by LaDawn Garland, Bosque County News
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This week I read a wonderful book entitled, The Memories of Will Conine, 1860s
to 1890s, collected and compiled by Sharon E. Whitney. Will Conine, the great
great uncle of Whitney, grew up in the Coon Creek area here in Bosque County and
later in his life took the time to write down his early memories of his life
here in the county.
On tablets, lovingly preserved by his family he tells of the early days,
when Clifton was barely large enough to be called a village. He gives us a
vivid glimpse of life during these times, including encounters with cattle
rustlers, outlaws, and his neighbor, Belle Reed, the woman who would one day be
know as the notorious outlaw, Belle Starr.
Whitney along with her parents took these tablets and painstakingly copied and
compiled them into a fascinating look at life during the early years,
when Bosque County was still part of the wild wild west.
If you want to get your own copy of this book, and I highly recommend it, there
will be a book signing at the Bosque Memorial Museum in Clifton on Sunday, May 6
, 2001 from 2 to 4 p.m.. You can purchase the book and have it signed by the
author.
The copy I read was loaned to me by Bryan Davis, but I definitely plan on
attending the signing and getting my own.
On Saturday, May 5th at 12 noon there will be a dedication ceremony and picnic
at the Scrutchfield Cemetery located southwest of Valley Mills.
The Scrutchfield Cemetery has been designated a Texas Historic Cemetery, the
first in Bosque County to receive this distinction.
Members and friends of the Valley Mills Cemetery Association, The Bosque County
Historical Commission and The Bosque Valley Heritage Society are invited to
attend. For more information contact Bob Allen at 254-932-6307.
I took a tour of the new home of the Bosque County Collection, in the Lumpkin
Building in Meridian, this week. It is so beautiful inside, I know
everyone will be thrilled. They are still unpacking, but I think it may be
opening up for visitors and researchers sometime this week. You might want
to call to verify this. Not everything is up on the shelves yet, but you really
should visit just to see how wonderful it looks.
Please send in your stories, memories and queries on your Bosque County
families, so take time to talk with your relatives and be sure to record you
family stories, and share them with us all.
Early News Items from The Meridian Tribune on file at the Bosque County
Collections January 23, 1903
Marriage Licenses Issued:
Sid Ansley and Miss Sue Steen
G. C. Smith and Miss Bettie Savage
W. M. Crump and Miss Emma Gray
G. J. Andrew and Miss Mona B. Cox
E. N. Smith and Miss Zee Ogle
J. B. Wagoner and Miss Carrie Braddy
H. C. Ammons and Miss Dora Kavanaugh
Local News and Personals:
Mrs. J. A. Sherrill is visiting in the city this week
Hon. Pearce Ward of Cleburne attended court here this week.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Standifer are visiting the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. M.
Robertson this week.
J. W. Adams of Valley Mills was in the city the first of this week.
Sam K. Lewis of near Valley Mills was visiting in the city earlier today.
Arthur Duncan of Hamilton County was in the city this week
Miss Florence White of Morgan is visiting relatives and friends in the city this
week.
Miss Etta Morgan returned Wednesday from a visit to Austin she was accompanied
by her little sister Jimmie.
W. H. Seale of Walnut was in the city Monday.
Miss Eunice Duncan of Dell, is visiting in the city, the guest of her sister,
Mrs. J. L. Mingus.
Hon. J. L Scott, who has been in Greer Co., Okla., for several months visiting
his daughter Mrs. Filtzhugh returned home yesterday.
Queries
I had a query sent in this week from a researcher trying to locate
information on an ancestor here in Bosque County. If anyone has any information
they would like to share on Presley Bryant, who was a sheriff here in Bosque
County, he was supposedly waylaid and killed on Village Creek in Johnson County
around 1854, please contact JoAnn91154@aol.com
Thank you to all who help contribute to make this column possible.
If you would like to contribute a story about Bosque County, it's residents, or a query about your ancestors, send
them to: Bosque County News, P.O. Box 343, Meridian, TX 76665 or email: garland@htcomp.net
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