The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31
DOWN SOUTH IN DIXIE.
How One Of the Principal Towns Of Texas
Was Built.
The FOUNDER OF DALLAS CITY.
Tho Character of the Country Around tho
Metropolis OF Northern Texas-Other
Selections OF Interest.

MIR. S. @. Worsham, one Of the pioneers OF
Northern Texas, contributes the following in
tcresting account of the origin and early days
OF the city of Dallas to the Dallas News:
At the time Of our arrival in Dallas there
was one newspaper. the Dallas Herald, in
operation, published by Lattimer d Swim
dells; one hotel (Crutchfelds). one black
smith shop. one saloon and two or three dry
goods stores. The first school taught IN
Dallas was under the conduct of Professor A.
2. Grover, and was situated north of Dallas.
Here the writer of this article spent his first
school days under the tutelage of this distin-
guished educator. Colonel Bryan. out of his
own means betrayed the expenses of this
teacher from his home in Connecticut as an
inducement for him TO cast his lot in the
wilds of Texas
The little loq-cabin that be and Alex.
Cockrell erected when they first came TO
Dallas was still standing when our family set
tied there. Pieces Of the old ferry-boat they
used in trading with the Indians were still TO
be seen, and old Tuba, the dog that saved
his life from the wounded buck. was still liv
ing, but in his dotage. The colonel kept him
alive by feeding him on mush. The old log
courthouse, somewhat 10 the right of the old
square, was built the year before we came, as
was also the log jail. southeast of town. L:
G. Hawpe was sheriff then. There was but
one drug store in Dallas in 1862. which was
more q museum Of tarantulas, centipedes,
snakes, &c. than drug establishment. This
was owned by Samuel b. and Charles IL;
Pryor graduates from some medical school
North. who were induced by Colonel Bryan
liberality to locate in Dallas and practice
medicine.
At that time the country about Dallas
! 4 & 1oe ,-ffNtt
especially rattesnakes, centipedes and alllgaa-
tors, quantities of whose hides were secured,
stuffed and sent North TO incredulous
friends. They extracted the fangs Of huge
rattlesnakes and had them coiled up on their
counters and shelves-for mousetraps. Idle
boys never molested anything on their coun-
tiers nor lounged much about their doors.
Colonel Bryan had growing crop on what
is now part Of the square. He had corn.
peas, pumpkins Irish potatoes sweet pota-
toes and a great variety of garden vege-
tables, with which he was very liberal to
tho immigrants who settled about town.
Everything we used outside of garden truck
had to be hauled from Shreveport, La.,
and during the winter months 1t was
grand bog the entire distance. but no one
ever saw finer teams Of oxen than Colonel
Bryan and Alex. Cockrell put on the road
TO make these trips. Coffee transported this
way sold for 10 cents, sugar Ia cents, bacon
cents. During scarcity OF provisions one
year Colonel Bryan had three or four invoices
brought out and sold to the people on credit:
He took hides in the fall in payment and
transported them 10 Shreveport. We had
pony mail once week to Mckinney, Bonham
and Nacogdoches Sometimes the rider would
be detained two weeks and you crn imagine
what there was in the Dallas Herald's COL
umns.
never knew but one Of Colonel Bryan's
children (John) He was large enough to
wea knee breeches when | formed his ac-
1uaintance. He was an intellectual child at
that time, but had O natural fondness for
popping whips and using the WAGNER 8 YER
nacnlar, i'll all of which his parents INDUCED
him. He was the first white child born IN
Dallas. and of course was the pet Of all the
reckless cowmen and whgoncrs OF that time,
and il cannot be wondered at # he was little
spoiled l hear that no made an estimable
citizen
Col. Bryan was always fond Of his buck
slin pantaloons and moccasins and wore
them on all his hunts and often about
town. Two kinder, better and more hos
pitable people than Col. and Mrs. Bryan
can rarely be found anywhere. Truly he
was the founder and father of Dallas;
Who Is it that will not help the window OF
Col. Bryan?