Brazos County

Newspaper Abstracts  

St. Louis Globe, MO Democrat Description: A Chicago Crook in Texas Date: July 17 1879 Hearne, Texas, July 16.--Considerable interest has been aroused here by the arrest of Dr. Lycurgus Erwin, of Bryan, on a requisition from the Governor of Illinois, and charged with land crookedness at Chicago. He was imprisoned at Austin, but upon a habeas corpus brought back to Hearne, and delivered to Sheriff Forman, of Bryan, the writ having been granted by Judge Ford. Detective Chittick, of Illinois, worked up the matter, and Erwin tried to have Chittick brought down to Texas, so that he could get a chance to kill him. A son of Dr. Erwin accompanied Sheriff Forman as deputy with the avowed purpose of murdering Chittick had he been found with the prisoner in irons. Had Chittick been present, he would undoubtedly have been killed.

The Galveston Daily News Description: The Powder Man at a Stone Quarry Kills His Own Daughter Date: April 10 1896 Millican, Brazos Co., Tex., April 9. A horrible crime was enacted at the depot this morning, as the northbound passenger train No. 3 hove up at 2:10. It beggars description. Arthur Worrall, a young engineer at the Green & Olive quarry, and Miss Mollie Brooks, the only daughter of old man Brooks, the powder man at the quarry, came to town just before time for the train and purchased tickets for Bryan, where they expected to get married. Just as the young lady reached the car platform she was shot from the opposite side of the car, the ball taking effect in the right breast, killing her instantly. Mr. Worrall had assisted her on the train and was on the top step when the fatal shot was fired. The young lady fell back in his arms and exclaimed: "Oh, my God, Arthur, papa has killed me!" Worrall stepped on the platform, and while laying the dead girl down, was shot once in the throat, inflicting a dangerous wound. The girl never spoke after the first exclamation and was evidently dead when she reached the platform. Parties from the quarry say that the old man was very angry when he left there, with a 44 Colt's Winchester, swearing he would do that which he did. After the shooting he returned to the quarry, told some of the residents of the bloody work, then went to the powder magazine, got twenty dynamite cartridges, went 150 yards south of the store, and within fifty yards of his residence, where were asleep seven of his motherless children, lay down on the dynamite and touched the fuse that sent his soul to meet that of his only daughter whom he, in a moment of madness, had robbed of a sweet life. Only a few pieces of him were left to identify the last act of a madman. Both feet, his head, arms and a small piece of his spinal column were picked up 200 yards from the place of the explosion. His hat and both pants pockets were found 150 yards away. The ground for at least 200 yards was literally covered with pieces of his flesh and bones. He was about 60 years old; he came originally from Iowa, and has followed blasting for years. He is well known at Ledbetter. Arthur Worrall lived at Quarry station, near Brenham, where he has parents. At present Worrall is at Mr. J. Holliday’s and resting well. The dead girl was picked up by friends and carried to the residence of Dr. J. F. Eaves, from which place she will be buried this evening. Brooks leaves a family of seven boys, the youngest 6 years old. Brenham Account Brenham Tex., April 9, 1896 At 2:10 o'clock this morning as the northbound passenger on the main line of the Houston and Texas Central railroad was pulling into the station at Millican those aboard the train were startled by two shots, which rang out in quick succession, and a glance from the car windows revealed a pitiable sight. A young white woman, with a pretty face and neatly dressed in black, lay on the platform gasping her life away, while a young man ran up and down the platform calling to those aboard the train and asking if there was a physician among them. He held his hands to his throat, from which blood was running. Inquiry developed that the young woman was Miss Mollie Brooks, daughter of John Brooks, and the man was A. C. Worrall. A man who was in the waiting room at the depot at the time of the shooting said that the couple had arrived shortly before and that they were running away from home, intending to take the train for Bryan to be married. They had just stepped out on the platform when the shots were fired by some one standing back of the depot building. The person who did the shooting ran off and was soon lost to sight in the darkness. The party who fired the shots was John BROOKS, the father of the girl, and after the shooting he went to a rock quarry and deliberately sat down on a box of dynamite, which he exploded, blowing himself to atoms. Another Account: Navasota, Grimes Co., Tex., April 9, 1896 About 3 o'clock this morning Millican witnessed another terrible tragedy. John Brooks, known as the "Arkansas Traveler," the blaster at Green & Olive's quarry, shot and killed his daughter, Mollie, about 22 years old, and Arthur Worrall, aged about 23, a quarryman, with a six-shooter while they were on a seat of the north bound Houston and Texas Central train. Brooks immediately went to the quarry, about two miles away, and touched the battery, jumped on a blast and blew himself to atoms with dynamite which it was usual to prime the rock with in the evening preparatory to blasting at 7 o'clock in the morning. From people here connected with the quarry it is learned that Worrall and Miss Brooks were in love and wanted to marry. Brooks opposed their marriage and told them if they married or attempted to he would kill them both. Yesterday evening Brooks was in good spirits and seemed to suspect nothing, but during the night some way he found out that the young people had bought tickets for Bryan. Worrall’s people are at Riverside quarry. Brooks is from Arkansas. It is learned later that BROOKS made a bomb of five sticks of dynamite, inserted a fulminate and fuse and blew himself up.

