 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, July 13, 1884 pg. 3 Whitesboro A Live Little Town - Its Busineses, Prospects and People Ah, Whitesboro, the home of 1800 generous, hospitable, energetic and progressive people - a citizenship permeated by an atmosphere of harmony that augues a future fraught with every attribute of commendation likely to attract the stranger seeking a new home within the glow of the grand old Lone Star. Situated in the midst of a beautiful country dotted over with groves of timber and producing an abundance of pure, crystal water, the little town stands out in bold relief, the pride of its section of Grayson County. It is a town of some age, being founded by Capt. White about the year 1848, and for years hauled its goods and groceries on ox-wagons for over two hundred miles. But now note the difference - passenger trains go puffing away every day in five different directions, and it has telephone communication with forty-six towns and cities. We found the people of Whitesboro just such as a newspaper man delights to fall in with - courteous, hospitable and sociable, and, withal, ready and anxious to give the Gazetteer substantial support. In token of their good judgement they look upon the Gazetteer as being the representative and leading paper in northern Texas, and they crowned our efforts by giving us thirty-seven cash subscribers. To give the general reader a better idea of the business importance of the place, we may mention its shipments for last year, viz: 6,000 bales of cotton, 100 cars of grain, 100 cars of live stock, 95 cars of cotton seed with other scattering shipments, aggregating in value the handsome sum of $402,000; and it is estimated by the business men that the aggregate of the town for last year was something approaching a million dollars. At Whitesboro five churches rear their lofty spires heavenward, four white and one colored, viz: the Methodist, Rev. A.Y. Worley, pastor; Baptist, Elder S.A. Beauchamp, pastor; Cumberland Presbyterian, Rev. H.F. Bone, pastor; The Christian church, a handsome edifice, is not yet complete and has no pastor. Society is good, refined and elevating, soaring far above any features creating unnecessary and unfortunate differences to mar and canker their social relations and neighborly intercourse. The land surrounding the little city is a dark, sandy loam, rich and prolific - producing an abundant yield of every species of farm and horticultural products common to this country; and the farmers and horticulturists of that vicinity are rapidly growing independent and rich. The land is worth from $12 to $25 per acre, and can be secured on easy and reasonable terms. THE EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS of Whitesboro are very complimentary to its people, and in this respect the future seems more flattering than the past. The elegant building of the Normal Business College will not be used for public school purposes. It is a very large, three story frame building with large windows and mansard roof. The public school community of the town had an enrollment of 325 scholastic scholars last year, and an increase is expected for the ensuing scholastic year. Prof. E.B. Smith, whose reputation as an educator is second to none in our section of the state, has charge of the public school as principal, with priviledge of selecting his own assistants. Miss Elizabeth March will have charge of the primary department, and Miss Minnie Dove of the musical department. Two other teachers are to be selected, one for the commercial department. BUSINESS HOUSES Following is an enumeration of the leading business houses and industries of the live little town we are trying to "write up:" J.M. Buchanan, drugs, paints, oils, toilet articles, etc. W.H. Marshall, groceries The Grange Store, general merchandise: owned by joint stock company; attended by Mr. W.A. Thompson Art Gallery, by G.C. Baum J.W. Marshall & Co., Railroad Saloon H. Lamb, saddles, harness, etc., and he is also a dealer in grain Mrs. D.C. Hemming, millinery goods, hair goods, neckwear, hats, etc. Wm. Flesher, agent for Domestic sewing machine J.C. Johns, mattress manufactory. He puts up the very best mattresses and is going to put them on the Denison market. Farmers' Hotel by T.H. Nesmith M.L. Webster, saddles, harness, &c. H.H. Robertson, dry goods and general merchandise J.H. Choice, hardware A.F. Hornbeck, Le Bonton Saloon, and its name is appropriate G.W. Caperton keeps the Pacific House, near the depot (The Pacific is a good house with neat, airy rooms, and the table is always supplied with the best the market affords. When you go to Whitesboro, give it a try. See card in another column)  T.M. Arnett, Sons & Co., livery and feed stable J.B. Slavin, postmaster B.M. Godfrey, books and stationery Bessent & Maples, dry goods and general merchandise U.G. White, saloon McGillicuddy & Co., butchers J.H. Rogers, furniture W.F. Davis, furniture James McGillicuddy, grocery Marshall & Michals, hardware, farming implements, &c. D.W. Lawrence & Co., dry goods B. Bennett, groceries D. Lyon, lumberyard. Mr. Lyons is also the efficient, good looking and popular mayor of the town Capt. T.J. Dove, undertaker W.W. Harper & Co., dry goods, boots, shoes, hats, etc. W.E. Hopkins, restaurant Q.S. White, boarding house Ed. Hemming, photographer J. Mayfield, family grocery and shoe shop N.H.Moss, groceries F.G. Jamison, dry goods Kenehan & Hudgens, steam mill and gin Dr. Kelley, drugs R.L. Fox, boots and shoes G.P. Diamond, blacksmithing Dr. J.S. Bailey, drugs and farming implements T. Vaughn, groceries J.C. Maples, Justice of the Peace and M.U. Uitt, Marshal Evidences of the fire fiend are to be seen in many parts of the town, and as many evidences are to be seen of replacing the houses, by substantial bricks. The little town has quite a number of good brick business houses and many handsome frame ones. Late Monday evening while in Whitesboro, in company with Prof. E.B. Smith, we visited the school building, mention of which appears above. Going out on the terrace, the infatuation of altitute was too great for us, so we quietly withdrew to a window. Here one has a beautiful view of the surrounding country for miles and miles around. The large farms of growing corn and cotton and golden grain in shocks lay out on the bosom of the level prairie with the eveness of arrangement as appear the squares on a check board, while the handsome and comfortable farm houses and spacious barns loomed up in bold relief as so many evidences of the taste and thrift of those who follow that independent and honorable avocation of tillers of the soil. Say what you may, the farmers are the most substantial supporters of our government, forming as they do, the basis of all enterprises and grand achievements in all other industrial departments; and this assertion stands firm when we remember that a failure of crops brings a crisis in all busines circles and we always gladly welcome the enactment of any law tending to lighten the burden of the farmers, the mainstays of the country. Last, but not least, Whitesboro is particularly noted for the great number of its beautiful and intelligent young ladies, and it will be remembered that Miss Wade, the young lady who graduated at St. Xavier's Academy a few weeks ago, resides at this place.  Whitesboro History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |