History of Goree, Part 14 (New Goree & School)

The New Goree & The New School
by John H Bates

In 1906, there was a small one room school called Chigger Hill located about one and one-half miles south west of present day Goree on the land now owned by P.H. Routen. The new town of Goree had started and the Chigger Hill School was moved to the present Goree at midterm. The town relocated because of the railroad, thus being dubbed ‘a railroad town’.

Miss Minnie Nelson was the teacher at the Chigger Hill School and she finished the spring term at the new location. Goree had built a three room building consisting of two classrooms and an auditorium. Mr. & Mrs. C.S. Carter were the new teachers at the beginning of the fall term in 1906. W.P. Edwards and J.E. Crouch were trustees.

Besides Mr. Carter, there have been eight other men to hold the position of superintendent in the past 58 years. Namely J.W. Bowman, a Mr. Hargroves, Elmer Truman, E.L. Cover, H.D. Arnold who began in 1920 and taught until his tragic death in 1950.

Some time between 1906-1918, more classrooms were added to the original three room building. In the fall of 1921 and spring of 1922, four additional classrooms, a study hall and an auditorium were added. I do know if this is correct, as I was a student at this time. In 1929, the present high school building was completed and I was a member of the first class to be graduated in the new structure.

I believe Goree holds somewhat of a record in the most number of years some members of the faculty have spent teaching in one location. Mr. Arnold taught 30 years; Mrs. H.L. Moore-43; Mr. J.H. Bardwell-20; Mrs. Bardwell-17; Mrs. Bettie Taylor-19; and Mrs. Arnold -20. I believe 149 years of teaching for 6 people in the same school is quite unusual.

History of Goree, Part 12 (Town)

by John H. Bates

Time marched on and Goree grew. By 1920, we had three cotton gins, two theaters, and any number of business houses. The town had organized a band and a three day July 4th picnic had started when the first note came from the band pavilion.

Another highlight of yesterday was when Mr. Bill Glenn, of the County Seat came to asses taxes. Mr. Bill would drive up to our place late in the afternoon, in his new Model T that had cost at least $400.00 and my mother would make a dash for the milk cooler for a pitcher of buttermilk. Mr. Bill, the tax assessor, would come in, shake hands all around, and drink that pitcher of buttermilk, regardless of the size of the pitcher. After supper, the very thing we are discussing would begin. The early days on Knox prairie and do you remember when? I heard enough of it to last a lifetime, or so I thought, but here I am, a half century later, trying to tell something I heard long, long ago.

History of Goree, Part 11 (First Natl Bank)

The Bank

by John H. Bates

1906, Goree also saw the organization of the First National Bank. The new bank was in the first brick building built.

Mr. Dan Allen, Mr. W.W. Coffman, and Mr. Ernest Allen were officers of the bank.

Mr. Dan Allen told the story about the U.S. Government sending two men to Goree to make a report on the vicinity. They stayed around a few days and during this time they and Mr. Allen had become much good friends that the agents let him read the report they were sending to Washington.

In this report they had remarked that there was no reason why it would ever rain in the vicinity. For Goree was too far from the ocean and too far from the mountains, and according to all known factors those were the causes for rain, the Goree country had none of them, so they just didn’t expect it would ever rain there.

History of Goree, Part 10 (First Churches)

First Churches
by John H. Bates

The Methodist was the first to build a church, but all denominations used the building for worship. Bro. J.B. Curry was appointed pastor.

Brother Eiland and Brother Dulaney organized the Baptist Church and Brother Joe Lockhart was the first regular pastor.

The Church of Christ was organized by Brother Ed Bedford, J.D. Morton, and J.R. Mayberry. The pastor was Brother Bettercreek.

The Christian Church was started by the families of W.H. Griffin, E.W. Norris, Walter Price, John Lee, Walter Loe, Mrs. Sally Farris, and Dr. J.W. Melton, who was the community veterinary and later Knox County sheriff.

History of Goree, Part 9 (Goree Township)

by John H Bates

In 1906, the Goree Township was laid off and men were beginning to erect businesses, houses, homes and churches.

Mr. E.B. Wilson was the new railroad town’s first postmaster and also owned and operated the first Dry Foods Store and hotel, Wilson’s Hotel.

Mr. Henry Griffin and Mr. W.E. Coffman were the proprietors of the drug store operated under the name of W.W. Coffman & Co.

Mr. J.F. Crouch opened a barbershop and P.J. Camp, a tailor shop.

Hines & Wilson established Goree’s first grocery store, and W.J. Blount and George Moore a hardware store.

