to Van Zandt County "Post Offices, Cities, Towns and People" by Kitty Wheeler of Grand Saline, TX Kitty Wheeler of Grand Saline spent several years researching the post offices, cities, towns and people of Van Zandt County. A portion of her work was published by the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society in "Histories and Biographies of Van Zandt County, Vol. II," which is still in print and available for purchase by sending a check or money order for $60 to the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1388, Canton, TX 75103. This volume contains a portion of her post office research plus over 500 biographies of Van Zandt County citizens. Kitty Wheeler has generously given us exclusive permission to use all or part of her 500 page original manuscript. We are beginning with only part of her entire amazing work but we will complete this site as quickly as possible.
Owlet Green Post Office Owlet Green Post Office was established 11 Nov 1879. William W. Peel was appointed the first postmaster on that date. The following gentlemen filled this position on the stated dates:, John C. Stewart, 25 Sep 1882; John H. Ross, 16 Jul 1890; Clem B. Limerick, 13 Oct 1891; William H. Richardson, 15 Nov 1899. On 30 Sep 1904, the Owlet Green post office was discontinued and moved to Garden Valley.
On the postal application filed 19 Sep 1879 and signed by William W. Peel, as the proposed postmaster, and Wentworth Manning, the Canton postmaster, the name for the proposed post office being applied for was written as _______ Marvin. The name is marked through and beside it is written Owlet Green. We have no way of knowing exactly who marked the name out and wrote in Owlet Green, but today the cemetery where many of the early citizens of Owlet Green are buried is called Marvins Chapel.
To drive through the area that was Owlet Green today, you would take Hwy. 314 south out of Van and turn west on Fm.Rd. 1995. You won't go very far until you will pass the Marvin's Chapel cemetery.
Information relating to Owlet Green heretofore has been hearsay, handed down by old timers. It was not until 1962 when Truman Tunnell, of Van, Texas, uncovered an old ledger in a trunk at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Sam Wilson, nee Birdie Tunnell, that it became possible to establish factually and accurately the scope of activity in the community of Owlet Green. The ledger was kept by the various Justices of the Peace and Notaries Public as the official record of the community.
The Justices of Peace were W.H. Richardson (1883), E.L. Shirley (1886), F.P. Lybrand (1886), John C. Rusk (1901), W.N. Black (1895), and H.C. Berry (1896). H.C. Berry made the last entry in the register on 20 Oct 1898. W. W. Peel registered some documents as notary public.
Owlet Green was a prosperous, active town. It had general merchandise stores, drug stores, cotton gins, three churches, physician, carpenters, saw mill, grist mill, syrup mill, machinist, two blacksmiths, and a saloon.
Richardson and Payne were the principal cotton and animal buyers in the community and Joshua Hallman was a lender of money back in the days when the Texas Almanac reported that the people of Van Zandt County dealt mostly in cash because they did not believe in banks.
In the records of the Van Zandt County Abstract Company, it is found that W.H. Rose gave the land on which the Marvin's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South was located. F. P. Lybrand donated land for the Baptist Church in Owlet Green, and R. R. Goode gave the land for the Owlet Green School.
James Addison Clark, born in South Carolina 20 Apr 1830, and educated in Alabama, moved to Freestone County, Texas in 1851 and in 1860 came to Van Zandt County. He settled on land near what was to become Owlet Green and described it as a most complete paradise. The large timber was beautiful with no underbrush, the open lands rich with grass half side deep to the cattle and horses, game abundant and the streams filled with fish.
During the Christmas season of 1885, a group of people had the pleasure of attending a Christmas dinner, given at the residence of Mr. Swindall. After dinner the old people amused themselves by engaging in conversation, while the young folks kept time to some splendid music made by Mr. Baker and Mr. Jackson. The guests continued to enjoy themselves until about 6 o'clock, when supper was announced, and all partook freely of Mr. Swindall's hospitality. After supper dancing was resumed and continued until 9, when the company returned to their homes, fully satisfied that they would not have enjoyed themselves better had they attended a ball given by Mr. Vanderbilt.
At that time, the country around Owlet Green was fast settling up with enterprising citizens.
One morning around 2 o'clock in June, 1886, the town of Owlet Green was aroused by the alarm of fire. The fire originated in the rear of Payne and Stewart's store house. Losses were suffered by them, A.C. Henderson, F.P. Lybrand, M.A. James and J.L. Lybrand. It was believed to be the work of an incendiary, as the house of Payne and Stewart was broken open. The thief entered through the window, it was believed, and robbed the house before setting fire to it. No clues were immediately found but, needless to say, a diligent search was made to find the culprit.
The spring of 1886 saw a most successful term held at the Owlet Green school. Professor Craft's fourth term that year began with 13 students and at closing had 65. It was reported that he had done a splendid job.
In September of 1887, it was reported that the corn crop was very good, but that cotton was not as good. The thought was that 400 of 500 pounds to the acre would be the average yield.
The big mill and gin at that time was at work with Smith and Jackson the proprietors.
There was talk in the community of them soon getting the 'Air Line' and the Texas and St. Louis Railroad. Some felt quite certain that it would come their way.
In the summer of 1900 the farmers were pleased for the corn and cotton crops looked promising. Peaches, apples, plums and blackberries were plentiful around Owlet Green that summer.
The citizens were sad to see Mr. Stone, their druggist, sell out his stock of drugs to move to Garden Valley, but were looking forward to doing business with C.G. Wagner, who bought him out.All were quite concerned for Dr. Goods, who after being confined to his bed for five months had to have his leg amputated. After the amputation his condition began to improve rapidly and all hoped he would soon be up and about.
Mr. M.A. James was working away at his brick kiln. He already had about twenty-thousand bricks made.
On a Saturday night in the latter part of July there was a musical held at Dick Richardson's house. All that attended reported to have had a nice time and are looking forward to a repeat of the occasion. Tom Jackson, one of the successful business men of Owlet Green reported that his machinery was in top running order and he was ready for sawing at the mill.
On a Thursday evening in November of 1904 a visit was made to Owlet Green by a representative of the Wills Point Chronicle, and as he entered the store of Mr. James, he found a crowd of seven citizens, three from Van and three of Owlet Green. One of the gentlemen was Philip Copeland, a successful colored farmer of the vicinity. Also, on his visit he found two mercantile establishments, one conducted by Mr. James and the other by W.H. Richardson. The post office was in the store of the latter.
He found Tom Jackson in charge of the gin and wished him well for Mr. Jackson was considered an old friend and indeed a most worthy man.
Owlet Green did not mushroom into a full-grown city overnight. Nor did it disappear suddenly. First, a few families pulled away as did a business or two. This trend continued until finally in the 1940s the last one closed his shop and moved. The land that once was occupied by the businesses and the town lots now is in pasture, with a chunk of concrete protruding among the grass as a ghostly reminder of the long ago.
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