"Out of Our Past"
by LaDawn Garland, Bosque County News
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February 21, 2001
First off I have to say thank you to all who have been sending me such wonderful stories of Bosque County. It is amazing how I hear from people all over the United States with ties to our beautiful county. I had a great week in my own research, found my Gregory family in Bell and Hamilton counties in the census for 1880 and 1900. I believe that they were here in Clifton as well. If any one comes across any mention of an early Clifton resident by the name of T. A. Gregory or his son John T. Gregory, I would love to hear from you. Keep those stories and queries coming, they bring the past to life for so many of our readers. Remember to mark your calendars for the Bosque County Historical Commission Annual Preservation Luncheon, Saturday, March 3, 2001. You can get all of the details at their website http://bosquechc.orgEdward Spencer New
E. S. New was a native of Gallatin county, Kentucky, and was born April 19, 1830 the son of James B. and Frances (Spencer) New, both natives of Kentucky. The Spencers were from Virginia and had found a home in Kentucky at an early date. The family was represented in the Seminole war in Florida.
James B New was a saddler in his younger days later settling down to the quiet life of farming. He also for some time served as postmaster of his town. James B New died in Kentucky in 1851, his wife survived him many years and died in November, 1895 at the age of 94.
They were the parents of seven children; E. S., Frank S. who moved to Texas in 1875, was a veteran of the confederate army and a saddler in San Saba; William H, who came to Texas in 1857 served throughout the late war; Nancy, who married J T Edmonds of Kentucky; Susan, who came to Texas in 1858 married F. G. Acre, a farmer of Llano county; Betty, married William Rainbolt and came to this state in 1857; Mary, married John T Scott and moved to San Saba.
E. S. New attended the common schools near his home. In 1853 in Kentucky he married Miss Mary Peterson, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of William Peterson a farmer who died in Kentucky.
They lived in Kentucky, until 1857, where E. S ran a harness and saddle shop and at the same time kept the post office. They migrated to Texas that year, first locating at Waxahachie, where he worked at his trade for one year and then turned his attention to the stock business.
E. S. and Mary New were the parents of twelve children; Edward, a farmer of Bosque County; Emma, wife of William LaFon, a farmer; Mrs. Mary E. Gilpin; Mrs. Fanny McGeehee; Mrs. Laura W. Wylie; William, who married Miss Nelly Plumly; Frank, who married Abby Womack; Anna, who married D M Gary, a school teacher; Robert, a farmer, who married Cora Womack; Ada; James and Jay G.
E. S. New enlisted in the first year of the war in Bufford's Nineteenth
Texas Cavalry, Parson's brigade, and rendered service in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He also made one raid up into Missouri. In all his army life, which extended until the close of the war, he was never wounded or captured.
In 1865, the year of the surrender, he was near Houston, from there he returned to his home in Ellis county, gathered up his stock and moved to Bosque County, locating near Morgan. In 1894 he sold out and moved to near Iredell, where he had 302 acres of well improved land, 110 acres under cultivation. With a comfortable residence, modern wind pump and fine orchard he was pleasantly situated for carrying on farming and stock raising.
Edward Spencer New died 4 Jan 1922 in Bosque County and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Iredell, Bosque Co. TX. Beside him is his wife Mary Catherine Peterson born 15 Dec 1838 in IL and died 6 Aug 1907 in Bosque county.
-- Linda Baker ndnblu@texoma.net
Memories Of Walnut Springs
In the early 1930's Walnut Springs was a thriving country town. People from all the surrounding areas would go to town on Saturday Afternoons. There they would visit with each other, buy the goods that were needed and return home late in the day. They did not buy a great deal because they raised most of their food. My mother canned vegetables and meats for our own use. I will never forget the huge pressure cooker that she used, there were clamps on it with a pressure gage on top. When she would tell me to watch the gage and not let it get too high it always made me apprehensive about it blowing up, what with all the steam and hissing. Another chore that I thoroughly disliked was churning butter, I felt that it would never end. Most families would take their eggs into town on Saturday and sell them or trade them for goods. My mother said that they only bought sugar, flour, salt and occasionally clothing. I remember that we were bought shoes for the winter months and went bare footed in the summer. The shoes were only the functional kind, called brogans, a high top shoe. She made our night gowns from the flour sacks.
