Area Information
Hood County Texas Genealogical
Society
OBITUARY OF THOMAS ALLEN BURNS,
FOUNDER OF LIPAN, TEXAS
Transcribed by James T.
Sears on June 18, 2001
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Thursday, November 23, 1933
Vol. LIII, Number 296
Page One
CENTENARIAN DIES
Col. Thomas Allen Burns, who died yesterday at Burkett at the age of 101, shown cutting a cake on his one hundredth
birthday lighted with 100 tapers. The cake was presented at a picnic celebration tendered by his friends, all of whom were
given a piece.
(Photo Inserted)
PIONEER, 101, OF BURKETT DIES
Special to The Star-Telegram
BURKETT, Nov. 22
Col. Thomas Allen Burns, one of the most picturesque pioneer characters in the State, who celebrated his one hundred and
first birthday last July, died at his home here about 11 o'clock this morning. Funeral arrangements are
pending.
On his one hundredth birthday, Colonel Burns was honored with a picnic by his friends and fellow townspeople, each of whom
was given a piece of a huge cake upon which had been placed 100 candles. Last July Colonel Burns was given further honors,
a feature of the day's observance being another cake, this one decorated with 101 lighted tapers.
Sturdy, debonair, and of erect military bearing, Colonel Burns' appearance up to a short time before his death belied
the fact that 101 winters had passed over his head. The humorous twinkle in his clear blue eyes and his ready smile always
impressed those who met him.
Colonel Burns was born in 1832 at Dungarven, Ireland. He came to the United States with his parents about 1840. He attended
school at Port Byron, N.Y., where he resided until he came to Texas in 1856. In 1860 he was clerk of election "for or
against secession" in Bexar County. The next year found Colonel Burns down in Mexico as a teacher of English in a
private school; at the same time, he was a student of the Spanish language. Between 1868 and 1870, he held two offices
simultaneously, assessor and collector of Caldwell County and registrar under reconstruction laws, his duties being to
administer the oath of allegiance to all male persons 21 and over. In 1869, he received appointment as United States
commissioner in bankruptcy; took the census of Caldwell County in 1870; assisted in surveying the town of Lipan in 1873,
and became its first postmaster in 1875.
Two years later Colonel Burns took over a larger post office at Granbury, which office he held for six years---until 1883,
when he moved to his late residence in Burkett.
Colonel Burns had previously purchased several thousand acres of Coleman County land.
His first wife (Mary Elisabeth Turner) died some years ago. He had two sons, Cy and Will Burns, who live here, and a
daughter, Mrs. S.Z. Williams of Sweetwater. In 1922, in his ninetieth year, Colonel Burns decided, as he expressed it, to
"quit running around and settle down." Accordingly, he married Miss Elsie M. Cochran, post mistress of
Burkett.
Colonel Burns was always an early riser, being "on the job" daily before he retired from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the
post office where he assisted with the routine work. He had always been a total abstainer from intoxicants, was a church
member, read without glasses, and up to about a year ago continued his study of Spanish. Colonel Burns was primarily
interested in things of a scientific nature.
~ Web Page by Virginia Hale ~
HOOD COUNTY TEXAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
|
Hood County Texas Genealogical
Society
HISTORY OF LIPAN, TEXAS
by James Timothy (Tim) Sears, Lipan Historian
June 30, 2001
E-mail: jtsears@execpc.com
Nestled in a small valley in northwest Hood County is the town of Lipan, Texas. Lipan is named for the
Lipan Apache Indians who once roamed the Southwest.
Lipan is surrounded by small creeks including Crockery Creek, Kickapoo Creek, and Weaver Branch.
The valley has come to be known as Kickapoo Valley with Kickapoo Falls as a distinctive landmark.
These creeks eventually empty into the mighty Brazos River.
For many centuries this tranquil valley was home to native American Indians from several tribes including Wichita, Apache,
and Comanche tribes and to bountiful wild game of deer, turkeys, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The creeks ran year
round; the wooded land provided for the needs of both man and beast.
About 1853 the first known white settlers of the area were Sam and George Allen who settled between what is now known as
Crockery Creek and Weaver Branch.
Crockery Creek derived its name from the waters that cooled crocks of milk and butter placed in the water. Weaver Branch
was originally named after the Allen men; the name was later changed to Weaver Branch to honor the memory of a gentleman
named Weaver who resided there and was killed by Indian marauders.
Another early settler was John Middleton who settled just west of Lipan between Dry Branch Creek and Double Mountain; he
settled in what was first known as Middleton Point. Other early settlers were C.A. Gilland, James Capps, and George
Killion. These early settlers were adventurous men who were seeking lands in their native form.
By 1873 an Irishman named Thomas Allen Burns (1832-1933) arrived on the scene and laid out a township which he called
Lipan. He was aided in his founding of the town by land agent John H. Traylor.
Burns was the first postmaster at Lipan in 1875 and owned a general store. A mill and a blacksmith shop were the other
early business ventures. In 1878 Burns sold his property and moved on to Granbury where he served as postmaster. . He
eventually settled in Burkett, Texas where he died at age 101. His plat was subsequently owned by Emma O. Marr. The land
changed hands several times; the town plat was finally filed at the Hood County Court House on September 13, 1882.
The Lipan area began to grow and prosper. Land began to be cleared for farms. As the lands opened up, people came west and
chose Lipan as home. Early names associated with Lipan included Self, Allison, Sweek, Aiken, Cook, Beavers, Woodburn, Key,
Gardner, Roach, Lee, Martin, Foster, Mugg, Helms, Huffstuttler, Lane, Yeats, Hale, Davis, Holt, Simpler, Stavenhagen,
Castle, Luttrell, Compton, Cross, High, and Gafford. These are only a representative cross-section of the many families who
were early settlers of Lipan.
CEMETERIES
One of the earliest needs of the community was a burial ground. Two burying grounds were established in early day Lipan.
Present day Evergreen Cemetery was established in 1866 on a hill east of Lipan. The Baptist Cemetery was established
southeast of town on Crockery Creek near one of the early school buildings; graves which date to the early 1870's are
among the first burials at that site. Most modern day families choose plots at Evergreen Cemetery. Veterans from the Civil
War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War are buried in Lipan's
cemeteries.
SCHOOLS
Several schools were established during the early history of Lipan. These early schools were subscription schools and
usually were in session for five months and housed in log cabins or other crude structures.
The first school was established about 1871 and was located north of present day Lipan where Marion Ator once lived. The
second school was located east of that location on the hill across from Evergreen Cemetery. Children attended a
"picket schoolhouse" which was made by sticking poles in the ground. It had a dirt floor and the students sat on
split logs. Students walked three miles to and from school and carried their lunches in tin buckets. Another school term
was conducted at a nearby site. A subsequent school was at the church building at the Baptist Cemetery site. Even later, a
subscription school term was conducted at the site of the present school property in Lipan proper.
During the late 1880's residents of Lipan voted a tax for construction of the first permanent school building. It
consisted of two stories and was a plank building. A well, cistern, and outhouses were located nearby. School was conducted
on the first floor and divided into two educational levels. The Masonic Lodge leased the second floor of the building for
its meeting place. A wing was added in 1890 for additional classroom space.
The second permanent school building was constructed about 1900 and was also a two-story plank building. It consisted of
four rooms. In 1923 a high school was established; Lipan High School graduated its first senior class in 1924.
During the Great Depression, the Work Projects Administration constructed the third permanent school building with an
indoor gym. This building was built of brick and tile. Additions to the building were made during the 1940's. A
kitchen/cafeteria area was incorporated as a part of the complex about 1950. The last additions to the third building were
added in the early 1960's when a new cafeteria and agriculture classroom/shop complex were constructed. The gym complex
was struck by lightning late on the night of May 10, 1968. The gym quickly caught fire and burned into the early morning
hours of May 11. The complex was completely destroyed. The entire collection of school trophies which dated from the
1920's was also destroyed.
School patrons immediately voted a bond to construct a new school building in the summer of 1968. Parts of the old building
continued to be used for classrooms. The new building included classrooms, gym, and cafeteria. Other classroom additions
have been completed since that time.
A modern library was constructed in 1997 and named for long time teacher Sylvia Wilson Baccus. A referendum was passed in
1998 for construction of a new high school. The new high school was occupied in 2000. A new high school gym will be
completed in 2002.
CHURCHES
Churches have played a vital role in the community since its earliest days. The first Baptist congregation was located on
Crockery Creek in one of the log cabins that was also used as a school building. The earliest known Baptist Church
organized about 1876. The membership voted to move the congregation into Lipan proper in 1894. The group met in the Lipan
school. Later church buildings were built in Lipan near the school property. This congregation was affiliated with the
Southern Baptist Convention and eventually took the name First Baptist Church of Lipan.
