HISTORY OF MILFORD (TEXAS)
By
AMY BEARDEN (d. c. 1975 )
Milford, Texas
From 1850 – 1976
Milford Yesterday
Located on a beautiful rolling ridge one-half mile from Mill Creek on Highway 77, in Ellis County, is the town of Milford, Texas. Milford is the halfway station between Dallas and Waco. Dallas is fifty miles north; Waco is fifty miles south.
Milford is not far from the south bank of Mill Creek. Tradition has it that the town was named for an old ford on Mill Creek.
The last census reported “six hundred and sixty-four friendly people, with two or three old grouches.” I have looked high and low but have not been able to find the old grouches.
Milford is one of the oldest towns in Ellis County; it dates back to the early 1850’s. In 1851, Colonel Irven Wright had bought some six hundred and forty acres of land together with William R. Hudson, J. M. Higgins, and William Lowe Rosson. They laid off a body of land in town lots. They donated a certain number of lots for the erection of a suitable school building.
As early as 1853, Milford had a school. Tradition says it was a stone building and stood on or near the house now owned by Roy cooper. The second school building stood on or near the house now owned by Morris Surles and wife. This school burned and was rebuilt in 1863.
In 1910, a new school was erected on the site where Ennis Business Forms now stands.
The present public school was dedicated April 14, 1943, with E. L. Eskridge as superintendent. B. B. Edmiaston, pastor of the Milford Methodist Church, sang the national anthem. A prayer was offered by Dr. J. L. Bell, the Presbyterian pastor. A solo was sung by Mrs. Clyde Hull.
North, south, and east of Milford lies a deep, productive soil. To the West the soil is lighter. Three or four miles southeast of Milford is what was once known as Elm Thicket. The soil there is said to be as rich as the Valley of the Nile.
In 1854, W. R. Hudson opened the first store in Milford. In those early days, goods were freighted by ox teams from Houston. In 1857, I. R. Hudson and W. F. Hogue built the first mill to grind wheat and corn.
During the first three years, the colonists had hauled their supply of flour from Dallas County. In 1854 to the beginning of the Civil War goods retailed as follows: 12 cents a yard, best jeans (all wool) 75 cents, brogan shoes $1.00 to $1.50 per pair. Sugar sold for 5 to 10 cents per pound, bacon for 12 ½ to 15 cents per pound. Farm laborers earned $10.00 to $15.00 per month.
Major J. T. Burnett opened the second store in Milford. The first postmaster was William R. Hudson. U. M. Higgins was the grandson of Doctor Higgins. Elmer Higgins is a grandson of Doctor Higgins. Elmer was long-time businessman of our town, through the Gay Twenties, the thirties, the forties, and possibly a little later. Due to his health, Mr. Higgins now lives in a home for the aged.
The Reverend Michael Dickson taught school here in 1855. Later there was a private school taught by Mollie E. Poe.
The old-school Presbyterians were the first to organize a church. It dates back to June 23, 1855. The Reverend Michael Dickson, just mentioned, was the first pastor. The first place of worship was in the old stone school building. The first church building was erected prior to 1860.
The second building, at the present location, was completed in 1896. The present building was dedicated in 1921, where the church now stands. In the history of the Milford Presbyterian Church, Dr. J. L. Bell served longer than any other pastor. Doctor Bell was a singer, a teacher, and a minister. He was known and loved for his service to mankind.
In 1884, the Rev. C. G. Shutt came to Milford for organizing the Methodist Church. The Methodists had been using the Presbyterian Church for part-time worship. Major Edwards was the first member of the Methodist Church. He was the grandfather of Sam Edwards, a native of Milford.
The first Methodist church was located on the lot once known as the Suggs home, now the home of Mrs. Clyde Hull. When the Dickson Addition was laid out in the blocks, the Methodist Church was left standing in the middle of the street. Trucks moved it to the present location. The church ground was given by Major W. T. M. Dickson.
While the Rev. Kenneth Pope was pastor in the middle 1920’s, the church was remodeled. This was his first church. He later went on to become a Bishop of the Methodist Church.
The First Baptist Church was organized in the home of Dr. J. M. Higgins the second Saturday of July 1855. A sermon was preached that day by the Rev. J. M. Perry; he was later unanimously elected as first pastor. The first camp meeting of the church was held in 1856.
The First Baptist Church building was located near the north end of Main Street. The building burned in 1859. The next church building was erected and used until 1890, where the present church now stands. While the Rev. W. R. Lambert was pastor on 1917, the present church building was erected.
A new educational building for the church was built in 1974. It was dedicated August 18, 1974. The Rev. Erwin (should be 'Edwin')Jenkins was pastor at that time.
In the 1880’s, Jacob Hull came from Missouri to Milford. Mr. Hull was an Elder and Sunday school Superintendent in the Christian Church in Missouri. It was not long until the First Christian Church was built in Milford on the lot where our present post office now stands. This Church was blown down by a storm. In 1902, the Christian Church was erected where it stood until the early summer of 1965. Many of the members had moved away; some were taken in death. It was thought best to discontinue their meetings.
Following the closing of the church the building was used as a youth center. This appeared to do well for some time, but due to lack of leadership, it became a hangout for undesirable people.
Among the elders of the Christian Church listed are Jacob Hull, James L. Parker, Dr. A. E. Rogers, and John S. Woodward.
John S. Woodward was the grandfather of Charlie, Pete, and John Woodward. Charlie Woodward worked for many years with the Bank of Milford. He started his work July 5, 1928, and retired June 30, 1972. He was the great-uncle of Lois and Wilna Parker of our town.
The history of the Assembly of God Church dates back to August 1934. Prior to that date Sister Mae Adams, with her husband Archie Adams, and their small daughter came to the Milford community for the purpose of holding a revival meeting. Sister Adams preached for three weeks. So great was the revival, the need of a place to worship with others of like faith was seen.
For about two years, they worshipped in the old Turner School building. On March 27, 1936, the church was set in order by the General Assemblies of God. Sister Adams was the first pastor. Later the church bought a lot in Milford from Mr. J. W. Hodge. On July 25, 1938 the first Assembly of God church building was started. Later in 1949, the present church was erected. The Rev. Fred McCullough was pastor at that time.
John R. McFadden came from Arkansas in 1867 to the frontier village of Dallas. He moved to Milford because he found the church of his choice here, the Presbyterian.
The church bell of Milford Presbyterian Church was installed in 1879. This historical bell was bought in New York by Joseph E. Wilson when he went to buy merchandise. It was shipped by water to Houston, then by railway as far as the railway came north. From there it was freighted by the late A. E. Rosson and R. E. Wilson overland by ox-team to Milford. This bell still calls the people of Milford to worship.
The first aldermen were N. R. Rutherford, H. L. Coldwell, F. E. McKnight, G. W. Suggs, W. T. M. Dickson, and J. E. Davis.
Milford’s first newspaper, The Milford Gazette, was published in 1897 and edited by Joseph Kirgan. It lasted only a short time. The Milford Courier was started December 26, 1890.
The land where the town now stands, sold for fifty cents per acre when first bought. The first house built in Milford was combined residence and store, erected by W. R. Hudson on the site where the McDaniel Hotel once stood, the lot where our present post office now stands.
The second house was a residence built by a Mr. Goodale in 1854. It was a mansion of the time – 13 x 28 feet from floor to ceiling of plank and shingle. The roof was flat.
Mittie Hudson McSpadden was the first white child born in Milford. At one time Milford was called “The Athens of Ellis County” because of its religious and educational background. Its chief attraction for many years was Texas Presbyterian College for Girls, known as TPC. This college opened in 1902 and closed in 1929. The school was in operation twenty-seven years. The land for the Texas Presbyterian College was given by W. T. M. Dickson, who also gave the lots for the Methodist church.
The MK and T Railroad were completed and came through Milford starting December 15, 1890.
From a historical sketch of Ellis County written by W. A. Hawkins, a pioneer, we learn that in 1845 Thomas Jordan and Henry Harold settled about four miles below Milford and lived the remainder of their lives there.
In 1846 Sanford and Wallace Sevier and Benjamin Pryor settled near Smith’s Station on Richland Creek about four miles west of Milford.
A regiment of rangers operated from the Colorado the Red River. Smith’s Station was one of the posts where the rangers visited weekly to receive orders and supplies. Smith’s Station was named in honor of Captain Smith who is mentioned in Texas history.
Wallace Sevier had a son called Bud. In the old family cemetery of the Seviers we see Bud Sevier was born September 8, 1855. This man was the grandfather of Travis Sevier, a native of this community. Mrs. Retha Mitchell of Milford is the daughter of Milford is the daughter of Bud Sevier.
In the early 1850’s, William Rosson and his wife settled two miles east of Milford. They had four sons, Albert, John, George, and Joe. Joe died at the age of thirteen; the others lived many years.
The George Rosson home is among the historical spots in Ellis County. It was built in 1850. The State of Texas placed a historical marker on this home, the only home so marked in this area.
George Rosson has two daughters living in Milford, Mattie Lowe and Mary Emma Rosson. Both are retired schoolteachers. Joe Frank Rosson of Milford is the grandson of Albert Rosson.
The Ramsey family—Cal, James, Charles, Joseph, and Thomas—settled one and one-half miles south of Milford in the early 1850’s. Cal Ramsey built a mill propelled by waterpower on Mill Creek, where he ground grist for a list of customers coming from miles around.
Valentine Sevier settled three or four miles west of Milford. Mr. Sevier was at one time Justice of the Peace here.
In 1853 N. S. and J. D. Couchman, brothers, and W. R. Hudson arrived in Milford and bought about three miles south of Milford. Champ Carter, a retired lawyer, settled in Milford in those early days.
Mrs. James McSpadden, the daughter of Isaac R. Hudson, came to Milford in 1854. Hugh Caldwell was an early pioneer blacksmith. W. F. Weekly settled in the country near Mill Creek. Later he moved and was a merchant in Milford.
N. R. Rutherford was a successful businessman, a leader in civic and moral affairs. F. C. Fears is listed as one of Milford’s early physicians. H. N. Davis was the first attorney.
