Margaret, Texas - Old Margaret, and New Margaret, Texas. (original) (raw)
History in a Pecan Shell
Originally known as Pease, Texas, it was the (first) county seat of Hardeman County in 1884. The name comes from the first white child born in the county - Margaret Wesley. The town had a link with Texas history when Cynthia Ann Parker was rescued by Texas Ranger Captain (Sul) Ross near here in 1860.
In 1891 with the establishment of Foard County, Margaret found itself in the new county � but not the county seat. To add to the towns worries, it was bypassed by the railroad in 1908. But since it was bypassed by a mere three miles, an attempt was made to move the town to the tracks. The hard work paid off � for a time.
The Great Depression, WWII and bypassing by the improved highway system in the 1950s, left Margaret a shadow of her former self. From a 1940 population of 100, it has been reduced to the 2000 census figure of 51. Although Margaret�s 1909 school closed in 1943, it has been in use as a community center for many years.
"Site of Old Pease City" Marker
on Texas State 6 at FM 3103
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
"Site of the Town of Margaret"
Centennial Marker
"Site of the Town of Margaret"
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
"Site of the Town of Margaret" Centennial Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Margaret, Texas Vintage Photos
Photos courtesy Roger Harden
"Kerley's Confectionery Jewelry Cold Drink and Tobacco"
Photo courtesy Roger Harden
"Kerley's Confectionery Jewelry Cold Drink and Tobacco"
Photo courtesy Roger Harden
"I was going through some boxes that had belonged to my grandfather and ran across some pictures that might interest you. One is the outside of "Kerley's Confectionery Jewelry Cold Drink and Tobacco" that was either in Chillicothe or Margaret Texas. I believe he moved the store from Margaret to Chillicothe but I can't say for sure, so I don't know exactly where this store was located�.my guess is Margaret, as it was in a cigar box with letters addressed to Margaret Texas.
The other picture is the inside of one of the stores. Again, I'm not sure which. I assume it is the Chillicothe store. My great-grandfather John Marcus Kerley is the gentleman in the white shirt. The note my grandfather stuck to the back of the picture said it was taken around 1922." - Roger Harden, April 11, 2017
Kerley's Store, 1920
Photo courtesy Roger Harden
Kerley's Store, 1920
Photo courtesy Roger Harden
Margaret United Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
Methodist Church cornerstone
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
I saw the sign that read "MARGARET 13," and turned north off US70W. Good thing I didn't yawn or I would have missed the sign that read "RAYLAND", right after the one for Foard County... [See Rayland]
Once again, had I yawned or blinked, I would have missed the sign that read "PEASE RIVER BATTLEFIELD". A quick turn north onto a deeply rutted red dirt (that's redundant out here � all the dirt is red) � this would be trouble after a rain � and a mile or so later, I read the marker about the recapture of Cynthia Ann Parker. See photo. Onward to MARGARET again�
"Marker for the recovery of Cynthia Ann Parker is out in the middle of nowhere, between Margaret and Rayland"
- Rick Vanderpool photo
Pease River Battlefield Centennial Marker
Photo courtesy Rick Vanderpool, 2010
What? There was an OLD MARGARET? That is what the sign read, that I would have missed, if I had, well, you know� One more side trip, down another dirt road, another marker (this one explained how the town of MARGARET was once named PEASE, but was changed to honor the first-born Anglo child, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Wesley � hey, it may have been THE Methodist, John Wesley, but didn't know he got this far west � see below) then onward to NEW MARGARET?
Nope, the sign simply read "MARGARET". This stretch of Foard County is not in wheat, but the land was prepared for something to be planted.
I counted about a dozen inhabited residences in MARGARET, and only 3 vacant ones. I saw some agricultural equipment and an abandoned building or two. Bob White Quail were calling from the brush, and that's a rare treat in most parts of Texas these days. Dang Fire Ants and feral cats!
Two residents of MARGARET were espied � one gentleman waved to me from the door of his shed at the end of Florence Road.
I had seen what I noted as an abandoned church � no sign and very unkempt landscape. As I reached the western town limits (another sign for MARGARET), I beheld a sign for MARGARET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH and surmised that perhaps the groundskeeper was not in the habit of attending regularly.
Adios, Miss Wesley�
©
Rick Vanderpool
Texas Plains Trail Journal entry for April 27, 2010
Pease River Battlefield
Nine miles East of Crowell on FM 98 is a marker commemorating the recapture of Cynthia Ann Parker, Texas' most famous Indian captive. Captured in 1836 near Groesbeck, she was "rescued" 24 years later in 1860 and died shortly thereafter - after attempting to escape back to the Comanches. She was the mother of Quanah Parker who grew up to be go on wolf hunts with President Theodore Roosevelt and have Quanah, Texas (30 miles North) named after him.
Centennial Marker
Pease River Battlefield
In 1860, at the Battle of Pease River, Indian captive Cynthia Ann Parker and her daughter, Prairie Flower, were rescued by Texas Rangers under Captain L. S. Ross (later Governor of Texas). Cynthia Ann, most celebrated of all Comanche captives, had been taken at age 9 in a raid on Fort Parker, May 19, 1836. Traders who saw her later said she had taken the name "Naduah" and wished to remain among her adopted people. She married Chief Peta Nocona, by whom she had 2 sons, Pecos and Quanah Parker. Although she was returned to her uncle's family, she was never completely happy and tried to escape several times. She died 1864.
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