CELINA
ON THE WING
Weekly Democrat Gazette, April 25, 1901
Celina April 22.
Editors Democrat:
Another week with its usual amount of rains, storms and
sunshine; another; revolution in the wheel of time that marks the beginning and
ending of some tragic event; another period in the world's history whose
countless millions have been startled perhaps by some scientific discovery or an
invention that is destined at no distant day to revolutionize the monarch of
progress.
The wheat and oat crops have succumbed to the ravages of the
green bug and the hand is being hurriedly planted in corn and cotton.
There are no new developments in the proposed Frisco extension
but I understand that options for right of way through several farms south of
here were secured last week to a point not far from Rock Hill. This being true,
the preliminaries for the location of the road bed from Sherman to the above
point are practically completed and it would not be surprising to hear almost
any day that the contract for grading had been let. If there is "wind" in this
scheme the railway company is paying dearly for it. Farms have changed hands at
fabulous prices and options are held on others at figures that would startle any
one but a west Collin farmer. The man owning a few acres contiguous to the
proposed line is "in the swim" and dare not set a price unless he means to sell,
for American gold circulates as freely as water runs from a mountain brooklet.
Prof. Yarbrough closed his term of school last Friday evening
and it is gratifying to say that no word of complaint has been heard from any
source, and, unsolicited, the board tendered him the term for next year. The
Prof. has endeared himself to the people of Celina by his success as teacher and
the walk of a gentleman and Christian.
Rev. F. A. Rosser held quarterly conference at Union, two
miles northeast of town Saturday and Sunday.
Rev. S. F. G. Finley of San Bernardino, Cal., who has spent
several weeks with his parents near Roseland, let early this morning for New
Orleans where he goes to attend the great missionary meeting to be held this
week.
"Springtime has come gentle Annie," bringing joy and gladness,
sunshine and flowers; the sleeping rill of yesterday awakes and the music of its
voice blends with the feathered songsters in their morning lay; the rose emits a
dainty fragrance, which, borne on zephyr wings, is like the breath from a
far-off land; spring, the harbinger of peace, throws off the dull mantle of care
and joins in the world's happy resurrection morn."
Am under special obligations to R. F. McFarling, W. C. Francis
and his two sons, Willie and Tony, for unstinted hospitality and kind treatment
extended during the recent rains and cold winds.
D. W. Leigh
INTERESTING NEWS FROM FIELD MAN.
Weekly Democrat Gazette, June 6, 1912
Celina.
S. J. Lewis, a native of East Tennessee, but spent eight years
in one of the middle counties, came to the Lone Star State nearly forty years
ago. He was so favorable known at home that he married before leaving that
state. Only three children, two girls and one boy, have blessed the home, and
the oldest daughter, Miss Nellie, married Albert Finley, son of T. J. Finley of
Celina, but who six years ago died and left her a widow. The second daughter,
Miss Maxie, was married to James Drake, who home is at Bishop Texas; the oldest
child and only son, Lowry, is now professor of veterinary science in the
agricultural college of Oklahoma and has held the position for seventeen years.
Mrs. Lewis has farmed principally all his life and his broad acres bear mute
testimony to his splendid success. Six hundred and sixty-six (666) acres of rich
black land right in the heart of Collin county, and all paid for, speak more
eloquently than words of ours of his energy, foresight and sound business
judgment. His big crops of wheat, oats, cotton and corn; mules, horses, cattle
and hogs are all his, but his money has been principally derived from cotton,
while or course surplus stock have been more or less helpful at all times. Has
never seen the prospects for an allround crop more flattering than at present
although form ten days to two weeks late. He is one man the writer has seen who
confesses that the past, considered from a financial standpoint, has no regrets
to offer. Every opportunity offered was taken advantage of every step to further
his own interests were seen in time to avoid pitfalls; every legitimate resource
was brought into play that would materially aid in acquiring more property, but
doubtful methods never entered his mind. Opportunities for young men now are
greater he thinks than formerly existed, and will continue to be as the
resources of the country at large are in the first stages of development. Reads
the Democrat-Gazette and commends its enterprise.
J. W. Ownsby lives on one of his fathers farms and has a mixed
crop of wheat, oats, corn and cotton, all look promising. Has been a reader of
the Democrat-Gazette for some years and will continue to read it.
J. D. Snodgrass, a native of this state and in 1888 married
Miss Bell Buchanan and five children, including two twin boys, the stork was
kind enough to leave them. One thirteen-year-old girl, Miss Benna, is the only
flower of the family. Mr. Snodgrass has refused $125.00 per acre for his
splendid eighty-acre farm. Has been a reader of the Democrat-Gazette for many
years and we thank him for cash on renewal.
