THE LIBERTY HERALD

Editor, Will A. Vick

April 6, 1892

THE HERALD

This is a long article describing the beginning operation of the Herald, this being the sixth anniversary.

The first issue was April 1, 1886. The paper began with a stock company organized in March, with H.L. Hale, Henry C. Fite and Will A. Vick and a paid up capital of $45. The press, a 10x15 hand inking jobber was rented from Rev. W.P. Ban ks. This was the entire outfit on which the nespaper, to be published in Liberty, was to come from. The office was in the back room of Dr. W.H. Robinson's office and a huge sign was soon suspended from above the front entrance-HERALD OFFICE . Before the first issue ever came out, Mr. Hale and Mr. Fite withdrew from all connection with the enterprise whatever, except as good friends, of course. This left the present owner and manager of the Herald in absolute control of al l its future destinies. L. Woodward, with limited experience in the printer's craft, undertook the job of being forman, compositor, devil, roustabout, etc. After three months or so, a press was purchased and the office removed to the old brick st ore building. At the end of twelve months from the time the first number appeared a steam cylinder press was purchased and another story was added to the brick building.

D.C. Davis, Wallowa, Oregon. Left Tennessee in 1851. Is a farmer and stock raiser and has made a good living.

John Alexander and William Alexander, Durango, Colorado. Born and raised at Cherry Valley, Tennessee and are well to do.

John D. Allen, Verona, Missouri. He left DeKalb county, March 17, 1839. He settled on Spring River, April 29, 1839. After planting 5 acres of corn, he began hauling corn to the Indians. He was county surveyor 9 years, Justice, 2 years, Sheriff, 1 year, Deputy clerk, 2 years and was Col. in the federal army 3 years. He is now 73 years old and is a notary public.

Mrs. M.J. Kenedy, Godley, Texas. She and her husband left Tennessee in 1870. Lived in Ellis county 12 years, then went to Johnson county. Her husband died in 1888. She and her son are farming and raising horses and mules.

Mrs. Lizzie Neal, Watertown, Tn. She is a daughter of Isaac Whaley of Liberty, Tn. left here in 1866, having married Mr. Neal, a most prosperous farmer of Wilson county.

E.L. Evans, Germantown, Tenn.[?] Left this county in 1830, was a merchant, though too liberal to grow rich. He died in 1854

R.R. Evans, same residence. Moved away in 1839 and has preached at Germantown 41 years. He lived a few years at other places before moving to Germantown.

Ben Strong and William Strong, Germantown, Tex. Went there from this State 50 years ago, were farmers, did well financially and both died a few years ago.

Mr. T. Braswell, Eddyville, Ky. Went from Dry Creek many years ago, is a farmer and prospering.

Col. R.D. Allison, McKinney, Texas, "the hero of three wars", and commander of Allison celebrated squadron during the late war went to Texas in 1866, has been three times to the Legislature. He has a competency but is not rich. Age is gaining on time somewhat.

Hon. T.C. Goodner, same place. Left this county in 1866, is a lawyer county judge of the county, he is wealthy.

Capt. Johnson Dowell, same residence. Left Tennessee in 1865. He has made money farming and stock raising.

Bob McDowell, McKinney, Tex. Went to Texas in 1870. He is said to be the same light hearted gentleman. He is doing well and has many friends.

W.M. and N.J. Williams, McKinney, Texas. Are making money in the saloon business.

E. Yeargin and M. Yeargin, Mt. Vernon, Ill. Farmer, left Tennessee in 18__ and have made some money. E. Yeargin's wife died about a year ago.

Daniel Scott, same place. Left this State in 1840, died in 1894.

_____s Scott, Marlow, Ill. Left ____see in 1856, is a farmer and _____l health.

____n J. Scott, mt. Vernon, Ill. ________ this State in 18--, is ____--a farmer.

______ney. Tex. In 1890 the _______g persons left Tennessee ____ re now residents of McKin___ E.C. Self, W.P. Self, H.H. _______lor, Harrison Taylor, E.V. Self, J. Pistol, John Close, Elisha Self, James Henzy, Joe Henzy, George Williams, Andrew Bedford, W.R. Self, Robert Capalinger and Pleas Robinson.

R.C. Bass, Plano, Texas. Retired farmer, went to Texas in 1870 and is doing well.

W.R. Bailiff, Mrs. Susan Self, Isaac Overall, Smith Close and T.F. Everett left Tennessee for McKinney, Texas in 1882, 1859,1859, 1859, and 1880, respectively.

S. Patton, Fisher, Texas. Farmer, doing well, left Tennessee in 1876.

Martin Alexander, Little Elm, Texas. Farmer, doing well, went to Texas in 1888, is a student.

W.S. Lankister, Bowie, Texas. Farmer, doing well, is a merchant and left Tennessee in 1887.

W.L. Washburn, Lebanon, Tex. Farmer, doing very well, left Tennessee in 1891.

W.W. Donnell, Little Elm, Texas. Left tennessee in 1849, died in 1887.

T.H. Hass, Overbrook, I.T. Farmer, making a living, left Tennessee in 1888.

S.R. Davis, Little Elm, Texas. Left Tennessee, made a fortune of $300,000. He is a trader.

Bennet Yeargin, Mt. Vernon, Ill. Left this state in 1868. Did well on the farm and died in 1876.

Mrs. Mana Birge, sister of E. Yeargin, lives at Mt. Vernon, Ill. Her husband is a farmer.

S.J. Clark, Hadley, Ky. Moved from Wilson county, 1885. Doing well as a farmer.

Mattie Bass moved from Wilson county in 1884. Lives now at Hadley, Ky.

J.A. Barkely, Sugar Grove, Ky. Moved from Wilson county in 1879. Making money on the farm.

Joe Chasain, San Marcus, Texas. Is a machinist and is doing well. He left Tennessee in 1855.

Eten Chatain, Vernon, Texas. Left Tennessee in 1866 and is making a living.

Jack Caruth and Jim Caruth, West__, Texas. Left Tennessee in 1855. Doing well as farmers.

Josh Phillips, McKinney, Texas. Left this state in 1881 and is a well to do farmer.

Alfred Bow, Cainsville, Texas. Left this state in 1867. He is a merchant.

Ned Chambers and Alex Caruth, Weston, Texas. Ned Chambers died at Austin at the age of 82 and was a state_man. The latter was a farmer and his heirs live at McKinney.

Frank Powell, Weston, Texas. He was a farmer and died in 1867.

Luke George, Weston, Texas. Left this state in 1851.

David Phillips, Weston, Texas. Left Tennessee in 1855, died in 1858 in Arkansas. He was a farmer.

C.H. Vick, McKinney, Texas. Went there in 1888, married a lovely lady and has gone West to raise his family and grow up with the country.

W.B. Smith, McKinney, Texas. He has been there some four years and commands the highest wages of any young man in the whole country.

A.J. and Thomas Vantrice, McKinney, texas. They are doing well.

J.E. Moore, McKinney, Texas. Went to Texas in 1866 and has a nice home in McKinney. He is a mason and is prospering financially. He is a warm friend of the Herald.

Marion and Arrilla Bratten, Americus, Mo. These persons were born in this state in the year 1824. Left Tennessee in 1854. They first went to Illinois, but in 1855 went to Mo. Mrs. Bratten's maiden name was Arrilla Evans, a sister of W.D. Evans, deceased. They have five children and are in moderate circumstances.

Isaac Ross Moores, Smith county, Tenn. Moved to Smith county in 1850. He is a carpenter and farmer, had considerable property, but lost the most of it in the war between the states. At the age of 25 years he married Eliza Biles. He had e ight children and two or three adopted ones.

Z.W. Moores, Clifton, Tenn. Born in Alexandria in 1849, educated in Smithville. Has written some fiction, a volume on theology and has some other works in contemplation.

P.F. Cantrell, Gainesville, Tex. Left Tennessee in 1889, with P.G. Luna, A. Allen and S. Walker. They are farmers. The three last named now living at Massides, Texas.

J. Pollard and B. Allen, Massides, Tex. Went to Texas in 1890, are farmers and all doing well.

William Ballard, Rockland, Ky. Is a stone mason, left Smith county, Tennessee in 1875.

Benjamin Gill, Hadley, Ky. Went to Kentucky in 1849 from Smith county, is a farmer.

George Edwards, Sugar Grove, Ky. Is a farmer and went to Kentucky in 1879. Doing very well.

S. Earley and Mrs. Parmer, Sugar Grove, Ky. Went from Tennessee in 1848 and 1850. They have farms and are doing very well.

W.J. Quarles, Long Beach, Miss. Left Tennessee in 1884, merchant, doing well.

A.J. Quarles, Long Beach, Miss. Left Tennessee in 1890, Merchant, doing well.

W.T. and W. McClanahan have a hog ranch in Indian Territory and are making money.

Eld. W.B. Carnes moved to the Lone Star State in 1888 and has ever since been engaged in the ministry. He has had large well paying congregations all the time. He lives now at Weatherford, Texas.

