If we allow our minds to go back to the year of 1858, we will visualize there were a few businesses that were located about where the peanut dryer stands today. Among the businesses during that period in the area were a general store, a saloon, a jewelry store, and a blacksmith shop. There were no churches, but there was a doctor’s office. A fire came through in the 1860's and burned all of the businesses.

A Sunday school class was started in 1858 with the following active members: Dr. George T. Key, and his wife Mary, Henry Key, John Key, Joshua Harrison, George Harrison, Ben Moss and his wife named Nannie, Jim Wilcox, Mrs. Hart, Squire Hart, Rufus Godwin and wife, Joe Hunt and Mr. Woods and his family. Old records indicate that the Key family had lived in the Weston area.

George Key served as pastor to the only church in Aubrey.

Jim Wilcox owned several thousand acres of the rough treed land.

Ben Moss was the local notary and served as postal clerk some few years later.

Ben Cagel had purchased the land that was owned by the Williams family. They had moved from the gold mines in Mileadgville, Georgia. The Plunks were their neighbors during this period and settled on the land that was west of the Belew Cemetery.

The Texas Cherokees were in a very disruptive condition because they had to make decision’s without their leader Chief Dewali. In the Denton area, John B. Denton, was liquidating all of the Indians he could. It was during this period that the local Cherokees as well as others throughout the state decided that to survive in the area, they would have to hide their identities. This they did and began making whiskey which was their method for making a living.

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