Abilene Reporter News
 

Abilene, Texas
February 2, 1960

Stephens County 100 Years Old
Breckenridge: January marked the anniversary of 100 years since the first settlers came to Stephens County and stepped off to build their homes in the wild Indian country that later became known as Buchanan County, later Stephens County.

The first family, according to clippings from an old newspaper, was ELZIE CHRISTESSON and his wife and five children. This family was soon joined by the family of LEVI CURRENT / CURRANT.

Mrs. T. G. GILBERT, who lives in the Wayland community in Stephens County and TOM CHRISTESSON, whose home is at Lake Daniel near Breckenridge, are two children of E. L. CHRISTESSON, who was a three year old child when his parents came here from Denton County in 1860. They build their home and pickets were set around the house to protect from the Indians and the settlement became known as Picketville.

Mr. CHRISTESSON, who died in 1943 at the age of 86, often told his children stories of his life in Picketville where they lived until his father was killed on a cattle drive. He said the Indians would invariably kill any lone white man and he recalled seeing a murder and scalping near the present site of Breckenridge as a youth.

Other families soon joined the CHRISTESSONS and the CURRENTS / CURRANTS, many of whom are still represented in the county.

Last Update Saturday, 21-Sep-2024 17:43:48 MDT

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