Bryan Site - History of Tenaha

Anniversaries of Tenaha, Shelby County, Texas
furnished to me by Sue Butler Parish
descendant of Edna C Bryan King Butler

100th Anniversary - March 23, 1985

WE SALUTE THE SHELBY COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The people of the Tenaha area are proud of the opportunity of participating in the celebration of the County Courthouse and also proud to be known as the "Northern Gateway to Shelby County". Our thanks to the Historical Society for organizing the special day that will help add to the colorful history of our own Shelby County.

Tenaha was established on a beautiful hilly slope with the original acres donated by two pioneer lumbermen, E. S. and C. B. HICKS, since that time the original city limits have been expanded twice to its present size. The acreage was donated by the HICKS Bros. to the HE&WT Railroad so they would establish a depot. Mr. G. A. HAYDEN, father of Carlton HAYDEN was the surveyor for the project. The railroad sold lots through their representative, F. L. JOHNSTON, to the original settlers of our town. He was also given credit for naming the town that means "muddy water" in Indian language.

Some of the earliest deeds were issued in Dec. 1885...some of the first business establishments were DENNARD & Co., BRYAN* & CHRISTIAN, W. H. WALL, Dr. J. W. BURNS, B. G. HOOKER, A.J. JOLLEY and others. The only original homes left new are the William WALL and G. B. BROWN homes, other original homes were J.E. McNEILL, A. B. BRYAN, A. J. CLAYTON, J. N. WOODFIN...in later years many other houses were erected in the saw mill town.

[My notes: Andrew Bacon Bryan was the son of Allen Bryan & Sarah Pou (my ancestors). His oldest son, Dr. Clarence Oswald Bryan married Maude Clayton in 1890. Maude Clayton was the daughter of Capt. Andrew J. CLAYTON, a former Union soldier, came to East Texas in 1886.

*I am not sure of Andrew B Bryan was the owner of this business, if not, it was a descendant of either his father (and my ancestor), Allen, or a descendant of Allen's brother, Decalb (D.C.) Bryan

B.G. (Benjamin Graham) HOOKER married Mary SOLOMON, granddaughter of Stephen A KING & Sarah E DUPREE

A.J. JOLLEY married Jencey Elizabeth "Lizzie" LIGHTFOOT stepdaughter of Allen Bonnell BRYAN ]

The actual date that has always been recognized as the "establishing of Tenaha" is Feb. 2, 1886, when the first train of HE&WT known as "hell either way you take it" came through...it was a narrow gauge train and on that day Capt. A. J. CLAYTON, a Union soldier from Logansport, MD., placed a sign on a railroad caboose with the name Tenaha and became its first depot agent...many years later told some of the residents that his first impression was to catch the "first train back to civilization" but he remained until his death and was a much beloved citizen of the area.

Although the town was established in 1886, there were many families living in the area before that date including W. D. WHITE, F. B. TAYLOR, J. J. E. GIBSON, A. B. JOLLEY, CORLEY, JOHNSTON and RISINGER, HAYDEN, STOREY and CHRISTIAN.

Many of the original families. WALL, PARKER, KNIGHT, HOOKER, BURNS, DAVIS, KYLE, BALDWIN, McNEILL came from Woods community; others such as the CHRISTIAN, PARKER, CORLEY, POU, WHITE, BOULAND, HARRISON, BOGARD, PARKMAN, HAIRGROVE, WOMACK, PAXTON and FALLIN. BOWERS and others came from Newbern, Ramah, Tennessee came the BOWLINS and CRAWFORD, POLLARD families and others.

[NOTE: The 1st Kyle family that came to Panola County was my ancestor, Robert E Kyle. He arrived with his family in 1839 from Mississippi. Robert E settled in the Old Center area. He purchased land in Nacogdoches County upon first arriving. He is listed in the census in Panola County. Lived on McFadden Creek property.]

[NOTE: The 1st POU family to arrive in Panola County was also my ancestor, John Pou, III. He was the father of Sarah Pou, wife of Allen Bryan. Allen & Sarah arrived in Panola County abt 1854, with the John Pou family arriving shortly after.]

Tenaha was incorporated in 1902, with Mr. A. B. KNIGHT as the first mayor. Some of the early builders were J.J.E. GIBSON, Mr. J. D. McCLENNY who built many early buildings, John HOLEMAN, Albert BARBER, Bowers PULLEY to name a few. George BOWERS is the present mayor having served unopposed for over thirty years.

