CHAPTER IV.

PIONEERS. [Continued.]

The valleys of Fall, Walnut, Rucker and Long creeks, on the east of the river, as early as 1852-3, began to be settled, and among these early comers were Robert Crockett and his mother, Elizabeth Crockett, widow and son of the illustrious Davy Crockett. A few years after her settlement, the widow died and her remains were put to rest at Acton cemetery. Robert Crockett lived many years a quiet and useful citizen, having for several terms held the office of County Commissioner. He was a veteran of the war of Independence. The Crockett posterity help to swell the population of Hood County, and among them are many useful and influential citizens.

R.S. Proffett, now residing at Center Mills, on the northern boundary of Hood, a man of sterling worth, whose influence for good in all the past, has been no small factor in elevating the general character of the people of this section, the late John R. Sykes, another most excellent citizen, Malachi and Absolem Gregory, and Joseph and Charles Baker, just over in Parker, the Huffstettler's, Alex McCreary, and a great many others, quite worthy of note, began to people this section east of the river from and after 1852.

Hulltown, on the prairie about three miles to the east of Acton, was a settlement by a family of Hulls, and on Fall creek the Ledbetter's. Probably among the first to settle about the present site of Acton were W.L. Rippetoe, --- Vannoy, Geo. Smart, Hiram Steel, Allison family and Peter James.

Lower down the river, at quite an early date, were the Abbeys, and Wm. Herndon, who gave their respective names to the valleys they settled; and across to the west side of the river, Wylie Long, a typical frontiers-man, perpetuated his name in Long valley, and up Squaw creek was Wm. McDonald, whose posterity are generally distributed in this locality; one of his daughters being the accomplished wife of Jeff Rylee, whose father, Y.J. Rylee, too, was an early comer. "Uncle Jack" Edwards, who lived a few miles below Granbury, on the east side of the river, a well known "old timer", contributed largely to Hood's population. Many of his children have gone west and are good citizens. One daughter, Mrs. J. K. Harriss, resides on Strouds creek.

About the site now occupied by Granbury, "Uncle Tommy" Lambert settled, about 1854, and gave name to the spring branch which flows through town, being among the first to venture west of the Brazos. He had a large family, and for many years his home in the early days of Granbury, was the principal stopping place for travelers and other boarders. He, together with J.F. & J. Nutt, donated the site of 40 acres for the original town. Those of his children still surviving are mostly in the western counties, but David Lambert still knows how to make farming in Hood pay.

Amon Bond, Wm. Gafford and Austin Yates crossed the Brazos and settled on its western banks about the same year, 1854. The first named settling with his large family at the place known as Stockton, formed the nucleous of a settlement, which, subsequently uniting with that of Thomas Lambert, near by, constituted the chief influence in the location of the county site. Among Amon Bond's children, who settled around him with their families, were Mrs. R.G. Peters, recently deceased, Mrs. Austin Yates, Mrs. Pleas Gafford, now living near Lipan, Mrs. Maxwell, now in Jones county, Henry Bond, in Nolan county, Mrs. Margaret Wright, now a citizen of Granbury, and surviving widow of the late Capt. A.J. Wright, and Mrs. Wm. Chambers, long deceased.

Wm. Gafford, the father of Pleas Gafford, came with P. Thorp to Thorp Spring; and Austin Yates, above mentioned, settled first at Dr. Watson's horse ranche, now the farm of J.A. Formwalt. A few years later he moved down and opened a small farm on Lambert branch, on that fertile spot east of Granbury, now within the truck farm of C.L. Edwards. In subsequent years he moved to where Maj. W.A. Duke now lives, and with the aid of his good wife opened to the hungry and tired public the "Yates House", a noted institution of the early days of Granbury.

Dr. Watson, whose stock ranche was first located as above stated, subsequently settled at the foot of Comanche Peak, where he and his good wife lived for many years highly respected citizens, and having no children, died at an infirm old age, and in poverty, having been in the days of his strength, a man in affluent circumstances. This aged pair of pious people cast the influence of their high moral character among their associates of early days, by many of whom still living they will yet be remembered.

P.V. Rhea, a yet living octogenarian specimen of the hardy frontiersman, endowed with a robust constitution and doubly fortified by an active out door life, and the occupation which he followed; first attuned his hammer and anvil to the song of industry, west of the Brazos, a few miles below his present site at the mouth of Rough creek, about the same date. (1855.) He has always been a sturdy, upright citizen; has reared a large family, one of his sons has long been an influential citizen of Stephens county; another, Tom Rhea, assuming the father's calling and profiting by his instructions and experience, became one of the best blacksmiths and a most worthy citizen of Granbury, where he died a few years ago deeply lamented by family and neighbors.

2000 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS HISTORICAL DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION TEAM