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Important Development Near Palacios Mrs. Mary S. Gaines who has large land holdings on which she has been farming staple crops, located some twenty miles north of Palacios, was a visitor to this city last week. Mrs. Gaines is well known in this section for her splendid business ability and enterprise in the upbuilding of the community. She is a woman of means, having accumulated her holdings since she became a widow many years ago, and any undertaking which she initiates is considered certain of success. There is said to be no better farm manager in this part of the country. Her land is kept in ideal condition and she has splendid equipment in the way of machinery to handle the preparation and planting of fig orchards, which she now proposes to put in to the extent of about 1,000 acres. Mrs. Gaines’ errand in Palacios was to consult with a number of local business men and especially to talk with the management of the fig packing plant, in regard to handling the fruit when the orchards begin bearing. She found our citizens not only ready to co-operate with her in every way, but very enthusiastic in regard to the fig industry, as the growing of this fruit has provided very successful in this locality, wherever the trees have received proper attention. While here Mrs. Gaines extended an invitation, which was accepted, to Mayor Campbell, Mr. Wolf, Cashier of the State Bank, Mr. Crawford of the Fig Packing Company, as well as the editor of this paper and others of our citizens to visit her farms and inspect the land and the orchards she planted last season. Our people are very much interested in the project for the reason that a much greater volume of raw fruit could be profitably used by the local preserving plant, and it is very likely that the local company will put a branch plant at Mrs. Gaines’ Orchards as soon as sufficient acreage is in bearing to justify such a move. It is the united opinion of those in this section who have investigated the matter carefully that nothing will pay better than figs where care and attention are given the orchards, and Mrs. Gaines is equipped with experience, as well as financially to handle the undertaking. Not only figs, but oranges and grape fruit, do well in this part of the country, and while figs will be of course the chief product Mrs. Gaines will grow, she will offer some oranges for sale and those who settle on the land will undoubtedly want to grow some oranges and grape fruits for their own use and develop small orchards later. It is a well known fact that figs make $300 to $500 an acre, depending on their age and the care given them largely. No failures have been recorded where the orchards are handled right, and reports of even bigger returns have come from growers. An average of $300 to $400 an acre may be expected at five or six years. This enterprise which Mrs. Gaines has launched will be a very big thing for Palacios, not only from the standpoint of the packing end of the business, but because Palacios is the nearest bayshore point and residents of the Gaines community will undoubtedly make this beautiful little city their playground and naturally will spend money while here. The planting of these orchards will also encourage others in this locality to go into the business, and we hope that the future will see a large acreage in figs, as the industry has proven so profitable in other parts of the fig belt that do not have the advantages which we enjoy in the territory surrounding Palacios. Palacios Beacon, July 20, 1923
Mrs. Mary S. Gaines and her son and his wife, of Houston, were in town Wednesday. Mrs. Gaines is selling some of her fig land which she has had put in an excellent state of cultivation and has set to fig cuttings. She has sold several tracts at the comfortable sum of $400.00 an acre. There is other equally good fig land but there are not enough Mrs. Gaines who have the energy and foresight to have the land broken and made productive.
Palacios Beacon, November 9, 1923 |
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Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche, Comanche County, Texas Mollie S. Gaines Dies In Houston, Burial Here Mrs. Mary S. “Mollie” Gaines, about 95, widow of the late Tom Gaines, died Wednesday in Houston. Her body will be brought to the Comanche Funeral Home Thursday evening, Oct. 26. Funeral rites for Mrs. Gaines will be announced by Comanche Funeral Homes, where services will be held. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche. Mrs. Gaines is well remembered here by oldtimers. Her late husband founded and operated for a number of years The Comanche Pioneer-Exponent, organ of the Populist Party which flourished here for about 40 years preceding 1910. The Comanche Chief, October 27, 1961
[Mary was the daughter of Willard Walker and Charlotte Randall
Walker. She was living at 2106 Commonwealth in Houston, Texas at the
time of her death. Her death certificate indicates she had been
living in Houston 16 years.] |
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Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Comanche, Comanche County, Texas
Thomas Gaines Mr. Thomas Gaines, proprietor and editor of the Comanche Pioneer Exponent, died on last Sunday morning, the 27th inst. at 7:45 o’clock, of typhoid fever, and was buried in Oak Wood Cemetery at that place Monday after-noon following. He had been sick but about two weeks and in this short time had suffered extremely, though hopes had been entertained of his recovery and the worst was not realized. Mr. Gaines was a noble, generous, honest man who had the good of his fellow man and his country at heart and who never missed an opportunity of expending his energies to do good. He was a consistent Christian, a thoughtful, loving and agreeable husband and father and true to every trust. He leaves a devoted wife, four little children, an aged father and mother and numerous relatives and many of friends to feel the deep loss in his departure. Mr. Gaines was born in Chattooga county, Ga. in 1860, removed with his parents to Comanche county in 1882, where he worked on his farm until 1881, until he was nominated and elected to the office of district clerk by the labor party, being at that time 21 years of age, and in which office he continued two years. In 1887 he was happily married to Miss Mollie Walker, of Comanche, daughter of Wm. Walker of that place, who has been a true and devoted companion to him. By his marriage he had five children, four of whom survive him. In 1887 he purchased the plant of the Pioneer Exponent of Comanche and entered on his duties as editor of the paper in September of that year, and has proven himself a brilliant and vigorous writer and a man of exceptional business qualification. In 1892 he was selected as the standard bearer of the People’s party of this district for the state senate, but was defeated by a small majority. He has from time to time filled prominent positions of trust in the Alliance, Knights of Labor and Knights of Honor, each organization of which he was an active and zealous members. Also he has taken a great interest in the reform movement; at the time of his death was state secretary of the People’s party and a member of the national Executive committee, and had he lived, would doubtless have held a prominent place on the state ticket in the campaign of this year. Mr. Gaines was universally esteemed and respected by all political and religious sects, both for his honesty and integrity in public and private affairs. His devotion to his wife and little ones was a matter of comment during his married life and he has not failed to provide for them in the years of his usefulness. The loss of Mr. Gaines will be sorely felt by others as well as by his dearest relatives and his untimely death can be counted no less than a calamity. To Mrs. Gaines, his children and all his relatives the writer extends his deepest and heartfelt sympathy.
The Dublin Progress, June 1, 1894 |
