Were
your ancestors poor? Were they ever imprisoned? If you
can answer yes to these questions then you need to ask
another question. Where do I locate records to verify
these facts? The Fort Worth City Archives has records of
this nature located within its council meeting files. In
the early days of its development the City took care of
the rich and the poor. They recorded the information in
various forms. Here are two letters submitted to the
Fort Worth City Council asking for funds to refurbish
the paupers and the prisoners accounts. Also, included
is a letter of resignation from a former city employee
with an announcement of his replacement. And finally,
there is a request for a ten day leave of absence by the
city attorney so that he may attend his parent's 50th
wedding anniversary.
These items are located in the Genealogy, History,
Archives Unit of the Fort Worth Public Library. You may
obtain photocopies of these items by writing to us at
500 West 3rd Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
Fort Worth,
April 16th, 1900
Hon. Mayor
and City Council:
Gentlemen:
Below please
find statement of pauper expenses since my last report.
Respectfully
submitted,
W. M. Rea
Date |
Name |
Action |
Amount
Paid
|
9/15/1899 |
Miss
Boone |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$0.95
|
9/19/1899 |
Miss
Dora Smith |
Ticket
to Hico |
$1.80
|
9/20/1899 |
W. Wells |
Ticket
to Gainsville |
$1.00
|
9/24/1899 |
R. G.
Long |
Ticket
to Sanger |
$0.70
|
10/7/1899 |
H. E.
Sweet |
Ticket
to Tayler |
$4.85
|
10/10/1899 |
A. P.
Sprinkle, for Mrs. Edwards |
Cash |
$7.00
|
10/12/1899 |
Fanny
Ezzry |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$0.50
|
10/12/1899 |
Mrs.
Becker for Mrs. Kate Reiter |
Cash |
$1.50
|
11/03/1899 |
Mrs.
Nora Norris |
Ticket
to Paris |
$2.20
|
11/27/1899 |
Mrs.
Pace |
Ticket
to Stephenville |
$1.30
|
11/14/1899 |
Mattie
Luling |
Ticket
to Belton |
$2.00
|
11/14/1899 |
Dock
Hamilton |
Water
rent |
$1.50
|
11/16/1899 |
Montgomery |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$0.95
|
11/20/1899 |
Maggie
Hood |
Ticket
to Sherman |
$1.35
|
11/21/1899 |
W. E.
Droescher |
Ticket
to Gainsville |
$1.00
|
12/02/1899 |
Otto
Schmidt |
Ticket
to Waco |
$2.65
|
12/03/1899 |
John
Guile |
Ticket
to Gainsville |
$1.00
|
12/08/1899 |
John
Moody, wife & child |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$1.50
|
12/08/1899 |
John
Moody, wife & child |
Ticket
to Cavenal I. T |
$9.90
|
12/12/1899 |
L. A.
Cameron |
Cash |
$5.00
|
12/18/1899 |
H.
Reynolds |
Ticket
to Wills Point |
$1.20
|
12/19/1899 |
Mrs. M.
J. Lyons |
Ticket
to Denison |
$2.90
|
12/22/1899 |
Dr.
Lesterfet |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$0.50
|
12/21/1899 |
T. B.
Wallace for Mrs. Wilkins |
Cash |
$4.00
|
12/28/1899 |
G. F.
Patrick |
Ticket
to Houston |
$4.15
|
12/29/1899 |
A. F.
Roberts |
Ticket
to Waco |
$2.65
|
1/4/1900 |
Mrs.
Laura Collins |
Ticket
to Dallas |
$0.50
|
1/9/1900 |
B.
Constantine |
Ticket
to Shreveport |
$3.60
|
1/9/1900 |
E. P.
Lemaster |
Ticket
to Cleburne |
$0.45
|
1/9/1900 |
Arnold
Gettler for Mr. Parish |
Cash |
$0.45
|
1/26/1900 |
Arnold
Gettler |
Cash |
$0.90
|
2/3/1900 |
Mrs.
Baker |
Ticket
to Gainsville |
$1.00
|
2/7/1900 |
Mrs.
Bishop |
Board
for Nellie Drake |
$2.00
|
2/13/1900 |
Mrs.
Wilkins |
Ticket
to Strawn |
$1.25
|
2/13/1900 |
Mrs.
Wilkins |
Freight
and boxes |
$1.45
|
1/1/1900 |
Dock
Hamilton |
Water
rent |
$1.50
|
3/1/1900 |
L. Ghio |
Ticket
to Shreveport |
$3.30
|
3/2/1900 |
Mrs.
Bishop |
Cash |
$2.25
|
3/10/1900 |
Mrs.
Sharp |
Ticket
to Austin |
$5.95
|
3/10/1900 |
Mrs.
Sharp |
Baggage |
$0.55
|
3/28/1900 |
Mrs.
Anderson |
Cash |
$4.00
|
3/27/1900 |
Fannie
Humphries |
Ticket
to Waco |
$1.35
|
4/1/1900 |
Mrs.
Goss |
Ticket
to Weatherford |
$0.95
|
4/1/1900 |
Mrs.
Goss |
Cash |
$0.50
|
4/10/1900 |
S. P.
Clark for Mrs. Bradford |
Ticket |
$11.25
|
4/11/1900 |
Mrs.
Monahans |
Ticket
to Nora Springs, Iowa |
$12.75
|
|
|
Total |
$120.00
|
Jany, 4th,
1900
Hon. Mayor
and City Council,
Gentlemen:
On Dec. 23rd, 1899 I released from the City prison on
account of Christmas Holidays the following named
persons then confined in said prison, and would most
respectfully ask you to remit the balance due on said
fines.
Yours
respectfully,
W. M. Rea
Chief of Police
Christmas
Prisoners
Capias
No. |
Name of
Prisoner |
Amn't
of Fine
|
Work
|
Balance
|
1292 |
Gus
Bader |
$12.95
|
9 days
|
$3.95
|
1323 |
Maggie
Moore |
$7.45
|
6 days
|
$1.45
|
1328 |
C. A.
Wilkins |
$9.95
|
5 days
|
$4.95
|
1332 |
Tom
O'Connor |
$10.45
|
5 days
|
$5.45
|
1333 |
Louis
Bryant |
$7.45
|
6 days
|
$1.45
|
1337 |
Ben
Walsh |
$7.45
|
5 days
|
$2.45
|
1343 |
Wm.
Cowan |
$6.45
|
5 days
|
$1.45
|
1351 |
John
Rains |
$9.95
|
5 days
|
$4.45
|
1355 |
J. W.
Robinson |
$7.45
|
4 days
|
$3.45
|
1362 |
Jerry
Rodgers |
$7.45
|
3 days
|
$4.45
|
1363 |
Lena
Johnson |
$6.45
|
2 days
|
$4.45
|
1366 |
John
Kelly |
$6.45
|
1 day
|
$5.45
|
1367 |
R. L.
Wilson |
$6.45
|
1 day
|
$5.45
|
1369 |
W. L.
Ellis |
$8.95
|
1 day
|
$7.95
|
1370 |
John
McHenry |
$6.45
|
1 day
|
$5.45
|
1371 |
Houston
Farmer |
$6.45
|
1 day
|
$5.45
|
1373 |
P. J.
Sullivan |
$6.45
|
1 day
|
$5.45
|
Total |
|
$134.65
|
|
$73.15
|
The Texas
& Pacific Railway Co.
Telegram
December 29,
1899
To: W. M.
Rea
Dear Sir,
Tonight my leave of absence expires and as I am well
satisfied with the position I have with the T & P
Railroad, I tender my resignation as Police Officer
under you. I think that I made a good many friends while
serving under you and hope that I did not make any
enemies. I have a great deal of respect for you and Mr.
Allen and in fact for all my Brother Officers.
With regards
to all, I am respectfully yours,
F. S. Thomas
Baird, Texas
January 19th,
1900
The Hon.
Mayor and City council;
Gentlemen:
I have promoted J. R. Smith from extra patrolman to
regular patrolman on beat #4. Also H. C. Towns from
extra patrolman to regular patrolman, vice F. S. Thomas
resigned, and would most respectfully ask your
confirmation of same.
Yours truly,
W. M. Rea
Chief of Police
Approved:
A. M. Scott
R. H. Tucker
J. N. Edgell
Police
committee
Feby 15th,
1900
Hon. Mayor
and City Council,
Fort Worth, Texas
Gentlemen,
On the 5th of next March my father and mother will have
been married fifty years. It is proposed that such of
their children as are living shall meet with them on
that day at the old house and I will be glad to have a
leave of absence for ten days for that purpose.
Respectfully,
Wm. D.
Williams
City Attorney
|