TX BIOS:  Mrs. W. M. Anderson
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   FOLKLORE-WHITE PIONEER,
   
   Miss Effie Cowan, P.W.
   
   McLennan County, Texas,
   
   District 8.
   
   No. Of Words 2,250
   
   File NO. 240,
   
   Page NO. 1.
   
   REFERENCE.
   
   "Interview with Mrs W.M.Anderson, Durango, Texas.
   
   "I was eighty-six years old on the 11th day of March, 1938. I came to
   Durango from Hunt County with my husband in 1873. It was just a short
   time after the railroad came to Dallas, Texas, near our home, and I
   can recall its coming. It was an occasion for cerebrating when the
   first train came into Dallas. A big crowd assembled at the depot and
   when the train stopped a group of gay young ladies climbed on the
   train and when the bell rang and the whistle blew for it to start, the
   conductor tried to get us to get off the train but we girls just stood
   waving and stayed right on the train and had our first train ride on
   the first train into Dallas.
   
   "We arrived in Durango about the time the white people had the last
   encouter with the Indians. There was a band who were captured at
   Gatesville for stealing horses and several Indians were caught and a
   white man who was thought to be the leader. We made our first two
   crops before we saw barb-wire. Brush fences and rails were used. Our
   farm was part of the land formerly owned by Joe Jackson. Of course we
   had live stock of our own, but ofttimes in those days we bought beef
   and never asked questions as to where it came from. We had the idea
   many times that we were eating meat that had been stolen and sold to
   us, but there was nothing we could do about it.
   
   "When we went to Marlin, the county seat of our county(Falls), we
   crossed the river on a ferry boat. Some times when the river was low,
   people would wade across to save the fare of the ferry.
   
     NOTE: [???]
     
   00022"Money was desirable but more of a curiosity and we often
   resorted [?] resourceful-ness in getting what we wanted by trading. Mr
   Anderson went into trade negotiations whereupon the three mules and
   horse which brought us here was exchanged for 28 acres of timber land
   along Deer Creek. The family stretched a tent in which we lived for
   ten months, our nearest neighbor being three miles away. We then
   started grabbing the timber and when the land was cleared we planted
   corn and cotton. We kept warm in the winter and cooked on a open fire
   at the mouth of the tent.
   
   "Between times Mr Anderson cut logs and hewed boards with which to
   build our home. Our first crop was made with one work animal and the
   use of a neighbors horse, which we borrowed. In six years time we had
   saved enough outside of our living expenses to buy a sewing machine
   and have buscuits to eat on Sunday 's, once in a while, which were a
   great luxury. Some times fortune was not so kind and we had failures
   in our corn crops, and then we had to dig down into our saving and buy
   it. I can remember when [DEL: i :DEL] corn cost $1.10 a bushel.
   
   "In 1878 we had [DEL: ailstorm :DEL] hailstorm which fell with
   destructive force in late May, roasting ears, cotton and oats, which
   showed fine prospects were mowed completely down. We had to plant all
   over again. Then in 1887 there came a drouth and things got so
   desperate that the work animals and stock had to be moved over to Salt
   Branch, near Cego, where they were kept for two months. For our
   clothes we spun the wool [DEL: [?] :DEL] to make thread for knitting
   socks and stocking and suits and dresses, and dyed the thread with
   copperas or pecan bark. 00033"And then a cyclone came! This was in May
   of 1892. Crops were in good condition, except for the need for rain.
   Farmers work all done at the close of the day. We looked at the clouds
   and thought "there would be rain at last", but it was more than rain.
   Funnel shaped clouds formed quickly in the northwest above Durango and
   there was a whirlwind of dust and debris, then came a roaring,
   crashing sound. The funnel shaped cloud swept to the ground in
   terrific roar and force. It cut a path south-eastward, uprooting
   trees, tearing up houses and splintering trees. Crops were destroyed,
   and then it was all over in a few minutes.
   
