General Blog
Archive for June, 2011
The Parker County Poor Farm
In 1883, three years before the present courthouse was built, the Parker County Commissioners Court bought a piece of land just south of Weatherford for use as a poor farm, a place for the county’s indigent citizens to live and work. The farm operated until the 1940′s when it was closed. Although the property’s size has slightly decreased, the land has remained in possession of the county for the past 122 years.
Today, the land holds great potential for development as a nature center and a historical park. Jim Webster, Precinct 4 Commissioner, is organizing the Poor Farm Advisory Group, with the purpose of putting together a master plan for the development of the poor farm to be presented to the Commissioners Court.
In 1883, three years before the present courthouse was built, the Parker County Commissioners Court bought a piece of land just south of Weatherford for use as a poor farm, a place for the county’s indigent citizens to live and work. The farm operated until the 1940′s when it was closed. Although the property’s size has slightly decreased, the land has remained in possession of the county for the past 122 years.
Today, the land holds great potential for development as a nature center and a historical park. Jim Webster, Precinct 4 Commissioner, is organizing the Poor Farm Advisory Group, with the purpose of putting together a master plan for the development of the poor farm to be presented to the Commissioners Court.
About
In 1883, the Parker County Commissioners Court bought the 320-acre poor farm for $1,900, payable in three annual payments. At that time, the County Judge was A.J. Hunter, and the four commissioners were B.C. Tarkinton, Joe C. Moore, Frank Barnett, and W.A. Massey. State law mandated help for indigent people, and the county was paying 38 people $3 to $10 a month. Commissioner Moore said that the paupers were getting too expensive, and so the court decided it could save money if it bought a farm, on which the paupers could work for their keep. The farm operated for many years until it was closed in the 1940′s.
As well as the land’s incredible history, the property has much natural value as well. The entire acreage is 270 acres. About 70% of the property is natural wildlife habitat, and a 190-acre nature park is planned. With so much habitat loss occurring in Parker County due to development, it is important that land be set aside for wildlife habitat. The poor farm is an excellent opportunity to do this.
The rest of the land was once farmland, and is now just flat land overrun with mesquite. This land will probably be used for a new Senior Center, free Dental Clinic for seniors, and county government buildings. There is already a 4-H Youth Center in the north-west corner of the property.
Since the Parker County Poor Farm is county property, it is in the hands of the Commissioners Court. The job of the Poor Farm Advisory Group is to get interested citizens involved in creating a master plan for the development of the poor farm, and then to present that master plan to the court. Then it will be up to the county as to whether this grand idea will be manifested. At this point, we are trying to get the word out to the public. If there is public interest (and we have found that there is) in this project, the court may be motivated to approve our plan.
Location
The Poor Farm is located about one mile south of Weatherford, on Tin Top Road and Leea Lane. It is near the old Harmony Community.
The Story of Mr. Godley
Retold by Jim Webster
Nila told of a resident, Mr. Godley, who at one time was a wealthy man for whom the town of Godley was named. He had fallen on hard times, however, and had lost all he owned.
Godley felt his life had been ruined and wasn’t worth living. He would ask Nila’s dad, “Why don’t you just kill me, because I’m no good anyway, and I deserve to die.” Of course, Bielss wouldn’t. One day Godley went to the outdoor outhouse, lay down his bed sheet very neatly on the floor, and cut his throat. His first attempt failed, but the second try was successful. The 88-year-old died.
His name is on a marker in the paupers cemetery, but he was not buried inside the cemetery. He requested not to be buried with the other paupers because he had been a man of property, and his request was honored. Unfortunately, his grave under a tree somewhere north of the cemetery has been lost, but we hope to find him someday.
Source: Webster, Jim. “Old county poor farm is rich in potential.” The Community News. Mar. 10, 2005, 8A.
Note: Since the writing of the article, the grave of Mr. Godley has been found at the poor farm. It was found by Wayne Thompson, who ran a dairy at the poor farm in the 1950′s.
The Poor Farm
The Poor Farm was established in 1883, and the farm buildings there were built around that time. The poor farm superintendent’s house, shown to the right, is still standing, as well as the “smoke house,” (once used for storing meat) shown below right. There is also a concrete storm cellar beside the house.
