July 28, 2005

 

Tom Shelton and his three sons were indeed very good friends of mine and my entire family. This family was similar to our family. They were also involved with farm work which consisted of plowing large fields and sowing seeds for the growing of hay. The hay was then baled into small square bales that could be handled by one person.

Tom Shelton taught me how to roll a cigarette. Tom was his fifties at that time and was very handy at rolling his own cigarettes. I marveled at the perfection of his cigarettes. He could pour the tobacco into a single paper that was rolled to hold a small sprinkling of the Bull Durham. When he was finished pouring the tobacco in the paper, he would carefully bring the bag up to his mouth and with his mouth catch the string and pull it to where the little sack was closed so that the tobacco would not spill out of the white cotton bag. Then with a quick lick with his tongue, the moisture of the tongue would seal the cigarette. He then took a match and quickly drew it across his blue denim work pants.

Now that was a treat for me when I was ten years old and a necessary hand in field. It took me a lot of practice to to perform all the procedures for making a roll your own. I really never did learn; but I never gave up trying, and eventually I got to where I could make one and light it. But it would fall apart before I finished smoking.

Besides the engines were be beginning to rev up, which meant that we had a job to do. I always enjoyed the hot weather because it was a time of rolling your own, and taking a break in the creek even if it was for only five minutes.

My brother Buddy told me that he enjoyed mostly when our mother would drive up, because we knew that she had something special for us to have a break. Most of the time mother had lemonade for us.

Another one of my joys was when Daddy allowed me to drive in the field. I knew how to drive the 1939 Chevy pickup, the 1936 Ford one and a half ton with a grandma gear, I was allowed to drive the small Farmall F-12 that was hooked up to a rake that made windrows of hay ready for the bale.

Tom Shelton was supposedly my boss because his instructions from my Dad were to keep an eye on me at all times. Next week I will continue with this very favorite family of mine. But for now I will return to the old documents of information that Hazel Shelton had accumulated and so graciously and gave me when she was the City of Aubrey Secretary.

Fri. Sept. 22, 1893 – Charlie Turner and W.E. Mountain have finished their new blacksmith shop. Aubrey now has three blacksmith shops and two livery stables.

Fri. Sept. 29, 1893 – Joe Lavender’s barber shop is now furnished in first class style.

Fri. Nov. 1893 – Fletcher Wilson wold his residence on North Main to John Morgan.

Fri. Dec. 1, 1893 – Dr. S.D. Houser has sold his interest in his drug store at Aubrey to John Hyatt.

Fri. Dec. 15, 1893 – At A. Coffey’s still at Spring Hill on Dec. 1, a difficulty arose between Ed Woodard, Mr. Isom, and Mr. Morton with knives, shot gun and pistol. New Clark who tried to keep the peace got a badly cut hand. He came to Aubrey Wednesday to get his hand doctored. It will probably give him a crippled hand for life.

Fri. April 20, 1894 – Alex Wilson, wanted at Dallas for horse theft, was arrested on Elm, west of Aubrey, on April 19th by Deputy Harper, assisted by Fred and Will Wilson. They entertained Alex in the field while Harper slipped up on his. He was turned over to Sheriff Marrs.

Oct. 12, 1894 – "The Aubrey Banner" was published last week by Haynes Hoffman.

April 25, 1891 – Members of the Methodist Church will have a supper Friday night to raise money for a bell for the church.

May 16, 1891 – It is rumored that the commissioners are taking steps to build a bridge across Elm at the Rail Road bridge. It would be much more convenient for the Aubrey people going to Denton.

June 13, 1891 – James Mullins has moved his blacksmith shop to Collinsville.

July 31, 1891 – The wagon bridge across Big Elm, near the railroad bridge, will be completed and turned over to the commissioners today. It is a suspension bridge put up by Cleburn, Texas Cable Bridge Co.

Sept. 11, 1891 – The new bridge across Elm near Mingo cost $3,700.

Sat. Nov. 1, 1890 – W.P. Wilks of Little Elm bought some Aubrey city lots from L.N. Edwards

Sat. Dec. 20, 1890 – J.L. Parker is building a blacksmith shop on his lot at Aubrey.

Sat. Jan. 31, 1890 – There is now a photo gallery in Aubrey. They have built a new parsonage. (Didn’t say which church)

Fri. March 17, 1893 – The Aubrey Beef Market has opened again. J.G. Powledge and William Ratchford purchased 2/3 of the Crawford and Graham Business. Crawford retained ˝ interest. W.P. Crawford went to Bonham to go into business with A.E. Graham. His mother, Donna Crawford, and her son Luther will also make their home in Bonham.

Fri. April 7, 1893 – Appointed Notary Publics for this term in Aubrey are W.L. Rector, James B. Nelson and J.G. Powledge. J.A. Mullins and family of Collinsville have moved back to Aubrey where he sill put in a blacksmith shop. Dora Ratchford is proprietress of a millinery shop.

Fri. April 28, 1893 – Charlie Wilson of Pilot Point has purchased the Aubrey Meat Market.

Fri. April 28, 1893 – Edison’s Phonograph was exhibited on the nights of the 21st and 22nd at the Aubrey Academy. The program was of choice selections. There was a good attendance.

Fri. July 7, 1893 – The Aubrey Post Office changed hands from Joel Rhodes to Jim Slaton and has been removed to the east side of Main Street.

Jan. 15, 1909 – A fire occurred at Aubrey Tuesday night, January 12, 1909, which destroyed the Price building, a two story brick building on the east side of Main Street occupied by the Herald Office, the Post Office and the Telephone Exchange. The fire started in the printing office in the upper part of the building. As there were poor facilities for fighting the fire, the building and most of the contents were consumed.

Fri. Aug. 18, 1893 – A two story building has been finished at New Hope, four miles south of Aubrey. The first floor is for Missionary Baptists and the second floor is for the Odd Fellows.