Family Photos: The Courthouse in Seymour

I saw a picture of the old courthouse being demolished on the Baylor County Museum Facebook page.  My grandfather worked in the courthouse as he served two terms as the tax assessor. However, he worked in the courthouse before the remodel and the addition of the rounded dome. To see the courthouse prior to the dome click here.

Below is a picture of my grandfather (on the right) working in the courthouse and this article published in the Baylor County Banner on June 9, 1911 describes the typewriter.  

Tax assessor, R. E. Bryan has purchased a long carriage Oliver typewriter at a cost of $160. He says that not more than seven or eight assessors in the state make our their tax rolls on a typewriter and Baylor will be right in the foremost rank.

The following article describing the new and improved courthouse was in the August 2, 1917 issue of the Baylor County Banner.

The New Courthouse, Cut Shows How the Baylor County 

Temple of Justice Looks After Finished

After more delay than was seemingly, a photograph has been secured and a cut made of the courthouse after recent repairs have been made upon it.  The photo was made by Downing and Waller and the Banner has them to thank for the picture from which this cut was made. It was taken from the northeast corner and is a good likeness.

It would be hard to give a complete description of just what changes have been made in the courthouse. The building had stood for 30 years with practically no repair and much of it was badly in need of attention.  Especially necessary was some work on the tower and it was there that the most apparent change was made. The old tower, as it has been known for so many years was torn down and replaced with a dome.  This gives a more modern and substantial appearance to the structure. The dome is painted a copper color and is set off with a flag pole from which Old Glory is want to wave.

The total repair bill for the carpenter and tine work, painting and plumbing was about $10,000.  Graham and White had the contact for the carpenter work. G. D. Peak for the painting, while a Wichita firm had the plumbing contract. The carpenter work included putting down cross grain flooring in the court rooms and in all of the offices. Then there was a complete change in the district court room.  The judge’s stand and the jury box are now on the south side. On the west side are several rows of opera chairs for the jury venire.  On the east side there are 12 comfortable swivel chairs for those who are accepted as jurors.  Close to their box is a door that leads to the jury room.  This is provided with comfortable beds, reading tables, toilet, etc. which makes life seem less like the jail bird variety to those who are called to serve their country as administrators of justice. 

The new district court room has very little resemblance to the old one.  It is seated with heavy opera chairs which are comfortable and durable.  It has a spacious balcony seated the same way.  The room will provide for as large a crowd as will usually congregate there.

This auditorium is bordered with a very handsome oak finish panel.  The rail and all other finishings are such as will do honor to the country when seen by many visitors from elsewhere to district court. The judges table and platform, the witness box, the attorneys’ tables and chairs, etc., are handsome and substantial to a satisfactory degree.  The pretty metal ceiling, the ornamental electric lights, the inclined floor, etc., complete an effect such as would be desired in a temple of justice for a county of this importance. 

The whole building received an overhauling.  New window sills were put in, metal ceiling replaces wood ceiling in the halls.  All woodwork received new paint and the walls new calcimine. Instead of a water cooler, water is now received through a bubbling fountain in one of the main hallways.  The fountain is connected with a lead coil in a large ice box, which keeps the water fine in summer time.  The lower halls are lighted from a handsome light fixture, Mr. C. D. McKeehan being the lighting artist. 

A brick toilet room has also been erected on the grounds south of the courthouse for the use of county officials and the general public.  It is connected with the sewer main. 

These courthouse repairs put this building in good shape for a number of years.  In fact, it will likely be a long time before the need is felt for an entirely new building.  

From the Baylor County Banner, August 2, 1917

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: Automotive Businesses

According to a June 1941 issue of the Borger Herald, the Ferndale Motor Company was in Borger, Texas at 7th and Weatherly. Dad and his sisters lived in Borger, Texas after the death of their father in 1929. Dad's sister, DeRay, was a teacher in Borger. 

This was probably taken in Borger, Texas (but could have been Seymour). I remember my father telling me that he thought one of the men was Jimmy Dudley. Should have written that down as I don't remember which one. 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: Unknown People and Places

This woman has the same facial features as my great-grandmother, Harriet Albritton Bryan.  However, I believe that this may be one of her daughters. The building may be a clue. Anyone recognize this building? Baylor County? Erath County? Dallas? Coke County? 

New construction -  This looks like a church. Where was this?  My family lived in Erath County (Stephenville and Bethel), Baylor County (Levelview and Seymour), and Borger in Hutchinson County. 

Does anyone recognize this building? Is it a school? Is it in Seymour or Borger? I remember Dad saying that he thought this person was a coach. 

This picture is not very clear, but whatever she is standing in front of appears to be very flimsy. What is this building? My family's suggestions were an outhouse or a shed. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: Two children and a big house.

I have always liked this picture. There is no identification on the picture. However, I will only find clues by posting it and hoping that another Bryan or Hairston descendant has the same or a similar picture labeled with the children’s names.  There is a good possibility that it was taken in Baylor County, Texas where my grandparents lived in Seymour and Levelview.  I like the big house in the background and wonder if it is recognized by someone reading this in Baylor County.  So, if you are a Bryan or Hairston descendant and have any pictures that you would like to compare, I would love to hear from you.  By the same token, if you are familiar with homes in Baylor County and think that this could be a Baylor County picture, I would also like to hear from you.  If you don’t want to post to the blog, you can send me an e-mail at dewquinn@aol.com.

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: The House in Seymour – Part III

The House in Seymour

My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was born in Seymour, Texas on December 21, 1920.  His birth announcement was found in the Baylor County Banner and, as I wrote previously, he was probably born in this house.

Whit and his mother, Myrtie Hairston Bryan 1921

I like to look at details in photographs to determine location and time. Often, these details tell more information about my family and the places that they lived. These baby pictures of my father were probably taken in Seymour, Texas and all appear to be at the same location; presumably revealing the home of a neighbor.  

Whit Criswell Bryan

  

Whit Criswell Bryan

The Bryan family lived on River Street and, according to the 1920 census, neighbors included the families of Charles T. Porter, S. G. Farmer, Mrs. G. W. E. Arden, and David D. Phillips.

Also included on that census sheet were the families of Galen D. Plants  and  M. D. Lankford, but no streets were named.  The W. F. Hooser and Willy Stevens families nearby lived on Arkansas Street. 

The following pictures are of family members next to the house. The siding and windows in the picture match those of earlier pictures.  My grandmother passed away in 1927 and information from a distant cousin leads me to believe that the family was living in the home at her time of death. 

Myrtie and Redic E. Bryan before 1927

Hairston "Buster" Albritton Bryan and Whit Criswell Bryan about 1925 or 1926

My grandfather served two terms as the county tax assessor and according to his obituary, was once a large land owner in Baylor County. However, he died penniless in 1929 and I suppose that he lost the house to foreclosure. 

I would appreciate any thoughts from those who live in or know about Baylor County.  I would love to know who purchased the house and if it is still standing.  A look at street view map of North River Road showed some homes that resembled the Bryan family home.

You can post your comments to the blog or send me an e-mail at dewquinn@aol.com.

Other Baylor County Resources:

I have five pages of unidentified pictures on my web pages; many taken in Baylor County.  Click below to see my pictures of unidentified family and friends. 

Obituaries, deaths, and more from old issues of The Baylor County Banner are on my web pages. If the family name is mentioned on my pages, send me an e-mail to request the entire article. 

Next: Family Pictures:  Houses and Other Buildings

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: The House in Seymour – Part II

The House in Seymour

In 2001, I visited Seymour, Texas and found houses with similar roof lines and remnants of similar porches. Although I considered this house unique, I learned that the style was not unique at that time.  Looking at Latchstrings, A Cross-Section of Baylor County Homes published in 1986 by the Baylor County Historical Society, I saw even more houses of the same style.

According to the following articles found in the Baylor County Banner, my grandfather bought the land in 1917. About the same time, he purchased a home to be moved to his property from Mr. W. A. Bennett.  

The Baylor County Banner
September 13, 1917 

The Baylor County Banner
September 27, 1917

The home that he purchased could have very likely been the residence of W. A. Bennett seen below. The picture was found while transcribing old issues of the Baylor County Banner and appears to have been taken in 1906. 

The Baylor County Banner 1906

If you have any thoughts about this house, you can post your comments to the blog or  send me an e-mail at dewquinn@aol.com

Next - The House in Seymour   Part III 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: The House in Seymour – Part I

The Bible contained all sorts of treasures; newspaper clippings, photos, certificates, a lock of hair, fabric from my grandmother’s wedding dress, and a picture of this house.

The House in Seymour, Texas

In the late 1990s, I asked my father about the house. He was certain that he lived in it when he was much younger. He remembered sitting on the front porch while trying to open his father’s pocket watch. He couldn't open it, so broke it open with a hammer. This watch had been passed down from his grandfather. When his father saw it, he chased Dad off of the porch . . . said his sisters saved him.

This was enough to convince me that the house was a Bryan family home in Seymour, Texas and probably the home where Dad was born. The tall man on the porch may be my grandfather, Redic Eli Bryan.  The following pictures are of Dad as a baby and Buster, Dad's older brother; both taken next to the house.  

My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, 1921

Hairston "Buster" Albritton Bryan

According to 1920 census records, the house was on River Street and near Arkansas Street.  The Amon Carter Museum website has a birds-eye-view of Seymour in 1890. River Street was beside the Brazos River and was parallel to Arkansas Street. 

I will post more about the house in the next two posts. If readers familiar with my family or with Seymour have any information about the house, please post your comments to the blog or send me an e-mail at dewquinn@aol.com.

Next - The House in Seymour  Part II

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: Seymour, Texas Part – II

My grandparents, great-grandparents, two infant children, and my father’s older brother are buried in Woodmen / IOOF cemetery.  I have visited once, but don’t remember much more than the sign on the fence and my grandmother’s headstone – the only family member with a marked grave.

This cemetery picture was found in pictures that once belonged to my father’s parents and his sisters. Is this a picture of the Woodmen/IOOF cemetery or another in or near Seymour?  Does anyone recognize this tower?

Below is a picture that might have been taken at the base of the tower. 

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Next - Family Photos: The House in Seymour

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Family Photos: Seymour, Texas - Part I

This picture is one of the many pictures sent to me by my cousin, Jackie (see Forgotten Family Part I). According to the note written on the back, DeRay Bryan is in the front (middle) and her sister Marie is sitting on her right. Millard Ray Latta is the tall girl in the back. DeRay and Marie were my father’s sisters. Millard Ray was his first cousin.

I suspect that the picture was taken between 1912 to 1916. The family attended First Baptist Church and lived in Seymour for most of that period. Can anyone identify the other girls?

I decided to compare the girls to those in the W.O.W Women posted on my blog July 8, 2011 and then realized that the windows and curtains were the same in both pictures. Was this someone’s home? There is recognizable wallpaper in the above picture.  Does anyone have similar pictures? 


Diana

Next:  Family Photographs: Seymour, Texas - Part II

© 2011, copyright Diana Quinn

Create Portraits of Your Ancestors with Probate Inventories – Part II

Probate Inventory for John Giddens – 1802 

John Giddens was my 4^th great-grandfather (great-great-great-great-grandfather).  He was the father of my 3^rd great-father, Mitchell Giddens, and was the grandfather of my great-great-grandfather, George L. Giddens, of North Carolina.

John Giddens died, in Wayne County, NC,  sometime before November 1802; the first date found in his probate record.  The probate went on for years; however, his possessions were inventoried and sold within a month or two. John had at least 1,000 acres of land. I have always assumed that he was a farmer. According to early census records, John Giddens did not own slaves. 

In Probate Inventories: A Window to Your Ancestor’s World, Patricia Law suggests to carefully study tools and farm implements, look for items related to occupations and items out of the ordinary.  This inventory has items that relate to several occupations.  John had a large amount of livestock, some farm tools, shoemaker and hatter tools, a trumpet, some books, and a good variety of household items.  

Was he a farmer?  Was he well off? He must have been comfortable. John Giddens had a wife and eight children when he died.  This accounts for the 10 pewter plates, 11 earthen plates, and 12 spoons.  I don’t know his occupation; however, if I were to guess, I would think that John Giddens might have been a dairy farmer and/or pig farmer.  Look at his inventory below. What do you think?

Inventory of the Estate of John Giddens Deed taken the 12th of Nov. 1802

1000 Acres land	2 qt bottles.  5 jugs.  2 chest
8 head of horses	1 table 7 chairs
23 head of Cattle	9 cider barrels
116 head  of   hogs	11 kegs 2 old hogheads
17 head of  sheep	3 pair cards
4 feather beds & furniture	1 loom, 3 old barrels
some loose feathers	2 slip & harness
3 iron pots	2 smoothing irons
1 iron   kettle	1 pot trammel 1 griddle
1 copper tea kettle	3 augers  3 chisels
1 frying pan  1 skillet	2 handsaws  1 drawing knife
2 pewter dishes	2 tubs    1 pole   2 Riggins
3 pewter Basins	2 decanters      4 tin cups
10 pewter plates	1 meal sifter     1 wheat riddle
12 pewter  spoons	1 shot gun   1 churn
11 earthen plates	11 gimlets 1pr c_______
1 Doz tea cups & saucers	1 iron square  1 candle stick
1 tin coffee pot	1 pair steel yards, steel trap
1 lantern	1 hone     1 Razor    10 books
1 grater	1 iron ladle  2 tumblers
1 trumpet	1 small desk    2 ink stands
3 wool wheels	1 case Knifes & forks
2 linen wheels	1 pair shears    1 pr scissors
1   hackle	1 pair chest hinges
1 wheat sieve	1 do  iron wedges    1 Fraw
3 bar plows	2 Scythes & cradles
11 hooks	1 carrying knife    1 curry comb
5 grubing hoes	6 Bells   1 tray   3 bridles
6 weeding hoes	2 foils   1 cowhide
2 hammers    1 cart	1 womans saddle
1 grind stone	80 barrels corn   20 bushels wheat
1 Set of hatter implements	20 bushels potes
1 set shoe makers tools	3 pair plough gier
2 cans and bottles	2 cooper’s adze
5 axes  2 hatchets
3 bolts_______
2 sides leather
10 geese  7 ducks
1 note av James Solly for two hundred  ___  pork
1 note for £3. 6 1 note vs Wm Broadhurst for £1 1 note vs Tho Brown 5 pence 1 note vs Christopher Brown 10                                                                          pence 1 note vs Ann Reeves 10 pence 1 note vs Mary Moore £2.4.6 1 note vs Henry Hobian 1.15 1 note vs John Reeves 10 60 dollars in Cash 3 pewter tankards 1 ___________ 1 Slate 2 ____ ladders 2 plains 2 jointers Some fodder

Resources: 

Probate Inventories: A Window to Your Ancestor’s World – Patricia Law Hatcher, CG, FASG

Next - Family Pictures

Diana

© 2011, copyright Diana Quinn