Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first term of the Johnson County Court was held at Buchanan on February 16, 1857, with Henry Trimble, Chief Justice, and Commissioners: C. Billingsley, J.R. McKinsey and James Plemmons. C. Coulsno, Sheriff, and James H. Torbert as special Commissioner to make titles to town lots in Buchanan. C.C. Alexander was appointed to transcribe the records necessary to entitle Johnson County to a separate land district. (information from Viola Block’s “History of Johnson County”)

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In June 1861 a tax levy was suggested to provide arms and ammunition for the common defense and soon after the “Johnson County Cavalry” was organized with W. J. O’Neal as Captain. Four other companies were also organized: Rock Creek Guards, with W.R. Shannon, Captain; Alvarado Cavalry, with J.H. Dunn, Captain; Stockton Cavalry, with John A. Formwalt, Captain; and Grandview Cavalry, with J.S. Morrow, Captain. (information from Viola Blocks “History of Johnson County”)

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The photo below shows Venus High School in 1914. The faculty included George W. Bowman, Superintendent and teacher of mathematics; R.U. Counts, Principal and teacher of science and history; Miss Mary Treat. Teacher of English and Latin; R.L. Doak, teacher of sixth and seventh grades; Miss Lisa Kelly, teacher of fourth and fifty grades; Miss Clementine Barker, teacher of second and third grades; Mrs. W. B. Johnson, teacher of primary grades; Mrs. O.J.  Moore, teacher of music; and J.F. Reece, Janitor. The High School burned down in 1922. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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In 1878, Peyton Irving established the Irving Select School for Young Ladies. The enrollment was limited to twenty-five. It had the best school equipment of any of the early schools and had the first single desks used in the city. Its curriculum included English, mental and natural philosophy, astronomy, mechanics, chemistry, botany, zoology, algebra, geometry, civil government, bookkeeping, and music. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas by Mollie Gallop Bradbury)

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 The photo below shows travelers crossing the new Brazos River Bridge between Cleburne and Glen Rose in the early 1900s. The bridge is now a historical landmark. (information from “Historic Johnson County” by Eric Dabney)

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In April of 1884 Cleburne established its first Public School System. There was no School Board election that year but the City Council appointed W.F. Ramsey, C.H. Mertz, E.T. Lewis, R.A. Poole, V. Gray and W.C. Smith as a school board to serve with Mayer, W.N. Hodge to direct the school system. Frank M. Johnson was the first superintendent of schools.

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Colonist William Balch, who settled on an area land grant in 1852, was later to become known as the "Father of Alvarado" for his efforts in having the town site surveyed in 1854 establishing the first general merchandise stores on the square, and for donating land for a cemetery, school and union church. The photo below shows the Balch Cemetery today.

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                                       Sam Myers       John Wilkins    John Renfro      Stokes Shaw       Henry Fugit                                                                    

The first legal hanging in the history of Johnson County occurred on March 19, 1880 when Sam Myers was hanged for the murder of his step mother. The gallows at that time was located at the old jail yard at the corner of Anglin and Chambers Streets. Later hangings were located on the north side of Harrell Street just west of the West Buffalo Creek Bridge. A total of five legal hangings took place in Cleburne between 1880 and 1901 before executions were moved to Huntsville. All five hangings were for the act of murder.

 Sam Myers      Murder of Mary A. Hester   Hanged 1880              John Wilkins   Murder of Grince Taylor       Hanged 1896

 John Renfro    Murder of M.M. Williams      Hanged 1896            Stokes Shaw   Murder of Tom Crane          Hanged 1898

 Henry Fugit     Murder of Laura Fugit         Hanged 1901

 

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The photo below shows the Godley Highschool Football Team in 1939. Front row left to right: Donkey Glenn (nope, that’s not a typo), A.A. Terry, Clyde Hardcastle, Stumbling Steakley (again, not a typo), Curtis Riggs, Suggs Sego, -- Elrod, L.P. McNeely, Artur Penny. Back row left to right: H.A. Cain (water boy), Warren Thedford, Cecil Penny, Alfred Ricketts, Blut Tedford, Ora Page (captain holding ball) James Graves, Kirk Woods, Raymond Woods, Jack Rux, and coach Schulza. Not pictured: Ira Gustafson.

 

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The Prairie Valley community was located about 3 miles southwest of Venus. The photo below shows the Prairie Valley school class of 1911. Their teacher was Lula Burch. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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On July 14-July 19, 1936 the City of Cleburne celebrated Railroad Week. Banquets were held for railroad employees, children were allowed to blow the whistles and ring the bells of a track full of locomotives which had been “steamed up” for the occasion. A tour of the Santa Fe Shops was attended by almost four thousand visitors! On the last night of the celebration a program was held on the Square that included band music, vocal numbers, readings, and tap dancing. The event was attended by approximately five thousand people. The event was aimed at showing the Santa Fe that Cleburne appreciated it and realized its importance. The photo below shows the railroad employees in Cleburne in 1936.

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The Mount Carmel community was located approximately 3 miles southwest of Joshua, just off of Highway 174. The Mount Carmel school came into being after 1900 as a result of the combining of two older schools: Sunnyside (near Cleburne) and Johnson College (located between Mount Carmel and Highway 174). During the school years 1916-1919 Mr. J.F. Meadows and Miss Velma Davis were the teachers. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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Johnson County, Texas, was established in 1854 and named after Middleton T. Johnson, a veteran of the Mexican War, Texas Ranger, and legislator. Initially, the county was formed from parts of Ellis, Navarro, and Hill counties. The first county seat was Wardville, though it's now submerged under Lake Pat Cleburne. Later, Buchanan became the county seat, and after the western portion was split off to form Hood County, Cleburne was chosen as the final county seat. Wardville, named after Thomas William Ward, was the first county seat. Buchanan briefly served as the county seat before Cleburne was established and named after Confederate General Patrick Cleburne. (information from Johnson County Texas website)

First County Seat of Johnson County Texas

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Rio Vista was founded in 1885 when the railroad was built through the area, giving the townsite the Spanish name for “River View”. The town grew around the railroad, with residents moving to the new site from earlier settlements like Grange Hall and Kimbell. 

• 1885: The townsite was laid out after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was completed a mile east of the original settlement. The first post office was also established in Rio Vista that year.
• 1884: Residents from neighboring communities moved to the new site of Rio Vista, which overlooked the Nolan River and Mustang Creek.
• 1881: The railroad was completed through the area, which had previously been known as Grange Hall and Kimbell.
• 1889: The post office was discontinued but was reinstated in 1890.
• 1893: The City of Rio Vista was officially incorporated. 

 (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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The first jail in Cleburne was relocated from Buchanan to Cleburne in 1868. It was a double log structure placed behind the 1^st Cleburne courthouse which was then located at 115 East Chamber Street. (information from “It Took Their Kind” compiled by Jack Carlton)

 Note: I wonder how they moved the whole building from one town to another back in 1868? 

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By the winter of 1853-1854 the settlers in what would become Johnson County called a meeting near Alvarado to petition for the creation of Johnson County. E.M. Heath was appointed secretary of the meeting and directed to draw up the petition to the Fifth Texas Legislature asking that a separate county be organized and boundaries were noted. The Fifth Texas Legislature passed the petition on February 13, 1854 and Johnson County was created.

 

 

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The "Johnson County Texas Cavalry" was raised by Middleton Tate Johnson (Johnson County was named for him) in 1861–1862. This regiment, along with others, primarily from North and East Texas, served with the Confederate Army of Tennessee, fighting at battles like Richmond, Kentucky, and defending Mobile, Alabama. Another unit, the 20th Texas Cavalry Regiment, was recruited in Hill County, near Johnson County, and fought in the Indian Territory. 

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The Empresario system (The policy of colonization by contracts) had proved so beneficial under the Mexican domination in developing the Texas wilderness that the statesmen of the new Republic of Texas turned to this method of inducing immigration into Texas. The fifth Congress of the Republic passed an act on January 4, 1841 which authorized the President, Mirabeau B. Lamar, under certain stipulations, to enter into contracts for the colonization of lands in Northwest and Southeast Texas. The first tracks of land designated for settlement of a colony included Johnson County and 10 other counties. The northern part of Johnson County lies in what was the Old Peters Colony and the southern part in the Old Mercer Colony.

 

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It is likely that mastodon or mammoth remains were discovered in or near Grandview in Johnson County, Texas, around 1873, as such findings were relatively common in Texas at that time and often generated local interest. However, there is no specific, widely recorded historical account of a mastodon discovery in Johnson County, Texas, in the exact year 1873 in the search results provided. 

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The photo below shows grades 5 and 6 of Friendship School in 1965. Bus driver Lois Tarply and Teacher Mrs. A.N. Rudolph.

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The Johnson County City Directory of 1904 listed the following Justices of the Peace:

 Precinct 1 Cleburne: J.W. Sellers           Precinct 2 Blum: J.M. Wylie

Precinct 3 Joshua: J.H. Bowman            Precinct 4 Alvarado: Lem Myers

Precinct 5 Grandview: T.S. Wade           Precinct 6 Burleson: J.A. Roberts

Precinct 7 Lillian: W.KJ. Brownlow          Precinct 8 Godley: J.M. Bickers

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The first automobiles came to Cleburne in 1902 or early 1903 when Bryce Osborne and Dr. J.D. Rucker brought the first machines to Cleburne. Mr. Osborne owned what would later (1905) become a mass-produced Buick automobile, and Dr. Rucker a Maxwell. These cars were chain driven and stick steered with the crank on the side of the vehicle. They were described as fast, but fragile; broken axles ad exhausted dry cell batteries headed the list of troubles that plagued the early motorist. There were no mechanics in Cleburne at that time.  Among the first men with the needed mechanical abilities were Hugh Wimberly, L.R. Coleman, and Oran Smith.

Charlie Dempwolf operated Cleburne’s first filling station. It had two Bowser pumps inside the rear of his store that furnished gasoline through hoses run through the open windows to automobiles waiting beyond the sidewalk.

These early automobiles were very scary things to the horses and mules. Efficient mufflers had not been developed yet and the noise of the cylinders in the engine caused many run-a-ways of those horses and mules causing many hard feelings. (photo below shows a Buick in 1913 – (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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Population of Johnson County Cities, Towns, and Villages; Post Offices; Banking Centers

 

Texas Almanac 1929

 Alvarado          1,281-1800                                          Godley             613

Bono                54                                                        Grandview       1,084 – 1,500

Burleson          211 – 800                                            Keene              420

Cleburne         12,820 – 20,000                                  Lillian               315

Egan                115                                                      Rio Vista         500

 

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M.R. Head’s Grocery was located at 303 S. Main Street in Cleburne. The photo below shows the store during the Christmas season in the 1930s. Pictured from left to right are Clyde Head, Vernon Head, Jim Sanders, M.R. Head, Mae Horton, Morris Head, and Charles’ dog Buddy.  (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by Rob Fraser 1996)

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Located about 4 miles South East of Alvarado on Texas Farm Market Road 1807, is the Nike-Base: Battery C, 4^th Battalion (HERCULES), 562nd. Artillery Battery C was the first operational Nike-Hercules Site in Texas. The base was built in 1959 and was one of four air defense bases constructed during the Cold War era to defend the Dallas-Fort Worth area (DFW) in the event of Soviet aircraft attacks. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was vital to United States security because of the presence of defense industries and Carswell Air Force Base, home to strategic Bomb Groups and Wings. Nike Missile Base DF-50 was decommission in 1969.

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When settlers first began coming into the vicinity of Godley the grass was so high it almost completely hid the cattle. It was dangerous to attempt to walk in it. There was an abundance of deer, antelope, and prairie chickens. Most of the settlers came in covered wagons, horseback, or on foot. Will Wells and Green Freeland and sons: Boone and Jack settled in the area in the1850’s. (information from "The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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The Cleburne Chronicle of June 5, 1869, page 4 noted that G.H. Maxey, Johnson County Clerk listed reports of estrays (strays) from the following: Posted before J.B. Head, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 by H.H. Dickey and Isaac A. Jackson. Posted before James Hiner, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 by V.M. Hightower, Richard Beasle, J.B. Jones, J.S. Morrow, S.K. Davis, S.J. Chapman, John Stephens, and S.H. Brown. (from the Portal to Texas History, UNT)

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When the railroad came through southern Johnson County in 1881, the right of way went through the farm of H.K. Hughes, which the railroad company bought from him. Mr. Hughes immediately laid out a town site and built a small grocery store, in which a post office was established. Later, the first appointed postmaster was H.K. Evans. T.U. Baker built a general store, Jim Ashcraft built a blacksmith shop, and L.G. Pipes built a gin for the convenience of the cotton growers that were becoming more numerous. Other land for the town was given by the Swopes and Menefee families. The Menefee family has held a family reunion in Rio Vista every year since 1891! (Information from “History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County, Texas compiled by John W. Watson)

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The photo below was taken on October 29, 1934 and shows the Cleburne Post Master, C.A. Dickson and Assistant Post Master, W.A. Adams. Also pictured are the clerks, rural carriers and city carriers. (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by Rob Fraser 1996)

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In 1904 the Model Dry Goods Store in Venus had a special opening to show off its fall millinery. The store was located on the north side of the square. Other stores on the Venus square included Renfro Hardware, Charles Gidden Grocery, Singleton and Poteet Grocery and Shytles Drug store. Pictured below in from of Model Dry Goods are, from left to right: Mrs. W. C. Briggs, two unidentified, Mr. Nigos, Dee Shytles, W. C. Briggs and Dorman Allen. (This photograph and information courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County).

 

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Cleburne, like other towns, was founded in order that people might buy and sell their goods and services and thereby earn their livelihood from one another. The earliest Cleburne record of jhow any sizeable group went about the process of exchange was noted in a city directory dated 1880, which listed the occupations of 470 of Cleburne’s population of 1,855 persons. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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Alvarado, the oldest town in Johnson County, is at the junction of U.S. highways 67 and 81 and Interstate Highway 35W, fifteen miles east of Cleburne in eastern Johnson County. In the winter of 1849 William Balch staked out a claim near an old Indian trail. His family did not last until spring but returned in 1851. Two years later Balch and a fellow settler, G. H. Sigler, laid out half-acre town lots. The community's first sheriff, A. H. Onstoott, is credited with naming Alvarado for Alvarado, Vera Cruz, Mexico, where he fought in a battle during the Mexican War.  By the summer of 1854 Alvarado had an estimated 100 families and postal service. 

Residents voted to incorporate in 1878. In 1881 the tracks of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroads arrived. Within a few years the population surpassed 1,000. By that time the community had a bank chartered in 1880, a newspaper named the Alvarado Bulletin, two schools, a number of gins, a hotel, and an opera house. By 1890 a second bank opened and the reported population exceeded 2,000. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” Johnson County Website)

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In 1891, the Cleburne Fire Department was established as a volunteer organization, with J. A. Lindgren as chief. There were three teams of horses, three trucks, 24 volunteers, and three paid drivers. In 1905 a, new building was constructed for use as a fire hall and city hall. The first motorized equipment was purchased in 1913 and by 1919, Old Tom and the other horses were retired. By 2013 the department had a 55 person, fully paid department operating three stations and a fire administration office. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Pictured below are the manager and crew of the Coca Cola plant located on South Robertson Street in Cleburne in 1942.W.T. George (dressed in suit) was owner and manager of the plant. The plant crew are, from left: Milford Eastus, Lloyd Ledbetter, Abe Miles, W.T. George, Everett “Happy” Dameron, Glen Clark, Johnny Booth, and Frank Knopp. (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by Rob Fraser 1996)

 

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John Renfro’s “girlfriend”, Miss Nora Williams, ended their courtship in 1898. Mr. Renfro did not take the end of the relationship well. He commenced to slander Miss Williams all over Johnson County. Miss Williams’ father, M.M. Williams filed slander charges against Mr. Renfro.

On the morning of February 3, 1899 Mr. Renfro reached the courthouse door and, turning saw Mr. M.M. Williams approaching the courthouse behind him. Mr. Renfro stated that when he turned around Mr. Williams threw a rock at him which just grazed his head so he fired his pistol. There is some testimony tending to support this statement, but there was other testimony to the effect that Williams did not throw or attempt to throw a rock until after Renfro had fired upon him.

What was certain was that Mr. Renfro emptied his pistol as fast as he could fire it, striking Mr. Williams several times and inflecting fatal wounds.

 After all the testimony was heard, Mr. Renfro was found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Mr. Renfro’s attorneys petitioned the Texas Governor for a stay of execution while they reviewed the testimonies in the case. The “stay” was granted. When the allotted time ran out they requested a second stay of execution. The Governor sent a telegram denying the second stay of execution and ordering the Sheriff of Johnson County to execute the prisoner. (Telegraph is pictured below) Mr. Renfro’s lawyers then entered a plea of insanity which was dismissed. John Renfro was hung on July 27, 1900.

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The first term of the county court was held at the new town of Buchanan on February 16, 1857. Present were Henry Trimble, Chief Justice (County Judge) and Commissioners C. Billingsley, J.R. McKinsey and James Plummons.

 

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Campbell Dickson operated a furniture store, a hardware store, an appliance store, an appliance service store, and a floor covering store in Cleburne. These stores, called “departments” by Dickson, covered portions of two city blocks. The photo below shows Dickson’s Hardware Store in 1895. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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Lillian is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Texas, United States. It is located along Farm to Market Road 2738, approximately 15 miles northeast of Cleburne. Lillian is part of the Alvarado Independent School District. Lillian Elementary School, which serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through four, is located in the community. The Lillian Independent School District consolidated into Alvarado ISD on July 1, 1986. The first restaurant established in Lillian was a cold drink and chili joint known as the “White Elephant”. It was located between Braswell’s store and the train depot and was owned and operated by Walter Burris and John Keenon.

The first restaurant established in Lillian was a cold drink and chili joint known as the “White Elephant”. It was located between Braswell’s store and the train depot and was owned and operated by Walter Burris and John Keenon.

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Named in honor of Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, president of Baylor University, the town of Burleson dates to 1881 with the arrival of the Missouri Kansas and Texas railroad. An earlier community called Brushy Mound was bypassed by the railroad. The area's first school had opened at Brushy Mound in 1879, and in 1885 even as Burleson was building, Alta Vista College was under construction. In 1900 the building was moved to Burleson.

In 1882, Burleson was granted a post office. It broke the mold of most Texas post offices since it didn't share space with a store. It was located not in a store, but a saloon. As soon as residents started getting their mail, they set about setting up a proper town.

The population was 200 in 1890 and cotton fueled the local economy. With an artesian well that supplied water to homes and businesses, Burleson's future seemed bright, but from a population of 368 in 1904 it declined to 241 by the middle of the 1920s. During the 1930s the population increased and by 1940 573 people called Burleson home. 

It was made a stop on the Cleburne-Fort Worth Interurban line in 1912. Using the electricity brought in for the Interurban, Burleson was wired for electricity in 1913.