   "The people of Durango awoke to find that a number of their relatives
   , friends and neighbors had been killed or wounded. Mr and Mrs Tom
   Weathers were killed with two of their children almost instantly. Miss
   Bessie Farmer (sister of Lee Farmer) a young lady in her teens, was
   mortally injured. Others were injured, some seriously, others less
   seriously. Many, many marvelled at the miracles that happened
   seemingly to save their lives. [DEL: he :DEL] The cyclone swept by the
   house of Lee Farmer, fearful of the tragedy he ran to the home of his
   parents which was squarely in its path a mile away. He found the house
   a wreck and his sister badly hurt and suffering. She died next day.
   The four of the Weathers family were buried in one grave. (they were
   the people of Mrs Farmer.)
   
   "Mr and Mrs Parnell who live a few miles east of Durango saw the
   whirling wind and the dark cloud. They heard the din and roar of the
   trees and saw bits of household belongings blowing through the air.
   This was followed by a heavy rain, they were so impressed by it they
   put the date in the family Bible-- May 30, 1892. 00044"There was not a
   public school near our home and our children were first taught in a
   room of our home, and when the weather got warm in the spring and
   summer, the men built a brush arbor joining our house for the pupils
   which by that time had embraced the near neighbors. Plank boxes were
   used for desks, and there were eight pupils at one time. As time went
   by and Durango became a village there was a school there and our
   children went in a cart, a distance of five miles, carrying their
   lunch for themselves and the horse.
   
   "Moscow was the first post-office in this section. It was located in a
   field on the farm [of?] [lerrell?] Jackson, known today as the Sam
   Hart farm. The next post-office was West Falls, not far from the old
   Carolina cemetery. It was moved from there to the present site of
   Durango. And with the coming of the rural routes it was discontinued
   and the inhabitants received their mail from Lott, Texas. Lee Farmer
   whose family has been identified with the settlement since the
   seventies, claims that Dodson Wells was known before Durango. These
   wells were watering places for the travellers on the pioneer trail
   which connected Marlin and Belton, county seats of Bell and Falls
   counties. Many travellers camped at these wells for the night when on
   their journeys through this section.
   
   "One of the [DEL: earlies :DEL] earlist mail carriers was
   J.P.Weathers. His route was from Marlin to Belton and he often had to
   swim the river on his horse. He had many and varied experiences.
   Later, when a Waco to Cameron road was laid out it crosses the
   Marlin-Belton road north and slightly westward. Naturally the post
   office was more convenient at the cross roads. 00055"Automatically the
   spot became known as West Falls and the post-office went there. For a
   long time it was known under this name, but later it became knwon as
   Durango. The town was a thriving business place until the coming of
   the San Antonio and Aransas Pass railroad which brought the towns of
   Lott, Chilton and Rosebud into existence. It was then that many
   business men moved to these other towns.
   
   "As late as 1892 Durango was a thriving settlement of 250 inhabitants.
   An old directory reveals that the following were engaged in business
   and professions at that time. W. H.Barnes contractor. R.R.Boyd
   teacher, Davis and Anderson grocers; J.C.Dulaney, druggist; A.E.Ellis
   blacksmith; S.Forenander, contracter! J.W.and W.A.Henslee, merchants;
   G.E. Hocutt, Methodist monister: A.R.Joyce, grocer; J.S.Llewellyn,
   physician: T.J. Laughlin, postmaster: J.L.Russell, teacher: Stuart and
   Cox, dry goods: J.D.Storey, blacksmith; and R.B.Whitesides, physician.
   
   "In years succeeding, Darango dwindled, as many of its inhabitants
   moved to the towns located on the railroads only seven miles, leaving
   only a farming community and a people devoted to good citizenship ,
   instead of the thriving business center it [DEL: o ce :DEL] once was
   --where stores and workshops helped to keep the town alive and where
   the first West-Falls county nespaper was published.
   