J.C. Woolridge & Co. added a lumber yard in Goree and Frank Davis was manager.

Goree had two blacksmith shops in 1906. J.C. Morton owned and operated one, and Mac Spears and Bud Glover, the other.

Tom Davis had a five & dime store and A.A. Brooks furnished the young people entertainment with the skating rink.

E.W. Norris and his uncle built and operated the new town’s first cotton gin.

The first residences constructed in Goree were those of J.C. Morton, J.W. Nesbitt, and J.K. Wisdom.

History of Goree, Part 8 (The Doctors)

by John H. Bates

Hundreds of grateful people gathered in Goree, July 4, 1953, to pay tribute to these two doctors—Dr. Taylor and Dr. Heard—who combined 100 years of practice in Knox County and had served three generations.

The idea originated when the men of the Methodist Church were holding a meeting. From there on, the momentum grew and grew until it resulted in a well organized and conducted Appreciation Day Program.

The event was a community affair. Everyone for miles around had a hand in making it a tremendous success and a fitting tribute to a pair of public spirited professional men who had done more than minister to the physical ills of their community. Two men who became civic, cultured and spiritual leaders, as well.

After speeches of praise by representative citizens, response from the two doctors, a large framed portrait of each honoree was unveiled with a large bronze plaque bearing the doctors names and reading, “In loving tribute to him, this portrait is affectionately presented by his home town, Goree, Texas, July 4, 1953.” These portraits were hung in Goree’s Memorial Hall.

People from the states of Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Colorado and from all parts of Texas registered in the guest books that were presented to the honorees.

History of Goree, Part 7 (Early Doctors)

Goree's Early Doctors
by John H. Bates
1964

Dr. J.R. Smith

In 1891, Dr. J.R. Smith, a native of Kentucky came to what we today call “Old Goree” and opened an office. Dr. Smith practiced medicine there and over a larger territory until 1907, when he moved to Munday. He became a large land owner and was truly a frontier doctor. He passed away at his home in Munday in 1926.

Dr. E.F. Heard

Dr. Heard was born in Marietta, Georgia on April 21, 1878. He graduated from Georgia Medical College in Atlanta in 1902 and came to “Old Goree” in March of 1903. He married Miss Sidney Parks in 1904 and made Goree his home. Dr. & Mrs. Heard had four children; Pete, who died in early manhood; Mary Isabelle, who is now Mrs. Temple Dickson of Sweetwater; Angie, who is now Mrs. Hill Ritcher of Dallas; and Charles of Abilene.

Dr. Heard lived to be 81 years in history, according to the good he did his community, none could have been more wisely spent. Those in Dr. Heard’s family are my friends and without these grand people the history of our community would not be nearly as interesting.

Dr. W.M. Taylor

Dr. W.M. Taylor was born in Rock Mills, Alabama on July 28, 1887. He moved with his parents to Atlanta, Georgia. He was educated in the Atlanta public schools and graduated from the college of Medicine and Surgery in 1902.

He was converted and joined the Baptist Church at the age of 15. He began the practice of medicine in Newton County, Georgia.

He married Miss Thompson of Covington, Georgia who passed away. He was married to Miss Chloe Maloney, who passed away during the influenza epidemic. He married Miss Bettie Madole of Marlin, Texas.

Dr. Taylor came to Goree in 1907, but returned to Atlanta with his ailing wife in January, 1908. After her death, he came back to Goree in November, 1908.

He was a charter member of Goree Masonic Lodge number 1029, when it was organized on December 10, 1910. He was made a life member of the Goree Lodge on May 5, 1947.

Dr. Taylor passed away on December 7, 1960, at the age of 83; thus ended the life of an exceptional man because of his rugged honesty, his sincerity of purpose and his sympathetic understanding. He must have been high on God’s list of a chosen child. No man deserved more praise as a man, a physician, a Christian and friend than Dr. W.M. McEwin Taylor.

History of Goree, Part 6: Ample Post Office

History of Old Ample Post Office
by John H. Bates
1964

The Ample Post Office was established in the northeast corner of Haskell County within one-half mile of the cornerstone of Haskell, Knox, Baylor and Throckmorton counties, in 1885 or 1886.

Reverend D. James, Baptist, was appointed postmaster. He suggested several names for the post office when he was asked to do so, and closed by saying, “I think this is ample to select from”, so Ample it was.

He was succeeded by a Mr. McDaniels, then Mr. Cooper and then Mrs. Ruthledge. Mrs. W.P. Phillips was appointed in 1895, and served until Rural Free Delivery was established, some time after the Wichita Valley Railroad came through Goree, possibly 1908 or 1909.