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Johnson County was created by the Act of the Fifth Legislature on the 13^th day of February in 1854 and organized in the month of August 1854. The first election was held on August 7, 1854 for county officers. David Mitchell was chosen the first Chief Justice, Jeremiah Eastwood as County Clerk, J. Robinson as Treasurer, A.H. Onstott as Sheriff, and F.L. Kirtley as Assessor and Collector. County Commissioners were A.D. Kennard, Christopher Billingsley, Carr Wise, and Wm. O’Neal. The entire number of votes cast was less than 120. 

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Pictured below is the Alvarado Lions Club of 1942. On the cart, left to right: D.D. Byer, Ruth Bounds, and Tom Senter. Front row, left to right: Tom Hester, J. Tobolowsky, Sam Kelley, Robert Martin, Jack Campbell, A.L. Creswell, and Lloyd Green. Standing from left to right: J.H. Coleburn, C.R. Walden, John S.Hallman, J.F. McCrory, Clarke Prestridge, W.J. Cummings, John Harrison, Pope Johnson, T. Wesley Hook, D.C. (Ned” Clayton, Callas Thompson, J.N. Mallicote, J.A. Sewell, Pope Ballinger, and Loyd Prestridge. (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by Rob Fraser 1996)

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Parker is an unincorporated community in southeastern Johnson County, Texas, located on Texas State Highway 171. The photo below shows the students of Parker School in about 1937. (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by Rob Fraser 1996)

 

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Early settler, David Mitchell established a trading post near here in the late 1840s, about the time colonist of W.S. Peters' impresario grant began to settle the area. Colonist William Balch, who settled on an area land grant in 1852, was later to become known as the "Father of Alvarado" for his efforts in having the town site surveyed in 1854 establishing the first general merchandise stores on the square, and for donating land for a cemetery, school and union church. 

The town, named for Alvarado, Mexico, soon boasted a post office, homes, businesses, and churches. A community school established about 1855 became The Alvarado Masonic Institute in 1875. Rail lines extended through Alvarado by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1881 and by the Chicago, Texas and Mexican Central Railroad in 1884 spurred a local economic boom. By 1885 Alvarado had several churches, two schools, two gins, an opera house, a bank, a newspaper, and a population of about 2,000. The Masonic institute became the Alvarado Normal Institute in 1899 and Alvarado High School in 1908-1909. (information from Johnson County website)

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When Johnson County was incorporated in 1854 David Mitchell was elected as “Chief Justice”. Eleven other Chief Justice followed until, in 1866 the title was changed to “County Judge”. J.R. McKinsey was the first to serve under the title of “County Judge”. A full list of Chief Justices and County Judges is available at the Johnson County Courthouse Museum.

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The photo below shows the S.M. Williams Grocery store in 1907. It was located at the corner of Brazos and Robbins Street in Cleburne. Sam Williams is the gentleman pictured.

 

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Elbert Monroe Heath was appointed by the fifth legislature of the State of Texas as the commissioner to organize Johnson County. In 1861 he volunteered in the Twentieth Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Bass. In 1866 Major Heath was elected sheriff of Johnson County but was forced to resign during Reconstruction because he had served in the Confederate army.

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Pictured below is the CHS 1917 Base Ball Squad. Notice all players were not named. If you recognize anyone in the photo, contact dwest@johnsoncounty.tx.org and I’ll post them.

 

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Pictured below are the Johnson County Commissioners in 1907. Top row: R.P. Drennean, John I. Rodgers. Bottom row: G.W. Humphries, Judge F.E. Adams (Adams School was named after him), and John W. Shropshire.

 

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Venus was incorporated in 1903. The town was originally called Gossip until it developed in the 1880s. In 1888, a Post Office opened, and by 1890, Venus was at the junction of the International & Great Northern and the Gulf, Colorado, & Santa Fe Railroads. By 1903, there were four gins, seven doctors, cotton buyers, and a fine hotel. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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In 1909 the B.F. Williams Grocery store was located at 918 E. Henderson St. in Cleburne. In the photo below, Mr. Williams is the gentleman standing by the horse. (information from “A Pictorial History of Cleburne and Johnson County”. A special project by the Cleburne Times-Review newspaper)

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Bruce was a small town in Johnson County located about 15 miles northwest of Cleburne. The site was settled in the early 1880s and named for early settler Horatio Gates Bruce. By the id-1880s the community had two churches, a school ad a general store In1892 it and four businesses ad a population of 50. During the first three decades of the twentieth century most of the families moved to nearby Godley. By 1930 Bruce was no longer an organized community. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

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William J. and Mellie Powell Flenniken in the picture below lived in Cleburne in 1899. William was a Santa Fe Railroad conductor. His reports were criticized for being too lengthy and detailed. He developed a shorter report for his supervisors, writing “Off again, on again, gone again – Flenniken” His reports became synonymous of the Santa Fe for short, efficient reports.

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The photo below shows an advertisement in a Johnson County Directory from the late 1800s – early 1900s for the H. Bledsoe store in Alvarado.

 

 

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Pictured below are the Johnson County Sheriff and Deputies 1951-1965. Back row L-R: Deputy Castro Taylor, Deputy Carlton Booth, Deputy Sam Hazellet. Front row L-R: Deputy Bob Pollard, Sheriff Earl H. King, and Deputy J.B. Kirkreham.

 

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The Barnard brothers were the first to come up the Brazos River and settle in what would later become Johnson County, later moving on into a section later cut off and called Hood County, then still later, establishing a trading post at what would be Glen Rose in Somervell County, also part of the original Johnson County. The first permanent settler in present day Johnson County was Henry Briden, who settled on the Nolan River near present day Rio Vista. C.R. and George Dillard were the oldest settlers in the northwest part of the county. Many others followed and by the winter of 1853-54 there were about one hundred families living in Johnson County and a petition to organize a county was signed by 107 men. (information from “The History of Johnson County and Surrounding Areas” by Viola Block)

Note: There is a handout in the JC Museum showing the entire Texas Legislature Act of 1853-54 which officially created Johnson County Texas.

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Economy of Johnson County during the 1920s:

• Agriculture-based: The county's economy was primarily agricultural, with cotton and corn as major crops. Livestock production also contributed to the economy, which was experiencing expansion across the Southwest in the 1920s.
• Challenges in Cleburne: While the state benefited from the oil boom of the 1920s, the economic outlook for Johnson County suffered. All four banks in Cleburne failed during the decade, and a major railroad strike further depressed the local economy.
• Railroad industry: The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad was a significant presence in Cleburne. Its machine shops and roundhouse were a key part of the town's industrial sector. Other railroads, like the Trinity and Brazos Valley, operated out of Cleburne during this time. 

(information from Cleburne Chamber of Commerce)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Parker is a farming community center on State Highway 171 fifteen miles southeast of Cleburne in southeastern Johnson County. Though a few families had settled in the area by the early 1850s, no established community developed until the 1880s. A post office called Nathan operated there from 1887 to 1906. The Philadelphia Church was built in the area during the 1870s and was moved to the community by 1900; it was originally nondenominational but later became Methodist. In 1904 the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway built through the area, connecting the community with Cleburne to the northwest and Hillsboro to the southeast. Reportedly, residents wanted to call their town Kennard, in honor of Mrs. A. D. Kennard, Jr., who had donated land at the site. Since, however, another Texas town was already called Kennard, they decided instead to name their community Parker, in honor of the president of the railroad. In 1985 Parker had two churches, a grade school, a nearby airfield, and a few scattered houses. The population was twenty-one in 2000 and in 2009 it was estimated at ninety-three.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below shows the Illinois and Great Northern Railway Depot in 1913, located east of Venus. It ran through Lillian and Retta. Hack (seen on the right was always on time. J.M. Williams was agent for many years.) (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Johnson County was created by the Act of the Fifth Legislature on the 13^th day of February in 1854 and organized in the month of August 1854. The first election was held on August 7, 1854 for county officers. David Mitchell was chosen the first Chief Justice, Jeremiah Eastwood as County Clerk, J. Robinson as Treasurer, A.H. Onstott as Sheriff, and F.L. Kirtley as Assessor and Collector. County Commissioners were A.D. Kennard, Christopher Billingsley, Carr Wise, and Wm. O’Neal. The entire number of votes cast was less than 120.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In November of 1913 Mr. George E. Bransom helped organize the Farmers and Merchants State Bank in Burleson. It was located on the corner of Ellison and Main Streets. Dr. J.F. Dunn was elected as the first president in 1917 followed by R.N. Warren and then C.C. Taylor. The bank remained strong thru the great depression and was one of only three banks that remained open in Johnson County during that awful time.

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In the summer of 1871 a traveling circus came to Cleburne and pitched its tent about two blocks west of the courthouse in the wide bend of Buffalo Creek on the east side. It was a one-ring circus and was advertised by handbills for weeks. Everybody in Cleburne became industrious in order to save the necessary 25 Cents for admission. Families came from all over Johnson County and many camped along Buffalo Creek. The circus had clowns, a lion, and acrobats.  (Information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims) Painting courtesy of Amazon.com

 

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In 1860 a company of troopers were organized into a company called the “Johnson County Cavalry, with W.J. Neal as Captain. The Rock Creek Guards was the next company organized under the command of Capt. W.R. Shannon. This was followed in quick succession by the Alvarado Cavalry with J.H. Dunn as Captain; the Stockton Cavalry with Capt. Jno. A. Formwalt, the Grandview Cavalry with Capt. J.S. Morrow. (information from “History and Description of Johnson County and its Principal Towns” by L. Malcolm Basham and W. Dwaine Basham)

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Cleburne started life as a crossroads with the east/west road once connecting the forts of Graham and Belknap and the north/south road being not far from the famous Chisholm Trail.

It was a mustering pointing for troops joining the Confederacy and was first known as Camp Henderson. Cleburne became a permanent settlement and after the Civil War was chosen to be the Johnson County seat of government (after Wardville and Buchanan failed to meet the state criterion of being centrally located. The town was renamed for Patrick R. Cleburne, a Confederate General and became Johnson County's third county seat. Although the 1870 census counted less than 700 residents, in the next 20 years it had grown to 4,000 residents.

The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1881, joining Cleburne with Temple and in 1887 a second line connected to Weatherford. With the construction of a roundhouse and machine shops for the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1890s, Cleburne's status rose to new heights. It later served as a stop on the Fort Worth interurban. 

A railroad worker's strike in 1922 forced the governor to call in Texas Rangers to keep order in the city which was then home to nearly 13,000 people. (information from the Johnson County website: Johnsoncountytx.org)

 

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The Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne was established in 1895 west of Buffalo Creek. E.E. Dawson was pastor from 1912-1914. The photo below was taken in 1912. (Information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Keene is on U.S. Highway 67, Farm Road 2280, and the tracks of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad five miles northeast of Cleburne in central Johnson County. The first settlers to reach the area, Jeremiah Easterwood and his family, arrived in 1852. Easterwood built a Methodist church, which also served as a school. Eventually the community became known as Elm Grove. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built into the area about 1890. A general store was established by Charlie Moore in 1893. In 1894 the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists opened a school to train ministers on 836 acres in the community. The assembly hall was built on the campus of Southwestern Union College that year, and a post office opened. Postal Service officials selected the name Keene. The local post office closes on Saturdays rather than Sundays. (information from “Texas Almanac 2024-2025”)

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The photo below shows students of Friendship School in 1899. Friendship was located 5 miles south of Cleburne. A report from Peyton Irving for the 1898-1899 school year stated that the school house was in good condition, one room, one teacher with 28 pupils and 2 students absent. The school is well supplied with necessary equipment and splendidly organized. (Information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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On April 13, 1927, a sizable tornado struck Joshua at about 6:30 AM. The twister came from the southwest without any warning. The storm first struck the Tom Eddleman home where the bar was destroyed and one horse was killed. Hay and other debris completely covered a mule, but when it was removed the mule was unharmed. From there the storm continued on through town causing much damage. (information from the Cleburne Times-Review, Sunday, April 17, 1994 JCHC Scrapbook collection)

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In 1932 Floyd Hall bought half interest in a Mobile service station and garage on the south side of Rio Vista square from Mr. Wallis Simpson. After a few months, he bought out Mr. Simpson and ran the service station until 1940. (Information and photo from “Rio Vista in Review 1884-1984)

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Rio Vista is on Highway 174 seven miles south of Cleburne, twenty miles south of Fort Worth, and twenty-five miles southwest of Dallas in Johnson County. On March 21, 1801, after several trips into the area of the Sabine River, Phillip Nolan advanced inland with a party of eighteen men as far as the Brazos River. The party was attacked, and Nolan was killed. In 1954 a granite monument in memory of the event was placed three miles south of Rio Vista on Highway 174. Anadarco Indian chief José María terrorized the area in the 1830s but was at peace with the frontier settlers by the 1840s. On December 11, 1837, George Gentry was granted a parcel of land in Robertson District, Navarro County, on Trout Creek, a tributary of Nolan River. He sold it to B. J. Chambers, who in 1856 sold 1,280 acres to R. Meredith Hart.

In July 1849 Henry Briden and his bride, Lucinda (Sevier), arrived in a wagon pulled by oxen, accompanied by her father, Charles Sevier, and an uncle, A. G. Sevier. At the Nolan River west of the site of Rio Vista they found springs of water and constructed a log cabin, the first house in Johnson County. Several area homes have Texas historical markers, as does the Chisholm Trail west of town. The community was known as Grange Hall and Kimbell before 1881, when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was completed a mile east and the townsite of Rio Vista was laid out overlooking the Nolan River and Mustang Creek. Grange Hall declined, and Rio Vista grew. In 1884 residents from neighboring Derden, Nathan, Hart, and Sullivan moved to the new site. After the first train came through in 1885, as many as three arrived daily. In 1900 the town had churches, schools, a bank, a meat market, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, a general store, a cotton gin, and a livery stable. A post office, telephone lines, and an excellent water well enhanced the town's prosperity. A cattle-dipping vat and a cotton yard were located near the new depot. In 1914 a fire swept through the business part of town. The many businesses destroyed were never restored.(information from the online Texas Almanac)

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Did you know there was once a small settlement named Equestria located nine miles southwest of Cleburne in southwestern John County. It grew up around a cotton gin in the late 1870s. From 1883 to 1896 Equestia had a post office. By 1884 it had a church, a steam cotton gin, and a population of 53n. Stock raising was important in the area, but the community also shipped corn, cotton, wheat, and oats. In 1892 its population was estimated at nineteen. There is no evidence that suggest the community survived to the twentieth century. (information from Johnson County Historical Commission scrapbook collection)

 

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The photo below shows the students of Antioch School around 1920. Several children from the Basham families were in school when this photo was taken. Among them were Kermit, Jewel, Leonard, W.B., Vera Nell, Thelma, Estelle, and Toy. Other students identified were Benton and Alton Stricklin, Zollie, Howard and Evelyn Wilkinson, and Lula and Junita Hale.

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first Brown’s Opera House was built in 1877on the corner of East Chambers and South Anglin. It was constructed with bricks from Easterwood brick yards on Buffalo Creek and included cast iron arched lentils. Tickets cost ten, twenty, and thirty cents at the time. Touring acts presented traveling minstrels, lectures and plays.

Note: The building pictured below was titled Brown's Opera House, however I can't see that name on the building. Looks like the bottom floor sold/repaired carriages and buggies.

 

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 Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The initial permanent settlements came in the mid-1840s. Charles and George Barnard established a trading post near Comanche Peak in an area no longer in Johnson County. The earliest known resident of what is now Johnson County was Henry Briden, who settled on the Nolan River in 1849. The county was marked off in 1854 from Ellis, Navarro, and Hill counties. Its population was then 700. Its name came from Middleton T. Johnson, who had served in the Mexican War, on the Texas frontier, and later in the Civil War, and also served as a legislator. The first county seat was Wardville, named for Thomas William Ward, second commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas. In 1856 Buchanan, named after the newly elected president of the United States, became the county seat. After the western portion of the county was severed in 1867 to form Hood County, Cleburne, which was named after Gen. Patrick Cleburne, was chosen county seat. In 1881 a section of Ellis County was added to Johnson County, thus completing its current boundaries.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The importance of Cleburne as a transportation center was enhanced by the arrival of the railroad. In 1870 the population was 683; twenty years later the residents numbered 3,727. In 1881 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad was completed from Fort Worth through Cleburne to Temple, and a secondary line connected Weatherford to Cleburne in 1887. The most important industrial contribution to the city was made by the Santa Fe Railroad, which in 1898 and 1899 constructed central machine shops in Cleburne, helping to double the city's population in the 1890s. In 1882 the Chicago, Texas and Mexican Central Railway connected Cleburne to Dallas. Two additional railroads maintained terminals in the city after 1900. The Dallas, Cleburne and Southwestern Railway completed a spur to Egan in 1902, and the Trinity and Brazos Valley, commonly called the "Boll Weevil," operated out of Cleburne from 1904 to 1924. The former line was sold to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas in 1910. The track out of Cleburne was abandoned after 1920. The Burlington and Rock Island used the Boll Weevil track from 1924 until 1932, when it too was abandoned. The Interurban out of Fort Worth served Cleburne for eighteen years after 1912. A local streetcar service operated from 1911 to 1917. Cleburne was still served by Santa Fe and Amtrak in 1990.

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below is a postcard dated August 23, 1912 and shows the Santa Fe Park with the YMCA building in the background. 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Lane Prairie, located between Cleburne and Joshua, is home to the Lane Prairie Baptist church and several residences. A cemetery is also located there and contains graves dated as early as 1874, and there’s a monument to a Confederate man born in Dublin, Ireland in 1826. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Peyton Irving was the Superintendent of Johnson County School during the 1898/1899 school year. He visited each school and reported on the condition of each.  

Mr. Peyton inspected the Marystown District #24 in 1891-1899. This is his report:  “The building was old and delipidated but was comfortably furnished. There was little equipment, however, excellent work was being done.”

