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Rock Church Community History RecalledA BIT 01 HISTORY RESTORED Mrs. fireplace that was here when the CarawaysAgnes Carawa\ reehtnked the log cabin that settled this land in 1859. (HCN Photo)this fireplace belongs to. This is the originalSWINGING BRIDGE—This is on swinging bridges left in T Caraway's husband, R.B. helpei 1917, two years after they wc | HCN Photo |BY RENEE BERRY Staff W riterIn 1859, when the first settlers came to the Rock Church Community near Tolar, their lifestyle was quite a bit different than that of the present day community members.Civilization brought progress. and eventually, progress resulted in changes.Jesse Caraway and his family were among the pioneers that travelled in covered wagons from Rutherford, Tennessee to make Texas their new home. Along with him came the Cowans, the Jones and the Pates. Caraway and Cowan originally came from North Carolina.Mrs. Agnes Caraway, 81, recalls various occurances which might shake modern community members but were common place back then. She is the wife of Robert Bruce Caraway, descendant of Jesse Caraway, and has been told much of life in early Rock Church.Indian raids were nothing out of the ordinary, she stated. She possesses a letter written over 100 years ago concerning a specific raid in which Jesse's horses were stolen. He managed to recover 30 of them, though.The first dwelling place of the Jesse Caraways was a little log cabin which was already standing when they arrived. Jesse later built a l‘/a story rock house which burned. The log cabin stands today and hasbeen protected by siding andre-chitted by Agnes Caraway.The elder Caraway also owned Negro staves.Soon after the pioneers arrived in Rock Church, they realized the need for religionand education. Jesse donated acreage to build a school, church and cemetery upon.The old Rock Church was the first community project. Originally, it housed church, school and Masonic Lodge. In 1906, the community members built the white church house which was the home of the local Methodists until two months ago. Now, they have no preacher.The Rock Church has been purchased by a couple who are redoing it for a home.One of Jesse’s sons, A. E. Caraway taught school at Rock Church. He had 12 children; Amanda. Pearl. Sally, Mary, Suzy, Alice. Billy, R.B.. George. Coke, and Marvin Earl. R. B. was the husband of Agnus.She stated that she and R. B. bought out the heirs and now the original home has been in the Caraway family since it was first settled inMrs. Caraway was wed on Christmas Day, also her birthday in 1915. She wanted the preacher to marry them in their buggy, as was popular in those davs. but was awfully disappointed when he refused to come out and stand in the cold.Her mother fixed a birthday, Christmas, and wedding feast in one meal for all their family, traditional then. The day after the wedding, her husband’s mother prepared an “infair’' which was a feast for his family.R. B. and Agnes carried on the community interest and activity that was characteristic of their ancestors.Two years after they were married, R. B. helped build the old swinging bridge across Squaw Creek and made sure that many of the old sentimental landmarks were cared for.They preserved the log cabin standing behind the newest rock house that Mrs. Caraway lives in today. Behind the log cabin is a pair of oak trees that have grown together and Mrs. Caraway estimates them to be about 200 years old. The limbs were used for hanging hogs on when butchering to let them bleed.Another tree, a pecan, closer to the creek is named “Grandma’s Pecan Tree” because she laid claim to all nuts gathered from it and kept them in her clothes press for the ones she really favored.The Caraway’s have housed many of the Rock Church School teachers. Nettie Bac-cus, long time Granbury school teacher, taught at Rock Church and lived with Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Caraway. Also, Judge Henry Davis, E. S. Norris, Dollie Longacre, Myr-na Wallace, and Roy Nashhave been associated with the school.Mrs. Caraway’s sons, the fourth generation of Rock Church Caraways, have further enhanced the family name. Her eldest, R.B.Jr.. has been a surgeon for 21 years in Wharton.He graduated from Texas AM as a veternarian. practiced a few' years, taught at AM, and decided to go back to school and become a surgeon.Forrest, second in line, lives in Stephenville and has been associated with fertilizer company since his graduation fromTexas AM with a degree horticulture. He aids mother in running her raiHer youngest son graduated from AM as a He practiced for several ylt; in South America, but 1 decided to return to schoo become a public he official. Charles resides New Orleans and is with Louisiana State Department Public Health.Mrs. Caraway si grandchildren ask her sell the ranch’. Perha will be a fifth gener Caraways looking afte home place some da
Newspaper Details
Hood County News
Granbury, Texas, US
Sun, Jul 27, 1975
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Robbie S.
USA 24 Jul 2023
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