The Meridian Tribune. (Meridian, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, July 8, 1904 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 23 x 17 in. Scanned from physical pages.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
you wan ' ____- gempyre, _____
A- —% Ye TA Th Y Th T A A Y EYA IO Y TTITA
1 HE MERIDIAN 1 RIBUNE
OFFICIAL PAPER OF BOSQUE COUNTY,
A LOCAL NEWSPAPER, DEVOTED TO THE DISSEMINATION OF THE NEWS, AND THE UPBUILDING OF MERIDIAN AND BOSQUE COUNTY.
OFFICIAL PAPER CITY OF MERIDIAN
VOL. X, NO. 4
MERIDIAN, TEXAS, JULY 8, 1904.
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
:=!===
:.teEEEEEEEEEEER
A SWEEPING REDUCTION IN SUMMER GOODS.
22
— eGC
EVERYTHING IN SUMMER GOODS GOES IN THIS SALE AT TREMENDOUS REDUCTION.
WE HAVE NOT ROOM TO ENUMERATE ALL OUR BARGAINS, THE FOLLOWING ARE ONLY A FEW:
8 1=3 Cent Lawn.
Nice assortment of patterns and colors,
stripes and figured, while they last go-
ing at per yard............................,.......5%c
Wear the Radcliffe Shoe for
IO Cent Lawn.
Only a limited amount of these goods and at These patterns
this big reduction in price will not last
long. While it last going at per yd. .7%
15 Cent Lawns and Dimities.
; now in stock are in the
richest shades and colors to be had at
this price, going at only per yard......11c
Lace Stripe.
ladies at.
$2.50
Egyptian Tissues Lace Stripe.
While they last they go at the remarkably Two piece lace stripe lawn sold regular for
low price of per yard.........................24c 15c going now at.................................10c.
* White Goods.
We white goods..................................
20c white goods going at only.............
25c white goods worth more only........
35c white goods ..................................
$1 Shirts at Bargain
16, 16% and 17 nice line, only..............
50 Cent Silk Zephers
%c These goods are worth in the market more
15c than we ask. While they last per yard
nly
35c
French Black Organdy.
70-inches wide worth in the market 50c per
8c yard, while it lasts atonly
.33c
Embroideries.
We have doubled our stock of embroideries.
We have some rare bargains in these
goods. Come and see.
Boys wear the Groton Shoe.
The best made for the price.
R
NEW . YORK . CASH STORE, HAMNER & WARREN, Proprietors, MERIDIAN, TEXAS. 4
st
e,:
WE
9.2.22.29.5.5: E:::::eeereeeee
The published program, with
one or two exceptions, was car-
ried out.
At the appointed time, Hon.
W. M. Knight, master of cere-
monies, had the procession form-
ed at the court house square
and proceeded to the picnic
grounds, escorted by the Mc-
Gregor Silver Cornet Band.
Upon arrival at,the grounds, J.
W. Rudasill, Mayor of the City
of Meridian delivered the ad-
dress of welcome in behalf of
the citizens of Meridian and
vicinity. He said:
“Ladies and gentlemen—The
reasons why I was selected to
make the address of welcome
was because such duties natur-
ally devolve upon the mayor,
and another reason the committee
felt like the honor of delivering
this address would be sufficient
compensation for twenty years’
service as alderman and mayor of
the City of Meridian, and when I
view the vast assemblage and
look into the happy faces of
both old and young, I feel like
the compensation referred to is
more than sufficient to repay me
for my feeble efforts in assisting
in the upbuilding of Meridian
and Bosque County.
“Today celebrates the fiftieth
anniversary of the birth of the
town of Meridian. It may be
said that its existence really be-
gan on July 4th, 1854. While
the commissioners appointed by
the legislature to receive a do-
nation of the county seat of the
new county, actually selected a
hundred acres, donated by Dr.
Steiner, on which a part of the
town of Meridian stands, prior
to July 4th, and while the name
of Meridian was given to the
place prior to that day, still its
beginning really dates from July
4th, 1854 because on that day it
was first made possible for in-
dividuals to acquire lots there
and begin the real work of build-
ing a town. From and after
. July 4th, 1854 Meridian was
recognized as a place and people
began to live there.
