Research Tools for Ellis County, Texas - County history



SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITYHarrison Graduate SchoolSchool of Distance EducationHIS 5313-30Research ProjectProfessor Gary McElhany, Ph.D.The History of Pecan Springs RanchSTUDENT DATA:Terri L. Robertsterrilroberts@lionmail.sagu.edu972-351-0176Spring 2015CONTENTSINTRODUCTION1PECAN SPRINGS RANCH2Location2Description of the Ranch Property4THE HISTORY OF ELLIS COUNTY: PECAN SPRINGS IN 5HISTORICAL CONTEXTHumble Beginnings6American Indian Relations7Railway System8THE SHAWNEE TRAIL9A Path Through Ellis County9The End of the Trail10THE TEXAS LAND GRANT SYSTEM11Basic Land Provisions12Four Classes of Land Grants13The Grants for Pecan Springs14Good Land Awaiting Use16THE SIMS BROTHERS17The Sims Before Texas17Slave Relations19Nicholas P. Sims21WILSON DABNEY SIMS22Civil War Involvement23Life After the Civil War24Establishing a Home25A Difficult Way of Life26A Lifetime of Accomplishments28A Legacy Passed to the Children29THE CAMPBELL RANCH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY30A Time of Transition31The Campbells32The Naming of L.R. Campbell Road35The Ranch Passes to a New Family35CONCLUSION36ILLUSTRATIONS38SIMS GENEALOGY CHART47PECAN SPRINGS MAP48NOTES49BIBLIOGRAPHY54INTRODUCTIONOne of the defining characteristics of the American West was the availability of cheap, fertile land. An enterprising man could prosper working a land claim. This promise of freedom and wealth lured intrepid men and their families west. These were courageous, hardy pioneers who were willing to face dangers posed by both man and nature. Success was not guaranteed, and many perished from the elements or at the hands of the indigenous population. Still they kept coming. They were extraordinary people, willing to work hard, dream big, and build a new civilization for their descendants to enjoy. Much of the land in Texas was parceled off during the early days of its formation as a republic and later as a state. These original orderly plots have been passed down, sold, reapportioned, divided, and repurchased until modern-day farms and ranches often do not resemble the original surveys. Instead, they appear a haphazard and indiscernible patchwork quilt.The stories of the people who lived and died while trying to transform soil into riches create a historical narrative for these parcels of land. However, their motivation was not entirely wealth-driven. They sought not only material wealth, but also the satisfaction of building a new community and creating a legacy for their children and the citizens of this infant community. Many of the early pioneers invested heavily in their communities through donating land, giving resources for municipal facilities, and establishing churches. When pioneers settled the county, they came with an understanding of civic responsibility, and gave a portion of their good fortune for the betterment of the citizens of the county.In Ellis County, many Waxahachie street names and buildings bear the names of prominent citizens in the establishment of the city. One of the significant family names in the county’s history is the Sims family. Like other pioneers, they came west looking for opportunity, and they gave generously of their good fortune. The Sims’ legacy can be found in such places as Bethel Methodist Church, the Nicholas P. Sims Library, the Sims farm, and today’s Pecan Springs Ranch located southwest of Waxahachie.PECAN SPRINGS RANCHLocationPecan Springs Ranch is a beautiful tract of land situated on the banks of Chambers Creek. The land features pastures and timbered areas, as well as hills, springs, and bodies of water. The Republic of Texas originally granted much of the property to Charles Marlin, an early arrival to Texas. It was later sold to Nicholas P. Sims and remained in the Sims/Campbell family for over one hundred forty years until its sale to Ted and Nancy Paup in 2012. The property is located on L. R. Campbell Road, named for one of the previous owners.Pecan Springs is in a unique location where the Cross Timbers region meets Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah. The Cross Timbers area has historical significance. Early travelers coined the region “Cross Timbers” because its densely forested area created a difficult barrier to cross between east and west. The impassable foliage forced travelers to either cut a path through the trees and undergrowth or to search for a break in the barrier where their wagons could cross. Diverse wildlife such as bear, white-tailed deer, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, turkeys, and coyotes made their homes in the Cross Timbers. In addition, it was and still is a central flyway for annual avian migration. Many neotropical birds, waterfowl, and birds of prey pass through the area or winter there. The Cross Timbers was a well-known landmark, and travelers used it as a point of reference in their journeys. In 1778 one traveler remarked on the region in his journal, “The region from one river to the other, is no less bountifully supplied with buffalo, bear, deer, antelope, wild boars, partridges, and turkeys." In 1854 John Pope, while exploring the region for the Pacific Railroad described the region in glowing terms, "….but by far the richest and most beautiful district of country I have ever seen, in Texas or elsewhere, is that watered by the Trinity and its tributaries. Occupying east and west a belt of one hundred miles in width, with about equal quantities of prairie and timber, intersected by numerous clear, fresh streams and countless springs, with a gently undulating surface of prairie and oak openings, it presents the most charming views, as of a country in the highest state of cultivation, and you are startled at the summit of each swell of the prairie with a prospect of groves, parks and forests, with intervening plains of luxuriant grass, over which the eye in vain wanders in search of the white village or the stately house, which seem alone wanting to be seen."The altitude of the Cross Timbers is slightly higher than the prairies around it. Its altitude and dense growth acted as a dividing line between the Plains Indians and East Texas Indians. Its thick tree line and undergrowth provided excellent cover for Indians who wished to mask their movement. The Cross Timbers was also a good source of wood for various Indian tribes and later for pioneering settlers.Even though Pecan Springs is located in the Cross Timbers region, the land also has characteristics of rich Blackland Prairie. Early settlers described the prairie as a vast, endless sea of grasses and wildflowers with sparsely scattered trees. Pioneers used the land primarily for grazing livestock, but later they turned the prairie into farmland. Farmers found that the fertile soil was well-suited for agriculture. It was especially good for growing cotton. Pecan Springs also has the distinction of being situated on the historic Shawnee Cattle Trail. Texas ranchers drove longhorns through this area on their way to market from the 1840’s until shortly after the Civil War. The prairie grasses provided cattle herds excellent grazing while Chambers Creek provided a welcome place to rest and water the cattle. Description of the Ranch PropertyA total of 871.873 acres comprises the land mass of Pecan Springs. Of that area, approximately one-third is forested, with the remainder being pasture. Pecan Springs boasts a wide variety of trees including several varieties of oak, elm, and ash, as well as plum, red mulberry, walnut, sugarberry, hackberry, rusty black haw, and willow. A large pecan grove grows in the northeast corner of the property, and is a defining characteristic of the ranch. Forestry experts have estimated that the pecan trees are between 100 and 150 years old. The trees are native pecans, but one of the property’s previous owners, Minnie Campbell, grafted paper shell branches on many of the trees. In 1965 the Ellis County Prairie Soil Conservation District built a retaining dam in the northwest section of the property as part of an initiative to prevent soil erosion from overflow from Chambers Creek. As a result, the dam has created a picturesque reservoir that is abundant with fish. In the 1970’s, the Campbells purchased a small house in Austin and moved it to a location near the reservoir. By the time the Paups purchased the property in 2012, the house had fallen into disrepair from lack of use. Rather than razing it, they renovated the house and turned it into a comfortable retreat for themselves and their family.The old homestead of the property stands on the southeast section of the property. The homestead includes a white frame house that is approximately one hundred thirty years old, a large barn, large chicken coop, and dairy barn. Wilson Dabney Sims originally built the homestead after he purchased the property in 1878. Later, his daughter and son-in-law, Minnie and L.R. Campbell, improved the property. Other supply and tool sheds are located in strategic areas around the property.An abandoned rail line