Transcribed by Bage Neimeyer Clay County Chieftain
SPECIAL EDITION, HENRIETTA, CLAY COUNTY, TEXAS, APRIL 1892
I have purposely left out portions of this newspaper. I have included any parts that have names. The editor really sang the praises of Clay in his writing about the county in general.
CLAY COUNTY! A Brief Statement of Facts Showing the Inducements She Offers to Home seekers and Investors Clay county is one of the northern tier of counties and has a sixty mile front on Red River. The altitude is about 1000 feet. It is below the region of severe storms and up out of the malarial districts of lower Texas, located near the thirty-third parallel one degree south of Los Angeles, California. The climate is mild, the nights, always cool, with a gentle Gulf breeze offering the greatest inducements to those seeking a refuge from the blizzards of northern winters. The county was organized prior to the war with Henrietta as the county seat. After the war came up the county was disorganized on account of the depredations of the Indians, not leaving enough to run the government. It was re-organized by act of Legislature, May 27th, 1873. Mr. E. Johnson was the first clerk of the District court. Mr. L. C. Barett, who came here in March 1874, was the first lawyer to settle in Clay county. The first sheriff of the county after its re-organization was a Mr. Newsome. County treasurer,R. Warren. First Justice of the Peace,Mr. Slack. First member of Congress,Mr. McLean. The governor of the at that time, E. J. Davis. POPULATION. The population of Clay county is estimated at from twelve to fifteen thousand. It is cosmopolitan in character, being composed of people from all over the world who have drifted hither and made for themselves homes. EDUCATION--SCHOOLS. The standard of education in Clay county is very high. The districts throughout the county all possess good school buildings which are attended by an average of about fifty pupils per day. The scholastic year is six to ten months. Able and efficient teachers are employed who receive good salaries. In matters of education Clay county cannot be surpassed. CHURCHES.Clay county is well supplied with churches of all denominations, who, as a rule, worship in their own buildings. The people are moral and law abiding. A further and more particular account of these institutions will be found elsewhere. SOIL-PRODUCTION.The soil of Clay county is a deep, rich, sandy loam and is susceptible of a very high state of cultivation. It will raise almost anything capable of cultivation and is especially adapted to oats, corn, alfalfa, wheat, cotton, clover, sorghum, millet, also the raising of the different fruits and grapes; the latter industry is now assuming considerable proportions. Good crops are frequently raised on sod the first year plowed MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES.The mineral resources of Clay county have never yet been fully developed. Attention has lately been called to the fact that copper and coal exist here in large and paying quantities. The discovery of copper has been followed by the incorporation of a company formed to work the mines that are situated a short distance south of Henrietta. The ore is of a very high grade and exists in quantities sufficient to guarantee successful results from working. A contract has been let and work on the buildings will proceed immediately. This enterprise will furnish employment for at least four hundred men. There is no doubt but that Clay county lies within the artesian belt, a considerable portion being underlying limestone strata, an almost unfailing indication of artesian water. Indications also to the fact coal exists in abundance. Mr. N. Shultz, a geologist of some note, having discovered specimens of Calumites, a deposit of the Carboniferous or coal age that exists only where coal is found. There are untold possibilities in the geological formation of Clay county that requires only capital and energy to develop them and put them upon a paying basis. In addition here has also been found a deposit of clay of fine quality which after having been tested is found to be capable of being turned into pressed brick fully equal to that of St. Louis RAILROADS.There are two railroads in operation in Clay county, the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas direct to Kansas City, Chicago and all points