holder to enter the best seats of higher learning.
Westminster College is located on the historic site of Trinity
University(which movetto 'itaxahhchie) in Telmacana, this is a recognized
first class Junior College is composed of a corps of excellent teachers
and doing a great work.
Folklore,
'iss Effie Cowan,
°Lerman County, Texas,
District 8.
Pile NO. 240
.Page NO. 4;;''.
Westminster is a prqtestant Aethodist University and a worthy successor
to old Trinity University. It is situated in a picturesoae and charming
location amid the hills of old Tehuscane, Hilly,s it was called in the
early days. In the spring they are covered with the Indian blanket and
bluebbnnet flowers as well as other beautiful Texas wild flowers. The towns
of ,dexia and u.roesbeck now have swimling pools where the tired business
men and women and the younger generation can go for a swim at the end of
a summer day and relax in the cool waters of old Tehuacan4 prings.
Politics:'
"The county has always been active in politico since the days of the Rer
-construction period and even farther back before the days of the Civil
War. J't has furnished among other notable men two Comptrollers and one
Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and Attorney General, a Commissione7-
o# Agriculture, A Superintendent of tublic Instruction and a Collector
of Internal Revenue, and indirectly a member of the Court of Civil Appeals,
It has furnished other states a tiaited States 'Deflator, a Judge of the Unitsit
States jircuit Court of Apoeals, a C4overnor and at least two members of
Congress.
The town of 4huacana was settled first by 4ajor John Boyd, who was
given a large rant of land that included a good rart of Tehaacana hills.
In the old cemetery on the hill where so many of the old pioneers restpa
tall marble shaft marks the resting lace of 4ajor John Boyd. The inscrip-
tion say- that he c me to Texas in 1835, fought in the Texas Revolution
was a member of the first congress that met in the Republic of Texas, and
was sent as Legislator.In 1869 be gave 1500 acres of land to establish
l'rinity University T
Folklore,
4iss 3ffie Cowan,
#0.uennan County, Texas,
District 8.
Ule 70. 240/
-Lage NO. 7.
"A pioneer miniSter Rev. J.W.Pearson who bad been closely associated
with Tehaacana and a close friend of the earliest settlers was a great
leader in the affairs of the county. He graduated from aTrinity Univer-
sity in 1879 and won outstandigg recognition as a leader in the moral
forces of Texas. In 1906 be was drafted and placed in the race for gov-
ernor of Texas against Tom Campbell, who was also an ex -,student of l'rin-
-ity at J2ehaacana. But the minister lost in this race, but it was with
a calm satisfaction be stated that be"ran for princiole.",
IndIan Legends.
According to aev Pearson,Uajor Boyd located his league of land abouteN
1835 or 36 and at this time the tribe of Tehaacana Indians had been de-
-stroyed. Their stronghold lad its headquarters at Tehaacana and the
story of their destruction has been handed down as legend Long ago
when the Indians roamed this country the interests of the different
tribes often clashed causing bloody wars and the savage memory neter
.forgot the scars of the bitttle7e,s. 4`o the east of the Tehaacana's lived
the powerful Cherokee's and the two tribes were not friendly.
"The story goes that the warlike Comanches stole a band of horses
from the Cherokees and fled, followed by the Cherokee braves who were
bent on recovering their loss. The Comanches were the victors and made
their get -a -way and the mA and dissapointed Cherokees turned their steps
toward their home returning, by way of Iehaacana. On sight of the peace-
ful hcles of the -lehaacana's the old grudge came to the minds of the
lomanches and in the bloody battle which was fought between the two
tribes the wigwams were burned, the women and children murdered and
the tribe completly destroyed, with the exception of eight warriors who
Polkiore,
3ffie Cowan,
'4cLennan County, Texas,
District 8.
file NO. 240.
Page NO.8.
fled with the young son of their chieftain. ?'t wasOpelieved they went
west and joined the Lipan tribe of Indians. Some time in the sixties
the son of Liajc4r(l'iyd (the founder of the town) was standing near one
of the beautiful bluffs on the west eider when he saw an tndian. In a
friendly manner :sinjor Horace Boyd greeted the Indian but silent as if
he were dreaming he stood gazing upon the land of his fathers. Then draw-
-ing himself up to his fall height he took one long look and as silently
tread over the bluff and dissapeared in the valley below.
any years later Rev. Pearson learned that an Indian answering hi9
description joined two small tribes in what is now Oklahoma. There he
was made a chief. Followtng clew after clew)Rev. Pearson learned that
a chief over a few scattered tribes ha l died at the age of 90 years. He
was thoup.ht to have been on a return visit to his native home when he
was suddenly come upon by ilajor dorace Boyd and as silently went away.
"There are many other stories rich in legend and lore about T.ehuacana.
Xhere is a large rock that the old pioneers,before our time,have pointed
out as the place where the sole survivor of the Battle Creek Uassacre,
having crawled eighteen miles after being wounded in a fight with the
Indians in which his comrades were killed 'hid under the shadow of this
rock. be stmeshwill nat'spSak, ndr Will ttbs4artyj41d heir_sderkitt,
,land fuda• %f-traditioa qnd_legend. No mare important pant of bistor-
.7 1441 iutereAt 0.411 4% cound in ,Yeatral 12exds.