All mail from Kasoga, Cliff, Munday, Rhineland and Goree was delivered to Ample and separated there, where it was picked up by a carrier from Seymour and one for Haskell.

When Mrs. Phillips took the office it paid a salary of about $7.50 per quarter, paid by cancellation of postage stamps on letters mailed there. Postage at that time was $.02. After a few years the county gained settlers until the office was designated as a separating office, since mail was heavy and granted extra pay. This about doubled the amount it was receiving at that time, which was around $37.50 quarterly. That was pretty good pay in those days. How far would it get now?

The late Mr. Walter Patton related once, that when they came through what is now Haskell, in 1882, there was only one Indian teepee there and the water in Rice Springs was so full of antelope hair they could not drink it. So, the Indians had been there only a short time before.

Early Post Offices South of the Brazos River

by John H. Bates

1964

I think the early day post offices, in the Goree and surrounding territory should be stressed in this outline, as mail was a welcome sight in the early times.

The old Goree Post Office was established June 2, 1888, with George Benedict as postmaster. On May 2, 1890, William H. Benedict was made postmaster and was succeeded by J. W. McLandon on April 6, 1891.

The Hefner Post Office was established April 21, 1904, with Graves Cayce as postmaster and discontinued June 29, 1907, when mail was sent to present day Goree.

Pueblo, an office just across the Baylor and Knox county line, was established September 30, 1891, with Elbert F. Moore as postmaster.

Old Ample was an early day Post Office that should be included in this report. The following is a history of Ample, sent me by Mrs. Walter Patton, whose mother, Mrs. Phillips was postmaster in an early day. Both the Phillips and Patton families were early day settlers on Bo Creek about nine miles southeast of Goree in 1882.

The First School House

The First School South of the Brazos River
By John H. Bates
1964

The minutes of the commissioners court of Knox County of May, 1888, on record in the county clerk’s office in Benjamin, record that the court appointed a Mr. Reeder (Grandfather of Knox City’s Joe Reeder) and J.H. Bates, (my grandfather) as school trustees for a district that included all of Knox County lying south of the Brazos River in Knox County.

Soon after the appointment, J.H. Bates and Newt Martin, who lived across the line in Baylor County made a trip to Albany, in wagons, and brought back two loads of lumber, which they used to construct a small one-room school house.

The new school house was built on the quarter-section west of what is now the E. A. Jones home place. This land is the northeast one-fourth of Section 19, Block 2, D & W Railways Company.

In 1890, Bill and Ab Benedict were operating a store and Post Office about one-fourth mile north of what is now the John Cure home place. The store was on the east side of Section 22, Block 2, D & W Railways. This section is know to early settlers of the community as the Benedict section, and is the section which they filed on when they came to Knox County in 1886.

T. M. Anderson was hired as the first teacher for the new school. Among the pupils were children of the Martins, Newsoms, Parks, Calthrops, Sherills, and Bates.

On opening day of school, Bud Holt came to the school house with a sulky plow, and plowed a furrow across the prairie to what is known as the Lawson place north of the present town of Goree. This furrow was for his children to follow in crossing the prairie.

Other teachers of this first school were Jeff Bowden and Miss Laura Bedford, who later became Mrs. E. C. Fancher of Seymour. Later, Miss Rebecca Bedford, sister of Mrs. Fancher, taught the school. In 1892, during the time Miss Rebecca taught, a tornado demolished the building. The community rebuilt the school, using some of the lumber that was not destroyed by the storm, but moved the school to the southeast corner of the Bedford section, later known as the John Cartwright farm, and today is land owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jones. The site of the school was on land that lies west of the present day Farm Road 266, and one mile south of Hefner. The building stayed there until at least 1902 and Lee Coffman taught one term there.

The building was finally sold to E. M. Coffman and used as a tenant house for many years.

Today, some of the lumber that J. H. Bates hauled from Albany in 1887 is in a house on the west edge of Goree on land owned by Mrs. Georgia Maples and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Calbert Hasken and children.

History of Goree, Part 5: Early Settlers...

by John H. Bates

When the county was organized, Steve Franklin filed on a section of land for Mr. Gulick. This land was section 6, located about three and one half miles northeast of Goree or one mile east and one mile south of what is now Hefner.

In 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Gulick sold their claim on section 6 to J.H. Bates and filed on section 12. The southeast corner of this section is one and one half miles east of present day Hefner and the west side is FM Road 266.