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Rio Vista, located about 8 ½ miles south of Cleburne on Hwy 174, was known as Grange Hall and Kimbell before 1881, when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was completed a mile east of the townsite and the town of Rio Vista was laid out overlooking the Nolan River and Mustang Creek. Grange Hall declined, and Rio Vista grew. In 1884 residents from neighboring Derden, Nathan, Hart, and Sullivan moved to the new site. After the first train came through in 1885, as many as three arrived daily. In 1900 the town had churches, schools, a bank, a meat market, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, a general store, a cotton gin, and a livery stable. A post office, telephone lines, and an excellent water well enhanced the town's prosperity. A cattle-dipping vat and a cotton yard were located near the new depot. In 1914 a fire swept through the business part of town. The many businesses destroyed were never restored. (information from the Texas State Historical Association)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Rio Vista  During the fire of 1914                                                                                  Rio Vista Before the fire

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Pictured below are members of the Grandview Collegiate Institute Band around 1900. Seated (L-R): unknown, Billie Malone, Dr. Edmunson (Dentist), Billy Wagner, Ernest Hale and, Elbert English. Standing (L-R): Peck Elliott, Elmer Young, Billy Clauncy, Matt Hale, Will Harrell, Otis Odom, Lawrence McCown, Mac English, Hamp Savage, N. Matt Hale (visitor and father of Matt and Otis Hale) and, Otis E. Hale (band director). Back row (L-R): Chet Odom and Will Hale. (Photo courtesy of Lula Hale Stafford) (From History of JC – Mollie Mimms)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The December 9, 1898 Alvarado Bulletin published the following ad:

 

First National Bank of Alvarado

Capital: $50,000

Surplus: $10,000

 

President: M Sansom; Vice President: Ben Barnes; Cashier: J.R. Posey; Asst. Cashier: W.C. Glasgow; Directors: M. Sansom, Ben Barnes, Ben Barnes, L.B. Trulove, M.T. Patrick

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Venus is in the northeastern part of Johnson/Ellis County line; located on highway 67 between Alvarado and Midlothian. In the early 1880’s, it was known as Midway. Midway was founded by Samuel B. Trulove, who gave 90 Acres for a tow site. This town included a grocery store, Baptist Church, post office, and Doctor’s office (Dr. Bole). In a field across from Midway, Captain Hill owned and ran a horse track which was located three miles south of present-day Venus. (information from “History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County, Texas” compiled by John W. Watson)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Wright Plaza is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built in 1893 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Originally built in 1893, the Wright building is now home to Wright Plaza and the Heroes Café, Joyful Soul Boutique, Southern Spirit boutique and many more locally-owned businesses.
• The building was originally home to a meat market, a grocery, a lunchroom, and a candy store and in 1899 A.J. Wright purchased the building, turning it into Wright Dry-Goods Company. Business was booming for Wright and in 1916 he purchased the adjacent building as well. Today, that building is home to the Plaza Theatre Company on Main Street.
• In 1924 he’d expand even further and build the Liberty Hotel directly across the street. The inside of the Liberty Hotel was rebuilt in 2004 and is still open today, making it one of the oldest hotels in town.
• Local legend also goes that the Wright building is haunted, with locals walking the street reportedly seeing the apparition of a young woman staring down into the street from the second floor of the historic building. Visitors to the building have also experienced an unexplained aroma of perfume.

 

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Pictured below is the Ace Café in Cleburne. It was located on the northeast side of the square and was famous for homemade pies and big mugs of coffee. As of August 2025 it is a barber shop.

 

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The photo below shows the staff of the 1917 Cleburne High School annual, The Santa Fe Trail. Photos: 1-4 H.D. Woods, Faculty Director; Almarine Harris, Assistant Editor; John Young, Athletic Editor; Angie Phillips, Staff Photographer; 5-6 William Hester, Business Manager; Bryan Robinson, Editor-in-Chief; 7-10 Ernest Helsley, Asst. Business Manager; Joe Flood, Alumni Representative; Reese Cleveland, Junior Representative; Nina Mae Sanderlin, Junior Representative; Gladys Johnson and Jim Vickers, Sophomore Representatives; Alice Mae Lewis and Lex Cowsert, Freshmen Representatives.

 

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During WW II some of the students of Alvarado High wore blue arm bands and took turns sitting on the old rock wall watching for enemy planes. I can’t remember what the group was called, but if a big bird flew over we wondered if it was just a big bird or the enemy. I don’t think any of us really understood what was happening. . . Leroy Lanfear

(information from “Tales of Cahill” by Doris Lanfear)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The January 30, 1869 Cleburne Chronicle newspaper published a recipe for cornbread:

 - One quart of fine cornmeal, One ounce of butter, One tablespoon each of fine salt, ground ginger, and sugar.

- Stir in one quart of boiled sweet milk. As soon as it becomes lukewarm add flour and four well beaten eggs. Bake in quick oven. 

(wonder what a “quick oven” was)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The ad shown below is from the May 13, 1948 Cleburne Times Review. Prices sure have increased since then!!

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below shows the fourth-grade class of the old Santa Fe School on April 11, 1923. Students were: Bottom row: Selma Gaarz, Lou Moore, Vera Friou, Geneva Dempsey, Mildred - - -.  Second row: Henry Gaarz, Rebuen Friou, O.B. Miller, Wesley Fruipier, Pat Wise. Third row: Dora Anderson, Moree Byrd, Lavada Barnett, Dora McCoy, Gladys Whitt, Opal McCoy, and Vera - - -. Fourth row: Onie - - -, William Watson, Arron Stephens, Robert Moore, Odell Daniels, Harry Miles, Elzie Nichols, Clifton Johnson. Fifth row: Weda Huneycutt, Ella Albright, willie Marchman - - -, Rita Friou and Jewel Johnson. Miss Faye Paitts was the teacher.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Buffalo Creek, in Cleburne, Texas, played a significant role in the city's early development, primarily as a watering hole for soldiers and cattle drives. The creek, specifically West Buffalo Creek, provided a crucial water source for travelers between Fort Belknap and Fort Graham, and later for those driving cattle along the Chisholm Trail.

 

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In 1936 Johnson County was reported to have had thirteen manufacturing establishments employing 610 persons and manufacturing products valued at $1,074,610 yearly. Since that time much progress has been made in the expansion of industry, particular during and immediately following WW I and WW II. Cleburne had (in 1950) about 1,455 persons working in local industry exclusive of the 1,400 Santa Fe shop employees. An estimated additional 1,100 Cleburne citizens commuted to Fort Worth where they were employed in the industries of that city. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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The photo below shows the graduating class of Cleburne High School in 1898. Principal was Mr. Fulton. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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The Coffman family opened the first drugstore in Rio Vista in 1898. They also sold general merchandise and groceries and operated a fountain. After a fire destroyed the building in 1914, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Coffman erected a two-story building, with his store on the first floor and the Masonic Lodge on the second floor. The contents of the business were sold to Roo0f Drug in 1964. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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The first Brown’s Opera House was built in 1877on the corner of East Chambers and South Anglin. It was constructed with bricks from Easterwood brick yards on Buffalo Creek and included cast iron arched lentils. Tickets cost ten, twenty, and thirty cents at the time. Touring acts presented traveling minstrels, lectures and plays.

 Note: The building pictured below was titled Brown's Opera House, however I can't see that name on the building. Looks like the bottom floor sold/repaired carriages and buggies.

 

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Back in the day Joshua had a blacksmith shop located on Main Street near the old barbershop. Mr. Locker and Mr. Vincent were the local blacksmiths. They made tools and many other usable objects for the citizens of Joshua.

 

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When brave Texans were fighting for their independence, the territory of Johnson county was composed in the Mexican municipality of Milam. After they had gained their independence in 1837, this municipality was changed to a county of the same name. In 1850, McLennan County, comprising also the territory of Johnson County, was cut off from Milam; and on February 4, 1854, Johnson County was cut off from McLennan County by an act of the legislature. The original area of Johnson County was 1,376 square miles, but in 1866 she lost 636 square miles (nearly half her territory) when Hood County was cut off the western side of the county, leaving as the present area about 740 square miles. (information from Johnson County TX GenWeb) (Holding flag: Courtney and Kay Davis)

 

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 A Pioneer Story

This story was told by W.D. Johnson of Route 2, Cleburne to Curt Vick

One day Mr. Johnson’s grandfather’s father was out deer hunting with a friend. They lost their dogs. The men started crying because the dogs cost a lot. A little later they heard the dogs barking. They started after them and they were chasing a deer which ran into a thicket. When they got there the men met them. One man started to shoot the deer but the other said not to but he would go in and cut the deer’s throat. As he went into the thicket the deer jumped on him and nearly killed him so he had to shoot the deer. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County Texas” by Language Arts Classes 7A, 7B, 7F, 7D, and 7E Fulton Junior High School 1954)

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The photo below shows the Santa Fe Machine Shops around 1909. There were 45 machines, 75-foot ceilings, and 23 stalls. The building its self was 515 feet long. The crane in this facility had a 15-ton capacity.

 

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Bono is on Farm Road 2331 a mile west of US Highway 67 in southwestern Johnson County. Settled in the 1870’s, the church and school community attracted a number of families to the area, and in 1879 a local post office opened. By 1900 the population reached 75, and the town had become the site of a Baptist revival meeting. After the turn of the century, the schools in the area merged to form District #50. Ion 1890 a tornado struck Bono which killed seven people and injured many more. In 1907, a flood damaged the community, and in May; of 1930 a big hail storm struck in the middle of the afternoon. Sharp pointed slabs of ice ruined every roof and shattered every window. Beginning in the 1940’s, the population declined, the post office closed, and the number of area farmers decreased. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

 

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The first community in the Joshua area was Caddo Grove, two miles west of present day Joshua. It was a self-sufficient town until the railroad (Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe) laid tracks between Cleburne and Fort Worth. Joshua (named after the biblical character) was platted in 1880 and organized with the arrival of the railroad in 1881. The first store (containing the post office) opened the following year. Caddo Grove's post office closed soon after.

By 1890 Joshua was thriving with a respectable 300 citizens, two steam mills which doubled as cotton gins, a hotel, and a newspaper. A one-room school opened in 1890 and in 1899 a larger school was built which became the high school in 1917.

The town suffered fires in 1900 and 1912, but still managed to thrive. In 1906 a public water system was installed and gardens and orchards sprang up around the community. The Fort Worth South Traction Line (interurban service) connected Cleburne with Fort Worth and in 1912 Joshua became a stop.

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As in the original colonies, laziness was frowned upon by the early settlers of Johnson County. There were even songs written in those early days ridiculing both the lazy man and woman. “The young man who wouldn’t hoe corn” was one of those: When the young man proposed, the pretty little miss replied: Well, here you are a-waitin’ for to wed, and cannot make your own cornbread, Single I be, single I remain, A lazy man I won’t maintain. “Those who do not work shall not eat.” So, it was in early Johnson County, for men, women, and children knew they had to work in order to exist. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by The Johnson County History Book Committee. Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chairman)

 

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The photo below shows the Cleburne High School Pep Squad in 1936, courtesy of Clyde Head. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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Johnson County was formed by the Texas Legislature in 1854 and named in honor of Colonel W.T. Johnson, a Texas patriot who distinguished himself in the Shelby County War and the war with Mexico. 

 

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In 1947 Jean Stewart (Addams House), Patsy Friou (Willard House), and Mary Jean Jackson (Barton House) were cheerleaders and classmates at Cleburne High School. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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An 1872 edition of the Cleburne Chronicle reported the following: “Four prisoners escaped from the Cleburne jail on June 4 by removing a log. How often will we have to announce the escape of prisoners from our jail?”

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The city of Burleson, located just south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, was formed in 1881 when Henry C. Renfro sold 161 acres of land to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad (also known as the Katy Railroad). The railroad needed a new depot halfway between Fort Worth and Alvarado and purchased the land so that local farmers would have a convenient location from which to ship their produce. Renfro’s one condition was that he should be able to name the town, and he did so after Dr. Rufus Burleson, his mentor from Baylor University.

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Antioch was a small community located about four miles north of Grandview. A school was built in 1875, and the building also served as a church used by both Methodists and Baptist. The building burned down 10 years later and the two denominations constructed their own buildings. In 1970, the old school well was still there, along with part of the chimney of the church. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

 

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In the late 1800’s people came to the Cleburne square around the Courthouse to trade livestock and other goods. This blocked the streets around the Courthouse. The Johnson County Commissioners met on Monday, March 21, 1898 to approve purchase of Block 24 on the west side of South Main Street. The block was to be used solely as a market place. The city also provided a public watering trough and arranged with a man to keep it clean (he could run a café on one corner of the block in return for his service).  Market Square/Farmers Market was born and, following extensive renovations is still in operation today. The 1883 Johnson County Courthouse can be seen in the background.

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In 1890 the Cleburne City Council passed a city ordinance stating: “The City Council shall prescribe the conditions of admissions to all hospitals ad shall fix the fee and dues paid for receiving and keeping of persons therein; provided, the mayor may, in his discretion, send sick or disabled persons who are unable to pay for treatment to any hospital free of charge.” Most likely due to this ordinance it was 1905 before the first hospital was built on North Main Street in Cleburne by Dr. Wm. Yater. It was the Yater Sanitarium and even had a horse drawn ambulance!

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The first community in the Joshua area was Caddo Grove, two miles west of present day Joshua. It was a self-sufficient town until the railroad (Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe) laid tracks between Cleburne and Fort Worth. Joshua (named after the biblical character) was platted in 1880 and organized with the arrival of the railroad in 1881. The first store (containing the post office) opened the following year. Caddo Grove's post office closed soon after.

By 1890 Joshua was thriving with a respectable 300 citizens, two steam mills which doubled as cotton gins, a hotel, and a newspaper. A one-room school opened in 1890 and in 1899 a larger school was built which became the high school in 1917.

The town suffered fires in 1900 and 1912, but still managed to thrive. In 1906 a public water system was installed and gardens and orchards sprang up around the community. The Fort Worth South Traction Line (interurban service) connected Cleburne with Fort Worth and in 1912 Joshua became a stop.

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Hangings in Johnson County: Mr. Renfro was first charged with slander of Mr. Williams’ daughter after she refused his company. Mr. Williams sued Mr. Renfro for slander. When Mr. Renfro ran into Mr. Williams on the south steps of the Johnson County Courthouse prior to his slander trial, he promptly shot him 5 times! Renfro was tried and sentenced to hang but his attorneys requested, and were granted, a stay of execution from the Governor of Texas. The stay of execution expired and the attorneys requested a second stay of execution from the governor. The photo below shows the telegram sent by the governor’s office denying the request and ordering the Johnson County Sheriff, W.A. Stewart to proceed with the hanging immediately. Mr.  Renfro’s attorneys then put in a plea of insanity which was rejected and Mr. Renfro was hung on July 27, 1900.

 

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Venus, Texas, rose from the cornfields on the Blackland Prairie of far northeastern Johnson County during the 1880s, at the junction of the International Great Northern and the Gulf, Colorado and Sante Fe railroads.  Originally known as Gossip, then Midway, it incorporated under the name Venus in 1903 upon 80 acres owned by founder J.C Smyth, becoming one of Johnson County's most prosperous cities and The Cotton Capital of Texas.

 

 

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Located on County Road 810, about 2 miles north of Highway 67, the water well pictured below has served the Bethany Community as a landmark for many, many years. It was dug by hand during the Civil War. Its purpose was to provide water for the soldiers as they marched across the country. It is lined with flat rock and has a standing level of about ten feet of water at all times. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” By the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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Cross Timber is located off Highway 174 between Burleson and Joshua. The small community was named for its location on the edge of the western Cross Timbers. The site was settled in 1853, and a post office opened in 1870. In 1890, the population was reported as 200, and in 1896, the school had one teacher and 25 students. By 1900, the school was no longer there and the post office closed in 1904. In 1990 the area was incorporated for the purpose of maintaining a rural lifestyle for its residents. Cross Timber is a Type B General Law town governed by a Board of Aldermen consisting of a Mayor and five Aldermen elected at large. It had a population of 277 in 2000.

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The Cleburne Water Works was built in 1912 near Buffalo Creek off West Henderson. George Grupe was Superintendent. The location had two wells. Offices were added in 1932 and by 1950, there were 4,200 water meters in Cleburne. In 2012, the city had 11,000 meters, plus 1,300 fire hydrants and over 500 miles of water and sewer lines.

 

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Barnesville was a small town in Johnson County located halfway between Alvarado and Grandview on CR 206 and CR 108. It was founded by the Barnes brothers in 1853. Moses Barnes built a cotton gin there in 1868 and by 1873 a local post office opened. The year 1879 saw a school opened ad the community was a stop on the Waxahachie-Cleburne stagecoach road. In 1881 the railroads bypassed Barnesville and after 1903 in was abandon. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

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I walked 2 ½ miles on unpaved roads (black mud) when I was in the 1^st grade. In the winter Mother would put brown cotton stockings on us. I had some hand-me-down cowboy boots. Before I got to school I would roll those stockings down in the boots so no one could see them. During the 2 ½ mile walk a Looney kid kicked our dog. My sister, Ruby, whipped the kid. We moved to Bill Stewart’s farm when I was in the 2^nd grade and I only walked ½ mile and caught the school bus. One day there was ice and snow on the ground and the teachers did not show because they lived in Cleburne. One of the boys locked me in the schoolhouse and wouldn’t let me out. His brother went to the back and let me out.  (From “Curly’s Tales of Cahill” by Doris Lanfear)

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 The ad below is from the Yale Theater and published in the Friday, April 18, 1919 Cleburne Morning Review:

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 Shown below is the G.C. & Santa Fe engine number 38. It was a 4-4-0 with tall smoke stack. It was this style of engine that pulled Santa Fe trains into Johnson County in 1881. The locomotive shown is transporting flatcars in the Cross Timbers. Passenger cars did not begin service until January 1, 1882. Woodstoves arrived by boxcars on the early trains into Alvarado in 1880. (information and photo from Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History, Vol. 1)

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Pictured below is the graduating class of Joshua High School in 1918. Front row (L-R) Ruby King, Lena Bradford, Isla Davidson, Sally Reed, Millie Eddleman, Floyd Bradford, Mr. H.F. Moore (Superintendent). Second row (L-R) Dorsey White, Ruth Henderson, Velma Herod, Jessie Needham, Edythe Moore, and William Moore. Back row (L-R) J.D. Hill, France Naylor and, Raymond Vinson. (Virgie Brumley was also a class member but is not pictured.

 

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Wardville was located five miles west of Cleburne. It was the third town in the county and the first county seat. It was named for Thomas Ward, a hero of the Texas Revolution. The legislature selected Wardville as county seat in 1855. It was later discovered that the community was not sufficiently near the center of the county as required by law. A new election to determine the legal center of the county was held, and in 1856, Buchanan, five miles west of Wardville became the new county seat. Soon thereafter the residents of Wardville moved to the new legal center of the county, ending the brief existence of the community.

 

Wardville, Texas 1855

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Pictured below are members of the Johnson County Commissioner’s Court circa 1912. J.B. Haynes, J.M. Cooper, J. H. Townes, J.W. Shropshire, and W.E. Whitten, Jr.

 

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Stubblefield, located five miles north of Grandview, was initially settled by the John B. Westbrook family in 1857. Westbrook built the first steam mills in the county, which he eventually sold to John Stubblefield, for whom the community was named. In 1868 Stubblefield contracted with a German immigrant, to operate a sawmill and gristmill at the
Westbrook site. A distillery was added later, but was sold at public auction in 1876 to satisfy overdue taxes. A post office was established in 1877 but was discontinued in 1889, reestablished in 1892, and discontinued permanently in 1900. The community also had several stores, three churches, a physician, a school and a telephone exchange. The distillery exploded in the 1890’s, killing two me ad burning nearby buildings. Stubblefield began to decline. In 1917 Stubblefield and Greenbriar schools were combined to form Greenfield. By that time Stubblefield had ceased to exist.

 

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In 1849 Charles Barnard built a trading house on De Cordova Bend located mostly in Hood County, but a small portion in Johnson County. Col. Leonard H. Williams was Mr. Barnard’s freighter and hauled building materials ad trade goods to the site. On one trip Col. Williams and his crew were passing through the site where present day Cleburne is located when they were surrounded by 300 Comanches, each with an arrow in his bow and another in his mouth. Col. Williams knew the Chief, Paha-yu-ca. They were looking for women and plows. Paha-yu-cas had the covers stripped from the wagons. Afterwards, the freighters were permitted to continue. The Comanches welcomed traders but knew that women and plows meant a permanent occupation of their land.

 

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Rio Vista, Texas, has a rich history rooted in agriculture and transportation. Initially known as Grange Hall and Kimbell, the area was established in 1885 when the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway arrived, transforming it into the townsite of Rio Vista. Rio Vista's economy thrived on agriculture, particularly cotton, and later dairy farming, boosted by the railroad and the later rerouting of State Highway 174. A significant event in the town's history was a fire in 1914 that destroyed many businesses, causing a slow rebuilding process. The photo below shows downtown Rio Vista in 1930. (information from Texas State Historical Asso.)

 

 

 

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Most major Christian denominations established themselves early in Johnson County. The first minister, Simeon Odem, was a Methodist who moved into the area before the county was organized. Other denominations followed soon thereafter. The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter was started in 1871. In 1877 Seventh-day Adventists began work in Johnson County. In 1893 a site was chosen five miles east of Cleburne for an Adventist school. Eventually the Keene Industrial Academy evolved into a junior college and then a full four-year institution, Southwestern Adventist College, which was renamed Southwestern Adventist University around 1996.

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Egan is at the intersection of Farm roads 2280 and 917, eight miles northeast of Cleburne in north central Johnson County. The area was settled by M. J., J. P., and W. E. Miller during the Civil War. A townsite was surveyed in 1883, when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad extended its tracks through the area. A surveyor gave Egan its name. A post office began service there in 1883, and within two years the settlement had a population of fifty, a store, a school, and two churches. A winery operated in Egan during the early twentieth century, but was closed down during prohibition. The community had a population of 115 by the mid-1920s. Egan's post office closed sometime after 1930, and the population fell to fifty by the late 1940s. This estimate was reported consistently through the mid-1960s. In 1990 and again in 2000 the population was twenty-one. (information from  TSHA,  affiliate of the University of Texas at Austin)

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Just six years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the new-fangled talking instrument called the “telephone”, the first exchange was opened in Cleburne. Records of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company show that 42 Cleburne citizens were enjoying the use of the new gadget as early as August 31, 1883. (information from “History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County, Texas” compiled by John W. Watson)

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Hugh was a small community located north of Grandview near Antioch. The children attended school in Antioch after one was built there. In 1868 Henry Wilkinson bought 762 acres of land there and later gave a portion of it for the town. The Hugh Post Office was located on the M.K. & T. railroad. Mail was thrown from the train as it passed through. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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An important change in the economic climate came to Johnson County with the railroads. The first railroad to be constructed in the county passed through Venus in 1854. In 1881 Cleburne was connected by rail with Dallas. That same year the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe was completed through Johnson County. This line was eventually extended to connect the Texas coast with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line in the north. In 1898 Santa Fe repair shops were opened in Cleburne. They constituted a vital part of the local economy and included maintenance and construction facilities and a switchyard in Cleburne. Other early railroads in the county included the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (Katy) and the Texas and Brazos Valley, commonly known as the Boll Weevil.

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The First Baptist Church of Godley, located at Allen and Fourth in Godley, was originally known as Bethany Baptist Church. The congregation was organized in the spring of 1878 at the home of J.P. Vickers. In 1880, during the pastorate of the Rev. S.E. Brook, the new church was accepted into the Alvarado Baptist Association. Worship services were held the first Sunday and every third Saturday and Sunday of the month. In 1899 the congregation moved into the town of Godley and adopted the name Godley Baptist Church. The fellowship became know as First Baptist Church in 1974. (information from “101 Things to do in Johnson County” Cleburne Times Review June 2003)

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Pleasant Point was a small rural settlement located about 15 miles northeast of Cleburne. Originating with a gristmill and general merchandise store in 1875. Pleasant Point was reportedly one of the first communities established in Johnson County. A post office opened during the community’s first year, and by 1879, in addition to the general store and grist mill, there was a drugstore, a grocery store, two blacksmith shops, a school, and a church. By 1885, 50 people lived in Pleasant Point. During the 1880’s, the settlement declined as residents relocated to the nearby town of Lillian. The post office closed in 1904. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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 Cahill School – Lower Grades – 1943

Back row:         Maxine Wade, Elizabeth McConnell, Joel Hayes, Wayne Maberry, Gene Powell, Max Wade, and Mrs. Wilma                               Walker (teacher)

Center Row:     Wiley Roberson, Allen Millsap, Jan Jackson, Twyla Bell Tribble, Mattie ell Summerlin, and

                         Yvonne Russell

Front Row:        Marion Wade, Nelda Wallace, Bobby Collins, Charles Stephens, and Patsy Ward

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Cleburne began as a Civil War outpost named Camp Henderson, where Confederate soldiers served under Gen. Patrick Cleburne, for whom the town was later named. In 1867, the camp grew into the city of Cleburne, and its central location made it a hub for the local agricultural economy. 

Farmers transported wagonloads of cotton, grain and corn from nearby fields to Cleburne, but reaching other towns often required day-long trips—or even longer—due to the lack of infrastructure. The town quickly recognized the need for a faster, more efficient means of transport.

Cleburne’s efforts to secure a rail line finally paid off when the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway began construction on a line connecting Kopperl, Texas, and Cleburne on April 19, 1879. Just two years later, on October 21, 1881, the first train arrived, a momentous occasion witnessed by a crowd of more than 1,000 people — nearly a quarter of the town’s population. This event marked a turning point for Cleburne, establishing it as a vital link in the region’s rail network. (information from BNSF Railroad-- Rail Talk. Photo from Images of America by Mollie Mims)

 

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 The oldest settlements in Johnson County were in the east. The site of Alvarado was settled in 1851, and the town was platted in 1853. Grandview (originally two words), founded around 1860, was the second community established. In 1890 the population of the two was 1,342 and 713. The early county seats, Wardville and Buchanan, no longer exist. Both Joshua and Burleson were established as depots in 1882. The town of Keene grew up around the college. Other communities in the county include Rio Vista, south of Cleburne, and Godley, to the northwest. (information from Johnson County website)

 

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Buchanan, located five miles northwest of Cleburne, was established in 1856 and selected as the second county seat after the discovery that the original county seat, Wardville, was more then six miles from the county’s center. Buchanan was named for Democratic presidential nominee, James Buchanan. Following he completion of a log courthouse, the first county court was held in 1857, and the first county jail was erected in 1858. Known as “Buck Hannon” by many; of the old residents and children, the Buchanan post office was established in 1857. In 1866, a shift of territory reduced Johnson County’s size and relocated its geographic center making Buchanan too far from the center of the county. In a special election in 1867, voters chose a ew county seat, Camp Henderson, which became Cleburne. Buchanan was abandoned by 1892. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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 Center Mills was a farming community located near the headwaters of Long Creek in north central Johnson County. The settlement, named for its location equidistant from Fort Worth, Cleburne, and Weatherford, developed sometime before 1866. Its existence, however, was short; there is no evidence that the settlement survived into the 1870s. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

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Professor W.G. Slaton came to Johnson County in 1889. He and his brother, Henry T. Slaton, donated the land and founded the Slaton Chapel and Friendship School in 1893. It was located nine miles from Cleburne and served the community of Nathan. Professor Slaton organized and directed all of the school activities. He was also the principal of the school in Grandview. Professor Slaton and his wife, Eula, had ten Children (pictured below) Standing in the back row are: Lillie B. “Aunt O.”, Johnny Duck, Paul, Mattie, Charlie, Claudia, Ella, ad Bryan. Sitting are: Eula (Nana) Ann Bell Slaton, and Professor W.D. Slaton, Circa 1908. (information from “Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History Vol. 1)

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Freeland was a small community located about 13 miles west of Cleburne. It was established by and named for pioneer George Freeland. The settlement was founded around 1880, and a post office opened. By 1890 the population had risen to 50, and community life centered around the Baptist churchy. The railroads bypassed Freeland during the 1880s. In 1904-1905 the Freeland school had one teacher and 56 students. The post office closed in 1911, and by 1925 Freeland had ceased to exist. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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In 1886 the state Farmers' Alliance met at Lee's Academy in Cleburne and adopted a set of resolutions commonly called the Cleburne Demands. These precedent-setting resolutions included a call for restrictions on corporations, support for a national interstate-commerce law, expansion of the money supply through issuance of treasury notes, payoff of the national debt through the coining of specie, and provisions supporting labor. Some of these ideas were later incorporated into the People's (Populist) party platform. James Stephen Hogg, who later became governor, was on the staff of Johnson County's first newspaper, the Cleburne Chronicle, established in 1868. (information from Johnson County website)

 

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Lake Pat Cleburne is in the Brazos River basin four miles south of Cleburne in southwestern Johnson County (at 32°18' N, 97°26' W). The lake, originally named the Cleburne Reservoir, is owned and operated by the city of Cleburne as a municipal water supply source. Construction of a dam to impound the waters of the Nolan River began August 9, 1963, and was completed during the summer of 1964. The lake has a conservation storage capacity of 25,600 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1,545 acres. The elevation is 733½ feet above mean sea level. The drainage area above the dam is 100 square miles. The lake is named in memory of Confederate general Pat Cleburne.

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Parker is a farming community on State Highway 171 located about 15 miles southeast of Cleburne. A community developed there in the 1880’s. A post office called Nathan operated there from 1887 to 1906. Residents wanted to call their town Kennard for the man that donated the land. However, another Texas town was already called Kennard, so the community was named Parker in honor of the president of the railroad. Around 1900, Parker was thriving, with many homes, three churches, a school, Masonic Lodge, gins, a blacksmith shop, a railroad, and half a dozen stores. In 1914, a fire and cyclone did damage, and in 1927 the local cotton gin burned. The post office closed in 1927 and the railroad station in 1932. By 1985, there were two churches, a grade school and a few scattered houses. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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 The photo below shows the CHS Senior Band from the 1941-42 Santa Fe Trail annual.

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The advertisement shown below is from the Friday, August 9, 1889 Cleburne Chronicle. The photo may be a little hard to read so:

 V. Gray & Co.

Undertakers and Embalmers, and Dealers in General Hardware, Wagons, and Farming Implements of all kinds. We carry a complete stock of Buggies, Phaetons, Hacks, Road Carts, and all kinds of Spring Work. Also, Agents for the Osborne Mowers, Bellville and Lone Star Hay Rakes. Moline Wagons, for sale by us. V. Gray & Co., P.O. Block, Chambers Street.

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The photo below shows the West side of the square in Venus in 1910. The photo shows the L.P. Skanders Furniture store, the movie house, Simpson Confectionery, pool hall, novelty-grocery store, Dr. J.T. Shyles office, and the hardware store. (information from “Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History Volume 1)

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 In 1947 George Marti opened KCLE Radio on North Main Street in Cleburne where it remains today. He was mayor of Cleburne for 12 years, named to the Texas Association of Broadcaster Hall of Fame in 2002 and provides scholarships to about 200 students annually. Marti Elementary School was named in honor of him and his wife, Jo Marti. The photo below shows KCLE radio announcer, J. B. Bryson. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

 

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The first newspaper in Johnson County was the Cleburne Chronicle, published and edited by Major Jack Davis. Major Davis moved his printing equipment by oxcart to the new town of Cleburne in 1868. Major Davis hired “a ragged fellow, who walked all the way from Tyler” to Cleburne. He worked as a “printer’s devil” for the newspaper. Years later the Cleburne Chronicle’s “printer’s devil” became the governor of Texas – James Stephen Hogg!

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The photo below shows Curtis Fayette Lanfear in Germany during WWI. He included the photo along with a letter to his family. He wrote, “Mud is deep, feet never dry, living conditions terrible. All that keeps you going is your thoughts of home.” He returned at the end of the war and raised his family in Grandview.

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This story was told by Mrs. McDaniel to Dolores Haenel

Around 1874 at Godley the Nolan River was used for most everything needing water. When the women would have a washing to do, they would take their clothes down to the river ad wash them. The men would fish there hoping to catch a fish for supper. The River supplied drinking water for Godley, since the people did not have wells.  The water was used to cook with and wash their hands before meals. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954. Donated to the Johnson County Historical Commission by Bill Bonham.)

 

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Cotton comes to town: Wagons loaded with cotton filled the dirt streets around the Courthouse in Cleburne’s early years. By 1930, there were over 3,700 farms and about a dozen gins in the county, with three of the latter in Cleburne. Cotton was king for several decades, and by 1952, the average annual cotton production for Johnson County was 22,072 bales. (information from “Image of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Major General Patrick Cleburne was considered the most popular Confederate division commander in the Civil War and was referred to as the “Stonewall of the West.” Instead of the usual battle cry of “Forward”, General Cleburne’s battle cry was “Follow Me!”  General Cleburne was killed in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864. During the battle he had two horses shot out from under him and continued on foot until his death.  General Pat is buried in Helena, Arkansas where he was a pharmacist prior to the war. When his men from Johnson County returned home after the war, they petitioned and renamed Camp Henderson Cleburne. The photo below is of his tombstone in Helena.

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Sand Flat, located between Cleburne and Grandview, was settled in the mid-1800’s. The Baptist church was erected there in 1868, and descendants of its charter members were still attending services there in 1968. At one time there was a general store and post office as well as the church. The church at Sand Flat was destroyed several times, twice by tornadoes and once by fire, but the determined citizens rebuilt it each time.  (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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Caddo Grove Elementary School got its name by way of the history behind its location. This area was once a small community known as Caddo Grove, Texas, and was located eight miles northeast of Cleburne in north-central Johnson County.  J.R. McKinsey, an area pioneer, operated a small school from his home in the area that was founded in 1854. After the Civil War, McKinsey expanded the town with additional businesses and a private school called Caddo Grove Academy. By 1847, fifty-three students enrolled in the school. In February, 1868, the school became public and was called Caddo Grove Seminary. It became recognized as the most prestigious school on the northern frontier of Texas. The railroad was established in 1881 in the nearby town of Joshua, causing the town of Caddo Grove to become abandoned. The photo below shows the students Caddo Grove School in 1917. (information from Joshua Caddo Grove Elementary, 7301 FM 1902, Joshua, Texas)

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Johnson County grew very fast from the very beginning. When the County was organized in August of 1854 the population scarcely reached 700 citizens. By 1860 it had sored to 4,287. The value of farm products for the year amounted to a very good sum: Barley harvested, 2,490 bushels; butter made, 48,305 pounds; Cheese made, 3,166 pounds; Sorghum made, 3,760 gallons; Clover seed, 270 bushels; Animals sold, 49,640 head.

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In sections of the Texas frontier, including Johnsons County, where courts and jails had not been fully established or where officials and juries could not be depended upon, committees of vigilance were often formed to stamp out lawlessness and rid communities of desperadoes. (In 1869 the citizens of Alvarado united to rid the county of B. Bickerstaff and J. Thompson. These two individuals were guilty of murder, theft and rustling cattle and horses in the Alvarado area. The citizens shot the two to death on the town square.) Sometimes these secret bodies degenerated into mob rule or were used for private vengeance, but usually they were made up of law-abiding, responsible citizens who wanted only to maintain order and to protect lives and property. They operated against murderers, horse thieves, cattle rustlers, and those who held up stagecoaches and trains. Sometimes they acted without warning, but often they gave notice for offenders to leave. Those who failed to do so might be caught and hanged. (Information from an article by Wayne Gard)

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Stubblefield, Texas was located five miles north of Grandview in eastern Johnson County. It was initially settled by the John B. Westbrook family in 1857. Westbrook built the first steam mills in the county, which he eventually sold to John Stubblefield, for whom the community was named.

 In 1868 Stubblefield contracted with Christian Hudzietz, a German immigrant, to operate a sawmill and gristmill at the Westbrook site. A distillery was added later by Reavis and Files, Distillers, but was sold at public auction in 1876 to satisfy overdue taxes. The United States government leased the distilling operation in 1877.

 A post office was established in 1877 discontinued in 1889, reestablished in 1892 and discontinued permanently in 1900. The community included mills and distillery as well as several stores, three churches, a physician, and a telephone exchange. A school was established in 1884. After the distillery exploded in the early 1890s killing two men and burning nearby buildings, Stubblefield began to decline. In 1917 the Stubblefield and Greenbrier schools were combined to form Greenfield. By that time, Stubblefield had ceased to exist at a separate community. (information compiled by Richard Elam 1952)

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The photo below shows the Barnesville School in 11922-23. Barnesville was located between Alvarado and Grandview. Teachers were H.L. Rafferty, Principle; Miss Merne Nail, Miss Florence Moody, and Miss Waliska Graham. (information from Johnson County Historical Commission scrapbook collection: “Miscellaneous Communities, Vol. I”.

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Story by Sue Armstrong

Back in the old days the ladies of Cleburne had to do their washing in Buffalo Springs, located near our present water works. (1954) They would go in groups on certain days. Each lady would take a lunch and at noon they would spread the lunch. Their husbands, who were business meh would come down and join them. Mrs. F. Lawrence and her husband owned a jewelry store in Cleburne. Buffalo Springs was one of the social centers for the ladies. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954. Donated to the Johnson County Historical Commission by Bill Bonham.)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below shows the Cleburne Yellow Jackets Basketball Team, of 1941-1942. First row: J.D. Dunlop; Bentley Jones; Leland Burton; Bill Flowers; Larry Willis. Back Row Milton Isbell; Coach Charles Hickman; Lev Hunt; Arthur Buckner; Morris Bratton; Robert Smith; Ed Miller, manager.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Happy Hill/Cahill – once flourishing communities in eastern Johnson County, were located very near each other, as was the community of Pleasant Point. Happy Hill never consisted of much more than a couple of stores and a filling station, but Cahill was once a thriving settlement. Cahill had several fine old mansions constructed in the early 1900’s, some of which had as many as 16 rooms. One of the oldest gins in the county was located south of Happy Hill and Cahill: it ceased to operate in 1945. The Happy Hill Grocery Store and Service Station served as a meeting place for farmers and stockmen. Today, not much remains of this once prosperous community. (information from “All Around Johnson County” published by The Star Group)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Pictured below is the Class Southwestern Adventist University of 1901 in Keene. L-R, front row: Leona Wisler, Myrtle Kirk, Dausy (Daisy?) Sutherland, Alice Bayliss, Selma Schramm, Bessie Newell, and Katie Beeler. Second row: Mrs. Young, Willie Lambeth, Bertie Taylor, Nellie Stoner, Mrs. Mintie Bodwell, Mrs. G.F. Jones and Mrs. Walter Jones. Third row: Mrs. Taylor, Leila Falls, Mrs. Kilgore, Ada Phillips, Rena Stepenson, and Mae Williams. Fourth row: C.R. Jones, George Sutherland, Cara Taylor, Ernest Taylor, Grant Abodwell, Lamont Jones, and G.F. Jones. (information from “Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History Volume 1)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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When the Esquire theater opened on North Main Street in Cleburne, children’s tickets were $0.09 and tickets for those twelve and older, tickets were $0.15. A large bag of popcorn was $0.05 and a large drink was $0.10. 

