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CHAPTER XI PIONEER INDUSTRIES AND CUSTOMS In the pioneering times of Coryell County the people had to collect their wits and ingenuity to contrive to produce for themselves the articles that commerce and manufacturer could not bring them. They arose to the occasion, and many and varied were the articles needed in the home, that were produced of materials at hand. For 35 or 40 years lumber was an important article manufactured in the settlements. The lumber was massive and heavy. If one placed an order for 4x4 studs, they were sawed in full dimensions, as were all measures. An old house that we have examined, which was built in 1854, had for rafter plates, 6 x 10's, supported by 4 x 4 oak studs, and these in turn, were set on 12 x 12 oak sills. All joints were made by mortising the ends, and then keying oaken pins driven thru an augur hole: When I last saw this old house it had been standing 50 years and there was not a decayed piece of timber in it. A saw mill was set up at Gatesville by Mr. Grant in 1854. Shortly afterward, a Mr. Cox set up a saw mill at the place now known as Straws Mill. These mills continued to operate until the railroad entered Coryell County in 1882. Some operated until 1890. Above the mouth of Coryell Creek on the Martin land, is the remains of an old saw mill. Below the Neff farm, on land now owned by Fred Acree the last saw mill in Coryell County was operated by Ren Naylor. It was closed down in the late 1890 Before the Civil War, a flour and grist mill was set up on the Cowhouse, 3 1/2 miles above Pidcoke by R. S. (Uncle Bob) Rogers. The river was dammed to furnish water power to operate the mill. It is said that people drove as far as 100 miles to have their flour ground here. High water washed away the greater part of the mill in 1905 after which time operation was never renewed. There were a number of other grist mills at various locations. Old Captain Graham had a grist mill at the mouth of Station Creek. -- 59 -- Before the railroad penetrated the county builders who wanted fine finishing lumber had it freighted in by wagon from East Texas. For cabinet and fine finishing, native ash, oak and walnut, and often cedar was furnished by local mills. The leather processed was used for the making of boots, shoes, harness, saddles and stout belts that supported the ever present six-shooter. Jess Kerby, who came to Ft. Gates as a four month old boy, told how his father made a tanning vat of a cottonwood log. The log was scooped out similar to a boat. In this, the hides were placed, packed in lime find ashes. When the hair had loosened so it would slip, the hair was scraped from the skins. they were then returned to the vat and covered with an ooze secured by boiling cedar foliage until the ooze was about the consistency of thin syrup. The skins were allowed to remain in this until they were "properly cured". This is but one of the many processes used. Lime was needed for mixing mortar for the erection of stone chimneys and houses, and for sand, gravel and small stone for building what was called concrete houses. The ruins of the O. T. Tyler home, near Mound, is a fine example of this kind of construction. To manufacture lime a suitable stone was found. At a location convenient to the stone a layer of logs was placed, on this a layer of the limestone, then, more wood and stone in alternating layers. On and around this was placed a large pile of logs, and the whole thing fired. When the wood burned out, a good quantity of fine lime had been burned in this crude manner. In the hillside just across the river from Gatesville is the remains of an old lime kiln. This was the first commercial lime production in Coryell County, and I am told it was owned by that enterprising man, Ben Friend. Charcoal burning was practiced until the late 1890's. The early smithy required coal, so the charcoal burner furnished it. Cedar and elm were the favorite woods for burning coal. Good wood was cut in about cord lengths. This was stood together in the form of a grain shock. This was fired, but in the process it was covered with dirt to prevent a blazing fire. The fire was closely watched and kept in smoldering condition until all the wood was thoroughly charred. The close watching was kept day and night, -- 60 -- for if the fire broke into a blaze the wood would�be reduced to ashes and all the labor lost. When properly charred, the kiln was thoroughly wet with water land every spark of fire extinguished. The coal was then drawn out and ready for market. Coal burners of Coryell County sold their products to all the blackland towns far to the east. Brick was manufactured in the usual manner for use in hearths, chimneys and buildings. Water buckets, churns, piggins, meal barrels and many other items were made at home of native woods. Rocking chairs and common rawhide bottom chairs were made at home. Twice during the Civil War, the Confederate Government made assignments of cotton cards to Coryell County. These cotton cards cost the county $10 per pair, and it was expected of the women of the county to card and spin quantities of cotton cloth for the Confederate Armies. Several hundred pairs of cards were bought from the government stores in Austin. There were many neighborly acts of kindness among the settlers I found two old pioneers sitting on a bench sunning, and talking over old times. They both were born in Texas in 1854. They mere Uncle Jess Kerby and Uncle Matt Leonard. They talked of when there was a death in the community how preparations were made for burial. In those days there were no morticians, so preparations were made at home. Mr. Leonard related that a man died in the community, and there was no coffin to be bought, and no extra lumber with which to make