A Glimpse Of Frontier Texas

By Editor | October 28, 2026 |

Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell

It’s a Wagner Week coming at you from San Antonio, Texas, where I am on a work trip. San Antonio has an incredible stone River Walk that’s nearly 100 years old. Water Valley should get one of our own for Town Creek. I’ll be sure to bring this up at our next Main Street Association meeting. In honor of Texas, here are a couple of Wagner letters during the railroad’s Texas expansion.

Temple, Bell Co., Texas

Thursday, Nov 9th, ‘86

My Dearest John,

You will certainly be surprised at the heading of this unless you have heard from home of my visit to Tex. We left home Friday night at 8 o’clock thinking we could come right through, but oh horror. We had to stay from 8:20 in morn to 7:30 at night and then to find we would have to lay over at a place about 200 miles from here from 11:30 one day to 8:20 next morning, then we started to get here at 3:30 that evening. I was so afraid to hear how Gene was, but he is feeling more quick. I think he is a clear case of Typhoid fever, it was Dengue but his likens on Typhoid now. He looks so bad, so weak. I hope he will not come back to Texas, it don’t agree with him.

I would love to give you a description of this awful country. When we spent Sunday you never would know it was the Lord’s Day. Saloons open, cowboys galloping up & down & in drink & away again herding cattle, some with guns on their shoulders going hunting. It was horrible to see. I felt like we had got to the place I had heard of so long. This is a pretty place, quite a larger town for 5 years old, as I am told it’s age.

I hope you are studying hard and trying to please us for you can if you try and I think you will try, with lots of love & kisses. Write soon to —

Your devoted

Mother

Palo Pinto Tex

July 19th, 1884

Mr. J. H. Wagner, Water Vallie Miss

Dear Friend,

I take my pen in hand to write you a few letters to let you know that I am still kicking and able to get a bout. We got home eight days after I left school. All was looking for us when we came. I thought I would surprise them but I slip up. You can just bet I had a good time with the girls for about 3 weeks after I got home but one of our hands on the ranch got his arm broke & I had to take help with the stock. I have been out here ever since & I guess I will stay until I am of age. John I do not think I will go back to old Bingham “Hell” anymore for I got enough while I was there. John I received a postal from Mrs. Bingham the other day, she talk like she would like for me to come back but I will wait until 9 years yet & then if I am able I will go & take my wife with me (if I have got one). John I wish you was out here. I would let you catch all the jack rabbits you wanted to. I have got two boys that can kick them up anytime, you bet it is fun to all, running them.

Write soon & a long letter to you friend,

E. W. Lewis.

Posted in Herald Columnists