Primitive Baptists also established a congregation in the Lipan area but it did not survive as a viable congregation. A
second Southern Baptist Church was established in Lipan during the 1980's and took the name Calvary Baptist Church of
Lipan.
The Methodists established a congregation in Lipan by 1880. They were housed in several locations near the current school
property. They chose the name Lipan Methodist Church. They provided worship for Lipan area families until the 1970's
when their membership began to decline. The church was discontinued and members moved memberships to nearby communities.
The building was purchased by the First National Bank and is used for storage purposes.
Presbyterians also made an effort to establish a congregation in Lipan, but there was not enough interest to form a
permanent church.
Many early Lipan families were members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The congregation formed during the
1880's was greatly influenced by prominent Christian Church ministers Addison and Randolph Clark. It was about 1900
that members could not agree on whether or not to have musical instruments in the church. Most members of the Lipan
congregation were opposed to musical instruments. They formed the Lipan Church of Christ in 1904. Their church building was
also located near the school property. Their current building was constructed in 1938. An addition to this building was
completed during the 1960's.
THE TABERNACLE
History of the tabernacle in Lipan is sketchy. Church congregations first constructed brush arbors to be used at various
times for their summer meetings. All three church congregations later used a tabernacle constructed before 1900 for their
"protracted" summer meetings. The first tabernacle was located where the Methodist Church building now stands.
Funerals were conducted there as were other community gatherings. The present tabernacle was constructed after 1918 and
remains in use today.
ORGANIZATIONS
Several organizations were established in the Lipan area. The Masonic Lodge granted a charter for Charity Lodge #565 in
1882. The lodge is still in existence today. The Order of Eastern Star is the companion organization for ladies and also
continues in existence to the present day. The Woodmen of the World organized in 1900 and continued for many years; they
had a companion Women's Drill Team.
The Oddfellows organized in 1884 and existed until the early 1940's. The Lipan Chieftains and Squaws organized as a
community group in the 1960's. This is only a representative list of organizations; others have also been
organized.
AGRICULTURE
At one time "Cotton was King" in the Lipan area. As farms grew in number, farmers began growing cotton; there was
a need for a gin. The earliest gin and mill was built in the late 1870's by a man named Harrison Davis. His gin was
horse drawn for power. The gin/mill was located on property known in later years as the W.J. Aiken and J.J. Wilson
homestead. A subsequent series of gins were established on both Crockery and Weaver Creeks since water was needed for the
boilers. During the early 1880's gins were located on both sides of Weaver Creek; operators were Nelson and James F.
Bishop. Another gin with a grist mill was operated by Dearl Carter on Crockery Creek. That operation was later owned by
Sherrill Jackson and then by Frank Williams. Another gin and grist mill was built behind George Ator's home on Weaver
Creek. J.C. Culberhouse and Jones were owners until it burned. Frank Williams and Walter Doss later built a new gin on the
same site; it continued as a thriving business until 1940 when cotton crops were decimated by boll weevils. Many current
and former residents of Lipan remember when school was closed for a week each fall so students could assist with cotton
picking. Also, many students missed time each spring to assist their parents with plowing and planting.
As cotton fell into decline, ranching increased. Ranches have grown and decreased in size throughout the year. Names of
large ranches have changed frequently.
Several large poultry and egg farms also flourished for a time. Ranching and hay farming continue to be vital to the local
economy.
BANKS
Banks have played an important role in the history of Lipan. The earliest bank was privatized and owned by a Mr. Hilburn.
The Lipan State Bank was chartered in 1904. The Farmers and Merchants State Bank was organized in 1907. The F&M Bank
was reorganized as the First National Bank in 1914. A second charter to the same institution was issued in 1922. Shortly
after this time the two banks merged and continued under the name The First National Bank. This business continues today in
a modern building with a drive-up window.
MERCHANTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS
Merchants and business owners have been the life blood of the village of Lipan for its entire history.
Thomas Burns, founder of Lipan, was the first merchant. Early businesses included blacksmith shops, general stores, dry
goods stores, cotton gins, grist mills, a privately owned bank, and boarding houses.
Undoubtedly there was a wagon yard and livery stable as well.
