Wise County Courthouse
Wise County Heritage Museum
The Waggoner Mansion
Old Stone Prison
The Woody Cabin
Deep Creek Cemetery



After a hotly contested election to determine the site of the county seat, Col. Absolam Bishop, "The Father of Decatur", caused a flag to be raised on the hill where the Courthouse now stands, showing that his choice for the site had won. Col. Bishop was so pleased with the plan of the city of McKinney, in Collin County, that he copied it for Decatur, and began selling lots around the square for $100.00 each. The town was given the name of TAYLORSVILLE, but when Bishop became disillusioned with President Taylor, petitioned to change it to Decatur, for Stephen Decatur, the naval hero.

Wise County has had four Courthouses, two of which burned. The first courthouse was a small structure, sixteen feet square, weatherboarded with four-inch hackberry boards (cut in the West Fork of the Trinity River bottoms and shaved with a drawing knife), roofed with two-foot clapboards and floored with cotton wood puncheons. This building had previously been erected by Henry Martin on a location near the site of what would someday be the Decatur Baptist College. When the little town was platted, this small house of Mr. Martin's was bought and moved to the northeast corner of the square and was the first house on the hill. The surplus room was used to store supplies pending the completion of a store building under construction.

The second seat of law, located on the square, was a large square, two story, frame building, forty feet by forty feet, with halls running through the bottom floor in the four directions, making four rooms downstairs and one huge room upstairs, which was used as the courtroom. There was surplus office space in this building, also. On the night of November 26, 1881, this building burned, thought to be arson.

The third courthouse was built on the northwest corner of the square, at a cost of $50,000.00. It has never been clear as to why it was not placed on the square. For many years a guard was hired to stay in the courthouse to "get the records out" in case of fire, but this practice had been eliminated quite some time before it burned about 5:30 on the morning of January 8, 1895, also thought to be arson according to legend.

The present Courthouse, located in the middle of the square, was constructed at a cost of $110,000.00, which was thought by many to be excessive, and the officials were not reelected the next time. The architect, J. Riley Gordon, of San Antonio, collected a fee of 5% of the construction cost. Bonds amounting to $110,000 were issued on May 16, 1895. The stone was precut and each piece numbered, then shipped from Burnet County, Texas. The stones were raised by a windlass pulled by donkeys walking in a circle drawing the rope tight. The building, completed in 1896, is of pink granite with interior of Vermont marble, and has been pronounced architecturally perfect. Bids for the Courthouse clock were opened May 14,1896,, and was purchased from E. Howard & Company, described thus: "No. 1, Hour Strike Tower Clock, $952.00; with bell for same, 2,000 lbs., $388.00, total cost $1,340.00."

All indebtedness was paid off in 1945, and the building was modernized in the 1960's. In 1968, the Wise County Commissioners Court had 400 watt mercury vapor lights installed around the square, making the building appear ethereal when illuminated at night. The exterior was sandblasted several years ago. Some solid glass windows were installed later which is not in keeping with the original architecture. The delight of youngsters all through the years has been to go to the top of the Courthouse, up the winding stairs, to the steep wooden steps, then around the bell, up another flight of metal steps to the very top--where it seems you can seo the whole wide world! One section of winding stairs was removed when the elevator was installed several years ago. Now guided tours are possible by contacting the County Auditor, or County Judge.

In 1975 a county jail was erected on the very spot where the little 16 x 16 foot log Courthouse served the county in 1856, on the northeast corner, and is now the County Clerk's Office. The Courthouse is on the National Register, and carries the medallion and plaque attesting to its historic value in the state of Texas.

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The Northwest Texas Baptist Association founded the Northwest Baptist College, as a four year school in Decatur, Texas, in 1891. First classes were held in the old opera house located on East Main Street just off the square. In 1892, a contract was made with S.C. Kilgard ot Denison, for the sum of $20,855.00, for the construction of an administration building, with limestone to be quarried in the immediate area. Land for the site was donated by Decaturite C. D. Cates.

