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History in
a Pecan Shell
Ranchers John and
William Hittson settled here around 1870. A post office was applied
for and granted in 1886. By 1890 the community numbered 25 residents
and by the middle of that decade, Hitson had the four essential building
blocks for a community – a school, church, store and post office.
The post office closed in 1906 but the town survived (barely). Although
no population figures are available, 1940 showed Hitson had increased
the number of businesses to three. After the school consolidated in
1947, the life went out of the town and besides a few scattered residences,
only the cemetery and marker are left.
Photographer's Note
“The Hitson marker mentions an unamed cemetery. Afton Cemetery may
or may not be associated with Hitson. This is another of those communities
that sprang up across Texas and left without a trace, usually with
no significant history.” - Barclay
Gibson |
Hitson Community
Historical Marker
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2013 |
Historical
Marker Text
Site of Hitson
Community
Ranchers John and
William Hittson were among the first to settle in this area in about
1870; the area around their homes became known as Hittson or Hitson.
Fisher County was created in 1876, and settlement began to increase.
A post office opened in 1885. A school began operation in 1888 and
by 1896 Hitson had a general store operated by C. W. Morris as well
as a Methodist church. The Hittson brothers were the major landowners
in the area, but the community included a number of large farming
families who cleared the fertile land and planted crops.
Though the post office was moved to Swedonia
in 1906, the community of Hitson continued to grow. Oil was discovered
in the area after World War
I, providing an additional means of income for the townspeople
as well as the Hitson school for a time. In 1925 there were 32 families
with 120 school-age children living in the area.
By 1940 the town had a school, a church, three businesses and scattered
dwellings. As was the case in many small
towns across Texas and the U.S. during World
War II, most of the town's young people enlisted in the armed
forces or moved to cities to take part in the war effort. With their
labor force thus depleted, Hitson farmers were unable to survive.
Small family farms were sold to larger enterprises. Most of the new
owners lived in nearby Hamlin
or Rotan. Hitson school was consolidated
with Hamlin
schools in 1947; the white frame church building used by the Hitson
Baptist Church was moved to Roby in 1959
and by the end of the 20th century all that remained of the community
were a few homes and a cemetery.
(2000) |
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Fisher
County map showing Hitson (NE of Roby)
Modification of Texas General Land Office 1920s map |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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