Tenaha besides being served by two railroads, Southern Pacific & Santa Fe also has the best major highway network in Shelby County, being served Federal highways 59, 84 and 96. The recent completion of a highway intersection east of Tenaha and the final phase of U.S. 96 construction will enhance the traffic service to Tenaha and the entire county. Although like many other small towns were originally built to serve a farming era of cotton, corn, etc., Tenaha has adjusted in the later years to modern broiler, poultry, cattle farming. The home of Anderson Mfg. Co. the largest independently owned sawmill in the state, lumber and wood products for the paper industry continue to provide the backbone of the income of the people. Many of our residents are also employed in oil, gas, coal and lignite operations throughout East Texas. Although the actual business district of Tenaha has declined in the past years, the population continues to show an increase and many thriving businesses serve our population. We also invite those who are interested in becoming a resident of a small town, either as a merchant or resident to inquire at out City Hall. We will be happy to discuss the many potentials that are available. Business locations and modern homes are available at reasonable prices.

Residents of the Tenaha area along with those from here who now make their homes elsewhere are planning a gala celebration during Memorial Day weekend in 1986 in observance of our 100th birthday. Tentative plans are now underway and they will call for participation by as many residents and former residents as possible. "Our citizens have always been fiercely proud of their heritage and their hometown," said Mayor BOWERS. The committee will be making further plans and contacts in the next few months outlining the plans...in the meantime you are urged to contact Albert BURNS with any ideas that will add to the event.

Tenaha although now without a "hometown newspaper" had in its early years as many as three newspapers at one time, they were mostly two page publications and helped keep the issues of the day before the people. One of the early papers was the Tenaha New Era published by GIBBS, BURNS and others. Originally the EAST TEXAS LIGHT was established in Tenaha in 1925 by Rev. L. M. NELSON, after several other owners it was later moved to Center where about two years ago was consolidated with the (Light) CHAMPION, giving Shelby County only one newspaper at the present time.

Thanks are in order for all the Tenaha residents that participated in the Courthouse celebration and helped entertain during the day.

101st Anniversary - May 24, 1986
TENAHA . . . OUR HOME TOWN

Nestled in the piney woods of East Texas is a lovely little community of fine people, the spot that we call our hometown, Tenaha, Texas. Our town was formed when the HE&WT Railroad completed their main line from Houston to Shreveport, La. The date of the first thru train was February 2, 1886... thus this year being the 100th birthday of our hometown. On a grassy knoll in the middle of a virgin pine forest, the HICKS Brothers, pioneer lumbermen, donated property to the HE&WT Railroad so they would build a depot. The original deeds were from the railroad and HICKS Bros. to the first citizens of Tenaha. Mr. F.L. JOHNSTON, a resident of the area, was credited with naming our hometown. Some of the pioneer families came from Woods post office... they included the PARKER, WALL, KNIGHT, BURNS, DAVIS, DENNARD, McNEILL, BALDWIN, HOOKER, TOMLINSON families and others, They joined families from Ramah, Newbem, Tennessee . . . also many families including the WHITE, TAYLOR, GIBSON, JOLLEY, CORLEY, JOHNSTON, RISINGER, HAYDEN, STORY, RILEY and PERKINS, who lived in the area before the railroad. They joined with many other new arrivals and helped our little town grow.

Tenaha was incorporated in 1902 with Mr. A.B. KNIGHT as first mayor. He was followed by many distinguished leaders, including our present mayor, George BOWERS, who has served unopposed for thirty years.

Lots of hard work has gone into trying to make our "Centennial Celebration" worthy of your approval . . . we are still a small town, but proud of our heritage. Our greatest product throughout the years has been the individuals who have at sometimes called this their hometown. We hope you are pleased with the results of our planning and our attempt to help you live some of the wonderful memories of yesteryear.

Your outpouring of generosity through participating in the "100 Member Club" & "Charter Member Club" has been the financial backbone of your centennial. We are proud that we can all join hands and say that we wear the title of "TENAHAINS" proudly.
Albert H. BURNS, Chairman

1886 . . . TENAHA, OUR HOMETOWN . . . 1993
107th Anniversary - February 2, 1993

Nestled in the piney woods of deep East Texas is a lovely little community of fine people, the spot is TENAHA, TEXAS, our hometown. Tenaha was founded when the HE&WT Railroad completed their main line from Houston to Shreveport, La. The date of the first thru train was February 2, 1886, which is observed each year by local citizens and former residents who gather to cut the birthday cake and discuss things of interest to them.

