Carol C Taylor Blog

How do you think you did on the How Well Do You Know Hunt County test last week? My husband complained about how hard it was even though I am always giving him tidbits of local history. He refers to it as “Carol’s Rattling.”

Hunt County native William King Hale moved to the Osage Nation before Oklahoma statehood. He built up power and prestige by obligating people with gifts and favors. In 1929 Hale was convicted of murder and sentenced to life at Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. He was paroled in 1947.

The Osage Murders was hard, but I was fascinated when I first read it for a couple of reasons. First, the fact that the FBI released their early files to the public on social media was amazing. Second, that two Hunt County men were involved. William “King of Osage” Hale was suspected of being involved in the deaths along with his nephew Ernest Burkhart. Both men were convicted of arranging the murders of at least two dozen members of the Osage Nation, but their sentences were light.

How many found the plaque at Corner Street Pub while enjoying their refreshments? The Bankhead Highway that came right down Lee Street was part of the second trans-continental highway in the United States. The first, the Lincoln Highway, was further north and impassible during much of the year thanks to winter snows in the Rockies. The Bankhead took a southern route from Washington, D. C. to San Diego. It entered Texas at Texarkana and exited in El Paso. For that reason it was named Texas Highway # 1. Later it was part of a marketing ploy promoting Broadway of America. All towns and cities along the way switched on lights every night at dark.

The eight markers for school in Hunt County are Burleson College, Fred Douglass School, East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University Commerce), Early Commerce Schools, Mary Jim Morris, Wesley College, St. Paul’s School, and Henry and Emerson College. Blanton School should be erected soon. I hope you read the inscription for Mary Jim Morris at New Hope Baptist Church in Greenville. It is an inspiration for all.

Hetty Green, “The Witch of Wall Street” bought the Texas Midland Railroad for her son, E. L. R. Green. Though she never came to Hunt County, she and her son added to comforts for passengers on their rail line.

The absentee landlords were Hetty Green or the “Wicked Witch of Wall Street” and her playboy son E. L. R. “Eddie” Green who owned Texas Midland Railroad. When the track was expanded into Hunt County Eddie Green somehow decided to bypass the town of Roberts. The reason was probably that Roberts didn’t donate as much money for the tracks as Green felt was necessary. Therefore, Green moved the depot a couple of miles to the north where the town of Quinlan was created. However, he did allow Quinlan residents free passage between the two towns in order to retrieve mail at the old Roberts Post Office before one was built in Quinlan.

Eddie owned the first automobile in Dallas and surrounding areas, even though he retained a chauffer, never learning how to drive. Eddie and Hetty were determined to produce luxurious passenger service complete with electric lights in all cars and ventilator cars, the predecessors of air-conditioned rail travel.

The last question asked the name of a Freedom Colony here in Hunt County. If you are not familiar with the term, it was used to describe villages created after the Civil War in safe places by former slaves. Neylandville, located on Highway 24 between Greenville and Commerce, was the seat of the only African-American secondary school in Hunt County and several nearby counties for many, many years. It is located on land owned by the Neyland family and is surmised to have been named for the donors. St. Paul’s School used buses to transport students from all over Hunt and Rains Counties to Neylandville daily.

So how did you fare on the test? For more information about Hunt County and opportunities to preserve our history, join us at the next Hunt County Historical Commission meeting on September 22 at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. We always meet at 7:00 P.M. and are in need of volunteers, both natives and newcomers.

Let’s have some fun today. I have put together a list a questions about the history of Hunt County, including Greenville that you might not know. I have also provided clues to finding answers.

Who were the two men from Hunt County involved in the tragic Osage Murders of 1921? At least two dozens tribal members were found dead. The cases remained unsolved until the Osage Tribal Council turned to the federal government. The FBI was soon on the trail. For answers and an exciting search the following link tells all. Look for A Byte Out of History (https://www.fbi.gov/news) or google Osage Murders.

Corner Pub at the corner of Wesley and Lee in Greenville. Look on the exterior wall to the left of the entrance. Remember yellow and black for your clue. Good luck!

The second question involves an early road from Commerce to Greenville to Caddo Mills and on to Garland. What was the name of the road, what number was assigned to the route, and what was the later nickname used in promotional materials along the route? The clue will be a fun adventure. There is a plaque on the outside wall at Corner Street Pub. It’s not a historical marker, but put up by the group promoting the highway. Look for yellow and black.

Hunt County was the home of more than 100 rural schools and a fairly good number of colleges. The Progressive Era in the late 1890s saw colleges and preparatory schools pop up throughout the county. Unfortunately, all but one was gone by World War II. Some changed their name often but they included Burleson College, East Texas State University, Henry & Emerson, Wesley, Commerce College, Calhoun College, Hawthorn College and Elmwood College.

