The Texas Almanac for 1858 Page: 65
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DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE COUNTIES. 6
aeter, but producing very well when cultivated. These vast prairies afford fine
ranges for stock, stock raising being an important branch of the business of the
county. The B. B., B.' &.C. R. R. completed to'-Richmond, the COunty Seat,
-affords a rapid and reliable mode of transportation to Harrisburg, on Buffalo'
Bayou, and from thence by the bayou to Galveston, the princIpal market of the
county-distance by railroad,and bayou about 190' miles. The extension of the
above, road toward Austin, Zia Columbus, is progressing quite t4pidIy. Rieb-
mondiis a place of considerable importance, nany of its buildings being of brick,
of laBge size and imposing appearance. A large amount of busines from Whar-
ton and Colorado counties s done here, or. pays tribute as it passes through on its
way to Galveston or Houston. Institutions of learning are very well supported
the most prominent in the county being the " Frost Institute" and " Rielnou
Aca'il:emy "-the former being a brick building of fine architecture appearance,
located upon the borders of a beautiful prairie, East of the Brazes, and a few
miles above Richmond; the latter is located in Richmond. There are also a
number of churches in thb& inty; well water- generally poor, and cisterns used
to considerable extent; fruf adapted to the climate, flourishes finely, and peches,
figs,'omegranates, plums, &c., have been introduced; game of all kinds abounds,
and dring,the winter the prairies are visited by milhons of wild geese, duck and
other water fowl. White population about 2,500, Created December 29th, 1887,
from Austin county. Refer to tables for statistics.
FREESTONE.
[Iurnished by a Citize. of Freestone County.]
This county is bounded on the East by the Trinity river, which isnavigable but
a ~hort time in the year. Produce is generally sent. by wagons to' ouston,
distant 175 miles. W have but few springs; the water is purely freestone and is
mostl. obtained by di ng.'. Stock water is not very plenty.- Pine. lumber is
used forbuilding, an is -hauled about fifty miles at a cost of $2 00 per 100 feet.
Fairfield is the County Seat, having a fine brick Court House, costing about $12,-
000. Our lands average about 1400 pounds seed cotton to the acre. Wheat grows
very well. Gold and siver constitute our currency. The interest on debts is
generally 10 per cent, but is higher on money loaned. The majority of our citi-
zens are in favor of the present restrictions against banks. The surface of Free-
stone county is generally level and produces Abundantly.
GILLESPIE.
[Furnisked by A.'E L 1 m, znd Mur=, P. 1.f , of Redec78708Urg.]
In this county there are7;500 acres in corn, and 800 in wheat; twenty to twenty-
five ,acres per hand- Are cultivated ;. farms in the, county, 875; white population,
2,700; slayes, 102 ; blind, one person; orphans,-26; iixpovedland, 9,500.acres;
improved, 500;000:acres;.value of improved land, $10'to $15; 6funmproved, 50
cents to$1 50 -unloeated or public land, 10,000 acres; .ownet bynon-residents,
800 000 acres; the oldest farms have been cultivated nine years, and produce as
wel as at first; soit generally a sandy loani; in some' of the valleys i is alluvial,
and several feet deep; there are 18,00% head of cattle, value $7. 50 per head; 1250
hotsys, value' $85 to $10. per 'head; 2500 sheep, value $8 each; 4000 hogs, value
$4 each; annual net increase of cattle; sheep and hogs, 85 to 40 per cent. 'Corn
is worth this year $1 50 per bushel; whegh, $2. Wild turkeys and patridges are
abundant throughout the year, aud due]k and geese in the winter. Buffalo, cat,
trout, eels, &c., are found in the streams. Fredericksburg is the County Seat,
founded-in 1846. It has apopulation of 800, and contains seven stores, two drug
shops, two taverns'; a large variety of ineohanical pursuits are here followed.
The public buildings are p substantial Court House and four churches, with five
denomiqati6ns.: Thereare' five public or free.shoo;I. with 250 pupils in all. The
rivers are the Ilano and Perdenales with'their branches. No mineral springs
known. Coal has been lately found within eight-miles or Fredericksburg, thirty-
five feet ii depth,\but whether it will pay to work it, has not yet been ascertained.
Iron ore and limetoie are abundantt ini the East part of the county.' Most'of the
county is mountainous, the higest elevation being about 800 feet. Springs are
numerous and the water good. Stock water abundant, and the range good
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The Texas Almanac for 1858, book, 1857; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123764/m1/66/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.