The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-20
THE GRANGE AGENCY.

lhc lhTHllhB coHllluhlly BchoIhilyi
and Of this county particularly, Will be
gratined 10 learn that Colonel John NJ,
Crockett, the very worthy agent Of the
state grange for purchasing agrlcultu-
raj implements machinery, etc, for
the patrons Of husbandry In this state,
has associated with him our esteemed
friend, Captain James =, Goodnight,
IN that important office. lie has also
selected Mr., Forrest lIaswell, Of Cedar
Hill, In this county, IN principal clerk
In his office. Both these appointments
are most excellent selections, and do
credit to the good Judgment Of Gov
ernor Crockett, In the choice Of those
who are 10 assist him In the manage
ment ofsuoh large aud important In
terosts M viii come under his supervl-
sion.
Governor Crockett II n gentleman Of
ability, greot energy and peculiarly
Just In his views. lie IL one Of the
Oldest citizens OF our county, having
come 10 Dallas twenty-soven years ago,
when quite II young man, In impaired
health, and with nothing but his own
industry and energy TO depend on for
the support Of himself and family.
Being man Of indomitable spirit and
perseverance, with ilrmness, prudence
and ability he pushed forward, became
n favorlte with the people generally,
and at the time of the breaking out
of the war, had attained competency.
BY the fire of 1860 he lost his resi-
dence and law library, etc, and by the
effects of the war lost all he had made.
After the war he retired to his farm, u
few miles from Dallas, where, since
that time, he has devoted himself eX-
clusively TO cultivating and improving
his home place. No man In our COM
munity has manifested such
public spirit or unsellish devo-
ton to the interests Of his fell
low-citizens. When the "Peters' colo
ny war;" as 1t was known at the time,
was at its height, he espoused the cause
of the settlers, and fought their battles
In the legislature. He was the author
of the bill that quoted their titles and
settled their claims, and we are inform
ed that In all the litigation in regard |
TO the settlers titles, he refused to take
fees against them. He represented
Dallas county in the Legislature for sew
eral years, was state commissioners for
Merctr's colony to determine the rights
OF settlers and issue them certificates.
He assisted in organizing the first Ma
sonic lodge In the county-Tanneh i'll
No. 52-and had the honor of suggest
ing the name the lodge BEARS rs tes-
tlmonial to wilkins Tannehill, who
was at that time grand master of the
grand lodge of Tennessee.
Governor Crockett was the secreta-
ry and business manager of the Dallas
County Agricultural and Mechanical
association, which was organized and
conducted with such success before the
war, and which, we believe, was the
first organization of the kind in the
state. In 1861 he was elected lieuten-
ant governor of the state, and dis
charged the duties of the Office with
acceptable ability. Subse quently he
organized company, which was To-
lated at Lancaster, in this county, for
he manufacture of small arms, at which
ome most excellent revolvers were
made. The demands of the farming (
for repairs to agricultural
machinery afterward induced him to 1
convert the factory into arepair shop {
or such machinery, and by this means,
o his enterprise, in large measure, is
iue the facilities for supplying the
,reat demand for breadstuffs in this
ection during the last years of the
var.
Captain James P. Goodnight, the
lew appointe of assistant, is also an
I'D and esteemed citizen of this
ounty. We have known him for
early twenty years, and can vouch for
lis integrity and qualifications for the
ostiOn he holds. He has been several
ines elected assessor and collector of
ne county, and always discharged his
uties faithfully and to the entire salts
lction of the people.
We have hurriedly and briefly
Setched the past life of Governor ,
rocket, and can without hesitancy
,ngratulate our grange friends in the
election of their agent and his en-