The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959 Page: 108

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

March 29. Each year Judge James E. Wheat and a host of asso-
ciates in the Woodville area prepare and present a program filled
with authentic history and the portrayal of the native beauty of
East Texas. This year the printed program sketched the history
of the Shivers family in Tyler County. Allan Shivers, present head
of the family, has the distinction of having served as governor
of Texas longer than any other person.
Mrs. Maury Maverick recently found four stray Rhode Island
items in her late husband's papers, and her sense of history and
appreciation led her to bring them to the Association for recom-
mendations. It seemed better that the items should be returned
to Rhode Island where they might fit with other materials and
give more meaning to that area. With Mrs. Maverick's blessing
they went to the Rhode Island Historical Society and the officers
have responded with real appreciation. This is something of a
generous "bread cast upon the waters" procedure that could help
the preservation of historical materials throughout the forty-
eight American states.
A manuscript history of Weatherford College was contributed
to the Association recently by Leonard B. Plummer, a past pres-
ident of the school. The history sketches briefly the development
of the institution from its organization as the Weatherford Ma-
sonic Institute in 1868 to 1950 when Vernon D. Parrott became
president. Thanks are extended to Plummer for his contribution,
which has been placed in the Archives Collection of the Eugene
C. Barker Texas History Center.
The stories of the origins of place names in Texas are usually
interesting and frequently difficult to unravel. Ray A. Walter,
Box 3o32, Waco, Texas, has in recent years been uncovering
and acquiring much documentary evidence on Limestone County.
In connection with the town of Mexia in Limestone County he
has secured documents and land titles which make it possible to
trace accurately the origin of the name of the town, which was not
possible when the Handbook of Texas was prepared. From Mr.
Walter's highly appreciated letter the following information is
extracted:

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