 The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, December 6, 1934 pg.6 KENTUCKYTOWN IN THE EARLY DAYS By J.R. Dean of Tom Bean Kentuckytown in Grayson County was organized about 1850, situated on the headwaters of Red River and the Trinity River. The water in the south side of town f loowing into the Trinity River while that on the north side flows into Red River. The land on which the town was located was owned by Dr. J.F. Heiston and the town was originally named Annaliza in honor of a daughter of Dr. Heiston, who died a short time before the town was plotted. In those days people moved here from the older states in ox or horsedrawn wagons and were from 6 to 8 weeks on the road, owing to the distance they came. There was an influx of Kentuckytown in and near Annaliza soon after the town was laid off. Newcomers having a way of asking each other where they were from in those days, and so many of them aswering, "from Kentucky," strangers got in the way of referring to the place as "that Kentucky town." It became known by that name. The first postmaster, being a Kentuckyian, had the postoffice named Kentuckytown by which name it has ever since been known. Dr. Heiston was the first doctor the town ever had and Sam and Ben Savage built the first store in Kentuckytown known as the firm of Savage Brothers. The building was a log house about 12' x 18' and was located just east of the old square near a well that is still there in front of Mrs. Cobb's residence, which burned 3 years ago. Dr. Heiston traveled far and near, administering to the sick and afflicted, carrying his medicines with him on horse back, not even a buggy being known in these parts at that early date. Z. Ray built the first hotel in 1851, a double log house on the north side of the square with an ell extension back to the north. Mr. Ray was hotel keeper and Justice of the Peace. He was the father of the late Dr. D.M. Ray and Dr. A.J. Ray who now lives in Whitewright. The Kentucky Baptist Church was organized in February 1852, and I.O. Perkins was its first clerk, but we have not the data as to who was the first pastor. Dr. William P. Head came here in 1853 and practiced medicine with Dr. Heiston for several years, and married Nannie Ray, a daughter of Mr. Ray. They were the parents of Pascal Head, now living near Abilene, he and Miss Mary Head being the only suriving children of a family of six. William H. Bean and John Harrison built the first mill at Kentuckytown under the firm name of Harrison and Bean. Oxen gave the power by walking on an inclined wheel which revolved from their weight. It was perhaps the second mill of any kind built in Grayson County and the citizenry of the community were very proud of its completion. Mr. Bean was the father of Paul Bean who now lives in Sherman. Mr. Harrison moved to Whitesboro and died there a good many years ago. About 1854, Joseph and Jacob Weber, two German brothers from Ohio, came to this country and built a steam mill near the southwest corner of the Thomas Dean farm which they operated for a good many years as successful mill men. People used to come to the Weber mill for miles, even as far as Cooke and Wise counties to have their wheat and corn ground, and had to await their "turn" to get their flour and meal. They came in wagons sometimes drawn by several yoke of oxen or four mule teams, and camped until they could get their "grinding" which would sometimes be a week or more owing to the great amount of work the mill had to do. Jacob Weber was the father of Tony Weber who lives near Tom Bean . At one time there were more than 20 business houses in Kentuckytown and people came for miles to trade here. There were four dry goods stores, four grocery stores, three saloons where gambling was carried on at pleasure, a saddler's shop where harness and saddles were made, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops where they built the wooden parts of wagons and any other work that might be needed in the wood line, such as coffins, plows, planters, and so forth, and two hotels - owned and operated by J.E. Berry and Mrs. William Price, respectively. One year during the Civil War Quantrell's men came to this country to winter. Quantrell with a part of his command stayed at Bonham; another division commanded by William Anderson wintered at Sherman, while another command under Cole Younger and Jesse James camped on the southwest corner of the Thomas Dean tract near Kentuckytown. That being a very dry year, with water scarce, and because they had so many horses, they kept all the good wells dipped dry and worked quite a hardship on the citizens of the community. Mrs. Thomas Dean, being quite a zealous Baptist, expecting company to come home with her from her Saturday meeting which she always attended unless kept away, had baked cakes, pies and prepared chicken and other things for dinner. When she came from church she found not only her good things gone but her cooking vessels as well, the Quantrells having moved in while she was away and appropriated all they found, taking utensils to cook more for themselves when that was eaten. Quite a number of friends came home with her for dinner, so she had to make a new dinner from the ground up with very little to make it with. When warm weather came in the spring the Quantrells pulled up and left for the North, but were kind enough to send a messenger to the Dean house to tell them that their pots and skillets were left at camp. Kentuckytown has been the home of some prominent and honored men as well as the scene of some tragic gun battles. At one time a man by the name of Ben Harden and Bill Morgan had a pistol duel in a crowded house, during which two men were killed and another seriously wounded. Those killed were Bill Morgan, one of the principals, and a man named Paris who had arrived in the town to make his home. Mr. Paris had come ahead of his family to look for a location in this new country, and was expecting his wife and children the next day. They remained only a few days and began their long and weary return trip to their native country. Kentuckytown has produced some men that she may well feel proud to call her own. Dr. D.M. Ray was a man known far and wide. His brother, Dr. A.J. Ray, still living, has made a good record in his community. John D. Templeton, now deceased, was raided and educated in Kentuckytown, was once attorney general of Texas and would probably have been the governor had not death claimed him before he reached that goal. W.R. Dean was a prominent attorney reared here who died in his young manhood in Sherman. J.J. Taylor, State Press of the Dallas News, walked Kentuckytown streets in his young manhood days and was recognized as a talented young man, known for his wit and quaint sayings. In 1872 the Texas and Pacific railroad was built from Texarkana to Sherman, which was made its terminus for several years, and the town of Savoy sprang up. A goodly number of citizens moved to that place, to make their home in a railroad town. In 1878 the M-K-T Railroad was built from Denison to Whitewright and almost all the business houses at Kentuckytown were moved there. In fact, only one business house was left, that of the late J.C. Sewell, a small store. The shops and doctors all moved there, too, so Kentuckytown is the mother of Whitewright in a business way. The terminus of the railroad was there for several years and Whitewright grew and prospered. Most of the membership of the Baptist Church, the only denomination holding forth here at that time, also moved to Whitewright and the Kentuckytown Church became very weak, so weak that it failed to meet for some time and the few remaining members, about 16 in all, had no house of worship. In 1904 the late Elder J.S. Cameron held a meeting at which there were more than 60 additions to the church; they reorganized and built the present house of worship, and still maintain a goodly number of members. The Baptists and the Masons had a two-story house on land known as the Dean land, in 1862. The lower story was used for a church and schoolhouse while the Masons used the upper story. In the spring of 1862 a small cloud came up from the south and went over without any rain. In a short time the same cloud seemed to return from the north with a terrific wind which blew the building down with a good many school children in it, killing two little girls, Florence Penn and Nellie Ross, and wounding many others. The oldest building in Kentuckytown was the house occupied by Mrs. Belle Cobb on the northeast corner of the old square, until it burned 3 years ago. This building was at one time used as a hotel by Robert Moore, an early settler. Its walls have witnessed many gay scenes. The oldest building in the town now is occupied by Mrs. J.D. Garner, built in about 1858. The John E. Turner house, situated about one mile south of Kentuckytown, is one of the oldest buildings here abouts, having been built in 1854 or 1856. The house now owned by Elder Cleophus Chumbley, known as the Dean house, was built in 1860. Other old landmarks have either been destroyed by fire or torn down so there remain but few to tell of pioneer days. 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