Page 22 and Jack Hardeman, sons of General Gotch Hardeman, from Prairie Lea; Lucy Barnett and two of her cousins, Janie Biggs and her big brothers, Lycurgus and Cicero, eight Smiths, Misses Dood, Puss, and Gillie Gant, and Johnnie, Laura Chambers, Johnnie Mannix, Tom Fayette, Sack, Jeff and Jim Jackson and their sisters, Misses Dessie and Jeanetta, John and Frank, Florence, Dora, Jimmie and Annie Huff, Tom and Lola Davis, John Clark, Monroe, Emma and Fannie Jordan, Ab and Johnnie, Mattie, Fannie, and Nannie Hale, Alsy and Bud Scoggins, Eugenia and Ed, Mattie and Lorado Lamkin, Mollie, Corilla and John Nations, Ann and Johnnie McGowan, Gabie Zumwalt, Lizzie and Amanda House, John, Sue, Zonia, George and Lizzie Williams. This was a successful school for two years of 5 free and 2 pay terms. When the coming of the railroad moved the citizens of Atlanta to Harwood or Luling it was finished. There is a deep sand bedded roadway from Fuqua's to Wolf Branch with a few old china tree stumps and the public well to mark the spot where once was Atlanta. PIONEER ROADS Do you remember the roads in use in the horse and buggy days? They were made mostly by use, that is by wearing down the rough places and wearing down the stumps and roots above the surface. A road was usually four parallel trails, two deep wagon ruts and a high rough middle. The trails were smooth, hard paths, beaten down by hooves of horses and other driven animals. No grass or shrubs grew here, while the middle was some- times a thing of beauty, with its growth of wild flowers (and stumps and stones.) The road I remember best, from Prairie Lea eastward, passed the Berry and McNeal places between the Hardeman and McKinney land, avoiding the good tillable spots, to meander past the Dunlap and Greenwood and Grady lands to that half mile long senna pond, where the water never quite dried up and the beautiful water lilies grew (like the Lotus), past the Ussery, Ketchum and McCutchan places to Seals Creek, which was wide in wet years, narrow in dry times, with a gravelly, sandy creek bed thick with mussel shells. This crossing was on the Duke plantation. Mr. Duke, a handsome portly blond, recently from Virginia, had married Miss Martha Burleson, relative of Postmaster General Albert Sidney Burleson and had his commodious dwelling on the south side of the road. The Elam place (later Thornberry) adjoined and extended to the Dick Barnett holdings. After crossing Seals Creek, the road cut into Col. Huff's "upper plantation" (now Eiband's and Mooney's) to the Gerren Hinds 1/2 League, later sold to J. Josey, and there the route was rough, stony ground full of all the native thorny shrubs and cacti. This unimproved land was Page 23 called "buffalo wallow prairie," sloping southward to the river. The low places, shallow ponds, were nearly always full of clear rain water, with green enormous senna, rushes, lespedeza, bluebonnets and other Texas flora in season. On the south side of the road on the Hinds 1/2 League Mr. Josey built his store-residence. Following the low range of hills, with Rocky fork of Salt Branch a short distance to the north, the road made a graceful curve to the Huff home plantation to enter a wide lane formed by cotton and corn fields, orchard, watermelon and potato patches. Gin store, dwelling, storerooms, blacksmith shop and negro quarters were on the north side. From Seals Creek west to a boil d'arc hedge east, this thoroughfare was five miles on Huff land. This bois d'arc hedge was a boundary line to the land owned by Miss Bessie Anderson and her widowed mother. The road was the north line. Powhatan Swann lived on the north side of the road. He gave to the county one acre for a burying ground and the neighbors built a small chapel-school. The name is still Lone Oak. Mr. Swann also sold small parcels of land to poor white immigrants and ex-slaves. Just east oŁ Lone Oak were the McKinneys', Charley Henrys, Abe Brothers, then Johnston's store. Mr. Swann's daughter Henrietta married Uncle Joe Johnston. A short way east the road crossed the slough, a big gully extending from Hysaw hill to Salt Branch to a point just above its confluence with Plum Creek on a practically straight line between the Hysaw plantations and the McKellar-Keys land to the Plum Creek crossing a little way above the present concrete bridge. A short lateral road ran south to Dr. Davis' home. You remember the banks of the creek were steep on both sides and the water was shallow and not very wide. There were stepping stones, blocks of sandstone, six for those who did not care to wade. Just a few yards farther the road forked, becoming two. The one on the right crossed a gully with sudden banks and up a steep hill to the Fuqua place, suburbs of Atlanta, named by the Georgians for the capital of the state they had left. The left fork of the road went up another steep hill past the McGee (now Sprague) place to the Gonzales-Lockhart road which was also the "cattle trail" when herds from South Texas were driven to Dodge City. From the top of the Fuqua hill the road made a diagonal slant through Atlanta and was the only street, to the Womack place on Wolf Branch and on to Gonzales via the L. A. L. Lamkin house at Sulphur Spring. Do you remember the rhythmic sounds from the road? One could tell if a wagon was loaded or empty, if the team was one or several span, if a carriage was new or old, had one horse or two; if a buggy had a man or lady driver; if a fast horse was ridden by someone going for a doctor, or one just ahead of a posse; if a number of ridden horses was a posse or a calvacade. This formation, like a Maltese cross, was used by young beaux Page 24 and belles going to church, camp meeting or other festivities, especially weddings. Many a "Young Lochinvar" wooed and won his bride horseback. One such event I remember was the wedding of Thos. H. Huff and Miss Louranie Scoggins which was solemnized in the home of her uncle, Col. Alsy Miller, in the forks of the river (Oak Forest.) The young couple and a score of attendants and friends went to Col. Huff's for the "enfair" or next day dinner. This was customary and the first notice to the hosts was the cavalcade heard a long way off and recognized when they stopped at the carriage gate to the front yard. Young Huff's new step-mother was equal to the emergency. After greeting the guests, welcoming her new daughter into the family, she excused herself and went to consult with the cooks and dining room waitresses to plan and serve the meal. The walnut dining table extended its full length, reinforced by a square side table, covered with snowy linen, with covers for 24, was a delight to each hungry mortal. The bride and groom were asked to take the end opposite Col. Huff and wife, with the others at the sides of the table. The menu included: baked Virginia ham, roast pork, yams, fried chicken, giblet gravy, new potatoes, peas, cabbage slaw, gherkin pickles, plum jelly, butter, biscuits, grape jelly, peach, plum, apricot preserves, white cake, pound cake, sillabub (an Old English drink), and wine, coffee. As they were all standing it was self serve, but the colored waitresses were kept busy refilling coffee cups and bringing hot biscuits from out in the kitchen. In the afternoon the young people accompanied the newly- weds to the upper plantation where they lived until after the railroad came to and left Luling. Small children, like my mother, at that time were not allowed in the dining room. They were given such undesired pieces of chicken as necks and wings which they ate as they played about in the yard. The negroes ate what was left on the plates at table, and it was considered proper to leave something for that purpose. The negro children of cooks and other house and body servants got "pot likker" with a few bits of vegetables and pork. They thrived, but the white children were often puny. NOTE: I have heard my mother say: "My children shall never be treated like that. Too many times I went to bed with a scanty supper, and saw guests in the parlor being served dainties that made my mouth water. Whatever the grown-ups eat in my home shall be shared with the children." And so it was.