William Gafford was a hotel keeper. His son J.P. Gafford was also an early merchant and saloon keeper. Members of the Yeats
family built a hotel which existed until about 1940 on the site of Lance Key's home. The current home of Mike Rippetoe
also served as a boarding house at the turn of the 20th century. Names of many merchants and business owners prior to 1900
are unknown. Individuals since 1900 include the following: Aiken, Angley, Ator, Bagwell, Brewin, Dyer, Baker, Dennis,
Campbell, Stell, Followell, Hurn, Gafford, Petty, Goodman, Key, Roach, Rippetoe, Saxon, Jones, Harris, Pope, Sears,
Tolbert, Warren, Yeats, Huffstutler, Windsor, Bustle, McPherson, Addison, Compton, Baldree, Ives, Stowe, Tipton, Rogers,
Wheeler, Light, Weaver, Howard, Chandler, Branson, White, Pena, Dickinson, Jones, Iles, Byrd, McCuan, Robinson, Sims,
Lambertson, Norman, Smith, Edwards, Tuggle, Penick, Hunt, Allen, Price, Perry, Baker, Law, and others.
PHYSICIANS
Physicians have also played an important role in the history of Lipan. Doctors from the late 1870's to the 1960's
include Hall, Kerr, Strange, White, Rodgers, Ranspot, Philley, Perry, Gough, McFall, Gandy, Roan, Weathers, Gunderson, and
Thomas. The last doctor to live in Lipan and serve its residents was C.I. Tout.
Dr. John W. McFall gained special fame in Lipan when he delivered the Hewlett triplets on September 18, 1911; this was the
first time triplets were born in Hood County.
A hospital was built through subscription shares in the late 1940's. After the hospital fell into disuse, it was vacant
for a long period of time.
The hospital building found a new life in the 1970's when it was renovated and turned into a community center. It is
the scene of reunions, parties, meetings, etc.
One service provided by the community is a location for family lunches when there is a death of a loved one.
FUNERALS
Early day Lipan residents constructed their own coffins for burials. Later on, Hite Rippetoe sold coffins through his drug
store. He was one of several local men who took on the role of "undertaker." Lawrence C. Smith became the first
licensed funeral director in Lipan and opened a funeral home about 1938. He remained in business until 1968 when he sold
his funeral home to George Martin. Lipan now has one funeral chapel. It is owned by Billy Wiley.
HOMECOMING
Local families were responsible for the maintenance of their own cemetery plots from the inception of the cemeteries.
Families usually gathered to clean their plots on Decoration Day. As the size of the cemeteries grew, more and more plots
became overgrown and unkempt. Elon Aiken and Mary Ruth Gandy led efforts to clean the cemeteries in 1937. They were
assisted by Tom Stell, John Dyer, Pete Queen, Lawrence Smith, Freda Ives, and others. A committee was established for each
cemetery, caretakers were hired, and the Lipan Homecoming was established.
The committees decided that Homecoming would always be held on the first Sunday in June each year.
The first homecoming was held on Sunday, June 5, 1938. Entertainment was provided on Saturday night at the tabernacle.
Sunday was a day for visiting, a short memorial service and business meeting, collection of money for the cemeteries, and
dinner-on-the-ground. The wonderful custom of Homecoming continues even today.
MORE ABOUT LIPAN
Lipan was a village for many years. Several private water systems have served the community during the last 75 years.
Private wells served homes and businesses prior to the community water systems. At one time, a well, wooden water tower,
and watering troughs were located in the area near Lambertson's store.
Lipan was incorporated in 1956. Streets were paved during the 1960's and a sewer system was installed during the
1990's. A volunteer fire department and emergency ambulance service exist today.
The first phone company was organized in 1906 and served many area residents; long distance service was provided. Dial
telephones were installed in 1963. A modern, privately owned phone company serves the Lipan area today. Internet
connections are also available to subscribers.
Natural gas service became available to Lipan area citizens by the 1930's from Lone Star Gas. Various forms of
electrical service were available in early twentieth century Lipan. Texas Power and Light bought the system in 1937 and
continues service today. Lone Star Gas and Texas Power and Light eventually combined into one utility known as TU
Electric.
Lipan continues to have an active business district downtown with two funeral chapels, gas stations, grocery store, bank,
cafes, general store, feed store, post office, city hall, beauty shops, etc. The school and churches are within walking
distance of downtown. Residents enjoy the advantages of rural life, but can reach major cities and shopping areas in an
hour's time or less.