for the International and Great Northern railway extends across the southwest section of the property. The I&GN built this line in 1902 as part of a line that extended from Fort Worth south to Harris County. The railroad carried both passengers and freight. The company located its central depot at nearby Italy on the line that carried passengers from Venus to Waco. The Missouri Pacific Railroad purchased the I&GN in 1956. Its 1,106 miles of track made it one of the most important parts of the Missouri Pacific. By 1970 The Missouri Pacific had abandoned many of the lines, including the line that traverses Pecan Springs Ranch.THE HISTORY OF ELLIS COUNTY: PECAN SPRINGS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXTHistory is formed from the stories of the endeavors, successes, and failures of everyday people. Often these people and their circumstances connect in unexpected ways. The challenge and satisfaction of finding these connections energize the historian to dig into past characters and events. The efforts of hardy pioneers who came to Texas seeking a better life, financial gain, and fame formed the history of Ellis County. Their contributions to the community elevated ordinary people to the status of local legend. One example is the Rogers family, whose house became the first county courthouse. Today, the Rogers Hotel stands at the location of their original home. Captain W. H. Getzendaner is remembered for donating a large amount of land to the city of Waxahachie for a park. When he arrived in Waxahachie in 1859 he had $5.00 in his pocket and was $40.00 in debt, yet he became a successful politician and businessman, a well-known figure in Waxahachie history. Ellis County history is filled with these kinds of stories that encourage and motivate future generations.At the time of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Ellis County was a land inhabited only by Native Americans and wildlife. In fact, Ellis County did not yet exist. Robertson County encompassed a large land area that would eventually be broken up into some fourteen counties, including Ellis. William Howe, the first white settler to come to the area that would become Ellis County, arrived sometime in July 1843. Other settlers followed, drawn by the promise of cheap land and opportunity until finally the area had enough men that it could petition to be formed into a new county. Humble BeginningsIn 1849, Hans Smith and Benjamin Hawkins undertook the task to ride throughout the area collecting signatures from eligible voters on the petition to create a new county. By that time, the state of Texas had divided Robertson County into several other counties, and the Ellis County region was a part of a larger Navarro County. The area was sparsely populated, and settlers were so spread out that Hawkins had to ride out a second time to gather the few remaining required signatures. Due to their efforts, the necessary one hundred men signed the petition for a new county to be formed. The founders named this brand new county Ellis County after Richard Ellis, who served as President of the Constitutional Convention in 1836 when Texas declared its independence. Thomas Jefferson Chambers, an early settler, received one of the first land grants in Ellis County in 1834. The Mexican government granted him eight leagues of land, or 35,500 acres, for his services rendered as a “superior judge” of Texas for several years. Later residents named Chambers Creek in his honor.By all accounts, Ellis County teemed with wildlife before settlers began arriving by the score. Game was abundant. A hunter could easily find deer, buffalo, turkeys, antelope, wild hogs, or black bear in the woods. The streams and creeks were filled with fish and freshwater oysters. Wild bees produced honey. The land was rich with wild berries, fruit, and nuts, especially pecans, available for the taking. However, by 1850 white hunters had slaughtered the buffalo, nearly eradicating the herds. Settlers arrived with farm implements, and turned the wild prairie into a domesticated, agricultural society.American Indian RelationsThough there is little evidence of permanent Indian settlements in Ellis County, many Indian tribes traveled the area, camping along creeks and springs. The most frequent visitors were known as the Tonkawa Indian tribe. Their name was derived from the Waco word tonkawya meaning “they all stay together.” However, the Tonkawa had a different name for themselves, tichkan-watich which means “the most human of peoples.” The Tonkawa were a nomadic people who followed the traditions of the Plains Indian culture, hunting buffalo and other game. They also fished and gathered wild fruit, roots, berries, and nuts to subsidize their diet. When Anglos moved into the area, they used pecans as a barter item.Although their presence often startled white settlers, the Tonkawa was a peaceful tribe. The pioneers most likely found it difficult to become accustomed to scantily clad and tattooed men and women, and their naked children. Whites especially deplored the Tonkawa practice of binding boards to their babies’ heads to give them a flat forehead. In spite of these differences, the Tonkawa were friendly toward whites. There are no records of any massacres or Indian wars in the Ellis County area. In 1846, the Tonkawa and whites signed a peace treaty, and the Tonkawa allied themselves with the whites and helped them fight the Comanche and Apaches. Many of their braves served as scouts for the Texas Rangers and the army throughout the 1840’s and 1850’s. By the middle of the 1800’s the Tonkawa faced starvation because of the decimation of the buffalo and dwindling number of wild game. Therefore, in 1855 government agents persuaded them to leave the area and move to a reservation on the Brazos River. The tribe was eventually pushed out again to a reservation in Oklahoma where they found themselves surrounded by their enemies. While many of their braves were fighting in the Confederate army during the Civil War, a surprise attack by several allied tribes killed 133 Tonkawa. The remnants of the tribe returned to Texas, but, faced with starvation, they began to steal in order to survive. The 146 remaining Tonkawa finally returned to Oklahoma in 1870, where they continued to decline. By 1937, only fifty-one documented members of the Tonkawa tribe still existed. Railway SystemDuring the time between Reconstruction and the Great Depression, cotton emerged as a primary cash crop in the Ellis County area. For years, Ellis County was the top producer of cotton in the world, and Waxahachie earned the title “Queen City of the Cotton Belt.” Farmers needed a way to transport their cotton and other goods to various markets. Therefore, railroads became a necessity for transporting produce – especially King Cotton – to market. The first railroad line reached Ellis County in 1872. Its route traveled from Corsicana through Ellis County into Dallas. Other railroads followed in quick succession in 1881, 1882, and 1886. The Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (MK&T) built its line through the area during 1888-1890. The seventh railroad to be built in Ellis County was the International & Great Northern Railway (I&GN) in 1902. It extended through the southern part of the county. This line served as part of the Fort Worth division that extended from Spring in Harris County, Texas, to Fort Worth.In all, eight railroads traversed through Ellis County, in addition to two electric railway lines built for passengers. Ellis County contains almost 600,000 acres of fertile land, yet in the heyday of cotton production not one acre was located more than eight miles from a railroad. Over the years the county produced more cotton and other crops than any other southern county in the United States; however it was the availability of transportation that made its farms so profitable.THE SHAWNEE TRAILThe cattle trails and cowboys are essential elements in the mythos and romance of Texas. This aspect of Texas culture, more than any other, has enthralled worldwide audiences for years. Cattle drives and cowboys have been the subject of numerous books, films, and television shows. A Path Through Ellis CountyFor years, Ellis County was located in the heart of cattle drive territory. During the years prior to and just after the Civil War, cattlemen moved cattle along a trail that ran from Austin to the north, through Waco, Waxahachie, and Dallas. It crossed the Red River into Oklahoma and ended in Missouri where the herds of cattle could be transported to northern markets by rail. This trail was known by several names. Pioneers often called this route the Sedalia Trail, the Texas Road, and the Kansas Trail, but it was most commonly known as the Shawnee Trail. Before it was used for cattle, this trail was already well-defined. Indians used this route for years as they hunted and traded throughout the territory. Later, settlers traveled this route to Texas from the Midwest. Cattlemen began driving their herds north on the Shawnee Trail as early as the 1840’s. The