Tilden, Texas
|
Gracelin Howard |
Fall, 2005 |
|
U.S. History 1302 |
R. Hines, Instructor |
A story told by Mae Marquis Hoegmeyer was told to me as follows. “My
mother called me inside and as I was coming in I fell over a root and landed on
a snake. It bit me on the finger. Father was milking the cow and came running
when he heard me scream. Dad seared the bite with a hot iron, and gave me a
lump of salt pepper to swallow. Then he put salt pouches in kerosene and soaked
my finger all night. My hand swelled up to about thirteen inches around! Then
he held my hand in soapy warm water to take the swelling out. My hand healed
turned into nothing but a blister, and I was fine. I was 11 when this
happened.” Today, if something like that happened the person would be rushed to
the emergency room. Tilden has come a long way since Mae Marquis Hoegmeyer was a young girl, but
the country atmosphere still remains.
Tilden is a small town located in the McMullen County, at the
intersection of Highways 16 and 72 in the north central part of the county. The
geographical position of the county is in relation to economic and political
conditions. Tilden was located on the Texas frontier. The town was close to
water, and was crawling with wild game. Two rivers that ran water year
around traversed the town. Its soils produced plenty of grass and numerous
herds of wild cattle and mustang horses. White tail deer, Bob White, and Blue
Quail, which were and still are abundant. Hunters even now from all
over Texas to go to Tilden. John Swanson Yarbrough, N.H. Walker, John Monroe,
James Tope, Joe Walker, settled the Frio River at “Yarbrough Bend.” (McMullen
County History Book Co. 1964) These settlers were from Alabama, Georgia, and
North Carolina. During this time, the town was named the Rio Frio. It was also
called “Dog Town”.
It was given this name ”Dog Town” because there were more dogs than there
were people. Then, in 1877, the County Judge changed
the name of the town to Tilden.(McMullen County History book, pg. 102) There was a man that ran for president named
Samuel Tilden. He lost the election, and the Judge believed he lost it
unfairly, so he named the town officially after him. Before the Anglo-Americans
settled there, Indians, and Spaniards ran it. The county was first
carved out and created by the Texas Legislature in 1858. In 1805, the Spanish
government directed that a road be built from Laredo in a north -northeast
direction to San Antonio. A part of this road passed through the western part
of the country and was used by the Mexican government when it dispatched
Mexican troops to seize the Alamo during the Texas Revolutionary War. In 1862
Levi Edwards built the first general store, and shortly after he added a
saloon. About that time, the town built its first school. (Pamphlet of the
History of Tilden, co. 1985)
In 1870, Tilden had a population of about 190, and in 1871 the community
was granted a post office. In 1877, the town was officially surveyed and town
lots sold for anywhere between $25-$50 depending on
their size and location. Between 1858 and 1877 the population of the county
grew rather slowly. The ninth census of the U.S. stated that 39
families consisting of 230 persons were living within the boundaries of the
county in 1870. By 1876 the county possessed an estimated 500 inhabitants.
(Pamphlet of the history of Tilden, co. 1985)
During the 1860's and 1870's James McCall, Thomas Dickens, and Daniel Weaver established ranches in eastern Tilden. In November of 1876, 154 citizens of McMullen County petitioned the Commissioner’s court of Live Oak County to assist the organization of their county and their town. Between November 1876 and February 1877 the county government of McMullen was established and since February 1877 McMullen County has existed as an activity of local government within the state of Texas. Throughout the 1860's and 1870's circuit-riding ministers conducted religious services in Dog Town, as they called it because of all the dogs.
The first religious services in the
settlement were held in the old school building near Edward’s General Store. At
many times during the year and especially during the summer, the religious
meetings were held under large brush arbors. Dancing was the main type of entertainment
and enjoyed the residents of Tilden. Even today during the annual Tilden Rodeo,
a dance is held. Square dances that would last all night were given to
celebrate marriages and other important occasions. When a rancher held a dance,
large amounts of food were prepared and usually all the people within the
county were invited to the affair. Most people did not go see a doctor when
they were ill. Mom or dad served as a doctor.
Visitors of Tilden can still see old longhorn cattle ranches on the Graves
Peeler Ranch near Cross which is right outside of Tilden. Progress in the
mineral field can be seen by the many oil and gas wells seen all over the
county and in the town. If you are a resident of Tilden things are pretty
quiet. The only time things get loud are when you hear your neighbors yelling
out their back doors to tell the dogs to hush up. The only exciting event takes
place once a year and is the Tilden Rodeo, which is held at the end of August.
There is bull riding, food, and dancing. Families come from all over south
Texas to attend this event. You must go to the post office to get your mail,
and the only HEB or Wal-Mart is about 35 miles away. Technology is trying to
make its way in Tilden’s direction. Now the wealthier ranchers use helicopters
for their round ups rather than horses. And about 10 years ago, the town
had a sewer system installed. The rabies epidemic was rampant in the town with
the dogs, and coyotes. The solution was to drop the rabies vaccine over the
wild country via a helicopter to control the problem. Hunting, and a great
school district attract people to Tilden. People who live in Tilden either work
on a ranch in town, or drive to another town for work. It is said that few
leave the town, and few come into the town. Once you are there, you usually
stay there and raise your family. Tilden is a quit, peaceful place to live, and
the residents like it that way. Everybody knows everybody, and everyone is a
friend. The population of the town is about 460, and there are about 25,620
cattle in and surrounding Tilden. If you want peace and quiet, and lots of
friendly neighbors, then Tilden is the place to go. No one really seems to
think that the town will have any big changes come to it. Nothing has really
changed as far as prospects over the years. People who live there will always
be ranchers. People enjoy their Sunday drive to town to get their groceries.
