The lovely little town of Valdasta is situated on the banks of Sister Grove, a branch of the Trinity River, fourteen miles northeast of McKinney, the county seat of Collin County, Texas.
The founders of this little town named it Smithville after T.W. Smith, who first layed off the town, but the post office department named the town Valdasta.
The first grocery store of any size was built by W.G. Airhart with the post office in it in 1888. In 1896, he sold the property to J.T. Hartley and L.H. Fagala.
Mr. Hartley sold his interest in the business to Mr. Fagala. He built a store house just across the street from the post office.
The first gin and sawmill were built in 1888 with a grist mill in connection a year or two later. Mr. Smith built a grocery store, then he sold the property to J.W. Combest.
A great many business changes have been made since the town was first started, J.T. Hartley sold the property to L. Combest, who ran a general merchandise store and who was appointed postmaster, a position he still holds.
In 1899, J.W. Combest made a new gin in the northern part of town. He sold the property to his son, B. Combest, who still owns it.
John Davenport then went in business but sold out to the Anderson Brothers, who later moved to Frisco, Texas.
Mrs. Varilla Fagala put in a millinary store. J.R. Rampy put in a general merchandise store and post office in 1904.
In 1909 Brown Combest built a store with the Woodman's Hall on the upper story. The firm's name was Combest and Davenport, who sold out to John Wall and George Davis.
They dissolved partnership and Mr. Davis built a new store which was destroyed by fire in 1912. In 1913 T.Davenport rebuilt on the same lot and it was also destroyed by fire in 1914.
Eldon Lowrey had a dry goods and grocery store in 1924. G.N. Moore had a store in the Brown Combest old store in 1923 but later built an up-to-date building north of the school house with Delco Light plant, but sold out to D.C. Emerson. The building was destroyed by fire in 1925.
J.L. Alexander is now in business in the post office building with dry goods, groceries and hardware. Assistant postmaster J.M. Moore is located in the Brown combest building with general merchandise and a gasoline filling station.
The first public school building was built in 1888. A box house was built of lumber sawed by Uncle Johnnie Airheart out of hardwood. The work and materials were donated.
Later Mr. Cameron sold out to Fred Allay, who afterwards went in business at Red Oak. W.G. Airheart then built a new shop. Also, J.W. Combest built a shop in 1913. A.D. Patterson did also, along with a grist mill and saw mill combine.
A new barbershop was built in 1926- the first one was destroyed by fire.
Valdasta is surrounded by fertile farms and industrious people.
Dr. Combest, Dr. Cantrell, Dr. Rutledge, also physicians Dr. Carson and Dr. A.H. Bridgefarmer are now located at Melissa, Texas.
List of business men in 1886 to 1927 then to 1929:
Dave Herron, T.W. Smith, W.G. Airheart, Hartley and Fagala, J.W. Combest, Bridgefarmer and Hodges (who had the post office).
Also, J.N. Davenport, Anderson Bros., Combest and Davenport, Wall and Davis, T.Davenport, Mrs. Varilla Fagala, J.R. Rampy.
Cafe by Houston Wright, J.C. Hammond, Eldon Lowrey, G.N. Moore, D.C. Emerson.
Blacksmith owners Cameron and Herron, Billie Conger, Alley Bros., Osborn and Hammond and Davis, Brock and Wolper, Richardson and Walden, A.D. Patterson.
Barbershop, Joe Jordan, Joe Moore, cafe by Leslie Dorsey.
Written by Sally Maye Stapp, 1929.
The purpose of writing this history is to learn some facts of our little home town.
It will not help us much to study foreign lands and people if we do not learn first of our history.