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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBedford County - HistoryV,-�, j '0 le-s s *d fl rr IT ffistoricalQTuf,-,apf,-w--'5ly VOLUME X SHELBWILL E, TENNESSEE �uLESS PUBLIC 1:1[3RA" 201 N. Ector Drive Fuless, Texas 76039 Y a: n ,T.ItL j��,fi.''�`� " t,r -� t<�� _,.�".� -ts �,;' � , s._...-,.�—:i '•ice a iih•-�; �'r� t 0 NUMBER 4 �f 4 t 7 {` f' THE BEDFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL QUART ERLY . Published by The Bedford County Historical Society (incorporated) Shelbyville, Tennessee. OFFICERS Mr. Paul Cross President Mr. Newt Parsons Vice President Mrs. Robert Prince Recording Secretary Mrs. Robert Prince Corresponding Secretary Miss lane Townes Treasurer s - . Mr. Richard Poplin Genealogist f Mr. Charles Hummel Hospitality r Mrs. William R. Payne Programs Mr. Charles M. Woodruff Quarterly Editor Mr. Newt Parsons Associate Editor ��- Mr. Bryce Brinkley Associate Editor Mr. Richard Poplin Associate Editor BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Albert Cooper '•� Mrs. Prentice Cooper t. Mr. Charles Hummel '.- Mr. Wayne Lentz Mrs. William R. Payne Mr. Charles Woodruff r Mrs. R.L. Patterson Y": Mrs. Amie Caldwell McGrew y .a Mr. Bailey Peyton Evans t Y-' i'- 'xN"' The receipt of the QUARTERLY is privileged to the Society members by annual dues of $8.00. Non-members may procure copies, if available, for $2.50 each. Interest in membership in the Society or in procuring back issues of the QUARTERLY and s. y inquiries should be made known by addressing the Corresponding Secretary of the .• ,{ Society Mrs. Rober t Prince, 624 South Brittain Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160. l=' Neither the publication staff of the QUARTERLY nor the Bedford County Historical Society assumes responsibility for statements made by contributors to this publication. x �v►* The entire membership is urged to attend the quarterly meetings of the Society, if at r, p`. all practical to do so. These meetings are held on the third Monday of March, .tune, December announcements of changes are made in advance of the ` September, and unless date set. THE BEDFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Volume X Winter, 1984 No. 4 CONTFNTS Railroading Back in the 50's - Mrs. Robert L. Patterson ....98 Bedford County Population Changes .................... 100 Recollections of Rosabelle Hastings .................... 101 ..................... 104 A Shelbyville Company to the Mexican War ............. 109 Archibald Yell - (Conclusion) Walter W. Hughes ....... 110 Bedford County - Will Book 11 ......................... 117 1890 Tax list of Bedford County - Civil District No. 3 - Wartrace Corporation ... 120 Inquiries ........................................... 126 COVER PHOTO - Print from glass negative found in old attic trunk in Tullahoma. Locomotive No. 48 of N.C. & St. L. Railroad made about 1890, probably around Tullahoma - Normandy or Tullahoma - Sewanee. Con anyone tell, for sure? Credit to Bob Couch, Tullahoma, Tennessee. WT THE FAMILY EULES OF BEDFORD COUNTY BY Weldon Green Cannon 606 South Main Street Euless, Texas 76040 GODSPEED'S HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE Submitted by Mrs. Harold G. McCullough, Chattanooga and Mrs. George Hanks, Signal Mountain, Tennessee through correspondence with Mr. Brice Brinkley, Associate Editor, BCHQ MARTIN EULES, a worthy citizen of Bedford County, Tennessee, is a son of Adam and Dorothea (Shofner) Eules, who were born in North Carolina in 1775 and 1778, respectively. They were married about 1803 and immigrated to Tennessee in 1810. To them were born eleven children, four of whom are living. The father died in 1843, and the mother in 1872. On the 8th of November, 1843, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Cassander Bobo, who was born December 10, 1825, and a daughter of Elisha and Lucy (Dean) Bobo, natives of South Carolina and who died in 1860 and 1830 respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Eules were born eleven children; Eli S., born in 1845 (deceased); Mary E., born in 1846 (deceased); Elisha A., born in 1848; Allen F., born in 1850; John M., born in 1852 (deceased); Harriett E., born in 1855; Ella T., born in 1857 (deceased); Minnie A., born in 1860; Lula. B., born in 1862; Della C., born in 1865; Lucy T., born in 1867. Martin Eules started in life for himself almost penniless, but by energy and perseverence has accumulated con- siderable property. His farm, consisting of about 500 acres, is about eight miles from Shelbyville, besides this he owns seventy acres in Coffee County and about 40 acres in this county. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church and their children belong to the Cumberland Pr6sbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Eules is neutral. CANNON NOTES Elisah A., born in 1848, is Adam Euless, who moved in 1867 to Grapevine, Tarrant County, Texas. About 1881, eight miles south of Grapevine, he built a cotton gin, around which grew a community named Euless. For a while in the mid-1870's, until 1877, he served as Constable for Justice Precinct Three of Tarrant County. In 1892 he was elected Sheriff of Tarrant County, then subsequently reelected until he served a total of eight years. He died January 25, 1911, and is buried in Oakwood Cemtary, Ft. Worth. See TEXAS BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF TARRANT AND PARKER COUNTIES, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1895, biographical sketch, "E.A. Euless." 105 DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ELISAH ADAM EULESS 1870 Tarrant County Census: printed page 500, left hand side of page, pet. 3, p. 54; 410:410. Mary A. Trigg 52 female Keeping House Tenn. Judia A. Trigg 30 female Keeping House Tenn. Haydin Trigg 22 male Farmer Tenn. E.A. Uless 21 male Farmer Tenn. Dan Trigg 20 male Farmer Tenn. Plus four black servants 1880 Tarrant County Census; Enum. Dist. 95; Pct. 3, p. 26, dwelling 239 Euless, Elijah A. 30 male Farmer Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Euless, Judy A. 40 female Wife Tenn. Tenn. N.C. Euless, Martin 7 male son Texas Tenn. Tenn. Euless, Suma 6 female dau. Texas Tenn. Tenn. Euless, Edgar 3 male son Texas Tenn. Tenn. Plus two black servants Tombstone, Oakwood Cemetary, Ft. Worth E.A. Euless Judy Euless September 26, 1848 September 5, 1839 January 25, 1911 November 7, 1923 The above "Judia A.," "Judy A.," "Judy" (Trigg) Euless, wife of E.A. Euless, was a daughter of William Trigg of Bedford County, Tennessee. See "E.A. Euless" in Biographical History of Tarrant I and Parker Counties, by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1895. � I THE FORT WORTH RECORD Thursday Morning January 26, 1911 Page 4 FORMER SHERIFF DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS "E.A. Euless, Resident of County Forty Years, Will Be Buried Today"I E. Adam Euless, for eight years sheriff and forty-four years' a resident of Tarrant County died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.D. Prather, Wednesday afternoon, at 2:30 o'clock. His death was not unexpected, as he had been ill for more than a year and in critical condition for the past ten days, but domes as a great shock to thousands of friends, as Adam Euless was one of the best known and most popular men in Tarrant County. He came to this county in 1867, settling in the eastern portion, near where the town of Euless now stands. Upon his election as Sheriff in 1892, Mr'. Euless removed his family to Fort Worth and has resided here since. He is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. H.H. Landis of Dalbart, and Mrs. L.D. Prather of 914 East Leuda Street, two sons, Martin of Wayne, Oklahoma, and W.E. of this city. He was a member of Grapevine Lodge, No. 58, A.F. & A.M., Fort Worth Chapter, R.A.M., and of the North Commandry, Knights Templars. At the request of the Grapevine lodge members of the Fort Worth lodge will be in charge of the funeral to be conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon from the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.D. Prather, at 914 East Leuda Street. Rev. J.F. Hicks, pastor of the Hemphill Street Presby- terian Church, will conduct services at the residence. A number of people from Grapevine and the eastern section ' of the county will attend the funeral.. UWA BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF TARRANT AND PARKER COUNTIES M Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1895 s I E.A. EULESS --- Among the leading representative citizens of Tarrant County few are more widely known or more prominent than E.A. Euless, the popular and efficient Sheriff of this county. Mr. Euless was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, on the 26th day of September, 1848; his father, Martin Euless, was also born in that county, in October, 1818; and his grand- father, Adam Euless, was a native of Tennessee. So it will be seen that the Euless family was one of the pioneers of that State. Martin Euless married Cassander A. Bobo, a daughter of Elisah Bob, who was a native of South Carolina and a Tennessee pioneer. Sheriff Euless received a moderate school education by attending the schools of his neighborhood. Upon reaching his majority, be decided to come to the Southwest, and he was soon thereafter a citizen of Terrant County, where he has since resided. He first located at Grapevine, but a short time after- ward made a permanent location at a point a few miles distant from Grapevine, naming his place "Euless". He engaged in farming and running a cotton gin, at which he continued uninterruptedly and successfully until 1892. 