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County Description from various years of the Texas Almanac
1904 Texas Almanac
MARION COUNTY
Is located in the northeast portion of the State, adjoining Louisiana on
the east, Harrison County on the south, Cass County on the north and
Upshur County on the west. Shreveport, La., is 60 miles east of Jefferson,
the county seat, connected by two lines of railroad and river also.
Population in 1900, 10,754. Property assessment 1903, $1,215,515.
Jefferson, the county seat, has a population of 3000. Total acreage
assessed is 253, 267, in cultivation 63,316, leaving not in cultivation
189,951. The general surface of the county permits a high state of
cultivation of all the lands. The soil is of a sandy character, with a
clay foundation, and is especially suitable for all kinds of truck
farming, fruits, as well as cotton, corn and all small grain. The county
is finely timbered, consisting of pines and nearly every kind of hard
woods. On the streams cypress is found. The county is finely watered. The
principal streams are Big Cypress, Black Cypress, Little Cypress and Jim's
bayou. Big Cypress bayou, or river, is navigable to the lakes in the
eastern portion of the county during nearly the entire year. All the
streams find their way to the lakes and through them into Red river near
Shreveport. The county is in the artesian basin, as is evidenced by a well
in the city of Jefferson, which is only 850 feet in depth. In addition to
the known fact of underground supply of water, the strongest surface
indications exist of the existence of oil in many portions of the county.
Much of the lands lying adjacent to the various streams can be easily
converted into rice farms, which can be irrigated at a very low cost.
These lands are rich and easily worked. Diversification of the crops of
the county has claimed the attention of many of the farmers the last few
years. Yet the principal crops are cotton, corn and oats. Much of the land
is adapted to wheat, but owing to the fact that there are no wheat mills
in the county, this crop is not raised. During the late war, and
previously, wheat raising was quite an industry in the county, especially
for home consumption. The yield of cotton last year in the county was
nearly 7000 bales. A total crop failure has never occurred. There are
several large sawmills in the county. the principal one having a daily
capacity of 50,000 feet. Jefferson has a foundry and machine shop. At
Kellyville, five miles west of Jefferson, is a large plow manufactory. An
iron smelting furnace at Jefferson is another of the industries of Marion
County. It has an annual capacity of 18,000 tons of pig iron. It produces
pure charcoal iron of fine quality. The ore from which this iron is
made is found in Marion, Cass and Morris Counties. The ore yield,
approximately 50 per cent metallic iron, is easily mined and worked. There
are strong indications of gold and silver in the hills where these ores
are found. The farming lands sell from $2 to $5, owing to location. The
land is mostly owned in small tracts. The scholastic population of the
county is something near 3300. There are 42.14 miles of railroad in the
county—the Texas & Pacific, with 13 1/3- miles, running nearly north
and south; the Missouri. Kansas & Texas, with 18 3/8 miles, running
nearly east and west, and the Jefferson and Northwestern railway, 8 3/4
miles, running in a northwesterly direction. The Texas & Pacific and
Missouri. Kansas & Texas intersect at Jefferson. Nearly every
denomination is represented by a church in Jefferson. Jefferson has a fine
high school While stock raising is not carried on as an industry, there
are over 10,100 head of horses, mules and cattle, and some 4000 head of
hogs, goats and sheep in the county. Much of this stock can be carried
through the winter with very little, if any, feeding. The temperature
rarely goes over 95 degrees in summer or below 25 degrees in winter.
Jefferson is tbe county seat. Other towns in the county are: Amicus.
Comet. Hartzo, Kelleyville. Lockett, Lodi, Lodwick, Lumber, Pyland,
Smithland, Sunview and Una. — W. T. ATKINS, Jefferson.
- Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide - 1904
1910 Texas Almanac
Marion County is situated in Northeast Texas, on the Louisiana line,
adjacent to the celebrated Caddo oil and gas fields. It was organized in
1860 from, potions of Cass and Harrison Counties, and named in honor
of Francis Marion. The general surface permits of a high state of
cultivation; the soil is of sandy character with clay foundation and is suitable
for truck .farming and fruits, as well as cotton, corn and all small
grains. There is a variety of timber, comprising the pines and nearly
every kind of hard wood. The county is abundantly watered, the principal
streams being Big Cypress, Black Cypress, Little Cypress and Jim's Bayou,
Big Cypress is navigable to the lakes in the eastern part of the county.
All streams find their way to the lakes, and through them into Red River.
The principal farm crops. with their average yields per acre are as
follows: Bermuda hay, four tons; sugar cane for syrup, 27 tons; corn, 14
bushels; oats, 25 bushels; peanuts, 20 bushels; cotton, 1/4 bale; Irish
potatoes, 30 bushels; sweet potatoes, 50 bushels. This is a splendid fruit
country plums, peaches, figs, grapes are grown commercially, and car loads
are made each season. truck farming has attained considerable extent and
comprises the growing of all varieties of vegetables. Melons of all kinds
are grown commercially. Raw lands are worth $7.50 per acre; cultivated
lands, $12.50. About ten car loads of beef rattle are shipped annually.
Last year there were 5.995 cattle, 2.652 horses and mules, 554 hogs, 353
goats, 213 sheep. Total property assessment, $3,059,757. The Missouri,
Kansas and Texas, the Texas and Pacific and the Jefferson and Northwestern
Railroads traverse the county, with 42.85 miles of trackage. The estimated
population Is 12.000; Jefferson, the county seat has about 4000. There are
51 public free schools, employing 60 teachers. It Is claimed that the
Caddo oil and gas fields extend not only across the Louisiana line, but as
far west as Jefferson and beyond; there are strong Indications of both oil
and gas in the county. In the western and northern portions are found the
great ore fields, which have made this section famous through the Iron
world. The ore Is found In seemingly Inexhaustible quantities; in metallic
iron it runs from 50 to 60 per cent pure, averaging 55 per cent; in
Impurities the ore is remarkably low. The iron Is noted for Its toughness
and tensile strength. There is a 100-ton Iron furnace In operation at
Jefferson. The further development of the iron ores and the bringing in of
paying oil and gas wells are among the reasonable probabilities of the
future. Jefferson is situated at the head of navigation on Big Cypress
River. The county has seven saw mills, 26 cotton gins and numerous small
manufacturing establishments; about 600 men are given regular employment
in the factories, including: the iron foundry; the aggregate Investment is
about $250,000, and the annual output $900,000.
1911 Texas Almanac
Marion County.
Created from Cass and Harrison Counties In
1860 and organized the same year. Named for Francis Marion. Area, 384
square miles. Situated in East Texas. Has many running streams, good
underground water at a moderate depth and is heavily timbered. Surface
undulating, having low hills and broad, fertile valleys. Lumbering is an
Important Industry. Marion County is an important fruit producing county,
peaches, plums, grapes, figs, pears and various kinds of berries growing
to perfection. All staple crops thrive. There are valuable deposits of
iron ores which are being developed. Jefferson, the county seat, is
reached by the Texas & Pacific and Missouri. Kansas & Texas
Railroads. In early days Jefferson had the advantage of navigation through
the Red River and cypress bayou. Surveys have been made by the Government
with the view of restoring the importance of those waterways.
- Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide - 1910 -11