J. B. Lewis, son of Rev. Joel Lewis, who for many years lived
in the Milligan community, is a native Texan and the first star he saw twinkle
between suns, was in Collin county. 1903 found Ben asleep and he fell a victim
to one of Cupid's darts and Miss Emily Riley claimed him as her own. The writer
has known them for many years and they are happy in each others love and life is
made more pleasant to them by the weekly visits of the old reliable family
newspaper, the Democrat-Gazette.
T. E. Powell was not at home but Mrs. Powell was loud in her
praise of the Democrat-Gazette. Their forty-acre block of wheat is certainly
very promising and other crops are growing nicely.
H. F. Roberts came from Tennessee to Texas in 1888; married
four years previously to Miss Celina Loftice. After living a few years in
Fannin, Bell and Hill counties he finally settled in Collin county where he
purchased a two-hundred-acre farm from his uncle, W. P. Roberts. Will began
harvesting grain this week. His in one of our latest subscribers and we take
pleasure in adding the name of another good man to our large list of readers
there.
In passing we called on J. W. Willock the noted stock man of
Celina, and went through his stable. We saw one stallion, Patch-trite
(descendant of Dan Patch and Electrite, hence the name) a saddler and roadster
combined. Also a young race horse and Mr. Willock thinks he's the speediest
untrained horse on the Texas turf.
J. M. Malone is another Tennesseean (and my! are the best
people of that grand old commonwealth all coming to Texas, and by the way we are
from there too?) who left there in 1891 and likes it because its dead easy to
live here and make money. In 1881 he led to the marriage alter Miss Hattie
Hathaway, of Nashville, and eight children, three boys and five girls were born
to them. There oldest daughter is the wife of E. L. Clark. Last fall Mr. Malone
purchased the farm of A. D. Stelzer, one mile east from this town and on the
porch of his beautiful residence one can look down upon a little city throbbing
with energy and a valley dotted with pretty farm houses, green pastures and
cattle that browse upon a thousand hills; fields of corn and cotton and last,
but not least, immense areas of wheat and oats that nod to every breeze and
whose heads are just now receiving their first tints from Nature's brush dipped
in a pot of gold. We only charged him a dollar to boost and read the
Democrat-Gazette for a year.
J. C. Ousley is also a Tennesseean (poor old Arkansas) who
came to Texas in 1887 and who, since that time, has seen the wonderful
development of the country. A barren prairie transformed into a garden of Enedic
beauty; the wilderness from a jungle into a vineyard, bearing the grapes of
Eschol, and the inviting valley where the cactus and sunflower behind whose
leaves merry johnny-jump-ups and blushing daisies played hide and seek, are
today the fields of thrifty and prosperous farmers. His residence just one-half
a mile east of town is indeed a "thing of beauty and joy forever." Miss Ida Case
became Mrs. Ousley in January 1884 and only one child, a son, and whose name is
Edgar was born to them,, and on the 25th of last April he was married to Miss
Edna Grayham of St. Louis. The father and son jointly own over six hundred acres
of black land. On the 22nd of last February while assisting Dr. Gossett to give
medicine to a fine colt attacked with tetanus, he received a broken leg. The
senior Mrs. Ousley is a Texan by birth and is proud of it. The writer
acknowledges a cordial invitation to spend a night in the hospitable home of Mr.
and Mrs. Ousley on his next round and a newspaper man seldom forgets an
invitation where he thinks his digestive organs will get a job. Mr. Ousley is a
good roads booster, sound democrat and an advocate for protection on raw
materials, and a new reader to the Democrat-Gazette.
Dr. T. G. Boorman for many years practiced his profession at
Princeton eight miles east of McKinney, but recently located in this town on the
west side. His reputation as a successful practitioner had preceded him and the
doctors of Celina are an intelligent bunch of men so they got busy and dished
out health to the people over there in great chunks before their new competitor
married and now there's no demand for the article and the outlook is gloomy. The
doctor didn't say when he'd move though.
Anticipating a big wheat crop and with the prospect of
something to grind pretty soon, the farmers are keeping Dr. W. H. Stallcup busy
whetting dull teeth and filing the low places in others preparatory to beginning
operations later.
J. E. Bateman a prominent farmer in the suburbs of the town we
found busy plowing a Duke's Mixture of corn and cotton. His wheat field is an
inspiring sight, and we are glad to say that he's on the winning side by again
reading the Democrat-Gazette.