“Prior to the lot sale there
was no settlement on the Bos-
que above Clifton. Meridian
was the extreme frontier town
of the county for many years.
Perhaps no better statement of
the history of the municipal ex-
istence of Meridian can be made
than the following which was
inserted as a preface to our town
ordinances some years ago.
(Here the speaker read two
pages from the ordinances of
the City of Meridian.)
“Meridian was the first mu-
nicipal corporation created in
the county. Others have since
been organized until now the
incorporated towns of the county
consist of Morgan, Clifton, Val-
ley Mills and Walnut Springs as
well as Meridian.
“To celebrate the fiftieth an-
niversary of the birth of Meri-
dian, we today extend you
hearty greetings and a joyous
welcome. As the chief executive
of the city of Meridian, and in
behalf of all the people of the
town, I gladly welcome you to
our midst. We are honored to
have you with us, and we want
you to lay dull care aside and
have a good time. We hope
that no untoward event will occur
to mar the pleasures of the day.
‘In conclusion I wish to say,
Meridian makes no claim as
being the commercial metropolis
of the county, but when it comes
to appreciation of the good, the
beautiful and the true, and as
an entertainer, Meridian stands
as the uncrowmed queen of
Bosque county, Mayors of
other Bosque County towns who
are present will speak in behalf
of their communities."
e cammittao ’ Thic committaaler t hmamaoflohnsonandIres
IT WAS A GALA DAY'
of Bosque County. This land of the Historic Danube. He
being located a little north and ' was a man of highest education,
west of the true geographical I culture and and attainment; and
center of the county; second, why he quitted the allurements
ordered that the county seat be
located on said donation and
ceive 100 acres of land donated; “Geo. B. Erath was one of
by Dr. J. M. Steiner and 20 the most noted of Texas heroes,
acres of land donated by J. T. He was an Austrian nobleman
Eubank, for the use and benefit by birth, and born on the banks
G. J. Gibbs, mayor of the city
of Clifton, made a short and
appropriate talk in behalf of
Clifton and community. He
was followed by B. J. Word,
County Judge of Bosque County
who delivered the address of
welcome in behalf of the citizens,
of the county. I
The following sketch, prepared
by C. M. and H. J. Cureton, was
then read by H. J. Cureton:
“The returning soldiers of the
war between the United States:
and Mexico spread the news, ini
northern and eastern Texas, of
Old Settlers Reunion and Semi-
Centennial Celebration at
Meridian a Success.
FULLY EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE PRESENT
Procession More Than Recached From the
Square to the Picnic Grounds a Mile
and a Half Away.
The Old Settlers Reunion and Semi-Centennial Celebration of
a beautiful land on the west of:
the Brazos River, and northwest "the Organization of Bosque County held at the Fair Oaks Hereford
from Waco; where rich valleys, Stock Farm near Meridian, Monday, July 4, 1904, was a grand
rank in verdue, lay between
hills of Alpine beauty, threaded success in every particular.
by clear streams of the purestc Although there had been big rains in several portions of the
7 toy Atom T Inn a 011 100
1 ’ over W - I T county, the roads were in very bad condition and the weather
game which the heart of the: °
hunter could long for, such asathreatening up to Monday morning, yet the people came.
buffalo, bear, antelope, wild:
turkey, deer and elk; and some’
of the fiercer type, as the pan-1
ther and kindred tribes, to add
spice to the profits of the chase.
This Eden, newly found by the
returning soldiers, was the land
upon which we now live and
which now comprises Bosque
County.
“So far as our investigation
has gone, the first permanent
white settlers came to this
county in the year 1850, while
this county was comprised with-
in the territory of McLennan
County. They were Ewell
Everett and family, who settled
on the Bosque river, and Albert
Barton and family, who settled
near the mouth of Steele’s
Creek, and established a ferry
on the Brazos river, near old
Fort Graham. And in the
summer of the same year, Bar-
ton was drowned by the captizing
of his ferry boat; and his widow,
a few years thereafter, married
Sam Barnes, a noted and influ-
ential citizen in the early govern-
ment of the county. Soon there-
after came the families of L. H.
