I don't know if this story has been posted here or not, but it's interesting, for those of you in Texas....
The following article was published in the Sulphur Springs, Telegram, December 21 , 1931
R. W. Harris Writes of Early Days in Cumby. . .
William W. Burdette was born in Noblesville, Ind. , Sept. 5, 1849, but when he was eight years
old his parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he lived until he reached the age of his
majority.
In 1870 young Burdette decided to cast his lot with Texas and on arriving in this State, located
at or near Palo Pinto, the county, seat of the County of that name, where he secured work on a
cattle ranch.
He lived in that county for ten years and in 1880 came to Hopkins County, which was to be his
home for most of his life.
On May 14, 1883, he united in marriage to Miss Mollie Johnson, daughter of William Johnson,
a prominent and wealtlv land owner and cattle man whose ranch was some four or five miles cast
of Black Jack Grove.
This man Johnson owned several hundred acres of virgin prairie land, on which large herds of
cattle grazed. It is reported that this man Johnson in accordance with the custom of that day and
time always when selling his cattle would be paid in gold, which he would bury where it was
supposed to be safe from danger of being stolen. It is said he, at times, would have several
thousand dollars of his gold buried away from his residence in this manner and oftentimes no one
but he knew where it was buried. It is also thought that after the death of Mr. Johnson that much
of his money was never found. It was during , Mr. Johnson's life that the elegant farm residence
now owned by Willis Broach was erected. The lumber used in building this residence, of some
12 or 14 rooms, was all of the very best, and was hauled in ox wagons from near old Jefferson.
This residence was then and is today one of the very best country residences to be found in all
Hopkins County, and standing as it does on a point of land, commands a splendid view of the
surrounding country.
After moving to Black Jack Grove, Mr. Burdette worked at the carpenter's, and was the
carpenter in charge when the first church building the Presbyterians erected here, in 1884, was
built. While he generally followed the carpenter's trade he at times was employed in the cattle
business. Along in the middle 80s he moved from this place and spent a few years in West Texas,
but returned here to spend the rest of his days.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and, politically, was recognized as a Republican,
although he never was active in a partisan manner, and really took but little interest in matters
political and it was always thought that he voted the Democratic ticket as often as he did the
Republican.
He was a man well liked by everyone, as he was kind-hearted , and sympathetic and never
did any harm to anyone. He was a father of two children., Oscar, who died early in life, and Rue,
who became the wife of Allen Blount and who now lives in Amarillo, Texas, where Mrs. Burdette
spends much of her times although her home is in Cumby.
Mr. Burdette was postmaster at Cumby from Dec. 4, 1899, until his death which occurred
July 8, 1909. He was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, three miles east of Cumby, the Masonic
Lodge of Cumby having charge of the funeral exercises.
Mr. Burdette was a man who had few, if any, enemies. He tried to do his duty to his family,
his God, and his neighbor, and passed this life, a friend to every one and every one his friend. ---
Cumby Rustler
The following article was published in the Sulphur Springs, Telegram, December 21 , 1931
R. W. Harris Writes of Early Days in Cumby. . .
William W. Burdette was born in Noblesville, Ind. , Sept. 5, 1849, but when he was eight years
old his parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he lived until he reached the age of his
majority.
In 1870 young Burdette decided to cast his lot with Texas and on arriving in this State, located
at or near Palo Pinto, the county, seat of the County of that name, where he secured work on a
cattle ranch.
He lived in that county for ten years and in 1880 came to Hopkins County, which was to be his
home for most of his life.
On May 14, 1883, he united in marriage to Miss Mollie Johnson, daughter of William Johnson,
a prominent and wealtlv land owner and cattle man whose ranch was some four or five miles cast
of Black Jack Grove.
This man Johnson owned several hundred acres of virgin prairie land, on which large herds of
cattle grazed. It is reported that this man Johnson in accordance with the custom of that day and
time always when selling his cattle would be paid in gold, which he would bury where it was
supposed to be safe from danger of being stolen. It is said he, at times, would have several
thousand dollars of his gold buried away from his residence in this manner and oftentimes no one
but he knew where it was buried. It is also thought that after the death of Mr. Johnson that much
of his money was never found. It was during , Mr. Johnson's life that the elegant farm residence
now owned by Willis Broach was erected. The lumber used in building this residence, of some
12 or 14 rooms, was all of the very best, and was hauled in ox wagons from near old Jefferson.
This residence was then and is today one of the very best country residences to be found in all
Hopkins County, and standing as it does on a point of land, commands a splendid view of the
surrounding country.
After moving to Black Jack Grove, Mr. Burdette worked at the carpenter's, and was the
carpenter in charge when the first church building the Presbyterians erected here, in 1884, was
built. While he generally followed the carpenter's trade he at times was employed in the cattle
business. Along in the middle 80s he moved from this place and spent a few years in West Texas,
but returned here to spend the rest of his days.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and, politically, was recognized as a Republican,
although he never was active in a partisan manner, and really took but little interest in matters
political and it was always thought that he voted the Democratic ticket as often as he did the
Republican.
He was a man well liked by everyone, as he was kind-hearted , and sympathetic and never
did any harm to anyone. He was a father of two children., Oscar, who died early in life, and Rue,
who became the wife of Allen Blount and who now lives in Amarillo, Texas, where Mrs. Burdette
spends much of her times although her home is in Cumby.
Mr. Burdette was postmaster at Cumby from Dec. 4, 1899, until his death which occurred
July 8, 1909. He was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, three miles east of Cumby, the Masonic
Lodge of Cumby having charge of the funeral exercises.
Mr. Burdette was a man who had few, if any, enemies. He tried to do his duty to his family,
his God, and his neighbor, and passed this life, a friend to every one and every one his friend. ---
Cumby Rustler
