In addition, to being a school teacher, he was a cotton gin operator. He came from Cherokee County Alabama when he was seven years old. He finished his life in the Spring Hill Community. He was living with his fourth wife.

He attended school at the Key School House. The Key school was established in 1858. It was one of Denton County’s free schools. The free schools at that time were in operation in Pilot Point, Denton and Aubrey. In his interview, he recalls that the school was a one room house constructed of local logs that had been put together twenty years earlier to build a room that was used for the school and the Methodist Sunday school class and Methodist church services. Dr. Key, a pioneer Methodist preacher and circuit rider organized the group and was the first church in the area.

Students attending the Key school traveled from as far away as three miles to attend the school. Miss Linnie Wilcox was Mr. Coffey’s first teacher in the school. J.D. Boren became the teacher when she left.

During Mr. Coffey’s interview, he stated that he came to Denton County during the winter of 1876-77. He lived about two miles southeast of where Aubrey is currently located. He remembers in 1881, when the Texas Pacific railroad was completed. A section house was built seven miles south of Pilot Point. He said that was the beginning of the new town of Aubrey, and soon there were several businesses, including a blacksmith shop and doctor’s office established. Among the early merchants were J.G. Powledge, who also built and operated a cotton gin; B.F. Sizemore, the druggist; and W.R. Caddell, the dry good store.

The Slatons were making a business in Aubrey. Mary Slaton was related to the Powledges and it is believed they came from Alabama at about the same time. The settlement in Alabama was known as Boyd’s Tank Junction.

As the town grew, a petition for a post office was circulated. The post office was established in 1883.

J.D. Boren, a school teacher, J.A. Rhodes and Dr. B.D. Howser soon arrived and were establishing businesses just before 1883, when the newly arriving trains were heading out to Denton.

When the time came to name the new settlement, Mr. Coffey recalled that the first name suggested was withdrawn because there was already a town in Texas with that name. The second choice for the name was Aubrey, which was approved.

Aubrey’s first business houses were built on the east side of the railroad. The land was secured from L.N. Edwards. Jimmie Woods owned the property on the west side of the railroad and there was a stiff rivalry between the two men and the sale of town property.

"The shift to the west side of the tracks took place about 1885 when fire destroyed the original units on the east side," the pioneer was quoted as saying.

Before the advent of the automobile, Aubrey was a prosperous little town. Mr. Coffey recalled that at one time there were four dry good stores, four or more grocers, three druggists, three cotton gins, two livery stables, two saloons and a barber shop. Among the doctors who practiced in Aubrey were Doctors Cos, Ober, Crawford, Clayton, Bates, Copenhoover, Jones, Hawk, Robinson, and Pierce. Doctor Ober moved to Oklahoma, Dr. Clayton moved to Mustang and later Celina. Dr. Pierce was among the late arrivals. She practiced here until 1934, when she moved to Fort Worth.

Among early-day settlers were Bob Benge, Jimmy Woods, J.P. Tidmore, Sonny Dickens, W.E. Kelly, Andy Looper, Henry Davis, Ike Jones, John Haren, John Morgan, Claude Barkdall, Jim Henderson, Al Montgomery, Riley and Louis Caddell, Poly Tisdell, Bill Apperson, Frank Tobin, Babe Davis, Jim Harmon, L.N. Edwards, Mack Wilson, Ben Cagle, Jim Cattlett, Sam Lovelace, Ben Mose, Cy Billingsly, J.T. Mohon, W.H. Hodges, John Parker, Please Wilson, and W.H. Bates.

The first school house in Aubrey was built in 1882. It was a one-room box house built near the depot on land donated by L.N. Edwards and Louis Caddell, Sr. The first teacher in the box house was J.D. Boren. J.F. Edwards replaced J.D. Boren.

Mr. Barrymore established Aubrey’s first newspaper. The first newspaper was The Aubrey Herald and later became The Aubrey Argus.

One of the most vital businesses that survived the hard times was a very essential business for any community. One such business to survive the hard times and economic depressions was the blacksmith which was always necessary. The Yarbrough Plummer Blacksmith shop was just such a necessity.

When the first train pulled out of Aubrey, the Aubrey newspaper was in its heyday. Mr. S.C. Henderson describes in an interview the happenings when the first train came through Aubrey. Next week: "Mr. Henderson Recalls First Train That Ever Ran Through Aubrey."

I was in the local grocery store this past week, and ran into Mike Hinojosa. He said that he really enjoyed the historical information and photos that we are so privileged to publish. He said, "Keep up the good work."

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