Franklin Country History Association Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 4, July & August 2008
Click the "FCHA Calendar" tab to the left to find the Calendar of FCHA Meetings. Late in the year the list of meetings and events grows short, as we await the approval of a list for the coming year. We invite you to visit the local newspaper's excellent community calendar at the following URL:
Please show your support to the Franklin County Historical Association and the preservation of our county by joining and paying your dues. We are promoting and sustaining an attitude of pride within the community.
See the "How to Join" tab to the left for the form to use in renewing your membership or in becoming a member for the first time. Dues for the year 2008 are past due! Send payment to the FCHA at P. O. Box 289, Mt. Vernon, TX 75457. Following are the categories of membership:
Individual $15
Family $25
Patron $50
Sponsor $100
Along with the general meeting notice, and a letter from the FCHA president, on this page you will find the following regular
and special items from the newsletter:
New Items:
Mozelle Ramsay Retrospective Exhibition
Special Gifts to the FCHA
Also, you will see some excerpts from earlier editions:
FCHA Receives Historic Cookbook
Order a Special Gift: Sweet Heritage Cookbook
Musings, by B. F. Hicks
Geocaching "Better Than Botox"
Finally, at the bottom of this page, there will be letters from historians requesting information:
World War II Scrapbooks and Other Information
Information on Civil War Veterans of Franklin and Titus Counties
Next General Meeting
September 8, Monday, 7:00 Pm
Program: Folk Lore, presented by Lillie Bush Reves
Hosts: Lillie Bush Reves, Jean Pamplin, Bill & Nancy Miller, and Norm & Carol Horn
Location: Tall Tree Clubhouse - Covered-Dish Meal
Note: hosts assist in the setup and cleanup, and furnish the bread, drinks, paper plates, napkins, cups, and plastic flatware.
Mozelle Ramsay Retrospective Exhibition
An opening reception was held on Friday, June 20, in the Old Fire Station Museum showcasing the Mozelle Ramsay Retrospective Exhibit. The event, sponsored by the Franklin County Historical Association and the First National Bank of Mt. Vernon, is comprised of 50 of Mozelle's artwork, including oil, watercolor and china painting. If you missed the opening reception, be sure and visit the museum on Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. The exhibit will be on display through September.
Mozelle Ramsay, artist, teacher, club president, service club member, community volunteer, and mother of four was also the wife of Rotary Charter Member Landon Ramsay. Early in the marriage, discovering a creative side of herself, she took art lessons to learn the technique of oil and watercolor painting. She later took up china painting as well. As a result, for 66 years she produced artistic works with her gifted hands. The artwork in this exhibit covers several mediums; oils, watercolors, pastels and china painting. Mozelle, although well known for her florals, was widely acclaimed for her portraits and still life. Her china painted pitchers, frames, bowls, platters, etc. rest on many shelves and tables. These items alone have been spread around Texas and beyond.
Her oils and watercolors are yet another story. This work has been exhibited in area shows, winning various awards, including first place. Many of her paintings hang in private and commercial collections around Mount Vernon. First National Bank, Harvey Funeral Home, and First Baptist Church display her artwork, to name a few. She was chosen to paint the backdrop for the baptistery of the Denton Baptist Church, an honor of which she was most proud. One of her famous bluebonnet paintings has been purchased for the private collection of a Tokyo businessman.
Taking time to inspire others, Mozelle taught classes in art which brought her much pleasure. She was actively involved in the Art Association of Mt. Vernon and served as its president. She was an inspiration to all in her love of art and conveyed that by her longtime dedication to the proliferation of art in our area. Mozelle was also a member of the Coterie Club, Shakespeare Club, PTA and faithful member of the First Baptist Church where she taught a children's Sunday school class as well as an adult class.
Mozelle was a true optimist; always self-confident things would come out for the best. She lived that credo. It is Romans 8:28 that was incorporated into her life. "All things work together for good to those who love God."
Although Mozelle's contribution to the art world and community was great, they are pint-sized to what she felt was a greater monument of achievement. The art classes and her artwork, were produced in her home, the real center of her existence. She spent far fewer hours on her art than she did in providing for her family's needs. She devoted her life to building a home for her family. Using grit and determination, along with a strong will, she reared two boys and two girls. All four children praise her for her dedication, love and strength.
