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Entering
Bolivar
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, August 2009 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally called
New Prospect in 1859 when Hiram Daily, physician and Methodist
minister platted the town and opened a store here.
A few years later a resident from Bolivar, Tennessee decided that
the town should be renamed after his former town. According to myth,
drinks were bought for those voting for the name of Bolivar and the
plan went as expected.
Cattleman John Chisum had a ranch near Bolivar but later moved his
operations to West Texas. Perhaps it was to avoid confusion with the
Chisholm Trail which was only three miles west of town.
Bolivar was bypassed by the railroad in 1866 and most residents and
merchants were drawn to Sanger, Texas.
Bolivar soldiered on with its reduced population and enjoyed a brief
economic jolt with the discovery of oil in and around the town during
the 1940s and 50s. After WWII
the population was recorded as just over 100 – declining to a mere
40 by 1980. The same figure was given for the 2000 census. |
Historical marker:
Town Site of
Bolivar
Named indirectly
for Simon Bolivar, South American statesman, general and patriot.
It might have been called "New Prospect," but for a mug of rum. When
town was founded in 1852, a man who had settled here from Bolivar,
Tenn., wanted to name the community in honor of his hometown. But
a preacher-doctor insisted that it be named New Prospect. An election
was called to settle the matter and the Tennessean exchanged mugs
of rum for votes, Bolivar won.
During the 1800s, Bolivar was the westernmost fort in Denton
County and the first settlement west of Collin
County. Two stagecoach lines changed horses here. The town thrived
and could count three hotels, several stores, a gin, a flour mill,
a sawmill, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, a church and a school. It
was here that the Texas cattle trail joined the Jesse Chisholm Trail,
but it was John Chisum, Texas cattle baron, who had herds here and
furnished beef to the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Bolivar and the surrounding area were havens for Sam Bass and his
men. Two Bolivar men were jailed in 1890 for harboring notorious marauders.
Many early settlers (whose descendants still live here) played important
roles in development of county.
(1970) |
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Bolivar
Grocery
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, August 2009 |
1908
Bolivar Cemetery
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, August 2009 |
Historical marker:
Bolivar Cemetery
The town of Bolivar
was laid out by Dr. Hiram Daily in 1852 with a burial plot on high
ground nearby. Though the site had probably been used as a burial
ground for many years, the earliest marked grave is that of 4-month-old
Zolly Cofer Waide, who was born and died in 1863.
G. A. Grissom, a prominent Bolivar Masonic leader, died in 1876. After
his interment, Bolivar Lodge No. 418, A. F. & A. M. and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 221 set aside five newly purchased
acres, including the graveyard, for community burials. A decorative
fence was installed across the front of the cemetery in that year.
Many monuments were erected by the Woodmen of the World organization.
Many of the nine adults and eight infants buried in 1892 were victims
of a nationwide influenza epidemic. Another influenza epidemic in
1918 claimed more lives. Bolivar citizens of all walks of life were
buried here. Some were members of farming and ranching families; others
were business people, educators, physicians, and ministers. They include
veterans of the Mexican War, the Civil War, World
War I, World
War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Operated by the board of trustees of the Bolivar Cemetery Association,
the graveyard continues to serve area residents, many of whom are
descendants of those who shaped the history of Bolivar and Denton
County. The burial ground remains a record of the pioneer settlers
of the area.
(1998) |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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