1 Politically Mr. Euless has been a Democrat since his wenty-first birthday, and has held his shoulder to the wheel of Democracy from year to year, never faltering, always with enthusiasm and determination. His first vote for President of the United States was cast in 1872 for Horace Greely. His first public office was that of Constable of Precinct Number 3, of Tarrant County, to which he was elected in 1876. In 1880, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination of Sheriff, but his defeat did not dampen his enthusiasm or deter him from working for the election of his successful opponent. In 1892 be again became a candidate for the nomination for Sheriff, and this time was uccessful, defeating three strong competitors. His election followed by a handsome majority of 934. So satis- factory was his administration of the affairs of the chief peace office of the county, and so well did he demonstrate his peculiar fitness and abijlity for the position, that in 1894 be was re- nominated by his party with practically no opposition, and elected by the majority of 800, after one of the hardest -fought campaigns in the history of the county. In the discharge of his official duties Sheriff Euless has won the respect and esteem of the public in general. His only sin has been to do his duty alike by friend and foe, and in so doing he has won the M friendship and well -wishes of the people of Tarrant County. Sheriff Euless' career in Texas has been both an honorable and successful one, and he has made his way up from the bottom by his own efforts and exertions. When he came to Texas his possessions amounted to a draft for $200. This he sold for seventy-five cents on the dollar, and with this he began the struggle for life in this new country. How he has succeeded in acquiring a competency and in earning honor at the hands of his fellow -citizens, everyone knows. Mr. Euless is a member of the Grapevine Lodge, No. 288, of Fort Worth Chapter and Fort Worth Commandery, No. 19, of the Masonic fraternity, and of Red Cross Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and o'f the A.H. of H. Mr. Euless married in Terrant County, Texas on July 6, 1870, to Miss Julia Trigg, the daughter of William Trigg, deceased of Bedford County, Tennessee. Five children have been born to their union, as follows: Martin, Suma, Edgar and Cassie. Mr. and Mrs. Euless are members of the Presbyterian Church. NOTES: E.A. Euless died January 25, 1911, buried Oakwood Cemetary, Ft. Worth. He had only four children named, Edgar being William Edgar, once postmaster at Bedford, Texas. See Goodspeed's HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE, for Adam's father, Martin Euless. Copied Ft. Worth Library Weldon G. Cannon 606 South Main Street Euless, TX 76040 Weldon G. Cannon History Files In this folder donated to the City of Euless, labeled BEDFORD PLANTERS, are a few key documents and other materials from files donated to The University of Texas at Arlington for the Weldon Cannon Euless Collection in the Special Collections of the University Library. Following is a brief summary of materials in 1 folder under this subject that was donated to UTA. Folder Contents L. Bedford Planters —List of Planters and Farmers in 1884 with an address of Bedford, Texas, the only post office then in the present Hurst, Euless, Bedford area. BEDFORD PLANTERS AND FARMERS, 1884 Attached is a list of "planters and farmers" who had a Bedford, Tarrant County, address in 1884, as found in the "Planters' and Farmers' Directory" of R. L. POLK'S TEXAS STATE GAZETTEER AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1884, published by R. L. Polk & Co., Detroit, 1884. Bedford in 1884 included areas later called Euless and Hurst, which did not have post offices then. Other "planters and farmers" who lived in what today might be called the Bedford, Euless and Hurst area had post office addresses at Birdville, Smithfield, Grapevine or Estelle. This is taken from an original copy of the book in the Houston Public Library. BEDFORD is described as follows: A post village in Tarrant county, 213 miles northeast of Austin, and 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth, the county seat, nearest railroad station and banking point. Settled in 1878, it contains a steam grist mill, a cotton gin, a church and a district school. Cotton, corn and wood are shipped. Stages daily to Fora Worth and Grapevine; fares $1 and 25 cents respectively. Population 600. Mail, tri-weekly. J. M. Massey, postmaster. By Weldon Cannon, November, 2002 Lj Re L. PO LK & CO.'S �. TE�. EXAS.STA , . Mp BUSINESS DIR.EC.TO.RY'. ,sox .' : '. . 188. 1p the following .andsection of the work, the Of ea h Pllaceee d7 th an a1pbffices abettc�e l 11tot persons ed In alphabetical order, and a deacrl tlon is given, by personal rsonal canvass, dole business therein. Ina theean _ er places the names a�reat care been taken to secure oor• rectue" ao well an comp el tensees by _ - -- - PLANTERS' AND FARMERS' , D2REC.TORY , OF log 'r EXAS, I' Glving the number of acres cultivated by each, and the taxable valuation, as taken from . offlolal'llsts. Unorganized or very recently organized counties are without official lists of planters. Figures after name indicate the number of acres; the letters denote value : }'of same, as follows: A, $1,000 to %1,500; B, $1,500 to $2,000; Q, .$2,000 to $8,0001 D, {'$8,000 to $4,000;-E, $4,000 to $5,000; F, $5,000 to $10,00Q; G, $10,000 to $20,000; H, '=20,000 and over. Followigg this is the postoffice address. Where postoffiPip oe address ie • � .not given the notation at head of each county will designate to what point mail should y •- 1be addressed. When sent, to the county seat, letters should be addressed i» care of ! !1 pantyta�seolleetor. :,,. Allen R P, 130 C Allen T B, 87 A Arthur M D, 200 B Arwine D, 928 F Boals R F, 360 E Bobo J H, 178 A Bobo W W, 401 C Boyd A H, 222 C Boyd A H & J B,, 320 B Brown Mrs E A, 113 A Brown M F, 120 B Cannon W G, 273 B Dailey J G, 130 B Dobkins Dr W, 345 E Dobkins W C, 405 E Euliss E A, 351 D Evatt W H, 130 A Fitch Thomas, 100 A French U M, 80 B Fuller W N M, 274 B Green Hosia, 173 B Hammond J R, 104 A Harris D H, 280 A Harris D S, 80 A Hensley James, 160 A Hitch W H, 320 B Huffman J M, 130 A Hurst W L, 301 F Johnson Mrs L, 200 A Leason C A, 200 B Lee Miss Lucy, 640 C McKinzie H 0, 130 A Mahan J N, 192 B Moore Milton, 148 C Newton E, 767 F Trigg D C, 1277 F Trigg J H, 547 C Trigg J W, 280 C Trigg T E, 361 D Trimble G B, 346 C Valentine B J, 130 A Valentine H C, 140 C Valentine I P & M E, 1046 F Valentine J G, 160 A Valentine R T, 175 C Weatherly Joseph, 206 C Williams Mrs M E, 140 B Witten SCH, 1590F Youngblood T P, 280 C Weldon G. Cannon History Files BEDFORD REUNION In this folder donated to the City of Euless, labeled BEDFORD REUNION, are a few key documents and other materials from files donated to The University of Texas at Arlington for the Weldon G. Cannon Euless Collection in the Special Collections of the University Library. Following is a brief summary of materials in each folder under this subject that were donated to UTA: 1. BEDFORD REUNION Folder contents A work file of varied materials, with narrative; the application for a Texas Historical Marker was approved and the marker placed at the Bedford Cemetery in 2002; accompanies other Bedford Reunion files; 1/4". 2. ATTENDANCE REGISTERS Folder contents Names of those who attended, mainly in 1950s and 1960s; accompanies other Bedford Reunion files; 1". 3. NEWSPAPERS Folder contents Photocopies of all articles found in newspapers of Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas, and a few other places; accompanies other Bedford Reunion files; 3/4". 4. REUNION SPEAKERS Folder contents List of speakers, most years 19154959; accompanies other Bedford Reunion files; %." 5. CHAIRMEN Folder contents List of chairmen, most years 1915-1959; accompanies other Bedford Reunion files; 1/4". [WGC note —Although this marker was set in Bedford, it is included here because of the proximity of Euless and Bedford and the involvement of many Euless people in the Reunion. Community dividing lines were much more fluid in the early 20th century than today.] Texas Historical Commission staff (LCH), 8/15/02, revised 9/30102 27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post Tarrant County (Job #08102) Location: 2401 Bedford Rd., Bedford Subject codes: PI UTM ref.: 14 675132E 3635388N BEDFORD REUNION SETTLERS FROM BEDFORD COUNTY, I t NNESSEE, CAME TO THIS AREA IN THE 1870s. WELDON WILES BOBO OPENED A STORE AND GRIST MILL, AND SEVERAL FAMILIES ESTABLISHED NEW HOPE CHURCH IN 1874, ALSO USING THE BUILDING AS A SCHOOL. THE POST OFFICE OPENED IN 1877, AND, IN 1882, RESIDENTS ESTABLISHED BEDFORD COLLEGE, A PRIVATE COLLEGE THAT ALSO SERVED AS A PUBLIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL. A PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTION, WITH GRADUATES BECOMING LEADERS IN MANY FIELDS, THE COLLEGE HELD ITS FIRST TERM AT NEW HOPE CHURCH. MANY CHURCH FOUNDERS WERE ALSO COLLEGE TRUSTEES, INCLUDING BOBO, MILTON MOORE, BENJAMIN J. VALENTINE AND RICHARD T. VALENTINE. THE SCHOOL BURNED IN 1894 AND NEVER REOPENED. IN 1912, THOUGH, APPROXIMATELY 500 PEOPLE MET ON THE GROUNDS OF NEW HOPE CHURCH, WHICH BY THEN WAS KNOWN ALSO AS BEDFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST, THERE THEY HELD THE FIRST BEDFORD REUNION, FILLING THE DAY WITH SERMONS, MUSIC, FOOD AND REMINISCING. M.H. MOORE AND LEE M. HAMMOND ORGANIZED THE FIRST GATHERING, AND THE REUNION BECAME AN ANNUAL EVENT, WITH CROWDS IN THE THOUSANDS. PARTICIPANTS BUILT A TABERNACLE IN 1915 AND USED IT UNTIL 1958, WHEN A NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS ERECTED, WITH DWINDLING ATTENDANCE, THOUGH, THE LAST REUNION WAS IN 1969. DURING THE 58 YEARS OF BEDFORD REUNIONS, WHICH BECAME MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY HISTORY THAN ABOUT BEDFORD COLLEGE, EDUCATORS, MINISTERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, INCLUDING TWO CONGRESSMEN, DELIVERED SPEECHES TO THE CROWDS, AREA NEWSPAPERS COVERED REUNION HIGHLIGHTS, AND THROUGH THESE STORIES AND THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE LATER REUNIONS, BEDFORD'S EARLY HISTORY IS REMEMBERED. (2002) THE BEDFORD REUNION Bedford, Tezas By Weldon G. Cannon The Bedford Reunion /Page 1 THE BEDFORD REUNION Bedford, Texas By Weldon G. Cannon, Ph.D. Copyright 2003 Weldon G. Cannon On Sunday, August 25, 1912, about 500 people braved the summer heat to gather on a rocky hill at Bedford, Texas, to recall bygone days in the community. Some were alumni of Bedford College, a small but prestigious institution that flourished for about 10 years in the late 1800s. Also at the gathering were pioneer settlers of Bedford, a Northeast Tarrant County community settled more than 50 years earlier. The crowd met under a large tent erected among sprawling oak trees on the grounds of the New Hope Church of Christ (also called New Hope Christian Church or Bedford Church of Christ), where the college held its first sessions in 1882. M. H. Moore, superintendent of North Fort Worth public schools, preached at the 11 a.m. church service, as he had done at least one Sunday each month for several years. A Bedford native and college alumnus, Moore belonged to one of the community's founding families. Following the church service, attendees spread food on long tables under the tent fora "basket dinner." When everyone had eaten and after the dishes were cleared, the crowd reassembled for singing and speech making. The assembly sang from "Popular Hymns," a book of gospel songs used at Bedford 20 years earlier. Tarrant County School Superintendent Lee M. Hammond, another Bedford native and college graduate, delivered the main afternoon address, The Bedford Reunion /Page 2 relating humorous incidents from his college days. Several other alumni spoke on the theme, "Old School Days at Bedford." The participants were educators, physicians, politicians and other prominent citizens, all members of pioneer Bedford families —the Bobos, Trimbles, Valentines and Moores. M. H. Moore and Lee M. Hammond deserve credit as founders of the Reunion. At 4 p.m., the college alumni met under the tent to establish a permanent organization. After Professor Hammond outlined the purposes of an association, everyone endorsed his proposals and elected him president. Following dismissal, college chums, cousins and friends said their goodbyes and vowed to return the next year. They left as they had come, by wagon, buggy, automobile and train.l The 1912 gathering was the start of the Bedford Reunion, which for the next 58 years served as an occasion for old-timers to recall and relive the community's history and to share it with younger generations. The reunion evolved into an annual affirmation and reinforcement of the belief that Bedford had a heritage worthy of being preserved. United States Congressman Fritz Lanham in the keynote address at the 1924 reunion summed up the importance of the annual gathering, not only for that year but also for the reunion throughout its course. He praised the courageous Bedford men and ,women , most of them refugees from the devastated post -Civil War South, who came to Texas to farm, to establish businesses, to rear families and to create institutions such as Bedford College. Lanham turned to the young people in the crowd of 1,000 people and � Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912. The Bedford Reunion / Page 3 reminded them that they had the responsibility and obligation of carrying on the work started by their forebears. "And with this type of young manhood and young womanhood assembled here today," he concluded, we can rest assured that the principles for which these old people struggled will be perpetuated." Throughout the history of the Bedford Reunion, those principles, indeed, were maintained.2 Bedford, Texas, began in about 1870, when Weldon Wiles Bobo settled in Tarrant County, 17 miles northeast of Fort Worth, opening a store and a gristmill. In 18745 several families living near the store established the New Hope Church, erecting a building on property donated by Milton Moore, father of M. H. Moore. The building doubled as a school. When a post office opened in 1877, it was named for Bedford County, Tennessee, home of the Bobos and several other pioneer families. Bedford was the central community for approximately 100 square miles of Tarrant County that today basically is encompassed by the Hurst - Euless -Bedford school district. The population of the entire area was about 2,000. Most people made their living by farming.3 Community leaders established Bedford College in 1882 to enhance educational opportunities for their children. Operating as a private institution that collected tuition from students, it offered college and university preparatory courses, promptly garnering an excellent educational reputation. The school even 2 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 8, 1924. s George Green, Hurst Euless and Bedford: Heart of the Metroplex An Illustrated History (Austin: Eakin Press, 1995), pp. 13-16; Janet Schmelzer, Where the West Begins: Fort Worth and Tarrant County (Northridge, California: Windsor Publications, Inc., 1985), pp. 51-52; U. S. Bureau of the Census, Tenth Census of the United States, 1880, Tarrant County, Texas, pp. 143- 165. The Bedford Reunion / Page 4 attracted out-of-state students. At the same time, it served as a public community school for younger children. The college soon erected its own building nearby on another tract of land donated by Milton Moore. After several years of successful operation, however, disaster struck on June 2, 1894, when the building burned. The college never reopened. a The first reunion in 1912 was held the last Sunday in August to correspond approximately with the opening dad of the college's first session in 1882. From 1913 until 1934, the reunion met on the first Sunday in September. In 1935, the gathering met the first Sunday in October and thereafter always on the third Sunday of September. Why the organizers choose a Sunday for the reunion is unknown, since it was originally a college and community, not a church, event. However, the organizers had grown-up in the New Hope Church and still had families living in Bedford. They often attended church there on Sundays and visited with relatives. To the gathering's founders, the morning worship and the afternoon reunion were both part of the days activities.s Although the first reunion was held under a tent erected for the occasion, a brush arbor was built on the site for the 1913 gathering. In 1914, the reunion was n Glenn M. Holden, "A Partial History of Education in Tarrant County", M. A. Thesis, Texas Christian University, 19315 pp. 41-44; "Charter of Bedford College," MS, Texas Secretary of State, Austin, Texas; Patricia Helvey, "Bedford School," MS, Texas Historical Commission, Austin, Texas; Michael Patterson, "Bedford Church of Christ," MS, Texas Historical Commission, Austin, Texas; The Fort Worth Daily Gazette, June 5, 1894; The Dallas Morning News, June 5, 1894; The Fort Worth Press, September 21, 1958. s The Fort Worth Daily Gazette, March 1, 1893; April 5, 1893; May 31, 1893; May 16, 1894; Fort Worth Star-Teleg�, August 26, 1912; September 7, 1913; Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 5, 1927; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, September 1, 1934; September 26, 1935; October 7, 1935; September 15, 1936; North Fort Worth News, October 28, 1938. The Bedford Reunion / Page 5 held in the church building, which proved totally inadequate with its maximum capacity of about 150. In 1915, a tabernacle large enough to accommodate several hundred reunion attendees was erected on the east side of the church grounds. The sturdy, rectangular, open -sided structure had strong cedar post supports and was covered with fine cedar roof shingles. An open clerestory at the peak of the roof vented the siunmer heat. The 1957 reunion was the last get- together in the tabernacle. Late that year or in early 1958, it was torn down when a new church building was erected on the site of the 1874 church building. Subsequent reunions were held in the new church building.6 College ex -students planned the reunion in 1912 and formed the alumni association. But since most of them had once called Bedford home and many of them had moved to other parts of Texas, or even out of state, they also considered it a reunion of old settlers and pioneers. Over the years, as alumni died, the annual gathering gradually lost its college emphasis. An announcement in 1920 confirmed that it was no longer primarily for former students but had also become a general community reunion. Attendees at the 1922 reunion seriously considered discontinuing the gathering since many of those who had attended the college, as well as Bedford old settlers, were aging or had passed away. They decided, however, to continue it as an annual memorial service for those who had died. The last time it was referred to as an ex -student or alumni reunion was 1924. 