north and east, and the Union Pacific system (the Fort Worth and Denver City railway) to Denver and New Orleans. This latter road runs through vegetable and fruit cars from Texas to Denver for the benefit of this and adjoining counties. In addition to these, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railway has recently made several preliminary surveys into Henrietta from Red river to which the road has already been located and preparations are being rapidly pushed for its completion. When this is done it will give us direct communication by the shortest possible route to Kansas City and Chicago. The Red River and Southwestern railroad as already chartered will run from Henrietta through Archer City, Abilene and San Angelo to the southwestern part of the state. The Velasoo, Henrietta and Kansas City railroad now organized and chartered will also build out of Henrietta to the Gulf and deep water, passing through the richest mining districts of Texas. This will give us a trunk line through to the deep water ports on the coast thus making Henrietta the chief railroad and commercial center of Northwest Texas. STAGE LINES. Stage lines carrying the United States mail depart daily from all points in the county not reached by the railroads. PUBLIC ROADS. The public roads of Clay county are all established according to law and are kept in good condition. All the streams are bridged. AGRICULTURE ETC. Grains always yield a large harvest in Clay county; oats, 40 to 80 bushels to the acre; wheat 18 to 35 bushels to the acre; corn makes 35 to 45 bushels to the acre. An abundance of garden truck is also raised and the markets North of us are supplied with early vegetables, melons &c, from our fields. Facts and Figures of Different Crops in Clay County Mr. M. E. Ivie, of Myrtle has met with remarkable success in cultivating and raising peaches. The yield of peaches in that gentlemen's orchard was enormous, there being fruit on the trees late in the fall. In the culture of the grape Mr. Ivie has also met with great success having after much careful experimenting with different kinds at length succeeded in raising grapes that for size and flavor are unequaled even in California. In fact it was remarked in the presence of the writer by several gentlemen, who are engaged in the nursery business in California and who were making a visit through the state, and after inspecting this vineyard, that as fine grapes could be raised here as in California. "In fact", said the gentlemen, "you raise more to the bunch than we do there." Apples that only a few years ago we thought to be impossible of cultivation and of which even now doubts are expressed in some quarters are successfully raised. Mr. J. S. Childs of Blue Grove who has a fine orchard consisting of a variety of fruits besides a fine vineyard, gathered fifteen bushels of apples from forty small apple trees, this being their first bearing. Mr. E. A. Copp of the same place raised some of the finest Bartlett pears in the county. They were very large and fine and as good as any grown in California. The average yield per tree of these pears was one and a half bushels. Mr. B. F. Yantis, a miller of many years experience and who has been in the business in several different states, in conversation with the writer made the following statement: "I have been in the milling business as boy and man, now over twenty years in several different states and my experience during that time has convinced me that Texas wheat makes the finest flour in the world." Clay county took the premium for wheat and oats at the Dallas State fair last year. Considerable flour is turned out every year and our mills here have been running night and day to supply the demand for that article. As soon as the quantity of wheat raised will justify it additional mills will be built in the county, two institutions of that kind being already decided upon and work upon will commence this spring. One of these mills will be located at or near the town of Jolly on the Fort Worth and Denver road and the other at Henrietta.R> The Henrietta City Flour mills. at present the only institution of that kind in the county, have a capacity of one hundred and twenty five barrels a day. The average yield of wheat per acre in Clay county is from eighteen to thirty five bushels. On the ranch of W. H. Featherston about 10 miles N. E. of