The institution's first president was Dr. A. J. Emerson, who served four years. The school became bankrupt in 1896, and in 1897, the Baptist Convention purchased the pro-perty and it became Decatur Baptist Junior College, with several Wise County men pledging money for the school. It was a preparatory school for Baylor University. From 1808 to 1900, Dr. B. F. Giles was president. Dr. J. L. Ward, a Wise County native, took Dr. Giles' place, and served until 1907. Rev. J. B. Tidwell, a teacher in the college, was elected to succeed Rev. Ward, and served two years. Rev. W. C. Carver then became president and performed those duties until 1914, at which time Dr. Ward again was made head administrator and filled this position until his retirement in 1950.

Dr. Otis Strickland, a former student of D.B.C., was president the remaining years of Decatur Baptist College, the oldest planned Junior College in the world. The school was moved to Dallas in the fall of 1965, and was called Dallas Baptist College, and is now a four-year institution, named Dallas Baptist University. Some months after the "hill" was vacated, Decatur businessman Coke L. Gage purchased the property, and after being vacant for two years, Mr. Gage donated the administration building and approximately one acre of land to the Wise County Historical Society, Inc., for a museum. During the two years the building was vacant, the premises became occupied by pigeons, animals and vandals. One would not believe the damage to all the buildings in two years.

After accepting the building, the members of the Wise County Historical Commission and the Wise County Historical Society, Inc., went to work cleaning and repairing. Over $3,000. was raised as a result of an ex-student homecoming held in 1969, which went toward a new roof. Then a loan of $8,000. was secured from the Decatur First National Bank to be used for windows, screens, floor sanding, etc. Then we secured another loan from the Bridgeport First National Bank. All were repaid in record time. Sources of income are donations, names on a quilt, sale of books, admissions, rental of the auditorium and sales from a small gift shop.

Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Rann of Decatur, both having retired from the teaching profession, consented to take the restoration of the auditorium as their project for a period of five years. This room is located on the second floor, and is now used as a "Little Theater" and a meeting place for the community. The Ranns began presenting programs, usually with local talent, charging a nominal fee, and plowing the proceeds back into the project. The Wise County Little Theater Guild caused a cooling and heating unit to be installed in the room, which makes it more useful during hot or cold weather. Lovely red seats have been purchased by various persons, and their names are attached to the arm of the chair they purchased. Mr. Rann dreamed of two rows of lovely red seats, now we lack two rows having the room filled with them. The members of the Wise County Historical Commission and the Wise County Historical Society, Inc., voted to name it the G. C. Rann Auditorium-Little Theater. It may be rented for a fee.

Restoration continues to the building, much with volunteer help of members of the two groups. With money as it comes in we have been able to secure people who can do the type work we need, and are slowly making headway. A ramp has been added to the east side of the building, and in 1993 an elevator was Installed, at a cost of in excess of $30,000. It goes to the third floor, and the building is now assessable to the handi-capped. A room dedicated to the LOST BATTALION is in place in the northeast room on the second floor, and is dedicated to the members of the 131st Field Artillery, the survivors of the U. S. S. Houston, CA 30, Dutch, English and Australian military personnel who were prisoners of war of the Japanese 3½ years during World War II.

The name, WISE COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM, was selected by popular vote of the members. The museum is open every day, Monday through Saturday from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. There is an admission fee of $l.00 for adults and 50¢ for children under 12. Memberships in the Wise County Historical Society are $10.00 for one, $15.00 for couple. Members are admitted at no charge to the museum. Groups should call ahead in order to let us have enough time have enough personnel to handle your group. Members receive a monthly newsletter in which queries may be placed at no cost (exception to receiving the newsletter is August and sometimes December). We have an excellent archive where much research material is available for the genealogist. For more information write: Wise County Historical Commission, P.O. Box 427, Decatur, Texas 76234.

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The Waggoner Mansion, located at the end of Main Street in the city of Decatur, was built by Mr. Dan Waggoner for a growing family. Sometimes called "El Castile", this is a large home, situated on a hill east of town, sitting on thirteen and one-half acres. The house consists of two stories, sixteen rooms, with a full basement and eight fireplaces.

"Thistle Hill" by Roze Porter, describes the mansion in Decatur thusly:

"It was constructed of old fossiliferous limestone and decorated with handcrafted wrought iron on the roof and balconies. Half-moon-shaped stained glass added an array of color to the tops of the windows and to the large massive hand-carved entrance door. At the peak of the house, an ornate cupola gave great height to the stately home.

The inviting first floor entrance hall revealed a winding stairway sweeping up to the second floor. Hand-carved Texas Star motif decorated the walnut and oak stairway and woodwork throughout the house. Massive doors with solid brass hardware, stood sixteen feet tall minifying the tall ceilings. Three of the huge doors enhanced with stained glass projected dancing rays of colored light in the interior.

Adding an air of elegance to the front parlor hung a beautiful ornate chandelier. Wrought iron and handmade isinglass fixtures from Denver complemented the Victorian library, large dining room and two halls. Also on the first floor were five bed-rooms, three marble baths, a keeping room, butler's pantry, and a huge kitchen with copper sink and accessories.

The second floor contained a large game room, three bedrooms and two marble baths."

The house is enclosed by a wrought iron fence with an archway bearing the name "El Castile." It is not open to the public.

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One of the first stone houses built in Decatur, probably about 1859, and of native stone. The land was owned by Wise County, and prison labor was utilized in erecting the structure. Many of the stones show the unique method used in shaping: holes were drilled in the proper places, a wooden peg inserted, then kept wet until the peg swelled, bursting the stone along the desired lines.

The basement, under the living room, served as the jail, with the Sheriff or a deputy living in the three-room house. A dumb waiter on the east side of the house conveyed the meals down to the men in the "dungeon". It is said the iron cell now located on the Sheriff's Posse grounds came from the basement of this house.

The original house consisted of three rooms: living room on the east, and two bedrooms on the west. As with most houses of the era, the kitchen was not attached to the main house, because of the fire hazards involved, but was located to the east about where the small house is now situated.

The second County Jail was built about 1883, and living quarters added in 1885, thus this house was no longer necessary and the County sold the property in 1888, to Mr. A. H. Whitehead, who converted the lot into the City Waterworks, and it was used for this purpose until 1938. The house was then used as a private residence until 1967, when it was purchased by the Wise County Historical Society, Inc., at a cost of $5,000.00, and was used as a museum, furnished as a house might have been before 1900. When the Decatur Baptist College Administration Building was donated by Decatur businessman Coke L. Gage for a museum, gift shop, archive and Little Theater, the OLD STONE PRISON was first rented as a dwelling, and is now the home of the Decatur AA Group.

The old house has had its share of tragedy. It is said a young man drowned when he dived into one of the water tanks located just back of the house. Old Timers recalled watching the prisoners come from the basement with manacles fastened to their hands and legs, and when they returned in the evening after having worked on the public roads all day, left a trail of blood on the ground from abrasions caused from wearing the chains all day.

The Old Stone Prison is located at 105 E. Pecan, about a block off the Courthouse square in Decatur. It is not open to the public.

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This cabin, built in Wise County in 1854, is reported to be the first built in the county. Mr. Sam Woody left Tennessee in the 1840s, as he felt the opportunities for a livelihood would be better elsewhere. He and his wife embarked on a raft on the Tennessee River, floated down to the Mississippi, to the Louisiana banks, and from there he went across country to Shreveport. His first stop in Texas was in Upshur County, but in 1849 he left that county and arrived in Fort Worth. In the autumn of 1853, in the company of Jim Mann and Ben Crews, he found what afterwards was called Boyd's Valley, and located the place he wished to settle his household, since there was an abundance of game, fish and good grass. He returned to Fort Worth, and in April, 1854, returned to the selected spot with his wife and two sons, Will and Drew. However, upon arrival found his selected site preempted by Tom McCarroll, who directed him further north, and there he found the site the cabin now occupies.

Here on the banks of historic Deep Creek, Mr. Woody began to build his home, with the help of relatives John and Jim Mann (some accounts say John and Jim Woody; however, the Manns have always contended it was John and Jim Mann, and this seems likely, as they settled at the same time in the vicinity). The house was built of logs from the area.