6 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, July 15, 1915; The Grapevine Sun, August 28, 1915; Interview with Frank Driskill by Weldon G. Cannon, April 12, 2000, Fruitvale, Texas; Interview with Joe Driskill by Weldon G. Cannon, October 7, 2000, Grapevine, Texas; Interview with Kenneth Chrismon by Weldon G. Cannon, July 225 2001, Bedford, Texas. The Bedford Reunion /Page 6 Thereafter, it was occasionally called the Bedford Homecoming, sometimes the Bedford Old Settlers Reunion, but most often simply "the Bedford Reunion." In 1931, attendees again discussed discontinuing the annual meeting but decided to keep going. Although short-lived, Bedford College was a prestigious institution, and many of its graduates became outstanding leaders in education, medicine, business, politics, farming and other endeavors. Consequently, a large group of well-educated, influential people and successful college alumni valued the fine education they received there. Among graduates of Bedford College were M. H. Moore, superintendent of North Fort Worth and Fort Worth public schools; Lee M. Hammond, Tarrant County School superintendent and co-founder of Arlington College, now the University of Texas at Arlington; Dr. William M. Trimble, co- founder with Hammond of Arlington College, and Tarrant County physician and Fort Worth city physician; John M. Moore, Tarrant County treasurer; Jesse M. Brown, Hugh L. Small and I. T. Valentine, all Tarrant County judges; Hugh Hightower, Tarrant County commissioner; J. E. Valentine, superintendent of the Knights of Pythias Home in Weatherford; Ben M. Terrell, district judge; a Dr. Gilbert, physician in Irving; Dr. J. E., Bobo, physician in Topeka, Kansas; and many other accomplished professional and business people. Fort Worth Record-Teleg am, September 3, 1928; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; September 4, 1912; July 21, 1915; September 6, 1920; September 8, 1924; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 20, 1941; September 21, 1942; The Grapevine Sun, September 10, 1931; September 18, 1941. The Bedford Reunion /Page 7 The reunion format remained basically the same throughout the 58 years. Some people came at 10 a.m. for "meeting and greeting." Others came for the regular worship in the church building at 11 a.m., a traditional service in the style of the Church of Christ — preaching, communion, prayers and a cappella singing. M. H. Moore preached the Sunday morning sermon every year through 1938, when he died suddenly in October. Many more people assembled on the church grounds or under the tabernacle while the church service was still under way. Others timed their arrival to coincide with the end of morning worship. In the early afternoon, dinner, as it was called for many years, was spread on long tables under the tabernacle. Food had been lovingly prepared in home kitchens and brought in picnic baskets and boxes. Residents of Bedford and nearby parts of northeastern Tarrant County were considered to be hosts and were expected to bring enough food for their families and out -of --town guests. Accounts usually reported an abundance of food for everyone. But on a few occasions reunion announcements carried urgent pleas for local residents to prepare enough food for out -of --town guests, implying that there had not been enough the previous year. Barrels of drinking water, great quantities of ice tea and soft drinks were available for thirsty visitors on the usually hot, Al late summer day. By 2 p.m., the eating was ended, food cleared away and tables moved out. The wooden pews were arranged to face an elevated rostrum with a lectern located on the east side of the tabernacle. The reunion chairman, who had been elected the preceding year, The Bedford Reunion /Page 8 called the meeting to order and made a few introductory remarks. Then the activities began in earnest.$ A vital part of every reunion was music -- usually congregational singing oI familiar hymns and gospel songs and presentations by quartets, choruses and other special groups that were organized as families, communities, churches, schools or other groupings. The 1917 gathering featured "good music by local talent." In 1919 and several times in the 1920s, Sam Losh led the congregational singing and organized special musical presentations. A professor at Texas Christian University and a successful Fort Worth music teacher who had trained a number of professional musicians, Losh was in great demand as a director of musical programs around North Texas. On at least two occasions in the 1920s, Sacred Harp singers presented programs. The Fort Worth WPA Recreation Department Orchestra played for the 1936 and 1937 reunions. The 1940 music program featured presentations by two singing groups -- the Fort Worth Junior Chamber of Commerce Men's Chorus and the chorus of the North Side Church of Christ, home congregation of reunion chairman Will Day, as well as M. H. Moore anA many other former Bedfordites who lived in Fort Worth. A quartet, a trio and a duet also sang. In some years, the music was congregational singing, often led by Calvin Moore, son of M. H. Moore. For many years, a heavy upright piano a Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 25, 1912; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, October 2, 1935; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 19, 1938; September 17, 1951; Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 3, 1927; September 5, 1927; September 3, 1928; North Fort Worth News, October 29, 1938; The Grapevine Sun, August 15, 1914; August 27, 1925; August 31, 1933; The Arlington Journal, August 31, 1928; September 15, 1939; Interview with Evelyn Wilkerson (Mrs. Walter) Fitch by Weldon G. Cannon, April 14, 1999, Bedford, Texas; Interview with Lynn Cannon by Weldon G. Cannon, March 9, 1998, Hurst, Texas. The Bedford Reunion / Page 9 from the home of Will and Nora Bobo Fitch was moved to the rostrum. It was all right to use a piano for musical accompaniment, even for hymn singing, since this was not a church worship service.9 A featured speaker almost always delivered a principal address, usually on a patriotic theme, a current event or a moral or religious issue. On at least four occasions U. S. congressmen spokeG. Lanham in 1924 , 1927 and 1935, and Jim Wright in 1957. State Senator Julien C. Hyer spoke in 1929. State Judges sometimes addressed the assembly and ministers often spoke; usually from the Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Methodist Church or Baptist Church. One year, a presiding elder of the Methodist Church spoke. Educators, especially school superintendents and college professors, also delivered addresses. In 1919, M. H. Moore, who preached the Sunday morning church sermon, was also the featured afternoon speaker.io Even though. there was no featured speaker some years, there was still plenty of speech -making by attendees. A key part of every reunion was 9 The Arlington Journal, August 17, 1917; September 20, 1940; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 6, 1919; September 7, 1919; September 5, 1920; September 6, 1920; September 7, 1925; Fort Worth Star - Telegram, Morning Edition, September 17, 1936; September 20, 1937; September 16, 1940; September 17, 1945; September 17, 1951; The Grapevine Sun, September 2, 1926; August 22, 1929; August 31, 1933; August 30, 1934; September 17, 1936; September 24, 1936; September 16, 1937; Interview with Evelyn Wilkerson (Mrs. Walter) Fitch by Weldon Cannon, April 14, 1999, Bedford, Texas. '° Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; September 6, 1919; September 8, 1919; The Grapevine Sun, September 2, 1926; August 22, 1929; August 31, 1933; August 30, 1934; October 10, 1935; September 20, 1951; September 17, 1978; The Arlington Journal, August 23, 1929; September 13, 1940; September 19, 1941; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 16, 1951; September 16, 1957; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, September 16, 1946; September 17, 1951; September 143 1957; Reunion Register, September 15, 1957, MS, Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old The Bedford Reunion / Page 10 reminiscing. While most of this was one-on-one or in small groups, sometimes it was part of a planned, organized program. Nearly always, some time was set aside in each program for unplanned and extemporaneous comments, gg everyone a chance to say something. People often spoke of their earlier life in Bedford or their family's connection with the community.) i Sometimes the programs featured organized presentations of Bedford history. At the first reunion in 1912, "Old School Days at Bedford" was the subject of speeches by six former college students. The 1917 gathering, also rich in historical reminiscing, featured talks on "The Times of Our Young Lives at Bedford," "The Pioneers Who Paved the Way" and "An Analysis of What This Community has Wrought." A historian would have found a gold mine of information at the 1934 reunion, listening to speeches about "Bedford During and Immediately After the Civil War" -and "History of the New Hope Church" by John Moore, brother of M. H. Moore and Tarrant County Treasurer for many years, and a presentation by Lee M. Hammond on "Bedford Schools and School Teachers." Unfortunately, most of these speeches have been lost. However, much of John Moore's history was preserved in a 1939 article, "Bedford Church of Christ," that appeareA in a weekly Tarrant County newspaper.12 Bedford School, Bedford, Texas; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Mid -Cities Edition, September 8, 1966; The Fort Worth Press, September 20, 1959. 11 Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 5, 1927; September 3, 1928; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 8, 1924; The Grapevine Sun, September 1, 1927; September 1, 1932; Weldon G. Cannon Diary, 1963, MS, in possession of Weldon G. Cannon, Temple, Texas. '2 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; The Arlington Journal, August 17, 1917; The Grapevine Sun, Aug. 30, 1934; October 10, 1935; Tarrant County Citizen, [1939], undated newspaper clipping, Bedford Public Library, Bedford, Texas. The Bedford Reunion / Page 11 Another memorable reunion year was 1928 when the Fort Worth Record - Telegram reported that a short program ceded importance to hours of attendees relating "I Remember When It ." M. H. Moore, Superintendent %3 Fort Worth Public Schools since 1915, preached at the 11 a.m. church service on the topic of "Faith." For the afternoon program following lunch, Court of Civil Appeals Judge R. H. Buck from Fort Worth spoke about "Old Times." A Tarrant County resident since 18775 J. R. Fuller of Euless gave a brief memoir. He was a native of the Tennessee neighborhood that was home to many other families that settled in Bedford and Euless --Trigg, Bobo, Euless, Cannon, Himes, Green, Jernigan, Whitener, Wiser, Redden and others. J. W. Mixon, a singing school instructor who had lived in Bedford for more than 30 years, performed. Former Bedford residents more than 80 years old were introduced, including A. J. "Jack" Day who had lived in northeastern Tarrant County since 1857. County Treasurer Moore read a list of charter members of the New Hope Church in 1874, including members of the Bobo, Bearden, Valentine, Redman, Childress, Moore, Cannon, Trimble, Russell