Newsletter OCT/NOV The Original Town of Arlington Part 1 of 2 By Tom Cogdell, Arlington Historical Society Board Member.

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1 1616 W. Abram St. (at the Historic Fielder House) Arlington, TX Geraldine Mills, Director Hours: Fielder House: Tues. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or by appointment) Knapp Heritage Park: Sat. & Sun. 1- p.m. Newsletter Editor Tom Dodson at jeantom@sbcglobal.net In this Issue Newsletter OCT/NOV 2012 Arlington Archives The Original Town of Arlington 1 Stories from the Arlington Archives! The Original Town of Arlington Part 1 of 2 By Tom Cogdell, Arlington Historical Society Board Member The location of Arlington was chosen by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company for the advantage of the railroad. Railroad officials picked a spot on their line where the center of the town would be ideal for the trains to stop at their depot and terminal buildings and designed the town around it. Newsman Charles Hawkes said that the spot was the highest point on the line between Fort Worth and Texarkana, 605 feet above sea level. He also pointed out that it was about halfway between Dallas, 18 miles east, and Fort Worth, 1 miles west. "Railroad surveyors platted a new town and at first it was to be named Johnson." 1 The surrounding land had been surveyed by Peters Colony surveyors using the township and range system advocated by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the U. S. congress in 1785 for new lands in the territories. In this system the basic unit of land is the section, a square tract measuring one mile on each side oriented so that sides are true north-south and east-west. Each section contains 60 acres. Sections were often divided into smaller units of half-, quarter- and smaller parts all the way down to the "forty acres and a mule" size farm. This system was applied in north Texas, in contrast to the use of Spanish law procedures in south Texas and the metes and bounds system of the early English colonies in America nearly everywhere else in Texas. The T & P plat contained 160 acres, a square exactly like a quarter-section, except not located in a corner of the sections already surveyed in the 1850s. As positioned by railroad objectives, it chanced to fall mostly, 73%, in the south half of the Solomon Davis Survey, crossing over into the Heirs of John Huitt Survey further south for the remaining 27% - see plat at the top of page 2. (continued on page 2) How well do you know your Arlington History? Members and Volunteers Appreciation Day at the Fielder House - Sunday, November at 2- p.m. New Fielder Exhibit now showing at the Fielder House Bankhead Highway through Arlington Master Plan for the Development of the Fielder Property!!! New Book on Arlington by O.K. Carter is available It s time to renew your Annual Membership for !! Small Town Courage Arlington, Texas in WW II new UTA documentary Old Timers and Gardens Club schedules into 2013 How well do you know your Arlington History? 1. True or false The original town of Arlington had no Abram Street. 2. True or false Arlington High School adopted the Colt as its mascot in 1950, and this encouraged Tommy Vandergriff to donate a white Shetland pony to the school. 3. True or false W. T. Waggoner built Arlington Downs after the State legislature passed a bill legalizing pari -mutuel betting.. True or false W. T. Waggoner continued to operate Arlington Downs after the State legislature, in 1937, repealed pari-mutuel laws. 5. True or false Dalworthington Gardens, a small community now completely surrounded by Arlington, got its start as a President Franklin Roosevelt New Deal project. (answers on page 6)

2 News from Arlington Historical Society OCT/NOV 2012 P. 2 The Original Town of Arlington (continued from page 1) The plat filed by the "Land Department, T & P RW Co", and signed by W. H. Abrams, is dated March 10, The T & P land department needed to acquire land for the town, as well as the right of way, from the land owners at the time, seven of them altogether. Without giving complete abstracts of these properties, we will examine a part of their histories, beginning with the patent granted by the State of Texas to Solomon Davis. The Solomon Davis family was living here to appear on the U. S. census taken October 30, Solomon was then a 3 year old farmer who was born in Pennsylvania. Wife Mary, born in Missouri, was 22 and their child Alex, born in Texas, was one year old. Solomon had been recorded on the tax roll of Grayson County, Texas in 180. Solomon claimed 60 acres in the Peters Colony, the appropriate amount for a man and wife, swearing that he had entered the colony prior to July, 188, had performed all the duties of a citizen and had not