James McDaniel moved to Milford in 1856 settled east of Milford and acquired much wealth. (W. R.) Will and Jim McDaniel, twins, established a banking business. This continued until the death of Will McDaniel.
Soon after his death the bank was reorganized, becoming the First National Bank of Milford, with Jim McDaniel, the surviving, twin son of James McDaniel, as president. The third brother, Bascom McDaniel, studied law and opened a law office in Waxahachie.
Descendants of the McDaniel family who live in Milford (in 1976) are Joy McDaniel Pullin and Mary Catherine McDaniel Leslie. James K McDaniel was a son of Jim McDaniel and lived in Wichita Falls, Texas, until his death after 1970. James McDaniel was their grandfather.
Ralph Morrel settled on Mill Creek six miles east of Milford in the early 1850’s. One of his daughters, Margaret, married John F. Haynes, and another daughter married James McDaniel. The other Morrel children were T. D., G.W., Annie Lou, G.R., and Jack. Descendants of the Morrel family in Milford are Mary Catherine Leslie, Joy Pullin, Josephine Giles, and Bobbie Sue Morrel.
In 1894 a mineral well two thousand feet deep was found in Milford. The water came to the surface at 99 degrees. This was supposed to be good for the health. Many people came from far and near to drink this water. At one time, it was made into crystals and sold.
On February 1, 1894, a three-story brick hotel was completed and opened for business. It was known as the McDaniel Hotel. Dr. Z. T. Bundy was manager of this hotel, which operated a number of years prior to 1910, until destroyed by fire. When the place was completed, it had cost fifteen thousand dollars.
The Haynes family settled near Pluto. George and Frank moved to New Mexico several years later.
The William Dishman family settled one mile southeast of Milford. Mr. and Mrs. Dishman had a son named John. The grandson of William Dishman, John Robert, (known as Sonny), lives on the old homestead.
Willis Goodman and Frank and George Cook settled four miles east of Milford. Frank and George Cook were uncles of Whit Goodman, a grocer of the Twenties and the thirties. Whit Goodman’s wife, Vesta, is one of Milford’s senior citizens.
In an article by Bill Cox in the Waxahachie paper dated April 1926, Mr. Cox mentions a colored woman, Aunt Pleasant, who at that time was one hundred years old. She had been a slave and had belonged to Newton Buie who moved to Hillsboro many years ago.
Frank Warren came to Milford as a boy and was a lifelong resident here. For many years, he was constable. He had a son, Frank, who for many years was conductor on the Dallas to Waco line of the Texas Electric Railway. Another son, Walter, was in the grocery business many years.
Esquire Hoskins came to Ellis County in 1861 from Missouri. He was the Justice of the Peace for many years.
The Ward family was early pioneers. Dr. H. E. Rogers is listed as a long-time physician.
In the early 1880’s, Mr. J. E. Davis came from Mississippi to Milford. His first home was where Solon Fudge and his wife now live. Mr. Davis killed cattle and hogs. He provided meat for the men who built the MK&T Railroad through Milford. In 1901, Mr. Davis moved into the home where he lived until death. After the railroad was finished, he bought and sold grain.
Mr. Davis established the Citizen’s Bank and was in business from 1907 until 1929. His son, Tom Davis, is a native of Milford.
In 1867, Erwin Finch moved to Milford. He joined the Freedman Bureau, which gave him the right at that time to sell abandoned land in Hill and Ellis Counties. Mr. Finch was probably the first photographer in Milford. His old home in the Midway community is occupied by Tom and Aline Irvin. Aline is the great-granddaughter of Erwin Finch.
Annie E. Mitchell, a native of Tennessee, arrived in Milford in 1884. A former schoolteacher, she managed a telephone exchange for a while. Later and for many years, she was in the millinery business.
Tom Durham and Staley Wray were among the first to have restaurants in Milford.
J. V. Wood, a native of Henderson County, moved to Milford in the late 1890’s. About 1897 he established the Wood Lumber Company here. He retired in 1946. His son, Ector Wood, took over the lumber company and was there until 1973.
Ector Wood and his wife live in Milford now. Connected with the Wood family was Otis Briles. Mr. Briles worked for Mr. J. V. Wood about forty years. Part of that time was spent on the farm, and in later years the lumberyard. Mr. Briles and his wife live in Milford now.
Mr. And Mrs. Neil Littlejohn moved to Milford in 1893. He was a well-known farmer and reared a large family. Two of the children live in Milford now. MayBelle Littlejohn is a retired schoolteacher and Bundy Littlejohn is a grocer.
Robert Jackson, born the year Milford was, helped the town many years by repairing shoes.
B. D. Clements, a native of Tennessee, was a grocer. As early as 1899, we find his grocery listed in the Milford Courier of March 23 of that year. He was an uncle of Charlie, Pete, and John Woodward.
Tom Coats, a native of Tennessee, came to Milford about 1885. During his early years here he worked for F. E. McKnight. Mr. F. E. McKnight. In 1902, Mr. Coats bought out Mr. Bryan and moved to the place where the Coats Dry Goods store now stands. This store was brand-new when Mr. Coats moved in. His son, Marshall Coats, has the business now.
Listed in the 1899 Milford Courier was the McCoy Drug Company. John Armen, who owned Milford Drug Company for many years, will be remembered by many of our older people.
A J. Bryan came to Milford in the middle 1880’s. He did farm labor until he went in business with Mr. Coats. After this, he was in business for himself many years. Mrs. Edgar L. Hull was a sister to A. J. Bryan.
F. E. McKnight in the early 1900’s was a hardware man. He sold caskets and had a hearse to carry the dead to their final resting place. His home was where Ercel Evans now lives. Mr. McKnight married Mary Rebecca Hull, the eldest daughter of Jacob Hull.
John Marney arrived in Milford from Missouri in the 1880’s. He worked a while for N. R. Rutherford. He established a dry goods business of his own in 1914. He was in business until shortly before his death in 1949. Mr. Marney was one-time constable of Milford. Sam Edwards, a nephew, kept the dry goods store for many years after his death.
H. M. Harden, a native of Tennessee, came to Milford in 1889. He worked at various things for a while. He worked on a farm for Mr. Webb for seven years. At the end of this period, he bought the farm. After he had been here ten years, he went to Tennessee and brought back a wife, the former Miss Charley Ann Simpson. They lived on the farm many years and then moved to town. Their home in Milford was located on the lot now owned by Mr. And Mrs. Tex Daniels.
Horace Harden has the farm once owned by his father. He is a native of our community and lives in Milford. He started in the cotton business at the age of nineteen years. At first, he worked for the cotton yard and then at a gin. He owned and operated a cotton gin in Milford for many years.
R. C. Darrow, a native of Milford, was born August 14, 1895. He was a cotton buyer for a long time and later he had a grocery business. He was married to Willie Bowling, daughter of the Rev. J. L. Bowling, who at that time was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Milford.
R. C. Darrow was the son of W. W. Darrow, who moved here from Alabama. The Darrow home burned in 1915 and was rebuilt. In this same house lives the widow of R. C. Darrow, a senior citizen of our town. A brother, Roy Darrow, was at one time a businessman in Milford.
John Baucom, a native of Tennessee, came to Milford in 1882, and settled in the Derr’s Chapel community. He married Miss Mary Bussell, who was a teacher in the school there. Mrs. Mattie Baucom Elliott of Milford is a daughter of John Baucom.
The Parker family moved to Milford from Glascow, Kentucky, in 1891. In the group were John Evans, John Mitchell, and William P. Dishman, who had married daughters of the Parker family. Hugh Parker, John Y. Parker, and Robert Parker were in the group.
The Dishmans, Mitchells, Evans’s, and John Y. Parker settled in Milford permanently. Another brother, James L. Parker, had come to Milford in previous years.
Augustus Denton came from Dalton, Georgia, following the Civil War. He was employed by the Rosson family on a farm and worked later with L. C. and W. H. McGuire. These men became proprietors of the Denton, McGuire General Merchandise in Milford. Mrs. Alice parker, the mother of Lois and Wilna Parker, was the daughter of Augustus Denton.
In writing this history of Milford, I would like to make special mention of two of our Milford heroes, Byrne V. Baucom and Latimore Morrel.
Byrne V. Baucom was one of the great aerial heroes with the U. S. Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio. His record states that he emerged from the war with one of the most brilliant records made by any military aviator. He was one of the first to attend the first class of the military School of Aeronautics conducted by the University of Texas at Austin in 1917 for the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps.
In six weeks they learned how to roll on the spiral puttees that army privates wore, how to drill, use a bayonet, how to send and receive sex words a minute by Morse code, and the art of affixing messages to messenger pigeons.
Young Baucom was one who quickly gained fame as the “terror of the Western Front.” He and a companion came out of World War I with two of the most brilliant records of any military aviatators. His many decorations included the French Croix de Guerre. He was credited with downing six enemy planes. He was in the U. S. 1st Aero Squadron, said to be the first American group to enter the war.
Following the war he was elected to the Texas Legislature from Ellis County. The urge to fly was too great and he returned to the service. He was killed in the crash of a DeHavilland plane on a flight from Kelly Field, San Antonio, to his new post at March Field, California, on May 30, 1927. He was buried at Milford with military honors.
Daniel Lattimore Morrel, a native of Milford and one of our World War I heroes, was sworn into the U. S. Marine Corps on May 10, 1917 at Parris Island, South Carolina. After ten weeks of training, he went to Quantico, Virginia. He left for France from Philadelphia on September 10, 1917. After two and one-half months of duty in St. Nazaire, he left on January 9 for a training sector in Eastern France. He served with the 76th company, 6th Regiment. It was with this regiment that he gave his life. He won three medals for outstanding bravery.
His funeral was conducted at the Milford Presbyterian Church. He was buried in the Milford Cemetery with military honors, under the direction of Lt. George Davis, assisted by the Firing Squad of the American Legion Post of Waxahachie. The pallbearers were old schoolmates: Don Depuy, Lafayette Hull, Grady James, J. W. Rosson Jr., Henry Gore, George Betts, Walter Webb, and Mr. Lowery of Lancaster.
