A Half Century Ago

D O Hufstedler, of Tolar, Texas, formerly a resident of this section, has read with interest the reminiscences of the old timers appearing in this paper recently and has a few of his own to bring forward. He says:

“When Uncle Bob Hamil came out here after the remains of former Gov Drew, I was with him about two hours and what we talked about was a-plenty. It was a great treat to me. He said he would know my ashes. He is the first man I bought goods from after I went to housekeeping.

I was raised 9 miles west of Pocahontas, a mile and a quarter from the John Carter Mill on Elevenpoint. I want to name some of the old settlers around there whom I knew well. Mr Elder was a great bookkeeper, Uncle Will Waddle, John Black, Rufe Black, Dave Black, Jacob Schoonover, Lewis & Jake Hanover, Levi Heckt, Joe Fisher, Joe Robertson, Lawyer Dick Brown, the Wells’, Hamp McIlroy, Hamlet Allcorn, Lewis Dalton- I knew them all. The old man who peddled milk was Jerry Roberts. I was raised with Pat Crenshaw, and the last time I was with him, he was talking of our boyhood days, how we killed fish with our bow and arrows. I well remember one time we were at the mill together and the Federals came and took Pat’s hat and gave him a straw one. He tore it up right before them. Pat was a fine man and I hated to hear of his death.

I want to go back to my boyhood days. The first school I ever went to was taught by Eli Hufstedler at Old Union. I was 5 years old 71 years ago, and the place still goes by the same name. I have some loved ones buried there.

Mr Lewis wrote a few weeks ago that he saw Brainard and Turpin hung. I too saw that event, but I think it was 1869 instead of 1876. I never want to see any more hangings. When they started to the gallows I rode behind the wagon by the side of Big Ike Reece. The condemned men were setting on their coffins, Brainard laughing and talking as if he had started to a picnic. When the sheriff went to put the rope around his neck, Brainard took it and said: “Put the knot under my ear for I have helped hang lots of men.” Lute Imboden knocked out the trigger. It was a very serious sight. Ben Turpin’s sisters on the gallows weeping on their brothers neck.

I am glad that Pocahontas has no more open saloons. I have seen one of the old doctors back in that time stand at the bar and cry for whiskey like a baby crying for its mothers breast. I hope that evil is gone never to return."

Published 29 Feb 1924, Pocahontas Star Herald