previously received any land from the government of Coahuila and Texas, or the Republic of Texas, or the State of Texas. These were the requirements. He received the grant, but he would have to have it resurveyed because there were no maps or field notes on file. The claim, stated to be non-transferable, was signed in Dallas by the Peters Colony Land Commissioner Thomas William Ward, on May 10, 1850, and recorded as number 566 in Volume 2 of his records. This gave Solomon the right to pick a section of land anywhere in the Colony that was previously unclaimed. The 60 acre tract that Solomon Davis chose was the Arlington location and was surveyed for him on February 26, 1851 by Tarrant County Surveyor A. J. Lee, with Chainmen James Harrison and William Thomas. It was described as 1900 varas on a side, Spanish measure for a mile, and properly described with respect to neighboring patents of James Hyden and William O'Neal, and with corners staked and located with respect to nearby mature trees. Its designation in the Peters Colony layout was Section 27, Township Number 1 South, Range Number 3 West, recorded in Book 1, page 310 of Lee's Field Notes. 5 `Middleton Tate Johnson wrote to the Commissioner of the General Land Office (GLO) in Austin on April 1, 1853 to provide the description of "land that I am entitled to as an assignee of Solomon Davis in accordance with the Supplementary Act passed in July 1853" and to specify that Ward Certificate Number 566 was set in Section 27 Township 1S Range 3W, first base and first meridian of the Texas Emigration and Land Company Survey. The latter is the full name of Peters Colony. 6 The Patent, Number 652 in Volume 10, State of Texas to Solomon Davis for this 60 acre tract is Abstract 25, Robertson 3 rd Class, File Number 1202, attested by S. Crosby, Commissioner of the GLO, and signed by Governor E. M. Pease on November 2, Solomon and Mary Davis sold the south half of this land to Middleton Tate Johnson for $160 on March 27, The south half, which concerns us most for the story of Arlington's beginning, is described in more detail in the deed as "situated and lying in said state and county in the lower cross timbers on waters of the Johnson Station Spring Branch." Both Solomon and Mary signed with their marks. M. T. Johnson sold this south half in parcels to Lewis Finger and other buyers. Lewis Finger paid $300 for just 80 of the 320 acres in 1860, so it is apparent that land values were rising. Profits were being made. 8 The southern part of the Arlington townsite lies in the Heirs of John Huitt Patent and has a history that is different from the example of Solomon Davis. Who were the heirs of John Huitt? And how did their headright become the section of land immediately south of that of Solomon Davis? John Huitt came to Dallas County, Texas before July of 183 bringing his family and several negro slaves. The family upon arrival consisted of wife Martha and son Thomas Benton Huitt, who was born about 1837 in Arkansas. Then two daughters Margaret and Irene were born in Dallas County in about 185 and 187. Also in the traveling party were John's parents Solomon and Charity Huitt, older brother Rowland Huitt and his family, and John and Martha's oldest son Andrew J. Huitt with a family. All of them were attracted by the available land in the Peters Colony and all qualified for land patents in their names in Dallas and Tarrant Counties. 9 (continued on page 3)

3 News from Arlington Historical Society OCT/NOV 2012 P. 3 The Original Town of Arlington (continued from page 2) The John Huitt family settled in the area that is now Carrollton and with the help of negro slave Al planted corn in an open field and made a crop the first year. However, the next year the corn was ruined by buffalo and the family moved to the Cedar Springs area where a cluster of families had already settled. When Dallas County organized on July 13, 186 John Huitt was elected Sheriff. A neighbor Samuel G. Newton served as Deputy. 10 John Huitt died on January 7, 188 without a will. Martha Huitt appeared in court on January 17 and requested that she and John's brother Rowland Huitt be appointed Co-administrators of the estate, estimated to be worth $2000. Somehow, this did not happen. Instead a succession of Administrators took charge as things dragged out over about five years. The widow Martha meanwhile married Anthony Bledsoe on March 11, 189. Samuel G. Newton, succeeded on February 2, 1851 by L. L. Marshall, were appointed Guardians of minor son Thomas B. Huitt. The estate proved to be more valuable than $2000, as revealed by a series of inventories. It consisted of 150 acres of land bearing a lien to Samuel G. Newton, 58 acres that eventually went to Thomas B. Huitt, livestock, tools for blacksmithing, a variety of credits due the business that John Huitt had shared with Jefferson Tilly, and five negro slaves. Details of the lives and value of the latter are revealed by court orders permitting their services to be leased for various time periods while the estate was in probate. They were negro man Alson, skilled as a blacksmith, girl Nancy, and negro woman Lucy with two children Mary and Henry. The leases were explicit that these persons were to be treated kindly, adequately clothed during their service, and returned in good health to the Administrator at the end of the term of service. 