and Brown families. D. S. Harris then led the assembly in singing a venerable hymn "We Speak of the Realms of the Blest" in their memory. Four of the charter members were also organizers of the college in 1882 -- Milton Moore, Weldon Wiles Bobo, Benjamin J. Valentine and Richard T. Valentine. Former teacher and minister W. H. Wright of Dallas, now blind, missed the reunion for the first time in many years, but sent greetings. More than The Bedford Reunion /Page 12 1,000 people attended, including visitors from as far away as Missouri and Kentucky. Many stayed until dusk.13 A key feature of most reunions was the introduction of special guests. Until the late 1920s, former teachers or graduates of the college who had become prominent citizens or professional people were always recognized. Often they were on the program, speaking briefly about their experiences at Bedford. In the 1940s, as the number of ex -students and old settlers rapidly dwindled and many of those remaining lived far away from Bedford, it became a common practice to introduce the oldest in attendance and those who had traveled the farthest. Sometimes the oldest man and the oldest woman were introduced, and occasionally, the youngest attendees.14 A list of pioneers who had died within the last year was often read. The 1922 reading, really a list of founders of the Reunion who had died since 1912, sounded like a roll call of old Bedford families: Mrs. W. W. Bobo, Mrs. Green Cannon, Dr. William Trimble, Professor W. H. Kimbrough, John Cannon, J. Ed Valentine, Dr. J. E. Bobo and J. H. Bobo.ts The reunion was also an important social occasion and people dressed accordingly. Photographs from various years reveal that women wore fine dresses, 13 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 30, 1928; September 3, 1928; Fort Worth Record-Teleg am, September 3, 1928. 14 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; July 21, 1915; September 6, 1920; Fort Worth Star - Telegram, Morning Edition, September 16, 1951; The Arlington Journal, August 17, 1917; August 23, 1929; September 20, 1940; The Grapevine Sun, August 15, 1914; September 17, 1978. 15 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 4, 1922. The Bedford Reunion / Page 13 hats almost always and gloves often. Men wore suits and neckties, even though the weather was usually hot. i6 For many years, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Wright, a particularly influential and beloved couple, attended and often appeared on the program. They both taught at the Bedford school in the late 1870s and early 1880s, even before the college was established. He was minister at the New Hope Church at the same time. After leaving Bedford, he established the First Christian Church of Arlington, served as minister of the First Christian Church of Dallas (now the Highland Oaks Church of Christ) and was widely recognized as an important leader among Texas Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) and Churches of Christ. His wife, Francina Alice Barkley Wright, was a daughter of Dr. Benjamin F. Barkley, prominent citizen of Birdville, first county seat of Tarrant County. In 1867, when most men were disqualified from holding office because they had supported the Confederacy, 15-year-old Alice Barkley was appointed postmistress at Birdville. Bedford ex -students and old settlers always looked forward to the Wrights' reminiscences.l7 16 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 6, 1924; Fort Worth Star-Teleg am, Morning, September 17, 1945; September 22, 1947; September 19, 1949; September 17, 1951; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening, September 17, 1945; Winnie Day (Mrs. Ross) Cannon photo album, in possession of Weldon Cannon, Temple, Texas. 17 The Grapevine Sun, August 15, 1914; September 2, 1926; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, July 21, 1915; September 8, 1919; September 6, 1920; September 7, 1925; The Arlington Journal, August 17, 1917; The Christian Courier, July 23, 19315 p. 12; Ron Tyler, Editor in Chief, The New Handbook of Texas (Austin: The Texas State Historical Association, 1996), v. 1, p. 383; Record of Appointments of Postmasters, Tarrant County, Texas, 1850-1877, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C.; Julia Kathryn Garrett, Fort Worth: A Frontier Triumph (Austin: The Encino Press, 1972), p. 255. The Bedford Reunion / Page 14 Two reunions in the 1950s were particularly noteworthy. In 1951, the 40tn reunion attracted considerable newspaper coverage. More than 200 people were reported to have attended. A lengthy article, accompanied by a photograph, was published in the Fort Worth Star -Telegram. Walter Fitch, grandson of Weldon Wiles Bobo, founder %J Bedford, was reunion chairman. Vancil Wren, minister of the Bedford Church of Christ, preached the morning sermon. After lunch, the featured afternoon speaker was Dr. Cothburn O'Neal, professor at Arlington State College (now the University of Texas at Arlington), who spoke on "Propaganda Techniques." The oldest settler on hand was W. R. Mayes, 90, of Arlington. Mrs. Jim Anderson of Bedford, 82, claimed the title of oldest woman present. L. D. Rutledge, another Bedford old-timer, directed the afternoon singing. Tom Acton of Cheraw, South Carolina, traveled the longest distance to the reunion. Edna Evett (Mrs. Tom) Cannon, of Wichita Falls, but a resident of Bedford most of her life, had attended so many reunions she could not recall the exact number. Her grandnephew, Weldon Cannon of Euless, youngest regular reunion participant, knew that he had attended the annual gathering almost every one of his 17 years. Nearly 20 educators were present, including FortWorth school Superintendent Joe P. Moore, son of M. H. Moore, and Texas Christian University professor Dr. John H. Hammond, son of Lee M. Hammond. Seven of the educators were pioneer Bedford teachers.lg 18 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 16, 1951; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, September 17, 1951; The Grapevine Sun, September 20, 1951. The Bedford Reunion / Page 15 More than 300 people were reported to have attended the 1937 reunion. Chairman again was Walter Fitch, Bedford postmaster. Featured speaker was Congressman Jim Wright of Fort Worth. He was in great demand as a speaker when visiting his district, appearing on programs several times each week. Calvin Moore was elected chairman for the next year.19 Attendance varied greatly over the years, running well into the hundreds, perhaps even thousands, in the early years, but dwindling to a few dozen by the 1960s. Newspaper accounts provide figures for many years from 1912 to 1957. Eleven reunion attendance registers from the 1950s and 1960s are extant. Many newspaper accounts doubtlessly exaggerated the numbers in attendance, and some guests certainly failed to sign the registers. Nevertheless, general attendance patterns can be ascertained. Nearly 500 people reportedly attended the first reunion in 1912. Only 23 registered in 1969, the last year of the event. An estimated 2,500 attended in 1921 and several thousand in 1930. If that many actually attended, the grounds were covered with people and the narrow, unpaved country road leading to the church was jammed with vehicles. Estimates of 1,000 were reported for 1924, 1927 and 1928. Attendance in 1941 was described as the largest in its history, although no figure was given. More than 300 people were 19 Fort Worth Star-Tele rg_am, Evening Edition, September 14, 1957; Fort Worth Star Telegram, Morning Edition, September 16, 1957; Interview with Jim Wright by Weldon Cannon, October 20, 2001, Fort Worth, Texas. The Bedford Reunion /Page 16 reported to have attended the 1957 reunion, although only 115 signed the attendance register.20 Besides visitors from throughout Texas and other states, large numbers of people from several Tarrant County cities and towns swelled the population of Bedford on reunion day. Great crowds from Fort Worth could always be expected, since many Bedford people had moved there. In 1927, several hundred were reported to have attended from Fort Worth. Because M. H. Moore and several other former Bedford citizens lived in North Fort Worth, that part of the city was always well represented. Also in 1927, so many from Grapevine attended that the local newspaper declined to name them. Another year the Grapevine Christian Church dismissed its Sunday services so that members could go to the Bedford Reunion. From neighboring Euless great numbers also came. Many Grapevine and Euless residents had kinspeople and friends in Bedford, since many pioneer families in all three towns came from the same part of Bedford County, Tennessee.ai The reunions received extensive coverage in Fort Worth, Arlington and Grapevine newspapers from the beginning to the early 1950s. There was no Bedford newspaper, but the Arlington and Grapevine weekly papers regularly carried news items from small communities in northeastern Tarrant County as late 20 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; September 5, 1921; September 8, 1924; September 5, 1927; September 3, 1928; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 22, 1941; September 16, 1957; The Grapevine Sun, September 4, 1930; Reunion Register, 1957; Reunion Register, 1969, Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas. 21 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, August 26, 1912; September 8, 1919; September 3', 1923; September 5, 1927; The Grapevine Sun, September 2, 1926; September 8, 1927; The Arlingtton Journal, September 9, 1927, September 20, 1940; North Fort Worth News, September 9, 1938. The Bedford Reunion / Page 17 as the 1940s. Fort Worth newspapers also reported a remarkable amount of Bedford news. Several Bedford natives became influential professional people in Fort Worth and held important offices in city, school and county governments. Newspapers regularly carried accounts of the reunion a day or two after the