HomeMy WebLinkAboutBRAZOS COUNTY BLACKSMITHSBRAZOS COUNTY BLACKSMITHS
Compiled by Bill Page
The 1870 Brazos Co. Census, p.31, lists:
Van Hook, Willis b m 50 blacksmith NC
, Elmira b f 36 k house Tenn.
, Lewis b m 16 at home Tex.
, Bettie b f 14 at home Tex.
, Willie b m 12 at home Tex.
[Willis Van Hook was an African American minister who served as a Bryan
alderman in the early 1870s.]
Millican ... Burglars entered the post office and drug store of Steele
Bros. last night and blew open the safe and took $160 belonging to the
firm, $30 deposited by other parties, and about $50 in stamps and
stamped envelopes. A fuse about a foot long was found on the floor.
They procured tools at a blacksmith shop near by to get into the house.
Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 23 Nov. 1887, p.3.
Bryan, Tex. – Anthony Williams, a Negro blacksmith of this place
fell dead here this evening about 5 o’clock while attempting to shoe a
horse. The cause of the trouble, as announced by the attending
physician, was palpitation of the heart. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 1
February 1888, p.6, col.2
Ella ... Mr. A.G. Steele has completed a blacksmith shop here ...
Galveston Daily News, 14 Feb. 1893, p.7, col.5 [Ella was another name
for Allenfarm]
Bryan, Tex., Sept. 24 – The Negro blacksmith, Averyheart, died
yesterday from the effects of poison administered by some person or
persons one night last week. He was never able to make a statement.
His funeral occurred to-day. Physicians held a postmortem examination
this morning and removed the stomach. They are satisfied it is a case
of poisoning, but have not determined what the poison was. Dallas
Morning News, 26 Sept.1893, p.6
Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex., Jan. 2 – Fire was discovered about 3
o’clock this morning in the second story of John Q. Tabor’s
carriage house. The fire was well under way when water was turned on.
The flames spread both ways and burned half a block of buildings, as
follows: Hortnarts & McCorquodales, blacksmith shop, $2000, insurance,
$700; saved $150 in tools. M. Bonnevilles residence, loss $10,000,
insurance on houses and furniture $3000; some of the furniture and
silverware was saved. John Q. Tabor, loss about $600, with insurance on
stock of $1500, most of his vehicles were saved. W.A. Reeds residence,
damaged $500, covered by insurance. The carriage house, blacksmith shop
and other buildings on the block belonged to Ira Gooch, who estimates
his loss at $3000, with $1275 insurance. Galveston Daily News, 3
January 1894, page 2
Yesterday one of the most novel weddings on record occurred in Bryan,
and was a source of much amusement to the few who caught on in time to
see the fun. The ceremony was performed in Robertson & Zimmerman’s
blacksmith shop by Squire J.M> Zimmerman and the high contracting
parties were Lee Spurlock, a very black young Negro, and Josephene
Freeman, a comely “yaller gal,” both of whom came all the way from
Madisonville for the expressed purpose of getting married. The bride
was dressed in a dark calico and wore a bonnet. The groom looked cool,
happy and very original in an undershirt and trousers, surmounted by a
black wool hat. He was absolutely guiltless of a top shirt, and seemed
very much pleased when the crowd made up the money after the ceremony,
and escorting the happy couple to Saunders & Johnson’s, bought and
presented a shirt to him. At this juncture somebody suggested that the
groom should kiss the bride before the crowd to pay for the gift. He
tried to beg off but it wouldn’t go, and finally made a dive under her
bonnet and planted a rousing smack squarely on her lips and the crowd
fairly roared. Then Mr. J.W. Johnson, who likes to push a good thing
along, filled the hearts of the dusky pair to overflowing with happiness
by giving them a big watermelon for a bridal present, and the smile on
the groom’s face spread around until its edges med and lapped over on
the back of his neck. The happy couple returned to Madisonville
yesterday afternoon. Bryan Daily Eagle, 1 July 1896, p.4, col.2.
Mr. Charlie Simpson is building a nice two story blacksmith and wood
shop three miles north of town at the intersection of the Macy and
Wheelock roads, near McDuff Simpson’s truck farm. Mr. Simpson has
named his location Sipewater (?), on account of the spring near the shop
which never goes dry. Bryan Morning Eagle, 8 January 1902, p.3
“A. and M. Blacksmith Shop,” Dallas Morning News, 21 December 1903,
p.9. Will be built.
College Station, Tex., May 7 – Step by step during the year the
Agricultural and Mechanical College has been adding to its material
equipment ... One of the most recent additions to the equipment of the
institution is the new blacksmith shop. A large room, 30x60, has been
provided, with concrete floor and twenty-eight anvils and forges have
been installed. Electric fans supply the draft for the fires and for
drawing off the smoke from the forges. Twenty-eight men are now
accommodated at the same time. It is not the purpose of the school to
turn our expert blacksmiths, but it is considered essential for the
farmer as well as the mechanical engineer to know the general principles
of forging and welding, so that he will know a good piece of work when
he sees it and be able to turn his hand to it if occasion should require
... Dallas Morning News, 9 May 1904, page 3
College Station, Tex., April 24 – The machine shops of the A. and M.
College of Texas, under the supervision of A.R. Nottingham, instructor
in mechanical engineering and superintendent of the shops, are being
brought to higher plane of efficiency. There is a new building needed
badly in this department, and the Legislature has been requested to
allow the money for it. The chief object of interest just now is the
installation of a steam hammer in the blacksmith shop. The hammer is a
250 pound size, with a steam pressure of 120 pounds ... Dallas Morning
News, 25 April 1909, page 31
"Rebuilding Blacksmith Shop," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 22 July 1909, p.8,
col.3. L.A. Plasek
"Munday & Moehlman, Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights," Bryan Daily Eagle,
22 Apr. 1913, sect.3, p.8, col.5
Mr. C.H. Moehlman, one of the well known blacksmiths of Bryan, is ...
in business for himself, and is opening a new shop for blacksmithing of
all kinds, and horse shoeing, on North Main Street, next door to the
Robertson livery stable. Mr. Moehlman has resided in Bryan for a number
of years, and has been engaged in the blacksmith shop of L.A. Blazek,
where he established for himself the reputation of a careful,
conscientious skilled workman. He has fixed up a nice place, well
equipped, and will be open for business tomorrow, and asks that his
friends remember him for any work in his line. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 23
Oct. 1913, p.6
Bryan, Texas, Nov. 8 – The large blacksmith and woodworking shop of
Griffin Bros. of this city was partially destroyed by fire at 10
o’clock Saturday night. The tin roof prevented the flames from
breaking through. The damage to building and contents was several
hundred dollars, covered by insurance. Dallas Morning News, 9 November
1920, page 9
“Two Respected Pioneer Negroes Died Saturday,” Bryan Daily Eagle,
20 July 1925, p.3, col.2. C.C. Calhoun, b. ca. 1871, buried Oakwood,
was a blacksmith; R.C. Calhoun, b. ca. 1855, was a drayman
“350 Pound Anvil Stolen,” Bryan Weekly Eagle, 15 November 1933,
p.3, col.3. From Henry Scott, blacksmith.