When we went to Walnut Springs on Saturday Dad would give me a dime to spend. This dime would get me a movie ticket, popcorn and candy. The movies were silent movies. I'll never forget that there was a pretty young lady in my class in school that I was very much in love with, but I could never speak to her. One Saturday in Walnut Springs I was walking down the sidewalk, looking for my Dad, when I met her head on, she said "Hello Glen", and I was tongue tied and could only turn around and run to the car, hiding until my parents came. To say the least, I was very shy.
In my last writings I mentioned Arrowhead Mountain, and how arrowheads were so plentiful. I was told that the Mountain was the home of a large encampment of Comanche Indians. The flint rocks were excellent for making arrows, there was plenty of wild life for food, there was also plenty of water, and the Mountain gave them an excellent view of the surrounding terrain, so no enemies could approach with out alerting them. I could pick up arrowheads all over the Mountain, some were only partly finished, I suppose they were imperfect and were thrown away. I recently talked to the Ranch Manager, Don Baker, and he said that you still could find the arrowheads, probably uncovered by the rains.
Once I recall that during winter when snow was on the ground, a group of wolves was raiding the stock and killing them. I recall looking out to the barn and seeing the wolves attacking the goats. My Dad and several neighbors got together and went after them, following their footprints in the snow. I remember it being a very successful hunt. These were huge wolves, they called them Lobos.
My father was an accomplished musician and could play many instruments. In fact he played in a band when he and mother first met. Late in the day about sun set, he would sit on the back porch and play for me. Those memories I'll never forget. There were no drugs in those days, but the worst spanking I ever got was when Dad caught me smoking, I would pick up cigarette butts, take the tobacco from them and them re-roll my own.
-- Glen Glenn
Query
I have a friend in Sweden who wants to find his family here in the U.S. So far I have been unable to get a lead. I am told they settled in Bosque County.
Peter Magnus Nilsson b. June 3, 1863, left for Waco, Texas on Sept.14, 1888 Mathilda Nilsdotter b. July 2, 1869, left for Waco, Texas in 1889 Bina Nilsdotter b. August 11, 1873, left Sweden Feb. 20, 1891 Elsie Nilsdotter b. May 14, 1875, left Sweden Feb. 20, 1891 Johan Nilsson b. October 8, 1871, left Sweden 1897 Nils Anton Nilsson b. April 12, 1879, went to Clifton Texas on March 24, 1897. Nils Anton was the last one of the brothers and sisters who went to the USA.
The gentleman in search of his family lives in Sweden and his name is Gorgen Karlsson. I would like to know what happened to this family and when and where they might have died. Or just anything.
I can be reached at: suebright@aol.com
News From Around The County From The Peoples Tribune, January 1, 1887
Clifton News - H C HUGHES of Meridian was here on business Tuesday. J K BASS, the Clifton gin man, made a business trip to Meridian Tuesday. ED ANDERSON, well known in this county, and who has relatives at Norse was married at Goldthwaite Friday night.
Iredell News - Miss FANNIE WOMBLE of Hico is visiting her cousin Miss MITTIE GOLDEN here. H A TURNER and wife went up the road Saturday to visit his mother on the boarding cars. T. S. SIMPSON and family spent Saturday in Iredell. Misses JENNIE and GRACE stayed until Sunday and went to Meridian to spend a few days.
Meridian News - A. THORNTON of Iredell spent Monday in the city on business. Mrs SUSAN HOLLY of Waco and her little grandson ROY, are spending the holidays with her son TOM GRAHAM of this city. PINK PARKS who formerly lived in this county but moved out to Runnels county a short time ago was in the city Tuesday.