   "This story would not be complete without mentioning the names of the
   first settlers of the Durango community. Long before the Civil War the
   Jackson family settled near Deer Creek, not far from where Darango is
   today. Another pioneer who came before the Civil War was Uncle George
   Storey. His house stands today. He was a black-smith and made ploughs
   00066and wagons for people all over the country. Over near where
   Chilton is today the Weathers, Coxes, Landrums, Gardners and Wrights
   lived. Uncle Bruce Storey, Uncle Ben Bouchillion and Mr white came
   after the Civil War from Alabama and settled near where the twon of
   Durango stands. I mentioned Mr Weathers carrying the mail during the
   war, and because he was carrying it for the Confederates he failed to
   receive any pay.
   
   "Mr Dodson settled on his farm among the first settlers near Dodson's
   Wells, which were used to furnish water for the community. Others who
   came to the Durango settlement right after the Civil War were the
   Lewellyns, Farmers, Stewarts and Uncle Drive Currie. Mrs Cox was a
   long time resident of Durango. She died only a few years ago, She had
   a good mind to the last and often related historical incidents, she
   was personally acquainted with Gen. Sam Houston.
   
   "Another settlement which played a historic role near us was the old
   Carolina settlement located on the site of what is now the Carolina
   cemetery and church, all deserted except these two landmarks. [This?]
   community was so closely related to Durango in its pioneers and their
   activities that it may rightfully [?] be considered the progenitor of
   Durango. If the history of Durango were carried back to the fifties it
   would lead to old Carolina. The earliest pioneers west of the Brazos
   river settled along the sandy -loam ridge upon which Carolina sprang
   up first as a center of activity, then Durango. A church was built
   about 1853 at Carolina, and it is supposed the same building was used
   for a school. 00077"It is generally conceded that the same building
   used for the school was also used for the Presbyrterian church, and as
   far as history goes the first Presbyrterian church that came into
   existence west of the Brazos river. In the upper story of this
   building a Masonic lodge was organized, but it was finally moved to
   Chilton, where it is in existence yet.
   
   "It was on the 12th day of October that the Carolina Presbyrterian
   Church was organized with eleven members and two ruling elders.,
   namely A.V.Lee and J.Hobbs and Rev.J.T. Black. The organization took
   place at the home of A.V.Lee on Elm Creek, five miles from Cameron.
   This church was first named Elm Creek, but as most of the members soon
   after, [DEL: [?] :DEL] declined to move to Deer Creek in Falls county,
   it seems that the name was changed to Deer Creek, before the
   organization was reported to the Presbyrtery.
   
   "The name was changed to Carolina in October 1864. A young man named
   A.B. Frazier, was appointed clerk of the session, but it does not
   appear that he was an elder. He was drowned soon after in Elm Creek.
   Rev. A.L. Tenney took charge of the church in the fall of 1854 and was
   installed as pastor in April of 1856, by the Presbytery, which held
   its spring meeting then and this relation continued until the end of
   1859.
   
   "The first church building was erected in 1859, built of lumber sawed
   by Mrs Lea's sons, by hand. Later a church was created in 1883 and
   dedicated in 1884. H.C.Smith preaching the sermon. Mr Balch preached
   for the church several times and ordained the elders chosen in 1854.
   L.Tenney preached to the church most of the time from '63 until '68
   and again supplied from '71 to '75. 00088Rev. S.A.King was S.S. during
   1868 and J.A. Walker in 1870: R.M.Longhridge from 1876 to 1800:
   J.F.Paxton in 1881 to 1890: S.W.Mitchell 1890 and '91:
   S.J.McMurry,1892 -'93: J.M.Cocbran from Oct. some time uncertain, (The
   above figures were taken from History of Presbytery of Central Texas,
   by Rev. L.Tenney) who took charge as I have stated of the
   Presbyrterian church at Old Carolina in 1854, and installed as pastor
   in 1856.
   