 

Cleburne also had a drive-in theater: When the Chief Drive-In opened, tickets were $0.50 and every Wednesday night tickets were $0.50 a car. Some cars were REALLY full!

 

(information from “History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County, Texas” compiled by: John W. Watson)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Lillian is on Farm Road 2738 fifteen miles northeast of Cleburne in northeastern Johnson County. In 1902 G. J. Renfro purchased land from J. W. Cunningham to establish a town that would be near the line of the International-Great Northern Railroad, which had just built into the area. Both men's wives were named Lillian, hence the name of the town. By the next year Lillian had two churches and a school. In 1904 a post office began serving the community, and residents from nearby Pleasant Point moved to the railroad town. Lillian's population and businesses grew rapidly, and a bank opened there in 1905. By 1914 Lillian had a population of 300 and for the next twenty years served as a retail center for area farmers and ranchers. (information from the Texas Almanac)

 

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The buildings pictured below, now razed, were near where the present-day Cleburne Civic Center sits. Odell Elam and others built them through a government work program shortly before World War II. They were a part of the Johnson County Fair Grounds and were used as a German prisoner of war camp during the war. (from CTR 2/4/07)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In June 1856 the first Grand Jury trials in Johnson County were held at the Wardville courthouse.    The cases heard were: Abram Kell, indicted for murder; C.W. Sansom, indicted for murder; F.L. Kirtley and Parmelia Robinson, for adultery; James Farris, for assault ad battery; John Dansby, for assault and battery; Andrew J. Miller, for assault and battery; Abram Kell, for assault and battery, Scott Kell, for assault and battery; C.W.  Sansom, for assault and battery; Robt. Henry Dyer, for assault and battery; Wm. Balsh, for perjury; David Myers, for perjury; Henry Dyer and Sam Goodloe, for gaming. All of these in just two short days! (information from “History and Description of Johnson County and Its Principal Towns” by A.J. Byrd 1879)

 

Wardville Courthouse 1856

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The following was reported in the Cleburne Chronicle on Thursday, February 5, 1874:

 Dissolution Notice

 Notice is hereby given that the Co-partnership of McKinney & Hollingsworth was by mutual consent dissolved on the 20^th day of December, 1873. The business will be continued by T. W. Hollingsworth, who assumes all the liabilities of the firm and will collect all outstanding claims. (McKinney and Hollingsworth were a combination grocery/hardware store located in Marysville (located about 10 miles north of Cleburne))

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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On the 7^th day of August, 1854, the first election was held in Johnson County. David Mitchell was chosen the first Chief Justice; Jeremiah Eastwood, County Clerk; J. Robinson, Treasurer; A.H. Onstott, Sheriff; and F.L. Kirtley, Assessor and Collector. The following were chosen as County Commissioners: A.D. Kennard, Christopher Billingsley, Carr Wise, and Wm. O‘Neal. (information from “information from “History and Description of Johnson County and It’s Principal Towns” by A.J. Byrd 1879 Reproduction by L. Malcolm Basham and W. Dwaine Basham 1997))

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Happy Birthday

General Patrick R. Cleburne

3/17/1828 – 11/30/1864

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century ice was delivered by horse drawn wagons in Cleburne. The photo below shows one of the Santa Fe Ice Wagon horse draw delivery wagons used at the time. (information from “History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County” compiled by John W. Watson. Photo courtesy of Layland Museum)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Cleburne, the county seat of Johnson County, is on U.S. Highway 67 thirty miles south of Fort Worth. Its origin and growth can be attributed to its role as a crossroads and transportation center. The site was near the earliest Johnson County road, an old wagon trail that was used by soldiers traveling from Fort Belknap to Fort Graham. The location had an excellent water source on West Buffalo Creek that attracted travelers, including cattlemen from the nearby Chisholm Trail. During the Civil War the site was used as a bivouac for Johnson County units marching off to war. This temporary facility, known as Camp Henderson, became a permanent settlement on March 23, 1867, when it became necessary to choose a new, centrally located county seat to replace Buchanan. The town was named in honor of Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, under whom many of the men had fought during the Civil War. (information Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA))

 

Buffalo Creek

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first hospital in Cleburne was established by Dr. Wm. Yater in 1905. The hospital boasted a horse-drawn ambulance. The building was a large, two-story frame house built with porches extending across the front, upper and lower floors. Dr. Yater operated the sanitarium/hospital until his death in, when the structure became a commercial building. Pictured below is a birth certificate form from Dr. Yater’s sanitarium/hospital. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chairman)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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During the Johnson County Centennial Celebration in 1954 there was a group called the “Brothers of the Bush”. These gentlemen promoted the growing of beards. Some men grew a full beard while others grew a goatee or a mustache. If you did not wish to grow a beard, you had to buy a shave permit. If any of the “Brothers of the Bush” caught you in town without facial hair and no shave permit, you went to jail. The jail was located on the south-west corner of the Courthouse Square.

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 Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Market Square is located on South Main Street in Cleburne. It has been used by Johnson County farmers to market their produce and livestock for over a hundred years. During the first half of the twentieth century this was a very busy market place, especially on First Monday ad weekends. Market Square was bought and paid for by the Commissioners Court and County Judge, F.E. Adams in 1898. In the photo below, you can see the 1883 Courthouse in the upper left corner. (information from “The History and Lore of Cleburne and Johnson County, Texas” compiled by John W. Watson)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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This story was told by Tod Mullen to Lana Hamill

 In 1889, my grandfather was a small boy. He remembers his family crossing the Brazos River into Johnson County on their way to Cleburne. The roads were unpaved and muddy. The children would take turns in getting out every 15 minutes to punch mud out of the wagon wheels. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954. Donated to the Johnson County Historical Commission by Bill Bonham.)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The Hopewell Community (near Joshua), at one time, consisted of a school and a church. The little one-room schoolhouse was first located by the cemetery (on Farm Road 701) in the late 1800’s. The photo below s of the 1923–1924 Hopewell students. On the front row (left to right) are R. A. Davis, Aaron (Buddy) Jones, Elmer Dohn, and Percy Gee; second row (left to right) Aubrey Jones, Virgil Carter, Troy Tarpley, Theo Johnson, Woodrow Bradley, Elmo Given, and Frank Bradley; third row (left to right) Mozelle Ford, Ida Mae Hutson, Louise Laverty, Dolly Mae Gee, Mamie Krempin, Loree Perry, Mozelle Carter, and Ollene Carter; top row (left to right) Alvin White, Miss Blanche Freeman, Eldon Dahn, Velma Carter, Maude Horton, Mittie Tarpley, Carl White, Delbert Pope, and Miss Mae.

 

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DEDICATION

 

JOHNSON COUNTY HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUE AND PHOTOGRAPH HONORING

 

Mr. JOHN RICHARD ROSE

 

 March 30, 2025 – 10:30 A.M.

First Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

1005 Chase Avenue

Cleburne, Texas

 

2 OF Mr. Rose’s songs will be performed

 

Speakers include:

Rev. W. L. Stevenson

Johnson Co. Judge Christopher Boedeker

Pct. 1 Commissioner Larry Woolley

Rev. & City Councilman John Warren

Johnson Co. Historic Landmark Chair Nita Redmon

 

Everyone is welcome to attend

John Richard Rose

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first school built in Johnson County was on Samuel Myer’s farm a few miles north of Alvarado. It was erected by Samuel Myers, Jackson Bradley and Abraham Futhey. The first teacher was William Wise.  The benches were made of split logs. It was just a little one room shack. All the grades were taught in that one room. They always had a bag of switches in the corner and every once in a while, a boy or girl would get out of line ad get a little whipping. They spelled in different ways than we do now. They spelled their words with syllables, not like we do now. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954. Donated to the Johnson County Historical Commission by Bill Bonham.)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The Brazos Point Bridge was designed and built by Austin Brothers Bridges, Culverts, Road Machinery and Equipment Company, the bridge consists of three 140-foot steel spans on reinforced concrete piers and 380 feet of steel approach on concrete bents. The total cost was $20,970. Construction began in 1912 and the bridge was dedicated in 1915.  Five hundred feet of the bridge is in Bosque County and 300 feet in Johnson County.  (from: Mollie Mims “A Bridge to Yesterday”)

  

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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This story was told by Mrs. Meadows of 212 Heath St. to Barbara Keesee

Her story happened in 1876 when her mother, father, and siblings moved to Johnson County from Tennessee. Mrs. Meadows was only four years of age. They had only been here about four weeks when a storm came and Dr. January told a friend, Mr. Ferguson, who was staying with them to go over to see about them. Between Dr. January’s home and Mrs. Meadows home was a very dry well. After he came over, he took Mrs. Meadows into his arms and started out the door. Lightning struck right in front of Mr. Ferguson, who was carrying Mrs. Meadows. He happened to look down and there was the well. Only a couple of steps and they would have fallen into the well. Lightening is the only thing that saved Mrs. Meadows and Mr. Ferguson. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Many ex-Cahill students served with honor in the military forces during WW II, the Korean War, and Vietnamese War. I believe that Herschel Miller and his brother, George, may have gone to Cahill one or two terms. Herschel was in the Marines at the outbreak of WW II and was taken prisoner by the Japanese at Corregidor, in the Pacific. I believe he made the infamous Bataan Death March and was a prisoner in Japan until the end of the war. He was postmaster of the U.S. Post office in Alvarado until his retirement. (information from “Tales of Cahill” by Doris Lanfear)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Nolan’s River was a rural community two miles north of the Johnson-Hill County line. Settlement occurred sometime in the late 1850’s. Community growth was sporadic; the post office operated from 1858 to 1866 then closed for seven Years and reopened and operated between 1873 and 1881. When it was bypassed by the railroads, residents and businesses abandoned Nolan’s River and moved to Rio Vista. By 1900, the community had disappeared.  (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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This story was told by Mr. G.E. Roof of Cleburne

Back in the day the milk man used a small, one horse cart with a bell attached to the cart to delivery milk. Early eachy morning, after he had milked, he would go around from house to house ringing his bell. The women who wanted milk would come out withy a pitcher. He had a quart measurer and he would take the quart measurer and pour it into the pitcher. The price was in no comparison with the price of milk today. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” written by the Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High School in 1954)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The county seat in Johnson County was moved from Buchanan to Camp Henderson (later renamed Cleburne) because of a shift in the county's boundaries. 

Explanation:

• In 1866, the state legislature created Hood County by taking part of western Johnson County. This made Johnson County smaller and moved its geographic center. 
• Buchanan was no longer within six miles of the new center. 
• In 1867, county voters chose Camp Henderson as the new county seat in a special election. 
• Camp Henderson became a permanent settlement and was renamed Cleburne in honor of Confederate General Patrick R. Cleburne. 
• Buchanan lost its post office in 1868 and was abandoned by 1892. 

 

(information from Johnson County Website)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Below is a list of Marriage Licenses reported in the June 5, 1896 Alvarado Bulletin:

 

J.F. Murry and Miss Fannie Ray                                     W.I. Hunt and Miss Dora Mitchell

R.I. Harkreader and Miss Ruby Porter                            J.B. Rains and Miss Estelle Sherley

L.A. Fisher and Miss Ella Jenkins                                   W.F.E. Hett and Miss Lena W. Snider

W.J. Wicker and Miss Minnie Sell                                   A.L. Beene and Miss Ninnie Bransom

C.F. Usher and Miss Eunice Evans                                W.M. Bennett and Miss Georgie Ann Brock

E.G. Childs and Miss Sallie Wilhott                                J.C. Snowden and Miss Emma Abbas

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Rock Creek was a community center for farmers, near the headwaters of Rock Creek in northwestern Johnson County. It developed in the 1850’s, when settlers discovered a natural well that held water fed from several springs. A post office operated there from 1858 to 1860. During the Civil War residents organized the Rock Creek Guards. The community had been abandoned by 1865. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first permanent settlement in the vicinity of Johnson County was a trading post near Comanche Peak (northwest of Cleburne), operated by George Bernard starting in 1849. William Balch and his family surveyed the area near Alvarado sometime during the same year, but did not return to settle in the region until 1851, ty which tie Sam Myers ad family had arrived and put down roots; Balch donated land for the city cemetery that bears the family name. Both of these men signed the petition in 1854 forming Johnson County. (information from “Old Soldiers and Settlers of Johnson County” compiled by Paul B. Martin Volume 1)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In December 1902, the first train pulled into Keene. The new railroad ran from Cleburne to Egan and had one stop in Keene. The train operated by a steam engine called “Old Betsy”, had a coal car, wooden baggage car, and a passenger coach. It served as the primary means of transportation for 20 years. Old Betsy is now the name of Keene’s main street. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In September of 1869 the Cleburne Chronicle newspaper printed the following warning: “The young men of the county are wearing too many six-shooters, jingling Mexican spurs, broad brimmed hats with snakes coiled around them, and participating too freely at gin mills. If parents do not wish the happiness of their declining years dimmed and clouded by having a son convicted of theft or hung for murder, they will see to it that their boys are kept away from low doggeries (saloons), gambling and outraging the peach and morals of society.” (sketch courtesy of American-frontier-western-saloon-clip-art-png-favpng)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Hopewell was a small community located on FM 701, about four miles northeast of Cleburne. An old cemetery is all that remains of the once thriving community. Originally called Perryville for a man who donated land for the cemetery. The This area later became known as Hopewell. In the late 1800’s the one-room Hopewell school was located by the cemetery, but was moved to what is considered the center of town in 1907. The school was torn down in 1908 and a new one built at the crossroads. This turned out to be a poor location, so in 1910 they hooked up mules and dragged it back to the original spot by the cemetery. A church was located across the road and for a time all denominations met there. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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From the Alvarado Bulletin June 3, 1898:

• R.J. Willis sold a lot in Godley to H.C. Vinther for $20
• Susan A. Ardrey sold a lot in Godley to H.C. Vinther for $75
• G C & S Company sold a lot to H.C. Vinther for $50

 Mr. Vinther really wanted some land in Godley!

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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(Sorry for the long article, but very interesting)

John Renfro was hung July 27, 1900 for Murder near the Jail at 116 S. Mill Street on Buffalo Creek – Sheriff W.A. Stewart

John Renfro’s “girlfriend”, Miss Nora Williams, ended their courtship in 1898. Mr. Renfro did not take the end of the relationship well. He commenced to slander Miss Williams all over Johnson County. The slander got so bad (and even carnal) that a charge of slander was filed with the Johnson County Court in the Spring of 1898. Mr. Renfro reportedly threatened M.M. Williams, Nora’s father, with frequent threats of serious injury after the prosecution for slander was instituted.  Mr. Williams was subpoenaed as a witness in the slander case and a trial date of February 3, 1899 was set.

On the morning of February 3, 1899 Mr. Renfro purchased a pistol and cartridges, loaded the pistol and about 9:30 AM, after having seeing his lawyers, started for the courthouse. He reached the courthouse door and, turning saw Mr. M.M. Williams approaching the courthouse behind him. Mr. Renfro stated that when he turned around Mr. Williams threw a rock at him which just grazed his head so he fired his pistol. There is some testimony tending to support this statement, but there was other testimony to the effect that Williams did not throw or attempt to throw a rock until after Renfro had fired upon him.

What was certain was that Mr. Renfro emptied his pistol as fast as he could fire it, striking Mr. Williams several times and inflecting fatal wounds. Mr. Renfro surrendered to an officer in the courthouse and asked to be locked up.

During the murder trial which followed, Mr. Renfro introduced evidence showing threats against him by the deceased and others and that he was afraid they would kill him. He stated that the “others” had attempted to waylay him and he believed they were trying to assassinate him.

Other testimony during the trial related that Renfro made threats to the effect that he would put Mr. Williams and his whole family in a place the dogs would not bark at them. Another witness testified that he had personally heard Mr. Renfro threaten that if Mr. Williams prosecuted him or appeared as a witness against him in the slander case he would kill him.

After all the testimony was heard, Mr. Renfro was found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Mr. Renfro’s attorneys petitioned the Texas Governor for a stay of execution while they reviewed the testimonies in the case. The “stay” was granted. When the allotted time ran out they requested a second stay of execution. The Governor sent a telegram denying the second stay of execution and ordering the Sheriff of Johnson County to execute the prisoner. Mr. Renfro’s lawyers then entered a plea of insanity which was dismissed. John Renfro was hung on July 27, 1900.

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Equestria was a small town about nine miles southwest of Cleburne. It grew up around a cotton gin in the late 1870s. From 1883-1896 Equestria had a post office. By 1884 it had a church, a steam cotton gin, and a population of 10. In 1892 its population was estimated at 19. There is no evidence to suggest that the community survived to the twentieth century. (information from “All Around Johnson County” Sesquicentennial published by the Star Group and the Texas State Historical Association)              

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Santa Fe Santa: Engineer Joe Gerard (pictured below) got to know folks in the Indian Territory who lived along his train route between Cleburne and Purcell, Oklahoma, from 1901 until his retirement in 1943. During Christmas, wearing the Santa suit his wife made, Gerard left newspapers, toys, and gifts to anyone who posted a white flag beside the tracks. Gerard Elementary School is named in his honor. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mins)

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In 1876 there was a stage coach stop in Station Branch (southwest of Godley). The building also served as a troop station on the Military Road through Johnson County.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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When Leroy “Curly” Lanfear was growing up there were two huge cedar trees in front of his home. Legend has it that Native Americans camped under those trees quite often. When his dad plowed in front of the old two-story house, the kids always find arrowheads. In the spring when a field was plowed just north of the Cahill church near the Maberry place, the kids would pick up a shoe box full of arrowheads. (information from “Tales of Cahill” by Doris Lanfear)

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In the early days Cleburne was once known as “Little Chicago” due to the many disputes which ended in gun fire. Acts of passion, resulting in death or serious injury occurred on an average of one a week for a long time, hence the name Little Chicago, where Al Capone and others like him were killing one another wholesale. They were fighting over territory rights to vend their illegal booze and other unsavory activities. (information from Clyde Head’s Remember When/Cleburne Eagle News)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 Do you remember the Redwood Drive Inn Restaurant in Cleburne located at 1801 Fort Worth Highway?  Great food! The 1957 Cleburne con-Survey Directory listed the Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Rhoads & Jeff ? operators.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Buchanan, located northeast of Cleburne, was the county seat of Johnson County for 10 years. The first term of county court was held February 16, 1857. Chief Justice was Henry Trimble. Commissioners were C. Billingsley, J. R. McKinsey and James Plemmons. C. Coulson was Sheriff. The first county jail was erected in Buchanan in 1858 at a cost of $795. Buchanan lacked a sustainable water supply and when the State of Texas redistricted the counties it was too far from the center of the county. All that remains of Buchanan today is a small cemetery. 

