CHAPTER XX.

Pioneers of Acton Country Continued-James Halford-The Crockett and Patton Families-Calvin Goodlett-Isaac Nolan-Dillard Brothers.

About the year 1853 James Halford, a Baptist preacher of note, settled on Rucker's creek. He died here about 1863, leaving his widow, who was a daughter of David Crockett, and a number of children. All of the Halford children are now dead, except Graves, who still resides on Rucker's creek. Davis Harp, a grandson, lives on Bear creek, in Tarrant County. One of the daughters of the widow Halford, by a former marriage with Kimbrew, was the first wife of Joe F. Kerr. At the time of the settlement of Halford, Mrs. Elizabeth Crockett and her sons, Geo. Patton and Robt. Crockett, a son of David Crockett, also settled on the David Crockett survey of land and the 320 acre survey granted by the state to the widow Crockett. Geo. Patton being a son of the widow Crockett by a former marriage. He died some ten years ago and two of his sons, J.C. and L.W., are living; the first in Hill County and the latter in Hood County. He had three other sons slain, while gallantly defending their country during the civil war. The death of the widow and son of David Crockett were observed in a former chapter. These several families, so nearly related by blood and marriage to that conspicuous character, have followed humble careers in Hood county, yet have largely contributed in their combined influence and activity to her affairs and prosperity. A grandson of David Crockett, Ashley W. Crockett, has long been the sole proprietor and editor of the Granbury Graphic, the regular successor of the old "Vidette," the first newspaper ever published in Hood county; he having begun his career with that paper when a small boy in the capacity of the printer's devil.

Among the men of good influence in the community of which we are now writing is Calvin Goodlett, who was settled early in the fifties at his present place, known pretty generally as the Elm Grove, between Rucker's and Long creeks. He has for several years been kept closely about his home by reason of his advanced age, his habits generally being that of a quiet man, seldom seen far from his farm.

Among the industries of early date, we find that Isaac Nolan had a blacksmith shop at his place just in the timber several miles to the northward from Acton on a branch of Rucker's creek, which has ever since retained his name. His shop was probably established as early as 1854, and no doubt a much needed institution in those days. Nolan subsequently moved to the vicinity of Caddo, Johnson county, and then on Ash creek in Parker county, but has long been dead.

John Dillard, who died in March, 1895, at his home on the east side of the Brazos above Thorp Spring, and his brother, who was a Methodist preacher, were both men of intelligence and greatly respected by neighbors and acquaintances because of their usefulness and quiet lives of unostentatious kindness to all with whom they came in contact. The settlement of the first was on Nolan River, and the latter between Walnut and Fall creeks, as early as about 1855. The preacher died shortly after the war period. John Dillard, in 1872, removed from Nolan to the Brazos place, where he continued till his recent death. He and his good companion, dying about the same time, were buried in the same grave. They left several children, who are also greatly respected as honorable and useful citizens. I take the liberty to quote from a recently published sketch of John Dillard by "R.C." the following:

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