gathering. Reporters and photographers from Fort Worth newspapers sometimes covered the reunion as news eventsa Each year, the reunion was publicized in various ways. Probably the most effective method was word -of --mouth exchanges among families and friends. Since the meeting day rarely changed, people could put it on their calendars or just make a mental note to remember it each year. Some years, the reunion had a publicity chairman. The event was publicized regularly in Fort Worth, Grapevine and Arlington newspapers, usually a week or two before, but sometimes on the day of the event. In 1944, John M. Moore, publicity chairman for the year, announced through news releases that he had attended every one of the reunions, that he was 92 years old and was still driving his car and "going places." Postcard invitations often were sent to people on a mailing list, especially to those outside Tarrant County.23 zz Fort Worth Record -Telegram, August 31, 1929; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 8, 1924; Fort Worth Star-Teleg am, Morning, September 17, 1945; September 22, 1947; September 19, 1949; September 17, 1951; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening, September 17, 1945.; The Fort Worth Press, September 21, 1958. Most newspapers are preserved on microfilm in the Fort Worth, Arlington and Grapevine public libraries. Articles from some editions of newspapers not microfilmed are preserved in library and family history files. Unfortunately, suburban editions of the Fort Worth newspapers that would most likely have carried news of the reunions for the 1950s and 1960s were not microfilmed. 2s Postcard Reunion Announcement, 1966, Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, September 7, 1913; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, August 27, 1933; The Grapevine Sun, September 14, 1944; 1he Fort Worth Press, September 19, The Bedford Reunion / Page 18 Bedford is fortunate that much of its early history has been preserved through newspaper accounts of the reunion. The reminiscences of early residents as reported in newspapers add many rich details to Bedford history. Several newspaper articles are accompanied by valuable photographs of both the reunion crowd and unique views of the 1874 church bung and the 1915 tabernacle. A few other photographs of the reunion from other sources also exist.24 Walter Fitch and his wife, Evelyn Wilkerson Fitch, of Bedford, preserved 11 reunion attendance registers from 1950 to 1969. Most are recorded in spiral composition books; others are on unbound sheets of paper. There are problems with the registers. Some are not dated. For still others, the date appears to have been written in later. The same year is written on two of them. However, the correct year can be corroborated or determined by other means for most of them. Hence, they are an invaluable source of information for the later years when there was little newspaper coverage.25 1947; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Mid -Cities Edition, September 8, 1966, clipping in local history files, Bedford Public Library, Bedford, Texas; Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 3, 1927. Za Fort Worth Star-Teleg am, September 8, 1924; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, September 175 1945; September 195 1949; September 17, 1951; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, September 17, 1945; September 18, 1967; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, unidentified edition, September 22, 1947, newspaper clipping in family history files of Frances Day (Mrs. Wayne) Moyers, Granbury, Texas; Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 3, 1927; August 31, 1929; Winme Day Cannon photo album. Photo files of the Fort Worth Star -Telegram and some early Fort Worth newspapers are preserved in the Special Collections Division of the Library of the University of Texas at Arlington. is Reunion Register, 1950, Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas; Reunion Register, 1969; Interview with Libby Buuck by Weldon Cannon, October 6, 2000, Bedford, Texas; Evelyn Fitch interview, April 19, 1999; Interview with Randy Fitch by Weldon Cannon, September 30, 2001, Bedford, Texas. There are eleven reunion registers. The oldest, although undated, can almost certainly be assigned to 1950. The next ones are dated 1955, 1956, and 1957. There are two registers dated 1959. One of them is probably for 1958. The next one is dated 1960. Another undated register can be assigned to 1963. The last three are dated 1964, 1966 and 1969. These are all preserved in the Bedford Historical Foundation Archives at the Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas. The Bedford Reunion / Page 19 From the mid-1950s until its demise, the reunion seemed to take on a new character. It had always been a college or old settlers' reunion, a community rather than a church affair. Nevertheless, the reunion had always met in and around the 10 / church building where the college began in 1882 or in the 1915 tabernacle erected near the church specifically for the reunion. Many people who were not members of the church came to Sunday morning worship, and according to most accounts, the 11 a.m. service was considered to be the opening of the reunion each year: In the late 1950s and through the 1960s, however, news releases generally had a different tone. Morning worship was rarely mentioned, and the reunion was scheduled to "begin with a picnic basket lunch at 1 p.m." followed by a program. A 1966 mailed invitation to the reunion said nothing about the church service, inviting people only to the lunch and the program. Although the morning worship and the reunion technically were always separate events, and most people who came to the afternoon reunion did not attend the church service, the organizers and early leaders seemed to consider the morning service an important part of the days activities. This was no longer the case in later years. Ironically, beginning in 1958, the reunion program was always held in the new Bedford J Church of Christ building since the tabernacle had been torn down.26 The last reunion met on September 21, 1969, in the Bedford church building. There are no newspaper accounts after 1967, and the last register is for z6 Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Edition, September 16, 1954; September 14, 1957; September 15, 1958; September 18, 1967; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Morning Edition, August 27, 1933; September 17, 1951; September 115 1955; September 14, 1956; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, Evening Mid -Cities Edition, September 8, 1966; Reunion Register, 1969. The Bedford Reunion / Page 20 1969. Although the 1915 tabernacle had been gone since 1957 or 1958, the meeting was still held on the site of the first session of Bedford College in 1882 and the site of every reunion since beginning in 1912. The two older generations were gone; the third generation was rapidly dying. There were fewer and fewer people who could return once a year to reminisce about the "olden days." Furthermore, most people had other interests than attending reunions and reminiscing about the past. The character of Bedford was rapidly changing also. It was no longer a small, rural community, centered around a store, a school and a church. Bedford was quickly becoming a small suburban city in the middle of the Dallas -Fort Worth Metroplex, inhabited mainly by people who had moved from elsewhere and who knew little of its history.27 Nevertheless, because of the college (1882-1894), the reunion (1912- 1969), and the accounts and records they generated, many details of Bedford's early history have been preserved. How fortunate it was that Bedford's sons and daughters organized a reunion in 1912 and perpetuated it for 58 years, keeping alive the community's history and the memory and accomplishments of their forebears. 27 Reunion Register, 1969; Fort Worth Star-Tele ram, Evening Edition, September 18, 1967; Green, Hurst, Euless and Bedford, pp, 85, 91; Schmelzer, Where the West Begins, 93-95. The Bedford Reunion / Page 21 Bedford Reunion Principal Speakers 1912: Lee M. Hammond, Tarrant County School Superintendent 1919: M. H. Moore, Fort Worth School Superintendent 19200 W. H. Kimbrough, Judge, Amarillo 19210 M. H. Moore, Fort Worth School Superintendent 1923: E. R. Cockrell, Mayor, Fort Worth 1924: Fritz Lanham, U. S. Representative, Fort Worth 1925: James A. Clark, Former Teacher, Bedford College 1926: W. L. Coley, Judge, Fort Worth 1927: Fritz G. Lanham, U. S. Representative, Fort Worth Sam A. Ashburn, Minister 1928: R. H. Buck, Court of Civil Appeals Judge 1929: Julien C. Hyer, State Senator, Fort Worth 1930: Jesse E. Martin, Candidate for District Attorney, Fort Worth 1931: J. C. Smith, Judge Julien C. Hyer. 1933: Frank P. Culver, Presiding Elder, Methodist Episcopal Church, South 1934: Jesse M. Brown, Tarrant County Judge, Fort Worth 1935: Fritz G. Lanham, U. S. Representative, Fort Worth 1936: Jeff D. Ray, Professor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth T. M. Trimble, Principal, Arlington Heights Public Schools 1937: R. A. Stuart, Attorney L. A. Woods, State Superintendent of Public Instruction 193 8: Marvin H. Brown, Judge, Fort Worth The Bedford Reunion /Page 22 1939: Jesse Brown Marvin H. Brown Sr., Mark McGee 1940: Goldman Drury, Minister and Y.M.C.A. staff, Fort Worth; J. P. Moore, Principal, Polytechnic High School, Fort Worth; John Moore, Arlington 1941: Walter Morris, Judge 67th District Court, Fort Worth 1942: Perry Gresham, Minister, University Christian Church, Fort Worth 1943: John M. Moore Leslie Wright J. P. Moore 1945: [A. D.] Roach, Tarrant County School Superintendent 1946: Goldman Drury, Minister, City -County Hospital Administrator, Fort Worth 1947: Walter Morris, District Attorney, Fort Worth 1948: Joe Moore, Fort Worth School Superintendent 1949: Jesse M. Brown, Attorney 1950: Tom Renfro, District Judge, Fort Worth 1951: Cothburn ONeal, Professor, Arlington