Interview with Mr.
Dwayne Haynie
by: Gracelin Howard
For my small town project I chose Tilden, Texas. I interviewed Dwayne
Haynie of Tilden. The interview took place on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at
6:00, at his home. The interview went as follows.
Gracelin: What is your full name?
Dwayne: Dwayne Haynie.
GH: How old are you?
DH: 57
GH: Are you a resident of Tilden?
DH: yes
GH:What do you do for a living?
DH: I have been an independent contractor for 15 years, I have been an
EMT for 13 years, I worked in the oil field for 35 years, and I have been a
Baptist preacher for 15 years. I have done most of the remodeling in this town.
I helped build the cemetery, and helped build Wheelers. (Which is a general
store that has everything from hair dye to lumber.)
GH: Do you know how the town was founded?
DH: A man by the name of Walker, which is my wife’s great grandfather,
was one of the first settlers in the county. Among others were Bill Franklin,
and Green Holland. People first settled by the river, but soon learned that
when it rained, the river would flood, so they moved up farther away from the
river.
GH: Where does the towns name come from?
DH: The town’s first name was Rio Frio, it was called this for one year.
Then they changed it to “Dog Town”. Because of all the dogs, everyone had a
dog, everyone. There were more dogs than there were people. Then, in 1871, the
name was changed once again go Cofax. A man named Shuller Cofax, who was a
soldier under U.S. Grant, came through the town wearing a frock and top hat on
a stagecoach on his way from San Antonio to Laredo. Everyone thought he was
just the best thing since white bread so they re-named the town Cofax. Then, in
1877 the county judge named Samuel changed the name. A man named M. F. Low
Tilden was running for president and lost. The judge thought he should of won,
and that the other man won from fraud, so the Judge changed the name to Tilden.
GH: What is life like living here in Tilden?
DH: It is very quiet. Except when you hear people yelling at their dogs,
“Shut up Rufus!!!”During hunting season the town is pretty busy with hunters.
GH: Do you have family here?
Mrs. Haynie: Yes, I do. My mother grew up here, now she is deceased. And
my father lives in Fowlerton, which is close by. Dwayne does not.
GH: Do you know of any historical markers?
DH: There is one at the cemetery, and one at the courthouse.
GH:Why do you think people settled here?
DH: Because of the wild game. People did not grow vegetables because
there was not much rain.
GH: Can you tell me about race, technological changes, and immigration?
DH: I am not sure about in the past, Mrs. Haynie broke in, there used to
be a swimming pool, but the Mexicans wanted to swim in it and the white people
did not want to let that happen, so the filled it with dirt. There is only one
black person that lives in the town. There used to be a Mexican school down by
the river. I ran for Judge to try to change things around here, but I did not
get elected. I told the Mexicans that I would make things change, but I think
they were scared to vote for me. About 10 years ago, we got a sewer system,
before that it was just septic tanks. A while ago we had an outbreak of rabies,
so they brought helicopters in and dropped rabies vaccines that the animals eat
to try to bring down the number of animals that were getting infected. They
still have cowboy cattle roundups, but the wealthier people use helicopters.
GH: Have you seen any changes in the town?
DH: Yes, they added a new gym, track, extended classrooms. No one comes
in and no one really leaves. There are about 176 children within the school
district. There is a new Lions Club arena.
GH: Do yall have a good school district? Yes, (Mrs. Haynie works for the
school) we have track, tennis and golf, no football. We have two Katrina
victims going to school here.
GH: What attracts people to Tilden?
DH: I would have to say the good hunting and the good school district.
GH: What do people do for a living around here?
DH: Most are ranchers, work at the school, or work for the city. Some
drive to Jourdanton, and work at the hospital.
Bibliography
Carol Haynie- She is a helpful resource because her family members were
among the first settlers of the county, remembers racism through out her years
as a resident of Tilden. She is the wife of Dwayne Haynie.
Dwayne Haynie- Lived in Tilden for 30 years knows a lot about the history
of the town, experienced racism, changes, and immigration that took place in
the town.
McMullen County History Book- Composed of stories and experiences of some
of the residents of Tilden. Stories by Jane Wheeler, and Bill Franklin and
family and Mae Marquis Hoegemeyer. I am going to use a story from the book in
my paper that I will write about the town of Tilden.
Pamphlet of the history of Tilden- written by the officers and members of
the Lions Club of Tilden. Officers in 1985: President- Alan Brown, VP- Albert
Reyes, Secretary- Larry Coffman, Treasurer- James Dusek, Tail Twister- Inez
Serrata, Lion Tamer- Tao Heritage. Within this pamphlet there is information on
the history of the town, a and what life was like in 1985,what the cost of
things were.
www.Texashandbook.com. -Some information of Tilden, including population,
and a small background on the town.
Return to Small Town Research Projects Index