334 
 U12 U5 
 opy 1 
 
The Legend of Lovers^ Leap 
 
 AND 
 
 An Historical Sketch of 
 Waco^ Texas 
 
 BY 
 
 DEGCA LAMAR WEST 
 
 COPYRIGHT 
 
 By 
 
 DEGCA LAMAR WEST 
 
 April. 1912 
 
 UNIOHT PRINTINC CO.. WACO 
 
AJy-f 
 
 n//-i 
 
 LOVER'S LEAP, BOSQUE RIVER 
 THREE MILES ABOVE CITY OF WACO 
 
 7^ 
 
 S)CI.A313?87 
 
0^ 
 
 The Legend of Lover's Leap 
 
 On a fair spring morning when the young bucks hunted, as 
 was their pleasure, and the old chiefs smoked and basked idly 
 in the sun, as was their pleasure, and the women toiled in the 
 little fields of corn, as was their necessity, Wah-Wah-Tee, the 
 beautiful daughter of the Chief of the Wacos gathered flowers 
 far up on the banks of the Brazos. Wah^Wah-Tee was a child 
 of nature, yet she dreamed as other maids have dene — and as 
 she dreamed, the branches of the willows parted and the embodi- 
 ment of her vision stood forth — a bold and handsome brave. 
 He told her he belonged to the tribe of Apache, and Wah-Wah- 
 Tee bade him go, for the two tribes were sworn foes. In all 
 the annals of Indian "atrocities" there is no record where an 
 Indian woman betrayed a man to his doom. John Smith was 
 old and ugly and a foreigner, but Pocahontas pitied and saved 
 him. The Apache was young, handsome and of her own race, 
 Wah>-Wah-Tee told him he must flee and that she must go, but 
 her brothers were away to the southward, her father dozed in 
 his wigwam and she lingered. The birds sang, the subtle odor 
 of the wild grape filled the air; the sun shone bright, the clover 
 spread its fragrant, glowing carpet of azure, and it was "Spring- 
 time!" This Indian maid had never heard of "Romeo and 
 Juliet," but the results were just the same as tho' she had 
 "sat up nights" reading it, and modern romances, for she 
 promptly fell in love with the "enemy of her house," he, presum- 
 ably having fallen a victim to her charms 'ere he advanced from 
 the sheltering willows. When the shadows of the afternoon 
 were lengthening, Wah-Wah-Tee hastened, for she was several 
 miles from the village by the Big Spring, bvit she was fleet of 
 foot, and sped homeward like a young antelope, when danger is 
 scented from afar. Like fair Minnehaha she had promised to 
 follow where he led her. Had she known the civilized arts of 
 diplomacy, she might have reconciled the two tribes, and "lived 
 happily ever after," instead of furnishing this pathetic story. 
 Then the Waco Chief might have said with the Arrow-maker of 
 the Dakotas, and with many a father since — 
 
 "Thus it is our daughters leave us, 
 Those we love and those who love us, 
 Jusf when, they have learned to help us. 
 When we are old and lean upon them: 
 Comes a youth with flaunting feathers 
 With his flute of reeds, a stranger, 
 Wanders piping through the village, 
 Beckons to the fairest maiden. 
 And she follows where he leads her. 
 Leaving all things for the stranger." 
 
Alas! Star-eyed Wah-Wah-Tee forgot her father's blessing! 
 When she reached the village, they said, "You have wandered 
 afar," and asked if she were not hungry. The color glowed on 
 her dusky cheek, her eyes shone like stars, and they marveled 
 at her beauty. 
 
 Now, Wah-Wah-Tee sought her tent, and did not hear that 
 news had come that the Apaches were over on the East side, 
 and might dare cross the river, and that watch was to be kept. 
 When Chiefs and braves seemed sound asleep, and above the 
 tree tops the full moon cast a silver radiance over all the land, 
 Wah-Wah-Tee slipped into the shadows; crept until she gained 
 her pathway through the thicket, sped to join her lover at the 
 trysting place. The young Apache lying still upon the river's 
 bluff had seen the silent forms before him — knew the meaning 
 of the watch. When he heard the rustle of the leaves, he waited 
 silently until he saw Wah-Wah-Tee. Quick he told her that they 
 must make all speed up the western bank of the river and gain 
 the Bosque woods 'ere she was missed. Wah-Wah-Tee felt no 
 fears, for was she not with her brave? Did not the moon shine 
 forth in that splendor never seen except 'neath southern skies? 
 
 She led the way up a path made by her own dainty moccasined 
 feet. Many a sunny hour had she sat upon the high cliff on the 
 Bosque, and looked across its wooded valleys, while she wove 
 her wild flower-garlands, and her "girlish fond fancies." But 
 even with the dusky savage "the course of true love never did 
 run smooth." With all their native instincts, the beating of 
 their hearts drowned the usually acute sense. Stealthy foot- 
 steps had followed Wah-Wah-Tee from her wigwam, seen the 
 meeting with the lover — guessed its meaning. Returning, he 
 informed the chief, who with the brothers quickly followed. 
 With the wariness of the Indian, they made a noiseless pursuit, 
 thinking to follow across the river and surprise the Apache 
 braves. 
 
 A mighty roaring from the Bosque told of swiftly rising 
 water. On came the Chief, vowing vengeance. Savage heart 
 stood still a moment; did not falter. In the moonlight, on the 
 high cliff, he saw the lover clasp Wah-Wah-Tee, while she kissed 
 him, bravely smiling. None dared to shoot the fatal arrow, bui 
 with demoniac yell would have rushed upon the Apache. Quick 
 Wah-Wah-Tee and her lover, in the last embrace of love and 
 death, sprang from the cliff into the maddened waves below, 
 since which dreadful night it has been known as "Lovers' 
 Leap. " 
 
 The sudden currents from the Bosque are an actual fact, 
 and the legend further states that the bodies of the lovers, still 
 clasped in each other's arms, were borne by the swift flood into 
 the Brazos river, and an eddying current cast them ashore near 
 the spot where the Apache had first seen Wah-Wah-Tee. 
 
 It is said that sometimes when the spring rains presage a 
 flood, and the moon shines bright; when mocking birds make 
 vocal the still night air, one may see on the cliff the flitting 
 figures of a youth and maid. Perhaps it is only vouchsafed to 
 those whose hearts are ever young! 
 
 Oh, ye of youthful or sympathetic heart, shed no tear of pity 
 for the Indian lovers. They were filled with the joy of life — 
 they lived, for they loved, and knew one perfect day! 
 
Historical Sketch 
 
 To give a "History of Waco" in the space allotted were impos- 
 sible; a fleeting glimpse of its varied periods of growth from 
 the view-point of a native, who has had the stories from the 
 lips of those who helped to make it, is all that shall be at- 
 tempted. 
 
 To do this let us divide the time into five periods, beginning 
 with the earliest, which, of course, is largely tradition, but which 
 oft told tale has been handed down from the "oldest inhabi- 
 tant." 
 
 First — The Indian village. 
 
 Second — The White Settlers Village, or "Pioneer Period." 
 
 Third — The Growing Country Town. 
 
 Fourth — The Progressive Little City. 
 
 Fifth — Greater Waco; A Glimpse into the Future. 
 
 THE INDIAN VILLAGE, 
 
 The Tribe of Indians known as the "Wacos" are believed to 
 have been a branch or off-shoot from the larger tribe of the 
 Tawakcni, those fierce natives whose deed form such lurid 
 scenes upon the canvas of Texas history. The word "Waco" 
 being the name given by the Spaniards to this branch, the orig- 
 inal spelling being "Hueco." The early white settlers very sen- 
 sibly gave the anglisized spelling of "W-A-C-O," which is after 
 all nearer the tribal name. They knew well how to talk with 
 the Spaniards in the language of the carbine and the rapier, 
 but it is doubtful if they were so familiar with the Spanish 
 orthography. In any case, we are thankful for the simple spell- 
 ing. 
 
 The "WacGS" were petty farmers, which for that time meant 
 sim.ply that they planted small grain and some fruit trees, the 
 products of their daily use, and to exchange for tobacco and 
 other things dear to their hearts. Blot out from your vision 
 the thought of streets and houses, and all marks of civilization. 
 A fair country, densely wooded to the east and south, and pos- 
 sibly for a few miles to the west, for the "Wacos" chose the 
 choice spot in all the land — the forest for bear, deer and turkey 
 and all the wild things that seek its shelter; and the boundless 
 prairie that they might see an enfemy afar off, make use of its 
 wild horses, bring down the fleet antelope and pursue the mighty 
 monarch of the plain — the buffalo. 
 
 Let us stand for a moment on the banks of the Brazos at 
 what is now the suspension bridge. This was the site of the 
 Indian wigwams, fcr here was the "Big Spring," for which it is 
 said they had a superstitious veneration, (also for the Brazos 
 river), believing so long as they drank of its waters "that their 
 tribe would flourish and not become extinct." Close to this vil- 
 lage the "Wacos" built rude fortifications in which to intrench 
 themselves when attacked by other tribes and to make the 
 
last stand against the white man when he discovered that it 
 was a good land and desired to possess it. (As ever the race 
 was to the strong). Early settlers tell us that the sites of 
 these fortifications were about Columbus avenue, Eighth and 
 Ninth streets, for many years occupied by the homes of Judge 
 George Clark and Dr. G. C. McGregor. (Now the site of the 
 Waco High School). 
 
 With the unerring instinct of the savage the "Wacos" had 
 another and greater reason for their choice of an abiding place. 
 The lay of the land is such that no cyclone, no death-dealing 
 storm ever approached them. We have had zero weather to the 
 north of us, cyclones to the west of us, hail storms on the east of 
 us, and cloudbursts on the south of us, but we still cherish the 
 "Big Spring" in the midst of us and bear a charmed life. 
 
 THE WHITE SETTLERS' VILLAGE. 
 
 The first recorded date of the white man camping at the 
 Indian village of Waco is from Majoi- George Erath, who speaks 
 of having been "stationed here in 1837," and being greatly im- 
 pressed with the place, as the location for a settlement which 
 could easily grow into a town. He wrote as agent of the owners 
 of the Thomas J. Chambers league of land: "I believe Waco 
 will make an important place on account of its central position 
 in the state and its being above the level cf the swamp lands — 
 also because of the many forks of the water courses near by 
 and the broken lands above. I conceived the idea of the Indian 
 village being the site for a town on account also of its being 
 easy of access that a public road from the northeast or northern 
 boundary of Texas would have to cross the Brazos there and 
 passing on across Little river at its three forks and westwardly 
 toward Laredo by what are now the towns of Austin and San 
 Antonio." 
 
 In 1845 four companies of Rangers were organized for frontier 
 protection and the rendezvous for the company under Capt. 
 Shapley P. Ross was stationed at "Waco Spring." By that time, 
 the whites assisted by the Cherokee Indians had driven out the 
 Huecos. It was here that his young son "Lawrence Sullivan" 
 was schooled to hardship and endurance which fitted him tor 
 his brilliant career in which as soldier and civilian he won both 
 name and fame. The name of Ross is indisolubly linked with 
 the history of the country and gives still to Waco some of her 
 most prominent citizens. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Padgitt, recently deceased, had the distinction 
 of being the first white child born in McLennan county, she 
 being the youngest daughter of Captain and Mrs. Shapley Ross, 
 the first permanent settlers of Waco village. 
 
 The families of Ross, Bnrney, Erath, Killingsworth and others 
 were camping on the east side in 1849 and their descendants 
 have done much for the upbuilding of Waco. The town of Waco 
 was "laid off" with a main street beginning at the Spring and 
 running westward with a space left for a public square on the 
 third block from the river. Lots were sold on either side of 
 what is now Bridge street at $5 apiece and the campers moved 
 in and commenced building houses, first with hev»ai logs and 
 rudely manufactured brick. 
 
 When Major Erath was instructed to lay out the town it was 
 to be called "Lamartine," but on May 5th, 1849, it was decided 
 
to call It "Waco Village." While its subsequent history as an 
 educational center would have made it appropriate to name it 
 in honor of President Mirabeau B. Lamar, the man who had 
 the foresight to insist that the state provide for the education 
 of its future citizens by setting aside millions of acres of land, 
 we are glad the pioneers kept the name of "Waco"; the tribe 
 who first discovered her charms is entitled to have its name 
 perpetuatpf- We believe there is some discussion of honoring 
 the memory of General Lamar by giving his name to one of our 
 public schools. He was the first to inaugurate the idea of an 
 the lam^ented Col. Wm. L. Prather. On January 22nd, 1850, the 
 educational fund for Texas, and this fact was given public rec- 
 og'nition half a century after it was due, by a citizen of Waco, 
 LegislrAiire approved an act creating the county to be named 
 for cne of the settlers, Neil McLennan, and in August it was 
 rrcdy to be organized with Waco, on the high bluff by the 
 Rig Springs to be thr seat of Justice. All that existed of Waco 
 : I that time were a few wooden stores on Bridge street, and 
 the nearest approach to what might be called a town was "Cam- 
 eron." A temporary building was erected on the third street 
 corner of the south side of the square, which was to be the site 
 of a permanent court house. There was so little demand for a 
 court house that it was used as a school house until 1854, when 
 the court forbade such combination; a jail and other marks of 
 civilization were soon added. This brings us to the third and 
 most important period. 
 
 THE GROWING TOWN. 
 
 The most important, in that in those early days were laid the 
 fovmdations of the churches and the schools — the bulwarks of 
 civilization. Then were founded those educational institutions 
 which have fitted us for citizenship and made Waco a name 
 synonymous with progress and culture. On May 15th, 1854, lots 
 were donated for the well-known "Methodist Female College;" 
 and the First Baptist church. In the early fifties, the Methodist 
 and Baptist (the strongest religious bodies, both numerically 
 and financially as they are today) agreed to establish two 
 schools, one to be known as the "Female College" to be presided 
 over by a Methodist, which all the girls of both denominations 
 should attend. 
 
 The other to be called the "Waco Classical School," which 
 should be presided over by a Baptist and where all the boys 
 should attend. This unique agreement, it is useless to add, soon 
 ceased to be complied with. Whether it was that some of the 
 girls would go to the boys' school, or whether it was due to the 
 fact that Waco was destined to lead, we cai> not say, but the 
 records show that the "Waco Classical School," presided over 
 by S. G. O'Brien, Theodore Jones, and in 1859-60 by John C. 
 West, closed its doors in 1861 on account of the Civil War. It 
 was superceded by the Baptist College, presided over by Dr. 
 Rufus C. Burleson and Prof. Richard Burleson, and was known 
 as "Waco University" for many years; and Dr. Burleson, the 
 chief advocate in Texas of "co-education." This college was the 
 forerunner of the largest denominational school in Texas, for 
 by a consolidation of several Baptist schools and colleges it be- 
 came, in 1885, Baylor University. The Waco Female College 
 continued to grow and was presided over by some of the best 
 
educators in the state under Methodist domination and boasts 
 among its alumnae many of the most brilliant of the daughters 
 of Texas. And it was a sad day for many of us in Waco, who 
 had been trained within its walls, when "old baldly," as the 
 building was dubbed on account of the peculiarity of its belfry, 
 was torn down and the college was moved to a handsomer 
 building in North Waco. That vicinity is now "College Heights" 
 and the building occupied by the Texas Christian University 
 until it was destroyed by fire in 1910. And since 187-8 there is 
 no "Female College." To use a phrase that does net belong to 
 the period referred to, "We have arrived." 
 
