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Black Jack Grove - 40 Years Ago
From the files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. (Edited)
by R. W. Harris, written in 1932, Cumby Rustler
When one glances back over a period of forty years, the changes in the personnel of the citizenship is very apparent,. The writer having been here in 1892, very keenly realizes the many changes that have taken place. Among the people who stood high here in 1892, but all of whom are now dead, might be mentioned - F. M. Ship, M. M. Green, Dr. R. C. Holderness, Rev. B. F. Stephens, J. Brewer, E.R. Dickson, S.D. Greaves. Wm. Teer, F. F. Currin, T. Bridgeman, G. M. Morton, W. F. Hull, Redullum Lindley, B. F, Jenkins, O. B. Jenkins, John N. Harris, M. Deloach, J. W. Parkham, S. W. Wortham, J. N. Haribson, F. W. Cater, J. F. Moreland, W. H. Davidson, R. N. Holderness, W. F. Mahaffey, W. R. Stidham, and many others.
Those selling good here that year were Brewer and Greaves, dry goods; Appearson and King, dry goods; W.F. Hull, manager of T. C. Connor & Bros., druggist; Jno. G. Weaver, groceries; W. W. Stinson, groceries; Wm. Teer, binders and mowers; R. W. Harris, hardware and farm machinery; C.B. Johnson, livery stable; S. W. Wortham, furniture and coffins; C.D. Brown, tinner; Alexander & Branom, dry goods; R. W. Williams and F.W. Center, blacksmiths; W. F. Mahaffey, John Brown and John H. Ray, barbers; and a few others whose names I do not recall.
Prof. W. A. Clark was in charge of our school and was assisted the first half of the year by Frank Taylor and latter part of that year by John B. Gay. This Prof. Clark is the present Dr. W. A. Clark. The pastor of the Presbyterian Church was Rev. B. F. Stephens and the Methodist pulpit was filled by Rev. Wm Hay, father of the present Bishop R. Hay. We disremember the Baptist preacher. Dr. D. Taylor also preached for the Presbyterian. That year the Baptist erected their first church here which was located west of where the lumber yard is situated.
In 1892, politics was rather exciting, as there was a strong fight made to defeat James Stephen Hogg in the person of George B. Clark, and that year also saw the beginning of the Populist party which gathered momentum for the next four years, and reached their maximum power in 1896, when elected some officers and came very near capturing the county.
On May 4, 1892, a mass meeting of Democrats was held for the purpose of effecting an organization, at which time the meeting was addressed by Squire Crabtree of Sulphur Springs who was a candidate for County Judge, but the speech of the occasion was one made by Howard Templeton, in which he had much to say regarding the Populist Party. At the conclusion of Mr, Templeton's stirring address, the organization of the Black Jack Grove Democratic Club took place by choosing R. R. Williams as chairman and R. W. Harris as secretary. Ninety-seven names were signed to the club list, sixty-four of whom are dead. This club met regularly and a great deal of oratory was indulged in through the summer.
On the night of June 28th the celebrated debate between Jake Hodges of Paris and Stump Ashby took place here. The speakers stood on the sidewalk somewhere near Cort Mathis' repair shop, and the crowds milled around in the street in front. Candor and truth compels us to state that Ashby simply swallowed Hodges completely. Hodges was somewhat under the influence of liquor and was no match for his opponent. It was a beautiful moonlight night and the street in front of the speakers was full of excited people. Of coarse the Democratic speaker being snowed under, there was some of the sickest Democrats there that night one ever saw while the Populists rent the air with exultant cheers. The following day John Cranford and Stump Ashby locked horns at Miller Grove where another large crowd was present and, as natural, each side claimed their speaker came out victorious.
The election that year resulted in the selection of Grover Cleveland, President of the United States; Hogg, Governor of Texas; Dave Culberson, Congress; J. M. Morris, county judge; W.J. Cline, district clerk; Ed Bennett, district attorney; R. D. Allen, county attorney; Bascom Sherman, sheriff; Frank Gafford, county collector; John D. Hyde, tax assessor; Joe Wood, treasurer; R. R. Williams, commissioner precinct No. 4; W.R. Lynch, constable.
In the Masonic Lodge, M. M. Green was W. M., and J. N. Winniford, secretary. In the I.O.O.F. Lodge, Dr. M. Smith was N. G., and R. W. Harris, secretary.
John P. Traylor was cotton weigher, and we believe Albert Branom was manager of the old Alliance cotton gin. Rev. W. L. Clifton was presiding elder of the Sulphur Springs district of the Methodist conference.
That year brought five new citizens to this place, who in after years wielded much beneficial influence in the town. These were G. M. Morton, W. F. Hull, E. G. Holland, Jesse F. Alexander, and Levi P. Mercer. During the early part of the year, Miss Lucile Penman was depot agent but turned the office over to E. D. Holland about the first of April last year.
W. G. McKinney conducted a saloon in a building just west of where W.E. Brewer has a store, and Kneiff & Fry had one a little to the west. Later that year they consolidated the two saloons under the firm name of Kneiff, McKinney &Fry, and had one of the finest furnished saloons to be found anywhere, and their newspaper ads were conspicuous in each issue of the Rustler. This would seem very strange today, as the saloons were voted out of this place in the August 1894, never to open again.
Early that year Rash Bros. & Downing sold their mercantile business in this place to G. W. Apperson and Joe King which business was conducted under the name of Apperson & King for nearly a year when it was again taken over by Rash Bros. & Downing. W. H. Davidson was postmaster here at that time, but was succeeded, after Cleveland was elected, by R. N. Holderness.
Among the young school teachers around here were M. H. Brashear, C. T. Alexander, O. F. Harris, Miss Claudia Currin, Miss Gertrude Downing, Miss Haidee Harris, and others.
After C. B. Johnson moved from here, Kneiff, McKinely, and Fry had charge of the livery stable and dray business of the town.
Wilson A. Green, one of the pioneer merchants of this place, died at his home in south part of town, April 11, this year. Rev. J. W. Beckham was assigned to the Methodist church here at the fall conference, and for a time that year. W. L. Rivers conducted a grocery and hardware business.
This is not aimed to be a full and complete record of the events happening in this place in 1892, but is simply a sketch of a few of the occurrence, which we trust may be enjoyed by those whose memories can reach back 40 years. Cumby Rustler
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