JOSEPHINE
JOSEPHINE JOTTINGS
Daily Courier Gazette, September 12, 1938
by Mrs. O. S. Scott
Miss Reba Frances
Abell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Abell, has become a member of the large
staff of special community reporters for the Daily Courier-Gazette and Weekly
Democrat-Gazette. She will represent Josephine and vicinity in our papers in the
future. Her father is the Postmaster at Josephine.
Miss Reba Frances is
active in varied Josephine affairs. She is President of the "J. W. G." Club,
whose membership includes, besides herself, Ruby Jean Abell, Martha Pilgrim,
Frances Haven, Pearl Watkins, Elizie Foreman, Billie Nell Aven and Joy Rickman.
Mrs. Ed Yeatts is sponsor of the J. W. G. (Just We Girls) Club.
These fine young
girls are sponsors of the up-keep of the pretty park located in the business
section of the town, lying alongside the railroad right-of-way. Recently
electric lights have been installed in the park, popularizing it as a pleasure
resort especially during the hot summer evenings. These girls raised necessary
funds by giving swimming parties and ice cream socials.
The Josephine Lumber
Company is owned and operated by S. E. Old, one of Southeast Collin's worthy
citizens, who came from Daingerfield, Texas, fourteen years ago and bought an
interest in the lumber yard with A. J. Old. Later, in 1932, he bought out the
interest of his partner. S. E. Old is a son of Jordan and Millie Old. He was
married to Miss Mary Alice Key of Daingerfield. This worthy couple have many
friends. He is a real asset to Josephine as a business center.
T. D. Bratton, son
of Mrs. Geo. E. Bratton, owns and operates a blacksmith and general repair shop
in this substantial little Southeast Collin town. He keeps very busy serving his
many customers. Mrs. T. D. Bratton is the former Miss Janie Lou Gervin. They are
the parents of a pretty little girl, Doris Ellen, the joy of their home.
This newspaper
scribe enjoyed visiting another Josephine lady - Mrs. J. W. Hargraves, who was,
before her marriage, Miss Mildred Abbott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Abbott,
living southwest of McKinney. Mr. and Mrs. Hargraves are the parents of a little
daughter, Mildred Joyce, who is three years old. She is also the pride and joy
of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Hargraves with whom her parents live.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B.
Hargraves are the parents of the following children: Mrs. Money Vaughan of
Nevada; Mrs. Jack Townsend, Richard Leroy Hargraves and William Arthur
Hargraves, all at home and Weldon Hargraves also of Josephine.
George Evans, son of
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Evans, pioneer settlers of Nevada, is manager of Evan's Cafe
and also agent for the Dallas Dispatch. He married Miss Goldie Davis, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Davis of Nevada. His brothers and sisters are W. C Evans,
New Orleans, Louisiana; Claud Evans, Nevada; Clyde Evans, Dallas; L. E. Evans,
Dallas; Dan Evans, San Antonio; Albion Evans, San Antonio; Mrs. R. G. Kimbriel,
San Antonio; Mrs. R. G. Stallings, Slaton, Texas, and Mrs. Alex McGee, San
Antonio.
Davie Conine is
operator of a gasoline station on Main Street in Josephine. He is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. L. Conine of Aston Chapel near Farmersville and married Miss Erma
Price, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Price of Caddo Mills. They have one little
son, Doyle Wayne, two-and-a-half years old.
M. H. Short is a son
of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Short of Copeville. He married Miss Sallie Yates, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Yates of Josephine. They have two sons, M. H. Jr., aged
eleven years and Eual Corry, aged nine years. These youngsters possess natural
talent and sometimes sing over Radio Station KRRV at Sherman. They won first
prize on the Station WRR Melba Theater hour, April 2, this year and also won
first prize at Royse City. Their father owns and operates a modern grocery store
in Josephine. The father is one of a large family of children as follows: Mrs.
Landon Griffin, Covington Tennessee; Morris Short, Route One, Nevada; Monroe
Short, Nevada; Mrs Frank Putnam, Copeville; Mrs. Richard Burtrum, Copeville;
Miss Marie Short, Texas State College for Women, Denton; Glenn Winfred and James
Short, both of Copeville.
Mr. and Mrs. John W.
Bruxson came from Ennis and located in Josephine some years ago. They own a
large dry goods and ready-to-wear store. They have been in the ry goods business
for the past twenty years. Mr. Broxson came from Alabama to Texas married Miss
Florence Taklington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Talkington of Ennis, Texas.
Their children are T. G. Ratcliff, Houston, Mrs. E. W. Garnett, Houston and Mrs.
James Walker, 202 West Tyler Street, Ennis, Texas.
Mrs. Barney Welch
was formerly Maggie Belle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Wherry. They came from
Mississippi and settled at Josephine. They reared a large family of children as
follows: Sam Wherry and Mrs. Earl Reese, Josephine; Mrs. E. A. Young, Josephine;
Mrs. L. P. McClendeon, Merit; Mrs Clyde Wilbanks, Nevada; Wes Wherry, Royse
City, H. H. Wherry, Tutwiler, Mississippi; and T. J. Wherry. Miss Maggie Belle
married Barney Welch. They have three children - Melba, Eribelle, and Barney
Kenneth. Mr. Welch is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Welch of Josephine. He had one
sister, Mrs. Charley Eddy of Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Welch own and
operate a grocery and market. They have been in business in Josephine since
1920.
W. C. Davis has been
Agent for the St. Louis and Southwestern railroad for thirty years. He has been
with the railroad for forty-seven years in all. He moved to Josephine in 1899.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis reared seven children - Charley Davis is a telegraph operator
and brakeman on the local train running through Josephine; Claud Davis has been
telegraph operator in the House of Representatives in Washington, D. C. for the
past nineteen years; Wayne Conner Davis, owns and operates a Hi-Way Motor Bus
Line out of Dallas; Edmond Phaftesbury Davis is resident Cashier of the St.
Louis & Southwestern (Cotton Belt) Station, Young Street, Dallas; Mrs. R. H.
James and husband own and operate the bottling works at Huntsville, Alabama.
Mrs. Frank D. Winn is with the Wyatt Metal and Rofler Works, Ogden Street,
Dallas: Cleo E. Davis is telegraph operator and insurance agent and active in
church work residing at Garland but working at Lavon.
The splendid Baptist
Church here at Josephine is of red brick and has been built for twenty-five
years. The pastor is Rev. W. A. Harriman of Denton. He preaches twice monthly on
the second and fourth Sundays. Sunday School Superintendent is Bill Lee, who is
now serving his third year. Miss Ella Smith has been the faithful organist for
ten years. This Sunday School has an average attendance of 150. A huge bronze
bell was used in the old frame building to call the people to worship. In 1936
the bell was suspended in a frame erected by the side of the church to be
preserved as an antique. It was rung one time in 1936 in honor of Texas'
One-Hundredth birthday. Now it serves as a memorial to the deceased members of
the church, around which flowers are growing in memory of the departed ones.
There is a beautiful lily for Mrs. J. T. Wherry, a rose for Mrs. Coffman;
evergreen for Mrs. Eva Tarrant; Rose, Mrs. R. F. Petty. A large tabernacle with
a seating capacity of 500 is built on the church ground. Here summer revivals
are held. Thee is an active Women's Missionary Society with the following
officers: Mrs. Emma Coleman, President; Mrs. Minnie Townsend, Vice-President;
Miss Lillian Bush, Secretary-Treasurer; Mrs. Bill Lee Mission, Study Chairman.
The lawn of the church has been beautified by planting shrubs and evergreens.
The Methodist Church
has a new building of brick veneer, located across the street from the Baptist
Church. Rev. W. E. Howell is pastor, this being his first year. He and his
family reside in the parsonage, but this representative failed to find anyone at
home when we called. Sunday School Superintendent is J. B. Abel, average
attendance is ninety. Miss Billie Lemine Cook is the pianist, serving in her
second year in that capacity. This church also has an active Women's Missionary
Society which is headed by the following officers: President Mrs. J. W. Holmes,
Vice-President Mrs. Lyle Cook, Secretary Mrs. O. R. Hunt, Treasurer Mrs. George
Evans, Superintendent of Publicity, Mrs. W. E. Howell, Superintendent of
Supplies, Mrs. D. P. Houser, Superintendent of Christian Social Relations, Mrs.
