STORIES MY FATHER NEVER TOLD ME
A Memorable Train Trip, or Lucy Ann Babb's "Pike's Peak" Farm

EPILOGUE

The following year (1886), if not earlier, Will and Alice and their children also moved to Denison.

Denison was still a relatively new place when the Butler family came to live there. It had been founded only sixteen years earlier, in 1872, and named for George Denison, a vice-president of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. Indeed, the town owed its growth, not to mention its very existence, to the M-K-T—known affectionately as the "Katy" line. Not surprisingly, a large number of Denison's citizens were railroad employees including Ella Babb's husband Charlie Heason. Charlie was a section foreman for the M-K-T. Whether or not Will Butler also found employment with the "Katy" is unknown. However, after the move to Denison it appears he abandoned sharecropping to take up his father's trade, carpentry, as a way of making a living. In all likelihood, he was a railroad carpenter, constructing roundhouses, storage sheds and depots. He might also have worked for local contractors as a house carpenter.

One thing is certain: During the years they lived in Denison, the Butlers moved their household somewhat frequently. Since no evidence has been found to indicate that Will ever purchased property in the county it seems safe to assume that all the family's residences were rented rather than owned. The address at which they lived from 1889 to 1890, perhaps their first home in Dension, was 814 W. Morton Street. They may have lived there as early as 1888 although its possible they initially resided on the farm with Lucy Babb until they got settled.

The children, Herman, Ozelle and Lillian, were about nine, six and three, respectively, at the time of the move to Denison. Presumably, they were happy children at this time in their lives. One can imagine them playing on the tree-lined streets of Denison or visiting their grandmother's farm just outside of town. Like most grandmothers, Lucy probably "spoiled" them. Lillian was especially fond of "Grandma Babb," as she was probably known. Being the "baby" of the family, Lillian was no doubt singled out for attention.

Where the children attended school is not known with certainty but it was most likely the Washington School in the center of Denison. One thing the town did not lack for was good schools. The Washington School was one of the oldest, originally called the Educational Institute. A two-story brick edifice with a three-story tower, built in the Victorian style of the day, it was constructed in 1873 and opened for classes the following year. The name was changed to the Washington School later on and the building remained standing until 1914. After it was demolished, Denison High School was built on the site. Other early Denison schools include the Sam Houston School (1886), the Lamar School (1890), and the Raynal School (1891). The Raynal School was named for a Dension saloon-keeper who willed his estate to the public school system.

Between 1890 and 1892 the Butlers lived at 702 N. Houston Street, at the corner of Houston and Johnson Streets.

By 1892 the Butler family had moved again, this time to 1009 W. Bond Street. They were to remain at that address for about five years. Unfortunately, it was there that a sad event occurred. Virginia Alice Butler suffered from consumption—the same disease which may have killed Will's father. On Sunday, March 13th, 1892, a local newspaper, The Denison Herald ran the following item:

Virginia Alice Butler was laid to rest the day after she died, on what would have been her 43rd birthday—March 10, 1892. Her death was no doubt a tragic loss for her family. Will was then thirty-five—about the same age at which his father had died; but like his mother, he found himself at a relatively young age without a spouse and with small children to raise. He was also not a man of means. All evidence indicates the family was not very well off financially. A search of Oakwood Cemetary in Denison nearly a hundred years later failed to locate a headstone for Virginia Alice Butler. Probably, one was never erected because the family was simply too poor to afford it. At least Will had the consolation of family close by to help, particularly Lucy Babb. However, Lucy too had her problems.

Lucy's son Arthur had grown frustrated with the struggle to run his mother's little farm almost single-handedly. His brother Hugh, who also lived with them, was initially too young to be of much help. During the late 1880s Arthur had worked in town for the Houston, and Texas Central Railroad as a carpenter (perhaps he and Will worked together)—in addition to putting in crops on his mother's little farm. By 1889, he had left it altogether. Yet even so, it seems remarkable that what happened after his departure was allowed to happen. Will Butler can be forgiven, he probably had very little money to call his own but why Arthur, or even Ella and Charlie Heason, did not help Lucy is a mystery - especially considering their affection for her.

Lucy Ann, for some reason, had gotten into arrears with her property taxes for 1893. The amount was relatively small, even for 1893—only $3.72. Yet the county tax collector was obliged to seize her farm and put it up for auction to satisify the overdue amount! In March of 1894, Lucy lost her property to a banker named W. R. Brents, who paid the back taxes owed plus $4.50 costs—a total of $8.22!

Under the law, Lucy Ann had two years from the date of this sale to redeem her land. A thorough search of the deed records in the Grayson County Courthouse has turned up no evidence that she did so. It is my opinion that considering the actual value of the property and Lucy's age what happened here was highly unjust, even if was within the law. If he had been a truly magnanimous person, Mr. Brent could have paid Lucy Ann's taxes and let her keep the farm. Instead, with the tax collector's assistance, he as much as stole an old lady's farm! I think it is equally incredible that her family allowed this to happen. It is hard to imagine that no one came forward with the $3.72—yet they didn't. Afterwards, Lucy Ann was obliged to move in with Ella and Charlie.

The last place Will Butler and his children lived in Denison was at 1112 Main Street, to where they moved in 1897 or 1898. However, by 1899 the whole family in Denison—Will, his children, Lucy Babb and the Heasons—all left that town and moved south—to Dallas.

The reason for the move is unknown. It may have been job-related. Perhaps both Will and Charlie Heason had jobs with the railroad which required them to relocate. However, the Heasons—along with Lucy—were eventually to return to Denison. The Butlers remained in Dallas.

THE END