 The Whitewright Sun Thursday, December 6, 1934 pg. 7 THE WHITEWRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL LEGENDS RE-TOLD ON NEAR-BY TOWNS How much do you known about your nearby communties. The following interesting articles were contributed by Junior students and are true relations of early history. - - - L.L.V. The following entried were taken from the Jim Dumas diary, who long years ago was one of the first settlers of Grayson County and one among the wealthiest: "April 12, 1842 - We are camping tonight in one of the most beautiful places we have seen, since leaving Bucksnort. This beautiful place is known as Pilot Grove. The name is appropriate for the place because of its visibility for miles around and also because the grove of trees furnish such good protection for the soldiers." "November 15, 1846 - Returned today from Jeffereson, Texas, with very happy and pleasant returns. I received better prices for my produce than I had counted on, and upon good receivings I purchased three slaves who seemed to be very well pleased with their new master and surroundings. Hoping they will continue to do so. I also purchased my Christmas shopping and here's hoping my wife doesn't find her Christmas present until Christmas which is a month and about one half." "February 21, 1847 - With the coming of spring, the slaves and I together are very busy preparing for a year's work." "Finished fencing a square mile of fencing today, east of Pilot Grove; which will be excellent cattle pasture soon. I am planning to supply the soldiers camped at Pilot Grove this winter with my cattle raised in this pasture." "April 13, 1864 - Discharged from the army and came right home, a very sick man with camp fever, and with no means of curing it. Thinking it cheaper than funeral expenses, my wife chose to ride to the nearest neighbor, 16 miles away, for quinine." "September 9, 1868 - Called all my former slaves together and presented to each of them, 800 acres of land south of Pilot Grove on the east side of farm to any they chose to do so. Thinking they have been awfully faithful workers and deserve something, I present each with a willing heart. "To my opinion, I am very glad the Civil War is ended and the slaves freed from their toilsome work and harsh treatment from different masters. I also wish all of them - freedom, liberty, justice and may each of them get pleasure out of their remaining lives." - - - - Patti Jean Hulett  In 1834 my grandfater, Andy Thomas settled on a farm near Kentuckytown. Between 1834 and 1850 the town of Pleasant Hill was established on Grandfather's farm two or three miles south of where Kentuckytown now stands. There were a few homes and a log cabin built for school and church. Sometime in the late '40s Pleasant Hill was moved to the present site of Kentuckytown and named Anna Eliza for one of the old settler's daughters. In 1852 when the church was organized the name was changed from Anna Eliza to Kentuckytown because all the settlers there were from Kentucky. Kentuckytown consisted of four dry goods stores, two of them being operated by Alfred Dry and Hart English; three saloons, a blacksmith shop, a saddle shop run by a Mr. Berry, and a post office, the first postmaster being Mr. Ben Earnest. The practicing physician there was Dr. Hestand [sic]. In 1878 the Katy Railroad was built and most of the settlers moved to Whitewright. Kentuckytown now consists of one store, a church and a school building. - - - - Percy Darwin Pilot Grove History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |