Wilmer, Dallas County, Texas

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(Updated June 14, 2004)

1891
TROUT IN HIS OLD HAUNTS.

________

HE VISITS THE HOME OF FAR-
MER MALONE AGAIN.

_______

And the Farmer Seizes His Shot-
gun -- Trout Escapes -- Oth-
er Newsy Notes.

Special to the Times-Herald.
     W
ILMER, Tex., May 13.--The Almighty has blessed this community once more by sending a nice shower. It has rained little all day and is raining yet, and if it don't turn into a flood, it will benefit this neighborhood untold dollars.
     Mr. W. H. Hilton's youngest son is very much better and his entire recovery is looked for without fear.
     The notorious Hugh Trout, that figured so heavily in the Tarrant county courts for running away with Farmer Malone's wife and marrying her, is reported in the neighborhood again. The story your correspondent heard is as follows: Farmer Malone, while working in his cotton field yesterday, saw a man walking towards him on the opposite side of the fence, but did not pay much attention to who he was till quite close, when Malone looked up and the man was beckoning to him to come over where he was. As soon as Farmer Malone was close enough to see the strange in the face, he recognized the gentleman to be the notorious Trout. Farmer Malone started for his gun and Trout after him, but Mrs. Malone got between Mr. Malone and Trout to prevent her husband shooting Trout. A scuffle ensued between Mr. Malone and his wife, and during the scuffle, Malone was thrown down and Trout disappeared in the bushes. Mr. Malone started in pursuit of Trout after regaining his feet, but could not capture him. However, he is on the look-out for him, and should he turn up, there might be ____ for breakfast.
B. M. _____by and wife, of East Tennessee, are visiting friends and relatives here. The T
IMES-HERALD wishes them a pleasant stay while here.
     Capt. W.___ Orr, our worthy county commissioner from this precinct, informs his constituents that the petition for a public road, commencing at Wilmer and running due north to where it intersects the Hutchins and Dallas road, was passed to-day besides several other important road bills. As soon as this road is opened, it will make a direct dirt road from this place to Dallas, thus saving four or five miles of travel. Mr. Orr is ever on the alert to serve his people, and well he serves them, too.
     Mr. W. P. White claims the finest one hundred acres of wheat in this county.

- May 13, 1891, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 4, col. 3.
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1892
City Notes.

     A. W. Atkinson, who lives near Wilmer, in this county, had $37 stolen from him night before last in the Planters' wagon yard in this city. Another gentleman, whose name could not be learned, had $10 stolen from him at the same time.

- May 27, 1892, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 4, col. 5.
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1893
A DAY IN THE COURTS
Commissioners' Court.

     Commissioners E. M. Halsell and W. A. Orr were placed on a committee to make all necessary arrangements to elevate the bridge across the Trinity river on the Wilmer and Seagoville road, providing that the Trinity River Navigation Company shall demonstrate that boats can be run, and that they do run boats, on said river.

- February 15, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 1, col. 2.
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A NARROW ESCAPE.
_______

Col. F. J. Watters Falls Into the River
at the Wilmer Bridge.

WILMER, Tex., May 18, 1893.

To the Times-Herald:
     On the 16th inst., while O. D. Couch was raising the Wilmer bridge, which the Trinity Navigation Company cut through, the bent on the east side of the river gave way and the main span over the river was precipitated into the swollen stream. Col. S. J. Watters of the Wilmer neighborhood was standing on the east side of the bridge and went down with it in thirty feet of water. A falling timber struck the old gentleman on top of the head, cutting a gash to the bone four inches in length, and bruising him internally. He clambered on to the floating timbers, however, and save himself from a watery grave. After he and another man had floated down the surging stream for about a quarter of a mile, the drift was stopped by a tree and they managed to throw a plank into the fork of a tree and Mr. Watters got on to the tree, but before his companion could get on, the raft went on down and the other gentleman, after riding on some distance, got tired of such foolishness and lit off into the plunging waters, and swam ashore. Mr. Couch had his men to make a temporary bridge to Mr. Watters' tree and carried him to land. They were on the east bank and had to send two miles for a skiff to cross over. Mr. W. reached his home about 12 o'clock at night, Dr. Fallen sewed up his wound and he is now doing well. His faithful dog, Jake, stuck to him through all his trials and [came] out safe. Mr. Watters is 70 years old, and was very fortunate to come through alive, for he could not swim.
     The loss of the bridge to the county will be about $850. W. A. O
RR.