 The first brick court house was built in the midst ot the 
 public square (site of the present city hall) amidst a grove of 
 magnificent trees. This, the Masonic Lodge, corner Third street 
 and square; the Methodist church, corner Third and Franklin 
 streets, and the old Baptist church (burned in 1877), corner 
 Fourth and Mary streets, constituted all the brick buildings in 
 Vs^aco in 1859. At this time the county jail, situated on the north 
 corner of Third street and Franklin street, was built of hewn 
 logs about twenty feet long and eight inches square, composed 
 of two rooms, ten feet high each and one above the other with 
 no opening whatever from the outside to the lower room — only 
 a few square holes, barred wtih iron, for ventilation. The upper 
 room was reached by outside stairway ending in a small plat- 
 form — a trap door from the upper room was the only entrance 
 to tlie lower. This was considered a very safe jail, and the only 
 instance where a prisoner ever escaped goes to show that a 
 Waco woman, when she sets her head, overcomes all obstacles. 
 (Murderers and the more dangerous class cf criminals were con- 
 fined in the lower room). On one occasion a man indicted for 
 naurder was a prisoner and his daughter was allowed to visit 
 him. One day after the daughter had paid a visit the jailer 
 noted that the prisoner was very quiet and seemed to spend 
 most of the day on his rude bed. He went down that night to 
 see if he was sick, but it was the daughter's trick, and the 
 jailor's time to be sick — his prisoner had escaped in frock and 
 sunbonnet and was never heard of again. 
 
 About 1870 the citizens had a great argument about the ti^es 
 in the square and it is a blot that I blush to reveal, but they 
 thought it did not look cityfied and wanted to cut them all down, 
 but the protest was maintained. So one night they all fell be- 
 neath the ax; though who the perpetrators were was suspected. 
 Alas, there was no "Woman's Club" to get out an injunction 
 to restrain the vandal hands. For many years it was a burning 
 plain, but now our city fathers are making efforts to redeem 
 it, and have the "hackberries" watered regularly, but alas! tor 
 the oaks — not even centuries can restore them. The next court 
 house was built on the corner of Second and Franklin streets 
 in 1876 at a cost of probably fifty thousand dollars. It was aban- 
 doned some years ago, but as it is now occupied by a laundi ^ , 
 the "washing cf soiled linen" still goes on within its walls. 
 Only it is done by laundresses instead of lawyers. When this 
 court house was built the population of McLennan county was 
 10,000 — it is now more than 80,000. The last court house was 
 finished in 1903 at a cost of .$250,000, and great care was taken 
 to preserve the beautiful oak trees that grew upon the lots; and 
 
its lawn in summer is an oasis in the midst of paved streets. 
 Great is the influence of civic leagues. 
 
 Stores, churches, schools, homes continued to increase and 
 despite the fact that almost every able-bodied citizen was away 
 In the array the greater part of four years — and the reconstruc- 
 tion period was fraught with even more bitter strife, the growth 
 was steady. The materials for building, stocking a store, etc., 
 all had to be hauled by ox wagons about one hundred miles from 
 Millican, which was the terminus of the Central road up to 
 about 1870. People traveled by stage coach and did not make 
 as much fuss over a three days' delay in arriving at their desti- 
 nation as we do now over three hours. 
 
 I have mentioned the Baptist and Methodists for they were 
 the pioneers in religious and educational work, but soon there 
 were Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Campbell- 
 ites and various other sects. One achievement which by its 
 importance would seem to belong to the "Progressive City Pe- 
 riod" is a standing monument to the enterprising "Country 
 Town," for immediately after the war between the states, when 
 the town numbered less than four thousand inhabitants, there 
 was form.ed a corporation to build a suspension bridge at a 
 cost of about $140,000, which price was probably due to the 
 fluctuation of United States currency. It was finished in 1870 
 and was the second longest single span bridge, not only in the 
 state or nation, but in the world. It stood without a pier — spell 
 it any way you please. The material for the suspension bridge, 
 its immense cables of copper wire, large castings, etc., were 
 hauled on ox wagons from Bremond — 45 miles — that being the 
 nearest railroad point. (For years it was a toll bridge, and was 
 bought by the city and county at the price of $75,000 in 1889, 
 and made free). 
 