The Bryan Eagle 10 Nov 1904 Obit: REV. J. M. ZIMMERMAN DEAD END OF A LONG, USEFUL AND ACTIVE LIFE AS CITIZEN, SOLDIER, OFFICIAL AND MINISTER From Wednesday's Daily Eagle At 7 o'clock yesterday morning at his home near Kurten, the spirit of Rev. J. M. Zimmerman passed away, having for more than four score years inhabited its tenement of clay. Enfeebled rather than ill, his death was not a struggle, but a deliverance of the soul from all that was mortal of him. His death was not unexpected, but Brazos county mourns none the less deeply the loss of an honored and beloved citizen. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at Tryon church under the auspices of Cedar Creek Masonic lodge, assisted by members of Brazos Union lodge of Bryan. James Mortimer Zimmerman was born at Darlington, S. C., February 1822, and was, therefore, 82 years of age. His life was in many respects an unusually active and eventful one. During early life he attended schools, but afterward engaged in farming without having been able to complete his education. He came to Texas in the winter of 1845 and settled near Brenham, Washington county, where he continued farming. Was married in 1846 to Miss Mary Ann Stewart, of which union seven children, two girls and five boys, were the issue. Married a second time in 1869 to Mrs. Moseley at Bryan. Of seven children only three survive, J. W. Zimmerman of Burnett county, Dan Zimmerman of Bryan and J. M. Zimmerman of Kurten. Rev. Zimmerman moved with his family to Brazos county in November, 1856, and settled in the Tryon neighborhood, now better known as Kurten, twelve miles from Bryan, where he has since made his home. A member of the Baptist church since 1837, having joined in South Carolina, he has been active in church work all his life, and was one of the first Baptists in the county, and helped to organize the first church at Tryon in 1858, where he held membership. He also preached the gospel many years and was regularly ordained as a minister a few years ago. Politically Rev. Zimmerman was a born democrat and followed the fortunes of that party through thick and thin until the greenback movement began, when he embraced it as being more in line with his conception of the principles that he regarded as beginning to be perverted in the old party. During the war he was elected sheriff of Brazos county as a democrat, politics not cutting much figure in the election, serving from August till April and giving up the office after the surrender, when he refused to continue by appointment which was tendered. He was nominated for the same office by the democrats after the war when the carpet baggers overran the country. He held the office of justice of the peace several years as a democrat. Became identified with the populist party at its inception, and was actively engaged in promoting its interest a number of years, holding at once and for several terms the offices of commissioner and justice of the peace, and having been county chairman and party manager for a number of years. Rev. Zimmerman became a Master Mason in 1848, and the year following a Royal Arch Mason. He served for many years as both master and high priest in the work of the order, helped organize a lodge and chapter at Tryon church many years ago, and was a charter member of the W. T. Austin chapter. He was an Odd Fellow in 1850 one of the first in this county and assisted in organizing the old Boonville Lodge before the war, which was subsequently moved to Bryan, and was also a member of the encampment; also organized a lodge of Odd Fellows, at Tryon, church. He was also an active member of the Grange, holding various offices in it. Was master of his Grange twelve years. He was identified with the Alliance during its activity in the county, officially and other wise. Rev. Zimmerman enlisted in the confederate army under Col. Carter in 1862, and served under Marmaduke, Price and with Parson's brigade in Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana, being a sergeant the entire time. Thus it will be seen that in a life of more than four score years Rev. Zimmerman was very active, energetic and the front in everything, a leader among the people. [Submitted by:  Patty Robichaud]

Dallas Morning News  1 Aug. 1900   Navasota , Tex. , July 30. – At his home this morning Ben W. Pierce Sr., aged 58, dropped dead. It is supposed to have been a paralytic stroke. He was a Confederate veteran, serving through the Civil War as a member of Hood’s brigade. He held several positions of trust here. [Transcribed and submitted by Marla Zwakman]

Dallas Morning News   1 Aug. 1900 Navasota , Tex. , July 30. – At his home this morning Ben W. Pierce Sr., aged 58, dropped dead. It is supposed to have been a paralytic stroke. He was a Confederate veteran, serving through the Civil War as a member of Hood’s brigade. He held several positions of trust here. [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman]

Hamilton News Press (Marion County AL) Nov 14, 1895 BRAZOS COUNTY TX The Southern Pacific pay train was ditched Thursday afternoon near Taber, Tex. by the engine jumping the track. Engineer Nathan Luff and Fireman Barr were fatally scalded by escaping steam. Brakeman Thompson had a leg mashed. -- [Transcribed and Submitted by Veneta McKinney]

Dallas Morning News   26 Oct. 1918 College Station , Texas , Oct. 25. – Mrs. Charles E. Friley, wife of the registrar of A. & M. College , died at the family residence after a long illness from pneumonia. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two small sons, her parents, Dr. and Mrs. A. W. Wood of Waco , and four brothers, also of Waco . The funeral was held from the family residence this morning, the services being conducted by Dr. J. M. Dawson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Waco, and Dr. John A. Held, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bryan. Internment was made at Bryan .  [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman]

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas)  Saturday, Aug. 30, 1902 Bryan , Tex. , Aug. 28. – Relatives at this place have just received the shocking news of the death of Mr. R. A. Tucker at Ozona, Crockett County . Mr. Tucker fell from a windmill at that place yesterday and was instantly killed. He was formerly a citizen of Brazos County and leaves a wife. Mr. W. J. Burl, father of Mrs. Tucker, left for Ozona today.  [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman]

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