CONCLUSION
Lipan, established more than 125 years ago, continues to be "Home" to many honest, decent, hard-working
individuals and families. Lipan will always hold a special spot in the hearts and lives of those who grew to adulthood in
this dear village but now reside elsewhere. May it flourish and prosper far into the future!
|
Hood County Texas Genealogical
Society
HISTORY OF LIPAN, HOOD COUNTY, TEXAS
By Carl Dean Ator - Written in 1948
Having a truly inspiring, appealing, and romantic history, Lipan, Hood County, Texas dates its existence as far back as
1870. At this time, the thriving little community was known as "Crossroads," due to the fact that the road
running from Weatherford to Stephenville crossed with the Granbury-Palo Pinto Road at the present site of
Lipan.
A man named Burns, who began business in 1869, operated the first business establishment and post office. After a period of
about two years, a man named George A. Morris established the second store. Then came the enterprise, which cursed the very
well-being of "Crossroads"-the saloon which was operated by that rough, tough "Black Snake" McCoy.
It was about that time that those daring early settlers of Lipan had a fight with a group of Indians from the Lipan-Apache
tribe about two miles west of the present town site. In this battle, the Indians killed two white men. These two men?s
names were Chickery and Weaver. The creek running by the J.J. Wilson home and the creek running by the present Roy Clary
place were named after them.
In 1872, there were less than one hundred inhabitants around the entire Lipan community; the homes would average about six
miles apart. So, one can see that their closest neighbors were a long way off.
The people needed and wanted a school. A small one-room building was erected not far from the well on the creek of the
present F.M. Ator farm in 1872. A fellow from Tennessee by the name of Gordon taught the first school in Lipan. After a few
weeks of teaching, the settlers became very dissatisfied with the location of the school. It was very unhandy for many
children because they walked as high as six to eight miles counting the morning trip and the return trip in the
evening.
A new site was decided upon, and another log cabin was built in the northeast corner of the present J.J. Wilson farm. Still
dissatisfied with the set-up, the settlers erected another school building on the hill where the Dave Key home now
stands.
All three of these school buildings were log houses in which the cracks were not chinked at all; the cold wind
"whipped" right on through. Dirt was the only floor; split logs were used for benches. The three R?s--reading,
?riting, and ?rithmetic--were all that they even proposed to teach in those days. All of the students read aloud all of the
time; one certainly had to have the ability to concentrate, in spite of the noise, if he or she got anywhere in school.
The location of the school on the Dave Key hill was more satisfactory than the two previous school sites; but, before the
beginning of the term in 1873, a little school house was built on the present campus site of Lipan High School.
Considerable improvement was made in the quality of the building put up, but it was still made from logs. Because the home
of a fellow named Wells was the closest to the school, it was known as "Well?s School" for many years.
In 1876, a better building was erected on the same site. Before the beginning of the 1877 school term (each term lasted
only about three months), the first plank building was built. It has been said that the lumber in the 1877 schoolhouse was
of very rough quality because the settlers took the logs from native trees to the sawmill and had them split. Due to the
relatively poor quality of timber in this country, much of the bark remained on the planks in the building. But, the cracks
were closed; that was what the people wanted.
In those days, all of the older pupils wore pistols because of fear of an attack by the Indians. Everybody hung his gun on
the wall while school was in session. Mr. N.B. Self, my grandpa, recalls that one day school was progressing nicely when,
all at once, a large herd of cattle on stampede ran through the underbrush toward the school. The teacher and the pupils,
thinking the cattle were Indians, instantly bolted the door; all grabbed their guns and prepared for an attack. They
certainly were relieved when they saw the herd, still running with much rapidity, divide around the little building and run
out of sight.
Just as had been their custom with the first log school houses, the local citizens wanted to rebuild every three or four
years after they got the plank building. It has been said that between the erecting of the first plank building in 1877 and
the building of the first two-story schoolhouse in 1890, the building was completely torn down and rebuilt three times!
In 1883, two cotton gins were operated not far from the Paul Bowden home with one on each side of the creek. Orand Nelson
owned one gin while Uncle Bobby Bishop?s father owned the other one. They were located on the creek for a two-fold purpose:
one, to dispose of the cottonseed by running it down the creek (its fine feeding value had not been discovered then) and
two, to have water for the boiler.