   "Total number of communicants enrolled was 154, as against the number
   enrolled in 1895, as being 48. This decline in enrollment in 1895
   shows the effects of the passing of the railroad east of Carolina.
   Today it is known as one of Falls counties most well known cemeteries.
   Graves mark the resting place of many pioneers who wrought in western
   Falls county. A small church still stands nearby, but it is seldom
   used. The communicants of this church are now listed on the rosters of
   other churches.
   
   "If the real story of Durango and Carolina could be brought to light,
   with the struggles of its pioneer families, it would be an inspiration
   to the younger generation. These two settlements occupy as unique and
   important a place in the history of Falls county as does Blue Ridge on
   the eastern section. Both communities wrought indelibly in history,
   yet the spirit of these [pion ers?] were modest. Most of the oldest
   settlers can recall vividly the untiring work of the country [DEL:
   doctors :DEL] doctor's as they rode horseback over the muddy roads in
   the winter and were always ready for the most [?] call. Chief among
   these was Dr John Llewellyn, father of the late attorney Nat Llewellyn
   of Marlin. Dr S.P.Rice father of the [DEL: lat :DEL] late Dr S.P.Rice
   of Marlin, and Dr R.B.Whitesides, who lives at Lott today. 00099"I
   failed to mention another organization which came into existence
   during the hey-dey of Old Carolina which was the United Friends of
   Temperance. This is revealed in ancient minutes of that organization
   in possession of Mrs Annie Poulson of Lott, Texas. This organization
   flourished in the seventies and the roster of its membership is a
   glimpse into the early families of Carolina and Durango. The charter
   members were W.E. Jackson, Joe Lea, Hugh Lee, Ben Freeman, Tilman
   Busby, Jesse Hedrick, Milton McLain, Bud Peters, James Snodgrass, Sam
   Jackson, Dick McCullough, And the following Sister of the
   organization, Kate Lea. Sue Wright, Ida Freeman, Annie Wright and
   George Bonner.
   
   "Other members who joined this order soon after formation were, J.S.
   Johnson, Joe Huneycutt, LaFayette Hood, J.W.Storey, S.Cramp. W.A.Cook,
   Miss Annie Wright, Mamie Harwell, S.E.Peters, Tom Gaither, Millie
   Gaines, Charner De Graffenreid. L.H.Hall, Forrest Gaither, James
   Gaither, Ed Lane John Edge, John English, J.H.Bone, Lida McCutcheon,
   T.B.Garland, Miss Josephine Daffin, Mrs Mary Gaither, I.R. Richard and
   many others I do not recall.
   
   "Jesse Hedrick, charter member and recording secretary of the United
   Friends of Temperance lived at Darango when it was a thriving
   community and was publisher of a newspaper known as "The Durango
   Enterprise". He was justice of the peace at Darango, county
   commissioner and deputy sheriff of Falls county at different times.
   001010"In 1919 my husband W.M.Anderson died . Eleven children were
   born to us, five of whom are now living. They are Mrs Mary Gardner of
   Durango, Mrs Lois B. Marshall of Marlin, Mrs Joe Waite and Gillis
   Anderson both of Durango, and Captain Charles Anderson of San Antonio.
   I may claim to be the sole survivor of the first families which came
   to the Durango, Carolina settlement in the early days.
   
   "On the 11th day of March, 1838 I celebrated my eighty-sixth birthday
   at my home a half mile west of the Durango -Bell Falls road, where the
   school and chruch is located. Yes , I have seen lots of things that
   have happened in the early days of this community. There's much I love
   about Falls county, of course I've experienced dissapointments and
   heart aches and for many years was not satisfied about leaving Hunt
   county in 1873. I felt that perhaps we should have stayed there, but
   our destiny, brought us here. I've lived a long and comparatively
   happy life and am ready for the call Over There to the Great Beyond.

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