11 The last asset of the estate to be considered was the headright earned by settlement in Peters Colony. John B. Hibbert, Administrator of the estate of John Huitt, made claim for 60 acres for the heirs on March 30, 1850, stating that John Huitt arrived previous to July 183 in the Colony with wife and children. John Neely Bryan and M. F. Fortner corroborated the statement and Thomas William Ward, Commissioner, entered the grant in his record book on April 1, The sale of the headright is shown on the same page. J. M. Crockett, "one of the administrators" of the John Huitt estate by order of the County Court, sold the headright to Middleton Tate Johnson on August 12, 1852 for $125. So Middleton Tate Johnson chose the location, on open land near his plantation. Deputy Surveyor A. J. Lee, with Chainmen Thom Johnson and Thom Hasty, surveyed Section 3, Township 1S Range 3W for this headright on January 8, The survey states that the southeast corner is marked by a stake in a mound in the prairie, thus identifying that this corner was in the blackland, while the rest was in the cross timbers. M. T. Johnson sent a letter to the GLO in Austin on April 1, 1853, specifying the accuracy of the location that we know as the John Huitt Survey. Patent No. 782, State of Texas to Heirs of John Huitt (or assigns), was signed by Governor Pease on December 8, Middleton Tate Johnson died May 15, Thereafter, the record shows that "M. T. Johnson (deceased) and wife Grantors to T&P for the Arlington Townsite Vienna Johnson, by Administrators John Peter Smith and M. J. Brinson," sold the north half of the J. Huitt section to S. S. Ramsey on November 1, 1869 by public auction on the courthouse steps for $800. Ramsey subsequently sold 150 acres of this property to W. A. Robinson on January 11, Ramsey and Robinson would sell portions of these holdings to the T & P for the townsite. 13 See adjacent map, "Grantors to T&P for the Arlington Townsite." Details of the various grantors are on page 5. (continued on page 5)

4 News from Arlington Historical Society OCT/NOV 2012 P. Members and Volunteers Appreciation Day! Sunday afternoon, November 2 to pm at the Fielder House Refreshments will be served Meet our President and Board Members See the new Interurban Wait Station Get a cartoon caricature by Board Member Gregg Hammond Annual Meeting of AHS membership Check out the just-completed Master Plan for the Fielder Property Help us with ideas for celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Fielder House in 201 Master Plan for Development of the Fielder Property In 2010, the Arlington Historical Society received a $10,000 grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation for the purpose of developing a Master Plan for restoration and repair of the Fielder House and development of the property in anticipation of the museum s 100th anniversary in 201. This Master Plan has been completed and submitted to the Tomorrow Foundation and the City (the City of Arlington is the owner of the property). The Master Plan calls for repair and restoration of the historic Fielder House as it was when it was the Fielder family home, including appropriate period furniture and fittings. It also calls for an Interpretive Center to be built on the property to serve as a welcome and orientation/education center for visiting individuals and groups, a museum of other artifacts of Arlington s history, storage of and access to Arlington archival materials, a regular meeting place for the Historical Society and other community organizations, office space for the Historical Society, and storage of artifacts not currently on display. Thanks to all who provided input into this Master Plan. These are exciting times! The Master Plan is available for inspection at the Fielder House. Author O.K. Carter says this book "is an attempt to reflect a profile of a place I've been covering... for more than three decades. It had its origins in a promise made to Arista Joyner (author of Arlington, Texas: Birthplace of the Metroplex) in the final days of her remarkable life." The price is $20.00, and a portion of the proceeds Current Special Exhibit - Bankhead Highway in Arlington At the Fielder House - NOW!

