Record Family Came to Moore County in 1895
1918 Photograph, Left to Right, Harry Record, School teacher, Maggie Record and Archie Stewart in Army Uniform from World War I
Charles H. Record and Polly Burner were married October 12, 1876, in Illinois. Polly's father had given legal permission for her to marry at age 14.
They came to Texas in 1879. Charlie was working on building the railroad from Wichita Falls to Amarillo. One son, Ike, was born at a camping place along the way (thought to be near Henrietta, Texas). Another son, Harry, was born in a tent in Amarillo near what is now that Tri State Fair Grounds.
Several years were spent near Fort Worth and then Wichita Falls before working their way to Amarillo, then to Moore County in 1895.
They built a dugout and lived in southeast Moore County in Evans Canyon near the Turkey Creek in 1897. Children of the Records were Alice, born in November of 1878 and died in February of the following year; Charles, born 1880; Joseph, born 1883; Issac, born 1886; Benjamin Harrison (Harry), born 1889; Priscilla, born 1892; Thomas, born 1894; and Maggie, born 1897.
They built a home of native rock with walls 18 inches thick and a dirt ceiling. The walls were plastered inside and out. Rooms were added as they were needed. One room was used for a school, thought to be the Phythian School. A grove of cottonwood trees, plum thickets and grape vines grew along the banks of the creek.
At that time Moore County was all ranch country. Cowboys would follow the river looking for work and many stopped at the Record home. The latch string was always out. If none of the family were at home, visitors were "welcome to come in, eat, wash the dishes, leave a note and be on their way." Many social gatherings were hosted by the Records.
The Records went to Amarillo twice a year -- spring and fall -- to buy supplies. They crossed the Canadian River before a bridge was built. Drivers always had to look for quicksand in the river. The youngest Record child, Maggie, remembered when a neighbor who owned an elaborate surrey attempted to cross where there was quicksand. When they realized what was happening, they unhitched the horses and tried to get the surrey out. It sank deeper and deeper until only a few inches of the black top could be seen. Just below Big Creek, which is east of Lake Meredith, a surrey is buried deep in the Canadian River bed.
They came to Texas in 1879. Charlie was working on building the railroad from Wichita Falls to Amarillo. One son, Ike, was born at a camping place along the way (thought to be near Henrietta, Texas). Another son, Harry, was born in a tent in Amarillo near what is now that Tri State Fair Grounds.
Several years were spent near Fort Worth and then Wichita Falls before working their way to Amarillo, then to Moore County in 1895.
They built a dugout and lived in southeast Moore County in Evans Canyon near the Turkey Creek in 1897. Children of the Records were Alice, born in November of 1878 and died in February of the following year; Charles, born 1880; Joseph, born 1883; Issac, born 1886; Benjamin Harrison (Harry), born 1889; Priscilla, born 1892; Thomas, born 1894; and Maggie, born 1897.
They built a home of native rock with walls 18 inches thick and a dirt ceiling. The walls were plastered inside and out. Rooms were added as they were needed. One room was used for a school, thought to be the Phythian School. A grove of cottonwood trees, plum thickets and grape vines grew along the banks of the creek.
At that time Moore County was all ranch country. Cowboys would follow the river looking for work and many stopped at the Record home. The latch string was always out. If none of the family were at home, visitors were "welcome to come in, eat, wash the dishes, leave a note and be on their way." Many social gatherings were hosted by the Records.
The Records went to Amarillo twice a year -- spring and fall -- to buy supplies. They crossed the Canadian River before a bridge was built. Drivers always had to look for quicksand in the river. The youngest Record child, Maggie, remembered when a neighbor who owned an elaborate surrey attempted to cross where there was quicksand. When they realized what was happening, they unhitched the horses and tried to get the surrey out. It sank deeper and deeper until only a few inches of the black top could be seen. Just below Big Creek, which is east of Lake Meredith, a surrey is buried deep in the Canadian River bed.
