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.
Introduction to "Post Offices, Cities, Towns and People" of Van Zandt County, Texas by Kitty Wheeler In a conversation with a relative, while doing family research, the statement was made, "When I was a little girl we lived near Index, Texas, and I remember as a little girl going into the store there with my father and there was a post office there." I asked her what part of Texas it was in. To my surprise she answered, "Van Zandt County." She went on to tell me of its location in the county.
This aroused my curiosity. After unsuccessful telephone calls to post offices in Canton and Dallas. I finally talked with a gentleman in the Dallas Library. He was kind enough to pull the Postal Handbook of Texas and answered my question, "Yes, there was an Index, Texas and the post office existed between 1901 to 1905." Still curious, I asked him if there were others. "Lady," he said, "you don't want to pay the long distance charges for me to read them to you over the phone."
Visiting the library shortly thereafter, I discovered not only how many towns we have had in Van Zandt County, but the dates the post offices existed and the names of all the postmasters.
After searching through the local history books, I discovered that many of the towns had never been mentioned. The quest was on, leading me on various trails, some most rewarding, some disappointing, but also many very exciting revelations. To mention a few, the location of each of the 62 towns in Van Zandt County, the Canton-Anderson's Ferry Road, the Crockett's Bluff Road, several toll bridges, and the area that was Van Zandt County from 1848-1850. Some of the events I found interesting; a raid by the Texas Rangers, two ladies with two children put off a train in the Sabine River bottom in the middle of the night, various gun fights, one that caught a County Judge by surprise, enlightening descriptions of some of the towns and the people that lived there, and oh yes, even a wife murdered by her husband who was a magistrate.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my husband Howard Wheeler, who has been a constant source of encouragement and help during the many months of research, compiling, and writing this manuscript.
The Library of Congress in Washington d.C. has been tremendous help in furnishing film and other materials used to document this work. Maps and other documents were obtained from the archives in Austin, Texas. Copies of the film from old newspapers dating back to the early days of Van Zandt County were obtained from the Genealogy Library in Dallas. Film of Van Zandt County newspapers in the Library of Genealogy & Local History in Canton were also used.
As you, the readers, take the journey through these pages, you may find an ancestor listed, an event that strikes a chord in your memory, or just learn more about Van Zandt County.
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This page last updated 16 August 2006Van Zandt County Genealogical Research Group Website
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