A History of Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, 1836-1936

by Mrs. Arch McKay; Mrs. H. A. Spellings

JEFFERSON AS A MANUFACTURING DISTRICT

But great as our city is as a commercial center she will yet develop other and more important interests, and that too within a limited period of time for it has been demonstrated to the entire satisfaction of all capitalists, who have given their attention to the matter that there is not in the whole south a district which combines so many advantages for manufacturing on an intensive scale, such an endless variety of articles as the city under consideration & the country immediately surrounds it. In support of this statement let us descend to particulars:

There is, for instance, within the immediate neighborhood of our city more iron ore than can be consumed in centuries, and this ore is richer than any other yet known in the United States. Six miles from the center of Jefferson are iron hills towering above the surrounding country which alone will yield an inexhaustible supply of ore and, this ore is richer and more easily worked than that found in Missouri’s famous “Iron Mountain.” But the whole country contains more or less ore of this character, and here, where the raw material is so abundant, and water and fuel for steam purposes so readily procured, and transportation by railroads and by water so accessible, there can be erected furnaces, forges and foundries that would successfully compete with any now in existence in this country. Already the largest iron foundry in this state is in operation four miles from the city, and two miles this side of the iron hills of which we have spoken; and this foundry—G.A. Kelly’s at Kellyville is manufacturing on an extensive scale cooking stoves and heating stoves that are unsurpassed by any imported to this market, either in beauty and finish or in quality, and the plow manufactured by this establishment is pronounced by all those who are using it—and a large number are now in use—to be equal in all respects to the Hall and Speer or Avery plow, and much more durable by reason of the superior quality of our iron. Such is the demand for the products of this foundry the owner is now seeking to increase his manufacturing facilities by organizing a joint Stock Company, with a capital of $200,000, as nothing short of this amount will enable him to fill his orders in the future.

Again 20 miles from this city, and adjacent to the route of the East Line and Red River Railway, we come to a vein of copper ore, impregnated with both gold and silver. This ore in the hands of the assayer has been found to be very pure, quite as much as any in the South, not excepting that from the Wichita country. The supply is by no means limited. In fact its limits have not as yet been ascertained. In that vicinity, also, as well as in many other sections within striking distance of this city by rail as soon as the projected roads are completed, there is a great abundance of cannel coal of a fine quality. Manufacturers will comprehend at a glance the significance of this fact, and know how to appreciate it. That there is coal enough of this character for all local manufacturing purposes there is no doubt.

No section of country that can be named offers a better quality or a greater variety of timber for building and manufacturing purposes than that in the immediate vicinity of the City of Jefferson. For building we have, in the greatest abundance, the very best of pine, black-walnut, gum, white-oak and cypress; for manufacturing, we have not only the above named but also hickory, cedar, Bois d’arc, etc. The quality of our pine and oak is unsurpassed North or South and at the Mills as good a quality of black-walnut as one could desire can be had in any quantity for $2.00 per hundred feet; contrast that with the prices paid in the North, and West and the advantage we possess will be appreciated, For the manufacture of wagons we have an unlimited supply of hickory. Bois d’arc and white oak within striking distance and for wooden ware we have all the oak, cedar and cypress we need.

Going west, along the line of the Texas and Pacific Railway, we soon come to those immense prairies, whose settlers must rely, during our day at least, on other sections for their building materials, wagon materials, furniture and wooden ware, and everything else which requires timber in its construction. Right here, then at this end of that great thoroughfare, we should and must manufacture ready-fitted timbers for building, including shingles, sash doors, and blinds and every other article needed in the construction of houses as well as furniture and wooden ware for the same. We say ready-fitted timbers because these can be prepared by machinery, like sash doors and blinds, in a better manner and at much less expense than on prairies, and the purchaser will then only pay the freight on what he actually uses. That is he will not be taxed for freight on waste materials.

This brings us to the natural conclusion that here, where, the materials are in their native state, should be the manufactories. That is here should be the saw mills, the planing mills, the shingle machines, machinery for the manufacture of ready made houses, furniture, wagon and wooden ware manufactories, etc. Besides, here too, where we have the iron and the white oak and the hickory we should manufacture every kind of agricultural implement our State requires. There is no earthly reason why we should import these—why others in their manufacture should falter at our expense. We have all the requisites, all the essentials right here at home; let us avail ourselves of them.

