The History of Cass County, Part 4

TRAINS BRING PEOPLE AND ACTIVITIES TO HUGHES SPRINGS

Continuing Cass County’s history: In 1856 Reece Hughes moved from his old farm just east of Chalybeate Springs to another place about three miles southeast of present-day Hughes Springs. At the new location he used slave labor to build a large brick residence on the main road leading west from Jefferson to Sherman and Dallas. About the same time, he built his iron furnace and was operating it when the Civil War began. Several houses and some stores were built near the furnace.

In the late 1850s, the first town of Hughes Springs began to decline, and by 1870 it was almost gone.

The present Hughes Springs was laid out in 1878 by the children and stepchildren of Reece Hughes. They had a contract with the East Line and Red River Railroad Company. Some of the new town site included parts of the old Chalybeate Springs and first Hughes Springs settlements.

More settlers had arrived soon after the Civil War ended. J. M. Niblett. Sr. was here by 1866; T. H. Briggs, Sr. in 1869 or earlier; H. D. McMillan came in 1869 and bought land from C. Callaway.

About 1870, William D. Hull came and many others settled in that area in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s. William Allen opened his general mercantile store about 1875. The railroad brought more people and activities to Hughes Springs. In 1879. S. D. Henderson of the Concord Community moved to Hughes Springs and opened a store.

Thomas B. Keasler, a young store clerk from Avinger, came in 1879 and established his own store. Dr. W. S. Glass opened the first drug store and later added a line of general supplies.

Mark Fletcher ran the first blacksmith shop. In the late 1870s or 1880, a 36-room frame hotel was built as a summer resort for railroad officials.

Hughes Springs post office was established in 1878. Early postmasters included John F. Jones, William Edwards, John O. Price, Henry D. Whitaker, John J. Bartlett, and W. D. Daniel.

The First National Batik of Hughes Springs opened for business in early September 1903. Hughes Springs was incorporated August 4, 1903 for municipal purposes. The first newspaper, Hughes Springs Courier, was published about 1892 by W. W. Slaughter.

Douglassville was named for Col. John C. Douglas who came here in 1850 from Georgia. He erected a home from hewn logs on the present town site, Williamson Petty was one of the earliest settlers in the Douglassville area. He came in 1850 and built a house near His ferry on Sulphur River, four miles north of Douglassville. His ferry was widely known throughout the state, and has been mentioned in historical writings of early Texas development as the only place in northeast Texas where a suitable crossing of the Sulphur River could be made.

In 1850 a 320-acre tract of land was granted to Petty. On December 17, 1855, he sold Col. John C, Douglas this land, less and except 159 varas in length including the school house which Petty donated for school and church purposes.

During 1851, families of Collier, Jackson, McCoy and Douglas arrived. Soon thereafter came families of Brooks, Crawford, Heath, Heldt, Hunt, and Stone.

In 1868 the following families came from Georgia: Alsup, Green, Hardin, and McWhorter. Later the families of Carlow. Snipes, King. Webster, Wilson and Professor Cranberry.

By 1851. Douglassville had a private school. The early school was built from blackjack oak logs. Two buildings were erected later, one for boys and one for girls, supported by private subscriptions. Later on, Douglas Academy, a three-story building with Professor Granberry in charge, was established. The enrollment included students from all over Texas, as well as from other states.

A public free school was established in 1876 with J. H. Snipes. W. N. Hunt, and W. W. Stone as the first trustees.

James Patton owned and operated the first store in Douglassville. Dr. Heldt was the first practicing physician; the second was Dr. Cook.

Families who contributed to the social and educational development of Douglassville included Moody. Edins, Murphy, Oliver. Dunklin, Powell, Stone, Ellington, Morriss, Swint, and many more.

The Douglassville post office was established July 8. 1854 with James A. Chappell as postmaster. Mr. McFarlane was the first mail earner, transporting the mail to and from Jefferson where it came in and went out by steamboat.

Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative had its beginning in Douglassville in October 1935.

Douglassville was incorporated in 1952 with Joe Williams as Mayor and Ben Cox, Dillard Campbell, B. W. Swint, and Cameron Nolan as Aldermen.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Douglassville was established in the early 1850s. The Baptist church was constituted November 8, 1869 and named Olive Branch Baptist Church with fourteen charter members.

-to be continued-