September 15, 2005

I am generally not very far behind in answering back to readers, but be patient with me since I have recently come down with pneumonia. Dr. Beresford diagnosed my condition and I have been progressing along since I went to see him.

Dr. Beresford has a very attractive and well-equipped office for the community’s needs. When you have an ailment, I recommend that you go see him; he is very knowledgeable in medicine.

Our community has been without a practicing doctor for many years. We have doctors who move into the area to live, but practice elsewhere, but Doctor Beresford has settled here to meet our medical needs.

The last doctor I remember was Dr. Pierce, a lady doctor who had her office in downtown in the 100 block of Main Street. I was ten years old at the time, and don’t remember much about her.

Dr. Hawk was a doctor in town for many years before Dr. Pierce. Dr. Amos and Dr. Copenhaver were here during the first part last century. I know there were doctors in the 1800's, but my records don’t tell me who they were. Perhaps you readers can help me out.

I received an email sometime back from one of the Henderson descendants. The Henderson family was a prominent family in the area. They first settled in the Belew settlement and were active in establishing the First Baptist Church. The church did not remain in the Belew area very long. The group secured some land just to the north of Springhill Road on Magnolia Street. There was also a small cemetery by the church. The cemetery was a burial ground for the Cherokee Indians that had settled in the area when it was called Onega.

The Baptist church was named the Aubrey Baptist Church. It was the only Baptist church in the Aubrey area. By 1886, they had constructed a well-built building and began services in Aubrey. It became the largest organized church in Denton county. The new wood frame building was finished in 1886, three years after Onega was renamed Aubrey. The building has become a historical structure and still stands in downtown Aubrey.

The Henderson and Edwards families were very active in the Baptist church.

The Henderson family owned a hardware and grocery store in two story brick building that still exists in downtown Aubrey and is next door to the new Lucy’s Café.

I have a letter that was written on Pondrom and Henderson stationery, and was post marked March 27, 1890, 8 a.m. The letterhead states that the store was owned by J.B. Pondrom and Newt Henderson. Newt Henderson was a charter member in the Baptist Church when it was established in the Belew Settlement. Pondrom and Henderson were dealers in "Agricultural Implements of all Kinds." They advertised that they were in "Produce, Grain, Hay and Cotton." The letter was written by Houston Stiff on March 26, 1890.

Grover Henderson was a neighbor of my grandfather. It was called the Henderson house for all of my life. The house still stands and is in good condition.

The heading on the envelope includes a note to the Post Master that states: "Return in 10 Days to:"

I don’t know the location of the post office when this letter was post marked.