-Louise Bridges Witt. EARLY SEVENTIES Do you remember early in the 70's the emigrants had come back from Kansas ragged, footsore, weary and hungry, telling "They never give us Page 25 no land, jus' made us plow and plant wheat in the fall. What us know about wheat?" "Git kivvered up wid snow, cain't eat it; old mule cain't eat it. Ain't no sweet taters ner black eye peas in de bin; got to buy everything 'cause everything belong to somebody: take anything us need, say us steals, got to work out a fine or lay in jail. Ain't had no shoes ner no new close since befo de wah. Whut yu all gwine do wid us?" To cut a long story short, the prodigals were received back into favor and put to work at the kind of jobs they knew best, paid wages and if they took something they were dealt with "according to the offense" It began to look like white, Indian, negro and Mexican Texans had found their place in the sun and prosperity would be ours again. The railroad was coming from the east. Surveyors, promoters and right-o'-way men were with us in large numbers. Stockholders wanting to see about their investments and the South Texas land made lengthy visits. Commodore Mockman, stockholder, thought a good plan would be to bring other German colonists to help raise articles for shipment. He or- ganized a class to be taught the German language by Prof. Bohmar, the music teacher from San Antonio, who made regular trips with his son, Dolph, having classes in every home owning a piano or organ between San Antonio and Gonzales. Messrs. Britt, Batt and Bannister, lawyers, engineers and surveyors, arrived and secured board and lodging in the vicinity. Col. Thos. Went- worth Pierce and Maj. Converse, promoters, came on an inspection tour. Col. Pierce was president of the G.H.& S.A. Railway Co., and Maj. Converse was construction engineer. Also another contingent of young men came from Tennessee and Georgia-Chas. Chambers, Billy and Jeff Johnston, Joe Holt, Tynus McNeil, Joe Bledsoe, Dump Hughes, Eugin Goche, Frank Johnson, Bill Tremble, Bob Porter, with a large family, and the advance agents of Barnum's circus. They plastered the outside of every blacksmith shop door and the side next to the road of every tree with blazing posters and made arrangements to use the Huff gin and gin lot for a day and night stand. A few weeks later, after the crops had been gathered, the long circus parade arrived. The main tent and side show tents were in the cotton field just inside the Big Gate, while horses, exhibition animals were corralled in the ground floor of the gin and in the surrounding lot to rest and be fed while actors and actresses, trapeze performers rested in the seed room or seed cotton bins, in the gin room or nearby in the bunk house over the store. The elephants, camels and some of the big horses were herded Page 26 down the "turn row" through the field to water in the river. Water was hauled for the caged animals. Old "Dunny," an old longhorn cow, who had refused three times to go up the trail, wearing three road brands along her back, who would yield her milk on the prairie or in the pen to any child, pig or snake as she never went dry, was fed to the lions. Mr. P. T. Barnum, the ringmaster and one of the clowns had their meals with the family, so when I heard one of them say the performance was much prettier by torchlight I refused to go in the afternoon. The long day was too much, having been up "by light" to be under the best pecan trees before the hogs; watching and taking part in all the preparations for a big dinner. Seeing the animals fed and watered and seeing all the trades I could. A number of youngsters sold rabbits, squirrels and other game to the circus folks. The only thing that kept a lot of young people from seeing more was the Charlie Ross kidnaping case -- we were told circuses stole children to train as performers or laborers. Along in the wee small hours of the night I had the most hideous nightmare. As I had been stubborn, disobedient, contrary all day, I had to ride an old donkey that kept going to a large round hole in the ground door to the bottomless pit. All of the beasts I had seen the day before and all whose pictures were in my geography lessons were after me and my donkey laid down. I had been bad. Maj. GEORGE, RESEMBLANCE TO JOHN WILKES BOOTH In 1871 or '72 a new family appeared in the community, a six-foot, slender, blue-eyed, blackhaired Southerner with an imperial and mustache instead of whiskers. His family consisted of a delicate, refined lady and two small sons, Oliver and Ballad. The family name was George. Maj. George rented a tract of land where the City Cemetery now is and occupied that cottage just east of the cemetery on the south side of the Prairie Lea-Atlanta road (the cottage and well are still there). He started the usual farm crops, hogs, poultry, etc. It soon became evident that he had not been used to manual labor. Another subject of comment was that he always carried a long barreled rifle and was an expert in its use. He was not sociable. His wife did not return the neighboring ladies' visits. When enrolling at school the George boys said they were Texans, but did not speak like other natives. Travelers meeting Maj. George at the post office (Johnston's Store) or Josey's Store, commented on his resemblance to John Wilkes Booth. Once, on being asked if he was related to Booth, he said: "Why are you concerned? One man can look like another whom he has never met." When asked why he always carried a loaded rifle, he replied: "I shoot Page 27 rabbits, hawks and other predatory animals." Asked what he thought of Lincoln's death, he said: "The entire administration was a calamity to the South and was the cause of the war." After two or three years, in the fall, one or more of Maj. George's shoats failed to come home at feeding time. Next morning their owner went over on Salt Branch hunting them. Near noon he stopped at the home of his nearest neighbors, negroes, Flemin and Viney, to ask if they had seen the pigs: Flemin, a tall, broad-shouldered man, stood in the doorway and answered impertinently that he "never saw nor stole them." As Major George cussed and reproved him for his bad manners, he raised both hands above the door facing (Maj. George thought to get a gun) so he shot him thru the heart. After the trial and acquittal on the grounds