Trail followed a path that was roughly the same course as modern-day Interstate Highway 35 East. Chambers Creek provided an ideal to place to stop, rest, and water the cattle. Pecan Springs Ranch lay as a wide-open space at this time, carpeted in prairie grass. Therefore, it can be assumed that a fair number of cattle crossed over its borders, eating its nourishing grass and drinking from Chambers Creek.The End of the TrailHistorians credit a small insect with bringing an end to the Shawnee Trail. Ticks, carried by Texas cattle, spread a deadly disease called Texas Fever to herds in the north. The Texas Longhorns were immune to the disease, but northern cattle were not. Texas Fever infected herds on farms along the cattle trail in Kansas and Missouri, causing them to sicken and die. In 1853, angry farmers met Texas drovers at the border of Missouri and turned back the cattle. Tempers flared for several years as Texas drovers sought ways to sneak their cattle across the border or circumvent the most populated areas.Cattle drives on the Shawnee Trail abated during the Civil War because much of Texas’s manpower was off fighting for the Confederacy. Few men were driving or tending cattle, so the unattended longhorns multiplied in the wild. Men returned home in 1866 to find approximately six million unbranded, wild longhorns on the open ranges. There were so many longhorns available that they sold locally for only two dollars a head. However, meat deprived Northerners were willing to pay forty dollars a head, so cattle drivers took to the trail again. That year more than 200,000 head of cattle were driven to up the Shawnee Trail to railways in Missouri. However, tensions were still high. Farmers and vigilante groups in Missouri continued to turn back and kill Texas Longhorns that they caught crossing the border. At least one cowboy was reportedly killed in an altercation. In order to protect their herds, Missouri and Kansas farmers petitioned the state government for laws against the import of Texas cattle. State legislatures responded by passing laws that prevented any sick cattle from Texas to cross into Kansas or Missouri. The Legislation was ineffective, however, because the Longhorns themselves were immune to the disease and showed no symptoms while carrying the disease-bearing ticks. Some drovers managed to get through the Kansas and Missouri barricades with their cattle, while others began to drive their herds on longer, more circuitous routes to avoid populated hostile areas. The drovers realized that the answer to these problems was to find a new route that would allow Texas cattle to bypass farming communities to get to market. As a result, they began to use the more westerly Chisolm Trail that ran through Fort Worth. In 1867, Joseph McCoy established market facilities at the terminus of the Chisolm Trail in Abilene, Kansas, thereby ensuring the transport of cattle to northern markets. With the success of the new route, the Shawnee Trail fell into disuse and was eventually abandoned.THE TEXAS LAND GRANT SYSTEMIn the early days of the Texas Republic (1835-1845), Texas was a vast, untamed wilderness. Abundant wild game and fertile soil created a land of opportunity. However, it also challenged settlers with difficulties such as changeable weather and unfriendly Indians. The infant Texas government was eager to attract homesteaders and build a civilization. In order to hasten settlement, the government granted large tracts of land, or headrights, to immigrants. This not only encouraged settlement of the empty land, but also established a tax base to provide revenue for the fledgling government. In order to facilitate the transfer of property into private hands, the government recognized the need to create a system to record and verify private land titles. Therefore, in 1837 The Republic of Texas created the General Land Office (GLO) to administer and record the land grant process. The government of Texas granted headrights to eligible heads of families and to single men who could prove residency and show themselves to be good citizens. Basic Land ProvisionsBefore a land grant, or patent, was issued to a settler, surveyors measured and recorded the borders of the grant. The basic unit of measurement for land was the vara, a Spanish term of measurement which equaled thirty-three and one-third inches. Thirty-six varas equaled one-hundred feet. Land surveyors frequently used this term in their descriptions of distances and borders. Other units of measurement for land included leagues and labors. A league was 4,428.4 acres, and a labor was 177.1 acres. A usual headright for the earliest settlers in Texas was a league and a labor or about 4,600 acres.Early surveyors did a remarkably accurate job of surveying and defining these parcels of land, especially taking into consideration that they were often surveying uncharted streams and unknown forests. A survey had to be made and approved before the grant could be issued. It was not unusual for a survey to use landmarks such as “a stake in the prairie” or descriptions of trees of a particular kind or diameter. The early price for this land was quite cheap. An eight-league grant could be bought for as little as $1000.The Republic of Texas set some strict guidelines to determine who was eligible to receive land grants. This list of requirements gives historians a framework for understanding the history of each grant and a profile of the person who received it. Researchers can glean information about a grantee by examining the type of grant received. Land grant records provide information such as the settler’s approximate time of arrival in Texas, their place of residence, and marital status.Four Classes of GrantsThe Texas GLO grouped land grants or headrights into four main classes. First class grants were given to settlers who had arrived in Texas prior to the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, but who had not yet received a land grant. Heads of families received one league and one labor of land while single men could receive one-third of a league or 1,476.1 acres. These grants were unconditional, allowing the grant to be transferred or sold even before the Certificate was issued. Second class land grants were given to settlers who had arrived in Texas after March 2, 1836, but before October 1, 1837. Heads of families could receive 1,280 acres while single men were eligible for six-hundred forty acres. Initially, the government issued a Conditional Certificate that required three years of responsible citizenship. During the period of the Conditional Certificate, the grantee could not sell the property. After at least three years of residency in Texas, the grantee received an Unconditional Certificate which could lead to a Patent. The grantee was not required to live on his land grant; he was only required to live in Texas. The issuance of Conditional Certificates and qualifying citizenship requirements discouraged speculators from profiting by buying and selling cheap land. It also curtailed tendencies toward forging documents. Third class land grants were given to settlers who arrived in Texas between October 1, 1837 and January 1, 1840. Heads of families were eligible for six-hundred forty acres while single men received three-hundred twenty acres. Third class grants required similar conditions to second class grants, including a Conditional Certificate followed by three years of responsible citizenship before the Unconditional Certificate was issued. Fourth class grants were issued to immigrants who arrived in Texas between January 1, 1840 and January 1, 1842. The amount of land granted was the same as the third class grant. The conditions for ownership were also similar to the second and third class grants, with the additional requirement that at least ten acres be cultivated. The type of land grant received indicates a settler’s approximate date of arrival. Earlier arrivals received more land than later arrivals, and heads of households received more land than single men. A man who had a wife or dependents qualified as a head of the household and could receive the full grant of land, but only if his dependents were living in Texas with him. If he came alone, then he only qualified for the land grant for single men. If his family arrived later, he could apply for an augmentation.In all, Texas issued 17,382 First Class land grants, 6,056 Second Class land grants, and 37,670 Third Class grants. Though this seems like an enormous number of grants issued in the early years, it makes up only twenty-one percent of the 290,597 patents given by the state of Texas as of 1986. The Grants for Pecan SpringsIn the case of the Pecan Springs Ranch, two primary grants comprise the land holding. A section on the northwestern edge of the property was originally deeded to Lewis B. De Spain or D’Spain. He received a second class grant, so it can be deduced that he arrived in Texas before October 1, 1837. He applied for the grant on January 18, 1839 and received a Conditional Certificate for 640 acres. This indicates that he was either single or his family did not reside in Texas since 640 acres was the amount given to a single man for a second class grant. His application was submitted in San Augustine County. On September 21, 1841, Texas issued him an Unconditional Certificate after he met his residency requirements. De Spain continued to live in San Augustine County, and there are no records of him residing on or improving the property. After his death, his estate sold the land to John Dabney Sims on January 17, 1857. The property remained in the Sims family for over 150 years.A land grant given to Charles Merlin forms the larger portion of the Pecan Springs land. Merlin was born circa 1800 in France. He immigrated to Texas sometime before 1839 because he received a third class Conditional land grant from the state of Texas on March 11, 1839. The Texas government issued the Unconditional Certificate on October 7, 1844. The Merlin headright is unique and of historical significance because it was signed by Sam Houston, then President of the Republic of Texas. While it is not unusual to see a land grant signed by Houston, the majority of land grants were signed by Anson Jones, the last President of Texas. Mr. Jones was president during a majority of the years when the early grants were issued.The surveyors described the Merlin grant in the fashion of most land grants of that time, delineating the borders by naming landmarks. The Merlin survey was described as: Six hundred and forty acres (being his headright) of land situated and described as follows in Robertson County – on the waters of Chambers Creek a branch of the Trinity River. Beginning at the West corner of a survey of 640 acres made for W R Horne a stake in prarie (sic). Thence North 30 degrees West nineteen hundred varas with the South West line of a survey of 640 acres made for John Levi to his West corner a stake in the prarie (sic). Thence South 60 degrees West nineteen hundred varas to a stake from which a Spanish Oak 14 inches in diameter bears North 53 degrees West 3 varas. And an Over Cup Oak 24 inches in diameter bears North 75 degrees east 24 varas. Thence South 30 degrees East nineteen hundred varas to the West corner of a survey of 640 acres made for Ann H. Stokes, a stake in the prarie (sic). Thence North 60 degrees East nineteen hundred varas with the North West line of said Ann H. Stokes survey to the place of Beginning.Both the De Spain and Merlin grants are recorded as being located in Robertson County since Ellis County had not yet been formed at that time. Good Land Awaiting UseIn spite of having prime black soil prairie land, neither De Spain nor Merlin seemed to take a personal interest in the land. They neither performed any improvements on the land nor planted any crops. It is unclear whether they even personally saw the land. Merlin filed for the land grant from the city of Houston in Harris County, and he resided there the rest of his life. According to 1840 tax records, Merlin owned a town lot in Houston. Merlin’s family consisted of his French-born wife Eliza Baiz (1815-1850) and their two daughters. Merlin died on October 13, 1854 from an apparent overdose. A report issued by the Houston Telegraph reads:“Found Dead: Mr. Charles Merlin, an old resident of this city, and formerly keeper of the Alabama House, was found dead in his bed on yesterday morning. He had been on a spree several days before, and had a phial of black drops, from which he had taken a few drops to quiet his nerves on Thursday night. It was found that he had taken during the night the entire contents, which occasioned his death.”Merlin’s death left behind two young daughters: Celestine, age thirteen, and Julia, age eleven. Merlin’s rather sizeable holdings went to his daughters. In addition to the land that he owned in Ellis County, he also owned three hundred twenty acres in Erath County, thirteen and a half lots and a house in Houston, and thirteen hundred and ninety-eight acres of land in Harris County. The Merlin estate sold the land in Ellis County to Alfred Whitaker in 1863 for $1,280. By this time Celestine and Julia were both married and still residing in Houston. The terms of Merlin’s will divided the Ellis County land and the profits from its sale between the two sisters.Alfred Whitaker experienced some financial difficulties shortly after purchasing the Merlin land, and as part of bankruptcy proceedings sold several properties to Alfred Gee in 1867. These properties included the Merlin grant. Fortunately for Whitaker, he was able to recoup some of his expenditures since Gee purchased the Merlin land for approximately $1,485, about $200 more than Whitaker paid for it. Gee then sold the 640 acre Merlin grant to Nicholas P. Sims in 1869. Nicholas demonstrated shrewd business sense because he was able to buy the land for $1,000 in gold. In 1878, he then sold the land to his nephew, Wilson Dabney Sims, for $4,500, earning a profit of $3,500. THE SIMS BROTHERSThe historical narrative of Pecan Spring Ranch traces its beginnings to the arrival of John and Nicholas Sims’ families in 1851. The Sims families were some of the earliest settlers to arrive in Ellis County, and they helped to pioneer its development. They came with considerable resources and immediately began acquiring acreage, including the Merlin and De Spain land that would later become Pecan Springs Ranch. Two primary creeks supply water to Ellis County: Waxahachie Creek and Chambers Creek. Since water was of the utmost importance to survival and farming, the Sims turned their attention to the fertile land located on the waters of Chamber Creek.John Dabney Sims, the oldest of eight children, was born in 1802 in Virginia. His younger brother, Nicholas P. Sims, was born in 1806. The two brothers displayed close familial ties because they made several significant geographic moves together. The Sims family moved to Maury County, Tennessee, where they each were married. John married Elizabeth Elliott, and they had a total of eight children. Nicholas married Amanda Zollicoffer, but they remained childless. Around 1837, both Sims families moved to Lafayette, Mississippi, where they farmed for some eighteen years. The Sims Before TexasThere is no clear record of why the Sims families pulled up stakes in Mississippi and came to Texas, but the move was clearly a family endeavor. The group that came included John with his wife Elizabeth and their eight children, his brother Nicholas with his wife Amanda, and their sister Lucy with her husband, Ezekiel Brack. Nicholas’s brother-in-law, J.C. Zollicoffer also came with his family and mother. The Sims families were cotton and corn farmers. It was not unusual for farmers to move farther west in search of fertile soil and more acreage. Therefore, the availability of land with its rich, black, prairie soil provided the Sims families an excellent environment in which to raise crops in Ellis County. They did not come as speculators hoping to turn a quick profit. Their actions demonstrated that they relocated to Texas to begin a new life. The Sims families were not strangers to the pioneer lifestyle. John D. and N.P. Sims were among the earliest purchasers of the Chickasaw Cession land in what became Lafayette County, Mississippi when the Chickasaw Indians were removed. They understood the crude way of life and the privations, as well as the feeling of accomplishment of taming a new land. Both John and Nicholas were involved in the settling of the county seat, Oxford, Mississippi, and turning it into a municipality. As the new county courthouse was being built, it became apparent that settlers needed roads to be constructed in order to travel to the county seat. John and Nicholas were both appointed to the Jurors of Review to mark new roads running from Oxford to various other points. As some of the first pioneers, the brothers purchased some of the best land available. This fertile land contributed to their success as farmers, and according to a list of persons owning land in 1850, the Sims brothers were quite successful. In addition to the fourteen slaves that John owned, he also owned three-hundred sixty acres of land valued at $4,000. His farm equipment was worth $880, and he produced one thousand bushels of corn in 1850. Nicholas owned three-hundred twenty acres of land valued as $2,300. His farm equipment was worth $600. He produced one thousand bushels of corn and thirty-three bales of cotton.After coming to Texas in 1851, Nicholas made his first land purchase on Chambers Creek on May 24, 1851 when he bought 640 acres of land from A.L. Hulm. It is likely that the whole family unit settled here together because three years later a deed records that Nicholas purchased 118 acres of the Hulm’s headright from his brother-in-law Ezekiel Brack. Since the Hulm’s headright was already in Nicholas’s name, it seems reasonable that the whole family went in together to buy the land, and then in 1854 Nicholas bought out Brack’s share.John D. Sims’s first official land purchase occurred on December 24, 1853 when he bought 320 acres from Andrew Davis. He bought another tract of 447 acres in 1856, and then on December 17, 1857 he purchased the L.B. De Spain headright for $1850 at an auction held by the De Spain estate. The De Spain headright is part of the property on the northern edge of Pecan Springs Ranch. These purchases were the beginning of the Sims brothers’ acquisitions. Slave RelationsThe Sims family’s farming endeavors in Mississippi were quite successful as evidence by their slave acquisitions. John Sims only owned two slaves while they lived in Tennessee, but in Mississippi that number grew to five slaves by 1840 and then to fourteen by 1850. Nicholas held nine slaves of his own in 1850. While owning this many slaves did not elevate their status to the title of a Planter, it did indicate their comparative wealth. Only about one-third of the white population in the South in 1830 owned slaves. This statistic decreased to one-fourth of the white population by 1860. Of that number, most whites owned only a slave to two to help with household tasks or in the fields. Owning fourteen slaves would have put John Sims in the top fifteen percent of slaveholders. In 1840, he owned two adults and three children, indicating that they were most likely a family. In 1850, just before moving to Ellis County, he possessed three adults, four teenagers, and seven children. By 1860 John Sims owned twenty-four slaves and five slave houses; he could now be categorized as a Planter and his slave demographic looked more like an authentic plantation. Of his slaves, nine were between the ages of twenty-one and fifty-eight. Fourteen were children under the age of thirteen. Fifteen were male, while nine were female. Again, the high number of children indicates that John Sims’s slaves were probably family units.According to the 1860 Ellis County Slave Schedule, Nicholas Sims owned nine slaves and four slave houses. It is interesting to note that the 1860 Federal Census shows a J.C. Zollicoffer, with his wife, children, and mother, Abigail Zollicoffer. This data indicates that besides his brother’s and sister’s families, Nicholas’s brother-in-law’s family and his widowed mother-in-law also came to Ellis County and settled in the same area. The move to Texas truly was an extended family venture. The Zollicoffers also came with considerable resources. The 1860 Slave Schedule shows that J.C. Zollicoffer owned twenty-one slaves. The 1870 Ellis County census recorded eighteen black individuals with the Zollicoffer surname which also lived in proximity to Nicholas. It was a common practice for slaves to take the surname of their former masters when they were freed; therefore, the presence of so many black Zollicoffers indicates that they were the freed slaves of J.C. Zollicoffer. All these facts demonstrate that Nicholas may have had access to those slaves as well, which may explain why he only owned nine slaves even though he had large land holdings. Masters often loaned or rented their slaves to neighbors or family when they had need. In 1870, these black Zollicoffers also may have been share-croppers for Nicholas. The borrowing back and forth of servants is reinforced in the 1870 census which shows that Abigail Zollicoffer had a black teenaged houseboy whose last name was Sims.As a slaveholder, Nicholas was reputed to be a kind, generous master. In a memorial to him, the Waxahachie Daily Light reported, “It was said that no closer tie ever existed between master and slave than existed between N.P. Sims and his slaves.” After freeing his slaves, Nicholas assisted the older ones with procuring a comfortable place to live, and he was known to aid them with monetary gifts. His favorite servant, Old Uncle Bob, came to visit Nicholas the day before his master died. He had been his slave and companion since birth and he apparently deeply mourned his ailing master saying, “This is de las’ time I’ll ebber see old marster ‘live.”Nicholas P. SimsNicholas P. Sims was an influential and highly respected character in Ellis County history. Since he was the owner of the Merlin headright for nine years before selling it to W. Dabney Sims, his name is associated with Pecan Springs Ranch. Therefore, no history of Pecan Springs can be complete without an examination of his contributions to Ellis County. His obituary in the Ellis County Mirror on May 29, 1902 stated that “Uncle Nich” was the oldest landmark and most remarkable man in Ellis County. In Nashville, he served as a member of the military company that greeted General La Fayette when he toured America. He was among the earliest settlers in Ellis County where he engaged in wheat farming and stock-raising. Though he had limited formal education, Nicholas managed to educate himself enough to become a teacher for three years before he turned his hand to farming. His successful agricultural endeavors enabled him to buy large tracts of land in Ellis County. However, by the time of his death he had disposed of all but three hundred acres of land. He spent his final days living with his stepson, Judge O.E. Dunlap, whose mother was Nicholas’s second wife, Eliza Dunlap. He died on May 24, 1902 after a few days’ illness.Nicholas’s most noteworthy contribution to the city of Waxahachie was the Nicholas P. Sims Library. His will stated,“I am without descendents, and have passed the best years of my life in Ellis County, Texas, where I have accumulated the bulk of my fortune, and am desirous of promoting the mental, moral, and physical advancement of the people of said county, and of the City of Waxahachie, its county seat, and especially of the youth of said county and city, and think this can best be done by the disposition of the residue of my estate which I make by this Will.” The county used Nicholas’s bequeathed funds to build the library on land donated by Captain W. H. Getzendaner. In 1905, the library was dedicated in a grand civic event combined with the thirty-sixth anniversary of Trinity University and the inauguration of their new President. The Nicholas P. Sims Library was among the first ten libraries built in the state of Texas, and certainly one of the few that were privately funded. The total cost of the library and Lyceum was $34,255.76. It is interesting to note that Nicholas’s step-son, Samuel Dunlap, also left a large part of his estate to the city of Italy for the establishment of a public library. WILSON DABNEY SIMSWilson Dabney Sims was about twenty-seven years old when he came to Texas with his father and siblings in 1851. He was born in Maury County, Tennessee on October 3, 1824. After arriving in Ellis County he continued to live with his parents, John and Elizabeth, on Chambers Creek and worked on the farm for the family interest. After several years of labor, his father gave him $500 with which W. Dabney conducted his first land purchase of two hundred sixteen acres on March 21, 1857. He paid $2.50 an acre. He set about making improvements on the land but continued to live with his parents until after the Civil War. Civil War InvolvementDuring the Civil War, Ellis County contributed fighting men to the Confederate Cause through the Twelfth Texas Cavalry Regiment of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi. Commanded by Colonel William Henry Parsons, the Twelfth Cavalry became known as “Parsons’s Brigade.” Discrepancies exist concerning W. Dabney’s service in the War. The sketch in the Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County states that he “enlisted in Company F in Parson’s Cavalry Regiment and served in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. He was mustered in and discharged at Hempstead, was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, and continued to the close of the war.” His obituary in the Waxahachie Enterprise on May 16, 1892 also stated that he served through the war in Parson’s Brigade; however, the source of information for the obituary was probably the sketch in the Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County. It is clear that W. Dabney did indeed enlist in Parson’s Brigade; however his Confederate service record states that he served as a corporal in Capt. J.C. Brown’s Company. Brown commanded company “E”, the Ellis County Grays. Therefore, W. Dabney could not have served in company “F” as his biographical sketch stated. His service record indicates that he enrolled at Camp Hebert near Hempstead on October 28, 1861, and his term of enlistment was for twelve months. However, he did not serve the entire year. His muster card records that he enlisted on August 10, 1861 at Waxahachie and was mustered in on August 23, 1861 at Camp Tarrant. He was then discharged at Camp Hebert on October 28, 1861 after serving two months and six days. His name does not appear on any of the known rosters for Parson’s Brigade, which further supports the assertion that he served a only short time. As a matter of interest, his muster card indicates that at the time of his discharge W. Dabney owned one horse valued at $170, horse equipment valued at $30, guns at $45, and one pistol at $60. The Confederate government had little money to fund an army, so soldiers supplied their own horses, equipment, and munitions.One possible explanation for his short term of service could be that he became ill at camp. Camp Hebert was located on the Sims Bayou about eight miles from Houston. In fall 1861, the weather was recorded as being particularly foggy and dismal. Because of the damp, rainy conditions many men became sick and died. It is probable that W. Dabney was among those casualties, and he returned home to recuperate. Around May 25, 1861 more men were organized into the army under the Conscript Act. As fresh replacements came in, the veterans who had served their year went home, and many did not re-enlist. After his recuperation he probably was not required to return to the cavalry since his term of service was up, and he may not have wanted to return after experiencing the discomforts of camp life.Life After the Civil WarAfter the Civil War, the South experienced great economic hardship. Southerners made sacrifices in support of the War, and as a result of their defeat many were in financial ruin. Confederate script was useless, and the destruction of property was enormous. Ellis County was more fortunate than much of the South because Texas was not turned into a battleground. The men of Parson’s Brigade were proud of this fact, because their efforts had prevented the union army from crossing the Texas border. The most significant loss most people experienced in Ellis County was the forfeiture of their slaves. The loss of labor presented many challenges as former masters and slaves worked out new work and social contracts.W. Dabney continued to live with his parents after the War, and didn’t marry until later in life. He married his first wife, Sally High, in 1871 when he was forty-six years old, and she was twenty. They had one daughter, Sallie. Unfortunately, both mother and daughter died in April 1873. The cause of death is not recorded, but it is logical to conclude that they both perished from illness in the same month. In 1875, W. Dabney married Sally’s younger sister, Bettie High. Bettie was eighteen years old when they married. From this union they had two children, Bessie and Lou Ella. Bettie died in 1879 after four years of marriage. Their daughter, Bessie, died in 1891 at the age of fifteen. W. Dabney then married Evelyn Whitfield one year after the death of Bettie in March 1880. They were married eleven years before W. Dabney died at the age of sixty-seven years. W. Dabney and Evelyn had three children: Minnie Evelyn (1880-1959), Wilson Dabney (1883-1956), and Patrick Whitfield (1887-1936). In spite of the toll of post-war Reconstruction, the Sims family thrived. In 1876, W. Dabney made several land purchases totaling five hundred sixty acres. On January 29, 1878 he bought the Merlin land grant from his uncle, Nicholas Sims. In all, W. Dabney eventually owned some 5500 acres of land in Ellis County.Establishing a HomeW. Dabney chose to make his home on the Merlin survey property. Since water was a key element for survival, he built his house at a remote location on a spring and created a cistern dug out of solid rock. The house was a single-story frame structure that was updated and remodeled several times. The old homestead still stands and retains some of its original features, such as high ceilings, original floors, and original foundation timbers. Because of the remote location of the homestead, it was difficult for the children to attend school. The Sims solved this problem by hiring a live-in tutor for a time to educate the children. A draw was located to the east of the house, and across the draw the Sims built a row of houses for tenant farmers. Since they were built in a straight line, they became known as “Stringtown.” The Merlin survey was never worked by slave labor since its cultivation occurred after the Civil War. However, the 1870 and 1880 censuses record many black individuals with the last name of “Sims” living near the Sims family. The proximity of black Sims individuals to white Sims families indicates that many stayed with their former masters as tenant farmers. The pre-Civil War slave schedules do not record any personal data of slaves beyond their race, age, and gender. The post-Civil War censuses give the former slaves some identity, with names such as Simeon, Keziah, Fannie, and Maggie. These censuses also record their birthplaces, and group them according to families. This information confirms that these individuals were former Sims’ slaves because the oldest ones were born in Lafayette County, Mississippi.A Difficult Way of LifeLife in the late nineteenth century was difficult and often a struggle just to survive. The number of W. Dabney’s wives and the deaths of two of his children illustrate the high mortality rate of that time. Nicholas Sims was married twice, and his second wife was married four times. Farmers faced the challenges of nature every day. Texas climate can be capricious and unforgiving. In Ellis County, the years of 1854-1860 were so dry that many farmers began growing barley in place of the usual corn crop. The year 1857 was unusually cold while the summer of 1860 recorded searing temperatures up to one hundred twelve degrees. The dry conditions resulted in frequent prairie fires caused by spontaneous combustion. In January 1879, temperatures dipped to two degrees. A flood was recorded in 1887, and the next year there was so much rain that people reported floating on rafts above the telephone poles on Chambers Creek. February 1898 set the record as one of the most frigid spells the county had ever experienced, with temperatures falling to ten degrees below zero.One of the worst of nature’s ravages, though, was the legendary locust plague in the fall of 1876. The skies darkened with the insects, and they dropped to the earth to a depth of several inches. The horde ate everything green and any natural fibers they could find, such as curtains and clothing. They then deposited their eggs and died. The stench of the dead insects was terrible. Even worse, poultry and pigs gobbled up the insects, tainting their flesh with an unpleasant taste. Their meat was inedible for months. The locust eggs then hatched from February to April 1877. By May, the locusts moved on, leaving a barren earth behind them.These examples illustrate some of the challenges faced by the pioneers of Ellis County. However, in spite of adversity, the Sims families thrived and prospered. The 1860 Agricultural Census shows that John and Nicholas were already well on their way to prosperity. At this time, W. Dabney was still living with his parents. He had just begun to work his land, so his production is not at the same level as his father’s and uncle’s. Still, the figures demonstrate that he had already accumulated a considerable amount of land, and he had significant potential earnings.1860 Agricultural CensusJohn Dabney SimsNicholas P. SimsWilson Dabney SimsImproved acres40020040Unimproved acres800718876Land cash value$6,000$2,756$832Horses4110Milk cows25342Asses and mules631Working oxen2060Other cattle75462Sheep1005000Swine1001000Livestock value$2,700$2,530$200Wheat4,000 bushels715 bushels0Rye75 bushels100 bushels0Corn2,500 bushels400 bushels0Oats400 bushels00By 1880, W. Dabney owned fifty acres of tilled land. This figure did not include his total land holdings, but only that which he had tilled and planted with crops. The Agricultural Census records that sixteen of his acres produced fifty bushels of Indian corn, and fourteen acres produced two bales of cotton. He owned livestock worth $30 and farm machinery worth $14. He also held six barnyard poultry that produced fifty eggs in 1879. The year of this census was the year following his purchase of the Merlin survey from his Uncle Nicholas, so he was still in the early stages of the development of his farm. W. Dabney’s father, John, died in 1879. In his will he left W. Dabney $2,500 in gold as well as a total of 235 acres of land from various surveys including the L. B. De Spain survey. He disposed of the rest of his property to his children and grandchildren. W. Dabney wisely invested his funds. After January 1880, he conducted approximately thirty property purchases. A Lifetime of AccomplishmentsThe history of the Sims family demonstrates that faith was an important element in their life. In 1851, few churches had been established in Ellis County. As a result, it was difficult for worshipers to congregate. Farmers and rural dwellers faced an additional challenge because they lived in remote areas removed from any community that would have a church. The Sims families recognized the need for congregational worship after they had newly arrived in Ellis County. In 1853, a brush arbor revival meeting resulted in the founding of Bethel Church at Greathouse, southwest of Waxahachie. The Sims families helped in its establishment. The following family members are listed as charter members: E. M. Brack and wife, Maria Sims, J.D. Sims and family, N. P. Sims and wife, and P.C. Sims and wife. N.P. Sims gave ten acres for the establishment of the church and cemetery. W. Dabney Sims was recorded as one of the church’s most supportive members. When things were needed at the church, he would say, “Get it. I will pay for it.” Over the years, the congregation has taken the church through several iterations of building and rebuilding, but it is still standing today. Several charter members are buried in Bethel Cemetery, including W. Dabney who is buried beneath a large, decorative headstone. Besides farming, W. Dabney showed abilities as a competent businessman. His scope of interests far exceeded just farming the land in Italy. He owned a cotton gin for his own use, thereby saving the money required to have his cotton ginned at a secondary location. He served as the director and principal projector of the First National Bank in Waxahachie, which at that time had a capital of $100,000. He held the role of a stockholder of the bank at Bryant, Texas, which also had a capital of $100,000. In addition to these accomplishments, he had two residences and an office in Waxahachie, two offices in Italy with fifty acres of land adjoining, and one office in Milford. At one point, W. Dabney received appointment to the office of County Commissioner by the Provisional Judge, Jack Hamilton. W. Dabney’s civic and religious contributions to the development of Ellis County were significant. Men like him and his Uncle Nicholas played a large role in taming a wild land and creating a cultured society in Ellis County. These pioneers left a legacy for the benefit of future generations.A Legacy Passed to the ChildrenWilson Dabney Sims died on May 10, 1892. At the time of his death, he had four living children: Louella, age fourteen; Minnie, age twelve; Wilson Dabney (W.D.), age eight; and Patrick, age five. His wife, Evelyn, raised the children on her own. After Minnie married, Evelyn lived in Waxahachie with her and Minnie’s husband until her death on December 20, 1911 at the age of sixty-two. Minnie, W.D., and Patrick all attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. While a student, Patrick showed musical prowess and participated as a vocalist. He was a member of the college Conservatory as a vocalist and was a second tenor in the Glee Club. W.D. participated more in the social aspects of college life. He was a member of the Southwestern University Iota Chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He also served as an officer in a tongue-in-cheek organization called the Anvil Corps. Dabney’s membership in the Corps demonstrated his appreciation for irony, and provides some insight into his character. The Anvil Corps’ stated purpose was the “Furtherance of Local Gossip and Discouragement of Women’s Rights.” Their motto read “Knock or the world knocks with you.” W.D. held the title “His Majesty, the Sledge Hammerer.” Other officer titles included Heap Big Steam Hammerer, The Steady Knocker, The Occasional Knocker, and The Tapper. It is not surprising that the membership role did not include any women.W.D. may have had a satirical sense of humor, but he was also considered to be a man of sterling character. Judge A.R. Stout mentioned him by name in The History of Ellis County. Stout wrote that W.D. Sims was in the company of the kind of men who were “influential in all things, both political and otherwise, because of the example they have furnished by the kind of life they have lived. They have never sought any office, unless it was a thankless one such as town councilman or school trustee, but they have lived for the betterment of their community and have helped make it and all about it a finer place in which to live.” This high praise attests to the exceptional character of the members of the Sims family.THE CAMPBELL RANCH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURYIn his will, W. Dabney Sims divided up his land among his children with the provision that it was to be kept in the family. Patrick received the portion of land that included the Merlin survey with the house that his father had built. Minnie, W.D., and Lou Ella all received their portions as well. In 1906, Minnie married Lee Robert Campbell, and they farmed the property that Minnie had inherited. The 1910 census indicates that they resided in Waxahachie, but L.R. farmed their land.A Time of TransitionUnfortunately, Lou Ella Sims Siddons and her husband experienced financial difficulties, and were on the verge of losing the land she had inherited. In order to keep the property in the family, Minnie arranged to buy Lou Ella’s portion. On October 2, 1915 she purchased 458 4/10 acres of land from Lou Ella and her husband for $8,000. This investment proved to be too great a financial stretch for Minnie and L.R., and they found themselves in the same financial quandary. They began selling off small tracts, holding on to as much as they could. However, an unforeseeable crisis in the form of the Great Depression ended Minnie’s hopes of keeping all the land. In the end, she lost Lou Ella’s land as well as her own. The last large tracts of land were sold in 1933 and 1934 to Traveler’s Insurance Company and Union Central Life Insurance Company. In 1917 the United States entered World War I, and once again Ellis County sent its men off to battle. Patrick Sims registered for the draft on May 31, 1917. His card gives a vague physical description of him being tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and light hair. His occupation was a self-employed capitalist and charity worker. His military experience was a single year that he served as a private in the Texas A&M ROTC. Patrick did, in fact, serve in the U.S. Expeditionary Forces in Europe. The 1920 census records that after the war he lived in a boarding house on College Street in Waxahachie. Patrick stated that he was a retired farmer with a “hand all gented.” It is uncertain what this precisely means, but it is obvious that he had injured his hand in some way. The Campbell family maintains that Patrick was injured in the Great War and may have been exposed to mustard gas. By 1930, Patrick returned to live on his property in the house on the Merlin survey and resumed farming. This year’s census confirms that Patrick was a veteran of World War I. Patrick’s brother-in-law, L.R. Campbell, also registered for the draft. By the time of his registration, September 12, 1918, L.R. was married and had one child, William Dabney Campbell. At the time, he was living on his land and farming. His card gives the general physical description of medium height, medium build, blue eyes, and black hair. Fortunately for L.R., the Armistice was signed two months later on November 11, 1918, so he never had to serve in the trenches of the Great War. After World War I, Ellis County experienced a time of growth and prosperity. Increased agricultural production, especially cotton, led to a “Golden Age” period of affluence. New advances in farming equipment allowed farmers to plant and harvest more crops with greater ease. In 1929, the first combine came to Ellis County. This invention combined reaping, threshing, and winnowing of grains into a single job, and represented a significant financial investment. Patrick and W.D. Sims were among the first in Ellis County to purchase and use this new advancement in mechanized farming. The CampbellsState censuses provide much valuable information about L.R. Campbell and Minnie. In 1910, L.R. and Minnie lived in a house in Waxahachie, even while he was working the farm. The residents of their home included their son, William “Bill” Dabney, Minnie’s mother, and an Aunt C.W. McManus. By 1920, they had moved out to the property near Italy on Bell Branch Pike and were farming there. The residents living with them were their son, L.R.’s parents, and two aunts. L.R. worked as a general farmer while his father worked as a poultry farmer. On August 26, 1924, L.R.’s father, Rev. William Campbell, died and was buried in the Waxahachie City Cemetery. Rev. Campbell’s wife, Lucy, went to live with their oldest son in Houston, where she died on April 24, 1930. She was brought back to Waxahachie to be buried next to her husband.In 1926 L.R. and Minnie relocated to Highland Park in Dallas where they bought a home. Instead of farming, L.R. worked as a farm agent and later a salesman for P.H. Whiting & Co. while Minnie wrote for a magazine. Their son, Bill, spent his senior year of high school in Dallas and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1927. He went on to attend SMU, and graduated from there in 1931. In 1936, Patrick Sims died. In his will, Patrick bequeathed his land which consisted of the Merlin survey to the Campbells. As a result, L.R. and Minnie relocated to Ellis County and returned to farming on the homestead Minnie’s father had built.Bill remained in Dallas after his parents returned to Ellis County. On November 7, 1941 he married Mary Ethel “Patsy” Gannon. One month later, a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor pulled the nation into the worldwide conflict that became World War II. After a year of marriage, in December 1942, Bill entered the military and served in an anti-aircraft artillery division. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater on Saipan in the Marianas, and was discharged on May 31, 1946 at the rank of first lieutenant.After Bill returned to Texas, he and Patsy relocated to Amarillo where they became involved in the community. Bill served on the boards of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA Eldon Durrett Memorial Scholarship Committee, and he delivered meals on wheels for many years. He also served for a time as president of Comco Insurance Company and vice president of Southwestern Investment Company. Patsy was a member of the Amarillo Junior League and active in the Amarillo Art Force, Amarillo Symphony, Garden Club, the Amarillo Opera, and other civic organizations. She was also involved in founding the Globe News Center for the Performing Arts and received the Golden Nail Award for her contribution to the arts.L.R. and Minnie continued to live in the home that her father, W. Dabney, built on the Merlin survey. L.R. and Minnie were active in their church, the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Italy, where Mrs. W.R. Guyer recalled that L.R. at one time served as the Sunday School Superintendent. Minnie Sims Campbell died on November 28, 1959 of a coronary thrombosis. L.R. passed away less than a year later on August 10, 1960. They were both buried in the Waxahachie City Cemetery.Bill and Patsy Campbell lived the rest of their lives in the city of Amarillo where they raised four children: William Dabney, Jr., Pricilla, Patricia, and Ward Gannon. Even though they did not reside on the Ellis County property, they continued to take an active interest in it. They held family gatherings and work days on the property, and they kept the Sims house renovated and in good condition. The family typically resided in the old homestead during their visits to the property. In the 1970’s the Campbells bought a small parcel of land that was part of the original De Spain survey. This purchase gave them direct access to Farm to Market Road 876 for an alternate entrance. In 1965, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board built a soil conservation dam on this parcel, which led to the formation of the current lake on the property. Since the family was growing, they needed more space for their corporate family visits. Therefore, they purchased a small house from Austin and moved it onto the De Spain property. They built several additional rooms on this house to provide more sleeping space. Bill entertained the hope that he might someday return to the Campbell Ranch to live and work; however, that plan never came to fruition. In the meantime, Campbell Ranch was leased out as pasture for cattle. Bill passed away on December 12, 2008, and Patsy followed on January 24, 2013. The property of the Campbell Ranch was left to their children. The naming of L. R. Campbell RoadFor years, the locals in the area unofficially called the road that ran past the Campbell Ranch Bell Branch Road, but it was not named on any official document or map. In 1991, the county began giving official names to rural roads as part of the uniformed addressing project for the 911 emergency response system. Usually, the county named rural roads based on a well-known ranch or resident that lived on that road. Therefore, it was suggested that the road be named L. R. Campbell Road after the last owner of the Campbell Ranch who farmed the land. Since a Campbell Road near Maypearl already existed, the initials L.R. were used to differentiate between the two roads. County Commissioner Dale McClain agreed with the suggestion, and officially renamed the road L. R. Campbell Road. This act recorded L.R. Campbell’s legacy in cartography. To the north of Chambers Creek, L.R. Campbell Road becomes FM 876, and the current Bell Branch Road intersects from the west with L.R. Campbell Road.The Ranch Passes to a New FamilyIn 2012, the Campbells sold the Ranch to Ted and Nancy Paup. After surveying the property, they renamed the ranch after two of its most defining characteristics: the springs on which the original homestead was built and the old pecan grove. Since they purchased the land, the Paups have provided a great deal of care to Pecan Springs Ranch. They renovated the house located at the northern entrance to L.R. Campbell Road and they reseeded the overgrazed pastures with prairie grass. A new family now enjoys spending time together, fishing and caring for the land that has been the home to others before them. The legacy has been passed into new hands.CONCLUSIONThe history of any parcel of land is largely determined by the stories of the people who live on it. The Pecan Springs property bears witness to a family that braved the caprice of Mother Nature and poured their energies into creating a prosperous farm. Their lives were filled with triumphs and joys as well as heartache and trials. Evidence of their endeavors can still be seen in such features as the original homestead and the pecan grove.The unwritten history of Pecan Springs Ranch consists of unnamed travelers and inhabitants who occupied the land before civilization came to the area. Native Americans and Spanish conquistadors were the earliest to roam the area long before the first Anglo settler arrived in Texas. The prairie supported a significant wildlife and buffalo population that attracted Indian hunters. Chambers Creek offered a perfect place for an Indian encampment, providing the tribe with fresh water and fish to subsidize their diet. The cacophonic sounds of cattle bellowing and drovers yelling could at one time be heard across the land as cowboys herded their cattle up the Shawnee Trail. These unwritten stories comprise part of the history of Pecan Springs.The written history of Pecan Springs begins with the land grant from the Republic of Texas to Charles Merlin in 1839, signed by President Sam Houston. Merlin was one of the earliest arrivals to Texas, a real pioneer. The rest of its history is primarily formed by the efforts of the Sims family. Nicholas Sims, the first farmer to own the land, was a man who was highly regarded in the Ellis County community. His greatest contribution to Ellis County was the public library and lyceum that was built from funds left to the city in his will. Testimonials portray him to be a remarkable, respected man.His nephew, Wilson Dabney Sims, was no less remarkable, notwithstanding the fact that no edifices bear his name. W. Dabney accumulated a large amount of property and great wealth; however, he freely gave of his resources to his church. His service in such positions as the director of First National Bank and appointment to the position of County Commissioner demonstrated his respected character. He also provided well for his wife and children.The Sims family was part of the generation of hardy pioneers and courageous trailblazers that came to Ellis County and helped to tame the land and establish civilization. While the address of Pecan Springs places its location in the township of Italy, Wilson Dabney farmed its land long before the founding of the town. Waxahachie was nothing more than a log cabin courthouse when the Sims family arrived. Circumstances required these people to be self-sufficient for their food, clothing, and lodging. Life was a struggle for survival. The Sims family bought the Pecan Springs property when it was nothing more than a wild land, and with ax and plow they transformed it into a home and producing farm. Their names can be found liberally sprinkled throughout historical accounts of the county with testimonials of their character and contributions. They are in the company of men who formed the history of Ellis County, and Pecan Springs is part of that legacy. Pecan Springs has the proud heritage that it was owned and worked by a family who contributed significantly to the development of Ellis County, and its profits were used for the betterment of that county’s citizens. Illustrations14859001143042862521590Bethel Church in Greathouse pioneered by the Sims family3095625-485775333375272415-400050-485775 Nicholas P. Sims Nicholas P. Sims Library Program for the Joint Dedication of the Sims Library and the Inauguration of Trinity University’s New President716915-695325The Anvil Corps photo from Southwestern University’s yearbook. WD Sims is on the top row, fifth from the left.1695450158115Kappa Sigma – WD Sims is the top middle photo.523875-466725Rev. Willie and Lucy Campbell12287250361950-390525The Homestead built by Wilson Dabney Sims circa 1880.390525139065“String Town”A remainder of tenant farmers’ housesThe Interior of the Homestead3333750147955-190500138430 The entryway114300066675 Kitchen942975-419100The Parlor993140135890BedroomThe BarnThe Old Gate to the Campbell Ranch on LR Campbell Road1076325100965Pecan Springs RanchFormerly the Campbell RanchOwned by Ted and Nancy PaupNotes ................
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