The Gulicks reared their family on this section of land. Their daughters are Mrs. Hamp Jones and the late Mrs. Jessie Jones of Goree and Mrs. Willie Parks of Rotan.

In October of 1886, J.H. Bates came to Knox County and bought the claim to section 6 from W.M. Gulick. He gave Mr. Gulick a wagon, a span of little mules and $125 for his claim to section 6. He went back to Den-County and on December 17, 1886 him, his wife and four boys, Ross, Frank, George Bates and M.L. Arnold (a son of Mrs. Bates by a former marriage) arrived at the claim that he had bought from Mr. Gulick. They moved into a one room house that Mr. Gulick and Mr. Calthrop had constructed for their wives. Mrs. Gulick and Mrs. Calthrop used the house as a sort of parlor when company arrived. They lived in a half dug-out.

As near as I can trace about all the people that were there in the locality in December of 1886 were the families of Bill Gulick, J.H. Bates, Ham Calthrop, Bill Benedict, Lee Newsom, Fred Franklin, Bud Holt, and Bill Gibbs.

In 1887, others began to arrive. They were Newt Martin, Jap Martin, A. Parks, Bill Newsom, Tom Anderson, Algie Sams and E.M. Coffman.

In 1890, Bud Coffman, Al Coffman, W.W. Coffman and others came.

My reason in trying to name these early settlers and bring them into the picture of Goree, is that they were the picture. And actually the seed that grew into present Goree. Everything must have a beginning and unless they were the beginning of Goree then, I am confused.

History of Goree, Part 4

by John H Bates
In 1933, my father, Ross Bates, wrote the story of W.M. Gulick, Steve Franklin, and Will Cartwright who took a bunch of horses to Houston County, near Crockett, Texas and traded them for cattle. In the fall of 1879, Mr. Gulick and Mr. Calthrop brought the cattle through Seymour and up the Brazos to the mouth of Lake Creek and turned them loose. They established a camp and stayed together that winter. Calthrop’s father and family moved to the camp and built a house where Lake Creek empties into the Brazos. Mr. Gulick worked for the Millets and Bill Irvin, a partner of the Millets during 1880-1881, and then for the Hash Knife until 1883, when he married Miss Mary Jane Calthrop, a sister of Ham Calthrop.

History of Goree, Part 3

Let us try to draw in our own minds a picture of these hardy souls. For most, they were originally from Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Georgia. A good portion of them had stopped over for a few years after leaving the states of their birth, in what we now call East Texas, comprising the counties of Denton, Collin, Dallas, and others. They had grazed their ponies and cattle on knee high grass from lush green valleys of their native states. This tall grass was strong enough to enable them to break their horses at three years of age, but the grass in this new land was an “Indian pony” of a different color. Here it was a short desert grass and their first thoughts weren’t good; however, they soon had a pleasant surprise. The short grass has a high protein content, and a colt at two years old was strong enough without corn or other grain supplement to begin doing a full day’s work. So, we really begin our story in the year 1879.

History of Goree, Part 2

by John H. Bates
But, before we dwell any longer on the history of the present Goree and its surrounding communities, I think it is imperative that we go back at least two decades and possibly a quarter of a century to the era when the first settlers made their first campfires on a strange prairie; inhabited by tens of millions of prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, and coyotes. To the new arrivals it was a veritable sea of land, stirred only by a gentle wind, an occasional “dust devil”, the hallow sound of a buzzing rattler, and the plaintive cry of a lonely coyote. These new settlers were men and women born of hardship, blessed in a belief of an Almighty God, and graced with a determination to carve for themselves, from this boundless prairie, a place in history. To achieve this they had only their work-worn hands, their horses, sulky plows, and for the most of them a few head of longhorn cattle. Their work began with first filing their land claims and the diggings and constructing of what was known as half-dugouts. These first Knox County homes were located as near as possible to water, for we must remember these people were settling on the edge of the desert, and acknowledgeable water was as scarce as the proverbial hen’s teeth. They were truly in the short grass country.

History of Goree, Part I

History of Goree
By John H. Bates
1964

Part I

The little town of Goree is situated in the southeast corner of Knox County about three miles west of the Baylor County line and approximately the same distance north of the Haskell County line, on a three hundred and twenty acre land grant given by the late E.M. Coffman (Uncle Ebb) and W.W. Coffman. From the data I can get, the first plans for the township began in 1905, or as soon as it was ascertained that the railroad would be built through the present site of the township. The railroad came through in 1906; therefore, we might say that 1906 was the birth of the present Goree. Anyway, 1906 was the beginning of the incorporated town of Goree.