of self defense, the George family moved to North Texas. We next heard of Major George after the "Oklahoma Run" through a magazine article as having been investigated for his resemblance to John Wilkes Booth. Mr. George Dennis, and family were the next tenants, living in this cottage by the side of the road until Mrs. Dennis' brother, Mr. Chapman, bought the Huff home place and put Mr. Dennis in charge of it as "The Chapman Farm," in January, 1876. Did you go to the ball at Col. Huff's on San Jacinto Day, 1873? Remember Walker Baylor, Monroe Hardeman, Capt. Stringfellow, Dick McCord, John Armstrong, requisitioned the stage coach left with Finucane and Meriwether for repairs, and loaded up the prettiest girls in Prairie Lea for the seven mile ride. There were Misses Lizzie Hardeman, Cora (daughter of Gen. Gotch) Hardeman, Carrie and Ophelia (daughters of Owen) Hardeman, Evelyn and Corinne Dycus from Bastrop (cousins to the Hardemans) and Hulda Styles. In passing through the new town they added Misses Mary Keith, Stella and Annie Hardeman (daughters of Leonidas or "Onnie"). Jim Meriwether and Walker Baylor were on the coachman's seat. All the other men were horseback and they also increased their number with the addition of Capt. Woodyard, Carnot Bellinger, Drs. Cocreham, Van Gasken and Blunt, Tom McNeal, and Messrs. Britt, Batt and Bannister (surveyors). Others present were Dock and Tom Jackson and their sister, Miss Dezzie (Desdemona), John and Sue Williams, Mollie and Corilla Nations (who afterward married Surveyor Bannister), Billy Johnston,* Chas. Chambers, John Clark, Monroe Jordan, Misses Emma Jordan, Hallie Kirk, Lucy *W. R. Johnston m. Margaret Adeline Huff April 13, 1863. I suppose she was there too. They had no children.-L.B.W. Page 28 Barnett, Pet Lamkin, Janie Biggs, Florence and Dora Huff, and Messrs. Cicero and Curg (Lycurgus) Biggs, Nelson and Ham West, Billy Hale, Jim Scog- gins, and Frank Huff. The young ladies wore full skirts with several embroidered, tucked, and ruffled petticoats, floor length, the bodice part of the dresses having round neck and short puffed sleeves. Their dresses were of silk, mull, India muslin or tulle. They were ruffled, flounced, embroidered, and of all the springtime colors. The men wore Prince Albert suits of broadcloth, with soft white linen shirts and fancy brocade or pique vests. At the neck they wore the customary stocks and cravats. The furniture had been removed from the big front room and the wide front hall for dancing. The piazza, or "front gallery" was for promenading. Sam Carter and Miles Moore, first and second violins, and Mr. Womack with his banjo, furnished lively music for the Virginia reels, and double square dances (8 couples), and that very new dance the varsuviana (Put your Little Foot). Some of the country boys executed some extra fancy steps in dancing the reels, cutting pigeon wings, and "Chicken in the Bread-tray." Small cakes and Madeira wine were served at midnight as the guests were leaving. This was the last formal entertainment as Col. Huff was already in failing health. * * * Col. L. C. Huff died in the summer of 1873 (July 29)-that fine man who had sold a gold mine in Cass Co. Ga. (near Villa Rica), and had brought a large family and a score of slaves (whom he called his "people" never using the word slave) in his own vehicles, with a drove of horses and cattle, across the country, to the estate in Caldwell county previously bought for him by his agent, Wm. Haggerty, and did so much to develop this frontier. He, thinking "to whom much is given much is required," educated orphan children with his own; bought whole families of negroes rather than separate parents and children; and had lost one hundred slaves by the Emancipation. When the estate was settled, it was insolvent, and his home plantation became the Chapman farm. His younger children were dependent on the older, married brother and sisters. His second wife, Martha Meriwether Huff, and her daughters and sons moved into Luling with her mother, Mrs. Martha Marshal Williams Meriwether, and her son, John W. Meriwether, occupying the half-block where Thos. and Jim had lived. (The house which now stands on that site is numbered 400 So. Laurel Ave.) Page 29 THE SOONER's RAILROAD Do you remember that about the time the railroad came to Luling. Josey's Store was a fine place to trade and young R. Jacobs was looking at the country with his pack on his back with the view of locating here? Copt. Kosiusko DeWitt Keith and his family came from Sabine Pass and started a lumber yard. The railroad brought supplies this side of Harwood to be brought on by wagon. Capt. Keith built for himself a four-room house where the Princess Theatre stands. Mrs. Keith and Miss Ida came on the stage while Wilbur and Sumter walked from Plum Creek, end of construction. Mrs. Keith opened a boarding house for some of the single men- among them Drs. J. Van Gasken, J. K. Moore, Dr. W. F. Blunt, Capt. Woodyard, John Campbell, Pic McKnight and his brother, Matt, and Frank Minnick. * * * The construction crew moved from the other side of Harwood on Peach Creek. The section house was moved to Salt Branch. This was a small town in itself, having bridge builders, Irish pick and shovel men, drivers of teams or plows and scrapers, hangers on, etc. One foreman rented a three-room log house from the Huff's between the gin and spring for his wife and small girls, saying the camp was too rough. His name was Crunk. Maj. Converse and another foreman or superintendent, were in the Huff home. Others were boarding with the Miles Biggs and Len Barnett families. It was definitely understood that a town would be built at Josey's Store. Negotiations for a townsite were pending. Mr. Josey had agreed to transfer 25 acres to the Railway company, but tried to stipulate that the middle of the town should be at the store. Now the surveyors had found that "the only place for a bridge across the San Marcos was at Dorn's Ford" and this would give the track too much curve. Mr. Josey so far won, or thought he did, that the dump was graded and built up, ties and rails were laid as far as Seventh Avenue before he signed the necessary papers. As soon as these were recorded the company went back to their own plans, leaving the store one-fourth of a mile northeast of town --- a case of New York vs. New York. Throughout 1873 Mr. Josey had been selling acreage to "Sooners," among them Bishop Gregg's sons, Oliver and David, from Prairie Lea, Rev. T. C. Greenwood's son-in-law, Bill Redus, from Devine, Rev. J. W. Browne and two sons-in-law, Leo Rogan and L. W. Wilder, all late comers from Alabama. Rev. Robert Johnston came from Georgia and L. J. Gray from East Texas and all built dwellings along North Third Street or Josey North Addition. Other "sooners" built toward the river. Tom Meriwether and Jim Meriwether from Guadalupe County were among these. Mrs. Yordt (afterwards Mrs. P. Conway) opened a boarding house. The Lawler and Page 30 Bob Jones families came in. The stage coach came this way on its regular trips, to change horses at Finucane & Meriwether's livery barn and stage stand. Do you remember the map for the plan of Luling, or did you ever see it? I mean the one made by Commodore Mochman for