1922 The Buffalo Trail
Miss Annie Webb Blanton - State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Mr S.E. Clark - Rural School Inspector
Mr L.D. Borden - Chief Supervisor of Rural Schools
(book dedicated to) Miss Ada D. Pearce - Superintendent of Public Instruction
County Board of Education:
Chairman Judge J.P. Stinson
Precinct 1. Mr B.E. Holly
Precinct 2. Mr L.R. Thompson
Precinct 3. Fred Jones
Precinct 4. J.M. Moody
Board of Examiners
Supt. Abilene School Mr R.D. Green
Supt. Merkel School Mr R.A. Burgress
Taylor County Red Cross, organized in 1916. Public Health Nurse, Miss Nellie B. Kelly, is employed by Taylor County Chapter to conduct
School Inspections, Tuberculosis Nursing, general Nursing, Prenatal Nursing, Dispensary, Health Classes, Child Health
Conference, Health Centers over County. Headquarters are maintained in the Taylor County Court House, with a first class
Dispensary and Child Health Center. General Clinic - Every Friday Dental Clinic - Every Tuesday
(photographs appear of the individuals named above)
History of Office of County Superintendent and County Board of Education.
The first County Superintendent of Public Instruction of Taylor County, was Mr. W,W, Kirk, who served only
one term. By an act of the Commissioners' Court, the office was abolished February 15, 1900, this action to take effect
after the general elections of the following fall. Later the State Legislature passed a law requiring counties of the
population of Taylor to maintain the office of County Superintendent. On August 12, 1907, Mr. E.V. White was appointed
to this important position. Mr. White served until January 1912, when he resigned to accept a position with the
Extension Department of the University of Texas. Later he graduated from this institution and is now serving as the very
efficient Dean of the College Industrial Arts at Denton. Mr. J. S. Smith (deceased) was appointed to fill Mr. Mr.
White's unexpired term; he was elected successively and served efficiently till the year 1918, when he was succeeded by
Mr. C.E. Sims, a graduate of the north Texas Normal College and at that time a teacher in the county. In 1920, Mr. C.E.
Sims was followed by Miss Ada D. Pearce, an A.B. graduate of the University of Texas, who is now serving as
superintendent.
Until 1911, the administration of the schools was subject to the Commissioners' Court. Following an act of
the Legislature, the first County Board of Taylor County met October 13, 1911, and the following members took the oath
of office. Judge D.G. Hill, Trustee at Large; Mr. B.S. Hancock. Trustee Precinct Number One; Mr. H.C. Williams, Trustee
Precinct Number Two; Mr. W.B. Hale, Trustee Precinct Number Three; Mr. J.D. Harrison, Trustee Precinct
Number Four; Judge Hill served from 1911 to 1920.at which time he was succeeded by Judge J.P. Stinson.
Later years:
Precinct Number One
Mr. J. H. Davis
Mr. B. E. Holly (1922 board member)
Precinct Number Two
Dr. O.F. McMasters
Mr. Water Jackson (moved away in spring 1921)
Mr. R.L. Thompson (1922 board member)
Precinct Number Three
Mr. J. E. Casey
Mr. T.G. Cummingham
Mr Fred Jones
Precinct Number Four
1919 Mr. J. H. Moody (1922 board member) succeeded Mr. Harrison
School Communities at Play
Almost all schools had plays, special programs, box or pie suppers, picnics, and the like. Parent-Teachers
Associations at Hamby, Colony Hill, Cedar Gap, Buffalo Gap, North Park, Bethel, Potosi and Trent.
School Plays. Many schools have had plays in connection with closing exercises of school. Financially, practically all
these plays have been very successful and have certainly furnished much wholesome pleasure.
"A Freshman" : Hamby
"An Arizona Cowboy": Pleasant Hill, Mulberry, I.X.L., Union Ridge, Tye, Noodle & Merkel
"Always in Trouble": Hamby
"Home Ties": Guion
"A Prairie Rose" : Trent, Potosi, Tuscola, Rodgers, Lawn
"Patty Saves the Day" : North Park
"Safety First": Oplin, Goldsboro
There were also programs for special days. Most of these were "free for all", but some events were held to
raise funds for one or three purposes: to purchase playground equipment, to have space in THE ANNUAL, and to pay quota
for Permanent Fund of State Teachers' Association. Lisman won the first prize -fifteen dollars- for the
largest capita sale of Red Cross Christmas seals, with Butman coming next. Spelling matches, address by President J.D.
Sandefer, Simmons College at Potosi and Tye. Lyceum Course at Bradshaw held.
Box or Pie Suppers - Practically every school has had either a box or pie supper and many had both; the proceeds in general have
been used to purchase playground equipment and for space in "The Buffalo Trail".
The End of the Trail
Buffalo Springs near Potosi was where the last buffalo in Taylor County, Texas was killed.
In 1946 Bradshaw school consolidated with Tuscola and the district was named South Taylor County Independent School District. In
1956 the Lawn schools, previously a separate independent district, also joined. The merger formed a new unit called the
Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District.
