When Texas became an official state of the United States in 1845, the history of this area was already well underway. In fact, the Peter’s Colony had begun 4 years earlier, not to mention Holland Coffee’s trading post at Preston, established in 1837. The area around Van Alstyne was also being established with settlements, some of these families being: McKinney, Milam, Creager, Cannon, Everhart, Dumas and Wheat. The subject of this brief history will be focused on the Dumas family.

James P. Dumas was born on September 12, 1820 in Greenville, South Carolina. He was married on April 13, 1841 in Alabama to Mary A. E. Thompson, she being born in Fayette County, Alabama on December 26, 1824. 

Mary A.E. Thompson Dumas

James P. Dumas

With big plans and thoughts of success, the couple moved to Texas the same year, settling first in Milam County, staying for one year. Here, a son was born, Flemmon J. Dumas, born July 20, 1842 and died July 22, 1843. He was laid to rest on Little River, south of Cameron, the couple had migrated here in November of 1842. The river rose and the couple nearly lost all of their investments and stock due to the flooding. From November of 1843 to January of 1844, the couple resided at the falls of the Brazos. Moving then to Buck Snort, the couple left for Dallas in June. The Dumas’ built the third house in Dallas, located where the book depositary building now stands. J. P. Dumas surveyed the town site for Dallas in 1844, it consisting of a half mile with streets and blocks. In January of 1845 they moved to Collin County, Texas, finally settling about six miles east of Van Alstyne near what is now Cannon and Pilot Grove in July.

The farm which the couple named Sister Grove Farm consisted of 640 acres and it had been said that one could ride horseback all day and never leave the Dumas property. It has famously been reported that the first tree Mr. Dumas cut down consisted of a bee hive, a hive of which he was able to produce eight gallons of honey. There were no neighbors around and Mrs. Dumas reportedly commented that their neighbors were buffalo, bears and other wild beasts. Indians were frequent visitors to the Dumas home, although unlike some they proved to be friendly to the family. 

Texana Dumas

On Sister Grove Farm, on January 3, 1846 a daughter, Texana Dumas was born to the couple.  Several sources document her as the first white baby born in Grayson County, Texas; however, Grayson County was carved out of Fannin Co. and established as a Texas County on March 15, 1846 which would have made Texana Dumas born in Fannin County. Mr. Dumas left shortly after that to fight in the Mexican War, returning home to Sister Grove in November of 1846. While he was away, Mary and Texana lived with the James Everhart family. For a time, Mr. Dumas sold bois d’ arc seeds, however this venture proved to be unsuccessful.

Mr. Dumas became the Grayson County surveyor and helped to establish many settlement and roads, he believing that the best path was a straight one. The land on which the city of Denison was founded had once belonged to Mr. Dumas. He is noted for saying that he could ride from his home on Sister Grove Farm to Sherman without ever leaving his property. In 1860, Mr. Dumas was the richest man in Grayson County. Dumas was the vice president of the Merchant’s and Planters Bank of Sherman, which he helped to found and was perhaps the most well-known man in Grayson County during his lifetime.

Other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dumas were: Daniel H., Scott S., Travis M., Victoria J., Louis, Leslie L., an Infant, Losero M., Walter M. and Laura Belle.

Originally called Lick Skillet, supposedly because the food was so good that you wanted to “lick the skillet,” the town was renamed Pilot Grove in honor of the Dumas farm. James P. Dumas lived until February 1, 1875 when he passed away after being ill for only 8 days. Mrs. Dumas continued the management of Sister Grove Farm until her death on August 8, 1901. The couple, along with other family members, are laid to rest in the Dumas family cemetery. This is located off of Wolf Front Road near Cannon, named for the once dense population of wolves in the area. The Dumas home, or Sister Grove Farm was also located nearby. If know the location of where the Dumas house once stood, please contact me at: dustywilliams@live.com