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Texas Ghost
Town
PICKETVILLE, TEXASRunnels County,
Panhandle / West Texas
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First
civilian settlement in Runnels County. Founded 1862 by frontiersmen
whose picket houses and corrals gave place its name. It was located
near the mouth of Elm Creek in the vicinity of present day Ballinger.
Original settlers included Mr. and Mrs. John W. Guest and three sons;
Henry and R. K. Wylie, their cowboys and Negro servant; Mrs. Felicia
Gordon and five sons. In 1862, "Rich" Coffey's family also moved here.
Indian hostilities of Civil War years (1861-65) caused these ranchers
to band together for protection. In 1866, they left with cattle for
open range. Their picket corrals later penned the trail herds of John
Hittson, John and Joseph Henderson, and others.
From "Eighteen
Ghost Towns of Runnels County" by Alton O'Neil Jr. |
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