Category: The History of Texas

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Construction Biz, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX)

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Edwin “Ned” deSteiguer Snead(1929 – 2015) (The following is excerpted from his obituary) In 1992, at an age when most men are retiring, Ned created Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX). GREX is a rail services company providing the railroads with specialty equipment and innovative technological products and services to maintain and repair track all over North America. Much of the equipment that GREX uses was invented and patented by Ned, including the DUMP TRAIN, a train that unloads itself by way of a conveyor belt running the length of the train. Also unique to GREX is the SLOT MACHINE, ballast … Continue reading Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX)

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Georgetown Railroad

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This invitation I received was from a few years ago. (6 1/2 years ago) This is a very well run operation. By operating their own railroad, I’ve been told puts them in a very unique and enviable position in the crushed stone industry. When they ship products from their crusher to locales far away on GRR, they collect the lion share of the freight fee (something like 80%) since it is the point of origin. That’s just the way the system is setup. The story as I heard it, Mr. Snead tried to get various rail companies to service them … Continue reading Georgetown Railroad

Amazing Things, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Was Buster Brown Really From Bertram?

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I have long heard it told that Buster Brown, the little fellow that advertised Buster Brown Shoes was from Bertram. Well it appears that may be at least partially correct. However, there were probably many Buster Browns that were used throughout the times in advertising campaigns. The Buster Brown of Bertram fame supposedly was Johnny Clifton. He may have been from the community of Oatmeal. I found very little information about Johnny and his family. If anyone has other info, please share it. The most I found was an article from 1993 when the old McGill’s Store was closing, there … Continue reading Was Buster Brown Really From Bertram?

Smithwick, The History of TexasLeave a comment

The Faith Family

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I had always heard of the Faith Family and knew there was a connection with them and Smithwick. Since they were all gone by the time I came along I never knew anything about them.I found this information online. There are references here to them operating a cotton gin in Smithwick and having members of both the Stinnett and Boultinghouse families (both of which I’m related on different sides of my family- R. Lewis) marrying into that family.It also gives a little insight into the old Jim Cox home that was across the street and where I spent many hours … Continue reading The Faith Family

Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Ready To Be Confused? Some Misunderstood Texas State Law

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If you own cow and she get’s out on the highway and a car hits her, who is responsible? The landowner or the driver of the car? Does the landowner have a duty to maintain good fences to insure their livestock don’t get out? Is it a different argument if a gate is left open? No respectable cattleman would have bad fences or leave his gate open, but there is always that wild animal that is going to tear up every fence in sight. And there is the issue of the weekend rancher that isn’t sure what a good fence … Continue reading Ready To Be Confused? Some Misunderstood Texas State Law

Amazing Things, The History of TexasLeave a comment

The Man That Helped So Many To Become Winners

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I attended the memorial service for Popeye today. It was so amazing to hear the testimonials of those Champions that were helped by Popeye and Jan Boultinghouse. Jake Barnes told of being just a kid when Popeye took him in and taught him about roping, what a good horse was and how to become a champion. Tee Woolman also gave his testimony about the value that Popeye brought to his life. How he was always available as a friend and a mentor. Both of those men and others there today told about what a fine man that Popeye was. How … Continue reading The Man That Helped So Many To Become Winners

The History of TexasLeave a comment

Pleasant Valley Community – Martin Co. Texas

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I rarely find any information on this community, but I know my grandparents lived in this clapboard house there. There was a school at one time in the 1920’s and my father started to school there. A few years later, my father and his siblings rode horseback to a one room school in Patricia. The only thing I saw of the school or community was a mulberry tree and a piece of concrete which was said to be part of the steps of the school.Royce Scott in his “My Rambling History of Patricia, Tx.” mentions the Pleasant Valley School. His … Continue reading Pleasant Valley Community – Martin Co. Texas