When finished, the home was the one lone structure in a wild land hundreds of miles square, which had already begun to attract the attention of Eastern and Southern immigrants. The Woody home became the one abode to which incoming people could resort for comfort, cheer and protection. On a dreary winter's night, just before Christmas of the first year (1854), eighteen tired and weary guests lay down to slumber in this sixteen-foot room. Wrapped in their blankets, they lay stretched before a roaring fire, which was fed throughout the night by their host.

Mr. Woody is quoted as having said "The prettiest sight I ever saw is a new country, where man has never been and which is just as the Great God of Heaven left it; where every stream is full of fish and every hollow tree is gorged with honey. The wild life and nature at first hand suited me."

There was never any trouble with the Indians and they traded frequently with them.

The cabin began to need a new roof and some other repair work, and in the early 1970s the Wise County Historical Commission and the Wise County Historical Society, Inc.,, secured the permission of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Acola (she is the former Marion Woody,, granddaughter of Mr. Sam Woody) to put on a new roof. The Wise County Commissioner of the precinct, Mr. Clayton Hays, caused the six-foot chain link fence to be erected around it, and an historical marker was secured. The first marker was stolen, and found several years later in a trash can in Oklahoma, after another marker had been ordered.

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This cemetery, located south of the Deep Creek Bridge, was one of the first in Wise County, land for which was given by settlers in the community.

Here lie buried many of Wise County's early settlers. Woody, Mann, Ward, Bowman, Prunty, Read, Workman, etc., are some of the names you will find.

However, the most famous is SALLIE BOWMAN, killed by the Indians, and to quote Cliff Cates in the "Pioneer History of Wise County":

"At the close of the war there lived a family by the name of Bowman in a picturesque valley on Deep Creek. Besides being a farmer, the head of the household was a physician by profession; he also owned a large bunch of fine horses which, miraculously enough, he had brought safely through the trying period of war. These latter had been con-signed to the careful judgement and expert horsemanship of Miss Sallie Bowman, a courageous young daughter about eighteen years of age. The young lady ranged her herd about the valley, and sometimes, when it was considered safe to do so, ventured onto the higher prairies for the better grass. She usually rode a fleet animal, being at all times apprehensive of being chased by the Indians. On the day of the occurrence about to be described, March 7, 1868, Miss Bowman was mounted on a horse of high speed qualities, and she felt, no doubt, perfectly confident that she could outdistance any pursuing savages. On this day she had ventured with her herd a mile and a quarter from her home, and fresh tracks later discovered on both sides of a creek, made by her own horse and those of the Indians, indicated that the creek had been the starting point of her pursuit by the Indians. Presumably, the latter had come upon her from the opposite side of the creek, while she was watering her horse. Down the bank towards her dashed the redskins, and she, wild with fright, wheeled and turned her fleet horse's head in the direction of home. Over the prairies sped the frenzied girl turning now and then to gaze on the.rapidly - gaining demons whom she shew would give no quarter. A fallen treetop lay athwart the way, a clear leap of twenty feet would be required to bound it; yet over it without disturbing a leaf went the animal; on and on went the mad dash for life; wide chasms were spanned without a pause, hills were climbed and valleys skimmed over, but all in Vain.

The deplorable climax came within view of the home of a neighbor named Jones. Mrs. Jones stepped into the yard, and viewed a scene which froze her to the spot. Three giant, red demons were bearing down upon a defenseless girl fleeing for her life. Two treacherous arms were thrust forward, two gun reports rent the air, and Sallie Bowman reeled in her saddle and rolled to the ground, dead. Two bullets were in her back, fired at such close range as to set fire to her clothing. Two of the Indians kept on after the horse, which within a few yards, would have reached home. The fine bunch of horses which had been so faithfully guarded by the young girl was taken into captivity. Sallie Bowman lies buried in Deep Creek Cemetery, her grave marked with a monument contributed in late years by the Citizens of Deep Creek."

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