Col. Pierce. The middle of the town was a 300 ft. street called Broadway or The Boulevard with North 1st, 2nd, and 3rd streets and South 1st, 2nd, and 3rd parallel, east and west. Those north and south 1st on the west to 9th east were avenues. All of the blocks along Broadway and along 1st streets were intended for business houses and soon were so built up. There were also four plazas or squares for sports or recreation. After the Mexican manner, these were named Longer Park, Elena Square on the south side, Charles Park and Blanch Square on the north side of town. The railroad track was laid right through the middle of Broadway. The immigrants house, a snug, well built two-room house, was on the north side, east of 7th Ave., and the freight depot on the south side of the track was on 6th Ave. Joe Bine's eating house was where the passenger depot was to be built. Business houses were hastily erected and dwellings appeared as if by magic. The report that there was to be a saloon on every corner was fiction. Gregg's Grocery Store was where W. L. Ikerd is now, with the Two Brothers adjoining and about the middle of that block were Dillard & Johnston, Mirch, and Holcomb & Johnston's hardware. You will remember that Capt. Keith's residence and boarding house was on the east corner. Stagner & Co. were across the Ave. from Greggs, Nathan's, the Grand music hall (music and gambling), Kleinsmith Bros., Jacobs, Alexander's, Dick's place, Kamien, Chris Wille's Hotel. Across 5th Ave. were Hendry's jewelry store, Spicer's barber shop, Schtrenk's shoe shop, Merchant's Exchange (run by George Hysaw-saloon) Ling Lu's laundry (washy-washy, as he called it), Bower's livery barn (with dance hall upstairs) O'Connor's shoe and boot shop, Picarney's, Rouff's jewelry, and Bob Jones, jewelry and watch making. In the next block west was one two-story frame house occupied but closed. Remember these buildings were all frame, not close together. Some had plank sidewalks, others mud (or dry dirt) and this goes for the other side of the track. On the west side of 5th Ave. was a long one-story building, No. 49, closed in the daytime. On the East side were a hotel later acquired by Ab Thomas, then Finucane and Meriwether's Livery Barn, and another livery barn and lots. East of Fifth Ave. was John Orchard's hotel space, Wassenich's furniture store space, several doctor's and other small office buildings. East of 6th Ave. was Walker Bros. and at the other end of the block were a livery barn and lots and office, with another two-story frame building, open at night only. Page 31 The first of September found this a lively place in which ladies must be escorted if they were on any of these streets. Mrs. Wilder opened a private school in her home for white children. Mr. Wilder taught a free school for negroes in the Flat north of town. MORE ABOUT RAILROAD-NAMING OF LULING Let's go back a few weeks on the railroad. Do you remember that in August many of the railroad company's stockholders having decided to "rough it" by traveling in Texas and to inspect their holdings, came to Luling. Among these was a Scotch noblewoman, Lady Leah Cahar, with her footman in livery. The lady classified herself as a sportswoman saying she rode to hounds, played golf and tennis and danced beautifully. She was fully equipped for all of these activities, wearing a hunter's green short skirted riding habit with a tight fitting postillon-back jacket, derby hat, heavy high-topped laced boots. She rode about the country by-ways and side roads, accompanied by a man from the livery stable from which the horses were obtained. Her walking costumes were not so distinctive, but she dressed for dinner and both her dinner dresses and ball gowns were of fine silk, satin or velvet, were decollete, having extremely long trains perfectly fitting her (and her tilter bustle.) No one wore hoop skirts in the '70's. She created a sensation when she went the two blocks to the Orchard Hotel to 6 o'clock dinner with the footman walking along behind holding up her train. Gallant Drs. Van Gasken and Blunt and others soon replaced the footman, teaching the lady that American escorts carried a lady's train with her hand on his left arm and were proud to do so. Her footman's livery looked like the Colonial farmer costume, same kind of coat, with stock, lace ruffles at the wrist, knee breeches, silver buckles at knee, white silk stockings, black low cut shoes, large silver buckles at instep, hair brushed back and tied "in a club" on the nape of the neck, tri-corn hat, only this man wore gold earrings, as stated by Alex Sweet in Texas Siftings when he wrote about Luling's first immigration agent. It was noteworthy that the men from cities, North and South wore the same kind of broadcloth Prince Albert suits our Texas men bought in coastal cities, just a few New Yorkers wearing morning coats, pin striped trousers and fancy vests and spats. * * * As this is not intended for a fashion report, I will get back to my town. Do you remember that much advertised day in September, 1874 (the 10th I think) when the first all-passenger excursion train rolled to a stop at Page 32 the freight depot? At high noon exactly half way between 6th and 5th Avenues Lady Cahar drove the silver spike, saying "This is the center of this town I name Luling." Remember the stampede for hotel dining rooms and other eating places, how people from Prairie Lea and some other places refused invitations to go home with citizens, saying "We have never eaten in a hotel and we can visit you some other time?" It was a great day! Do you remember that Bob Innes was station agent? With the construction gang came a Chinese laundry man, one Ling Lu, with his hair in a queue or pigtail. He was a quiet, unassuming person who specialized in laundering fine shirts. Do you remember those white pleated bosomed fine linen shirts with pointed turnover collars in use at that time? They preceded the stiff front ones with standing collar and stiff cuffs which in turn were imitated in celluloid (just the collar, cuffs and front). Sometimes there was no shirt. There were a few things Ling would not stand for--being called a gal on account of his long hair, being asked if he was a Mexican or Negro or if he used his mouth and teeth to dampen shirts for ironing. To escape ridicule he called himself John Chinaman, had his haircut, did not leave Luling for ten years, keeping up his laundry with a bathroom annexed and running errands or carrying notes from young gentlemen to ladies. You know there were no telephones. * * * I do solemnly assert that Luling was named in honor of Judge Luling, a financier, all other statements from other sources notwithstanding. The construction forces having moved en masse within her boundaries Luling had a population of 500 on the day of christening. ROARING CITY--FIRST BIRTHS-SEVERE DROUTH Do you remember the well diggers, the two-man crews with picks and shovels, windlass and rope for bucket, who worked to provide water for man and beast in addition to a well or cistern for every store and dwelling? They made four along the railroad track with drinking places for man and beast. They had hitching racks for the use of out of towners. For about eighteen months Luling was the typical