one. Mr. Leonard's father removed the floor from his house and made a coffin in which the man was buried. There were a number of deaths that winter, and three times the elder Leonard removed the floor from his house to make coffins. Mr. Kerby told of how his father, Andrew Kerby, once removed the wall From his house that a neighbor might have the lumber to build a coffin. According to these old gentlemen some of the lumber used in the community was sawed in the following manner. A suitable log was found and mounted high enough so that one man above and one below the log used a crosscut saw with an up and down stroke until a board was sawed off. This was kept going until enough lumber was sawed to fill the immediate need. -- 61 -- Mr. Kerby told how Wyatt Hall, who was killed in 1873, at his home 3 miles below Oglesby, made a plough to break the stubborn blackland turf. He built a heavy shear and mouldboard. This was fastened to a 6x8 oak beam. The beam was mounted on the front truck of an old "tarpole wagon". It was a heavy, clumsy plow, and 6 to 8 yokes of oxen were required to draw it thru the stubborn turf. In this manner, many of the fields in the immediate community were broken in. In those days, Mr. Kerby related, many men wore clothes made of buckskin. Old Man Jonathan Diltz had made a new buckskin suit of which he was very proud. He wore it to Gatesville. There were saloons there then, and Mr. Diltz went round and got likkered up and went to the grocery store to buy some goods. It was a cold day and he ordered the merchant to build a fire in the store. The merchant told him the stove was hot. Diltz retorted with an oath, that there was not a coal of fire in it. To prove his statement, Diltz sat down on the stove. In a moment, the seat of Mr. Diltz's buckskin trousers were singed brown. Diltz took it good humouredly and served drinks to the crowd.
CHAPTER XII The Wends, Germans and Other Nationalities Altho probably not having came as early as the Angle-Americans, other nationalities of people have had no little share in the development of Coryell County. The German-Wends, of Slavic stock; the Germans of Teutonic stock; and the Swedes and Norwegians of Scandinavian stock have all contributed largely, and substantially to the development of the interest of the county. The German-Wends, racially of Slavic origin, akin to the Poles and Bohemians, and in small number, have always maintained their identity as a race although surrounded -- 62 -- by kindred and Alien races since their first appearance in history. They have maintained their racial traditions, their literature and art and their language. They occupied a territory, a little larger than Coryell County along the River Spree in Germany and for many generations the Germans have tried methodically to absorb them, but they still retain their traits. In 1854 a company of 558 Wends, under the leadership of Rev. John Kilian left Germany to find a land where they might enjoy greater religious freedom. Among these immigrants was Karl Teinert, grandfather of G. J. Teinert of Copperas Cove. On the voyage 73 died of cholera. John Teinert saw the body of his mother let down into the sea in burial as were all others that died of the dread malady. The surviving members of the company landed at Galveston. A settlement was made in Serbin, in the poor post oak lands of Lee County. The colonists were devoutly religious and at once founded a Lutheran Church. The colony prospered for a while under the leadership of the Rev. Kilian. The versatile mind of Rev. Kilian is shown in the fact that he once preached to his congregation in the Wendish, German and English languages. This was at a school dedication where all of the languages were spoken by the patrons. Upon the Wends migration from Serbin, in later years as their numbers increased, two colonies were founded in Coryell County. One at The Grove and the other at Copperas Cove. As early as 1891 there were Wend settlements at Copperas Cove and such names as Christian Jacob, John Falke, John Nerretig, Schwanch, John Herzog, John Kubitz, Reinhold Hempel and others are found. One of the first Wends to make his permanent home at Copperas Cove was Christian Jacob. He was much interested in the establishment of a Lutheran Church, and in the progress and development of the community. His wife Marie (Nee Suck) was also a Wend. Mr. Jacob died February 5, 1908, Mrs. Jacob died January 31, 1931. Both are buried in the Lutheran cemetery. Their children now live at Copperas Cove and are Trangott Jacob, Mrs. John Herzog, Mrs. John Teinert, Selma, Mrs. Ed Meyer, their grandson, Emil Herzog, of Oklahoma City is the Lutheran Walther League treasurer of the Oklahoma district. -- 63 -- Prominent was John Teinert (Grandpa Teinert) son of Karl Teinert. He lived at Copperas Cove from 1913 until his death 1932 at the age of 90 years. He was once a mail carrier, and was a Civil War soldier, a loyal citizen, a man of good judgment and respected by all who knew him. His wife (Nee Kurio) was a Wend. She died in 1917. Both are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery. Their children living at Copperas Cove are Emil Teinert, Ernest Teinert, G. J. Teinert, John A. Teinert, Emma, Mrs. Otto Meissner and Lena, Mrs. John Kubitz. A short way from Copperas Cove is the Lutheran Church established by the early Wendian settlers of that section. Although principally of German membership, the Wends made up a considerable portion of the congregation. Rev. L. J. Werner has pastored the church for many years, and is a substantial citizen having contributed two sons to the armed services. Altho the Wend language has given away to the German to a great extent, there are several families in which the Wendish is spoken in the home. The Copperas Cove Wends number about 100. At The