Another of Milford’s World War I soldiers was Henry Gore. We have no history of his service. We know from an article in the Milford paper of May 20, 1921 that Henry Gore was in the regiment with Lattimore Morrel. We remember John Gore, a brother to Henry Gore. Following the war John Gore for a period was manager of the Texas Electric Railway Stations in Milford.
In connection with our service men, we make special mention of Johnny Williams, a pilot in World War II. He was killed in a plane crash in Alabama. At the time of his death, he was known as the youngest Major in the U. S. Air Force. He was the son of Mr. And Mrs. L. R. Williams, who lived here many years. Mr. L. R. Williams was at one time constable of our town.
The Milford Courier dated December 15, 1910, states, “Water, ice, and lights are soon to be a reality with a sewerage system for the entire city.”
One of the chief conveniences for Milford was the Texas Electric Interurban. The track was completed and the first interurban ran from Dallas to Waco in January 1914. The fare was three cents per mile, and the interurban ran each hour during the day.
On December 31, 1948, the Texas Electric Interurban made its last run. The automobile had hurt this trade until the line could no longer continue. The old familiar clang of the interurban lives only as a pleasant memory of those days of our beloved city.
Horace M. Jones was born in Columbia, Tennessee, August 18, 1881. He moved to Texas in 1901 and settled near Milford. He returned to Columbia in 1903. They returned to Milford and began married life on a farm near Milford.
In the fall of 1909 or 1910, Mr. Jones came to town and kept books at a cotton gin. In 1903, the family moved to town. Later Mr. Jones became the first manager of the Farmers gin Company. This was about 1918 or 1919. In 1923, he went to the Brick Gin in the southeast part of town as manager.
In 1930 or 1931, he and Mr. R. H. Ethridge bought the Middle Gin in the central part of town. This partnership lasted two or three years when Mr. Jones became the sole owner of the gin, making it the Jones Gin Company.
Mr. Jones was not only a good businessperson but was known and loved for his Christian character. He was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School for many years. His wife taught a Sunday school class.
Mr. Jones died in the office of his gin September 8, 1947. Mrs. Jones died at age seventy in a nursing home in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The Jones children – Hunter, Emogene, Clara Maye, John Tillman and Sue Coleman – wished to leave a memorial to their parents in Milford. In memory of their parents and as a token of love, they gave the First Baptist Church a baby grand piano.
H. B. Major was born in Itasca, Texas, January 12, 1883. He moved to Milford in 1917. He married Ozella Whitson. Mr. Major worked the land owned by Jim McDaniel from 1910 to 1940. He then moved to the Horton Place, which he had bought in 1928.
Mr. Major was manager of the Farmers’ Gin for twenty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Major had a large family. Two of the children are in Milford now. Jewell Major is a retired schoolteacher. M. H. Major is manager of the Farmers’ Gin Company in Milford.
Robert S. Brannon, a native of Georgia, came to Texas and settled near Center Point. He moved to Milford in 1919. He worked in the cotton yard as Public Weigher; later he bought and sol cotton. For many years, he did carpenter work in the Milford area.
He has two sons in Milford. Lowell Brannon is a retired carpenter. Carlisle Brannon for sometime was a meat salesman for Rath Meat Company. Later he worked as Market Manager for Kroger in Waxahachie. In 1973, he retired. He is Mayor-Pro-Tem of the Milford City Council.
Charley Dyer, a native of Mississippi, served in World War I. He married Lura Cooper. Charley and Lura had a grocery business in Milford. Mr. Dyer served as mayor of Milford for some year.
Jesse Noell, a druggist in the early 1900’s, came to Milford from Hillsboro. He had a new home built in 1905. Ruby Horne now occupies the home. (In 2003, Connie McDonald owns the home.) Mr. Noell was in business many years.
H. V. Everett, known by his friends as Buss Everett, was another grocer starting in the twenties. Buss was married to a Milford girl, Maggie Dean, February 28, 1920. He was born in Belton, Texas. Three years later, the Everett has moved to Milford. They were in business twenty-five years.
Josephine Swanson came to Milford in 1920 as a young schoolteacher. She married Don Depuy on June 15, 1921. She taught school here almost fifty years. Mrs. Depuy was made “Queen for the Day” in June 1966, at the Milford Public School. The elementary school was named the Josephine Depuy Elementary School in her honor.
Her husband, Don Depuy, was born in Garland, Texas, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Depuy. Don moved to Milford when he was eight years old. After high school days, he attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. His first position after college was with the Citizens’ Bank of Milford, where his father worked at that time. After that position, he worked as agent for the Texas Electric Railway in Milford. Later and for many years, he was with what was then known as the First National Bank of Milford. Altogether, he gave fifty years of public service to Milford.
W. H. Howard came from Missouri to Texas when he was five years old and settled in Hill County. He moved to Milford in 1894. From 1910 to 1920, he had a grocery store in Milford. Following this he operated a blacksmith shop. His son, Jim Howard, is a native of Milford. He was born in the house now occupied by chuck and Zada Williams. Jim Howard worked for years as a candy salesman. Later he sold candy for himself until he retired.