Henrietta last year, 125 acres of wheat yielded eighteen bushels to the acre. W. W. Carroll about 3 miles west from town on measured land and measured grain, raised an average of 34 1-2 bushels of wheat to the acre, and Jordan Smith who rented land on the same property under similar conditions raised an average of 36 1-4 bushels of wheat to the acre. On the ranch of Mr. Frank Smyers at Benvanue last year raised thirty acres of wheat on sod land that yielded an average of 12 bushels per acre. This year Mr. Smyers has sown 70 acres that is in a flourishing condition. And so on as we proceed further we will offer further evidence of the wonderful fertility of our soil. G. W. Wadsworth on 160 acres of land about six miles south of Bellevue, last year had in 22 acres of wheat that yielded an average of 22 bushels per acre, 21 acres of corn that yielded an average of 20 bushels per acre, 20 acres of cotton that yielded one half bale per acre. This year Mr. Wadsworth will plant 12 acres of oats, 40 of corn and 30 of cotton. In addition to this he has a fine orchard consisting of apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, etc. Mr. A. J. Farmer, whose farm is about six miles south of Bellevue, raised an average of 35 bushels of corn to the acre. He has also about two acres of orchard consisting of a variety of fruits as well as vines. G. C. Thedford, of Newport,has 140 acres and last year 60 acres of corn yielded 30 bushels to the acre. Twenty acres of cotton yielded one half bale to the acre. This year Mr. Thedford will plant less cotton and more corn than usual. He has also a fine orchard. W. H. Featherston, whose farm is about ten miles northeast of Henrietta, has 1400 acres of land, 300 of which are under cultivation. Last year 125 acres of wheat yielded an average of 18 bushels to the acre, 25 acres of corn on sod land produced 20 bushels per acre, 30 acres of oats, 40 bushels to the acre. This year he will raise 70 acres of wheat, 150 of oats, and 20 of corn. No cotton. There is also a fine orchard of 100 trees consisting of plums, apricots,peaches, apples, pears and some grapes. Jo. A. Chester, of Blue Grove, made 1750 bushels of corn on 70 acres of land, or an average of 25 bushels, 4 acres of cotton averages of a bale to the acre. W. A. Spinble, of Blue Grove made 3-4 bushel of cotton to the acre. Mr. J. S. Childs, of Blue Grove, made 18 bushels of wheat to the acre, 40 of corn and 40 of oats. This year Mr. Childs will put in 12 acres of oats, 15 of cotton and 25 of corn. He has also a fine orchard of about 2 acres, 40 bearing apple trees producing 15 bushels the first crop. E. A. Copp, of Blue Grove has 110 acres under cultivation. Last year 65 acres of oats produced 40 bushels per acre, 45 acres of corn 35 bushels to the acre. This year he will have in 12 acres of wheat, 40 acres of oats, 10 acres of cotton and 50 acres of corn. Mr. L. B. Brown, of Blue Grove, averaged 20 bushels of corn per acre on sod land last year, 38 acres of cotton yielded 21 1-2 bales. This year he will raise 40 acres of cotton, 20 of wheat, 25 of corn and 15 of oats. Has also 3 acres of orchard consisting of a variety of fruits. W. C. Wilson, of Doss, has 640 acres of land, 200 which are under cultivation. Last year his average yield of wheat per acre was 20 bushels, corn 30 bushels, oats 40 bushels; 35 acres of sod land planted in cotton produced 1-3 bale to the acre. This year he will plant about the same crop with the exception of cotton, which will be less. Has also about 4 acres of orchard and a vineyard. H. C. Heffner, of Doss, has 320 acres of land, 80 of which were cultivated last year. Wheat averaged 18 bushels per acre, oats 40 and corn 30 bushel. This year he will plant about the same crops except that there will be less cotton. Has also a small orchard of about 30 trees. Z. W. Barnett, of Doss, has 160 acres of land, 70 of which are under cultivation. His wheat averaged last year 18 bushels to the acre, corn 340 and oats 40. Cotton 1-2 bale to the acre. This year he will plant about the same crop. Less cotton. J. W. Ferris, of Doss, has 50 acres under cultivation and last year raised 25 acres of cotton yielding 1-2 bale to the acre, and 25 of corn that yielded 30 bushels per acre. Also has a small orchard. J. C. Campbell, of Doss, raised 3-4 of a bale of cotton to the acre. This year he will have 100 acres of oats and 