No newspaper name
no date
SHOPPING CENTER WAS 200
MILES AWAY
CHILTON--SPL--In 1854
five families migrated to the Chilton area from MIssouri. These were the
families of Newton B. Maxey, Tom Hailey, Frank Graham, and the Wethers-Cox
family. Mr. Wethers was a widower who married Mrs. Cox. Both had
children by previous marriage.
The nearest point of supplies was Galveston
and Mr. Maxey established a wagon line to bring in things the settlers needed.
The nearest grist mill was at Millican near Bryan.
In 1854 tragedy struck the little group.
While having bear in the great thickets of Deer Creek near the present highway
bridge on Highway 77 below the town of Chilton, John Wethers was accidentally
mistaken for a bear because he wore fur coat and cap, and was shot. The man who
shot him was so grieved he lost his mind and was taken back to his family in
Missouri in an ox wagon. Mr. Wethers' was the first grave in the cemetery
now called Carolina.
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