Scrutchfield, J. K. Helton, Wm.
Gary, S. S. Locker, Wm. Mc-
Curry. Allen Anderson, F. M.
Gandy, A. C. Peace, the Mabrays,
the Kells, the Hornbeaks, the
Thomas’ and several others, in-
cluding the- first Norwegian
settlers, Ole Pierson, Canute
Canuteson, and son Ole Caute-
son, Jens Jenson, A. Bratton
and perhaps others whose names
we have been unable to ascertain.
Prior, however, to the arrival
of any of the above settlers, sur-
veying had been done in the
county for the purpose of locat-
ing land certificates by the cele-
brated Texas hero, Geo. B.
Erath and other surviving par-
Fully 8000 people attended, and this is considered a conser-
vative estimate. The procession was formed at Court House
square on North Main street and more than reached to the picnic
grounds a mile and a half away.
The Committee’s arrangements provided comfort and enter-
tainment for all. There was plenty to eat and to spare—if there
was a single one who failed to get his dinner, it was his fault.
A rain late in the afternoon caused the crowd to disperse,
earlier than they would have otherwise.
At night the streets and court house square were crowded
with people who witnessed “Columbia’s Tea Party,” and the
display of fireworks.
brought their families for per-Bosque County. That act also
manent settlement. Bosque
County was not without some
population prior to 1850, how-
ever; for the valleys and prairies
of the Bosque River, Meridian
Creek and Neills Creek were the
favorite hunting grounds and
habitat of the Tonkawa Indians,
a tribe of some 300 in number,
and who remained friendly to
the whites, save an occasional
theft. These Indians remained
in the county for some years
after its organization; but gave
the white settlers very little
trouble, owing to the controlling
influence exercised over them by
Judge Lowery H. Scrutchfield,
who was regarded by them with
unbounded confidence, and they
frequently assisted the whites
in their battles with their more
warlike brothers, the Comanches
and Kiowas.
Organization of the County.
“In the winter of 1863, a pe-
tition was circulated and signed
by the settlers, then living
within the territory now com-
prised by Bosque County, asking
the Legislature of Texas to create
ties; and indeed, several of the a new county out of that terri-
early settlers of the county,
first came here, as members of
Erath’s surveying corps, and
being struck with the natural
beauty of the land they had en-
countered returned east and
tory to be called Bosque County.
In response to this petition, the
Legislature by an act approved
February 4th, 1854, created the
territory previously mentioned
into a new county and called it
called “MERIDIAN;” third, or-
dered that one half of the land
donated be run off into suitable
lots and sold on the 4th day of
July, 1854, just fifty years ago,
today; it was also ordered that
five lots be donated to actual
settlers who will settle up the
of wealth and station open to
him in his native land, to cast
his fortunes amidst the strange
adventures, privations and man-
ifold dangers that followed his
life in this, the land of his
adoption. is one of those
romances to which he seldom
reverted and remains hidden in
the same depth of mistery as
that which drove General Sam
same, and improve the said lots
against the 4th day of July; the Houston from his bride and the
commissioners being of the
opinion that the five lots being
improved will set the balance of
the town off, and therefore said
donations will be beneficial to
the county.
“Between this date and July
4th, the town lots were run off,
governorship of Tennesse to this
same wild country. Major
Erath landed in Texas on the
preparatory to the lot sale on
coast near Velasco in 1832, and
from date his life was insepar-
ably linked with the heroic
struggles of Texas, and her
battles with the Mexicans and the
i savage red man. He was in the
that date; Major Geo. B. Erath, battle of San Jacinto, and many
being the surveyor. By July other noted battles, and the
4th, some four or five log huts | story of his personal adventures
had been built upon the donated
and
the
lots, one being upon the lot
where now stands the Duncan
Hotel.
July 4th, 1854.
“Fifty years ago, today, was
held the first barbecue, the first
of those great social gatherings
which have become so character-
istic of the generous people of
Bosque County. It was held in
a beautiful post oak grove upon
a little ridge, gently rising up
from the first valley of the Bos-
que River; the stately trees in
front of the Emerson Hotel now
mark the exact spot, where the
exercises of that memorable day.
were held. The day was ideal.
