Elizabeth and Martha Len serve on the Denton County Historical Commission and are active in securing historical data that can be added to the Denton County Museum on the square. The museum is currently located on East McKinney in the county complex while work is in progress on the restoration of the Court House on the square. The museum will be moving back to the Court House when the restoration process is complete.

Martha Len Nelson’s ancestry goes back before the name was changed from Onega to Aubrey in 1881. Her family ancestors settled in the Belew Settlement, which is just a couple of miles to the north of Black Jack Road. The family came through where Pottsboro is now and built their home where the Belew Cemetery is now located.

During 1875, plans were being made to organize the original Baptist church ministry. The Henderson family was active in this organization with others who lived in the Belew Settlement area.

One historian some forty years ago, told me that as many as 600 Denton County Baptists gathered at the Baptist church in Aubrey at the turn of the century to hold county meetings.

Martha Len Nelson’s grandfather was Newt Henderson. He owned the hardware store that was located in the old IOOF building that is in the same block as the present hardware store.

I have several old newspapers from Aubrey’s past that went by the name of The Aubrey Banner, The Aubrey Herald, and The Aubrey Argus. Each one of the newspapers contains advertisements for the Henderson Hardware Store. Some of the advertisements include bridles, harnesses, buggies, as well as, buckets, nails, and the newly invented barbed wire, along with wood stoves and kerosene lamps. These items are a far cry from the electric heaters, toasters and fluorescent light fixtures which are common articles for today.

Mr. Len Henderson was Martha Len’s father, and Marcella Stewart was her mother. Maracella Stewart was a cousin to Marvin Stewart. Martha Len’s mother was raised mostly in the Argyle Area.

Len Henderson was a former student at Aubrey High School. He was a basketball star during 1918. Mr. Henderson later was a school teacher in Aubrey, then went on to become Vice President of the First State Bank of Denton, which is now called Wells Fargo Bank.

The following "Biography of the Senior Class" in the 1918 Aubrey Annual: "As you see in the picture there are only eight members in the Senior Class of 1918 – four boys and four girls. Madge Henderson, Len Henderson and Will Graham Mullins have spent all of their school days in Aubrey. Marge Henderson was born in Aubrey, June 14, 1899. In 1906, she entered school, and is the last one to date her school life back to the old plank building. Madge has been the life of the class since her entrance. She has always made us see the bright side of life, and made school seem really worthwhile." "Len Henderson, the class poet, was born in Aubrey, April 29, 1901. At the age of six, in 1907, he was placed in school, and it was then that he was given the name "Fatty." He has won much fame in athletics, especially Basket Ball. He is the favorite of the class because of his mile and good disposition."

The above quote is just a sampling of the history that is in this 1918 annual. I will include more of this information in the future.

The photo for this week is of the boys basketball team the year of 1918. As if this time, the only identified person is that of Len Henderson who is standing in the top row and second from the right.

I would like to extend my thanks to Elizabeth McMath for helping to arrange this get together and interesting conversation about old times in Aubrey. Elizabeth so kindly brought in a live Zygo cactus that is blooming from her green house.