State College 1952: H. A. "Salty" Hull, State Representative, Fort Worth 1953: Cecil A. Morgan, Member, State Board of Education 1954: Fred Swank, Pastor, Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, Fort Worth 1955: L. H. "Chick" Allen, Past President, Convair Management Club 1956: S. T. Willis, Director of Child Accounting, Fort Worth Public Schools 1957: Jim Wright, U. S. Representative, Fort Worth 1959: A. T. DeGroot, Dean, Brite College. of Bible, Texas Christian University 1966: James R. Scott, Minister, Methodist Church The Bedford Reunion / Page 23 Bedford Reunion Chairmen 1913: Lee M. Hammond 1915 0 J. E. Valentine 1917: I. T. Valentine 1919: J. R. Foster 1920 J. M. Moore 1921: Will Day 1923: L. M. Hammond 1925: John Moore 1926: Lee Hammond and W. M. Moore 1930: L. M. Hammond 1931: John M. Moore 1932: John M. Moore 1935: John M. Moore 1936: L. M. Hammond 1937: Terrell M. Trimble 1938: J. Calvin Moore 1939: Lee M. Hammond 1940: Will Day 1941: Will M. Moore 1942a John M. Moore 1943: Will Fitch 1945: Will Fitch 1946: Joe P. Moore 1947: Walter Fitch 1948: Walter Fitch 1949: Henry Bucher and W. M. Moore 1950: J. Calvin Moore 1951: Walter Fitch 1952: Walter Fitch 1953: Joe P. Moore 1954: Marcus Moore 1955: Calvin Moore 1956: Walter Fitch 1957: Walter Fitch 1958: Calvin Moore 1959: John H. Hammond 1966: George M. Corbett The Bedford Reunion / Page 24 BIBLIOGRAPHY The Arlington Journal, 1917, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1939, 0 Bedford Reunion Register, [1950], 1955, 1956, 1957, [1958], 1959, 1960, [1963], 5 1969. MSS. Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas. Bedford Reunion Invitation, 1966, postcard. Bedford Historical Foundation Archives, Old Bedford School, Bedford, Texas. Cannon, Lynn. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, March 9, 1998, Hurst, Texas. Cannon, Weldon G., Diary, 1963. MS. In possession of Weldon G. Cannon, Temple, Texas. Cannon, Winnie Day (Mrs. Ross), photo album. In possession of Weldon G. Cannon, Temple, Texas. Charter of Bedford College. MS. Texas Secretary of State. Austin, Texas. Chrismon, Kenneth. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, July 22, 2001, Bedford, Texas. The Christian Courier, July 23, 1931. The Dallas Morning News, 1894. Driskill, Frank. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, April 12, 2000, Fruitvale, Texas. Driskill, Joe. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, October 7, 2000, Grapevine, Texas. Fitch, Evelyn Wilkerson (Mrs. Walter). Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, April 14, 1999, Bedford, Texas. Fitch, Randy. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, September 30, 2001, Bedford, Texas. The FortWorth Daily Gazette, 1893, 1894. The Fort Worth Press, 1920, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1958, 1959. Fort Worth Record -Telegram, 1927, 192851929, 1930. Fort Worth Star -Telegram, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1954, 19559 19565 1957, 1958, 1966, 1967. Garrett, Julia Kathryn. Fort Worth: A Frontier Triumph. Austin: The Encino Press, 1972. The Bedford Reunion / Page 25 The Grapevine Sun, 1914, 1915, 1925, 1926, 19275 19295 19309 19315 1932, 19335 19345 19355 19365 1937, 1941, 1944, 1951, 1978. Green, George. Hurst Euless and Bedford• Heart of the Metroplex An Illustrated History. Austin. Eakin Press, 1995. Helvey, Patricia. "Bedford School." MS. Texas Historical Commission. Austin, Texas. Holden, Glenn M. "A Partial History of Education in Tarrant County." M.A. Thesis, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, 1931. North Fort Worth News, 1938. Patterson, Michael. "Bedford Church of Christ." MS. Texas Historical Commission. Austin, Texas. Record of Appointments of Postmasters, Tarrant County, Texas, 1850-1877, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. Saxon, Gerald D. Transitions• A Centennial Histor�of The University of Texas at Arlington, 1895- 1995, Arlington: The UTA Press, 1995. Schmelzer, Janet L. Where the West Begins: Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Northridge, California: Windsor Publications, Inc., 1985. Tarrant County Citizen, [1939]. Tyler, Ron, Editor in Chief. 6 vols. The New Handbook of Texas. Austin: The Texas State Historical Association, 1996. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Tarrant County, Texas. Wright, Jim. Interview by Weldon G. Cannon, October 20, 2001, FortWorth, Texas. END BEDFORD COLLEGE by Weldon G. Cannon 200312004, 2005 [Beginnings of a narrative to secure a Texas Historical Commission marker for Bedford College, Bedford, Texas.] Bedford College exerted an influence far out of proportion to its duration, size and location. Founded in 1882 in a Northeast Tarrant County, Texas, rural community and lasting only until 18J4, its graduates made waves across North Texas for many years. Beginning in 1912, college ex -students met yearly for a reunion. After they had all died, their descendants and others carried on the annual tradition until 1969. The college lasted only 12 years. But for 58 years, Bedford's sons and daughters relived and recorded for posterity the history of the college and the community that gave it birth. Bedford was established about 1870 when Weldon Wiles Bobo settled in the area and opened a store and a gristmill. For several years the community was known as Bobo's Store, or simply Bobo. A net office was opened at the store in 1877 with Bobo as postmaster. Although most people in the community wanted to name it for him, he insisted that it be named Bedford, for Bedford County, Tennessee, his original home. Other families, such as the Whittens, Moores, Triggs and Eulesses, had settled in the neighborhood even before the Bobos. Other families soon followed from Bedford and adjoining Coffee County --Cannon, limes, Green, Fuller, Redden, Whitener, Jernigan, Huffman, Wiser. Their original community center was Spring Garden, about two miles north of the site of Bobo's Store, and named for the Missouri home of the Moore and Whitten families. It was the seat of justice for precinct three in northeastern Tarrant County until 1876 and the home of a school and three churches until the community's multipurpose building burned in 1872. [George Green, HURST, EULESS, AND BEDFORD HEART OF THE METROPLEX, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1995, pp. 13716.] In 1874, several families living around Bobo's Store organized a new church and erected a building nearby on Milton Moore's farm. They had doubtlesslcpntinued worshiping since the loss of their Spring Garden building, perhaps in homes. But they decided they should have a church in their own community. Known originally as the New Hope Church of Church or Christian Church, by the early 1900s it was becoming known as the Bedford Church of Christ, its name today. [Michael Patterson, "Bedford Church of Christ," Texas Historical Commission, Austin, Texas; Fort Worth Record -Telegram, September 3, 1928] From the beginning the new building was also used as a community school. Before 1885, most education in Texas was provided through loosely organized community schools. These had no district boundaries or taxing authority or permanence. Under the system, a group of people living in a "community" notified the county judge that they wanted to establish a public school. Upon his approval they secured an existing building or built a new one themselves. The judge appointed trustees who managed the school and hired a teacher. After the school was organized the state provided a small amount of money for each student enrolled. [Patterson, "Bedford Church of Christ;" GENERAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED AT THE SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH LEGISLATURE BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, April 18th, 1876, Galveston, Shaw & Blaylock, State Printers, 1876, pp. 199-210; Glenn M. Holden, A PARTIAL HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN TARRANT COUNTY, M. A. Thesis, Texas Christian University, 1931, pp. 6- 8.] In 1882, Bedford civic leaders established Bedford College to better serve the educational needs of the community. At the time Bedford was the center for a sizeable rural community. It was one of three voting places in Northeast Tarrant County for an area bounded by the Trinity River, Big Bear Creek, Precinct Line Road and the Dallas County line, roughly the area today within the Hurst -Euless -Bedford school district, spread over almost 100 square miles. The population of the entire voting precinct was about 2,200. [Tarrant County Commissioners Court Minutes, vol. A, pp. 33-36 ; U.S. Bureau of the Census, TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1880, Tarrant County, Texas, pp. ??] _ At the center of Bedford were a general store, a dry goods store that also served as the post office, a cotton gin, a grist mill, the church/school building, a doctor's office and possibly a blacksmith shop, a drug store and another store or two. The Dun business directory for 1882 listed Bedford's population as 40. In 1880, however, it had reported the population to be 350. A few business and farm families were concentrated around the business center. Bedford was not a platted town with streets and blocks. Only a few unpaved dirt roads ran through the community. There was no town government, hence, no town limits. It was very difficult to figure exactly how many people should be counted in the population. [THE MERCANTILE AGENCY REFERENCE BOOK FOR THE WITHIN STATES [TEXAS], CORRECTED UP TO JANUARY, 1880 (New York: R. G. Dun & Co., 1880), p. 10; ditto, July 1880, . 