Clay Hunn, the big hearted, and who for the last fifteen years
has managed the large Pope ranch three miles northwest of town renews his
allegiance to the Democrat-Gazette by handling us a dollar to place his name one
more on the honor roll. Shake old friend, you're the kind we are after.
W. J. Gearhart was not at home but Mrs. Gearhart is a native
of Texas, but raised in Tennessee. She was formerly Miss Kate Stone and her
father, Hade Stone is a prominent farmer of Denton county. She and Mr. Gearhart
were married five years ago. In her opinion, there is no paper that equals the
Democrat-Gaxette.
J. L. Harwood on the farm of I. E. Reeves and whom this writer
knew several years ago in Fannin county, is an old subscriber of the
Democrat-Gazette and his crop of corn and cotton is in excellent growing
condition.
B. C. Childress another old time reader of the
Democrat-Gazette still doing business at the old stand, and will press your suit
or fit you with a new one while you wait. Can't do without his favorite paper.
T. B. Dobie a Scotsman and came from the lowlands of his
native heath, Dumfrieshire county, just twenty years ago. Although afflicted
with sciattica rheumatism, he realized the need of placing good literature in
the family home and what other paper than the Democrat-Gazette could fill the
place so acceptably and prove so interesting.
G. W. Tate one year ago married Miss Ruth Ownsby, daughter of
J. C. Ownsby and with his brother-in-law, Lee Ownsby, is cultivating one hundred
and eighty acres of land, one hundred and ten acres of wheat and oats which
promises a big crop. We are pleased to enroll Mr. Tate on the big list of
readers that belong to the Democrat-Gazette. J. C. Ownsby came to Texas from the
mountains of middle Tennessee thirty-two years ago and his present residence is
within a few feet of where he first settled. Has over five hundred acres of land
purchased since he came here, and well improved farm and in a high state of
cultivation. On the farm there are nearly three hundred acres of small grain
besides other crops. Not in the stock business to the extent of a few years ago,
but keeps about thirty head of horses and mules to run the farm. Had the
misfortune four years ago to lose his companion and the domestic affairs now are
looked after by his youngest daughter, Miss Joe Bailey Ownsby. We are pleased to
enroll him on our big list of Democrat-Gazette readers.
W. J. Ford on the extreme corner of the Light ranch is
cultivating nearly two hundred acres of corn and cotton the balance in small
grain. Has cultivated his same farm four years. Got on the band wagon of the
Democrat-Gazette by "shelling out" the special price of one dollar. Thanks.
J. E. Nauce for over twenty-five years a citizen of Collin
county and in 1905 led to the marriage alter Miss Ida Dubberly and whom the
stork never visited until a few months ago he left them a bright little boy.
Lives on and cultivates his mother's farm of over two hundred acres. He will
read a mighty good paper, the Democrat-gazette and we are glad to welcome him to
our big list of readers.
H. A. Melton came fro Tennessee only fifteen years ago, and
six years later persuaded Miss Maude Maynard, half sister of our big poultry and
hog man, C. C. Maynard, to marry him. Working the Dubberly farm and has a fine
prospect for a crop. We are pleased to say that he acted wisely by subscribing
for the biggest and best weekly newspaper published in Collin county, the
Democrat-Gazette.
L. H. Hinsley another middle Tennesseean to Texas without
having to stop in Arkansas. Married twenty-six years ago and the father of only a
few children, eleven all told, four married. Three girls still at home and the
oldest one, Miss Maggie informed your field man that she was eighteen years of
age last Friday (3 ultimo) and could, if necessary procure a marriage license
without a parental order. He "dug up" the price while we were writing a receipt
for one year's subscription to the Democrat-Gazette.
W. L. Braswell one mile west of Prosper, formerly lived in the
Stiff Chapel community eight miles northwest of McKinney. Sold his farm there
and purchased another of more acreage. Mrs. Braswell and her daughter, Miss
Nannie, were busy hoeing the garden but took time to entertain this scribe for a
few minutes. Twenty years residence in the Stiff Chapel community endeared them
to the people, but they found neighbors in their new home. Their farm is a good
one, well improved and the outhouses are sufficient in number to afford shelter
and protection to live stock. A good farm of eighty acres, convenient to market,
school and church, why shouldn't they like their new home? The entire family
reads the Democrat-Gazette and have been readers for many years.
Another strenuous week before us but we are hopeful.
D. W. Leigh
Community Cemetery
Nelson Hotel
Old Celina Cemetery
Old Union Cemetery
Communities Index
- Recommended citation:
"Celina - Collin County Communities,"
Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of
Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13 13:37:28 US/Central 2004 ].
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