Marriage license for Charles H. Record and Polly Bruner, October 12, 1876
Charlie did not live in the rock home he built for his family but a short time. He died in April, 1900. Polly remained in the ranch home and raised her family there. Several generations of the Record family are still in the Moore County.
Ike worked for Lee Bivins. In the spring of 1917, he went to Sherman County as ranch foreman for Coldwater Ranch, also known as Bivins LX Ranch.
Harry worked at a number of early day ranches. He was a former Moore County Deputy Sheriff and worked for Texhoma Natural Gas which later become Natural Gas Pipeline Company.
Priscilla married Lew Haile in 1912. Lew came to Moore County in 1903 and settled in southeast Moore County. He went to work for the Sneed Ranch in 1909 and became ranch foreman, the general manager of the Sneed Estate. He served as commissioner for Precinct Two from 1910 to 1952, holding office longer than any other commissioner in Texas at that time.
Tom married Lula Mae Geary and worked on the Coon Ranch.
Maggie Record and Archie Stewart were married January 19, 1921, in Dalhart. Archie came to Moore County and worked as a cowboy, first on the Burk Farm, then on the Sneed Ranch for fourteen years. After returning from military duty in World War I, he went to work for W. R. Ozier, who owned a ranch on the north side of the Canadian River. The couple lived in several places during the next few years. All were part of the Ozier Ranch. They bought a home in 1929 where they lived the remainder of their lives. Charlie died in 1944. Maggie died in 1968. At the time of her death in 1968, she was the oldest person whose birthplace was Moore County. Her brother, Harry, at the time of his death had lived in county for 77 years.
One of the Stewart's five children was I. H. "Jumbo" Stewart, who served as county commissioner for Precinct Two for 18 years. He succeeded an uncle, Lew Haile, who had served from 1910 to 1952.
When Jumbo was elected, he was serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1952. In order to take the office, he was granted a special leave until his tour of duty was completed. At age 26, he was the youngest person in Texas to hold a commissioner's post. He left office in 1970.
The Records and Stewarts helped shape ranching in the Moore County area. Descendants of both families are still involved in ranching.
Ike worked for Lee Bivins. In the spring of 1917, he went to Sherman County as ranch foreman for Coldwater Ranch, also known as Bivins LX Ranch.
Harry worked at a number of early day ranches. He was a former Moore County Deputy Sheriff and worked for Texhoma Natural Gas which later become Natural Gas Pipeline Company.
Priscilla married Lew Haile in 1912. Lew came to Moore County in 1903 and settled in southeast Moore County. He went to work for the Sneed Ranch in 1909 and became ranch foreman, the general manager of the Sneed Estate. He served as commissioner for Precinct Two from 1910 to 1952, holding office longer than any other commissioner in Texas at that time.
Tom married Lula Mae Geary and worked on the Coon Ranch.
Maggie Record and Archie Stewart were married January 19, 1921, in Dalhart. Archie came to Moore County and worked as a cowboy, first on the Burk Farm, then on the Sneed Ranch for fourteen years. After returning from military duty in World War I, he went to work for W. R. Ozier, who owned a ranch on the north side of the Canadian River. The couple lived in several places during the next few years. All were part of the Ozier Ranch. They bought a home in 1929 where they lived the remainder of their lives. Charlie died in 1944. Maggie died in 1968. At the time of her death in 1968, she was the oldest person whose birthplace was Moore County. Her brother, Harry, at the time of his death had lived in county for 77 years.
One of the Stewart's five children was I. H. "Jumbo" Stewart, who served as county commissioner for Precinct Two for 18 years. He succeeded an uncle, Lew Haile, who had served from 1910 to 1952.
When Jumbo was elected, he was serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1952. In order to take the office, he was granted a special leave until his tour of duty was completed. At age 26, he was the youngest person in Texas to hold a commissioner's post. He left office in 1970.
The Records and Stewarts helped shape ranching in the Moore County area. Descendants of both families are still involved in ranching.