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Dr. T.D. Lorance was the first and only physician in Wardville (the first Johnson County seat). He had come to the new county seat from Fort Spunky on the Brazos. At Wardville he was doctor, preacher (in the little courthouse), and did whatever was needed.  When the move of the county seat was decided, Dr. Lorance made his plans to go to the new location. M.A.S. Mercantile who became the leading merchant of Wardville did not hesitate to adjust his plans to the new site of the county seat. In fact, the whole population of Wardville made the move to Bucanan. (information from Finders Keepers, Volume 7, Number 3, September 2009.

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Isaac A. Jackson and his wife, Fannie E. (Renfro) Jackson were among the first families to live in the Joshua area. They moved to the Marystown community, Johnson County in May of 1856. Mr. Jackson enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862 and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of the retaking of Galveston. The Jacksons owned 160 acres in the community and donated the land for the Marystown Cemetery.

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In December 1902, the first train pulled into Keene. The new railroad ran from Cleburne to Egan and had one stop in Keene. The train operated by a steam engine called “Old Betsy”, had a coal car, wooden baggage car, and a passenger coach. It served as the primary means of transportation for 20 years. Old Betsy is now the name of Keene’s main street.  (information courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

 

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The picture below is of the First Christian Church of Cleburne which was constructed around 1880 on West Wardville Street. The two young men on the front steps are the Wilson brothers.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below shows downtown Cleburne in the late 1800’s. You can just see a bit of the 1883 courthouse on the right side. The population around 1880 was1,855. Today the population of Cleburne is closer to 33,826 (2022). (information from “The History of Johnson County Texas” by The Johnson County History Book Committee. Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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The first Joshua School was built in 1890 and located west of the railroad tracks. It was a one-room, 40’ x 60’ structure. This structure was succeeded by the three-story Willie Denton College building in 1899. By 1909 classes for all grades, including post-high school were available. The name changed to Joshua High School in 1917. (information courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Have you ever heard of Equestria, Texas?  Equestria was nine miles southwest of Cleburne in southwestern Johnson County. It grew up around a cotton gin in the late 1870s. From 1883 to 1896 Equestria had a post office. By 1884 it had a church, a steam cotton gin, and a population of ten. Stock raising was important in the area, but the community also shipped corn, cotton, wheat, and oats. In 1892 its population was estimated at nineteen. There is no evidence to suggest that the community survived to the twentieth century. Equestria was later associated with the town of Lone Willow. (information from the Texas State Historical Association)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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T.I. “Longhaired Jim” Courtright, Ft. Worth’s most famous gunman, was involved in a gunfight in Cleburne in 1882 and was a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy in 1886.  (information from “Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History Volume 1)

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In 1947 Jean Stewart (Addams House), Patsy Friou (Willard House), and Mary Jean Jackson (Barton House) were cheerleaders and classmates at Cleburne High School. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

 

 

Pic: CHS 1947

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The January 30, 1869 Cleburne Chronicle newspaper published a recipe for cornbread:

 One quart of fine cornmeal, One ounce of butter, One tablespoon each of fine salt, ground ginger, and sugar.

Stir in one quart of boiled sweet milk. As soon as it becomes lukewarm add flour and four well beaten eggs. Bake in quick oven.  (wonder what a “quick oven” was)

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Lillian is on Farm Road 2738 fifteen miles northeast of Cleburne in northeastern Johnson County. In 1902 G. J. Renfro purchased land from J. W. Cunningham to establish a town that would be near the line of the International-Great Northern Railroad, which had just built into the area. Both men's wives were named Lillian, hence the name of the town. By the next year Lillian had two churches and a school. In 1904 a post office began serving the community, and residents from nearby Pleasant Point moved to the railroad town. Lillian's population and businesses grew rapidly, and a bank opened there in 1905. By 1914 Lillian had a population of 300 and for the next twenty years served as a retail center for area farmers and ranchers. (information from the Texas Almanac)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In 1904 the Model Dry Goods Store in Venus had a special opening to show off its fall millinery. The store was located on the north side of the square. Other stores on the Venus square included Renfro Hardware, Charles Gidden Grocery, Singleton and Poteet Grocery and Shytles Drug store. Pictured below in from of Model Dry Goods are, from left to right: Mrs. W. C. Briggs, two unidentified, Mr. Nigos, Dee Shytles, W. C. Briggs and Dorman Allen. (This photograph and information courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County).

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first car manufactured in Texas was built in the summer of 1910 in Cleburne by the mechanically inclined pastor of the First Christian Church of Cleburne. The Reverend Harry Eugene Luck not only built the car, but also founded and became president of the Cleburne Motor Car Manufacturing Company.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Major Elbert Monroe Heath is known as “the father of Johnson County”. Major Heath and his family settled about six miles from present day Cleburne on what would become known as the Alvarado Road in what would become Johnson County in 1853. At the organization of Johnson County in December 1854, Major Heath was appointed, by an act of the Texas Legislature, a Special Commissioner on organization of the county. At the first county election for county officers, he was elected Justice of the Peace.

 

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Pictured below is the 1978 Senior Class of Godley High School. First row (L-R): Cindy Rowland, Lighann Hardcastle, Cheryl Moore Sally Clegg, Letha Hanna and, Barbara Massey. Second row (L-R): Terri Buckner, Becky Raifsnider, Cathy Roy, Renae Applegate, Janis Jernigan, and David Fairchild. Third row (L-R): Kenny Davis, Tommy Roberts, John A. Richardson, Douglas R. Green, Edwin T. Goodwin Jr. laman Bowden, and Jeff Summey. (information from “One Hundred Years of Godley History, 1883-1983” Compiled and written by Ina Mae Carrell)

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The first school built in Johnson County was on Samuel Myer’s farm a few miles north of Alvarado. It was erected by Samuel Myers, Jackson Bradley and Abraham Futhey. The first teacher was William Wise.

Below are some of the ordinances found in Volume 2, City of Cleburne Ordinances, 1906:

•  An ordinance for the good of government, peace and order for the city of Cleburne prohibited the playing of baseball on Sunday. If someone was caught playing baseball on the first day of the week, Sunday, they were found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $20 and not more than $50.

•  Another ordinance stated it was against the law to hitch or fasten any horse or other animal to any building, shed or awning in the Market Square. If someone was caught, he was found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $1 and not more than $20.

•  An ordinance which was to take effect on January 1, 1906 stated it was prohibited to keep swine within the territorial limits in the City of Cleburne. If found guilty, the owner could be fined any sum not to exceed $50.

 (information courtesy of Denise Reep, CTR 1993)

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 The 1883 Johnson County Courthouse was built on the square at a cost of $44,685. Wesley Clark Dodson was the architect and Lee Slaughter of Waco the contractor. The courthouse was completed in October of 1883 and dedicated in November of that year. The courthouse burned down on April 15, 1912, the same day the Titanic sank. Most of the county records were saved by the brave men of Cleburne including City Marshal M.A. Bledsoe who lost his life in saving these important documents.

                      

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Burleson's first school was the Red Oak Academy, which was constructed in 1909. The building was soon destroyed by fire and the State of Texas granted a charter for an independent school district. The citizens of Burleson voted to construct a new school and by 1910 a new brick school was opened at a cost of $25,000. It was built where the old Nola Dunn Campus was located.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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When Johnson County was a dry county, law enforcement cooperated in many liquor raids. In the photo below displaying confiscated items are, from left to right: Cleburne Police Chief Tom Kirkpatrick; Constable Robert Moore; Officer Herman Derden; Johnson County Sheriff Earl King; and Officer Clay Dale Ferguson. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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(Sorry for the length of this article)

This is only one of the 5 LEGAL hangings in Johnson County since 1854. 

 John B. Stokes Shaw November 25, 1898 for Murder on the north side of Harrell Street, just west of the West Buffalo Creek Bridge – Sheriff W.A. Stewart

John Shaw was the overseer of a ranch which was close to the home of Tom Crane, his wife and three children. Shaw became enamored of Mrs. Crane and attempted to persuade her to desert her husband, which she refused to do. Shaw decided if Tome Crane was out of the way, Mrs. Crane would accept his company. Shaw devised a plan to murder Crane. One afternoon a man who worked for Shaw named Wilson, drew Crane out of the field where he was working on the pretense of rescuing a steer from a swampy area. When they arrived Crane was met by Shaw and after several harrowing attempts at fleeing, he was killed by bullets from Shaw and Wilson.

Shaw immediately went to the Crane home and told Mrs. Crane that her husband had been compelled to flee from the law and that he had left his wife and children in Shaw’s care. Mrs. Crane did not believe him and she at once notified the Sheriff of Johnson County with her suspicions.  Sheriff Stewart placed Shaw under surveillance and began a search for any sign of Tom Crane.

Mr. Crane’s body was discovered three days later after an exhaustive search. Wilson soon broke down and confessed revealing Shaw’s and his actions leading to the murder and Shaw’s plans to prevent detection. For his part in the murder Mr. Wilson was given a life term in the penitentiary.

Shaw was arrested and at his trial the jury returned a verdict of guilty and assessed his punishment at death. Mr. Shaw’s attorney requested a reprieve to the Court of Criminal Appeals which came back affirmed with a date of execution set as August 5, 1898. He appealed to the Governor on August 3, 1898 and the application was refused. Sheriff Stewart was ordered to carry out the execution on August 12.

Three days before the scheduled execution Shaw escaped from the jail. The Governor was notified and at once offered a reward of $500 for his capture followed by another $500 by the Sheriff.  Hundreds of heavily armed men searched for Shaw. He was captured on the Louisiana state line.

After his capture a charge of lunacy was requested by his sister as a last resort to save him. Under the laws of Texas, an affidavit charging lunacy acts as a stay of execution and would have given Shaw more than another month of life. His lunacy trail was heard on November 14, 1898 and for three days the lawyers tried to prove that the murderer was insane and not responsible for his acts. This final plea was rejected and John Shaw was hanged on November 18, 1898.

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 A Johnson County Story as told by Willie Dell Culpepper of 521 N. Anglin to Pat Culpepper in 1954:

My great grand uncle, Ben Goldsmith, who joined a branch of General Pat Cleburne’s Army, lived in Alvarado. He went to Chickomagul and fought there. An Ammo Wagon was going across the river ad he was fighting a Yankee. He knifed the Yankee in the heart. Another Yankee jumped him, both events happened I the water. Uncle Ben shot him with his 36 Navy Colt. He shot another and killed him, but as he fell he shot too. My uncle dropped. The gun had hit him in the leg. He tried to get out of the way of the wagon, but it ran across his chest. He died, but his body was never sent back to Cleburne. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” compiled by Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High in 1954)

 

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Pictured below are the employees of the Cleburne Automatic Telephone Company in the early 20^th century. The company was located on the second floor of the Farmers & Merchants bank building. J. Frank Thompson (not pictured) worked night shift duty. (information from “Finders Keepers, Johnson County Genealogical Society, Volume 37, Number 2 – Summer 2020)

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In 1891, the Cleburne Fire Department was established as a volunteer organization, with J. A. Lindgren as chief. There were three teams of horses, three trucks, 24 volunteers, and three paid drivers. In 1905 a, new building was constructed for use as a fire hall and city hall. The first motorized equipment was purchased in 1913 and by 1919, Old Tom and the other horses were retired. By 2013 the department had a 55 person, fully paid department operating three stations and a fire administration office. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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In 1882 John Henry Boyd was elected Sheriff of Johnson County and moved from Grandview to Cleburne. He served in this position until 1892 when he was elected Mayor of Cleburne.

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Parker School was established in 1904 and located on County Road 171 west of Grandview. Pictured below is the class of 1938. (Photo courtesy of Pat Thompson)

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Rio Vista 1906: Henry Cooper had six sons, four of which had a business in Rio Vista. The hardware store shown here was located at the west end of town. Members of the Cooper Family also owned a grocery store and a buggy shop. Some of these businesses were destroyed by fire in 1914. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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The surveyors pictured below were photographed in Johnson County in 1903. They worked for the T.&B.V. Railroad Company which came into the county from the South through Parker to Cleburne. Pictured are P.C. Tucker (rodman), Boshany (Levelman), Nichols J. Lane, Ely Chige, Durby, Jr. (Front Flag), Jess (cook), Blanchard (bear chain), C. Blanchard (rear flag), Chili Chamman and Hog Peden (teamster).

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Pictured below is the Venus Hall around the first of the 19^th century. This two-story frame structure was located in the center of Venus and served as city hall and two-cell jail. A domino hall was located upstairs. The first city council meeting was held here in July 1903, after the citizens voted to incorporate. Jim Wilson’s buggy is seen in the middle of the photo. (information from “Images of America - Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The information below is from the Cleburne Morning Review – October 2, 1910 – page 5.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 This story was told by Rile Stanley to Barbara LaFurn Stanley:

 It was a Spring morning about the year of 1879. My uncle Dick Stanley, who was about the years old at the time, was walking home from a friend’s house. He was going through a pasture near Buffalo Creek when he met two men. The men asked him if he lived close by, if so would he go hoe and get them something to eat. The boy said he lived just of the hill and would ask his mother. He went home and told his mother what the men wanted. In a little while the boy returned to the pasture with a dozen eggs and some milk. The men thanked him and gave him a $10 gold piece. The two men were Jessie James and his brother, Frank. My uncle Dick is still living and still has the $10 gold piece.

(information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” compiled by Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High in 1954)

                    Jesse James                                              Frank James

 

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 The Huff School was located between Venus and Mt. Peak. There were two large rooms, and a large stage where many plays and spelling matches were held. Teachers were: Grace Kelly, Lucy Herring, Mattie Vail, Anna Ruth Gannaway, Bonnie Eskridge, Opal Spears, and Pearl King. (information from “The History of Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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The photo below shows the Alvarado Banking Company which operated from the Cotter Dry Good store on the south side of the square. The bank’s president was J.B. Campbell. In 1925, the bank reorganized and became the Citizens State Bank, with Brooks Thompson as president. (information from “Images of American – Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Most major Christian denominations established themselves early in Johnson County. The first minister, Simeon Odem, was a Methodist who moved into the area before the county was organized. Other denominations followed soon thereafter. The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter was started in 1871. The church building, completed within the next two years, was still in use in the late 1980s. In 1877 Seventh-day Adventists began work in Johnson County. In 1893 a site was chosen five miles east of Cleburne for an Adventist school. Eventually the Keene Industrial Academy evolved into a junior college and then a full four-year institution, Southwestern Adventist College, which was renamed Southwestern Adventist University around 1996. (information from Texas State Historical Association)

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The first organized Joshua Homecoming was held in 1957. The graduates of Joshua High School 1917 were one of the classes instrumental in starting the tradition. The 1917 class meeting in 1957 included (L-R, front row): Mrs James E. Ditch (Anna Beatrice Casey), Mrs. Ben Bransom (Lottie Belle Miller), Walter W. Hildebrand. Back row: Weymon Holland Gilpin, and Homer A. Gentry. (information from “Joshua: As It Was and Is” Volume II)

 

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In July 1849 Henry Briden and his bride, Lucinda (Sevier), arrived in a wagon pulled by oxen, accompanied by her father, Charles Sevier, and an uncle, A. G. Sevier. At the Nolan River west of the site of Rio Vista they found springs of water and constructed a log cabin, the first house in Johnson County. (information from the Texas Almanac)

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J.M. Eller built a store in Sand Flat which sold dry goods, groceries, and shoes. It was also home to the Post Office. Pictured below around 1905 are, from left to right: Erin Eller, Sopronia Eller, Mary Eller, Alice “Totsy” Eller, and several unidentified persons. For decades, a small store and the Sand Flat Baptist Church have been the gathering places for locals. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 Add from the Johnson County Review newspaper, September 7, 1900:

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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  This story was told to Winnie Loga by her grandmother.

My great grandmother was feeding the calves during the Civil War, when one of the Yankee Officers came up to her. The Yankees would burn down houses ad barns and take food for themselves and feed for their horses.

 My great great grandfather told my great great grandmother to be nice to the Yankee because they would burn down the house and barn. The General came up to grandmother and asked her what she was doing. She told him what she was doing The General said, “What are the names of the calves?” She said, “This one’s name is Blue Belly Yankee”. Grandmother was scared because of what she had just said. The General laughed and said that she was a brave little girl, patted her on the head and left.

 (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” compiled by Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High in 1954)

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The photo below shows an aerial view of Keene in 1947. The Jeremiah Easterwood family arrived in 1852 and built a Methodist church, which also served as a school.  The community, was known as Elm Grove, but was renamed Keene. A general store was established in 1893, soon after the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway arrived. In 1894 the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists opened a school to train ministers. (information from “Images of America - Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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This story was told to Patricia Ann Eaton by her mother who, in turn, was told the story by her mother of 900 East James Street:

When my grandmother went to school there were twenty boys and girls in her room. One day one of the boys, James Todd, stole some baby chickens. The teacher, Mrs. Welks, kept hearing something to peep-peep. She went back to James’ desk. The third time she heard the sound she said, “James get up.” James got up and she said, “What have you got?” “Who, me?” said James. She heard the peep-peep again. She opened up the lard bucket which is lunch was in and there were baby chickens. She gave James a whipping and he did not steal anymore chickens. (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” compiled by Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High in 1954)

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The Goodwin and Sims Families of Cleburne established the Salter Chapel Africa Methodist Episcopal Church (named for Bishop Moses Salter) on East Chambers Street in 1887. A sanctuary was erected on Brazos Street in 1918 where the annual conference was held (pictured below). The sanctuary was relocated to 106 Olive Street in 1926 on land donated by the Charles Alexander family. Funding came from the Grand Lodge Colored Knights of Pythias of Texas. Greater Bethel AME Church was formed in nearby Oak Hill. The churches, experiencing declining membership, officially merged in 1988 under the name Bethel Salter AME Church.

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 This story was told by Mrs. Stella G. Teesdale of 310 N. Walnut to her granddaughter, Betty Paula Cooper.

My great grandmother, Pheobe Witham, was one of the first women doctors in Johnson County. One day she was called down to the Brazos River to care for a man who had been bitten by a rattle snake. Other doctors had tried but given up. Phoebe used one of the old Indian remedies ad the next morning, the man was out on is porch whistling as though nothing had happened.  (information from “Pioneer Stories of Johnson County, Texas” compiled by Language Arts Classes of Fulton Junior High in 1954)

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Pictured below is the Department of Public Safety and Game Wardens of Johnson County in 1959. First row, L-R: Jerry Gardner, Lewis Berneker, Doyle Spurlin, Robert Wight, Kenneth Bowling, Paul Busby, Billy Roe, and Bill Swope. Second row, L-R: All unidentified except for Sheriff Earl King at far right. Third row, L-R: Luke Johnson and four unidentified. (information from “Images of American-Johnson County by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

 

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Before 1900 on the northeast corner of Chambers and Anglin Streets was Timms and Company jewelry store. It was owned by W. Timms and partners Witt Wilson and J.H. Styron. The location was also home to a grocery store owned by Coney and W.D. Francis and a furniture store owned by J.J. Fletcher. (information from “The History of Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Pictured below are the Cleburne High School Coaches in 1950. They are: Jerry Sadler, Roy Williams, Glendon Broumley, ad J.W. Jones.