John Sheffield, born in Barry, Texas, moved to Milford in 1916 with his wife, his son Dexter, and his daughter Geneva. He was in the restaurant business until the days of the depression in the early thirties. Later he worked as a carpenter. His daughter Geneva was about five years old when they moved to Milford. She remembers when her father sold hamburgers for ten cents each, and a good bowl of chili for a dime also.
Geneva Sheffield is a graduate of Milford High School. She attended Texas Presbyterian College for Girls in Milford one year. She was graduated from North Texas University. She started teaching in the same room where she began school. She taught forty-two years.
From 1914 to 1951 Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Williams operated a tailor shop in Milford. Mrs. Williams lives here part-time now.
Mrs. Lota Webb Wheatley, who was born in the Milford area, had the telephone exchange here from 1950 to 1959.
Tom Leslie was born in Bartlett, Texas, November 28, 1901. After school days in Bartlett, he went to Austin College in Sherman, Texas. From Austin College, he went to Austin where he attended the University of Texas. In 1919, he moved to Hillsboro.
Tom Leslie married Catherine McDaniel of Milford on November 16, 1922. He moved to Milford with his wife and son in September 1939. They lived with Mrs. Leslie’s mother for a while and later bought their own home.
Mr. Leslie’s first business in Milford was the general insurance business. He was a licensed funeral director for thirty years. He was connected with Rudolph Funeral Home in Waxahachie. A branch office was in Milford. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church here for many years. He was president of the bank after C. V. Varner from 1950 until retired in 1969. He died September 5, 1972.
Dora Mae Varner was born in Eleazer, Rudolph County, and North Carolina May 25, 1889. She was the daughter of Archibald and Amanda Lewis Varner. The family moved from North Carolina to Indiana about 1895. They moved to Milford right after the turn of the century in 1900. As a young woman, she attended Texas Presbyterian College for Girls in Milford. She married John F. Denton. John died December 7, 1952. They lived all their married life in Milford.
Mrs. Denton served in the post office for nearly thirty-four years. She taught school many years prior to her work in the post office. She served under the following postmasters; L. A. Wright, C. V. Varner and Mrs. Clyde Hull.
She was an active worker in the Milford Methodist Church where she taught the Adult Sunday Class for Women many years. She died February 20, 1970. She had lived in Milford almost seventy years.
Her children—Joe Don Denton of Dallas, Julia Marie McCauley, and Elsia Denton of Houston—have kept the Denton home in Milford. It has not been sold or rented.
Jewel Cooper was born in Mississippi and moved to Texas as a baby. She has lived in this area many years. She worked as a postal clerk almost thirty years. Her husband, George Cooper, is a native of the Milford community.
Jean Cowart worked several years as postal clerk in the Milford Post Office until she was transferred to Smithfield.
Adam F. Rosson, a landowner and native of Milford, was among the leading citizens of our town for many years. He was in the insurance business for a long time and was also connected with the Boze Mitchell Funeral Home in Waxahachie. He was an elder in the Christian Church until the time of his death.
Ennis Business Forms, located in the old public school building, was opened in 1945. Mr. C. O. Miller was the first manager. It has been said this factory brought more payroll to Milford than any business here.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Milford from Austin, Texas, August 13, 1939. He was editor of the Milford Press about twenty-three and one-half years. Mr. Miller retired July 1, 1970.
Mr. Miller was mayor of Milford fourteen years. Not only was he a good business and civic leader, he has served the Milford Methodist Church in possibly every capacity of the church.
While in the process of trying to write this history of Milford, I visited in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Selma Whaley. I remember Selma as far back as the twenties. I recall that the merchants of Milford gave away a Ford car in the fall of 1926. Selma Whaley’s was the lucky number when the drawing was held. I also remember seeing him at the City Garage in the days when he worked for H. E. McNeil.
Selma says he was born in Blum Texas. He moved to the Milford area when he was five years old. He recalls the horse and buggy days. He can go as far back as 1912. He remembers driving to town for groceries for the family. He would hitch his horse behind Smith and Howard’s Grocery. Before he left for home he would drive to the water through in the middle of the street and water his horse. The trough stood below where our traffic light is today.
Milford at one time had a livery stable owned by a Mr. Finch. This was in the days before automobiles were plentiful. One could rent a buggy and horse when one came to town if one chose to do so.
Dr. N. J. Pickett built the City Garage in 1910. Bundy Black who had the Sub-Ford Agency from W. D. Bateman of Italy first operated it. After Bundy Black Luther Vanlandingham operated the station. The next man at this station was J. S. Cagle, the father of Mrs. Richard Holmes. Mrs. Holmes lives in Milford today.
H. E. McNeil had this station for some time, until Crockett Tyler bought it. He sold gas and cars. He also had the sub-Ford agency from Mr. Bateman of Italy. His Eunice Littlejohn, and David Waldrop.
Some early barbers remembered by Selma Whaley were Dolph Hale, Henry Pierson, Sid Smithey, Vander Varner, and later Pickett Cooper and Bundy Moore. They there was another barbershop run by Zollie McGuire had six barbers at one time. No wonder there were no hippies in those days.
Some of the dry goods men were J. W. Hamlett, Roy Darrow, Tom Coats, A. J. Bryan, and John Marney.
The drug store operators were McCoy, Jesse Noell and John Armen, later a Mr. Hooser from Lancaster, Texas.