The awful drought of 1885 broke some of the businesses in Lipan and crippled all of them because they sold on credit from
fall to fall. Some farmers and large families would often owe four to five hundred dollars in spite of the fact that they
had completely paid up every thing the fall before. It can easily been seen that the farmers were depending mainly on two
things for a living, cotton and more cotton! When the cotton crop was a complete failure due to a dry year, everybody was
in a bad fix. It was said that this condition prevailed in 1885.
The farmers could not pay the merchants when they did not have the wherewith all to pay. The businessmen could not pay
their jobbers when their customers did not pay them. People began to realize that it was imperative that they take out the
insurance policy of diversified farming if they were to be able to stand should another drought hit them like the one in
1885.
It might be well, at this time, to give some of the Lipan "firsts." As has already been stated, a man by the name
of Burns owned the first store. Mr. Burns was also the first postmaster. A man named Wells was the first star mail carrier
and carried the mail from Weatherford to Stephenville once a week. A fellow by the name of Burnstark was the first
blacksmith. A man named Hilburn organized the first bank. Dr. Hughy White was the first doctor who ever lived in Lipan. Mr.
Robert Sears was the first rural route carrier on route number one; Mr. Joe P. Self was the first carrier on route number
two.
Some of the old-timers who lived in Lipan in 1891 were such men as N.J. Gardner, Ellis Baker, Tommy Helms, Bill Wilson,
Jack Huffstutler, Bill Gafford, W.T. Roach, Pleas Gafford, J.D. Slyger, Lon Woodburn, J.E. Dennis, Tom Petty, N.B. Self,
E.T. Cook, Henry Ator, Mr. Holler, and W.J. Aiken. In 1881, the Masonic Lodge met over the school building and only had
about fifteen members.
Among the early settlers, there were more Presbyterians than those of any other belief. In the "gay nineties,"
the Presbyterian preacher was a man called "Crying" Tucker. It is said that he was very emotional and cried
during the most part of every sermon he preached.
It could certainly be called the good old days when folks of every religious belief could meet together and study the Bible
without chewing the rag about every little "whim" or "ism." This fine condition prevailed in the gay
nineties in Lipan. Each Sunday, they had what was known as the Union Sunday School. The people met in the school building
and learned more of the will of God concerning them. About 1889, the Baptist meeting place was built. In 1900, the
Methodists erected a building. The first Church of Christ building was built in 1904.
When the Henry Ator family moved to Lipan from Arkansas in 1891, there were only eight houses in the radius of a mile
around Lipan. In those days, no one knew how to build a house. The house of Henry Ator had a sixty-foot front; there was
nothing so very uncommon about the way it was built. It was just "one-room" deep though. As the family became
able, they would build another room on the end of the house. They surely did need this room because everyone had unusually
large families.
Parties were a common thing in those days. Often they had what was called "ten minute" parties so that a boy and
a girl could be introduced. If they were friendly to each other, they held a conversation and after ten minutes, they were
separated. On-the-other-hand, if they would not talk to each other, they would have to sit together all evening. This soon
made the bashful become less bashful or made them quit coming to parties at all.
The businesses that were operated in Lipan in 1909 and their owners were as follows: G.F. Followill; J.P. Gafford and Son;
Hite Rippetoe; Petty and Goodman Barber Shop; Saxon and Pope Black smithing; W.H. Brewen; J.I. Bagwell; Henry Angley; L.D.
Hurn and Sons; W.J. Aiken; J.P. Tolbert and Son; Yeats-Stell Hardware Co.; W.B. Byrd; J.E. Dennis; and J.H. McCauley.
Besides the above mercantile establishments, there were two banks-The Farmers and Merchants Bank and the Lipan State Bank.
There was also a real estate agent. There were two doctors, R.R. Ranspot and E.F. Gough. Businesses established during
World War I were B.J. Stearns, Mrs. Ida Gafford, Ator Brothers, W.J. Aiken, A.L. Dickinson, and Bob Saxon.
Because the community has followed a diversified farming program, it has been thriving for many years. Due to the rich,
adaptable soil around Lipan, King Cotton ruled supreme until about 1912 when the boll weevil began its daring career in
this country. Two gins went full speed ahead in the early 1900's and ginned from 6,000 to 10,000 bales of cotton each
year.
