Newspaper Articles

The Wellington Leader

Collingsworth County In The News

Articles are transcribed as they were written. Any blatant errors are as they appeared. Occasionally an article may contain language that some may find offensive. It isn't our aim to offend, merely to provide historical information for research purposes. [transcribed by Angela Hartman]

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn) 22 Apr 1895, Mon
The Confederate Veteran (A roll call of Veteran Reunions)
Collingsworth County Camp, Wellington, Tex.
  Wellington, Tex., April 13.-- We are in what is known as the Panhandle of Texas, some distance from railway communication, and the county is very sparsely settled. Our camp consists of only fourteen active members at present. We have a few honorary members, and our comrades live so far apart that we scarcely ever all get together. Within the past year four of our comrades removed from this country. One of the four has since died. His name is J.M. Brewer, Company A, Fourteenth Arkansas Infantry, McCulloch's brigade, Price's division, Army of the Mississippi. He was 59 years old and was born in Tennessee.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Tex) 10 Aug 1895, Sat
Pursuing Cattle Thieves
  Wellington, Tex., Aug 7--The latter part of last week some parties stole and drove out of the Diamond pasture about seventy-five head of cattle. They were pursued by the cowboys and trailed into Collingsworth county. Here the pursuers were joined by the sheriff and made a thorough search for the cattle and thieves. They followed the trail and found an improvised corral in a deep canyon where the cattle were held. Near the corral they found a number of cows with their throats cut, supposed to have been killed by the thieves. The rangers have been with the searching party, who are still scouring the country. Up to date they have succeeded in finding a part of the cattle scattered over the range, which leads to the supposition that the thieves were so closely pressed by the pursuers that they turned the cattle loose on the range. New developments are expected daily.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois) 22 Nov 1895, Fri
Otherwise Unnoticed (excerped from larger article about other states, etc.)
  Mercer Battle, the 16 year old son of J. B. Battle, of Wellington, Tex., was accidentally killed by his horse falling on him.

The Austin Weekly Statesman (Austin, Tex) 21 Jan 1897, Thu
Not Dead Yet
  Wellington, Tex., Jan. 16-- (Special)- J.E. McDowell, who was shot at this place on the 7th inst., has been removed to his father's residence and is doing reasonably well. M. Armstrong, who is charged with the shooting, has given bond in the sum of $5oo, awaiting action of the grand jury in April.

The Fort Gibson Post (Fort Gibson, Oklahoma) 3 Feb 1898, Thu
Otherwise Unnoticed (excerped from larger article about other states, etc.)
  William Janes, of Wellington, Tex., was shot and killed from ambush Sunday morning while feeding his stock.

The Eagle (Bryan, Texas) 11 Nov 1898, Fri
Charged With Murder.
  Wellington, Tex., Nov 10,--A true bill was found by the grand jury of Collingsworth county against John Beasley, W.S. Holmes and Earnest Smith for the murder of Willaim Janes in January last. All parties have been arrested and bond fixed at $10,000, which was given.

Wise County Messenger (Decatur, Tex) 30 May 1902, Fri
  Our old time friend, Mrs. J.W. Wells, of Wellington, Tex., is expected here today on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. R.L. Madden.

Wise County Messenger (Decatur, Tex) 20 June 1902, Fri
  Miss Quay Wells, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs. R.L. Madden, for sometime, has gone home to Wellington, Tex.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Tex) 4 Sep 1904, Sun

Maud's Maud
  This is my pet horse. Her name is Maud. She is 8 years old. She eats hay, oats, corn and grass. I am 10 years old.
Maud Grace Koons, Wellington, Tex.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Tex) 4 Sep 1904, Sun

Grandpa's Pet
  I drew one of grandpa's pigs. I am away up in the Panhandle visiting him.
Leslie Koons, Wellington, Tex.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Tex) 11 Sep 1904, Sun