11; ditto, January 1882, p. 14 ; TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1880, Tarrant County, Texas, pp. ??; Green, HURST, EULESS AND BEDFORD, pp. 14, 15, 18] Bobo had secured a post office in 1877 and served as first postmaster. in 1882 postmaster was Harris E. Valentine, who with his brother, Richard T. Valentine, operated the dry goods store. Dr A. F. Scott, a physician, operated the general store. There were a few other stores, gins, schools and churches scattered through the Bedford voting precinct. The only voting place and post office, however, were at Bedford. Almost all people made their living by farming. Bedford was located in the Eastern or Lower Cross Timbers, a narrow strip of sandy loam running through eastern Tarrant County. Most of it was originally covered with large oak trees. Many still stood, but more had been cut to clear land for farming or for building materials, firewood and other uses. The soil was especially well adapted for growing fruits and vegetables, as well as cotton and corn. The region also became noted for its dairy farms. Most people prospered and enjoyed good lives. In addition to their civic and business interests, Bedford citizens were also interested in the arts, especially music and literature, supporting such activities as a string band, a literary society and a singing school. [Record of Appointments of Postmasters, Tarrant County, Texas, 1878-1890, 1891-1902; 1880 census Tarrant County, pp. ??; Richard V. Francavigilia, THE CAST IRON FOREST: A NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CROSS TIMBERS (Austin: The University of Texas Press, 1998), pp. 73 19, 144, 164, 191 ; Fort Worth Daily Democrat, April 4, 1879; Dun, 1882, p. 14; FWST; FWRT;. GSUN, September 8, 1927; The Fort Worth Daily Gazette, February 20, 1893; March 1, 1893; March 15, 1893; May 22, 1893; April 5, 1893; April 19, 1893; April 25, 1893; May 31 1893; June 9, 1893;.] In this setting many residents saw a, need to enhance education in Bedford, even though they already had a community school. Instigator of the college movement was J. H. Smithers, a school teacher who had recently come from Add -Ran College located at Thorp Spring, Texas, near Granbury, and affiliated with Texas Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. He was the first headmaster of the college. According to its charter, filed July 3, 1882, with the Texas Secretary of State, Bedford College was a private corporation, created for the "maintenance and operation of a Male and Female College for the support and promotion of Scientific and Literary Education." Organizers of the college were Milton Moore, B. J. Valentine, J. H. Smithers, John Mahan, W. D. Trimble, R. T. Valentine and W. W. Bobo, the first five serving as directors of the corporation. [Charter of Bedford College, Office of Secretary of State, Austin, Texas; Holden, "Education in Tarrant County," pp. 41, 42; FWST, September 3, 1928; "Bedford College, 1890, photograph, Fort Worth Star - Telegram Photograph Collection, Special Collections Division, the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.] On July 21, 1882, Milton Moore deeded afour-acre tract to the directors for use of the College. A building was erected on a hill about one-half mile west of the church grounds. Before it was finished, howeverthe college began operation in the church building that had also been used as a school since 1874. , Upon completion of the new two story, wooden frame building, the college moved to its new facilities. [Holden, "Education in Tarrant County,", pp. 4041; Patricia Helvey, "Bedford School," MS, Texas Historical Commission, Austin, Texas; Fort Worth Star -Telegram, July 21, 1915; Tarrant County Deeds, vol. ??, pp. ??.) Businessmen, farmers and the entire community sacrificed money, time and labor to erect the school building that measured 30 by 60 feet. A Mr. Bondurant was contractor. The institution was not what today would be referred to as 'a college, but was more of a college and university preparatory school. At the same time it served as a public school for school age children living in Bedford. In addition to local pupils, it accepted boarding students from elsewhere who paid tuition. By hiring outstanding administrators and teachers, the college even attracted students from out of state. [Holden, "Education in Tarrant County," pp. Smithers established stringent standard for the college. It offered advanced work in geometry, Latin, algebra, rhetoric and composition. Music and oratory were soon added, along with other courses. Following Smithers as headmasters was Peter Himebough (or Hindbough) from Bedford County, Tennessee (according to one account he was professor Hinebough from Missouri). About 60 years of age, he was a former Confederate soldier who had lost an arm at the Battle of Gettysburg. Shortly after assuming his position as headmaster, he was stricken with a painful carbuncle on his neck. He soon died and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Bedford Cemetery. He was succeeded by James A. Clark from Winchester Normal College, Winchester, Tennessee. Clark introduced a number of modern educational innovations and involved the community more in college affairs. He structured the school day for short recitation periods, broken with several short recesses throughout the day. Patrons became enthusiastic about their school, visited it often and appreciated a variety of entertainments that it provided. The college was recognized as one of the most progressive and best managed in North Texas under professor Clark's leadership. His successor, W. H. Kimbrough, perpetuated his policies. A genuine professional educator, he was a good disciplinarian and was described as a person of "unusual intellectual keenness." The last headmaster of the college was D. J. Liles (or Lyle) from Fort Worth, employed in July 1893. He was described as an "able instructor" and the community expected "grand success" for the college. Instead, his tenure ended in disaster for the school. There were other principals of the school before it became known as Bedford College in 1882, and there were many other teachers who served both the public school and the college. Among them were William H. Wright, who was also minister for the New Hope Church, his wife, Alice Barkeley Wright, William Boone, W. E. McGinnis C. W. Rains, ? ? ? ? ? . [Holden, "Education in Tarrant County," pp. 4244; Helvey, "Bedford School;" Star -Telegram, July 21, 1915; GSUN, September 11, 1924; Green, pp. 18- 19; "Bedford College, 1890," photograph.] The college building burned on June 2, 1894, a Saturday night, about eleven o'clock. The uninsured building was valued at $3,000. Arson was suspected from the beginning. Accusing fingers pointed to recently dismissed principal Liles. Suspicions notwithstanding, he was not convicted of any crime. The building's destruction meant an end to the college. The land reverted to Milton Moore who then deeded it to the Bedford School District for use as a public school. Another wooden frame building was erected at the site. It was replaced by a fine two story, brick building in 1915 that is still standing. Now known as the Old Bedford School, it is owned by the City of Bedford and operated by the Bedford Historical Foundation. It has become a unifying element for the city, a rallying point for historical preservationists in North Texas, a living museum and a place for fine entertainments. In 1991 a devastating fire gutted the building, but it was restored exactly as it was in 1915 and opened to the public. Hundreds of local school children visit each year, plus many other visitors. It is in almost constant use for a wide variety of educational and entertainment events. [FWDG, June 5 , 1894; Holden, "Education in Tarrant County," p. 44; FWST, July 21, 1915; AJ, July ??, 1915; Green, ??; interview Libby Buuck, ??; "Bedford College, 1890," photograph.] Although short in duration, Bedford College was a prestigious institution, and many of its graduates became outstanding leaders in education, medicine, business, politics, farming and other endeavors. Hence, there existed a group of well-educated, influential people, graduates of the College, who were eminently successful in their respective occupations and who appreciated the fine education they had received there. Among graduates of Bedford College were M. H. Moore, Superintendent of North Fort Worth and Fort Worth public schools; Lee M. Hammond, Tarrant County School Superintendent; William M. Trimble co-founder, with Lee M. Hammond, of Arlington College, now the University of Texas at Arlington; John M. Moore, Tarrant County Treasurer; Jesse M. Brown, Hugh L. Small and I. T. Valentine, each Tarrant County Judge; Hugh Hightower, Tarrant County Commissioner; Ben M. Terrell, District Judge; Dr. W. M.(or 0) Trimble, Tarrant County Physician and Fort Worth City Physician; Dr. Monroe? Gilbert, physician in Irving; Dr. J. E . Bobo, physician in Topeka, Kansas, and many other accomplished professional and business people. [FWRT; FWST, August 26, 1912, July 21, 1915, September 8, 1919, September 5, 1921; Gerald D. Saxon, Transitions: A Centennial History of The University of Texas at Arlington, 1895-1995 (Arlington: The UTA Press, 1995), p. 1.] In 1912, former students of the college met for a reunion on the grounds of the New Hope Church where the college began in 1882. Leaders of the reunion movement were Bedford natives Cl" former college students, M. H. Moore and Lee M. Hammond: M. H. "Harvey" or "Harve" Moore, a son of Milton Moore; was superintendent of the North Fort Worth public schools. Hammond was Tarrant County School Superintendent, who in 1895, with W. M. Trimble, had founded Arlington College, now the University of Texas at Arlington. The first reunion met on August 25, 1912, to commemorate the opening of the college about the same time of the year in 1882. The days activities began on the Sunday morning with traditional worship services at the New Hope Church. Moore, whose parents and many other relatives lived in Bedford, preached and conducted services as he had done one Sunday each month for about ten years. In addition to being an educator he was also a minister for Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) and Churches of Christ. [And move on into narrative written by Weldon G. Cannon in 2003 to secure a Texas Historical Commission marker for the Bedford Reunion.]