Hardware men were McKnight and Webb, later McKnight and Wilson, and possibly others.
A number of early doctors are listed for Milford. We know that Dr. N. J. Pickett was here before the turn of the century. Listed in the Milford Courier in 1898 is the Doctor Rogers. Dr. N. J. Pickett is listed as physician and surgeon.
Coming into this century we find N. J. Pickett, Dr. J. E. Killian, Dr. Roy Monroe, Dr. Frank Thompson, Doctor Malouf, Dr. John Montgomery, Dr. J. D. Munsell, Dr. Joe Schooler, and Doctor Roberts.
Dr. J. E. Killian moved from Mertens to Milford in June 1913. He was a practicing physician here almost forty years. He died in the early 1950’s.
Dr. N. J. Pickett died in 1938.
I would like to make special mention of Dr. N. J. Pickett and Dr. J. E. Killian. While the other doctors were here for a while and we appreciated them, Doctor Pickett and Doctor Killian devoted a lifetime of service to our community. I would like to quote from the pen of the Apostle John, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for is friends.”
Quoting from Selma Whaley again, we name a number of blacksmiths after 1910: J. R. Smith, W. A. Howard, Thomas N. Cohagan, Dick Murray and later Lee Omquest, C. W. Wheatley, J. E. Cockerham, and possibly others.
Mr. Thomas N. Cohagan had a special guarantee on his work. He said he would weld anything except the break of day and a broken heart.
Listed below are the names of the people remembered by Selma Whaley who operated cafes in Milford in years gone by: Staley Wray, John Sheffield, Pauline Dar, Brooks and Willie Hull, Ray Goodman and wife, Morris and Wilma Surles, Zela Bigham, Barbara and William Wade, John D. and Gladys Powell. Later ones were Etta Biddison, Mary and James Malone, and Roy and Sue Cooper.
One other thing Selma reminded me of was that the Milford mineral water won a blue ribbon one year at the World’s Fair.
The cemetery in Milford is one of the oldest in Ellis County. The first grave dates back to 1855. We have a full-time caretaker, Mr. Jack Webb.
Milford Today (1976)
Milford has a good fire department with twenty-four members. The citizens of Milford are very proud of their volunteer fire department, which started many years ago with a hand pump on two wheels.
In 1929, a Sea Graves fire truck was purchased. In 1969, the City bought a new fire truck, which affords great safety to the town.
Members of the City Council are R. C. Brannon, Bobby Cooper, Jack Horan, Don Jones, and J. E. Cockerham. In order to appreciate these men and their work, one should visit a meeting of the City Council.
Roy Wade moved to Milford from Waxahachie in 1916. He served as City Water Superintendent for forty years. Randall Potter is now the town’s Water Superintendent with Roy Wade as consultant.
Oleta Choate, the city Secretary, Tax Assessor and Collector, has lived in Milford since 1955. She has served as City Secretary since 1972.
Crockett Tyler, a native of Milford, has been mayor for the past ten years. He was a businessman here for almost forty years. The first one and one-half years he had a garage and service station on the corner of Main and College Streets. After this, he bought the garage and service station owned at that time by H. E. McNeil and now owned by Jimmy Whitson.
In the period from December 1942, to October 1945, Crockett served in the U.S. Army during WWII. His father, I. N. Tyler, managed the business while Crockett was away in the service.
Don Jones, the owner of Don’s automotive service, which is located just below the City Hall, married Elizabeth Evans, a Milford girl.
Milford has three beauty shops. Billy Stickle’s shop is in her home and is known as the House of Beauty. About three months ago Debbie Bradley opened Debbie’s Beauty Shop on Main Street. Pauline’s Beauty Shop, owned and operated by Pauline Cockerham, has been in business for the past six years. Her husband, J. E. Cockerham, is a welder and contractor.
Bundy Littlejohn was born near Milford. He has been in the grocery business since the death of his brother, Eunice Littlejohn. Eunice Littlejohn was a grocer and grain dealer for many years before his death.
J. M. Coats, known as Marshall by his many friends, is a native of our town and a graduate of Milford High School. He is also a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University of Abilene, Texas. Marshall’s vocation was the dry goods business. After school days, he worked in Memphis, Texas, Colorado Springs, and Hillsboro. He returned to Milford in 1932 and has had the Coats Dry Goods Store since then. His wife is the former Beatrice Wakeland Lay.
Mable Jones was married to Lowell Brannon and has lived in Milford since 1934. Mrs. Brannon collects tax for the Milford I.S.D. She also collects gas bills for the Lone Star Gas Company. She has served in this office for seven years.
With the Leslie Insurance Agency is Sue Mantooth, who moved to this area in April 1973.
Linda Wallace, a native of Milford and a daughter of the late John L. Frank, lives in nearby Mertens. She has been with the Leslie Insurance Agency since August 1, 1975. In regard to the Leslie Insurance Agency, we would like to remember Ruby Evans, a native of our community who has lived in Milford since birth. She retired from the company September 1, 1975, after twenty-five years of service.
Not long ago we welcomed to our town J. O. Harris and his daughter, Carolyn Parmer. Mr. Harris is the new manager of Old Pat’s Unclaimed Freight. Mr. And Mrs. Marvin Watson had this business before Mr. Harris moved.
Harve Cockerham has been in the grocery business for the past eight years. He lives on a farm near Pluto. Working with Mr. Cockerham are his wife and his son, Bruce Cockerham. Maxine Morris and Carrie Washington are helpers. His brother, Ernest Cockerham, works in the meat department.
Dean Irvin, born in the Midway Community, has the New Food Mart in Milford. He has been in this business only a few months.
Jimmy Whitson, a native of this community, graduated from Milford High School. After graduation, he worked for the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas. He moved back to Milford three years ago. In March 1974, he bought the garage and service station from Crockett Tyler. This station for the past twenty years has employed Cordell Clanton, also a native of Milford.
Miss Clyde Tittle moved to Milford in the fall of 1931. She taught in the public school here for two years. She was married to Jake Hull. He died in August 1957. Mrs. Hull has been postmaster for the Milford Post Office for the past nineteen years. She is known in Milford for her musical talent. Working with Mrs. Hull in the post office now is Delores Hughes as postal clerk.
Milford has one lumberyard in town, which was the Wood Lumber Company for many years. This business was bought in July 1973, by Allen Standridge and Bobby Cooper. Bobby Cooper is a contractor. His wife, Lela Cooper, is the general clerk at the lumberyard. Mr. Standridge is also a contractor and the Girls’ Basketball Coach at China Springs.
Mr. And Mrs. B. C. Cantwell have been in Milford since 1965. They own what was once known as the Milford Hotel. This home is on Main Street near the Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1910 as a hotel. They opened the home for business May 1, 1976. It is comfortably arranged and is known as the Town House Boarding Home.
The Frank Grain Business has been in operation several years. It is owned and operated now by Mrs. Barbara Frank Mansell.
Milford has one cotton gin. It is known as the Farmers Gin Company and is managed by M. H. Major. He has been manager of this gin since 1954.
Tom Bridgers from Dallas moved to Milford in July 1976, and opened an antique shop on Main Street.
Our town has one bank. With the bank are D. R. Mansell, chairman of the board; Ted Green, president; Inez Major, vice president and assistant cashier; Fay Herrin, cashier; LaQuitta Witson, teller; Penny Harvey, the president’s secretary.
In 1970 when Mr. C. O. Miller retired from Ennis Business Forms, Jimmie Crumpton took over the management. Jimmie is a native of Milford. He was born about one mile from town. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Crumpton of Milford. After high school, he started working for Ennis Business Forms. He stayed with them until called into service for his country. When he returned from the Untied States Army he went back to work for Ennis Business Forms. Jimmie is an active member of the United Methodist Church here.
The City Café in Milford had been closed but opened recently under new management. Lorene Winchester is the new manager. Wanda Bates is her helper. Mrs. Winchester has lived in Milford since 1969.
The history of our town would be incomplete without the mention of our beloved senior citizens. Following are a few who have given us permission to use their names.
Mrs. Eva Sheffield, age ninety-one this past June, moved to Milford in 1916. Mrs. Sheffield helped organize the first Missionary Group in the Methodist Church.
Possibly the oldest white woman in our town is Mrs. Savannah Catherine Kemp who was ninety-five years old on April 14, 1976. She was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and came to Texas when she was twelve years old. Her family first settled near Mertens and moved to the Milford area in 1927. She has lived in Milford twenty-two years. She has a daughter in Milford, Mrs. Thelma Tyler.
Mrs. Eula Littlejohn was ninety-one years old last December. She moved to Ellis County at the age of three years. She has lived in the Milford community about sixty-four years. She has lived in her present home thirty-one years. Ruby Evans is her Daughter.
Foster Pierson is possibly the oldest white man living in Milford today. He arrived in the Milford community in 1898. Mr. Pierson settled on the Morrel land. In 1920, he moved to the Larry farm in the Turner Community but now resides in his own home in Milford. He will be eighty-nine years old in November 1976. He has owned land and was a farmer and rancher many years.
Basso Clemens, one of our colored citizens, was ninety years old August 6, 1976. Basso is one of our favorites. He was born and reared is Milford. He was the maintenance man at our public school thirty-six years. He is known by his many friends as “Speedy.”
Another of our colored friends is Maggie Carter. Maggie did nursing and helped many people in hours of need. Her specialty was the care of mothers and babies.
Mary Probasco, another of our colored citizens, was eighty-four years old January 2, 1976. Mary was born in the country near Milford. She worked eleven years in the City Café for Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Hull.
Mandora Terrell, another of our colored friends, was born January 5, 1876. She was born on the Frank Warren Farm and moved to town in 1898.
Did you know that there are twenty-eight Milfords listed in the zip code directory? Let us strive to make our Milford the best. When I say “best” I refer to our Christian living. When Milford was first settled many people moved here because it was known as a Christian community. What a wonderful heritage!
It is true no one can accept Christ for us but we can leave behind such radiance that the candles of faith keep burning. As the Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor to welcome the weary traveler home, let’s let our Christian faith stand. It shall stand as a beacon light on the road to Eternity.
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