Hood County Texas Genealogical Society

HOOD COUNTY HISTORY

by T. T. Ewell

Published in 1895

~ by Virginia Hale ~

In 1895 Thomas Taylor Ewell published Hood County History. Although only 160 pages in length, the book is a good narrative of the pioneers and formative years of Hood County, Texas. Ewell, who was a prominent Granbury attorney, gave an objective overview of the local politics and personalities. The book has not been reprinted since 1978. The chapter sub-titles and index have been recreated in this document for research purposes.

The Hood County Genealogical Society has linked some of its on-line articles to related Ewell topics for your knowledge enhancement of Hood County's rich history. Many of the topics and biographies are on-line from other sources.

NEW The complete text of the Hood County History is now on line at Rootsweb. Click HERE for links to each chapter.

Order your own personal copy of Ewell's Hood Country History - The Granbury Woman's Club has published an exceeding valuable Hood County history and genealogical resource book - Hood County History in Picture and Story. This book contains many historical photographs and family stories and also contains a complete reprint of Ewell's Hood County History. Order by phone from Books on the Square in Granbury at 1-800-841-5309 or books@itexas.net.

Thank you for your interest in Hood County, Texas.

CHAPTERS HOOD COUNTY HISTORY by T. T. Ewell Published in 1895
CHAPTER NO.	TOPICS
1	Descriptive
2	Pioneers
3	Pioneers, Continued
4	Pioneers, Continued
5	Pioneers, Continued An Early Sermon Killing of Jere Green
6	Settlement at Barnard Himmon and Haley Mills
7	Pioneers, Continued Jesse Caraway Isaac Cowan
8	Pioneers, Continued Peter Garland Night Attack on the Caddos Rescue Gap A "Fresh From the States"
9	Pioneers, Continued David Eddleman Judge S.C. Cross and Other Settlers on Berry's, Robinson and Paluxy Creeks Indian Legends The "Dead Line" Militia
10	Pioneers, Continued Logan and Abe Landers The Nutts A Fervent Prayer Saddles as Trophies of Indian Warfare
11	Pioneers, Continued The Nutt Brothers B.H. and Wm. Dennis Early Cabins A Queer Doorway Hospitality of the Frontiersman
12	Pioneers, Continued J.A. Formwalt Ben Irby Josiah Washburn Jeff Scott Caddo Smith and Others Indian Craftiness Formwalt as Soldier, Farmer and Merchant
13	Pioneers, Continued Sam Smith David Kerr Killing and Scalping of J.E. Phillips Deceptions of Frontier Girls A Mistake Corrected
14	Pioneers, Continued Shelley & Shelton The Bakers The Crosses, and Cross Stage Stand Proffit, Gregory, Goodlett Friendly Indians Belled Hogs Capt. Puckett, G.B. Dillahunty, Chambers Naming of Squaw, Stroud Creeks Early Merchants
15	Pioneer Settlement of Acton Early Religious Devotions and Burials Meetings Aaron Farris' Mill and Still-House Mrs. Farris' Versatility Long Walks to Meeting
16	Pioneer Settlement of Acton, Continued A Visit Overland to Tennessee Early Methodists W.A. Karnes and Others
17	Pioneers and Early Days of Acton, Continued Wright Smart Dillahunty's Daughters Trimble Atkins Rippetoe Doctors Cornelius and McPherson Comments
18	Pioneers and Early Days of Acton, Continued John Morris' Mill Long Ward Allisons Randle McCrearys Sykes Steel Incidents
19	"Fighting Joe" Roberson His Enthusiasm in Religion, and in Politics Against Thieves The "Vigilants" Law and Order Association
20	Pioneers of Acton Country, Continued James Halford The Crockett and Patton Families Calvin Goodlett Isaac Nolan Dillard Brothers
21	Pioneers of Acton Country, Continued James Elam Mack Hensley A.E. Keith Maj. Carmichael and His "Bloody" 20^th Battalion
22	Barnard Settlement Fort Spunky Chambers Store Barnard's Trading House Indian Village, and Their Occupations Removed to Reservation Barnard's Character His Marriage to Ransomed Captive
23	Barnard Settlement, Continued Matt and Sam Graham J.E. Norton Sam White Reynolds Berrys
24	Barnard Settlement, Continued Visits of Friendly Indians Indian Boys' Friendship and Memory Skilled Bowmen Other Settlements Here and on the Brazos and Paluxy Thos. Parvin Ragsdale Lee
25	Andy Walters and His Connections Dr. Mansil Mathews Arrives in His Strange Craft and Holds a Big Meeting on Squaw Creek The Freshet of '59 John Bull Jesse Sutton John Idom Customs of Stockmen
26	Settlements of Paluxy and Squaw Creeks, Continued Wm. Porter Shelby Stanfield and Bro. English Indian Raid Killing of Bryant and Negro Mesquite Flat Fight
27	Settlements of Paluxy, Continued The McCamants Andrew Jackson "Doc" Crites Isaacs The Mothers of the Frontier A Story