On a grassy knoll in the middle of the virgin pine forest the HICKS Bros., pioneer lumbermen, donated property to HE&WT Railroad so they would build a depot, thus the beginning of TENAHA on a 640-ac. donated tract of land. When the first train came thru in 1886, a Union soldier, Capt. A. J. CLAYTON, placed a train caboose on the siding and erected a sign. Many years later, Capt. CLAYTON was asked what he thought of the raw, virgin country he came to in 1886, he replied, "My first impression was to catch the next train back to civilization!" Of course he didn't and he became one of the leaders in the development of our town.

In those days, the railroad was the lifeblood of our great nation . . . only the northern part of Shelby County had rail service. Jitneys, wagons, and buggies transported people and supplies to the county seat in Center, TX. in about 1905, the Santa Fe Railroad was built from Longview to Beaumont, serving Center and other parts of the county. This line gave TENAHA the distinction of the only town in Shelby County with two railroads, which is still true today.

In the early 1900's, the saying, "TENAHA-TIMPSON-BOBO & BLA1R", was coined by an old train conductor who would go thru the train coaches calling the little towns in unison. He said, "If you called them one at a time, the train would be through all before you knew it!" Later the saying was used by the National Guard unit stationed in Timpson - instead of counting cadence, they called "Tenaha-Timpson-Bobo & Blair." During WW I & II it became a world-wide saying for a crap shooter trying to make a "ten."

About 1950, TEX RITTER, a native of the Murval Community in Panola County wrote his song, praising the virtues of "Tenaha-Timpson-Bobo & Blair". The rest is history as people who are from TENAHA tell someone else their hometown . . . seems they all respond with this saying, so it continues to grow in popularity as the years go by. All because a passenger train conductor in the early railroading days added a little color to lonely days of both winter and summer riding a passenger train thru our beautiful East Texas landscape.

1886 .... TENAHA, OUR HOMETOWN ..... 1994
108th Anniversary - February 2, 1994

Since the beginning TENAHA and surrounding communities have been blessed by singers and musicians with God-given talents.

It started with "community gatherings" at a neighbor's house, a "log rolling" or just any place that pioneer people gathered to enjoy those precious moments for relaxation after a hard days work in the field, clearing new ground, school or church functions. The raw talent of these musicians was the main source of entertainment.

There were many men and women with these talents. Among them were Jesse CHRISTIAN, Jim FERGUSON, Early and Jack WEBB, and Rufus VAULT in the earlier years. Later came Clarence "Slim" PORTER, D. H. JACOBS, James CHRISTIAN and one special lady, Mrs. Wesley OLIVER, who were the fiddle players. Hundreds of others played the guitar, banjo, bass fiddles, etc., including Claude and Clyde PORTER, Wm WILLIAMS, Buster "Red" JACOBS, E.B. STRICKLAND, just to name a few. Others still around include June PARAMORE, Willard PARKMAN, and John A. WHITE. Also featured were the square dance callers like Jim ROBERTS, Velvin "Pig" LLOYD and Claude PORTER. Many other musicians still live in our area and entertain at nursing homes and other places. The Floyd EAVES family, John GIBBS family and the OLIVER family perform for community benefits and their own entertainment.

The Gospel music field has a rich heritage. Several men including Lovell HILLARD and Paul CALDWELL were original members of the Frank STAMPS Quartet. Byron ROBERTSON, the HORTON family, Ezra HUTTO in the Ramah-Paxton area, the CRAWFORD's of Tennessee (including Clarence, Emmett, and other family members) and the BOWLIN's and ROBERTS just to name a few were leaders in the gospel music field. The Singing Christians and The Calvary Boys both originated in TENAHA and toured for many years throughout the United States, with the Calvary Boys still active with engagements. Both groups were always quick to tell of their rich heritage in music from the TENAHA folks.

Many other people have given unselfishly of time and talents serving churches, schools, and civic projects to help make our area a better place to live. With just a little "Extra Thanks" on this the 108th birthday celebration of TENAHA we tip our hats to those who have added another colorful chapter to the history of our beloved area. We feel honored to have some here today to entertain with their style of country music

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