 This one example makes Waco unique in her ability to acccm. 
 plish the seemingly impossible. This connected Waco proper 
 with East Waco — then a cotton field, now a thriving place of 
 three or four thousand inhabitants, with paved streets, schools, 
 factories, churches and all the improvements that go to make up 
 the modern city. And East Waco can boast that it had the first 
 railroad, for the Houston and Texas Central built from Bre- 
 mond in 1871, and they have extended their tracks some three 
 hundred miles to the northwest, now the "Texas Central." 
 
 THE PROGRESSIVE CITY. 
 
 Waco has achieved many things, overcome many obstacles, 
 made mistakes, of course, but I shall not mention those except 
 as in the case of the cutting of the trees in the court house 
 square, and the few others that bear directly on our present 
 day work, in city, state and nation. By recognizing these mis- 
 takes and trying to remedy them, we also assist younger towns 
 to prevent them, and the sooner will reach our aim for civic 
 beauty. I have endeavored to eliminate the mistakes, but you 
 will be sure to stumble over them. When you have to wait for 
 your train at McGregor you can not help wondering why the 
 Santa Fe did not pass through Waco — it's a long and painful 
 story. It happened more than twenty years ago and we have 
 not quite recovered, but it is fast becoming a reminiscence since 
 we have been enjoying for a year the "Santa Fe Connection," 
 
which was accomplished by the efforts chiefly of citizens of 
 Waco and Hamilton. 
 
 With our pleasant neighbors of Hillsboro and Temple and 
 the intervening suburbs, and a railroad running from Beaumont 
 on the southeast to Brownwood on the northwest, we may be 
 able to forget. That this prospective road will be assured in the 
 next two years we are certain and it will be mainly due to the 
 efforts of educating public sentiment by the Waco Times-Herald. 
 We have three live, well edited papers — the above, the new 
 Waco Morning News and The Waco Semi-Weekly Tribune. Edi- 
 tor A. R. McCollum of The Tribune is not only a pioneer jour- 
 nalist of Waco, but known and loved throughout the state. 
 No weekly journal in the United States is more worthy a place 
 in the home. Few editorials are so readable, of such graceful 
 diction; few are as truly faithful friends and servers of the 
 people of the city, state and nation, as Editor McCcllum. 
 
 In about 1879 Waco became the terminus of the Cotton Belt 
 road and in the early eighties the Missouri Pacific passed 
 through as far as Taylor — a later extension of what is now the 
 Missouri, Kansas and Texas, provided quick transportation and 
 ccmfcrtable travel without change from St. Louis, Mo., to Gal- 
 veston, Texas. These roads added two more bridges across the 
 Brazos. In more recent years the advent of the San Antonio 
 and Aransas Pass and the International and Great Northern 
 gives Waco nine railway outlets. 
 
 Six or seven years ago the County Commissioners of McLen- 
 nan county and the city authorities of Waco decided that the 
 old bridge was inadequate to the demands and one block above 
 was built the new iron truss bridge at a cost of $100,000. It is 
 a fine substantial bridge and we can travel faster on it. It leads 
 up a magnificent causeway, to our handsome court house, but 
 we still point with pride to our heart's first love — the old sus- 
 pension bridge. 
 
 We not only have the right, but it is a duty to tell its story 
 and give credit to the far-sighted citizens who were instrumental 
 in its building. Of the forty-nine miles of paved streets, electric 
 car lines, additional railway ccnnections, suburban roads, there 
 is net time to speak — cur haiidsome stores, as up-to-date as you 
 will find in any city of a hundred thousand inhabitants; our 
 various manufacturies, chief of which is the large woolen mill, 
 employing some five hundred people; our light and water sys- 
 tems, all speak the Progressive City. Our Auditorium pro- 
 claims us the Convention City. Our churches, schools and uni- 
 versities; our Public Library, our Y. M. C. A. suggests a place 
 for the education of children. A biographer could find mate- 
 rial for studying the lives of the men who have belonged first 
 to Waco, then to Texas, and in some cases to the nation. These 
 are too numerous to mention, for they are in all walks of life. 
 Without disparagement to others I can not refrain from men- 
 tioning a few. I beg to remind you that Waco has furnished 
 two presidents of the greatest educational institutions in Texas 
 — Hon. L. S. Ross to the A. & M. College, and Col. Wm. L. Pra- 
 ther to the University of Texas. Waco has furnished two of 
 the most prominent divines in the United States — Drs. Carroll 
 and King, who after thirty years of pastorate service in the 
 First Baptist and Old School Presbyterian churches, have re- 
 tired not to inactivity, but to the most responsible institutions 
 