Dock Allen went to Texas in 1878 from Dry Creek. He is a farmer and has made money.

Wm. D. Carnes is in the Insurance Business at Dallas, Texas and is doing well. He left here in 1884.

B.R. Womack is a merchant at Temple, Texas. He moved from this end of Warren county. Has done well.

J.S. Wade moved to Texas in 1878 and is getting rich at the practice of medicine.

Jas. Chapman is living at Einns, Texas, and is selling lightning rods. He has made a fortune.

Frank Dowell, Fayetteville, Ark. Is a retired farmer, have made considerable money. He was recently on a visit to old friends here.

L.E. Hays, Snowball, Ark. Is an old Clear Fork boy. He was farming when last heard from. He bids fair to do well.

J.E. (Ed) Botts, formerly of Alexandria, lives now at Marion, Ark. He is in public business and doing well.

L.H. Lincoln lives still at Conway, Ark and is a prominent lawyer there. He likes the country, has done well, but occasionally makes a trip back to old Tennessee.

H. Mann, son of Sandford Mann, formerly of Dowelltown, lives now at Grove Lake, Minn. He is farming and is delighted with the country. Making money right along.

S.W. Marler, son of Richard M__ler living near Alexandria, is_____ Afton, Indian Territory ____ing money.

C.H. Malone, went to Georgia in 1890. He is saleman for Bass Bros. at Rome and is a most excellent young man.

F.K. West, son of G.R. West, living near Alexandria, located at Ardmore, Indian Territory, in 1890. He is doing well we understand.

Prof. T.O. Baker is now principal of public schools at Durango, Col., and honorable and lucrative position. He has not forgotten the people of Liberty but very often writes inquiring letters of them.

Thos. Mann, son of S. Mann, formerly of this county lives now at Fowlds, Minn. He is a farmer boy and making money.

E.E. Bass, son of John A. Bass, lives now at ____, Georgia. He is one of the kind that always succeeds and will be a rich man someday.

Mrs. S.T. Key lives with her family at 2029 2nd Ave., Birmingham, Ala. She will be remembered as having a millinery store in Liberty 4 or 5 years ago.

Dr. J.M. Hale, an old Statesville boy is now a prosperous dentist at Mt. Vernon, Ind. He stands high in his profession. He married in Nashville about two years ago.

L.B. (Landon) Richardson left this country long years ago and lives now at Gail, Texas. He has done well.

Mrs. L.F. Warren lives now __ ____, Texas. Her husband has done well financially. She is a sister of our townsman, C.W.L. Hale.

T.D., W.M., and A.C. Vandigriff went to Texas last year. They live near Bridgeway and all are farming. They are well pleased with the country we understand.

W.D.G. Carnes moved to Texas a year or more ago and now has charge of the Christian church at Hamilton, Texas. His congregation think well of him we understand.

John M. Durrett is selling goods at San Antonio, Texas. It was the misfortune of the editor of this paper to get licked by this young gentleman in a contest for a medal at Alexandria in 1886.

Cul Chapman owns a saloon at ennis, Texas. He has done well.

Jas. Marks, who once lived at Smithville, but moved away in 1829_____

(There is another full column, but it appears that it was damaged and there is tape right down the middle. It is impossible to make any sense of what little is legible. The rest of this issue is also missing. DGC)

A Herald representative had a brief conversation with one of Liberty's oldest citizens a few days ago. He was James Hollandsworth in his 74th year.

He came to Liberty in 1832, when the town was a mere hamlet or postoffice, and he remembers the name of every head of a family living here when he first came. They were-Thos. Duncan, Dr. Wright, Mr. Cocram, Ben Blades, Joseph Evans, Nancy Givans, Jenk ins Greer, Giddy B. York, German Gossett, John Read, David L. Roy, William Bratten, David Fite, John Doraty (for fifty years the postmaster), Joel West, Jesse B. Jones, William Derrickson, Nancy Burton, Levi Pernal, Richard Arnold, Leonard Lamberson, Thos. Whaley, John Woodside, Dr. Doraty, Mr. Johnson and William Carrol.

Of these old citizens, James Hollandsworth is the only one living.
There was one blacksmith shop in 1832, run by Richard Arnold. The two stores were owned by Joel West and Fite, Whaley and LambersonGen. Andrew Jackson, who stopped occasionally at Duncan's Hotel when passi ng the great highway. Old days! Old men! Old Customs! Though mingling with the things that were and though now of such stuff as only dreams are made, ye soften us as we glance backward a few moments, endeavoring to reinstate ye here! May peace and charity and goodwill hover l ike _____around your memories.

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