Wood County, 1850-1900 Page: 16
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says that anything that changes with the season will
likely turn into an old gray mule, therefore I would not
be surprised to see Jeems Preden and the third party
make that change."
The Hainesville News written for The Democrat
by James Early in 1894, announced that a Populist
meeting held at the Concord schoolhouse had twelve
names on their list. Mr. Early wrote that some of the
colored Republicans were too honorable to join the
third party in order to make war on the Democrats. He
appealed to the Democrats of Concord to meet for the
purpose of organizing a club. Editor Padon reminded
the people that wherever the Populists were in control,
financial difficulties were being experienced and cited
Rains County as an example. He quoted the Emory
News as saying their treasury was empty with no relief
in sight. Padon's uncomprising opposition to populism
and his vigorous defense of the Democratic Party won
the admiration of all rock-ribbed democrats. During
the 1890's, the Populist Party was making a gigantic ef-
fort to control the government and Wood County was
one of the major battle fronts. The Party declined
rapidly after 1896, and the Democratic Party absorbed
most of the Populists in the county.
Campaigning in election years was not easy for
Wood County candidates. Visits to voters had to be
made horseback or some horse-drawn vehicle, over
dusty roads and often through the woods. Stops were
made at every place where people might be found.
Often two or three men seeking different offices would
ride together and manage to reach a farmhouse at meal
time. It made no difference if the occupants planned to
vote for the opposition, Wood County hospitality was
never amiss. Everybody was welcome and usually a
chicken was grabbed from the yard and fried to perfec-
tion in honor of the guest.
To the candidate every man was a potential vote,
and when he saw a farmer plowing his field, he usually
tied his horse to a fence post and set forth across the
field to walk alongside the farmer for a furrow or two
expounding his views. It helped, of course, if it were
noontime and he could be invited for dinner and to "set
a spell."
Some of these visits proved hazardous to the can-
didates. O. M. Wood, running for district clerk in 1894,
accompanied by another candidate, stopped for the
night at a farmhouse. During the night they were at-
tacked by chinch bugs. Quietly lighting a kerosene
lamp, the men discovered they were badly out-
numbered. They slipped outside and slept on the
ground, using their saddles as pillows.
SingingConventions and All Day Singings provided
an excellent opportunity for the candidates to talk to
the voters in addition to getting a free meal. Political
"speakings" were also held at schoolhouses and other
public buildings, and there were many heated debates
during campaign season. One of the old timers
remarked that a "speakin"' was more fun than a circus.There were many dedicated men who held office in
the early years of the county, but no one more colorful
or highly acclaimed than James Stephen Hogg who
began his political career in Wood County when he
became justice of the peace in 1873. His campaign
slogan for that office as well as for others he held in the
county was "Enforce the law."
Wood County's interest in politics probably
reached its highest peak in the first sixty years of its
history, but even at this time, 1976, political fever runs
high in election years.,JUDGE V. B. HARRIS, practiced law in the county prior to 1900 and
became one of the county's distinguished judges. He was also known as
a Wood County Historian.
Source: Handbook of Texas
Early county newspapers
Texas Almanac
Ona Wood's manuscript
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Wood County, 1850-1900 (Book)
This text gives an overview of Wood County, Texas from roughly 1850 to 1900. It includes historical sketches of various aspects of life in the county as well as anecdotes. Genealogical information and documentation are also included for pioneer families in the area.
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Wood County Historical Society. Wood County, 1850-1900, book, 1976; Quitman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91051/m1/24/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .