1900-1920
The original Old Union School was built in the 1890s near now-Continental Blvd. and Brumlow Ave. Members of Old Union Primitive Baptist Church held services there. The building burned in 1910. Courtesy of R. E. Smith
Old Union school 1900
According to R.E. Smith, grandson of Old Union Church member, Cantrell V. Willey, "As long as a child could read, as long as they could count, that was all the education they needed according to most old-time Primitive Baptists." Courtesy R.E. Smith
Area farmers as far away as Argyle went to "the Dove" to trade, have their harnesses fixed, or go to church. Milk cans lined the porch of the Dove general store pictured here, circa 1900. Courtesy of Shivers family
Dove school and the general store drew water from the same well, the remains of which are pictured here. Dove community grew up along Dove Road north toward Lonesome Dove Baptist Church. Courtesy of Shivers family
James Torian's children, Ella, Felix and James, grew up in the Dove, circa 1900
Spencer Graham's condolence letter was postmarked April 10, 1906 and mailed to his daughter, Bertha, upon his death. Courtesy of Shivers family
The condolence letter lauded Spencer Graham's citizenship and military service. Courtesy of Shivers family
Spencer Graham "bravely did his duty from 1862 to 1865," according to the men who wrote this condolence letter, a committe that included E. M. Daggett, one of Fort Worth's pioneer founders. Courtesy of Shivers family
This list of the members with which he served in the Confederate Army is dated 1913 and was dictated by Spencer Graham. Courtesy of Shivers family
George Bruno Graham, the younger of Spencer Graham's sons, circa 1900. Courtesy of Shiver family
John Calvin Graham, Spencer Graham's older son, circa 1900. Courtesy of Shivers family
Spencer and Mary Ann Reynolds Graham's two daughters, Ora and Bertha, are pictured here in a Hippodrome Postal Studio, Fort Worth photo, circa 1912. Courtesy of Shivers family
In 1902, Ora Graham married J. R. Shivers in the Dove. Before marriage, Ora had taught at Sams School. Courtesy of Shivers family
John Redmond "J.R." Shivers and his mules on the family's acreage which was largely unfenced and used for grazing cattle and hogs and raising cotton, corn and peanuts. Courtesy of Shivers family
J. R. and Ora Graham Shivers' sons, Cloyce and Claude, seen in this circa 1912 photo, were raised in the Dove community and attended Sams School and Dove School before attending the Carroll Common School built in 1919. Courtesy of Shivers family
Florence School was located in the Lone Elm community, later known as Jellico. The original schoolhouse was built in 1919 on a 3-acre site on Florence Road and was later taken into the Keller school district.
Lone Elm School dates from 1877 and was located near the later community of Jellico. This picture of 19 students, many of them siblings, and their teacher was taken in 1908. Courtesy of E. I. Wiesman
Lone Elm school sat north of the later community of Jellico which was established by Robert Wilson. Seated in the front row, sixth from the left, is one Wilson's grandsons. Courtesy of E. I. Wiesman
The Jellico branch of Big Bear Creek, which runs from Keller through present-day Southlake, was a popular baptizing hole. Courtesy of Shivers family
This Jellico-Bransford Road photo dated 1979 shows the road still wallowed out from heavy wagon traffic. Courtesy of Charles H. Young family
The Jellico-Bransford Road ran south from Jellico to Bransford. This 1996 photo shows remnants of the road rutted with rocks worn down by wagon wheels. Courtesy of E. I. Wiesman
This circa 1900 photo of the Bob Jones family was taken in front of their home which was located in present-day Bob Jones Park in Southlake. Courtesy of Jones family
John Simpson Chisum was a famous cattle rancher in Denton County. He and a slave girl, Jensie, raised three girls, including Almeady who would later marry Bob Jones. Courtesy of Jones family
Bob Jones family members, l-r, Bob Jones holding Jinks, Artie, Hattie, Emma, and wife, Almeada holding Emory. Back row, l-r, Eugie, June, Virgie, Alice and Jim, circa 1900. Courtesy Charles H. Young family
The Fosters arrived with the Missouri Colonists. The James Joyce family settled in the area in 1852. Pictured on their wedding day are Versie Foster married and Cloyce Joyce in 1912. Courtesy of Joyce family
Farming communities in now-Southlake included Dove, White's Chapel, Jellico and Old Union. Most everyone had something in common: they were poor, dirt poor. This picture taken in the Old Union community captures the spirit of the early American farmer.
Blevins, Webb and Willey families in this early 1900s photo at their 80-acre Old Union community farm which sat on both sides of Carroll Avenue at Continental Boulevard. Courtesy R. E. Smith
Old Union community landowner Ben Blevins and son, Otis, circa early 1900s
Men pictured here working land in the Old Union community circa early 1900s are l-r Ara Dual Smith, unidentified man, Dura Alladin Smith, and Arlie (last name unknown). Courtesy of R. E. Smith
Ben and Eula Willey Blevins were married in the Old Union community farmhouse where he was born. They worked alongside other family members on the 80-acre farm. Eula is pregnant here with the couple's third child, circa 1915. Courtesy R. E. Smith
Cotton Belt main line ran west from St. Louis and Memphis through Texarkana to Dallas and Fort Worth. By the 1900s, the rail line ran through Grapevine expanding markets for farmers. This railroad car was photographed near Dove Road in 1990s
Rebecca and Louis Napoleon (L. N.) Bailey were married in the early 1900s and had five children. They lived in the White's Chapel community. Courtesy of Shivers family
L.N. Bailey, Jr. is pictured in front of the Bailey homeplace in 1914. Courtesy of Shivers family
These White's Chapel School students, circa 1900, posed during an Easter outing. Courtesy of Shivers family
One of John R. Torian's son, James, circa 1910
John R. Torian's son, Clint, circa 1910
Dove community poll list 1913. Courtesy of Shivers family
Dove community poll list dated 1913. Courtesy of Shivers family
Bob Jones family bible. The Jones family and other African Americans attended the Mount Carmel Baptist Church which drew attendees well into the 1940s. The church was located in now-Bob Jones Park. Courtesy of Jones family
Bob Jones' six daughters, back row, l-r, Hattie, Alice, Eugie,Emma. Front row, l-r, Artie and Virgie. Courtesy of Jones family
Bob Jones' four sons, back, l-r, Jim, Jinks, Emory. Seated is June. Courtesy of Jones family
Sams School students are shown here in 1916. Starting in 1884, community schools such as Sams were given a number and included in the county school reports. Courtesy of Shivers family
This lively bunch of Sams School students is pictured outside the bulding in 1916. Courtesy of Shivers family
James Eli Torian grew up in the Dove. He was killed in World War I, originally buried in France and in 1921, his remains were returned to the States. His casket is seen here with a military color guard outside Lonesome Dove Baptist Church.
Walter Torian age 18, circa 1917
Soon after attending the funeral of his cousin, James, Walter Torian (seen next to his WWI-uniformed brother Clint and their younger sister, Leona, standing outside the Torian cabin) contracted the flu and died.
Clinton Torian in WWI uniform at home in the Dove community in 1918.
Clint and Minnie Arterburn Torian both grew up in the Dove community (photo circa 1918).
Torian men gather in 1918 beside the Torian cabin.
This photograph shows several Torian generations and speaks to the changing times.
These Willey family women pose in the Old Union community in the early 1900s.
J. E. Douglass, Sr. in the Old Union community. Courtesy of R. E. Smith
J. E. Douglass, Sr.'s children in the Old Union community, circa 1920. Courtesy R. E. Smith
J. E. Douglass, Sr.'s baby in the Old Union community, circa 1920. Courtesy R. E. Smith
Eula Willey Blevins, circa 1920. Courtesy R. E. Smith
Carroll school opened in 1919 for grades 1-8, bringing together for the first time students from area rural schoolhouses Dove, White's Chapel and Sams School. Courtesy of Shivers family
Names of those in Carroll school picture
The 1919 Carroll School is named for then-county superintendent, B Carroll. His name appears here on the school's original cornerstone. Note J. R. Shivers' name as well.
B. Carroll served as a teacher and principal in North Texas area schools including Birdville school before his appointment. Courtesy Mary Ann King
B. Carroll was elected to a full term as county superintendent in 1917 and served until 1926. Courtesy Mary Ann King
B. Carroll is pictured in his Tarrant County Superintendent of Instruction office in 1920. Courtesy Mary Ann King
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"The Carroll School, near Grapevine, was given his name," states one newspaper obituary. Courtesy Mary Ann King
Estha McPherson (first girl in middle row) remembered,"On the first day of school every year, all the kids brought hoes or tools of some sort, and we chopped up all the weeds and grass burrs and cleaned up the school." Courtesy Shivers family
A barefoot J. E. Douglass, Jr. who grew up in the Old Union community, stands outside the Carroll School. Courtesy R. E. Smith
Carroll school class picture, circa 1919. Note the arrows above Alno Bailey and Claude Shivers. They would marry in 1927. Courtesy of Shivers family
Carroll school added a 9th grade by the late 1920s. Courtesy of Shivers family