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.
Barren Ridge Post Office Barren Ridge Post Officewas established 29 Jan 1850, with James Bundy appointed as postmaster. On 10 Feb 1857, the Barren Ridge post office was discontinued. On 1 Jun 1857 the post office was re-established with Chesley P. Parker serving as postmaster. The post office was closed, never to be reopened 10 Oct 1857.
Barren Ridge was located on the 640 acre farm that belonged to Mr. Bundy. The farm is about two miles southeast of Edgewood. James Bundy also served as County Commissioner in 1850 and in December of that year was appointed by the court to build a courthouse in the town of Canton, the new County Seat. He and his son, David T. Bundy, built the courthouse and it was accepted by the court 11 Feb 1851.
James Bundy was born 1799 in Jackson County Georgia. On 12 Feb 1822, in Wilson County Tennessee, he married Rebecca Collier Williford, daughter of James and Susan D. Cheatham Williford. Twelve children were born to this union.
Rebecca Bundy died 19 Sep 1845. On 27 Jan 1847,, James married Nancy Donnell.
In 1848, the Bundy family set out to make the long journey from Tennessee to Texas. The family faced tragedy on this trip, along the way, two of the children drowned. The youngest of these twelve children, Sarah Caroline Bundy Smith, born 1 Feb 1844, was only four years old when she made this journey. They arrived in Van Zandt County in March 1848.
Mr. Bundy owned considerable land in Van Zandt. On 26 Sep 1851, Governor P.H. Bell granted 640 acres to James Bundy and on 25 Sep 1854, Mr. Bundy paid A. Julius Kauffman $320 for 640 acres.
When Sarah was about twelve years old her father died. This must have been the reason the post office closed 10 Feb 1857. Sarah Bundy Smith was known for her caring for the sick and afflicted, so much so that it was said her health was injured from the exposure to the elements as she traveled about the community bringing comfort and aid to the ones she watched over. Sarah died 25 Sep 1915.
Until April 1852, the people in the Canton area had to travel the eight miles to Barren Ridge to get their mail. The post office sat on a high ridge of land on the old Dallas-Shreveport Road. Presently, this is where V.Z.C. Rd. #3109 and #3117 intersect. The log cabin where the post office was also served as a stage station, a place of rest for the weary travelers as they made their way across the county.
Being situated on the west bank of Crooked Creek, Barren Ridge was located in Precinct 4 of the Dallas-Shreveport Road. This began on the east bank of Crooked Creek and continued west to the edge of the prairie. A. B. Myric was appointed by the Commissioners Court in 1860 as overseer of that precinct with the following assigned to assist him in maintaining that section of the road; John A. James, J.M. James, H.B. Cartwright, J.B. Smith, David Cartwright, W.H. Bundy, J.A. Oneal and in the words of the court, "all others who belong to said road.", Precinct 3 that ended at the east bank of Crooked Creek, continued eastward to the three mile post west of Jordans Saline. J.R. Johnson was appointed overseer with hands to "wit", J.W. Blair, Samuel Nolen, C.P. Parker (Barren Ridge postmaster), E. Kuykendall, Marvin Smith, Hamilton Smith, W. Michel, Jonathan Pearce, John C. Pearce, and Andrew Smith. These men represent some of the families that lived in the Barren Ridge area.
Driving along this old road now, one can't help but notice all the young timber and scrub brush. There is one large tree on the east bank of Gilodon Creek between Wills Point and Edgewood that could be considered an old tree. Further east on the old road one can see large, old timber, but most of the timber was cut for market in this area. The recollection of an early settler described it as heavily wooded with an abundance of deer, turkey, prairie chicken, raccoons, and partridges. Also, there were bear, wolves, otters, panthers, catamounts and Mexican lions. Most of the buffalo and the Indians had gone further west. There were even some mustang ponies and a few wild cattle and hogs. The creeks were bordered heavily with cane. Wild grapes and muskedines grew among the many variety of trees. Polk Salat, wild rye, oats and barley and buffalo grass grew with abundance.
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