Now the question: how many schools K-Graduate Schools have Texas Historical Markers? There are eight markers in place now, and one for Blanton School in Wolfe City is on the way. Where is each located?

One of the most interesting characters in our history didn’t make his home here but he and his mother influenced Quinlan, Greenville, and Commerce and their chosen profession extensively. Who were they? The Texas Historical Commission marker with the “goods on the pair” is located on Highway 34 on the south side of Quinlan. Look for the school bus barn on the east side of the road.

New Hope Baptist Church on Mill Street in Greenville. Your clue is to the left of the main entrance. Good luck.

One of the earliest, if not the earliest, woman to become a Greenville Independent School District administrator has a Texas Historical Marker in her honor. She was the first African-American school administrator in Greenville who was known for her concern about educational opportunities for African-American young people. Be inspired when you the read the marker located in front of New Hope Baptist Church on Mill Street.

Dr. Jim Conrad and Dr. Thad Sitton wrote Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Time of Jim Crow in 2005. The Freedom Colony located here in Hunt County was at Neylandville. St. Paul’s School was the source of education for numerous students in the county. Read more on the marker at Neylandville just off Highway 224.

Needless to say I am promoting the Hunt County Historical Commission. We welcome new members, whether you were born in Hunt County or not. Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 28 at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. Come join us at 7:00. No dues, just good fun and opportunity to volunteer for Historic Preservation in Hunt County. See you then. And bring your answers! Who can answer all?

The mysterious artillery piece on the grounds of the Hunt County Court House. Can you help me solve the mystery?

Located on a cement slab on the northeast side of the Hunt County Courthouse is an artillery piece. No one seems to know where it came from or why it is there. It is simply a mystery.

In the July 5, 1898 issue of the Greenville Messenger is an untitled article that promised to solve the mystery. It didn’t, but it proved very interesting. The third of July that year fell on a Monday. That afternoon and evening Greenville was inundated with a large crowd of people from throughout the county. All congregated at the Katy Depot as telegrams began to come in announcing the glorious news from the American fleet victory at Santiago, Cuba. As the newspaper stated, “everyone became particularly anxious to give vent to an over-charged supply of patriotism.”

A group of men ran over to the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway (S. S. & S.) shop to rolled their cannon down Lee Street to the Courthouse Square. A large flag was hoisted on the courthouse dome, and the celebration commenced in earnest.

At night the cannon was fired, supplemented by several anvils, cannon crackers, Roman candles, skyrockets, and all kinds of fireworks. The festivities carried on until the early hours of July 4th. Such a Fourth of July celebration had never been witnessed before in Greenville.

The vast majority of Southern cities, towns, and villages did not celebrate Independence Day after 1863 when Major General U. S. Grant would only receive the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4 from Confederate Lt. General John Pemberton. The shame was more than most Southerners could bear.

But with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, large numbers of Southerners rushed to join in the fight. Even Confederate General Joe Johnston volunteered. Teddy Roosevelt recruited men at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio to become Rough Riders and charge up San Juan Hill. Ironically, the Spanish surrendered after the defeat at Santiago Bay and few Americans set foot on Cuban soil.

Several things about this article intrigued me. For example, why did the S. S. & S. railroad have an artillery piece in one of their shops? Did they arm their trains as they traveled through North Texas? Is this the artillery piece still at the courthouse? Was it too heavy to drag up the slight incline to the Katy Depot?

I completely understand the patriotic zeal on the occasion. There was a National Guard company led by Captain Joseph F. Nichols who served in the war, but they guarded the Mexican border. Three years later that company led a huge parade through the streets of Greenville for the Midsummer Carnival held after July 4th.

This weekend we celebrate our nation’s 240th birthday. While it will be festive, exciting, patriotic, and joyous, I doubt if that artillery piece will be used. Have a happy and safe holiday! And if any of my readers know where the cannon came from, please let me know. Even if you don’t know that, if you know when the cannon might have been used, let me know. Thanks so much.

Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic was the cure for malaria caused by those pesky mosquitoes that came around every summer. Found in all Greenville Drug Stores.

We have had our share of rainfall this spring. It seems the rain is coming in buckets full. But, don’t get me wrong, we need it. However, there is always those pesky mosquitoes that carry diseases unheard of years ago.

Looking through a recap of local news in June 1900, I discovered many similarities in the two summers. Two large rainstorms inundated areas in the county. The heaviest fell on June 8 when gutters and streets flooded. Town Branch, just south of the GEUS Service Center, became a veritable river flooding homes in the area called the Flats. One family had to escape through the roof of their house. The light plant, where GEUS Service Center is now located, was flooded leaving the city in darkness after 11:30. Footbridges were washed away making it dangerous for pedestrians to be out and about.

Heavy rains fell in other parts of the county on June 22, but Greenville only received a light shower. The heaviest fell south of town. Mosquitoes must have been worse than ever that summer. An ad in the Greenville Messenger offered the best prescription for malaria, chills, and fever with Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic, the first tasteless tonic ever manufactured. It is simply iron and quinine in a tasteless form sold by every druggist in the malarial sections of the United States. No cure, no pay! Price 50c.

Prices that summer are astounding to twenty-first century citizens. Corn sold for 38 c per bushel, chickens sold by the dozen were priced between $1.75 and $2.25. Eggs were 7 cents per dozen, butter went for 10 to 12 ½ cents per pound. Fat cattle sold for 3 to 3 ½ cents per pound while fat hogs were more expensive at 4 ½ cents per pound. New potatoes brought 75 cents per pound. So much for getting rich selling butter and eggs. Watermelons season opened in town on June 26 when several wagonloads arrived from East Texas.

The Penny Store received 5000 palmetto fans to be sold at once. Three fans could be purchased for a nickel. The Misfit Store, no that’s not a typo, often held drawings for merchandise. Ticket # 927 won a suit the second week in June.

A. M. Davison’s Everything Store was loaded with fruit jars, fruit jar caps, and jelly glasses. Mr. Davison promised to unload the whole batch at very low prices. He reminded customers the place was known as the house that keeps everything at 221 and 223 Lee Street. (Greenville street numbers were changed about 1907.)

Of course, there were the requisite injuries that frequently occurred in those days. They included a crushed wrist in a train accident, a man kicked by a horse, amputation of a woman’s foot above the ankle, and stitches removed from an eye accident.

Finally, it was reported that Rev. J. W. Hill was aroused from nocturnal slumbers and dreams one Saturday night to unite in marriage Mr. Carl Wingard and Miss J. M. Mosely, a runaway couple from Clinton. The ceremony was duly and legally performed and the young people went their way to seek parental forgiveness and connubial happiness.

Such exciting times in Greenville.

A typical wedding dress from the 1890’s.

June is the month of weddings. Yet some choose to marry at other times of the year. I recently found a great story in the July 15, 1898 issue of The Greenville Messenger. At various times the Messenger was a weekly and sometimes a bi-weekly newspaper that focused on rural issues and reported more events from the county than just Greenville. The editor was somewhat verbose, maybe to fill up pages, but probably to make a story more entertaining.

This time he lifted a piece from the Lone Oak Banner, a common occurrence in the late 19th century. I will attempt to tell the story in today’s vernacular.

It seems that Oscar Rainwater a young man known not only as being industrious and of good character, but one who sometimes exhibited rather erratic habits. One day Oscar caught the train to Greenville with the intent of securing a marriage license to marry Miss Julia Blankenship. As soon as his mission was accomplished, he hopped back on the train for Lone Oak intending to propose as soon as he arrived there.

However just as he stepped onto the platform in Lone Oak he was greeted with the news that Lee Jones had beat him to draw; Jones and Miss Blankenship had eloped that very day. But Oscar was determined to marry. After thinking the matter over briefly, he wrote his former love an endearing letter reminding her she had once promised to link her fortunes with his forever. He inquired if she was still of the same notion.

When the former girl friend replied favorably, Oscar again boarded the train to Greenville with the previously acquired marriage license in hand. As soon as the County Clerk agreed to exchange the license, Oscar returned to Lone Oak where he was united in the bond of holy matrimony with Miss Lizzie Taylor.

No records remain of the first marriage license because the marriage never happened. However the marriage for O. L. Rainwater and Lizzie Taylor was duly noted. There is another marriage record for O. L. Rainwater and Annie McDaniel on October 23, 1904. Both marriages are recorded in the Hunt County Clerk’s Office, but neither was later picked up. If Oscar could make the trip to Greenville twice in a matter of days, why didn’t he get the legal marriage certificate? And what happened to Lizzie? I’m certain there is more to this story. If you know, please drop me a note at my e-mail address listed below.

The Greenville Messenger was not only published for the whole county, but wasn’t shy about telling the truth. I had the privilege of interviewing a man who worked as a printer there for many years. He told me that the editor believed in truth and was not afraid of libel suits. So I have developed the theory if you want to know what really happened anywhere in Hunt County between 1894 and about 1940, you go to the Greenville library and look at the old microfilmed copies of the Messenger. You won’t be disappointed.