Then again, why are our hides sent abroad to be tanned and then returned to us at our expense while our forests in this vicinity at least, abound, in red oak bark? Can any one assign one good and valid reason why this is done? Have we not room for tanyards? If so, let us construct them and exhibit our good sense in tanning our hides at home, and then instead of paying Massachusetts and other States for manufacturing our boots and shoes let us do this ourselves. When we learn to act instead of employing others to act for us, then, and not till then will we become independent.

Here, too, we should without delay erect Cotton and Woolen Mills, Cotton Seed oil mills, Cotton gin and Cotton press manufactories, where nothing is required but capital, labor and enterprise.

There is no reason why a broom, or a harness, or saddle, or a horse-collar, or a carriage of any description, or a pump or a chair, or a barrel, or a single article of furniture should be imported into Texas. We, therefore, invite capitalists at home and abroad to unite their means with ours and assist us in manufacturing what we have enumerated and other necessities of life. We have the locality for doing this in a preeminent degree, & hence the invitation is here extended.

In this connection we should invite the special attention of boat-builders to the fact that at Potter’s Point on Fairy Lake—or “Ferry Lake,” as it is sometimes called—15 miles from this city is one of the most desirable places in the South for a Dock-yard. In that vicinity there is an abundance of white oak and other suitable timber for the construction of Steamboats, and right here all the necessary machinery could be manufactured, and forwarded by water navigation to that point. In the construction of boats on the shore of that lake there would be no loss of time by reason of the severity of the weather not even during the winter time, as in yards further North. Our climate would greatly favor such an enterprise in that locality.

The above suggestions are offered for the consideration of capitalists everywhere; and we would add that there is a disposition among our people to extend a hearty welcome to all who assist us in developing our natural resources. Lands for manufacturing purposes can here be had in healthy localities for a reasonable consideration, and the privilege of mining can here be had for nothing by way of encouragement to capitalists. Our section is as healthy as any in the wide world,—no epidemic ever prevailed here—and those who desire to make their home in our midst will find this section as pleasant as any in the State, and the society one in which strangers would soon feel at home.

Before closing we would remark that the Legislature of this State during the winter of 1871, passed an act exempting from taxation of all kinds, for a period of five years, all machinery introduced into the State for the manufacture of cotton and wool, and that act is still in force; also that during the same session—see General Laws of Texas, of 12th Legislature, 2nd Session, Chapter lxxx,—a general incorporation act was passed. During this session a special act was also passed and approved Dec. 2nd, 1871, incorporating the “Texas Manufacturing Company.” Four of the incorporators were and three still are inhabitants of this city. Here also is the headquarters of this company.

Any further information Capitalists or Manufacturers may desire respecting this locality will be cheerfully furnished by the undersigned.