 

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The photo below shows Jacob de Cordova who was known as the “Land Merchant of Texas”. A large bend in the Brazos River extending into Johnson County is named for him: Cordova Bend. He promoted Texas colonization. He was described as handsome, ready with a smile and jest. He died in January 26, 1889 and is buried on the State Capital grounds. (information from “Johnson County, Texas A Pictorial History Volume 1 by Dan and Billie Anne Leach)

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 If you recognize anyone in the photo below, please respond to Jack Kahn <jkaggie72@gmail.com>

 

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In 1888, Godley had a post office, gristmill, three cotton gins, two dairy processing plants, and a station for the Gulf, Colorado, & Santa Fe Railway. Until 1895, there were no schools or churches in town. A large school, known as Godley College, was erected, ad within three years, the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians all had buildings and congregations. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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The first exclusive funeral parlor in Johnson County was established by P.C. “Pete” Dillon in 1905. With his sons Verne and Boyd, he built a funeral home in Cleburne in 1930. He received one of the first embalmer’s licenses issued in Texas, No. 273. Dillon owned the first ambulance in Cleburne and the first factory-made hearse. The ambulance was horse-drawn. Dillon was born in 1873 in a log cabin located across from where the Cleburne Police station now stands. Mr. Dillon opened an Alvarado location, where he also sold furniture and appliances (shown below). (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Around the turn of the century, when Cleburne had lots of cowboys and a baseball team (Railroaders), there was a game between Ft. Worth Panthers and the Cleburne Railroaders. It was a tight game for both teams and in the bottom of the 9^th Inning, the score was tied 2-2. Then the Railroaders got a man on 1^st Base and deliberately took two outs to get their man on 3^rd Base. The next batter came to the plate and hit a soft, shallow pop fly toward center field. The Ft. Worth center fielder stepped forward to make the catch, THEN: several cowboys, still sitting on their horses, pulled their six shooters and shot the ball out of the air! Since the ball wasn’t caught or retrieved, the referee signaled the runner on 3^rd Base to advance to home plate. Cleburne won 3-2!!  (information from “Cleburne Baseball – A Railroader History” by Scott Cain)

 

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The first school built in Joshua was a forty-by-sixty-foot room located west of the railroad tracks. It was built around 1890, with a later addition of a twenty-by-eighty-foot room. With this addition the school was formed into a T-shaped structure. The school had an average enrollment of forty to fifty pupils a session. In 1894 Professor A. Dickie was principal.

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Johnson County celebrated its Centennial in 1954. Parades, parties, and a train robbery reenactment led by members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse were part of the activities. The Cyrus K. Holiday 1880 steam engine (pictured below) puffed its way o the Santa Fe tracks through the County at speeds reaching 20 miles per hour. T.L. Cowan shoveled the coal and W.L. Robertson was the acting engineer. The two passenger coaches were lit with kerosene lamps and heated with potbellied stoves. The County’s population in 1950 was 31,390; by 2010 it was 150,934. In 2022 it was 195,506.

 

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Pictured below is the Department of Public Safety and Game Wardens of Johnson County in 1959. First row, L-R: Jerry Gardner, Lewis Berneker, Doyle Spurlin, Robert Wight, Kenneth Bowling, Paul Busby, Billy Roe, and Bill Swope. Second row, L-R: All unidentified except for Sheriff Earl King at far right. Third row, L-R: Luke Johnson and four unidentified. (information from “Images of American-Johnson County by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

 

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The Rio Vista Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1950 when the local Lions Club purchased a fire truck from the county for $1 and donated it to the city. The first chief was Marion “Tuffy” Gilbert. In 1979, the department purchased land on the south side of Rio Vista square and constructed offices, complete with a kitchen and meeting rooms. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

 

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Pictured below are members of the Grandview Collegiate Institute Band around 1900. Seated (L-R): unknown, Billie Malone, Dr. Edmunson (Dentist), Billy Wagner, Ernest Hale and, Elbert English. Standing (L-R): Peck Elliott, Elmer Young, Billy Clauncy, Matt Hale, Will Harrell, Otis Odom, Lawrence McCown, Mac English, Hamp Savage, N. Matt Hale (visitor and father of Matt and Otis Hale) and, Otis E. Hale (band director). Back row (L-R): Chet Odom and Will Hale. (Photo courtesy of Lula Hale Stafford) (From History of JC – Mollie Mimms)

 

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For decades there has been a legend in Johnson County about the bridge on Old Foamy Road, located just south of Cleburne on Buffalo Creek. Everything from alligators to a half-man, half-goat creature have been reported. One legend says if you park on the Old Foamy Road Bridge, turn off the car engine and honk three times, the goat man will appear and throw things at you.

 

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Wagons loaded with cotton filled the dirt streets around the courthouse in Cleburne’s early years. By 1930, there were over 3,700 farms and about a dozen gins in the county, with three of the latter in Cleburne. Cotton was king for several decades, and by 1952, the average annual cotton production for Johnson County was 22,072 bales. (information from Images of America – Johnson County by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Dr. T.D. Lorance was the first and only physician in Wardville (the first Johnson County seat). He had come to the new county seat from Fort Spunky on the Brazos. At Wardville he was doctor, preacher (in the little courthouse), and did whatever was needed.  When the move of the county seat was decided, Dr. Lorance made his plans to go to the new location. M.A.S. Mercantile who became the leading merchant of Wardville did not hesitate to adjust his plans to the new site of the county seat. In fact, the whole population of Wardville made the move to Bucanan. (information from Finders Keepers, Volume 7, Number 3, September 2009.

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In 1920, Commissioner E. M. Wilson was known for caring about the roads in Johnson County, especially those linking Burleson to Fort Worth and Cleburne. In 1916 he organized the “Good Roads Club” and collected funds for constructing graveled roads. Wilson also began the Burleson News in 1900 and partnered with his brother to erect a brick building, which is now home to Babe’s Fried Chicken. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

 

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The surveyors pictured below were photographed in Johnson County in 1903. They worked for the T.&B.V. Railroad Company which came into the county from the South through Parker to Cleburne. Pictured are P.C. Tucker (rodman), Boshany (Levelman), Nichols J. Lane, Ely Chige, Durby, Jr. (Front Flag), Jess (cook), Blanchard (bear chain), C. Blanchard (rear flag), Chili Chamman and Hog Peden (teamster).

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For many years cotton crops covered the land surrounding Venus. The town’s four gins stayed busy separating cotton fibers from the seeds and, in the process, providing jobs.  Ben Mahanay and Charles Giddings were grocery and cotton buyers, and Glenn Balch was one of the first ginners. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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In 1891, the Cleburne Fire Department was established as a volunteer organization, with J. A. Lindgren as chief. There were three teams of horses, three trucks, 24 volunteers, and three paid drivers. In 1905 a, new building was constructed for use as a fire hall and city hall. The first motorized equipment was purchased in 1913 and by 1919, Old Tom and the other horses were retired. By 2013 the department had a 55 person, fully paid department operating three stations and a fire administration office. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Hiram L. Bicknell (pictured below) was elected Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 in 1931. He served in this position until he passed away during his 4^th term of office.

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Cleburne Chronicle, August 9, 1873: What is a Grange? A grange is an organization of farmers and ranchers formed to educate and unite all those interested in agriculture and animal husbandry in a community. The organization informed members of the best time to sell and how to price their products. Grange officers wore costumes and ceremonial regalia. They also offered help for widowed women. (Partially from “Johnson County, Texas, a Pictorial History, Volume 1)

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In her day this lady was considered “outlandish”. In the early days of Cleburne it was not considered safe for a proper lady to walk on the west side of the Square. At the turn of the century there continued to be cases filed against madams keeping “disorderly houses” in Cleburne. In 1915 any male person over fourteen years of age who knowingly rode in a vehicle or walked on the street with a woman who had a bad reputation could be considered guilty of a misdemeanor and fined $5 - $100.

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Pictured below are the Cleburne High School Junior Class Officers of 1945.

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Joshua 1902: Rural mail was carried by horse drawn hack. On the porch (with mustache) of the West Grocery and Post Office is C.C. West, Post Master. Rural carrier, Tom West, stands by the hack with one horse, Dan Rice sits in the hack with two horses and Noble West is standing between the hacks.

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The first hospital in Cleburne was established by Dr. Wm. Yater in 1905. The hospital boasted a horse-drawn ambulance. The building was a large, two-story frame house built with porches extending across the front, upper and lower floors. Dr. Yater operated the sanitarium/hospital until his death in, when the structure became a commercial building. Pictured below is a birth certificate form from Dr. Yater’s sanitarium/hospital. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chairman)

 

Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The photo below shows E.C. Adams Hardware and Lumber Co. in downtown Godley 1949. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chairman)

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 Wright Plaza is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built in 1893 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Originally built in 1893, the Wright building is now home to Wright Plaza and the Heroes Café, Joyful Soul Boutique, Southern Spirit boutique and many more locally-owned businesses.
• The building was originally home to a meat market, a grocery, a lunchroom, and a candy store and in 1899 A.J. Wright purchased the building, turning it into Wright Dry-Goods Company. Business was booming for Wright and in 1916 he purchased the adjacent building as well. Today, that building is home to the Plaza Theatre Company on Main Street.
• In 1924 he’d expand even further and build the Liberty Hotel directly across the street. The inside of the Liberty Hotel was rebuilt in 2004 and is still open today, making it one of the oldest hotels in town.
• Local legend also goes that the Wright building is haunted, with locals walking the street reportedly seeing the apparition of a young woman staring down into the street from the second floor of the historic building. Visitors to the building have also experienced an unexplained aroma of perfume.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first public school building in Cleburne was erected in 1883 on the site of the old Baptist College building. This structure was red brick with white rock trim. It was built on a 6 1/2 acre tract of land give by B.J. Chambers. This building burned down in 1886 and classes had to be held in the Varsity Theater. A new school building was built and served as both school and City Hall. In the spring of 1908, during the administration of Superintendent R.G. Hall (pictured below), a new high school was constructed on land donated by Mrs. Isabel Kelley, daughter of B.J. Chambers.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In the early 1900’s band members and local citizens gather around the circle in downtown Alvarado. Thriving businesses included: Brown’s Barber Shop, Perkins Creamery, the Alvarado Bulletin, Leary’s Drug Store, Fern’s Sandwich Shop, Alvarado Theater, Johnston Grocery, and the City Café. A historical marker and gazebo are now I the circle. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Towns & Communities in Johnson County, Texas

* indicates a current town or community.

	Allard	1888 Church/School near county road 405 near present day Lake Alvarado.
*	Alvarado
	Antioch	1868 Once called Hugh. Three miles NW of of old Grandview.
	Apache Court
	Auburn
	Barnesville	1853 Between Alvarado and Grandview.
	Bathesda	1855 6 miles S of Burleson
	New Bethany	1903-1960 Three miles NW of Alvarado. Known as Head's chapel. The community was actually Fairview.
	Old Bethany	1872 Land purchased by Hymrick Hooker for 50 cents per acre.
	Billingsley
*	Bono	1860's 7 miles W of Cleburne. Settled by travelers from Tupelo, MS
	Briar Oaks
	Buchanan
*	Burleson
	Burton
	Cahill	Between Lillian and Interstate 35
	Center Point	1852 Settled by George W. Quick
*	Cleburne
	Concord
	Cottonwood
	Cotton Valley	Formed by the consolidation of three schools, Cottonwood, Prairie Valley, and County Line School
*	Cresson
	Cross Timbers
	Cuba
	Danci
	Easterwood Chapel	1851 W of William Balch's Place(Alvarado)
	Egan	1853 - 6 miles east of Joshua
	Freeland	1856 - Start of the Goodnight-Loving Trail
	Goatneck
*	Godley
*	Grandview
	Greenfield	1857 An area formed by 2 communities; Greenbriar & Stubblefield
	Greenfield
	Happy Hill
	Highland
	Hines
	Hogan Acres
	Hopewell
	Island Grove	1859 West of Grangeview. First family was Skunner
*	Joshua
	Keeler
*	Keene
	Klondike	1000 acre of land located along the Brazos River. On the mountain back of the Klondike were 70 or 80 Comanche graves. Fern Cave is located on this mountain.
	Lakeview Estate
	Lane Prairie	1868 Between Cleburne and Joshua, an active church is still there. First settled by W.F. Sims.
	Lebanon
	Liberty Chapel
*	Lillian
	Lone Willow
	Marystown
	Mount Carmel
	Mountain Valley Estates
	Nolan River
	Oak Hill
	Oakland
	Odom-Auburn
*	Parker
	Pleasant Point	Pleasant Point was located at CR 1010 and FM 917. There was an Eighth Grade school which later consolidated with Godley.

 

 

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Shown below is the Hayden home in Grandview. Merchant and physician G.W. Hayden and his family thrived during Grandview’s growth and its incorporation in 1891. Their ornate home was among the 90 destroyed by fire in 1920. At the time, Grandview was a town of 1,500 residents. The blaze also claimed 45 businesses. (information from “Images of America – Johnson County” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury Mims)

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Just after the Civil War, Jim Easterbrook and Bud James established a brick yard on the east bank of East Buffalo Creek. Bricks were made in multiple molds from the yellow and white clays found in the Woodbine formation in the eastern part of Cleburne. In addition to providing bricks for homes and businesses in Cleburne, some were carried to other construction sites throughout the County by their ox team, “Lep and Log”. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by The Johnson County History Book Committee. Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

 

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Pictured below is Wilson Brothers Hardware in Burleson around 1910. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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Godley town officials for 1913 were M.J. McKnight—Mayor; W.H. Alfrey, H.M. Hughes, C.D. Odom, I.T. Vickers, YH.S. Forrest, B.F. Crabtree—Aldermen.  M.D. Heath, Officer; Rev. B.H. Oxford, Attorney, H.S. Forrest, Secretary, E.S. Gates, Town Marshall.

Some of the ordinances passed were: no hitching to awning post, no obstructing sidewalk by horses or any other animal, no riding horseback on or along or across streets faster tan a common ordinary gallop. No driving any automobile faster than 8 miles per hour, and a curfew law for persons under the age of 18 years: to be off the streets, alley, or public places in the town of Godley after the hour of 9:00 PM unless accompanied by a guardian or parent. These ordinances were adopted September 1, 1913. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chairman)

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Mr. John Renfro of Cleburne was charged with slander after Miss Williams of Johnson County refused his company. Miss Williams’ father sued Mr. Renfro for slander. When Mr. Renfro ran into Mr. Williams on the south steps of the Johnson County Courthouse prior to his slander trial, he promptly shot him 5 times! Renfro was tried and sentenced to hang but his attorneys requested, and were granted, a stay of execution from the Governor of Texas. The stay of execution expired and the attorneys requested a second stay of execution from the governor. The photo below shows the telegram sent by the governor’s office denying the request and ordering the Johnson County Sheriff, W.A. Stewart to proceed with the hanging immediately. Mr.  Renfro’s attorneys then put in a plea of insanity which was rejected and Mr. Renfro was hanged on July 27, 1900.

 

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In 1922 the moist serious strike in the history of the Santa Fe in Cleburne occurred. All employees of the shops struck for higher pay. The situation became so tense that the governor sent Texas Rangers to keep order. The strike ended with the advantage going to the railroad company, the strike never having been settled. Many of the strikers lost their seniority, and many others were ever reinstated. The outcome was disastrous to the families of the strikers. Several businesses had to closed because of the reduced revenue resulting from loss of customers. The photo shows the railroad employees in 1920. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury, chair of the Johnson County Book Committee)

 

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Caddo Peak is located about 2 miles north-west of Joshua. It is approximately 350 feet above the surrounding county side. There are names inscribed with dates as early as 1836! To the north is the Santa Fe Trail, on the west was located a horse race track which was frequently visited by outlaw Sam Bass. To the southwest was Caddo Grove. Many stories, including ah Indian burial ground being o top of Caddo Peak are show in several family histories. (information from “The History of Johnson County, Texas” by Mollie Gallop Bradbury, chair of the Johnson County Book Committee.

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The town of Joshua was recorded and surveyed in 1880 and was first organized when the railroad line was extended through Joshua in 1881. Joshua was originally to be named Caddo Oak but the Postal Service would not accept the name due to the fact another town in Texas was already called Caddo Oak. When Joshua’s first postmaster received the notice, Dr. D.B. McMillan was present and offered the name of Joshua.

Farming was the principal source of income for Joshua residents and cotton was the chief crop. In 1883 the first cotton gin was constructed by J.M. Garrett and later a second gin went into operation. At one time 2,500 to 3,000 bales of cotton were ginned annually.

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Johnson County Sheriff, Oran Floyd Smith was elected on November 8, 1932; re-elected numerous times. Sheriff Smith served until January 1, 1947 – 14 years which put him in a tie with Sheriff Earl H. King who served from 1950 thru 1965. These gentlemen served the longest time of service in Johnson County history to date. Thank you to our past and current officers for their services to Johnson County and its citizens.

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 The city of Cleburne is named after a Confederate general in the Civil War.

In the mid 1800s Cleburne wasn’t known as Cleburne, Texas, it was Camp Henderson, Texas, a temporary outpost where soldiers would depart from for war. General Patrick Cleburne—an Irishman who became an American soldier and also a successful and respected leader in the military—led troops from the Camp Henderson outpost into battles such as Battle of Stones River and the Battle of Ringgold Gap. His strategic ability to use the terrain to his favor earned him the nickname “Stonewall of the West” and eventually the camp was renamed in his honor in 1867, following his death in battle in 1864.  (information from “Remember When” by Clyde Head)

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The photo below shows the Mezpah Gate at SWAU in Keene. (information from “A Collection of Historical Markers Johnson County Texas” courtesy of Dan Roberts)

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Gold in Johnson County?! Johnson Countians had hopes of mining gold in Johnson County. In 1902 Frank Green and E.E. Vinson of Keene were digging a gold mine and found nuggets of varying richness. The gold being mined in their shallow shaft was insufficient for commercial mining, but they believe that by going 50 feet deeper, a great quantity of gold could be found. They attempted to induce interested parties to invest capital in the venture in order to dig down to bedrock, where they believed a large quantity of gold could be found. The venture never proved successful and the hope of finding gold in the county was abandoned.  (information from “The History of Johnson County Texas” by the Johnson County History Book Committee, Mollie Gallop Bradbury, Chair)

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In 1892 a group of citizens living near Dallas chose a committee to purchase land for a school in Johnson County. This committee financed the purchase of 800 acres a few miles east of Cleburne for $8000.  They brought all their belongings in covered wagons and began to clear the land and build houses, most living in tents during the first few winter months.

In January 1894 the first school building was completed, and the school, known as the Keene Industrial Academy, opened with 56 students. The principal was C.B. Hughes. The school building doubled as the first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas, organized with 67 members. 

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The photo below shows the Cleburne Ice House on North Border Street in 1908. The person on the right standing on the platform is Edward W. Bossert.

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 Bictured below are the 1950 Senior class officers at Cleburne High School. President: Lynn Swatzell, Vice President: Bobby Lane, Secretary: Hanna Rosser, Representative: Ann Holland

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The photo below shows the Alvarado Square in 1878.