The announcement of the event
would fill a volume. Major
Erath stated that upon one oc-
casion, he. acquired an un-
waranted reputation for courage,
by reason of the fact, in charg-
ing a superior body of Indians
intended merely as a feint to
cover the retreat of his own
men, his bridle bits broke in two,
and his cavalry horse being a
mule, carried him headlong into
the Indians. The terrorized In-
dians ignorant of the accident
causing the charge, fled panic
stricken, and saved the day for
Erath and his band. Itis also one
of the traditions of this celebra-
tion, that Major Erath prepared
for himself with his own hands
an old time beef head roast as
had been carried far and near, his part of the barbecue,
and several hundred people had
come in ox wagons and on horse
Dr. J. M. Steiner.
“Another notable character
the surrounding present at said celebration was
country, and from Waco, Gates- Dr. J. M. Steiner, who donated
the one hundred acres upon
which the town of Meridian now
back from
ville and other points, and pitch-
ed camp for the occasion. And
appointed Wm. Gary, T. E.
Everett, Wm. McCurry, S. S.
Locker, L. H. Scrutchfield and
Jasper N. Mabray, Commission-
ers to locate the county Site of those who were present upon
said county; and empowered- that occasion, thought they were
them to purchase or receive by- standing as godfathers toa great
donation, not more than
though it may seem strange now,
the fact remains, that many of
acres of land for the use of said
county, and to proceed to lay
320 city, for this was the birthday
of a new county, located almost
off one half of said land intol
suitable lots, and to sell the
same or any part thereof at suchs
time and on such terms as they
may think best for the interest i
in the center of the state, and it
was thought, by many leading
men of that time, that the place
then being
founded, would
stands, to Bosque County. Dr.
Steiner is noted in Texas history
and the history of the south, by
reason of his uniqueand thrilling
rescue by his friend, Judge
James H. Dyer and party of the
civil authorities of Hill County
from the hands of the military
authorities, and allowing him a
trial by the civil courts, instead
of a summary trial by a drum
eventually be the capital of|head court martial; the trouble
Texas, which accounts for the
fancy prices paid for lots sold
on that day. And while those
of the county, and apply the
proceeds of such sales to the
erection of suitable county
buildings for use of said county.: July were not so numerous as
The act providing further, that’
the said Commissioners or ama-
present upon that Fourth of
we who are here today, yet,
owing to auspiciusness of the
occasion and the notable men who
jority of them, shall locate the
county seat as near the center participated, it is a day long to
of said county as practicable; if
the land can be obtained, so as
to secure the permanency of
the same, and to continue to per-1
form the duties of county com-
missioners until the next regular
election, when their duties^
should cease.
“Pursuant to this act of the
Legislature, the Commissioners"
above named with the exception
be
treasured in the memory
of all living within the borders
of this county. It is perhaps
worthy of mention here, that
when the venerable Geo. B.
Erath was marking out the last
town lot in what was then thought
might be the future capital of
the great empire of Texas, Mrs.
Swenson, now living at Clifton
and who is present here, today,
and her sister, Mrs. Pederson,
of T. E. Everett, met June 27th,
1854, where now is located the now deceased, daughters of Ole
town of Meridian, and ordered, Pierson, held the surveyor’s
first, that the Commissioners re- 'chain with their own hands.
growing out of Steiner’s having
killed the commanding officer of
the United States army post at
old Fort Graham in self defense.
Steiner was at that time chief
surgeon of the post. Dr. Steiner
was for many years afterwards
one of the foremost citizens of
the state, and possessed those
qualities of manhood and courage
that endeared him to the pioneers
of the country.
Capt. Sam Barnes.
“And there was Capt. Sam
Barnes, who had been a soldier
under Houston in the battles of
the Republic, and who fought
with James Bowie in the great
Indian battle of San Saba, where
less than a dozen men were at-
tacked and besieged by one hun-
dred and forty Indians for sev-
eral days. He was also a mem-
(Continued to page 5)
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Dunlap, Levi A. The Meridian Tribune. (Meridian, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, July 8, 1904, newspaper, July 8, 1904; Meridian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1629543/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Meridian Public Library.