The “smoke house,” beside the superintendent’s houseBeing uninhabited for many years, the farm house is in very bad condition. There has been some discussion about restoring it, but some are doubtful that restoration would be possible. We should probably get someone out there who knows more about restoring old buildings, to give us an idea of whether the old house is restorable.
The Old Folks’ HomeShown to the left is the “Old Folks’ Home,” the building where some of the poor people lived. During World War II this building was moved to Weatherford, and became the building for the Church of the Living God. Only the concrete porches are left at the poor farm, with big trees growing out of the middle of it.
Some other buildings at the Poor Farm:
In the 1950′s, a dairy farm was operated at the Poor Farm. The buildings from this dairy are still there, just northeast of the superintendent’s house.
Also at the poor farm, there is an old concrete stock tank, dating back to 1921. It is inscribed with the following:
“WL Byron—A Bielss 1921 APRI 9″
The old stock tank from 1921Both W. L. Byron and Alvin Bielss were superintendents of the farm at different times. However, Mr. Bielss and his family moved to Parker County from California in the 1930′s, so Mr. Byron was probably the superintendent at the time the stock tank was made. Maybe Mr. Bielss was just visiting!
Living History
When you read a history book, it may be interesting, but it just doesn’t quite seem real. However, when you’re at the Poor Farm listening to Nila Bielss Seale telling stories of years past, it’s “living history.” Nila tells of Mr. Godley committing suicide, of the man whose ailment was healed with some horse liniment, and just helping her mother at the farm.
Nila Bielss Seale is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bielss. Mr. Bielss and his family moved to Parker County from California, and he was the superintendent of the Poor Farm from the late 1930′s to the 1940′s. Nila lives about two miles from the poor farm, where she has lived for the last 54 years.
Nila remembers living in the old farm house as a little girl, and she well remembers the old folks who lived on the farm at that time.
Poor Farm History
Commissioners Court of Parker County issued an order to purchase two tracts of land – 160 acres per tract – January 10, 1883 for the “purpose of the support of the paupers of Parker County.” The price of the land at the time was $1900.00. This property is located approximately three miles south of the Weatherford Court House on Tin Top Road, known to local residents as Harmony Road. The idea behind the decision was to reduce monthly expenses from $10.00 to $3.00 per “indigent” and homeless person by moving these people out to the Poor Farm or County Farm. The house was a long barracks type with a long hallway and rooms on each side of the hall.
February 1, 1883, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Abbott were employed to take charge of the County Farm or Poor Farm. December 7, 1887, the County Commissioners elected them to be superintendents of the farm until October 5, 1891 when T. H. Franklin replaced them. The following men supervised the farm until 1942: W. P. Cogdill, R. E. Hay, T. M. Moore, T. R. Coker, J. T. Aruett, Leonard Frazier, W. L. Byron, J. W. Sligar, J. M. Coffman, Felix Vance, Alvin Bielss, Charlie McMahon and G. W. Chamberlain. The job of superintendents was to grow crops and raise livestock, using able-bodied residents and county convicts who worked off their fines. The women would cook, clean, and take care of the inside. There may not have been much difference in their work roles as the rest of the county at that time in history.Caretaker’s house and barns, 1986
Mrs. Alvin Bielss still resides in Parker County and can recall addressing residents as “aunt” and “uncle”. The title aunt and uncle showed compassion towards the residents teaching their two children, Nila and Eldon, to respect people less fortunate, but still deserving respect.
Nila Bielss Seale can recall cooking for the residents and helping her mother carry the food across the road from the caretakers house to the elderly living there. As well, she can recall some very sad times on the farm such as illness, death and funerals. Burials were at the small pauper’s cemetery across a creek and on a little hill from the caretaker’s house. Nila can still recall a suicide and cancer. A man had cancer in his head and the appointed doctor did not come one day for treatment. Mr. Bielss poured horse medicine on the cancer site and it seemed to work.
The following persons lived on the farm until they died and buried on the farm while others were buried away. These names are taken from Cotton Bratton Funeral Home and Parker County Burial Records compiled by Mary Kemp and Billie Bell.