in their respective denoniinations — the heads of the theological 
 departments. One commimity can rarely boast of two men of 
 such gigantic intellectual and iiioral strength and their influence 
 can not be estimated by mortal man. Waco has furnished two 
 governors of Texas, two judges of the court of civil appeals, 
 one attoruGy general, besides giving citizens to state depart- 
 ments and many minor state offices. Texas is a vast territory, 
 but she is only allowed two United States senators — Waco fur- 
 nished one of these for twenty years, who served his people 
 faithfully and his record is open to the public. 
 
 Waco proved herself a quarter, or perhaps a half century 
 ahead of the times in having literary clubs composed of both 
 men and women. The first was known as "The Teachers' Read- 
 ing Circle" in 18S5-86, composed principally of the teachers from 
 the public schools and presided over by Judge J. N. Gallagher, 
 city superintendent at that time. It did not survive the second 
 summer. The second organized in about 1890 was known as the 
 'Waco Shakespeare Club" and was organized by one of Waco's 
 most gifted and charming girls. Miss Eddie Graham (now Mrs. 
 George Coates of Abilene). The membership included the mpst 
 cultured young girls and professional men who were in Waco 
 society at that time. Removals from the city and one or two 
 epidemics of matrimony finally caused the demise of the club, 
 and most of the women members who still live in Waco were 
 absorbed in the various clubs for women (and the men, loyal 
 "club husbands" in most instances). The period of three or 
 four years that it flourished marked an epoch in Waco's social 
 history and I have heard one of ihe best infcrmed of Waco's 
 women say, that in the forty years she has lived in Waco there 
 was never a set of young people who were the intellectual and 
 social equals of the young men and women who composed the 
 first "Waco Shakespeare Club." There are many persons in 
 this town who do not know such a club existed, but its influence 
 will last nevertheless for the women were broadened and the 
 men made better and purer by this association. There was an 
 intellectual community of interest established in reading and 
 discussing together the masterpieces of literature, that could 
 never be obtained even by the same individuals in the ordinary 
 social intercourse of the card party, reception or dance. 
 
 Waco is the home of the Texas Floral Association, the first 
 and largest of its kind in Texas. lis influence has been marked 
 in cur civic improvement. 
 
 Waco provided the first president for the Texas Federation of 
 Women's Clubs in Mrs. Edward Rotan, who was elected at the 
 first convention of fifteen clubs called to meet in Waco to or- 
 ganize a State Federation, the call having been issued by the 
 \Vcman's Club of Waco. So Waco is also the birthplace of the 
 Texas State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in May, 
 1897. 
 
 If I commence to enumerate the women of Waco who have 
 made reputation in literature, music, educational and philan- 
 thropic work, and the splendid women who have helped in her 
 upbuilding, I should have to start a new volume. 
 
 GREATER WACO; A GIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE. 
 
 To sum up, while we confidently anticipate a "Greater Waco," 
 we will recall just a few things that have happened within the 
 
past five years. First, we have adopted the commission form 
 of city government. We have issued bonds for public parks, 
 and bonds for the building of a new High School. The High 
 School is completed — a fire-proof structure and one of the best 
 in the South. The parks are an accomplished fact, the largest 
 and most beautiful, "Cameron Park," being a gift from the Cam- 
 eron family in memery of the late William Cameron, once 
 known as the Lumber King of the Southwest. This park, under 
 the superintendence of a park commission, has been beautified 
 until it IS a spot of which a city of much greater size might well 
 feel proud. The other parks are being carefully put in order 
 and will be restful breathing spots in the crowded city to w'hich 
 we are looking forward. An effort is being made at present by 
 the Mary West Chapter, U. D. C., to have one of these parks 
 called "Confederate Park," and they have also petitioned the 
 ccmmissicners to grant to them ihe privilege of erecting n 
 monument therein, to the memory of Confederate soldiers who 
 went to war from McLennan county. There were no braver 
 patriots and in no better way can education or patriotism be 
 fostered. One of the parks already bears the name of the dis- 
 tinguished "Sul Rcss." 
 