  This is my pet rabbit. A man gave it to me the other day. I am at my grandpa's house, and I want my papa at Sanger, Tex., to see the picture of my pet.
Walter Koons, age 7, Wellington, Tex.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Tex) 11 Mar 1905, Sat
Gen. Lee at Fort Brown.
He is there for the purpose of inspecting the post.
Special to the News
  Brownsville, Tex., Mar 10--Brig. Gen. J.M. Lee, commanding the Department of Texas, accompanied by his aide de camp, J.V.H. Mosely, and Maj. R.R. Stevens, Chief Quartermaster, Department of Texas, arrived this morning on a tour of inspection and was met at the train by two companies of the Twenty-Sixth Infantry at Fort Brown, which acted as an escort of honor. On his arrival at the post a Brigadier General's salute of eleven guns was fired. At 2 o'clock this afternoon the troops stationed here assembled on parade ground and were reviewed and inspected. Gen. Lee and party will leave tomorrow for San Antonio.
  Fred Henderson of Del Rio and F.B. Griffin of Wellington, Tex., arrived here yesterday evening by boat, having made the trip down the Rio Grande from Del Rio. They engaged in trapping along the way and had two live beavers and thirty- five beaver skins when they arrived. The young men sold their outfit here and will go to Corpus Christi by rail.

The Eugene Guard (Eugene, Oregon) 20 Jul 1905, Thu
Married
  Albert A Richmond and Miss Della B. Durham were married in the Presbyterian church at Cottage Grove Sunday evening, July 16, Rev. Mr. Baker, of Wellington, Tex., officiating. The ceremony was witnessed by a large audience. The couple will make their home in Cottage Grove after a honeymoon trip to the Portland fair.

Albuquerque Citizen (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 10 Aug 1908, Mon
  J.W. Deshazo of Wellington, Tex., is in Albuquerque for a few days the guest of Rev. J.M. Sollie, who formerly resided at Wellington.

The Paducah Evening Sun (Paducah, Kentucky) 27 Apr 1909, Tue
John Stewart
Prominent Farmer Dies At Home Near Paducah.
Had Been Ill Short Time Only of Pneumonia--Was 61 years old.
  Mr John Stewart, 61 years old, a prominent farmer of the county residing on the Hinkleville road, died this morning at 12:10 o'clock after an illness with pneumonia. Mr Stewart had been ill for some time and the attack of pneumonia proved fatal. He leaves one son, Mr. A.E. Stweart, and one sister, Mrs. Thomas Harris, of the county. Two brothers survive: Richard Stewart, of the county, and Peter Stewart of Wellington, Tex. Mr Stewart made his home with his brother, Mr. Richard Stewart.
  The arrangements for the funeral have not been made as all efforts to locate Mr. A.E. Stewart, his son, have been fruitless. He is an engineer on the survey of the Mississippi river below Memphis. The body will be held until word is heard from his son.

Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, Illinois) 2 Oct 1909, Sat
Converts Buy Pool Tables
  Wellington, Tex., Oct 2--The Rev. Peter Cartwright, gambling crusader has been so successful with a revival here that his converts raised $750 bought out all the pool tables in town and burned them in the street. The preacher also is conducting a fight against dancing.

The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) 29 Nov 1909, Mon
Shot Self First, Then Attacked Enemy
  Wellington, Tex., Nov 28-- The son of J.M. Smith died at this father's home from a target rifle wound inflicted upon himself. He with other boys 12 and 14 years old engaged in a mimic battle, the opposing forces ranging about 200 yards apart, all armed with target rifles. Young Smith remarked that he would first shoot himself before attacking the enemy. He put the bullet into his breast and was taken home on a stretcher to die.

The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois) 29 Nov 1909, Mon
Kills Himself In "Battle"
Boy Makes Fatal Mistake in Thinking Target Rifle Unloaded.
  Wellington, Tex., Nov. 29--The twelve year old son of J.M. Smith died at his father's home here from a target rifle wound inflicted upon himself.
  He, with other boys twelve and fourteen years old, were about to engage in a mimic battle, the opposing forces being 200 yards apart, all armed with target rifles.
  The Smith boy remarked that he would first shoot himself "before attacking the enemy." Apparently thinking the rifle unloaded, he turned the muzzle to his breast and pushed the trigger, firing a bullet into his body near the heart.
  Does anyone else think this sounds "fishy?" Why would he shoot himself before engaging the enemy? [My observation, not the newspaper. A Hartman, county coordinator.]

Shiner Gazette (Shiner, Texas) 20 Jan 1910, Thu
Fire at Wellington
  Wellington, Tex.--Fire destroyed the west half of the south side of the square Sunday. Following were total losses, no insurance being carried on any building burned: D.T. Bray, hotel, $3000; coe Bankrupt stock, $3000; J.W. Bradley, building, $1000; S. Burger meat market $1000; A.F. Byrd, restaurant, $1000. The J.D. Camp brick store building stopped the flames on the east of the fire, burning to the street on the west.

Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, California) 5 Sep 1910, Mon
Police Believe Man in Jail Wanted in Texas
  San Bernardino, Sep 4--The officers of the sheriff's office believe that they have earned a reward of $1000 for the capture of George Young, wanted at Wellington, Tex., for an offense. He is believed to be serving a sentence in the county jail for distrubing the peace under the name of D. Salisbury.
  The officers of Wellington have telegraphed that photographs of the man wanted and details of his crime are on the way by mail.

The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) 21 Jan 1911, Sat
Several Buildings Destroyed
Fire at Wellington Thursday Night Caused a Loss of $30,000- Officers are investigating
Special to the News.
  Wellington, Tex., Jan 20--Fire last night destroyed the west side of the public square here, causing a loss of $30,000. Among the buildings totally ruined are those of the Wellington Dry Goods Company; Brown Dry Goods Company and the Wellington Hardware Company.
  Other buildings were damaged. Officers are investigating the report that the fire was of incendiary origin.

This ad appeared in newspapers all across the country from Santa Cruz, California to Altoona Pennsylvania in early 1911. This is just one newspaper.
The Dairly Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Oklahoma) 1 Feb 1911, Wed
Life Saved at Death's Door.
  "I never felt so near my grave," writes W.R. Patterson, of Wellington, Tex., as when a frightful cough and lung trouble pulled me down to 100 pounds, in spite of doctor's treatment for two years. My father, mother and two sisters died of consumption, and that I am alive today is due solely to Dr. King's New Discovery, which completely cured me. Now I weigh 187 pounds and have been well and strong for years." Quick, safe, sure its the best remedy on earth for cought, colds, lagrippe, asthma, croup, and all throat and lung troubles. 50¢ and $1.00. Trial bottle free. Guaranteed by Ringer Drug Co.

The Evening Missourian (Columbia, Missouri) 1 Feb 1911, Wed
  C.E. Litchfield, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science of the University of Missouri, went to his home in Wellington, Tex., this afternoon. He will return to Columbia in two weeks.

Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) 24 Feb 1911, Fri
  Dr. Harvey B. Worley, once a Windsor boy, has been appointed railroad surgeon at Wellington, Tex.

The Evening Missourian (Columbia, Missouri) 1 May 1911, Mon
An M.U. Debator is Ill.
  C.E. Litchfield of Wellington, Tex., a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science, is ill at Parker Memorial Hospital. He wnet to the hospital this morning. Mr Litchfield is one of the men who will represent the University of Missouri in the debate with Texas this spring.

The Evening Missourian (Columbia, Missouri) 19 May 1911, Fri
  C.E. Litchfield, who with J.W. Oliver, represented the University of Missouri in a debate with texas University, May 4, returned to Columbia yesterday from his home in Wellington, Tex.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas) 18 Sep 1912, Wed
Police Find A Suit Case
Contained an Envelope Bearing the Address of Nova Young, of Wellington, Texas.
  The police have a suit case mystery. At the request of persons living in the thirtieth block on East Second Street, Detective G.C. Hay was sent to investigate a mysterious appearing package that could be seen in an alfalfa patch. The officer found a leather suit case filled with a man's clothing. Judged by the quality of the clothing the police believe the grip belongs to a laborer.
  There is nothing in the suit case or about the clothing to disclose the identity of the owner except a plain white envelope, which bears this address: "Miss Nova Young, Wellington, Tex." Persons who discovered the suit case in the alfalfa patch have no idea how it came there.
  Detective Hay suspects that the owner met with foul play of some sort while in Wichita. His theory is that the suit case was discarded after everything of value and marks of identification had been removed.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas) 19 Feb 1913, Wed
  A.O. Sweet of Wellington, Tex., brought in two loads of butcher stuff. This stuff rustled its own living in the stock fields and was fed nothing except as a little kaffir in heads was thrown them while snow covered the fields for a week. There are cotton fields, corn stalks and headed kaffir, and on this fodder gathered by themselves, the cattle prospered and got fat enough for butcher stuff. This has been the mildest winter for ten years and the cattle are in the best form he can remember. But cattle are short and are held very high. He finds Wichita his best market. Hogs can not be got at any price and they have corn in abundance at 35 to 40 cents.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas) 14 Mar 1913, Fri
  S.D. Rude of Wellington, Tex., was here Monday with four cars of cattle which netted him $500 more than he expected. Mr. Rude has just returned from a trip to China, Japan and the Philippine Islands.

The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) 28 Apr 1915, Wed
  Announcement is made of the marriage of Firman Schenck of this city, to Mrs. E.V. Jolly at the home of the bride in Wellington, Tex. Mr. and Mrs. Schenck will travel for a few weeks in the Southern states and will return here, where they will make their home on Mr. Schenck's farm, northwest of town

The Paris Morning News (Paris, Texas) 7 Jul 1917, Sat
  Ex-Sheriff Sel Carpenter and family of Wellington, Tex., who have been visiting relatives here, left yesterday for home. They made the trip to Paris in an automobile, which he sold while here, and they took the train back.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas) 18 Dec 1918, Wed
Fallen For Freedom
Article contains names of soldiers with varying degrees of Wounds
Listed in the section under "Wounded (Degree Undetermined) Privates:
Perry W. Turner, Wellington, Tex.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas) 3 Mar 1919, Mon
  HAWKINS--Nina Hawkins died yesterday after a short illness. The body was sent to Wellington, Tex., today by A. G. Mueller for funeral services and burial.

El Paso Herald (El Paso, Texas) 19 Apr 1919, Sat
America's Heroes; U.S. Casualty List
  Washington, D.C., April 19--The casualty list made public Saturday by the war department contains the names of 648 men, 14 of whom, including five marines, were killed in action. The total casualties of the marine corps amounted to 13.
  Men from the southwest, whose names appear in the army list, are the following:

Killed In Action.

Pvt. Jose Candelaria, San Antonio, Tex., Died of Wounds.
Pvt. Alex L. Clay, Athens, Tex.
Pvt. Thomas F. Campbell, whitesboro, Tex.

Wounded Slightly.

Pvt. Robert C. Owens, Merritt, Tex.
Pvt. Sam W Standridge, Petrolia, Tex.
Pvt. Fred J. Skaggs, Wellington, Tex.Died of Accident.
Corp. Claude Crawford, Cresson, Tex., Died of Disease.
Pvt. Clarence Swilling, Iradell, Tex., Died, Previously Reported Missing
Pvt. Howard L. Fortson, Texarkan, Tex.
Pvt. Cosme Griego, Albuquerque, N.M.
Pvt. Ambus E. Hunter, Dallas, Tex., Wounded, Degree Undetermined, Previously Reported Missing
Pvt. Erwin W. Allen, Waco, Tex., Returned to Duty, Previously Reported Died
Pvt Frank Fillip, Mart, Tex., Killed in Action

The following soldiers were killed in action:

Corp. John Hubbard, Hamilton, Ohio
Pvt. Rector G Boyce, Dixon, Mo.
Pvt. James A Brock, Weogufka, Ala.
Pvt. David Scott, Cleveland, Ohio.
Pvt. Henry Williams, Worcester, England.
Pvt. Markey Bevnik, Providence, R.I.
Pvt. John Cantrill Stregel, Stithon, Ky.
Pvt. Floyd B Auslander, Decker, Mich.

Marines Killed.

The following men of the marine corps were killed in action:
Corp Nelson Milton Buford, Kiowa, Kans.
Pvt. John William Murphy, Memphis, Tenn.
Pvt. William Otto Suchy, Great Bend, Kans.
Pvt. James R. Gilmore, Cottonwood, Ala.
Pvt. Ira Albert Yake, Lexington, Mich.

Independence Daily Reporter (Independence, Kansas) 18 Mar 1920, Thu
Marriage Licenses
Robert P. Stahl, Yale, Okla....28
Ethel Pritchard, Wellington, Tex ....25
Eli Wollard, Fredonia....26
Myrtle E. Blair, Fredonia....26
Dale E. Suttle, Nowata....22
Elizabeth Bircher, Alva, Okla....23

Altoona Mirror (Altoona, Pennsylvania) 12 Oct, 1929, Sat
Rains Catfish In Town In Texas
  Wellington, Tex. Oct 12- When it rains in Wellington, it rains, there's no doubt about that. Why, it even rains catfish.
  At least that's the story and the good citizens here intend to stick to it, adopting the well-known Ripleyan attitude of "Believe it or not."
  For weeks the country around here had been needing rain badly. When it finally did rain, eight inches of water fell in three days.
  Following the deluge, several small catfish, ranging in size from two to four inches long, were found disporting themselves in the middle of a road, with not a single clue as to how they got there.
  Examination showed no hook marks. The place they were found is approximately eight miles from the nearest stream and it seems hardly possible, granting that they were caught and dropped there by accident, then anyone would go to the trouble of carrying such small fish home for wither eating or boasting purposes.
  One explanation advanced was that the fish were probably scooped up by a tornado miles away, carried by the wind and finally dropped when the heavy rain fell.
  Anyway, it's a good story.

The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Texas) 6 Nov 1929, Wed
Jail Wellington Man in Stabbing
  Wellington, Tex., Nov. 6--(AP)--Haskell Jones, 23, was held in jail here today charged with the murder last Sunday of Foy Justice, stabbed in the heart.
  The killing occured, police were told, on the road between Wellington and Shamrock. Four men were returning from Shamrock a quarrel started, and Justice and Jones got out of the car to settle the argument.

Bradford Evening Star and The Bradford Daily Record (Bradford, Pennsylvania) 12 Jun 1933, Mon
Two Officers Kidnaped and Tied To Tree
  Wellington, Tex., June 12.--Kidnaped and wired to a tree by two desperadoes, Sheriff George Corry and City Marshal Paul Hardy returned here today and identified their two captors as Clyde and Ivan Barrow, Dallas gunmen wanted for murder.
  The two officers were kidnaped by the pair when they went to the farm home of Steve Prichard, farmer, following an auto accident in which the gunmen's car went over an embankment. Prichard was covered with sub-machine guns when he went to the assistance of the two.
  They forced him to take a seriously injured woman companion to his home, but refused to allow him to summon medical aid. When Mrs. Jack Prichard, daughter-in-law of the farmer knocked on the farmhouse door she was shot and slightly wounded.
  Answering a telephone call for assistance Corry and Hardy went to the Prichard farm where they were surprised and overpowered. Strapped with their own handcuffs, the officers were taken to Errick, Okla., where they were left wired to a tree. They released themselves during the night and directed a fruitless search for their captors.