Hyatt, B.A. 2013-03-07
B.A Hyatt talks about his family history including great great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, research from France to settling in Texas, and connections to Ralls, Dickins County, and Wichita community
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: B.A. Hyatt
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: March 07, 2013
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: David Marshall
Length: 01:59:17
Abstract
Farthest research, Family origins in Alsace Lorraine, France, Heller Family came to the United States in a ship in 1837, Moved to Texas, Tracing the Heller line to the Murchison line, John Murchison settled in La Grange, Texas, Two of his Great-great Grandfathers lived in the Republic of Texas, John Murchison, Enlisted in the Texas Army, Fought in the Kickapoo Battle, Suffered a severe wound, Justice of the Peace, Member of the Fifth Congress of Republic of Texas, Heller, Born in France, Three children; one was his great grandmother, Frank Heller, He was a woodcraftsman, Getting Started on Family History, Roy Heller SMU Professor, W.F. Heller has a plaque in Canyon, Texas, Steven S. Hyatt, Sherriff of Denton County, Dick Hyatt in Ralls was a distant kin, Connection to Ralls, Organized a Family Reunion in Denton, Sam Eden and his daughter are descendents from Lorreta Hyatt, Gold Rush, John Murchison settled in La Grange, Texas, Created company to search for gold in California, In 1849, he was the first one to take a wagon past Guadalupe Pass, Killed in a rifle accident, Duncan Murchison continued on to California and returned to La Grange, Dickins County, Duncan Murchison widow remained on the farm, John A. Murchison became post master of Buffalo Gap, 1901, he bought land in Dickins County, Farmers took turns taking care of the roads, Shirley Largent current owner of the family land, School Dedication, Wichita Schools, Wichita water tank, Dickens County had best water supply, Began living with grandparents since 12 years old, Route of the School Bus, Mesquite wood for fuel, John A. Murchison 14 x 14 house, Quick trip to Abilene, Putting in a gas stove, Uncovered the story of a murder, Murder came to trial but prisoner fled, Martha Earl was hesitant to move to Dickins, Wichita Community, Wichita community began to decline during WWII, New highway was built around 1936, All night café, Stores came and went in Dickins, Wildlife ran in a cycle, Prairiedog and coyote control, Rattlesnake bit and killed Aunt Ethel, April Fool’s Day snake killing, Most farmsteads were a quarter section, Farmland was used for livestock and cash crop, Irrigation was drilled in 1948, Aunt Stella invested in a waterwell, Clearing of mesquite, Thoughts of how the mesquite became so widespread, Cedar destroyed grasslands, Antelope ranged from Matador to Crosbyton, Feral hogs have caused great damage recently, Irrigation water allowed for good crops, Other farms were often stock farms, Black Angus cattle arrived in the 1950’s, Church services held in schools, The church of Christ was the dominant service, Wichita school house was used for various reasons
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Transcript: Transcript available on Dspace
https://swco-ir.tdl.org/handle/10605/55795
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