B. Welch, Superintendent of Study, Mrs. R. C. Spell. Mrs. J. M. Henson is
teacher of the Builders Class composed of women from the ages of twenty-four to
forty-five years. They have an enrollment of forty-two in this one class. The
social unit of the class is called the Sunshine Sisters. They meet once each
month in the homes where they each draw names, take a gift at the end of the
month Games are played and refreshments served, which helps to stimulate
interest in the class. This church has a large bell mounted to announce
services. A new stucco church burned six years ago on the site of the present
modern church plant.
JOSEPHINE JOTTINGS
Daily Courier Gazette, September 16,
1938
by
Mrs. O. S. Scott
There are two gins
in the thriving little Southeast Collin town of Josephine and they are being
kept very busy ginning the fleecy staple. The crop, some of the Josephine
citizenship told us on a recent visit there, is averaging one-half bale per
acre. The Planter's Gin Company of Farmersville owns the Farmer's Gin. Edgar Lee
Aven is the manager; Edgar Abbott, bookkeeper; Jim Coleman, pressman; V. W.
Watkins, suction feeder, and O. H. Dubbs, utility man.
The other gin in
Josephine has been operated by Ed Yeatts as manager and Mrs. Ed Yeatts as
bookkeeper, for the past eighteen years. Other helpers are: C. D. Rosenbaum,
ginner; Sam Wherry, press man; Doyle Able, suction man; Mr. Young of Greenville
is the buyer. Herndon Coleman is bookkeeper for the Government. We were pleased
to add Mr. Coleman to our rapidly growing list of readers of the Weekly
Democrat-Gazette.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Yeatts are two of the most public-spirited folks we know. They are loved and
appreciated by their friends and neighbors. There isn't anything of a
progressive nature that they aren't connected with it. Ed Yeatts is a son of the
late J. M. Yeatts and wife and was reared on a farm near Josephine. His mother
passed away thirty-five years ago and his father, some ten years ago at Riviera,
Texas. J. M. Yeatts was a progressive farmer, owned some 400 acres of land. Then
he built a gin on the farm and later moved it to Josephine. Ed Yeatts has three
own brothers and three half brothers as follows: W. M. Yeatts, Farmersville;
Clifford Yeatts, Route 3, Ft. Worth; Milton Yeatts, Olney; Miss Ruthie Yeatts,
Abilene, Texas; Mrs. Dovie Hensill, Rockwall; Claud Yeatts who is with the
Marines in Honolulu and Guy Yeatts, radio operator at Galveston. Mrs. Yeatts,
before her marriage was Miss Georgia Bush, daughter of Rev. G. W. Bush and wife
of Nevada. She is one of a large family of children. They are J. R. Bush and
Miss Lillian Bush of Josephine; J. W. Bush, Lubbock, Texas; R. C. Bush,
Stamford; Mrs. John Graves, Midland, Texas; Mrs. D. M. Cook, R. F. D., Fort
Worth; Claud Bush of Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Yeatts own a beautiful house in the
south part of Josephine. Being a lover of flowers, Mrs. Yeatts has made of her
home a veritable paradise of beautiful flowers and shrubs. In 1935 Mrs. Yeatts
was appointed Beautification Chairman for Josephine. To assist her in her work,
she organized a club of girls, eight in number. They were: Janice Coleman, Orba
Abbott, Eufaula Abel, May Emma Martin, Thula Aven, Ora May Sebastian, Gracie
McCrome and Margaret Myers, and they called themselves the Service Scout Club.
They asked for the plot of ground in front of the business section by the
railroad that was being used as a dump yard and growing up in weeds during the
summer months, a most unsightly place. The railroad gave their consent to the
beautification project. First the girls landscaped the plot then borrowed wagon
and team and hauled cotton burs from a gin for fertilizer. They had the land
broken by a tractor and then borrowed placing native rock around made gravel
walks built arches and a summer house with seats which was very attractive to
every visitor. Then came the donations of flowers and shrubs. Greenville
florists gave $25.00 worth; the Chamber of Commerce of Farmersville gave 10.00
worth; Lang's of Dallas gave $10.00 worth, the citizens of Josephine donated 52
roses and Terrell gave $5.00 worth of roses. The park is a credit to the town
and travelers on the trains state it is the prettiest spot between Fort Worth
and Texarkana.
J. Meniphee Henson
owns and operates a tailor shop and service station at one and the same place.
He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Henson and married Beulah Gleghorn,
daughter of W. W. Gleghorn of Forney, Texas. They are the parents of two sweet
children, Faye Camille and Jerry Bob.
Mr. and Mrs. Ollie
Jordan have lived in Josephine for twenty-five years. He is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. E. A. Jordan. His father is dead, and his mother lives in Dallas. Mrs.
Jordan was formerly Miss Daisy Henson, daughter of Mr. and S. T. Henson,
deceased. They have no children of their own but reared her niece, Miss Eufaula
Abel, now Mrs. Woodrow Bost. Mr. Jordan is a painter and paperhanger by trade,
while Mrs. Jordan is a dress-maker and keeps well supplied with work.
We met Mrs. B. F.
Jordan. She was before her marriage, Miss Katie Jean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
W. T. Jean, while her husband is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Jordan. They are
farmers and the proud parents of the following children: Sivelia, now Mrs Guy
Houser of Josephine; H. V. Jordan, Caddo Mills; Stella, now Mrs. R. C. Snider,
5016 Delmont, Dallas; and W. T. Jordan, living with his sister at 5016 Delmont,
Dallas.
Mrs. Sam Tarrant of
Josephine is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Payne. She was born in Franklin
County, Georgia, and came to Texas in 1902. She married Sam Tarrant in 1905. He
was a carpenter by trade and an old settler, who came from Alabama in his youth
and passed away, July 15, 1905. Mrs. Tarrant have two step sons, John Tarrant,
Route 3, Farmersville and Bunyan Tarrant of Marlow, Oklahoma.
Josephine has an
active Parent Teacher Association. Mrs. Lyle Cook is President; Mrs. W. E. Cox,
Vice-President; Mrs. Herndon Coleman, Secretary-Treasurer; Mrs. B. W. Kent,
Parliamentarian; Mrs. Eric Coleman, Historian. They meet each second and fourth
Wednesday afternoon. Their project is a water system for the school. A deep well
they had dug caved in during the rains in the early spring and they had to fill
it up.
W. H. Beaty and wife
have owned and operated a general merchandise store in Josephine for the past
twenty-three years. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Beaty of
Montgomery, Ala. He married Miss Willie McCurry, daughter of Mrs. H. B. McCurry
and her late husband of Josephine. They have two children J. P. Beaty and Miss
Connie Lucile, the latter attends East Texas State Teachers College at Commerce.
The Josephine Garage
is managed by J. H. Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Cook. He married Miss Elsie
Jordan, daughter of Mrs. W. L. Jordan of Josephine. Their children are: Billie
Lorene, Elsie Lucille and Frederic Lyle. They all attend the Josephine school.
While in Josephine
this correspondent had the pleasure of visiting in the home of Mrs. J. M. Currin.
While we were there she handed us a one-dollar bill to send the Weekly
Democrat-Gazette for twelve months. Mrs. Currin was formerly Mary Lee, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Morris. They resided near Farmersville, and both passed
away in 1900.
Mrs. Currin has four
brothers and six sisters. They are: Mrs. R. L. Rickman, Route One, Nevada; Tom
Morris, Nevada; Mrs. C. L. Jackson, R. F. D. , Farmersville; Mrs. W. E.
Patterson, R. F D., Cumby; Mrs. Lula Shipp, R. F. D., Farmersville; Mrs. Bula
Brown, Dallas; Hubert Morris, R. F. D., Kirkland, Texas. The latter two are
twins. Deceased brother and sister are: Harvey Morris and Mrs. Bessie Tackett.
Mary Lee Morris married J. M. Currin, July 24, 1890. Ten children were born to
this union as follows: Maudie Currin, who died in infancy; Mrs. Lillie Rampy,
who died in 1918; Henry Lee Currin, who was killed in action in Argonne, France,
September 28, 1918; Mrs. Jewel Bryant, 700 Kansas Avenue, Weslaco, Texas;
Richard T. Currin of Farmersville; Mrs. J. J. Long, Route 5, Abilene, Texas;
Mrs. Tom Hamiter, Route 2, Como, Texas; Roy Currin, Josephine; Mrs. Earl
Westbury, R. F. D., Royce City; John M. Currin, Jr. at home with his mother. J.
M. Currin, Sr., passed away, November 10, 1930. Mrs. Currin owns a nice home and
keeps roomers for company while her son is away at work. Mr. and Mrs. Noble
Chapman are living there at the present. Mrs. Currin has fourteen grandchildren
and five great-grandchildren. A family reunion was held in her home Sunday,
August 28, 1938. Twenty-six of her family surprised her with a feast of good
things, already prepared to eat and the day was a most enjoyable one for all
especially the mother and grandmother Mrs. Currin.
HISTORY OF JOSEPHINE
Daily
Courier Gazette, October 1, 1946 Centennial Edition
by
Elsie Louise Cook
In 1887, J. C.
Hubbard of Farmersville, gave the Cotton Belt Railroad Company four acres of
land. This small track was named Josephine, after his eldest daughter, Josie
Hubbard. Some time before this a Mr. Reed had given land for the community known
as Reed's Chapel, two miles southeast of Josephine. Reed's Chapel consisted of a
Methodist Church and School, which occupied the same building, and a burial
place now known as Josephine Cemetery. Mr. Pink Piles was the first teacher at
Reed's Chapel and Rev. Mays the first preacher.
Soon after the
railroad was built Reed's Chapel was moved to Josephine. Terrell Jordan was the
first settler in Josephine and operated the first gin. Other early settlers
included: George W. Bush, Gus Jordan, P. R. Jordan, John Houser, Charlie Myers,
James Shehane, Joe Stubblefield, Sam Tarrant, Sam Harris, Joe Howell and Andrew
Morrison.
People followed
cattle trails across the prairies on horse back and in covered wagons, to bring
in supplies from Caddo Mills and Greenville, in Hunt County, and Terrell in
Kaufman County.
A box car served as
the first depot. Joe Stubblefield was the first agent. He was also the town's
first doctor, merchant and postmaster.
Fifty-seven years
ago, in 1889, the Cotton Belt passenger train ran through Josephine to Dallas.
It took the settlers to the first Dallas Fair. But since the road bed was only
mud the train bogged down and didn't get it passengers there for the opening.
The Santa Fe an the East line, now the Katy, were the only ones to arrive on
time.
The first Methodist
pastor in Josephine was Rev. P. L. Smith. The first Baptist Church was built
northwest of the present location and the first preacher was Rev. Wolfe of
Greenville, Texas. The present Baptist Church was erected in 1911, the Methodist
Church in 1932.
Josephine's first
school building was located north of our present business section, with Prof.
Gibson as the first teacher. Later the school was located on the present grounds
but it has had four buildings since. The superintendents in the history of our
school are: Professors Love, Teasley, R. L. Wilson, J. J. McCasland, Murry H.
Fly, W. E. Godwin, Ray Brown, B. W. Kent, F. M. Smith and A. O. Bowen.
The first telephone
exchange was operated by M. S. Garner and George W. Bush; the first market by
Henry Jordan; the first drug store by Dn Welch, and James Shehane; the first
picture show by Pete Kelsoe; the first bank by G. B. Yeatts, and the first
garage, 1913, by J. H. Cook and Edd Bramlett.
Josephine, now a
thriving little town of about 500 people take pride in carrying on the
enterprises these settlers began for them. She is happy to be able at all times
to take her part in all of the social, civic and political activities of the
county.
Elsie Lucille Cook,
Josephine High School, Josephine, Texas.
Communities Index
- Recommended
citation:
"Josephine - 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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