- May 18, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 1, col. 2.
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THE COURTS.
Commissioners' Court.

     The commissioners court will meet to-morrow and discuss the feasibility of putting in a draw in the bridge below Wilmer, recently dislocated by coming in contact with the steamer Harvey.

- May 19, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 1, col. 3.
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TRINITY DAMS
______

Workmen Rushing the Construction Be-
low Wilmer.

     J. Roll Johnson, of Seagoville, is in the city to-day. Speaking of the Trinity navigation, he said: "Workmen are clearing out the bed of the river between Wilmer and the head of Bois d'Arc Island. Next week, they will begin on the dam just at the head of the Island. The old dam, the first one constructed, which gave way during the recent rise, has been repaired and is stronger than ever."
     Speaking of crops, Mr. Johnson said: "In our section of the state, we have been blessed with the finest crops for years. The problem that confronts the farmer now, is this sufficient funds to move the crops? The outlook is unfavorable for those who have not the money to either move their crops or hold them for better prices"

- August 14, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 8, col. 2.
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1895
Added March 20, 2004:
THIEVES ESCAPE.
______

Sheriff Cabell Makes an Ineffectual
Drag For Horse Thieves.

     Sheriff Cabell and Deputies Ledbetter and Bolick, who went to Wilmer yesterday, in response to a telegram from Mr. Dowdy, who said he had some horse thieves surrounded in the river bottom, returned last night, empty handed.
     The thieves, two in number, with a stolen horse and mule, managed to get away before the officers arrived.

- January 16, 1895, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 1, col. 1.
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Added May 6, 2004:
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.
Trust Deeds.

     J. W. Johnson to F. M. White, January 19, 1895, lot in the town of Wilmer, $400.

- April 19, 1895, Dallas Daily Times Herald, p. 6, col. 5.
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1896
Added June 14, 2004:
FOR LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN

TO CORRESPONDENTS -- When writing letters to Big Hat's department for publication, write on one side of the paper only. Printers never turn their copy, and the editor has no time to rewrite half, or even part, of your letters. Give your full name and address. Anonymous letters are never printed. These rules are imperative.

EDNA WATTERS, Wilmer, Tex. -- Good evening, Mr. Big Hat and cousins: As I have never written to your paper I will now make my first attempt. I go to school and study fourth reader, history, arithmetic, language, geography and spelling. I have two sisters, one older and one younger than myself. I love to read the cousins' letters.

LULA WATTERS, Wilmer, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: As I have never written to your valuable paper I will now make my first attempt. I enjoy reading the cousins' letters very much, that are so interesting. I am going to school and like my teacher. I study Texas history, algebra, grammar, physiology, geography, United States history, spelling and arithmetic. I have two sisters, but no brothers.

ALICE O. STOKES, Wilmer, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: I will write you a letter. I am 8 years old and can not write very well. I am going to Ten-mile creek. We live on a high hill on the north of the creek and can see little mountains on the other side. We have a pretty place. I have a little black cat. Her name is Bobby. She is very gentle. Brother Frank (he is my big bud at home) has a black mare. Her name is Bottle[?]. Oh, she is so pretty and gentle. Sis and I can hitch her to the buggy and mamma can drive her anywhere. Frank and his cousin went on a camp hunt in Trinity bottom and killed fourteen squirrels. He loves to hunt and some times he catches o'possums. I do not like them. Their tails are too slick. I reckon the hair all froze off their tails. Frank kills lots of Mollie cotton-tail rabbits. Mr. Big Hat, come down and I will pop you some corn.

- January 12, 1896, The Dallas Morning News, p. 14, col. 4-7.
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