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After a part of Johnson County was cut off from Hood County, an election was held to move the county seat closer to the center of the county. By an election on March 23, 1867 voters decided to move the seat from Buchanan to Camp Henderson, a military staging area. The site was later renamed for the confederate war hero, Major General Patrick R. Cleburne. (painting by Louis Guillaume)

 

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Charles Kirkham was born in Cleburne in 1925 and graduated Cleburne High School. He joined the Army in September 1943 and was assigned to the 94^th Infantry Division in London, England during the buzz-bomb attacks in August 1944. He landed at Utah Beach three months after D-Day. After the war, Kirkham served in the Texas House of Representatives and worked for Merrill Lynch for 40 years; he retired as a vice president and senior financial consultant in Cleburne

 

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 September 6, 1895, Alvarado, Texas – On the south side of the square, midway on the block, was a saloon, the Blue Front, which became notorious for its record as a place for drinking, gambling and questionable occupants on its second floor. Nina Myers, under a charge of vagrant, attempted to kill herself in a room on the second floor. She had failed to secure money with which to pay a fine and did not wish to go to jail. (information from “Ruminations of Alvarado’s Historic Past” courtesy of Jeannette Gibbs)

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October 12, 1894 – It was reported that saloons had been selling liquor on Sunday and Mayor Wrigley offered a reward of $25 for information leading to the conviction of anyone charged with selling liquor on Sunday.

December 14, 1894 Alvarado, Texas – Saloons were violating the Sunday law, and “houses of ill repute” were also declared to be operating in the county. It was further stated that a “vile intoxicant” was being made and sold in the county under the name of grape wine and that much of it was being sold and consumed. (information from “Ruminations of Alvarado’s Historic Past” courtesy of Jeannette Gibbs)

 

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When Texas Governor, Stephen Hogg was 17 years old he worked for the newspaper in Cleburne. In May of 1892, after being elected Governor, he was back in Cleburne for a political rally and stayed at the Cleburne House Hotel located on the corner of North Main and West Henderson. When the hotel burned down in the 1930’s hundreds of spectators came to watch.

 

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Alvarado as described in the Cleburne Chronicle, April 10, 1869:

Alvarado is still a small village but if age gives any privileges, then this place is entitled to a centennial mention. About twenty-five years ago the first house was erected by William Balch. The house occupied by Dr. Edwards (lately improved by him) and the store which Atchly and Davis ad Ligon houses. The spirit of improvement has recently visited the village and a good many neat residences and commodious business houses have been erected. There are now about three or four dozen families residing there.

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Cleburne Chronicle July 18, 1869: On Monday evening last a difficulty occurred between John Gregory, living near Cleburne and a Mr. Henderson, which resulted in the death of the latter. It appears that an old grudge had existed between them for some time, and on Monday evening Henderson went to Mr. Gregory’s house, considerably intoxicated, and made some threats and Mr. Gregory shot and killed him. In July of 1869 the case was still under investigation.

 

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Today Johnson County has 4 Precincts and 4 Constables. In 1899 we had 8 Precincts and 8 Constables:

•  Precinct 1 – Al Boyd                  Precinct 5 – Claude White

• Precinct 2 – G.W. Beaver          Precinct 6 – J.W. Hurst                                                                                                     
• Precinct 3 – W.E. Riddle            Precinct 7 – O.M. Renfro

• Precinct 4 – J.S. Brigance         Precinct 8 – Sam Womble

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During the wee hours of April 1, 1917, a storm swept through Cleburne demolishing buildings and causing destruction in several neighborhoods. The Trinity and Brazos Valley freight depot and Tokes & Brewers Wagon Yard were among the buildings demolished. (information from the April 6, 2019 Cleburne Times Review article by Mollie Mims)

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Planters Oil Mill Company was a thriving business in Alvarado between 1900 and late 1920’s. Employees included manager, John Hallman; Clerk, Leslie Hardee and Superintendent, Ollie Walker. The structure burned in the spring of 1934.

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Major Elbert Monroe Heath is known as the father of Johnson County. At the organization of Johnson County in 1854, the Texas Legislature appointed Major Heath as Special Commissioner on organization of the County. In the first election for county officers, he was elected Justice of the Peace. Major Heath is the gentleman on the right. (information from “History and Description of Johnson County” a reproduction with name index added by L. Malcolm Basham and W.D. Basham)

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In September of 1931 Mrs. Mae Derby shot Cleburne fireman, Mack Horn, 5 times as he stood by his car on south Caddo Street west of the Liberty Hotel! Mr. Horn died of his wounds later at a hospital (Meadowlawn Sanitarium). Mrs. Derby was Mr. Horn’s ex-wife and the month before Mr. Horn had assaulted Mrs. Derby’s current husband, Roy Derby. Mrs. Derby turned her pistol over to Deputy Sheriff George Rice and told him Mr. Horn had threatened to kill her and her new husband. In November 1931 Mrs. Derby was acquitted due to mitigating circumstances.

 

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On December 20, 1877 the outlaw Sam Bass, along with two partners, stopped a Fort Worth-Cleburne stage coach. They disarmed the driver and robbed passengers of $11.25. One outlaw was shot by a witness and Bass left him to die. Less than a year later, Bass was killed in Round Rock, Texas. The robbery took place 4 miles north of Joshua on SH 174.

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On April 21, 1875 two men, pretending to sell gold for currency, attempted to rob the T.D. Lorance bank and the Brown & Chamber bank in Cleburne, but were prevented at the latter by Cashier Hartsough, who was severely wounded. A ball pistol of one of the men entered Hartsough’s upper lip, passed out in front of the wind pipe and lodged against the collar bone. Inspite of his wound, Hartsough continued to fire at the men, thereby attracting other citizens. The men escaped and although later located in Collin county, they escaped again and were ever heard from after that.

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The advertisement below is from the August 5, 1898 Alvarado Bulletin.

 

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The photo below is from the 1907 Cleburne Times Review and shows the Johnson County Commissioners Court circa 1907. Pictured are (top row) R.P. Drennan, John I. Rodgers; (bottom row) G.W. Humphries, Judge F.E. Adams, and John W. Shropshire.

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The advertisement below is from the August 5, 1898 Alvarado Bulletin.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Sometime in 1900, Burleson businessman E.M. “Good Roads” Wilson (1872-1956) began publishing The Burleson News. In 1932 Wilson sold the paper to Robert Garland Knox Deering and John Searcy, but Deering and Searcy dissolved their partnership and Deering became the sole owner in 1935. Shortly after World War II, Deering modernized the newspaper by purchasing a Model 14 Mergenthaler Linotype, which is currently on display at the Burleson Visitors Center. In 1958, the newspaper became The Burleson Dispatcher after a contest was held to rename it, and the final edition was printed on September 25, 1985.

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An important change in the economic climate of Johnson County came with the railroads. The first railroad to be constructed in the county passed through Venus in 1854. In 1881 Cleburne was connected by rail with Dallas. That same year the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe was completed through Johnson County. This line was eventually extended to connect the Texas coast with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line in the north. In 1898 Santa Fe repair shops were opened in Cleburne. They constituted a vital part of the local economy and included maintenance and construction facilities and a switchyard. Other early railroads in the county included the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (Katy) and the Texas and Brazos Valley, commonly known as the Boll Weevil.

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Pictured below are some of the businesses on the north side of the Cleburne square in 1872 including T. D. Lorance general merchandise and the Chambers & Brown Bank. Cleburne had a population of around 200 at the time and there were several log homes, boardinghouses, saloons, a 10-pin alley and a general store. Fresh water came from Joe Shaw’s springs on Buffalo Creek. (Courtesy of the Layland Museum)

 

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 Facts about the Johnson County Courthouse

2 Main Street

Cleburne, Texas 76033

Our current Courthouse was built at a cost of approximately $194,000 and was opened in November of 1913. It was designed by the Dallas firm of Lang & Witchell American Construction. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building includes matched and polished panels of dark Georgia creole marble covering much of the interior walls with the exterior partially clad in Texas red granite from Burnet County.

There are accidental “pictures” in the marble - Transformer (yep, the robot one!), the Grinch, several dogs, the batman signal, and many more. The photo below shows the six-story high, open rotunda from the inner-expanse of the clock tower. It was crafted of both stained and clear textured art glass and is surrounded by carved wooden wall art.

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Patrick R. Cleburne was born in County Cork, Ireland on March 17, 1828. He followed his father, Dr. Joseph Cleburne into the study of medicine, but failed his entrance exam to Trinity College of Medicine in 1846. Following his failure to enter the medical field, he enlisted in the 41^st Regiment of Foot of the British Army and rose to the rank of corporal.  Following his discharge in 1849 General Cleburne immigrated to the United States and settled in Helena, Arkansas where he was employed as a pharmacist. As far as is known he never came to Texas. General Cleburne had no slaves, but when the Civil War broke out he fought beside his friends and neighbors from Helena.

After many successful battles and acts of bravery General Robert E. Lee referred to General Cleburne as “a meteor shining from a clouded sky.” In 1864 General Cleburne put forth a proposal to the Army of Tennessee that would emancipate all slaves if men of fighting age would join the Confederate cause and help to secure southern independence. His proposal was met with silence from the group. But later was vigorously attacked by General William Walker who supported slavery and saw Cleburne as a rival for promotion. Three times in the summer of 1863 General Cleburne was passed over for promotion and remained a division commander until his death.

Major General Cleburne was the most popular Confederate division commander in the war and was referred to as the “Stonewall of the West.” Instead of the usual battle cry of “Forward”, General Cleburne’s battle cry was “Follow Me!” General Cleburne was killed in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee in November of 1864. During the battle he had two horses shot out from under him and continued on foot until his death.  In 1864 General Cleburne became engaged to Susan Tarleton of Mobile, Alabama. Upon hearing of his death, Ms. Tarleton fainted and fell to the ground.

 

 

 

 After the war, the men of Johnson County who had served under him requested that Camp Henderson be renamed Cleburne in his honor.

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The Coffman family opened the first drugstore in Rio Vista in 1898. They also sold general merchandise and groceries and operated a fountain. After a fire destroyed the building in 1914, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Coffman erected a two-story building, with his store on the first floor and the Masonic Lodge on the second floor. The contents of the business were sold to Roo0f Drug in 1964. (The photograph and information below are courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County)

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Adams Elementary School was erected in 1892 as a wooden structure and was then called South Ward. The school was named for Judge F. E. Adams who was known to take an interest in the school and teachers. The school was a two-story structure with three rooms on each floor. At first, they didn’t have desks, but used chairs and put their books under them. The 6^th graders had gardens. The boys’ garden was on the west side and the girls on the east. They raised vegetables and sold them to neighbors. The money was used to buy pictures for the room. The school had a fence around it with no gate. (Johnson County Texas, A Pictorial History Vol. 1)

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 From the “Localettes” column of the August 13, 1900 edition of the Cleburne Daily Enterprise:

•  Mrs. Mollie Henderson of Dallas is in the city to visit her sister, Mrs. W.W. Thompson.

• Pid Hart, of Southern Johnson County, one of the solid men of the county, spent Saturday among friends in Cleburne.
• Mrs. J.S. Richards is visiting in Dallas.
• Miss Katherine Habermacher is visiting friends in Southern Texas and will be in San Antonio, Flatonia and Shiner during her absence.
• Mrs. D.M. Robinson who is visiting friends in Fort Worth, is expected to arrive home the last part of the week.
• Miss Donnie Sawyer came in from Blum yesterday and is a guest of Dr. Hugh Tucker, North Main.
• Rev. Farr, of Lebanon University, TN delivered two excellent sermons yesterday at the C.P. church
• Little Henry Blackwell is quite sick at his home on South Anglin with slow fever

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 Cleburne Times Review June 30, 1933: H.B. Wofford, a farmer living about three miles south of Joshua, probably owes his live to a neighbor, Jim Sims and his German Shepard Police Dog. Wofford was attacked by a bull at his farm and was severely injured. Mr. Sims attempted to get the bull away from Mr. Wofford, but to no avail so he called is dog into action. The dog would taunt the bull ad Wofford would get up but the bull would immediately turn his attentions from the dog to the man and knock Wofford down again. Finally, the dog grabbed the bull by the flank with his teeth and held the bovine until Mr. Sims could drag Mr. Wofford under the fence. Mr. Wofford sustained body bruises ad had his lungs bruised. Fortunately, the bull ad been dehorned or he would have killed him in spite of the efforts of Mr. Sims and is dog.

 

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Charlie Breech was mayor of Cleburne from 1910 until his death in 1916 at the age of 51. It was said that he had to die to be removed from office because his opponents couldn’t defeat him in an election. Mayor Breech was also the “largest” mayor to serve at the time, weighing better than 300 pounds! He is buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery.

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The picture below shows the construction of the M.M. Pittman home in 1900. The home was located at 723 North Main Street in Cleburne. Mr. Pittman owned and operated the Pittman Mill where he made flour, meal, bran and chops. Brand names were “Queen of Cleburne Flour” and “Big A Patent”. The home was torn down in 1959 to make way for the new Cleburne Shopping Center.  (Johnson County, Texas. A Pictorial History, Volume 1)

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H.G. Bruce (on the right), was a captain in Co. H. 20^th Texas Cavalry, Bass Regiment during the Civil War. He was from near Godley (NW of Cleburne) and was captured by Union forces at the Battle of Honey Springs in 1863. He spent the remainder of the war in Federal prison camps in the North. Photo courtesy of his great granddaughter, Hattie Lou Harp Alfrey of Godley. The solider on the left was not identified. (information from “One Hundred Years of Godley History 1883-1983” compiled by Ina Mae Carrell of Godley, Texas)

 

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In 1904 the Model Dry Goods Store in Venus had a special opening to show off its fall millinery. The store was located on the north side of the square. Other stores on the Venus square included Renfro Hardware, Charles Gidden Grocery, Singleton and Poteet Grocery and Shytles Drug store. Pictured below in from of Model Dry Goods are, from left to right: Mrs. W. C. Briggs, two unidentified, Mr. Nigos, Dee Shytles, W. C. Briggs and Dorman Allen. (This photograph and information courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County).

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The second Johnson County Courthouse built on the square opened in 1883. This courthouse was designed by architect Wesley Clark and built by Lee Slaughter & Co. at a cost of $44,685. The courthouse burned down on April 15, 1912. (Yep, the same day the Titanic sank!) Sadly, City Marshall Bledsoe died fighting the fire.

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In 1903 Mrs. C.W. Mertz and Mrs. C.B. Stratton lead a drive to raise funds to have North Anglin sprinkled with water daily to settle the dust. The ladies canvassed the homes on North Anglin to raise the needed funds. (picture below courtesy of Theatre Arts Collection, UT Austin)

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Ed Persons and his brother, Jim, were early day Cleburne grocery and feed merchants. They operated Persons Brothers Prunia Checkerboard Store on North Main. Back then just about everyone had a milk cow in their back lot and a flock of chickens. Soon the City of Cleburne passed an ordinance prohibiting hogs and other animals inside the city limits, but some folks still had a buggy horse in the lot with their milk cows. (information from Clyde Head’s “Remember When” article)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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When establishing Joshua, the post office submitted the name “Caddo Grove” which the US Postal Service declined. When Post Master, W.L. West received the news, Dr. D.B. McMillan was present. He stated, “I’ll give you a name that they won’t have a duplicate of – name the town Joshua.” The suggestion was submitted and accepted. The photo below shows the Josha Post Office in 1902.  (from Joshua: As It Was and Is – 1853-1976)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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In 1880 Venus was known as Midway and thoughted the best soil in the county. It was estimated that the soil was 300 feet deep near the town. The town of Midway (Venus) was founded by Samuel B. Truelove who gave 90 Acres for the townsite. The town had a grocery store, Baptist Church, Post Office, and Doctor Boles’ office. In 1893, after the railroads came about 3 miles east of the site, Dr. Fontaine renamed Venus because it was on a beautiful prairie and was named after the Greek Goddess of Beauty. (information from Jack Carlton paper “Venus-AKA Midway”)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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 The photo below shows an advertisement from the August 2, 1895 Alvarado Bulletin.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Cleburne is home to Yellow Jacket Stadium, more commonly known as The Rock, one of the most revered and respected football stadiums in Texas.

• At the end of the Great Depression in 1939, The Rock was built, which is the same football stadium that Cleburne High School still uses today as its home field. The historical landmark is not actually located at the high school but is located closer to the center of town.
• The stadium was constructed to replace Rhome Field, the original home of Cleburne football, and where Cleburne won the first UIL State Football Championship in 1920. The new stadium, according to former Cleburne ISD Superintendent Ernest Guinn, was built on six and a half acres of another former superintendent’s pasture. It provided employment to locals who needed to work during the Great Depression. The project cost $80,000 at the time.

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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No permanent Indian villages existed in what is now Johnson County, though Indians, including Tonkawas, Kickapoos, Anadarkos, Caddos, and Wacos, hunted in the area. In 1851 the Caddo Indians led an uprising that forced many of the early settlers to abandon their homes, most of which were subsequently burned. No other serious Indian conflicts occurred. (information from Texas State Historical Association)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Wright Plaza is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built in 1893 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Originally built in 1893, the Wright building is now home to Wright Plaza and the Heroes Café, Joyful Soul Boutique, Southern Spirit boutique and many more locally-owned businesses.
• The building was originally home to a meat market, a grocery, a lunchroom, and a candy store and in 1899 A.J. Wright purchased the building, turning it into Wright Dry-Goods Company. Business was booming for Wright and in 1916 he purchased the adjacent building as well. Today, that building is home to the Plaza Theatre Company on Main Street.
• In 1924 he’d expand even further and build the Liberty Hotel directly across the street. The inside of the Liberty Hotel was rebuilt in 2004 and is still open today, making it one of the oldest hotels in town.
• Local legend also goes that the Wright building is haunted, with locals walking the street reportedly seeing the apparition of a young woman staring down into the street from the second floor of the historic building. Visitors to the building have also experienced an unexplained aroma of perfume. (information from Cleburne Chamber of Commerce)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Pictured below is the Cleburne High School girls Basketball Club in 1955.

 

• President – Carolyn Heffley
• Secretary – Beverly Austin
• Treasurer – Marilyn Gatton
• Sponsor – Miss Lily Paul Fraser

 

 

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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Alvarado Woodmen of the World Post 215 prior to merging with another Post. The only unit remaining in the county is WOW Cleburne No. 4, which was formed in 1891. (This information is courtesy of Mollie Mims, author, Images of America Johnson County. The photo is of the current WOW building)

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Johnson County Courthouse Museum

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The first permanent settlement in the vicinity of Johnson County was a trading post near Comanche Peak (northwest of Cleburne), operated by George Bernard starting in 1849. William Balch and his family surveyed the area near Alvarado sometime during the same year, but did not return to settle in the region until 1851, ty which tie Sam Myers ad family had arrived and put down roots; Balch donated land for the city cemetery that bears the family name. Both of these men signed the petition in 1854 forming Johnson County. (information from “Old Soldiers and Settlers of Johnson County” compiled by Paul B. Martin Volume 1)