- Tobe Kanedy died of heart failure at the age of 25 on January 3, 1904 and buried on the Poor Farm.
- Long died of pulmonary congestion on July 20, 1906 and buried on the Poor Farm.
- Mary Cedarberry died October 5, 1910 at the age of 60 and buried on the Poor Farm.
Commissioner’s notes show that June 14, 1887, Jim Morton was sent to live in a Confederate Home and on February 13, 1903 I. J. Stroope was awarded a confederate pension.
Before 1905, the county paid individuals for burying the paupers and digging the graves. In the 1870′s, Carson and Lewis contracted to bury the paupers. May 12, 1979, E. W. Keller was allowed $2.00 to dig a grave and J. G. Sharp was awarded $5.00 to furnish a coffin. May 16, 1879, C. O. Hays was allowed $7.00 for a burial. July 10, 1880, Huggins & Williams contracted to furnish coffins. On February 16, 1905, J. T. Cotton was awarded the contract to bury paupers. March 1919 to May 1920, Cotton Bratton Furniture Company was given the contract for burials. W. A. White O Company contracted from August 1921 to January 1925. Then Cotton Bratton Furniture Company took over the contract until May 1944.
On February 24, 1941 the county granted an easement to Texas Public Utilities and August 2, 1941 Butane Gas was installed on the farm. These changes came about when Alvin Bielss was appointed superintendent.
The actual “Old Folks Home” was moved during World War II to Throckmorton Street until the 1960′s when it was sold and moved to North Rusk Street where it is privately owned and named The Church of the Living God.
Historic Preservation
There has been some discussion about restoring the old farm house at the poor farm, but some are doubtful that restoration would be possible. We should probably get someone out there who knows more about restoring old buildings, to give us an idea of whether the old house is restorable.
Whether we restore any old buildings or not, there are plans for a Parker County heritage park at the poor farm. In the words of Jim Webster, “A focal point of the farm will be a 10-acre park dedicated exclusively to Parker County history. We have lots of history, from early Indian days and the early settlers, to becoming a county and the intense Indian raids during and after the Civil War.
Before the Advisory Group was formed, Jim Webster put together a plan for the development of the poor farm. According to this plan, the historic park would be built in the area which is proposed to be a nature preserve, and the place where the poor farm buildings are now would be a new sheriff’s office, etc. However, this plan is by no means final. The advisory group has yet to work out a plan, and, at this point, nothing has been approved by the commissioners court.
Personally, I (Benjamin Bruce) think we ought to make a historic park around the poor farm buildings. That way the buildings could be preserved (for as long as they last), and possibly even do the outdoor learning center out there. This could be a place to teach kids about farm life, as it was back in the 1800′s.
Whatever is done, the goal will be to preserve the rich history of our county for present and future generations.
Poor Farm Cemetery
The Parker County Poor Farm Cemetery was established in 1883 along with the poor farm. It was the final resting place of many of the poor people who lived on the farm. For many years, the cemetery was lost, having been abandoned and grown over. However, it was rediscovered in 1985, and was cleaned up and restored. It is now in the care of the Abandoned Cemetery Association of Parker County.
The tombstone of Garrie Dunbaugh, aged 74 yearsMost of the graves in the small cemetery are marked only by bricks. Only one original tombstone remains, that of Garrie Dunbaugh, aged 74 years. Several other graves are marked with small plaques placed there by the Abandoned Cemetery Association.
Near the gate of the cemetery, there is an elegant monument, listing the paupers who were buried elsewhere. Click here to see a photograph of the monument, as well as the list that is on it.
Historical Marker
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
The Parker County Poor Farm and Cemetery historical marker is on Tin Top Road. It was placed there for the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986. Here is the information about the marker from the Texas Historic Sites Atlas:
Marker Text:
Created in 1883, a farm near this site housed the county’s indigent citizens. Farm residents and some county convicts worked to grow crops and raise livestock. Although entire families were once housed at the farm, by the 1930s the residents were mostly elderly. Their barracks-style house was moved to Weatherford in the 1940s after the farm was closed. A small cemetery was created here, and contains one legible marker. Additional grave sites have been marked with bricks. The earliest documented burial is from 1904, and the last was in 1937.