Grove, the colony numbers more. Among them we find such names as Boriack, Dube, Hobratschke, Hoble and Winkler. The distinguished Prof., Ernest Winkler of the University of Texas, is of this Wendish family, and is well known for his literary work. The Wends are a people of the soil frugal and industrious. Their chief ambition is to become comfortably established farmers. They are religious, and seldom has a criminal character of their race appeared in the State. The well ordered farms of The Grove and Copperas Cove communities attest to their value as citizens of the county. The county also has many citizens of strictly German, or Teutonic origin. They are principally farmers and ranchers, altho many hold business interest�. While a great many of the Germans are of the Lutheran faith, it was J. E. Sydow, born in Germany in 1840, who established the German Baptist churches at King and Coryell City. William Voss, a prosperous and enterprising citizen of German extraction, is said to have been the first in his community to fence his farms with barbed-wire. He is also credited with the development of the big-head millet. The contributions of the German-Americans to the development of Coryell County are permanent and valuable. -- 64 -- In 1854, the Norwegians, with other Scandinavian elements, as Swedes and Danes, under the leadership of the renowned Cleng Pearson, founded settlements along the streams that are tributary to the Bosque River from the west. The overflow from these Norse settlement soon spread into Coryell county and these people are recognized in such names as N. Pederson, Pat Olson, Charles Liljeblad, Hendrickson, Solberg, Hanson, Anderson, Peesing, and many other names of that sturdy race of men who had their origin under the lights of the Aurora Borealis. We find the enterprising numbers of this thrifty people mastering every field of endeavor. Among this people the author has found the most and the best read libraries that he has found among any people. The chief contribution of the Mexican people, a race descended from the aboriginal Indian and the early Spanish settlers is the legendary lore, which in recent years has contributed quite a colorful influence to Texas literature. In Coryell County, many and varied are the tales told of lost mines and buried treasurers, to which, only the Mexican, with his pictograph chart has the key to finding. This is the romantic heritage left by this race, whose origin is lost so deep in the mists of Aztec antiquity that no historian may trace it. Caves were the first habitations of men and thru all time, the rock shelves, holes in the cliffs and grottoes in the rugged mountain sides have fascinating and romantic history. It was in the caves sheltered by masses of overhanging rock, and hidden from view by brush and scrubby timber, that man first sought a refuge from fierce storms and the ravages of the elements, from wild beasts and from his most relentless foe, man, his own species. It was in the caves, the first hearth fires were built, also pottery was made and man first begun to develop the arts. The oldest paintings and carvings known have been found on the walls of caves. The art of making weapons of defense, shells, bones and stone, had its origin in caves before man dared built his hut in the open along water courses. There is a fascination in the study of the caves and rock shelters; a revelation read by the artifacts, and tinsels representing the domestic arts, that lie buried -- 65 -- in the ash and dust accumulations found in most caves. The relics reveal somewhat of a knowledge of the home, life, manners and customs of cavemen. There are many caves and rock shelters in the rugged hills that skirt the Leon River and its tributaries, that were once the habitations of men. In these caves man once poured out his longings of the soul to The Great Spirit. In these caves they held councils that decided whether the country should enjoy the blessings of peace, or be cursed by the devastation of savage wars. Here, too, the brown hunter wooded his dusky mate in the softest songs of love. The mother crooned to the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes made of the skins of animals. Gruesome as it would seem to us, the caves were also used as a depository for the dead, and in the manner of burial, the articles found with the dead, and the proximity of these burials to the abode of the living, reveal the deep reverence these people had for the souls of their departed. Many caves have been named for some characters, or circumstance, by fact, or fancy, associated with the particular cave. There is Robbers cave, said to have been the rendezvous of a band of robbers. There is Counterfeit Hall, so named, because a set of mounds for making spurious money was found there. Devils Cave, so named for it's location in a wild gloomy hollow, and the weird noises said to be heard there. The noises are caused by the particular contour of the cave's walls echoing back the moaning of the wind. What is more romantic than finding of the remains of anciently buried men leading to the finding of Coryell County's reputed gold and silver mine. However, the chief interest in the hidden treasure, is the archeological treasure that helps to reveal the cultural status of the people who anciently occupied this land. In one cave, buried deep in ashbeds, and other cave litter, was found scraps of basketry and cord woven of cedar bark, scraps of woven mats; scraps of pottery, red paint, polished shells, needles and awls made of bone and flint blades and arrow heads exhibiting the finest sense of mechanical execution. Enough to show that the people, whose remains they were, had begun to cultivate a taste for the arts and sciences. -- 66 -- |
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