125 of corn. He has a flourishing orchard of two acres. Mr. F. G. Bransford, of Newport, raised 25 acres of cotton that produced 1-2 bale to the acre and 25 acres of corn, 30 bushels to the acre, oats averaged 40 bushels. This year he will plant about the same except less cotton. Dr. J. A. Swafford, of Charlie, about 23 miles from Henrietta, had 500 acres under cultivation last year, 300 acres of wheat produced an average of 15 bushels to the acre; 150 acres of corn on sod land produced an average of 15 bushels per acre; 20 acres millet on sod land 1-2 ton per acre. One hundred bushels of sweet potatoes were raised on half an acre of land and 25 bushels of the Irish variety were raised on one twelfth of an acre. This year the doctor has 125 acres in wheat that seems to be in most excellent condition. In addition to this will be planed 270 acres of oats, 50 acres of barley, some millet and both varieties of potatoes. The doctor will raise no cotton as he is of the opinion that at the prevailing price of that staple other crops can be raised with much greater advantage and profit. Mr. Gallant, of Charlie, has 200 acres under cultivation. Last year 90 acres of corn produced 4000 bushels, an average of 35 bushels per acre. 50 acres of land yielded 1,500 bushels of wheat, an average of 30 bushels per acre. B. F. Hooker, of Charlie, last year had 280 acres of land under cultivation. 90 acres of corn made 25 bushels per acre and 115 acres of oats made 35 bushels to the acre. He raised also 35 acres of sorghum. This year Mr. Hooker has 30 acres of wheat sown that looks very good,. In addition to which will be planted 90 acres of corn and 115 acres of oats but no cotton. G. W. Campbell, of Jolly, last year had 55 acres in wheat that averaged 16 bushels to the acre; 600 bushels of oats were raised on 25 acres of sod land and his corn on sod land averaged 12 bushels. Mr. J. M. Brown, of Jolly, a new comer, has 150 acres of land. On sod ground last year Mr. Brown raised an average of 13 bushels of wheat to the acre. This year he will raise principally wheat and some oats. No cotton. Mr. Brown has in addition to this an orchard of 240 peach tress one year old. This gentleman is an enthusiastic citizen; he comes from Navarro county and says that he would rather live here than in any other place he knows. Mr. C. F. Leister, another new comer, has 300 acres of land. This year he has 35 acres of wheat and will plant 50 acres of oats, 30 of corn and also set out 25 peach trees and grapes. Louis and Henry Luecke, brothers and new comers, have 190 acres of land. This year they have in 100 acres of wheat that is in excellent condition; they will also put in 40 acres of oats and 15 of corn. No cotton. Messrs. Wicker's Bros, have a farm about eighteen miles north from Jolly which consists of 640 acres of land. Last year 80 acres of wheat yielded 2100 bushels or 25 bushels per acre; 35 acres of oats made 40 bushels to the acre. This year they have in 100 acres of wheat in good condition, 75 acres in oats and 50 acres in corn. No cotton. In addition to this they have an extensive orchard of several varieties of fruits and grapes. T. W. Waring, of Jolly, last year raised 20 bushels of corn to the acre on sod land and 30 bushels an acre of oats. This year Mr. Waring will put in 100 acre of barley and oats and 50 acres of corn. Mr. S. S. Jones, of Jolly, who has about 1100 acres of land last year raised 30 bushels of corn per acre on sod land, 20 bushels to the acre of oats and 12 bushels to the acre of wheat, all on sod land. This year Mr. Jones will have about the same acreage under cultivation and crop. Messrs. Ivie and Penn, of Myrtle, had 100 acres under cultivation last year. Their corn made an average of 35 bushels per acre, oats 35, wheat 20 and cotton 1-2 bale to the acre. This year they have 10 acres in wheat in good condition, 40 acres in corn, 20 acres in oats and 14 in cotton. Mr. Ivie here possesses one of the most flourishing little orchards in Clay county, containing about 5 acres. He has also some most excellent grapes that under careful cultivation have reached a stage approaching perfection. In addition to them are blackberries and raspberries. T. J. Williams, of Myrtle, averaged 22 bushels of wheat per acre, oats 30; corn 35 and cotton 1-2 bale per acre. FACTS AND FIGURES
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