Lipan has developed from its meager beginning to where it is today with about 250 population, between 15 and 20 business
establishments, a trade territory of over a thousand people, a consolidated school district of 100 square miles of rural
and star routes, three active churches, one of the strongest banks of any town its size anywhere, and a modern school plant
with an attractive campus. The town is connected by way of paved top with Highway 281 thereby putting many larger towns in
Lipan's back yard.
No better place or finer folks, it seems to me, can be found than Lipan and Lipanites!
Carl Dean Ator is a native of Lipan and a graduate of Lipan High School. He is a descendant of two pioneer Hood County
families, the Self family and the Martin family. Both families originally settled near Robinson Creek.
Copyright by Carl Dean Ator - 1948, 1999
Permission has been granted by Carl Dean Ator to the Hood County Genealogical Society for
use of this story on the HCGS web site
~ Web Page by Virginia Hale ~
|
Hood County Texas Genealogical
Society
THE ROZELL MASSACRE OF 1872
Transcribed by James T. Sears
March 18, 2000
Again, the year 1872 was one especially replete with alarms and depredations, attributable to Indians, but
circumstances rendered the character of the perpetrators questionable...A serious affair occurred in the fall of this year
of fitful alarms on Robinson Creek. On one Saturday, G.B. (Greenberry T.) Rozell moved to a new place on a branch of
Robinson creek, where C.W. Baker now lives, and went into camp, expecting to put up a cabin the following
Monday.
His family, besides a number of small children, consisted of his son, George, and two widowed daughters, Mrs. Bowen
(correct name was Sarah Rozell Bone) and Mrs. McGee (Elizabeth Rozell McGee), whose husbands, it seems, had separated from
them. On the Sunday following, George went to meeting on Kickapoo, when the elder Rozell with his gun went out upon the
range, leaving the camp in possession of the women and children.
George Rozell, returning about sundown and securing his horse to a tree, was there but a few moments till a party of some
nine or ten warriors made their appearance, and as he had no arms, he seized a stick which he presented for a gun, but they
soon discovered the ruse and charged upon the camp, when George hastily mounted his pony and loosing him after mounting,
sped away pursued by several of the warriors, others attacking the women at the camp. They fired a pistol up into the air,
then leveling it at Mrs. McGee, shot her dead, and shot Mrs. Bowen (correct name Bone) with arrows, leaving her for dead.
They punched some of the children, but made no attempt to kill them, and as for Mrs. Rozell, she at the first alarm
ensconced herself in a brush pile, where the Indians passing almost in touch of her, seemed not to notice her presence.
Those who went in pursuit of George R. pressed him so closely that, running into the nook of a ravine, there seemed no
chance for his escaped, and the burly warrior at his heels, as he prepared to use his spear, gave a grunt of satisfaction,
when Rozell reaching the margin of the gulch, said to have been near twenty feet wide, spurred his pony and with his rider,
the agile little Spaniard cleared it with a bound and was soon carrying his rider safe beyond the reach of his pursuers,
who dared not attempt the same leap.
Rozell soon met one of the Helms boys returning home, and told him of the affair. Young Helms reported it at once to his
father, T.P. (Thomas) Helms, who family had already witnessed from their house not too far away, the Indians in pursuit of
Rozell. Soon the Kickapoo and Robinson creek settlements were apprised of the matter and a party got upon the trail of the
departing savages, who, circling towards Redbanks, crossed the Kickapoo and went out westward without doing other injury
than to shoot arrows into some horses as they passed them. It being night, they got too far in advance to render further
pursuit on the following day reasonably hopeful of overtaking them.
On Sunday evening just prior to this attack, Mrs. Helms was at Rozell's camp, spending the greater part of the evening
and left with her little children just before the Indians came up, narrowly escaping them. Dr. A. E. Hanna extracted the
arrow from the breast of Mrs. Bowen (Bone), who died some ten days afterward from the wound.
It is generally believed that the perpetrators of this crime were white men painted and disguised as Indians, though
moccasin tracks had been seen at the same time on Crockery creek not far from the scene of this killing.
SOURCES
1. Hood County (Texas) History by Thomas T. Ewell, 1895, Pages 107-109.
2. Correct surnames taken from Family Tree Maker Use Home Page-Ancestors of Judy Arlene Strahan.
3. Martin Cemetery in Hood County, Texas is thought to be the burial site for both ladies.
~ Web Page by Virginia Hale ~
2000 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
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