railroad roaring city. It has taken years (if ever) to live down this reputation. * * * Do you remember that in October Barnum's Grand Aggregation of Edu- cational and Entertainment Features having the largest zoo with more wild Page 33 animals than ever seen in captivity anywhere on earth, with more trapeze performers and other athletic features, more beautiful bareback riders and side shows, came to town and set up right on Railroad Avenue? I did not get to attend. With some small brothers and sisters and the trusty hired man I walked to 9th Avenue. We were told to sit on the grass until he went to town to get our tickets and returned for us. We sat until near sundown. He got home the next day. Near Christmas the first white children were born--Al Smith and Johnny Lee the same day, but as Mr. Lee was a railroad employee, the award of a lot was bestowed on the Smiths. Annie Keith arrived a short while later and as there was no competition, a lot was presented to her father in trust for her. * * * Do you remember that Texas suffered one of the worst drouths in 1873-74 which caused the great cattle "die up?" Only the old or very young stock were left in the country after the many drives up the trail to Dodge City or another route, to stock the ranches of the West-Nebraska and Arizona. The crops had failed and although there was money-U.S. bills and fractional currency and copper cent pennies, skinning dead cattle became an active competitive occupation so keen that whoever found an animal "down going to die" put up claim signs of ownership no matter whose brand it bore. The hides were salted, dried and sold for shipment to the hide buyer in town. A year later after dogs, wolves and buzzards had finished their scavenger work, someone began buying horns, hoofs and bones for shipment. There was soon an enormous evil smelling pile on the right-of-way in front of that block called Harwood Ward, which had one building and one gin on it. The young town continued to grow after the "floating" population moved on. In the spring of '74 Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lewis opened school in their home on N. 3rd St.-private. The only public schools were for negroes. Mr. Wilder's was over in the flat and Mr. Jordan's near Johnston's Store. His "Doggery" had burned down. There were more negro children than white and their free school did not begin at the same time as the other and was better pay. Luling was a good town but far from beautiful. There were many large trees and beautiful live oak groves. Most of the dwellings were fenced in and the yards planted in fruit and ornamental shrubs and vines and roses, but horses and cattle and dogs were unrestrained. Cotton was sampled and sold on the main street, corn in the shuck was loaded from wagons to box car. Many teams and horses were watered before hitching and the dead leaves and tumbleweeds, hog wallows and beds were altogether unsightly and unsavory. Page 34 Our friends from the other towns said Luling had sand, fleas and grassburs and that there were so many new people it was hard to know who was what. EARLY SETTLERS-RAPID GROWTH Do you remember that by the new year, 1874, most of the tent dwellers and bridge builders had moved to Dorn's Ford on the San Marcos? That the carpenters working overtime had finished many other store buildings and dwelling houses. That the post office had been opened between Miss Mattie Cook's millinery store and Drs. Van Gasken and Blunt's office. That Carnot Bellinger was postmaster and D. M. Day, from across the river, was clerk. That W. D. Maxwell from Georgia was bookkeeper and clerk for Walker Bros.; that John Walker with his bride, Addle Fenner, lived near the store on S. 1st St., H. Kleinsmith across the street (corner S. 1st and 6th Ave.). R. Jacobs had built a cottage on the same block corner S. 2nd and 6th and diagonally across the avenue was R. L. Innes' two-story home (Mr. Innes had recently married Miss Lucy Riley of Columbus). Dr. Callihan and his family occupied the SE corner of this block. Tom and Jim Meriwether the next block with Old Man Lawler further south. On S. 3rd St. south of Longer Park, C. B. Collins from Lockhart and J. K. Walker were next door neighbors. Dan and Phil Price had the rest of the block. There were many other families in widely sep- arated homes. The Lichensteins, Alexanders, Lyons, Blowsteins, Goodmans, Conleys, P. Harris, Frys, Days, Hardemans, Murphys, Denmans, Gatewoods, Graves, Schonfields, Baumgartens and others whose names may appear in these articles. Especially those families of Hardeman, Tadlock, Smith and others just out of the edge of the town. There were many single Men: H. and R. Kleinsmith, R. Jacobs, I. Miller, Marx Epstein, Chas. Chambers, W. G. Jackson, Marx Rouff, W. D. Maxwell, D. M. Day, Henry Price, J. K. Moore, John Campbell, R. M. King, Dr. Blunt, Dr. Van Gasken, Bill Evans, and Bill Evins, Dr. T. E. Cocreham, Capt. Woodyard, Jim Lee, Henry Muenster, T. P. Schtrenk. Of course there were others and as a directory this is not complete. * * * Do you remember that while the construction crew was still in town they graded the streets, leaving a deep ditch along every sidewalk (an *NOTE: I think this date should be 1875, the time when the Huff family moved into town, the youngest child (born after his father's death) being one year old. The writer of these memoirs was then twelve, the oldest living child of the family, by Martha Louise Meriwether, the second wife. Page 35 effort to drain off the surplus water), that the railroad bed was filled, including the mudhole at and near the freight depot, that the passenger depot was added to the Bines restaurant, making a 5-room house? Every householder had to build one or more culverts from sidewalk to street and few people used the sidewalks, jay-walking instead. There was a well beaten trail from Bob Innes' home to past Mrs. Yordt's to the passenger station. There was nothing between these points except scrub mesquite, sage and tumbleweeds. Early in '74 the Keith family moved to their new home on 9th Ave. and their boarding house was taken over by the Perkins family whose daughters, Misses Dink and Dock, added such to its popularity. The Masonic fraternity found there were many fellow craftsmen among the newcomers, and built a new hall with lodge rooms above and moved Hardeman Lodge No. 179 to Luling. * * * Certainly there were other citizens on the north side of town besides the sooners. The Jasper Conleys, located where the Lockhart and Prairie Lea roads separate, Mr. Pete Fry with his lock and key and gun repair shop was at the corner of N. 1st and 4th Ave. On the next block north the Alexanders and Lyons, L. Goodman on 6th Ave. and Levi Johnson on 7th Ave., while on 7th and N. 2nd J. N. Stagner's finest house in town was located. On the east side of the park were A. Dillard, Boggus, Wiley Carpenter, R. D. Smith, P. Harris, T. W. Pierce, Rev. Cross and Rev. Craft (Baptist preachers). About this time occurred the first death-one of the railroad laborers died from injuries and was buried in Charles Park. When Mr. David Moore and a small girl died the same day they were laid to rest in the SW part of town, which was "The Cemetery" until God's Acre was purchased for the