Special Gifts to the FCHA
In Memory of Billy Harper by
John & Mary Hicks
Gerald & Elease Hubbell
Stephen & Patsy Wright
JeanAnn Marshall & Rena Asimakis
Libby & Ron Milton
John & Elizabeth Cook
B. F. Hicks
Frankie Cooper & Ken Greer
In Memory of Ady Mowery by
Libby & Ron Milton
In Memory of Ralph Robertson, Sr., by
Frankie Cooper & Ken Greer
In Memory of Joe Averitt by
Frankie Cooper & Ken Greer
In Honor of Sid Hicks (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of Lou McCorkle (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Dave Crawford (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of Marilyn Kohls (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of Jan Bland (Happy Birthday) by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Charles O. Massey by
B. F. Hicks
In Honor of B. F. Hicks (Happy Birthday) by
J. D. & Iris Baumgardner
FCHA Receives Historic Cookbook
A copy of the MARECHAL NEIL COOK BOOK has been sent to our organization by Dr. Shirley Brooks Laseter, granddaughter of Albeit E. Brooks, who operated the A. E. Brooks Dry Goods Store in Mt. Vernon in the early 19O0s. Dr. Laseter's father was Morton Palmer Brooks (1909-2001), her mother is Edna Cargile, who lives near her daughter in Prattville, Alabama. Morton Brooks was best man at the wedding of Tom Wilkinson's parents. The cookbook, named after a very popular flour of the day, is a ''Collection of Valuable Recipes Furnished by the Ladies of Mt. Vernon, and Published by the Ladies Aid Society of the Central. Christian Church of Mt. Vernon, Texas.'' Price for the publication was $.75. Here are a few excerpts:
''One-Two-Three Pie Crust'': 1 cup sifted Marechal Neil Flour, 2 tablespoons of lard rubbed
wet: into the flour, a pinch of salt and 3 tablespoons of cold water. Mix well and roll quite
thin.
''Maryland Beaten Biscuit No. 2”: 1 lb flour, 4 ounces Card, a pinch of salt. Sift into bread
basin, add salt and Card; mix these together. Then add enough cold water to make stiff
dough. Beat on biscuit board with a hatchet for half an hour or run through food chopper 3 or 4 times. Bake in hot oven until nicety browned. This quantity should be 18 small biscuits. - Miss Kate Crowder
''Toast Water'': 1 cup stale bread toasted, 1 cup boiling water, salt. Cut bread in thin slices
and in inch squares, dry thoroughly in oven until crisp and a delicate brown. Break into
crumbs, add water and let stand 1 hour, strain through cheese cloth, season and serve hot or cold. Valuable in cases of fever or extreme nausea.
Order a Special Gift
Sweet Heritage is the Franklin County Historical Associations unique collection of dessert recipes from days gone by, including biographies of contributors. To obtain one for yourself or to purchase a Christmas gift for someone special in your life, send $14 tc The Association office at P.O. Box 289, Mt. Vernon 75457 or call 903-537-4760. Here is one of the many signature recipes:
Exerdine Clampitt Elliott's Colonial Holiday Ring
1 C butte1" 1 C sugar 4 eggs 4 C sifted flour 1 tsp soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 1 /2 C buttermilk 1 T grated orange rind 1 C chopped pecans 1 8-oz pkg chopped dates
Glaze: 1 C orange juice 2 C sugar 2 tsp grated orange rind
Cream sugar and butter. Beat eggs; add to creamed mixture and beat all. Sift together flour, soda and salt. Add to cream mixture, alternating with butternlilk. Add orange rind, dates and pecans. Pour into greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 325 for 90 minutes or until done. While cake is still hot and before removing from pan, punch many holes all the way through with an ice pick or skewer. Dissolve sugar and orange juice in small saucepan over low fire. Do not boil. Add orange rind and pour hot glaze over cake. Let glaze drip into holes in cake. If cake has not pulled away from sides, loosen with knife so that some of the glaze runs down the sides and center of cake.
Let cake stand overnight in pan.
Musings, by B. F. Hicks
If you haven’t picked up some of our brochures lately, stop by the museum or e-mail our webmaster and we’ll mail you some brochures. The maps brochure we published is given out to school groups as an educational tool on a regular basis.
A recent article regarding the El Camino Real was really telling: The article pointed out that in 1991 the State had tried to determine the route for the King’s Highway from San Antonio to Nacogdoches. That there were five main routes: all used at various times for various purposes. The travel variables of the day included the flow level of a particular river on a particular day and what Indians were in what area at a certain time and what kind of mood they were in on that day. Clay Coppedge says that “Tracing the exact route of Texas’ first road is daunting because, even in its heyday, much of the trail was more of a suggestion of a road than an actual road; and it was more than one road.”
For us: The Cherokee Trace through Franklin County is well documented; deeds recorded in Franklin County as late as 1936 reference land titles measured back from the east and west sides of the Cherokee Trace and there is not much doubt that the main route lies clearly back into Franklin County. However, the early route for the road also probably meandered up along a high water crossing during wet seasons a half mile to the east; and the pioneers buried their dead at the Tranquil Cemetery where the Protestant Methodists were worshipping in February 1841 before the April 1841 massacre of the Ripley family.