28	Perils of the Women and Boys During the War Their Daring Spirit With Gideon Mills and Others the Cow Boys Dash Into a Party of Indians and Rescue Horses Incidents About Thorp Spring Guarding Soldiers Dawes Wylie Clark and Boys Cow Boys at Double Mountain Gap
29	First Schools and Teachers of Thorp Spring and Vicinity Murchison, Dixon and Howell Families Incidents of War Times, Illustrating the Daring Character of the Women Other Facts Concerning Attack on the Caddos
30	The Pevelers Early Worshippers and Preachers of Thorp Spring and Vicinity Sears Hill Austin Brothers Silas Scarbrough
31	The Carpenters, and How Bill's Wits Saved Him Participants in the Dove Creek Fight McCormick's False Alarm, Lynching, Desertion
32	The Oxiers Lewis Kirkland Clark School House A Sunday Service and Race Robertsons Wylies Peters Williams Drought of 1860 First Cotton
33	Edens General View With Other Representative Men of Early Days Killing of Hoyt and Boyd by Indians Baylor's Expedition Epoch Following the War
34	Municipal and Territorial Relations Act Authorizing Organization, etc.
35	Location of the County Site First Election of County Officers The Several Elections and Means Employed and the Result in the Selection of the County Site
36	County Officials Removal of Sheriff and Clerk Judge Landers A.J. Wright
37	First Officials Gideon Mills C.C. Alexander Wilson Barker
38	First Cabin Court House Town Plan and Description Early Beginnings of Granbury First Lawyers and Doctors of the Town The First Sunday School A.P. Harbin
39	County Officers Under the Constitution of 1870 Court House and Other Buildings of 1871 Kingsbury, First Merchant Cattle Driving A Stampede, etc.
40	Acton and Its Masonic Institute Laying of Corner Stone School Justices Tipton and Berry Merchant Thrash and Others Rev. Jas. Hiner
41	The Last Indian Raid to Hood County The Point of Timbers Fight
42	Incidents of Indian Alarms and Depredations Attributed to Indians Attack on the Rozell Family and Killing of Two Women
43	The Town Builders Hannaford Farr Cooper Duke Williams Morris Blake Gordon Allen and Others
44	Thorp Spring Thorp College Capt. Milliken Maj. DuVal Dr. Lancaster
45	Joseph Clark, the Founder of Add-Ran Christian University His Sons, Addison and Randolph Clark
46	A Succinct Historical Sketch of Add-Ran Christian University
47	Granbury High School and College Origin Burning Re-Building New Charter Outline of Work Its Presidents Prof. W.J. Moore
48	Some of Our Teachers J.J. Shirley The Doyles Abbotts Archer Hightower
49	Barnard's Mill McCamant's Spring "Pulltight" Lipan Some Novel Trials in Justice's Courts, etc.
50	Depreciated County Scrip School Land Question J.B. Sears J.C. Hightower; His Resignation A.J. Wright Succeeds as Sheriff The Discontent and Reform Movement; Its Final Success The Vidette Statistics of 1872
51	Police Court and School Directors Minor Matters Blood Shedding Affrays Night Salutes Town Authorities Marshal Page Mayor Thrash Mitchell-Truit Killing, Sequel
52	Burning of Court House Killing of Turner, Hunter and Pidcoke Trials of the Accused Rebuilding of the Court House, etc. Jails
53	Men of Political Prominence Morris Estes Traylor McGaughey
54	J.R. Jones, Assessor District Clerks B.M. Estes J.H. Hiner J.H. Stribling Chas. Formwalt W.T. Lyle J.F. Henderson
55	Masonry and Other Benevolent Orders Churches Center Mills, etc. First National Bank D.C. Cogdell Jess Baker Bald Knob and Neri Fort Worth & Rio Grande R.R. Cresson Tolar Granbury Bridge
56	Some Men of Acton McCarty & Brown Jones & Goodlett Brown & Brown Walter Glenn W.H. Harvey Capt. Nunn Capt. Terrell Clevelands Goodwin Bowden Duckworth H. Wilson Tandy H. Howard David Stribling James B. Wilson
57	Maj. Jordon at Glen Rose Some Political Events Capt. A.J. Hart Senator Ball Other Lawyers, etc. Creation of Somervell County Causes, etc.
58	Conditions in 1876 Gins and Mills Chadwick and Walsh J.D. Baker and Other Business and Professional Men of Granbury
59	Contemporary Representative Men of the County, and Some of Our Present Officials A Worthy Group of Baptist Ministers Prohibition Elections The News
60	Our School Lands Financial Conditions Destructive Storm on Fall Creek Conclusion

INDEX TO HOOD COUNTY HISTORY by T. T. Ewell Published in 1895
SUBJECT	PAGE NO.
Abbey Bend	58
Abbeys	7
Abbott, W.T.	125
Abney, Mattie U.	101
Acton	7, 30, 33, 35-36, 38-45, 47, 49, 52, 94, 98, 100, 113, 121, 123-125, 139, 142, 145-147, 151
Acton Cemetery	6
Acton Lodge	146
Acton Masonic Institute	98-99, 141
Addison, Rev. O.M.	102, 123
Add-Ran	142, 159
Add-Ran "Girls" Home	119
Add-Ran Christian College	114-115, 117-120, 122-123
Aiken, Ed.	155
Aiken, W.J.	142
Aiken, Wm.	140, 155