--------------------------TEXANA---------------------------

Chautauqua 2008
Texana: A Texas State of Mind

Texas History, Texas Music and Texas Heritage Come Alive!

Celebrate the sights and sounds of the Lone Star State's early days with music, poetry, storytelling, historical reenactments, and a Chuck Wagon Dinner.

Featuring: The Caddo Indian Nation, AKA Vocal Ensemble, The Light Crust Doughboys, Early Texas Life Reenactors, and a
Concert by the Dallas Wind Symphony

Saturday, September 27 12:30 - 9:00 pm
Chautauqua Auditorium - Getzendaner Park

Tickets (available at the door):
All Day (12:30 - 9:00 pm) Adults $10.00 Students $2.00
Evening Concert Only (7pm) Adults $5.00 Students $2.00

For more information:
info@waxahachiechautauqua.org

Reagor Springs Resort?

Entering the Twentieth Century, electricity was changing the World and Ellis County. The electric railways had already changed travel up in the northern states. The interurban electric railway in North Texas had started in Denison on May 1, 1901. Speculators were planning there lines from Sherman to Dallas then to Waxahachie. Why not patch Waxahachie into Ennis? To make sure people will travel that way J. T. Voss of Ft Worth would build a Resort in Reagor Springs! What? Reagor Springs? Yup the current drag race haven, beer store populated pit stop on 287. Though the Southern Traction wouldn't open for service from Dallas to Waxahachie until October 3, 1912 and then from Waxahachie to Hillsboro a year later on October 20, 1913, people were already securing right-of-ways. Just like the railroads after the civil war people were trying to get the property secured for the lines first. Though the line was never built between Waxahachie and Ennis, Mr Voss originally had grand plans for the line.

Waxahachie Enterprise July 4, 1902 Electric Lines in Texas cont'd Another inter-urban line is projected by a company recently chartered under the laws of the state and which has already run two surveys between Ennis and Waxahachie, a distance of about fifteen miles. J. T. Voss of Fort Worth, former president of the Poly-chnic Street Car company of this city, is the right-of-way agent for this company, and is no securing options on the right-of-way between Ennis and Waxahachie. Mr. Voss was here yesterday and said he had secured most of the route on one of the lines, and it was intention of the company to commence construction by the first of next September. This company too, contemplates a belt line but for the present the route is not made public. At Reagor Spring, midway between Waxahachie and Ennis, there will be a resort on which company expects to spend considerable money in making it one of the most attractive places in central Texas. A similar resort is now being arranged for at Handley by the North Texas Traction company. - Fort Worth Register.

-Waxahachie Enterprise Resorts were common attractions on the interurbans to encourage human traffic on the rail cars. WoodLake was a popular resort on the Denison-Sherman line. Quite a succes in it's time with swimming hole and a theater.

HANS SMITH: The Silver Tongued Orator

Hans Smith, born in Pennsylvania Sept. 15, 1799, was already a well established man before he took his chances with the Peter's Colony. He had represented Missouri and Arkansas in both Houses of government. He was General Commander of the Missouri militia for two years. Appointed Bank Examiner by Governor Boggs over the State of Missouri on Sept. 1, 1840. He even gave Missouri's famous "Bullion" Senator, Thomas Benton, a run for his money in one election for the Missouri Senate race. Hans Smith was a very big fan of President James K. Polk and was a 100 percent behind Polk wanting Texas to join the Union. In fact he named one of his sons James K. Polk Smith. The big problem with Texas joining the Union was the abolitionist felt Texas being a slave state would be moving the country in the wrong direction. Hans was a slave owner so I imagine he had no problem with this.

In the fall of 1845 Hans and his family began their move to Texas from Crawford County Arkansas. His wife Nancy and their children Robert aged 19,Sid aged 17, George aged 15, William Penn aged 12, Leila aged 8, and the baby ("little Jimie") James K. Polk started their journey. Also the slave Jerry was with them. They left Arkansas in three covered wagons drawn by oxen. They had all their belongings and necessities in their wagons. On the Smith's way to their future home they crossed the Red River and came into contact with the founder of the Dallas village,John Neely Bryan, at his one room cabin on the Trinity River.

From Bryan's home the Smiths forded the Trinity River and camped in the current location of Lancaster, Texas. Hans was headed toward Waco Country(named after the Indian village near the land) where Waco is today. While following the road south which was probably what became the Preston Road (Preston Road/ military road/ Shawnee trail)they went off a fork to the left taking them southeast(not their intended direction due south.).

They ended up on the north bank of Red Oak Creek in between the present day Rockett and Palmer, Texas. There camp was near Rutherford's crossing at Red Oak Creek. When they camped the kids went fishing and Hans killed some game. Later, Hans went walking on his own taking in the view of the Black Prarie land. South of Red Oak Creek Hans topped a beautiful hill and looked over the prairie valley. (I've always wondered if this hill may be where Hans is currently buried in Smith Cemetery. He is the first buried here and it sits upon a knoll looking over a valley.) Then he knew this was his new home! Hans said to his wife, "Nancy, I think we have traveled far enough. Their is plenty of timber and water here.

"

Hans built his house and claimed his 640 acres from the Peters Colony contract.Hans was elected representative of Navarro County. Two notable contributions to Ellis County by Hans Smith was he brought the first cotton seed to the area and he sat at the table for the organization of Ellis County out of Navarro County. It was thought that Texas lands could not grow cotton but they couldn't be more wrong! The Ellis County area at one time became the world's largest producer of cotton and it all started with Hans Smith. With the success of the cotton in the area Hans built the areas first cotton gin and ginned the areas cotton for 4 years. He also built a dry goods store being that the nearest was either north to Dallas, Texas or south to Corsicana, Texas. In 1852 Has Smith headed to Houston to get supplies for his dry good store. He took a $1000 of his own and $500 from a neighbor and left for Houston for supplies. He would not return. He was robbed a murdered in Houston. Nancy got her kids together and went to Houston putting Hans body in a metallic coffin. They brought him back and buried him on the beautiful knoll on their property now Smith Cemetery. Hans is the first burial in the Smith Cemetery. Emory Rogers said he was the greatest orator he ever heard and called Hans the silver tongued orator. He could have been one of the greatest politicians and business man in Ellis County history but his life was cut short March 20, 1852 at the age of 52. His wife carried on the honor of the family and paid back the neighbors $500 that had been stolen from Hans and kept the family going. She also settled his estate among her and the children.

"Under certificate 257 Volume 1, a survey of 640 acres granted in Ellis County was made in the name of Hans Smith, who emigrated to Texas and entered the colony which was granted to Peters and others prior to July 15, 1848, under patent 362, Volume 10, to the Heirs of Hans Smith deceased."

resources
The story of the pioneers, Hans and Nancy Owen Smith
Ellis Country History-pg 70
Hans Smith pg 117-119

Rattlesnake bite off old cattle trail

In the early 1840's "there were no roads in western Ellis County, just a cow trail leading from Greathouse Branch northeast to Waxahachie by way of Buena Vista." -Texas National Laboratories Research Commission. Historic American Buildings Survey. "Later this cattle trail was a part of the trail connecting what once was the Shawnee Trail to the Chisholm Trail."

Recently off FM 1446(Buena Vista), the old cattle road in Waxahachie, Vannessa Dial was bitten by a small rattlesnake on August 2nd according to Dr. Paul Wax of Phoenix. Dr. Wax, the nation’s top toxicologists, determined the bite was from a rattlesnake after reviewing Mrs Dial's blood work and toxicology report. Luckily Dr. Wax happened to be at Parkland for a toxicology conference.

This story has grabbed the attention of an A&M professor, Ray C. Telfair II, Ph.D., who is from Ennis. He is requesting that anyone who has encountered a rattlesnake in Ellis County to contact him. Dr. Telfair refers to the rattlesnakes in Ellis county as the canebrake and mainly found in the Maypearl-Italy area. Any info please post here and pass on to Professor Telfair by calling him at 903-839-4602.

update this rattler accidentally mowed in Midlothian, tx in the housing editions behind Loves

Old water pump on Red Oak Creek

Near Rutherford Crossing I found what appears to be an old water pump. One of the cone shape objects is tipped over and you can see down into a hole. The cone shaped structures are circular stacked bricks with cement over them. The bricks say "Palmer" on them. On the standing cone shaped structure there is an old motor. The area around the structures are wooded but does appear to have been cleared at one time. Maybe a structure was there. My only doubt to a structure is it would be in a flood plain. Their is a tributary east of the structures that pours into Red Oak Creek.
This is the area where Hans Smith came from Arkansas with his family. They had camped on Red Oak Creek as they came to the area to claim their Peters Colony land. After hunting in the area and topping a hill and observing the black prairie land, Hans Smith told his wife they had found their new home.

Outside Bathroom Ellis County Courthouse

Picture Courtesy of Ellis County Museum.

Looking center left bottom in this picture there is the old outside bathrooms which included showers. This picture I believe is looking North West down main street. Picture probably shot from the top of the Rogers Hotel and was taken circa 1919. It is said these bathrooms were put in for folks that traveled from around the county so the stinky travelers could take a shower and clean up for court. Remember at this time no ac in cars and as you can see on main street they still rode horse drawn wagons into town.

close up of bathroom

Thanks to Shanon Simpson for the info

Racial Inequality Historical Evidence at Ellis County Courthouse