The situation here in 1903 was a raw pasture, grazed by Dick Brownfield's cattle. It seems like a dream and somewhat like unto the occasion when the Wise Men tending their flocks in the east when they were warned and notified of a certain birth that was to be in the little town of Bethlehem. After I had left the train at Stanton and spent a few days there learning what holding the door meant, I was invited by Ben West, a prospector, to make a trip with him out into these parts. I accepted. We rambled thru Andrews, Gaines, Loving, Yoakum and Terry Counties and landed at Tahoka about the first of June. Lynn County had just organized and the ink had scarcely dried when we heard rumblings of a county seat election in Terry County. It was at Tahoka that I met W. G. Hardin, old schoolmate. He was also just rambling around. Like myself, W. G. had some longings for adventure. He preceded me in these parts a few days and had learned of the situation in Terry, and proposed to me that we go over and buy a section and make a town. I had lots of money and never backed down on a proposition to try a new thing.
I had filed on land in the Panhandle a few years before, held it a while and sold it for $2,000. This was the most money that I had ever had and I thought probably it would do me for a life time. I finished up my schooling just prior to going to Terry and had a few dollars left. So I thought I would go out on the South Plains and buy up a county or two. Well, we agreed to go over and see how things looked.

So, we struck out west and landed at Charley Walker's to spend the night. Charley had been there long enough to have very commodious one room house and yard. We were lucky tho, for there were only three other visitors to spend the night, Mr. Rippentoe, Mr. Allen and some young lady friend of Mrs. Walker. We sat up till it was thoroughly dark, then when we all went to bed in the house all had plenty room and a good night's rest. We talked our prospective venture freely with all whom we met and every word seemed to be encouragement. This encouragement, together with all our money, made the final decision. We were active in getting away to see if we could buy the land from Dick Brownfield. Dick said he had no land to sell, but would sell a section for the purposes and consideration there expressed. Well, there we were. Our money spent and a section of land on our hands. We got a good well and windmill with the land, and that water was our only source of production until a little late, we came proud possessors of a locoed horse. It would have been amusing if you could have seen the writer riding that horse without a bridle, hearing him bawl as he pitched. There were no land surveyors in the country. Mr. Brownfield showed us the an established surveyor's corner several miles north of ours. We too a 100 ft. wire and ran as near south as we could, and as near the distance as we could. We found our corners and surveyed the section. Then we used the same wire and surveyed all the blocks and streets and alleys for the town. We then dedicated a block for the courthouse, one for the school and one for the church. You see we wanted to have provision for everything. We were in dead earnest. About this time Mr. J. R. Hill appeared on the scene with his family. We helped build a small box house where the Cobb Dept. Store now stands. We called that the hotel. Mr. Rippentoe built and 8 x 12 where the State Bank now is for a general mercantile store. When the settlers came by they remarked, "How the town is booming." We then started to build a school house. We got it well founded and the walls up. That night the winds blew and beat upon the frame till it careened it over to abut the slant that Charlie Chaplin wears his hat. It was about the most discouraging sight to us next morning that we had met. It made the write awful sick. O, he had to lay up that half day. But we got it straightened up again, and we proceeded to finish it. It was an impressive structure. A credit to any western town. But we had no money for a school. So. the house stood there and was used as a dance hall until after the election.

Well, it was getting late summer by this time and a little dull around town. Mr. Hardin and I got everything in as legal shape as could be without a legalist. We were about totally out of funds. We decided that one of us could be sufficient to take care of all the business there for a while, and the other would go out. get a job and support him. We drew straws to see who would do this and that. It fell to my lot to hold the town. This incident reminds me of the early Texas History days, when the modest faithful wife often had to stay alone in suspense while the husband rustled provision. Now, in 1937, 34 years later, I find myself standing on the busy corner in the hustling thriving little city, watching the traffic lights change and the seething crowds swarm and in amazement, comparing that with the lonesome days I spent gazing in every direction. 34 years, as much as the average life of men, have come and gone. Swiftly time flies on another 34 years, yea, and anon. Changes of time, changes of places, changes of modes and fashions are all before us, who survive. Whatever, the disappointment, or the changes that have been wrought, there will remain with me during my remaining brief time, the most pleasant memories of the friendship of such men as M. B. Sawyer, Uncle Billy Howard, Uncle Jack Coble, the Walkers, Noah Bell, John Gist, John Randal and their families and too many others to try to mention. I can say of such people, Ye are the salt of the earth.

Most respectfully to every citizen of Terry County.

A. F. Small