Our “Maps and Trails” brochure gives an introduction to the early settlement patterns for this region. We exist because we are on the trail leading into Texas; the “gateway” into Texas for the colonists. In fact, not too long after the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson was already sending scouts to check out this very area which is now Franklin County (1806).
Contrary to the sign at the City Cemetery, no one was buried in Mt. Vernon in 1800, several generations of pioneers were already buried in this county before the cemetery was established but we’re proud of it. (Note that we see a very different City Cemetery today since the wrought iron Victorian fencing was removed during the scrap-metal drives of World War II.)
Geocaching "Better than Botox"
If you have not become involved in the new world-wide craze, now is your chance to get started. We have a cache hidden on the grounds of Dupree Park. You can locate it by tracking a GPS. Lots of people have GPS readers. They get out and walk and locate the cache, sign a logbook, take a small "treasure," and move on. * It is a promotional effort for us to get people off the Interstate and into Mt. Vernon and Franklin County. The name of our cache is "Better Than Botox, " and it includes as treasures cups with that logo and pens from local businesses. * If anyone in our membership is interested insetting up another cache, it could only help further our efforts. We could probably hide a small cache on the depot grounds and at the West End Preserve. BF Hicks will take care of registration if anyone wants to volunteer to monitor a chache (checking in every couple of weeks to make sure all is in order.) * Locate our information on the internet at: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7cb16324-c26a -4b0a-8078-fd690e019a0d
Request for World War II Scrapbooks and Other Information
If you have scrapbooks that could be copied to send in with any other information on your experiences of World War II, note the place for contact:
Lara Newcomer, Historian
Ecological Communications Corporation
4009 Banister Lane #300
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 329-0031
(512) 329-0012 fax
lnewcomer@ecommcorporation.com
She is working with William McWhorter and the Texas Historical Commission on the Texas in World War II statewide initiative,
compiling a list of World War II related sites and a database of resources associated with those sites. We did send some information:
1. Regarding sites, we told her that the Draft Board Office and Recruitment Center were located together in an office on the second floor of the Franklin County Courthouse and that there is a World War II monument on the Plaza in downtown Mt. Vernon. It is a granite memorial about three feet high, four feet wide, and two feet across. On one wide it has the names of the women who comprised the Memorial Committee of Mt. Vernon Civic League; perhaps these were widows of men who served or died in the war. On the other side is the inscription: DEDICATED TO EVERY SOLDIER, SAILOR & MARINE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR.
2. We told her, too, that the Franklin County Historical Association has an archive room at the Fire Station Museum, located
at 111 S. Kaufman St., in downtown Mt. Vernon. The museum is open Tuesday and Thursday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. (or call for an
appointment at another time). There we have microfilm of the World War II editions of the local newspaper, The Optic Herald.
We have for display (not up at this moment, but in storage) an original, laminated issue from 1943 with photos of all the men
and women serving in the armed forces at that time and information them. Also, at the Association’s offices in the Parchman
House, located at 701 S. Kaufman St., in downtown Mt. Vernon, Secretary Jean Smith maintains a list of all accessions
specifically related to World War II. We have do have either in storage or on display a variety of photos, personal papers,
uniforms, clothing, and memorabilia.
Contact information for the association is as follows:
P. O. Box 289
Mt. Vernon, TX 75457
903-537-4760 (or try 903-537-2027 and 903-537-7012)
www.fcha-online.org
Request for Information on Civil War Veterans of Franklin and Titus Counties
If you can share information about ancestors who fought in the Civil War, contact Ms. Carolyn Ericson Her contact information is as follows:
1614 Redbud St.
Nacogdoches, TX 75965-2936
kissinkuzzins@suddenlink.net
Those of you that want to read more about the local Civil War involvement should note that The Franklin County Genealogical
Society has the following:
Civil War Veterans Of Titus And Franklin Counties, by Traylor Russell, has been reprinted by and is available from the
society. This book actually consists of two volumes reproduced by local genealogy society with permission of the Russell
family and bound together in one volume. It is a treasure trove of information. Reading this book is an extensive study and
an adventure with the late Mt. Pleasant attorney and story-teller. It is available for $40 at their office, or for $43
including shipping.
The society has another book by an author whose last name is Jurney; the title is History of Titus County 1846-1960. The
cost is only $20 at the society’s office; or add $3 for shipping, for a total of $23, to have it mailed.
Contact information is as follows:
P O Box 1563
Mt. Vernon, TX 75457
903-537-3931
www.mt-vernon.com/~skelly
fcgensoc@mt-vernon.com