Respectfully Yours,

L. T. GRAY, Mayor of Jefferson City. A. G. CLOPTON, M. D., President Chamber of Commerce. CAPT. J. M. DeWARE, Chief of Police, Jefferson. MASON & CAMPBELL, Lawyers. MOSELEY & SPARKS, Attorneys and Land Agents. CRAWFORD & CRAWFORD, Attorneys at Law. EPPERSON & MAXEY, Attorneys at Law. PENN & TODD, Lawyers. M. F. MOORE, Attorney at Law. REEVES & WORD, Attorneys at Law. THOMAS J. HUDSON, Attorney at Law. R. DeJERNETT, Physician and Surgeon. L. S. RAYFIELD, Physician and Surgeon. G. H. WOOTTEN, Physician. S. EASON, Physician and Surgeon. A. P. BROWN, Physician and Surgeon. A. A. TERHUNE, Physician and Surgeon. NATIONAL BANK, W. M. Harrison, President. CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, W. Q. Bateman, President Jno. M. Lewis, Cashier. JAMES ARBUCKLE & CO., Bankers. J. A. NORSWORTHY & COX, Bankers. ERASTUS JONES, Banker. GRAHAM & TAYLOR, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. GOYNE, HARPER & MURPHY, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. A. GILHAM, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. MIDDLEBROOKS & WALL, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. A. C. ALLEN, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchant. RUSSELL, RAINEY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. ELLIS BAGBY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. BATEMAN & BRO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. BOGEL & RIDDLE, Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. NORWOOD & SCOTT, Commission Merchants. S. FRANKLE, Commission Merchant. BELL & ROBINSON, Commission Merchants, and Real Estate Agents. TORRANS & RIVES, Commission Merchants and Cotton Buyers. B. J. TERRY, Cotton Factor. WAYLAND & WHATLEY, Wholesale Grocers. JG FELLNER, JR., Wholesale Grocer. COLLINS, EPPERSON & EZELL, Wholesale Grocers. T. J. ROGERS, Wholesale Grocer. BARNS & ELLINGTON, Wholesale Grocers. F. ROBINSON, Wholesale Grocer. F. C. BAKER, Wholesale Grocer. JNO. A. FIELDER, Grocer and Importer of Fancy Goods. J. M. MURPHY, Grocer and General Merchandise. O. C. HERRENKIND, Retail Grocer. NANCE & MODRALL, Retail Grocers. E. MARX, General Merchandise, Wholesale. P. ELDRIDGE & BRO., General Merchandise. MOORING & LYON, General Merchandise. K. MEYER, General Merchandise. BIRGE, NICKOLS & CO., Dry Goods, Wholesale. JAMES HOBAN, Dry Goods. F. A. SCHLUTER & SON, Dry Goods, Staple and Fancy. SIMS & NORRIS, Dry Goods. S. W. STONE, Hardware Merchant. JOHN C. KOLTER & CO., Hardware Merchants. R. BALLAUF & CO., Hardware Merchants. BONEY & BROOKS, Druggist, Wholesale and Retail. E. W. TAYLOR, Druggist and Bookseller. W. J. SEDBERRY, Druggist and Bookseller. BRADFORD, BRIDGE & CO., Furniture and Carriages. J. BRUCKMULLER, Furniture Dealer. W. H. WYMAN, Furniture Manufacturer and Dealer. RUFUS MUSE & CO., Wholesale Dealer in Liquors, Tobacco and Cigars. TAYLOR & PINSON, Agricultural Implements and Machinery. R. MAN WARING, Real Estate Owner. DOPPLEMAYER & EBERSTADT, Real Estate Owners. NEY & BRO., Real Estate Owners. V. H. CLAIRBORNE, Real Estate Owner. WARD TAYLOR, Real Estate Owner. W. C. BAKER, Real Estate Owner. L. MOODY, Real Estate Owner. R. TOWERS, Property Owner. T. G. ANDERSON, General Insurance Agent. COTTON BROS., General Insurance Agents. FRANK O. SETH, General Agent, Universal Life Insurance Company. GILBERT & CO., Agents for Capitalists and Manufacturers. J. A. H. HOSACK, Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker. W. H. JOHNSON, District Clerk and Notary Public. W. E. KNEELAND, Notary Public. EDWARD GUTHERIDGE, Deputy District Clerk and Notary Public. J. OPPENHEIMER, Recorder and Collector of City of Jefferson. S. A. THOMPSON, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer and Dealer. LAWRENCE & REATON, Crockery, China and Glassware. J. H. CARLIN, Merchant Tailor. HUGO FOX, Manufacturer of Candies. J. B. TULLIS, Surgeon Dentist. ADAM STOLL, Butcher. G. A. KELLY, Proprietor Kelly’s Foundry. MORRIS, McKEOWN & CO., Proprietors of Foundry and Machine Manufactory. E. W. MORTEN, Proprietor “National Cotton Compress.” TRICE STEWART & CO., Proprietors Jefferson Planing Mill. J. B. LIGON, Building Contractor. CRUMP & HUNSUCKER, Builders. C. F. L. SMITY, Civil and Mechanical Engineer. J. M. TUCKER, Alderman. GEO. W. ROBERTS, Supt. Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. CAPT. W. H. COIT, Principal Coit’s Military and Commercial Academy. ROOTS & HYNSON, Railroad Contractors. JEFFERSON DEMOCRAT, Miller, McEachern and Alexander Proprietors, J. B. McEachern Editor. “JEFFERSON TIMES,” R. W. Loughery, Editor and Proprietor. J. C. ROGERS & CO., Printers, Lithographers, Wholesale and Retail Books, Stationery, Blank Books, etc.