5 News from Arlington Historical Society OCT/NOV 2012 P. 5 The Original Town of Arlington (continued from page 3) Grantor(s) Date Payment Acres No/So East/West Solomon Davis Survey A. Martin V. Thomas 17 Jun 1876 $ ,90 ft 300ft a B. W. S. Thomas 3 Nov 1876 $ , b C. Thomas J. and Nov 1876 footnote c , c Julia Ann Heath D. Joseph Tolliver 27 Oct 1876 $ d E. Lewis Finger 30 Oct 1876 $ , e Heirs of John Huitt Survey F. S. S. Ramsey 27 Oct 1876 $ ,15.5 f G. William A. Robinson 17 Jun 1876 $ ,85 g,h Four of the sellers, the two Thomases, the Heaths, and Joe Tolliver took compensation in land as a part of their deals with the Railway Company. Finger, Ramsey and Robinson made straight cash sales, all at $10 per acre. Since all of them had remaining parcels immediately outside the town boundary, they could anticipate that they would have an enhanced value as well. The Railway surveyors had already marked the boundaries of the town, as evidenced in the deed by Martin V. Thomas, which did not even mention the east-west width of the tract he sold, saying that its boundary goes north with the west line of the W. S. Thomas property to the "North line of a 160 acre tract selected by said company for a Depot then west with North line of said 160 acre tract to the NorthWest corner of same, thence South with west line of said 160 acre townsite." 15 The next newsletter will contain a plat of the original Town of Arlington, 1878, noting several interesting characteristics of the plat, including the fact that there was no Abram Street!! (to be continued with the next issue of the Newsletter) Individual Lifetime Reminder!!! For members with Annual Memberships (as opposed to Lifetime), it s time to renew your membership in the Arlington Historical Society!! (the membership year runs from October through September ) Your support through your annual dues helps so much!! THANKS!! Arlington Historical Society Membership Dues Class of Membership Amount $250 once Family Lifetime $500 once Individual (annual Oct September) Family (annual Oct September) $25 per year $50 per year Membership dues are a vital part of our income for preserving and presenting Arlington s history. Annual Dues for are now payable!! Please send your check to Arlington Historical Society, 1616 W. Abram St., Arlington, TX Thanks!!

6 News from Arlington Historical Society OCT/NOV 2012 P. 6 GARDEN CLUB EVENTS The Garden Club meets at the Fielder House on the 3rd Friday each month at 10 a. m. November 16 Urban Design Center s Fielder House Landscape Plan December 21 Christmas Party at Lavine Horton s January 18, 2013 to be named February 15, 2013 Grace Darling, Arlington Conservation Council March 15, 2013 Kevin Donovan & Bob Ressl History of O.S. Gray Park April 20, 2013 Fielder Flower Festival (tentative) May 17, 2013 Julia Burgen-Monarch Butterflies OLD TIMERS SPEAKERS Old Timers meets at the Fielder House on the 3rd Thursday each month at 2 p.m. Old Timers is where long-time Arlington residents (and other speakers) tell stories (and spin yarns?) about Arlington in days past. Everyone is invited to attend these informative and entertaining sessions. Dates and speakers for the balance of this year are: October 18 Dan Dipert November 15 Carmen Elliott Gooden December 20 no meeting January 17, 2013 Bud Kennedy (Star- Telegram) February 21, 2013 Julette Hiett March 21, 2013 to be named April 18, 2013 The Ross Brothers Albert, Hugh, and Martin Thanks to Barbara Kight for coordinating this effort! Small Town Courage Arlington, Texas in WW II This is the tentative title for a new documentary being produced for the Historical Society by the UTA Film Department, Professor Mark Clive and graduate filmmaker David Nibbs. It will be released in conjunction with the dedication of the expanded WW II Memorial that will be built on the grounds of the Central Library. Interviews have already been recorded with Wanda Marshall, David and E.G. Nation, Julia Foxworth, Julette Hyden, Beverly Reynolds, and Bill Hughes. Answers to How well do you know your Arlington history? 1. True. See this issue s Story from the Arlington Archives, The Original Town of Arlington. The next issue will explain how Abram Street came to be added. 2. False. The Colt had been the mascot of Arlington High School since 1923, but they had never had a live mascot until Tommy Vandergriff presented them with a white Shetland pony in The student body sponsored a contest to name the colt, and Reba Davis Walker, class of 1953, won, with the name Little Arlie. 3. False. W. T. Waggoner built Arlington Downs in 1929, but it was not until 1933 that pari-mutuel betting in Texas was made legal.. False. W. T. Waggoner died of a stroke on December 11, 193. After the repeal of pari-mutuel laws in 1937, the property was sold to commercial developers and the racetrack was used for rodeos and other events until 1958, when the buildings were razed. 5. True. President Roosevelt believed in the back to the land movement. The president s Homestead Division Director and Public Works Administrator, envisioned the program as a means of freeing the industrial workers from the dreaded city. The Roosevelt s son Elliot became engaged to a woman from the local area in Elliot and his mother were invited to visit in the home of Elliot s friend, Carl Mosig, Ft. Worth Bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News, who lived near Arlington.. During this visit, Eleanor saw the possibilities for a homestead on the land across the street and passed her idea on to those who were investigating sites for the projects across the country. The project was launched in 193, and the community was named Dalworthington Gardens.