 Space does net admit of a detailed account of the marvelous 
 ^rcwrh ,ind development of the last two years. The census for 
 the City Directory, taken in 1911, shows an increase in popu- 
 lation of .5,500 in two years. The building of substantial brick 
 blocks of business houses and hundreds of attractive residences 
 attest the fact that we grow daily. The increase and the man- 
 ufdcturies more particularly have just been exploited in book 
 form by the Yoimg Men"s Business League, an organization 
 which also came into being in this five golden years- The sons 
 have truly awakened the fathers and made the welkin ring with 
 the talismanic word "progress." 
 
 The coming of the M., K. & T. shops, which brought an addi- 
 tional population of about 500 persons, and the Clifton Manu- 
 tacturing Company, both located in East Waco, have materially 
 benefited that side. The contract for the Waco-Hillsboro-Waxa- 
 hachie-Dallas Interurban includes the installation of an electric 
 plant to cost $500,000. It will be located so close to never-failing 
 oil fields and lignite deposits that Waco will unquestionably 
 become a great manufacturing center. 
 
 So much has been written on the subject of Brazos navigation 
 that to republish what has been accomplished and what work 
 is progressing were a twice-told tale. 
 
 The Cotton Beit extension. 1911, has increased trade facilities, 
 and with the Santa Fe connection practically gives two addi- 
 tional roads. 
 
 The geratest of all achievements is the building of the mag- 
 nificent twenty-two story Amicable Life Insurance building, a 
 structure of concrete and steel, modern in every equipment, just 
 as no other town of its size ever had such a structure as the 
 suspension bridge (forty years ago) so no city of its size today 
 can boast such a business enterprise within its midst as the 
 Amicable Life Insurance Company. The completion of this 
 building nearly one yeai ago was celebrated by a unique al 
 fresco banquet at which Mr. Artemas Roberts, president and 
 actuary of the company, was introduced as the man who had 
 foscused the eyes of the world upon us by this splendid achieve- 
 
ment. Wo are prciul cf our record in churches, public schools, 
 library and Baylor University and business colleges, all of grad- 
 ual growth, but always when one looks up the records and facts 
 in town improvement the "suspension bridge" and the "Arnica 
 ble Life Insurance Building" will be unique — supreme in their 
 respective periods. 
 
 Last, but by no means least, is the Texas Cotton Palace Asso- 
 ciation. November of 1912 will mark the third year of its ex- 
 istence. It is a benefit educationally, commercially and socially. 
 Each year its autumn exposition will be more attractive. Come 
 and see it, and see the beginning of "Greater Waco," her citi- 
 zens shall greet you with words of welcome in the musical lan- 
 guage of the great American poet, and brave Hiawatha — 
 
 Beautiful is the sun, or Strangers, 
 When you come so far to see us — 
 All our town in peace awaits yen, 
 All our doors stand open to you; 
 You shall enter all our wigwams; 
 For the heart's right hand we give you. 
 
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 THE HOME OF THE AMICABLE LIFE INSURANCE CO. 
 COMPLETED 1911 
 
MA\ 17 19^2 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
 
 a. Brown's History of Texas. 
 
 b. New International Dictionary, Webster. 
 
 c. New International Encyclopedia. 
 
 d. Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 30; Handbook ot 
 American Indians. 
 
 e. Erath's History of McLennan County, 
 f. Piles of Waco Daily Papers. 
 
 g. Old Scrap Book (compiled from 1860-1890 by the late Mrs. 
 John C. West). 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 649 025 6 i