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History in
a Pecan Shell
Emma is on that
short list of ghost towns
that were once county seats. Business partners R. L. Stringfellow
and H. E. Hume were store owners in the Crosby County seat of Estacado,
when they bought a section of land in 1890. A post office was granted
that year and the name submitted was Emma - after a woman who later
married one of the partners. History doesn't seem to record if she
became Mrs. Stringfellow or Mrs. Hume.
The central location made Emma a consideration for the county seat
and since residents of Estacado
were already drifting to the newer community, an election was held
in the Fall of 1891. Emma squeaked through by a six-point margin (109-103).
The residents of Estacado
moved the courthouse and other prominent buildings to Emma and the
town prospered for awhile. By 1910 there was a population of 800 and
Emma had all essential businesses including a bank and newspaper.
Emma's future seemed bright up until it was bypassed by the railroad
in 1910.
The shoe was now on the other foot and Emma lost out to the new town
of Crosbyton in an election held
in September of 1910. This election was also close (198 to 120) and
soon the former townspeople of Estacado
and Emma were moving again - this time in an organized exodus that
consisted of steam engines, mules and most of the male population.
The former courthouse was dismantled and taken to Cedric
and the next year the Emma post office moved to Ralls.
Today only the historical marker is left. |
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1907 Crosby
County postal map showing Emma
( Above "O" in "C-R-O-S-B-Y")
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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