City Cemetery and the Jewish Cemetery and Catholic Cemetery were set aside. NO CITY GOVERNMENT-OUTLAWS-RANGERS-FIRST THINGS, INCLUDING MARRIAGES Do you recall that there was no form of government except state and county, enforced by a few deputy sheriffs? It was said that some noted outlaws, Sam Bass, Wesley Hardin, the Youngers, King Fisher, and some equally noted sheriffs and rangers, R. Bean, Ben Thompson, Wild Bill Hikock were visitors, and living here were John Houston and Frank Holcomb? To the rhythmic sound of the saw and hammer the young town grew and the traveling salesman "the drummer" made regular visits. Page 36 NOTE: These last were members of "Terry's Texas Rangers." Both John Houston and Frank Holcomb. * * * Do you remember the immigration agent, Mr. Thos. Wilson, occupied the "home" on right of way while awaiting the arrival of his family with the first English settlers. Among the lot that Mr. Wilson located and placed on farms or helped secure other business we recall the names of Carter, Moore, Taylor, Ireland, Yolland, Ervine, Batey, Eiband Glithero, Wallace, Fisher, Lowther. Mr. Wilson established his large family east of town, where the youngest daughter, Mrs. Annette Parr, now lives.* Nearly all these newcomers brought with them large families who were a real asset to the social and cultural life and the most of these families have children or grand- children in Luling and vicinity now. Soon the Immigrant Home had to be replaced by a larger building. The old one was placed on The Alley and Seventh Avenue behind Craft's print shop. While mentioning first things of Luling, do you remember the two brick kilns that turned out a good red brick? One was north of town on Rocky Branch, the other south of town on the river and later the one at Elandel (L. & L.) on Hoy Houston's place. This business was continued several years and the output used for foundations and walling caved in water wells, cellars and cisterns. Two buildings--Bowers' Livery Stable and Hall (now the Walcowich Bldg.) and the other replacing Chris Willie's hotel, burned (now Allen Building) were built of it. Do you remember that Anthony Spicer operated the first barber shop where each customer kept his own shaving mug, comb and brush? That Mr. A. Heise, Sr., had the first bakery, selling bread, yeast cake, notions, sandy--and selling or giving away bibles, our first distributor of bibles? * * * In this year '75 we had the first births, first deaths and I think the first marriage-Dave Levy and Miss Mamie Lichenstein, who went to live in San Antonio, J. P. Schtrenk and Miss Ophelia Hildebrandt. There were others soon after, Mr. David Gregg left to "buy stock for the store" and before returning he went to his old Carolina home and was married *NOTE: Now the home of Thomas Wilson, "Junior" as he is called, and one of Luling's show places. Page 37 to Miss Annie Davis. R. Jacobs, after three years in Texas returned to Detroit and Miss Edloff came home with him as his wife. H. Kleinsmith made a trip to New York and was married to Miss Annie Myers. W. G. Jackson and Miss Hallie Kirk were married and came to their new home in Luling, as did C. R. Chambers and Florence Huff, Bill Evans and Stella Hardeman (parents of Miss T. Leonora Evans who married young Dr. John French, not to be confused with Bill Evins, who married Katie Word, and after her death married Janie Watts.) J. K. Moore and Miss Mollie Stuart of Galveston, M. Epstein and Miss Berman of New York. Some of these may have been several years later. The family records will show the exact dates. * * * Do you remember the first Union Sunday School was organized by William Thomas Meriwether in the Masonic Hall in the summer of '75 and about the same time the "Band of Hope" temperance organization for girls and boys was started by Rev. Bro. Boyken? The pledge as he gave it was: "I do solemnly promise to forever abstain from the use of tobacco in every form, including cigarettes and snuff, and that I will never use as a beverage wine, whiskey, brandy or other strong drink, especially lager beer." About 25 or 30 young people took the pledge (some every Sunday), paid their dues and elected R. D. Smith (father of Al) secretary-treasurer. More Citizens- Railroad Reaches San Antonio --- First School In the period between '74 and '77 the greater number of the town's night spots were replaced by other business places. The music and dance halls be- came Collins & Johnston's private bank. A great majority of professional gamblers and other undesirable citizens followed the railroad west. How- ever, there were left here those who gambled and the wild young men who left town on running horses (after sowing wild oats, yelling like Comanche Indians). There had been a few cases settled by "Judge Lynch". I never learned why a man was hung on the Salt Branch bridge. * * * The Cahills came from Lockhart, starting a hardware store at the corner of Railroad Avenue and S. 5th Ave. and building two new homes. The elder Cahill built where Miller Ainsworth lives and Tom Cahill on the opposite corner (where G. C. Walker's home now is.) And Maj. Penn held the first great revival in a tent just off of the right of way. Maybe this helped to quiet the town. Soon afterward the Baptists found two other preachers among the new citizens, Rev. Cross and Rev. Pinkney Harris. The first church in Luling was finished in '76 with Rev. Harris as pastor and over 50 charter members. Page 38 Let us recall some of our neighbors between the San Marcos and Guada- ape Rivers in the early 70's. The Hysaws, Nixons, (John, Steve and Capt. Sob) the Eckols, Manford, Law, Capt. Foster, Parker, Morrison, Glasgow, ohnson, Hickman, Parson Jim Baker and his brother, Abe Baker, John and Patrick Ireland, the Erskines, Dr. B. W. Humphreys, Denman, Little, McGlothlin, Appling, Pierce, Francis, French Smiths, Tuck Smiths, Cart- vright, Walker, Meriwether, Bennett, McCullough, Happle, Houchins, yyars, Fenner, Avery, Jones, Towns, David and many others. Of these ome went to Seguin soon after the war, while the larger number remained on the farms, marketing their produce and selling corn and cotton at the nearest shipping point, Luling? Do you remember the wagon yard back of :he Jacobs and Kleinsmith stores, where many of these people spent the night after selling their cotton and laying in supplies? Do you remember the rock quarries? One of them was on the Joe Brothers farm 3 1/2 miles N. W. from town which was taken the brown stone for Mr. Josey's new 2-story, 8-room, mansard roof home on N. Ry. Ave.. (first stone dwelling here) and for most of the rock stores. * * * Texas was still a missionary field. Bishop Gregg's diocese was the whole state. Under his supervision, St. Andrews at Seguin, Annunciation in Luling and Emanuel at Lockhart were built. Nelson Ayers, the curate, was also a good builder. The church was completed in '77. Mr. Fuller of the Carolinas was employed as rector, living in the new rectory. Two other churches, Methodist and Catholic, were begun but not finished for several months later. The Grant administration with its credit mobilier and Union Pacific scandals, ended with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes as president. And n Texas Govs. Davis and