TEXAS DICTATIONS (Grayson County.) 1887.
H. H. Bancroft Collection
Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley
Department of Texas
L. S. Hatch, Manager
Dictation taken by J.T. Grayson, Dec. 28th, 1885
Fort Worth, Texas

1885
Taken of James A. Reddick (1845–1892)

Texas-born, now living in Denison, Grayson County; in Confederate army, 1862-1865; later a farmer; yields per acre for various crops.

I was born in LaGrange, Texas, Dec 11th, 1845. My father’s name was Mills Gray Reddick. He moved from West Tenn. to Texas in 1843. There were only two (2) children of us—myself and one sister. She married N.P. Browning. They live in Brenham, Texas. I live in Denison, Texas, Grayson County. I have a wife and seven children, 5 boys and 2 girls.

My oldest boy's name is Leondas Reddick (10 years).

My second son's name is Alfred Reddick, age 8 years.

My 3 son's name is Leo Reddick age 4 years.

My 4 son's name is Roland Reddick, age 2 years.

My 5 son's name is Volney Reddick, age 6 weeks.

Served in the Confederate army in the 21st Texas Cavl under General Parsons. I entered the Army in March 1862. And surrendered to the Federal Troops May 5th 1865. I was engaged in several battles. The battle at Mansfield, La., was quite an important one.

From the Army I returned to paying some attention to farming.

Wheat the average per acre is about 20 bu

Oats the average per acre is about 70 bu

Barley the average per acre is about 70 bu

Corn the average per acre is from 25 to 40 bu

Cotton the average per acre is about 1/2 to 3/4 B [illeg.]

Fruit. There is no finer country any where for fruit. Peaches especially. This is the home of the peach tree. Apples and pears do very well too. I have been engaged in different business pursuits—have been extensively engaged in the Merchantile business. I rent my farm out on the shares now—640 acres, good improvements. Then I own property in different sections of the state. I have property here in Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, and Denison. I am erecting a nice residence in Denison, where I prefer living to any place in Texas. I like the climate better than any place else in this state. Then we have four schools where I educate my children and fit them for college. I intend giving my children a fine education. I would rather leave them that than too much money and not enough sense.