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October 19, 2005 |
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This past Saturday morning while I was enjoying sitting on the spit and whittle stool, I overheard James Harmon, one of my Cherokee cousins, ask some of the clerks in the store if they had a saw blade that would last for fifteen years. After he found his blade and paid the $2.95, he joined me on one of the spit and whittle stools. It was this point, I knew I was going to hear a really good story. His father, Uncle Arthur, was a champion at telling stories about happenings in the area. Just as he began telling his story, Marcus and Lisa Pierce, and their three little Cherokees came into the store. Just behind them, Bill Falzett, from the Butterfield Stage addition made a surprise visit and got in on James Harmon’s story. The story was about a bunch of teenagers, when James was sixteen years old. He said they were talking about Zilly Boy Mountain, and they all took of and went over to the mountain. He said they climbed the mountain and explored until they were all tired. James discovered a friendly mare grazing near the old skeleton bridge, and quickly formed a friendship with the mare. The friendship grew to the point that James crawled upon the mare’s back and was home bound. James found that he was completely rested when he arrived at home, and as he slid off the old mare, he realized that he had just stolen a horse and he had to do some quick thinking. So he slapped the old mare on the hind quarters and told her to "Go Home." The mare didn’t go anywhere, so he slapped her a little harder the next time, and sure enough she headed back to the Zilly Boy Mountain. Knowing what I know about the crew of friends on this adventure, I have discovered that Sam Washburn could have been the rightful owner of this horse. We all knew that Sam was not a yes man, and perhaps things worked out to the best for everyone involved with the mountain adventure. I would like to include some research work performed by my friend from Butterfield Junction, Bill Falzett. Included is some of Bill’s research work about the mountain and a tributary that has the correct French version of the name. I would like to thank Billy for his research and for his sharing it with me. These documents were on file in Denton County more than 150 years ago. Thanks again to Bill Falzett for his fast response to my story last week. "The Survey Records of Cooke County (Revised Survey Record 1/281) indicate that Reason Jones had the remaining 160 acres of the David Vance certificate surveyed on 1 Nov 1867 adjacent to the east boundary of his landholdings in Cooke County on "Zilaboy" (Isle duBois) Creek (see GLO file Fannin-3-4065). C.F. Jones and W.R. Anderson served as chainmen for the survey." "320 ac John Strickland Survey, Denton & Cooke Cos. (GLO file Fannin 3-1516): "on the waters of the Zilleboy (Isle du Bois) a tributary of the Elm Fork of Trinity about 20 miles N18E from Alton and embracing part of Sections No. 32 and 33 of Township 2 North, Second Base Line in Range 2 West of the First Meridian by virtue of Certificate No. 108 issued by the Commissioner of Peters Colony on the fourth day of April 1850" He also found an excerpt from http://www.lovelavished.org/lovelavished/Puzzle_folder/rememberMom.htm: "I hear her talk about "Zillaboy Creek"... I had trouble finding it on a map as and adult until I realized that Mommy was being funny and that I should actually look for "Isle du Bois" Creek. (People must have thought I was an idiot when I pronounced it for YEARS as "Zillaboy)." Yes I am sure Zilly Boy Mountain is named after Isle Du Bois Creek. Someone asked me to share photos of the tornado of Aubrey back in 1918. |
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