Hubbard were followed by the wise administra- tion of Govs. Richard Coke and Oran P. Roberts, ending the reconstruction days. In 1877 the first through trains over the G. H. & S. A. line rolled into San Antonio. It took a little over two years to build bridges over the San Marcos, San Geronimo, Guadalupe and two or three more to Cibolo, lay the track and start the towns, Kingsbury (by-passing Seguin), Marion, Schertz, Cibolo Valley and Converse. Rev. Craft and his son, Sam and daughter, Miss Mamie, with small equipment, issued a small paper, "The Enterprise," occupying the building at the corner of Ry. and 7th Avenue. In September '75 the first free school opened in the Masonic hall. Prof. Asa Belvin of San Marcos and Miss Mary Keith were teachers. This Building was used as a school until 1882. Other teachers were Hon. Jos. Hatchitt and Mrs. L. F. Price, Prof. Brown and daughters, Misses Janie Page 39 and Virginia, from Missouri, Prof. Griffin from Louisiana, with various assistants, to be succeeded by Pierce Institute on the location of the present high school building. In these times there were many additions to the population. The McGaf- feys, 0. McGaffey, father of Mrs. Keith, Wyatt and Chas., family men, brothers of Mrs. Keith, and Otis, her younger brother; Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Harris and their son, R. J. Parsons, and Mrs. McGaffey's brother, Claude Garner, Mr. J. Kahn also arrived with an interesting family and opened a store next to the "Two Brothers." Mr. McGaffey built the first rock store at the corner of 6th Ave. and South Ry. St., with a cottage for Wyatt McGaffey's family at 6th Avenue and South 1st street. Capt. Keith's lumber yard was moved to the south side of the railroad track with the office at the corner of 7th Ave. and Railroad St. After his niece, Miss Mary Keith had been primary assistant teacher with Profs. Belvin and Hatchitt, she conducted a private term in this office. And this same office was connected with the Orchard and Day cotton platform about ten years later. Mr. John Orchard as real estate agent sold his hotel to the English Carters and lived in the extreme N.E. part of town, now the J. J. Davis Estate property. His parents and other mem- bers of the family moved across the river to Guadalupe County, where his sister married Mr. Dan Darling. * * * Luling's first photographer, Mr. Tom Dagleish, built his art galley ad- joining the Luling Hotel (Carter's) and the Wassenich Furniture Store was opened. Mr. Jos. Wassenich was a widower with a large family of nearly grown children. His eldest son, Ed, married Miss Sophronia Harris, occupying the house Chas. Chambers had built on N. 3rd and Soda Springs Road. Mr. Chambers and J. A. Graves built east of 7th Avenue near Longer Park as had Col. John Quincy Adams Carter. Col. Carter was a traveling sales- man for a line of hardware, wood and willow ware, crockery and china. His eldest daughter, Mollie, married Bob Elam, one of the early deputy sheriffs. Col. Carter was a Confederate veteran. MORE GROWTH-MUSIC TEACHERS-FERRY Do you remember in 1876 the coastal storm that almost destroyed Galveston, and disrupted our new telegraph lines (acquired with the rail- road) causing the loss to Luling of a good physician, Dr. W. F. Blunt, who was called to replace his father-in-law, Dr. Peete, as quarantine officer at Galveston? He never returned to Luling-only to marry Miss Dora G. Huff several months later. However, Dr. Seaborn Denman located Page 40 here soon afterwards. Dr. Denman's home was in the same block with Hon. Thos. McNeal and Carnot and Eustace Bellinger, eventually selling to the Methodist congregation who used the premises for a parsonage. I think Rev. John Gillett's family were the first to occupy it. * * * You remember there were several music (piano) teachers-Mrs. Bob Jones, nee Lucy Root, had a full class. She had been educated in a con- vent in New Orleans and had been employed to teach music, Latin and French in the Prairie Lea Academy prior to her marriage to Bob Jones and their removal to Luling. Theirs was the home sold later to Rev. Homer S. Thrall, Texas historian, then to Rocellus McKinney and now owned and occupied by Mrs. Johnnie Manford. Mrs. C. B. Collins also taught a few pupils. Mrs. Dunc Lamkin, nee Sue Williams, in later years had a large class of advanced pupils. There were also several jolly fiddlers-- Sam Carter; M. D. Moore, the Osuna Bros., and a few banjoists and guitar players. In 1876-7 the town began to have a busy appearance. There had been stores built between stores until there were at least three blocks of busi- ness houses with continuous board sidewalks on the north side. And we find J. A. Graves, general merchandise, where Stagner & Co. had been, .J W. Booton's drug store and S. Kahn east of Gregg's in the same block. There was no further need for the stage line. W. H. Wade livery was where Finucane & Meriwether had been and Joe Bines with his eating house went along with the railroad. Mr. Ab Thomas replaced the old hotel with a nice brick building with show rooms to accommodate the traveling salesmen. Quite a number of relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas (nee Ann Kyser) located in town, Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kyser, Misses Maggie and Ada, her brother, George Kyser, and family. Mrs. Eugenia Thomas with daughters, Mollie, Genie and Stannie Lee, and a son-in-law, Tony Nance. The Baker family, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, Misses Kate, Bertha, Berta, and Will and Roger. All of these people came from San Marcos and were all an asset to the financial and social life of the town. Do you remember that in 1876 there were two passenger trains each day? Eastbound in the morning, westbound about 4 o'clock in the after- noon? Soon almost the entire population met this train and each other daily to hang around the post office until the mail was distributed, a custom prevalent for many years in all towns and villages along the line. After the Meriwether gin and grist mill was in operation, Sixth Avenue, The River Road," was a favorite walk. The river at the mill was beauti- ful with large elm, cypress, oak, ash and pecan trees and sparse under- growth. The mill pond had ruined Nixon Ford, also a ferry boat was operated for the convenience of "the folks across the river." Something Page 41 was always happening to this boat. It was not quite comfortably long enough for a wagon and team. Sometimes a skittish pair of mules would back a little when the boat started and drop the back wheels off, necessi- tating a fresh start, and at other times a team would jump for the other bank too soon. Always the boat would be on the "other" side when wanted. In wet spells and floods the hemp cable would rot and break, the boat get jammed in the mill race or sunk on edge against the dam. There was al- ways someone to take it across "just for the ride." Once a lot of nearly grown boys pretended the boat was sinking, scaring a little negro boy, Jerry Clayton, into jumping off. He was drowned. The Meriwether mill dam destroyed the Nixon ford so farmers and others coming to Luling had to use Dorn ford or treacherous Fishtrap ford. This last mentioned had a most uncertain roadbed through it; from the north bank a circular gravel shallow water, to sudden swift deep water and a steep bank 100 feet or more on the other side, and if one took a short cut he was very apt to upset into a deep pool. Do you remember the first bridge built across the San Marcos River? It was just below the Meriwether mill dam, so the farmers at Leesville, Rancho and Belmont could come to Luling. Were you at the moonlight picnic and dance on this bridge in 1879? Mike August and Lillie Kahn, buggy riding and crossing Fishtrap ford, upset in the deep pool. When asked why he let the team get out with the H. M. T.