In 1854 to 1855, the Barnard settlement now having been by the removal of the Indians to their reservation, opened to the whites, received several additions, of a most substantial character. Among them were Matt and Sam Graham, brothers, who settled on George's creek and engaged in stock raising; and though within Johnson County, yet their identity with this locality, makes them of the community of which we are now treating. Matt Graham has continued to live here to the present day, but his brother has engaged in public life, having served several terms in the legislature from his county, and of late years has made his home about Cleburne. The first named has always been closely identified with and influential in the community affairs of the George's Creek country; and his counsels have been for the best interest, in opposition to lawless tendencies, in those early times, when in remote settlements like this the people were often of apparent necessity, in self-protection, tempted to administer justice and penalties, in accordance with the first principles of society. At the commencement of the Civil War, Matt Graham enlisted in Capt. Wm. Shannon's company, with Col. Nelson's regiment, afterwards under the command of Col. Roger Q. Mills, and served during the war with that distinguished regiment in many battles in which it was engaged, received severe wounds at Jonesboro and Ringgold. Mr. Graham is a man of good education for his time, and of such general information and intelligence as to be an interesting companion; and yet withal, strange to say he was never married, possibly because he was so generally admired by the ladies, that he had no heart to grieve the many by the appropriation of only one.

After the Grahams came James E. Norton, (1855) a man of influence and integrity of character. Norton, by energy and diligence, acquired considerable properties here, consisting in a large measure of lands and tenement farms, as well as stock. His family connections were large in Somervell county. He died several years ago. His children are also influential citizens of Somervell and other counties. Frank and Robt. Norton are citizens of George's creek, while King and Harrison are engaged in stock raising in some of the western counties.

Sam White, who died a few years ago at his home on George's creek, came here with two brothers in 1857, taking charge of the stock cattle and horses of Meridith Hart, who settled on the western border of the cross timbers in Johnson county, who was a most thrifty stockman, and whose son, Hon. A.J. Hart, settled on the Brazos in the southern part of Somervell county, where he has long resided a most respected and influential citizen, having twice served his district, including the counties of Hood and Somervell, in the legislature, about which more will occur in a subsequent chapter. Sam White prospered and lived a respected and honorable citizen of George's creek. He was a man of generous and friendly disposition, and in consequence, is said to have suffered much toward the latter part of his career, by reason of surety obligations. He always had many warm friends. He and his two brothers were in the Confederate service in Parsons's regiment, and the two latter died during the war.

About the same period (1856-7) Jake Reynolds settled on George's creek, but a few years later he sold out to J.L.A. Berry and moved to Buchanan, where he engaged in business for awhile; and at the breaking out of the war, enlisted in the Confederate army, his family returning to George's creek. After Mr. Reynolds' return from the service he moved to Parker county and settled on the Brazos, about Big valley. He was a man of integrity, well spoken of by his contemporaries. His son, Wm. Reynolds, who survives him, is a respected and influential merchant of Buckner, Parker county.

A.J. Berry, an uncle of J.L.A. Berry, came to this locality in 1857, in charge of the stock of cattle of the latter, and was a good citizen. So, too, at the same time came James S. Johnson, who remained a substantial citizen here until his death, in 1893. In 1859, J.L.A. Berry, having, as already stated, located a large stock of cattle here in charge of his uncle, now came with his family from his east Texas home about Nacogdoches and San Augustine. Mr. Berry had settled with his father in East Texas, when but a 14-year old boy, as early as 1838. The Berry family were from Washington county, Virginia, and Jno. L.A., and his brother, Philander, who are both respected citizens of Hood, coming to Texas at that early and turbulent period, were surrounded in their early days with many scenes of border life calculated to impress them with hard constitutions and fearless dispositions. But withal they seemed to have never lost sight of the inherent principles of integrity, inculcated by Christian parents, and hence have remained through all of their career here most honorable citizens, combating wrong, and suffering many losses in estate at the hands of a thieving class who, after the war, invaded the stock regions of the border settlements and by a handy use of the branding irons despoiled many an honest farmer and ranchman of his possessions. When J.L.A. Berry settled with his family on George's creek he brought a herd of some six hundred head of cattle to add to his stock of cattle located, of near the same number; and also brought a stock of horses. In 1862, and till 1866, Mr. Berry becoming favorably impressed with Brown county as a stock region, removed many of his cattle there, and during this period he, in connection with his military duties, as a soldier in Maj. Carmichael's battalion in frontier service, made many trips from the Brazos to Brown county, often alone, but never at any time encountered hostile Indians. Mr. Berry, however, relates many amusing incidents of these times, some of which may serve to embellish future chapters.

2000 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS HISTORICAL DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION TEAM