The story begins with a well drilled into a salt dome in the Beaumont area in far southeast Texas. On January 10, 1901 a Captain Lucas was in a local store when the shopkeeper received a frantic call from Lucas’ wife telling him that the well the Captain was drilling a few miles away had “spouted” and blown out. The well site known as the Lucas No. 1 was located in a place called Spindletop. Lucas quickly drove his horse and buggy to the wellsite where he could see a steady stream of black liquid spewing out of the hole, settling on the derrick and other equipment.
C. C. Slaughter
(Image credit: Baylor Health Care System)
Christopher Columbus Slaughter was born February 9, 1837 to George Webb and Sarah Mason Slaughter. His father George Webb Slaughter had served with Sam Houston during the Texas Revolution and his grandfather William Slaughter had served under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. They followed his great grandfather, who had served in the American Revolution back in North Carolina. It was only natural that C. C. was drawn to serve in response to the call for volunteers to defend the frontier of Texas when he came of age.
David Adickes, Artist
Heading south on US 75 from the Red River, at Exit 67 on the west one can see a 17 foot tall bust of General Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. It was done by artist David Adickes, now of Huntsville, Texas. Though he worked out of several studios in Houston for most of his career, when he was in his 70s, he learned that his old high school in Huntsville was for sale, bought it and turned it into his own studio.
Floyd Hamilton, Public Enemy No. 1
(Book cover: pictured are Chaplain Ray Hoekstra and Floyd Hamilton)
Floyd Garland Hamilton was born June 13, 1908 in Henrietta, Oklahoma to John Henry and Sarah Alice Bullock Hamilton and died July 24, 1984 in Grand Prairie, Texas at the age of 76. According to his wishes, there was no funeral service, his body was cremated and his ashes were spread near the grave of his wife in Irving, Texas.
Continue reading Floyd Hamilton, Public Enemy No. 1Doan’s Crossing, Texas
Each year, the Doan’s Crossing Picnic is held in Wilbarger County north of Vernon. It is the oldest running pioneer celebration in Texas, held the first Saturday in May since 1884. The old settlement of Doan’s Crossing is located about 12 miles north of Vernon close to the intersection of FM 2916 and FM 924, near where the old cattle drives used to cross the Red River. The celebration includes the coronation of a king and queen, country and western music and other activities. For decades the picnic was a gathering place where old timers would tell of the early days in this Red River settlement, passing their stories down to later generations.
