By Dustin Durrett In the historic Oakland Cemetery of Dallas rests Charley Sing, remembered as the city’s first Chinese butcher. His story reflects perseverance, partnership, and the shared spirit of a growing city. Charley Sing began his career in 1899, working at a Chinese restaurant in Oak Cliff as a cook. Through hard work and…
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It may be difficult to imagine today, there was a time when personal transportation (besides walking, of course) relied on horses and mules, buggies and coaches. For decades, local saddle makers enjoyed a thriving business. Two such companies were Padgitt Bros. of Dallas and Tom Padgitt, Inc. (also known as Tom Padgitt Company Wholesale Saddlery)…
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[Transcribed from Galveston Daily News, June 1, 1895, Page 2] The Pioneer, Legislator, Soldier and Citizen, Passes to His Long RestA SKETCH OF HIS CAREERHe Was Well Known Among the Great Men Who Have Contributed to Make Texas Great Dallas, Tex., May 31. – John Henry Brown is dead. Surrounded by family and friends, at…
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by Frances James (1922 – 2019) The William Brown Miller Family Cemetery is a one acre cemetery located in Oak Cliff behind 2823 King Cole. The site of this cemetery is part of the D.M. McFarland survey of 1280 acres that McFarland had received from the Republic of Texas for his participation in the War…
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Founding of Gaston Avenue Baptist Church (GABC): In his book, “The Gaston Story,” William R. Estep covers the first 100 years of this congregation. Estep notes that all but two of the charter members of GASB, initially called East Dallas Baptist Church, were former members of First Baptist Church of Dallas. Estep names the twenty-six…
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The company’s first location was an old two story brick structure at the intersection of Elm and Murphy streets. Murphy Street has since been eliminated. Today, that location might be near Field Street downtown. The store had its formal opening in the fall of 1907. The company suffered a devastating loss when the original store…
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Come join us for our 150th Anniversary Reception! When:10/19/20254:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location:El Fenix6811 W Northwest HwyDallas, Texas Event is ticketed! See Link below: Reservation details: 150th Anniversary of the Dallas County Pioneer Association Tickets, Sun, Oct 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150th-anniversary-of-the-dallas-county-pioneer-association-tickets-1732671279439 Get future posts by email.
C. C. Slaughter had experienced some reverses in the family ranching operations in the early 1900s and had sold a ranch in West Texas. He turned his attention to downtown Dallas, took some of the proceeds and in 1902, Slaughter acquired the National Exchange Bank Building (construction date unknown), adjacent to his company offices which…
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From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print. John Bronaugh Hereford, Jr. was born in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, on February 6, 1841. He was the son of Dr. John Bronaugh Hereford and Catherine Mary Stirling. He spent several years in New Orleans, where he married Elizabeth Johnson Robertson, a great-grand-daughter of General James…
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Gerrit Van Ginkel was an investor who specialized in creating street car systems. He was born December 11, 1849 in the Netherlands. He came with his parents to the United States around 1855. By 1860 they had settled in Pella, Iowa. The family consisted of his father (a laborer), his mother, Gerritt and four other…
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