* Mike said, "I couldn't buy them from Mr. Wade. Mr. Kahn gave me his daughter." Do you remember the grand ball to celebrate the opening of "the Hotel?" After the free banquet was over, the spacious dining room was cleared for dancing, and an orchestra from San Antonio furnished music for the occa- sion. They played waltzes, schottiches, polkas, mazurkas, reels and square dance music. Round dances were not favored by the older people, so the ball room floor was ample except for reels and squares and double squares. * * * Prof. Whitehead and his son, Jimmie, both good violinist, opened a dancing class in the hall over Bowers Livery Stable, teaching ball room manners and dancing-girls in the afternoon, young men at night, together Wednesday and Friday nights, with a grand soiree once a month. The next dancing school was taught by Prof. Jesse Swearingen and son, Tobe, of Lockhart in the same Bowers hall. They made a specialty of marches. When George and Alf Edloff from Detroit opened a tobacconist shop (cigar factory) in Luling, they assumed charge of the dances. They used a lot of French words in prompting (Alemain, right or left) and the town had a Semcas Thora Ball.** *"Hug-me-tight," name given narrow buggy. **NOTE:: I was told by a Jewish friend that these words mean "A Happy Time." She pronounced and spelled them differently, but do not remember now-M.L.B.W. Page 42 FIRST BIG FIRE-HOOK AND LADDER CO. ORGANIZED-FIRST BOARDING SCHOOL-SIGNAL STARTED BY J. P. BRIDGES AFTER BUYING ENTERPRISE Do you remember that in 1877 there were regular passenger trains, two going east and two west every day? The railway company had built a passenger depot and express office and had hauled in many carloads of river gravel to fill the yards around them and the right of way between the two depots,' A civic club had been organized to care for the other streets and parks. All four public squares or parks had been grubbed but were cluttered up with piles of mesquite roots and brush and weeds. No one would haul it away and fear kept it from being burned. The Chris Wille hotel and rooming house had burned the winter be- fore which taught a lesson. The alarm was given by shooting firearms. The merchants loaded buckets to use by the bucket chain; water was drawn by hand (and pulley-one bucket up and another down) most of which was used on other buildings and the Wille furniture, clothing, bedding etc., which had been piled near the railway track on 5th Ave. This first big fire caused the organization of the Hook & Ladder Co. (the nucleus of the Luling Fire department), which in turn started a series of "benefit" dinners and suppers, parties, anything to make money to buy a fire bell, church bells, school bell, Masonic bell, park fences, labor for laying out and cleaning the new city cemetery, and the organization of societies and clubs for the same purpose. * * * At this time wages were small; day laborers were paid 50c and 75c per day, clerks and bookkeepers got from $10.00 to $30.00 per month. Well diggers and bricklayers were paid 50c per foot. Young men were marrying on $40.00 a month and paying rent or building a small home with borrowed money. However, rent was in proportion to income; a small house (with no conveniences) rented for $3 to $8 per month; there was always a small bit of ground for a garden and sometimes a well (if not there was one in the same block.) The livery stables did a good business, charging $3.00 for a buggy and team and driver (who got 50c), to drummers or to travelers by the day. A horse and buggy was $1.50 and a horse and saddle $1.00. When the young people went to a concert, commencement or meeting at Burdett Wells hotel they pooled their funds, two or three couples using the same carriage or hack; of course, in town everybody walked. I wonder who remembers that the first very small fire company's house was located on the north side of the railway track east of the depot on 5th Ave., that when the Smith & Malone gin burned the alarm was given by voice, shooting guns, and sixshooters, and the fire house was burned "they said by incendiaries" because it was sometimes used as a calaboose. Page 43 Do you remember that 1877 was the U.S.A. centennial year? Much ma- terial for clothing bore the numerals 1777-1877 on men's shirts, children's clothing, ladies' aprons and sunbonnets, just as other symbols were used later. To mention a few: Horseshoes, trefoil, or fleur de lis, clover leaves, horses heads and jockey caps. A number of Lulingites made the pilgrimage to Philadelphia to attend the Centennial Exposition and World's Fair. Among them were Mr. & Mrs. C. B. Collins, leaving their children in care of Mrs. Collins' mother and sister, Mrs. Ann Miller and Miss Agnes Miller, recently from Louisiana. I am telling this to introduce Miss Agnes Miller and Mrs. L. F. Price as partners, opening the first boarding school for girls, renting Col. Carter's house near the Methodist church. Their school build- ing was at the corner of 5th Ave. and S. 3rd St. They taught several terms both public and private schools. Of course you know in a public term the teacher was paid by the state and county; in a private school by the parents. This Centennial year brought other changes including organization as a justice precinct, with Jos. P. Hatchitt as Justice of the Peace and Perry Conway, Ranger, Mexican War and Confederate veteran, recently married to Mrs., Yordt, as constable. * * * Two new lumber yards were started. C. B. Collins and his brother-in- law, John Lipscomb, of Port Hudson, La., had a fine stock unloaded on the right of way. They sold to Pipkin of Beaumont in '82. The other the West End Lumber Co., owned by a local stock company, was managed by Mr. T. W. Pierce, whose son, Will has the same position in the succeeding company. (Will is dead and Lumber Co. gone now.) The newspaper, Luling Enterprise, fell on hard time and suspended publi- cation. Rev. Craft's health failed, his son and daughter had other interests. Miss Mamie married a Mr. Merkin, Mrs. R. D. Smith's brother and went to one of the other railroad towns east of Luling. J. P. Bridges of the Bridges & Steele firm, publishers of the Lockhart News Echo, bought the equipment, occupying the same location, and the old immigrants home to which he moved his family (invalid wife, small daughter, mother-in-law and her youngest son) in January, 1878. The Luling Signal started in January of that year and the family home was built corner 6th Ave. and N. 2nd St. that same year. The home is now occupied by the daughter who came with him from Lockhart, Mrs. Minnie Terry.* *NOTE: Mrs. Terry died February 10. 1946.