HISTORICAL SKETCH OF VALLEY VIEW

By Norman L. Newton, November , 2006

In 1869 two families would leave Missouri together and first stopped in Texas at Sherman with winter coming on. These were the families of ¹Captain L. W. Lee and ²William Obuch.

The men left their families there (Sherman) to go in search of a place to settle. They came to the southern part of Cooke County and built cabins to bring their families later.

Then the Lee family left their party and came on ahead to this location by ox cart arriving on February 1, 1870. Captain and Mrs. Lee are considered the founders of Valley View being the first family to settle here. In describing the scene and recalling the time Mrs. Lee remarked there was not even a path and the grass was as high as a man’s head. Mr. Lee had said we were coming to the frontier. I remarked that it looked very much like a backtier to me. No neighbors, no schools, no churches, no sustenance for soul or body. A veritable wilderness.

On April 6, 1870 the families of ³D. A. Jones, ⁴Gilbert French, ⁵Richard McCubbin, ⁶Andrew Hill and ⁷Joseph Reavis arrived from Missouri and camped on Spring Creek. The Lee family was glad to see them to finally have some neighbors. Then a short time later the William Obuch family would arrive. These seven families were all friends with having ties to Cooper & Johnson Counties in Missouri.

Some of the men of the party concluded to get back to Missouri and take cattle, there being such a good prospect of making money on them, and in July while these men were away, the report was circulated that the Indians were in the country killing men, women and children. These new settlers did not waste time in getting to some place of safety which would be over in the cross timbers. There they received a hearty welcome and felt more at ease. It was not entirely satisfactory because the weather was so hot, blistering the babies faces. Mrs. Lee made the proposal to the others that we get some guns and shoot the rascals if they bothered us. The remaining men went to Pilot Point and purchased guns and ammunition and they came home and put out guards at night. One night they put a boy to watch. Mrs. Lee had her doubts about him being a good one and got up and went where she could see him. She found him sitting with his head thrown back and his mouth wide open, fast asleep. She did not sleep much that night and watched for the Indians herself.

At this time these families had to travel to Gainesville for provisions, mail and plows sharpened, and sometimes it would be quite a long time before they could get there. It would rain and Elm Creek would rise and they could not cross. The families that had children would take them to Gainesville to school which was at least a 10 mile distance and if the creek rose during the day they could not even retrieve their children. Mrs. Lee complained to her husband about this and he stated we would have to build a town of our own. Mrs. Lee told him alright and she would do all she could do to help. Captain Lee asked his friend William Obuch who was an excellent penman to draw up the blue print for laying out and naming the streets. They chose street names for the men living in or near the area at the time and had taken an interest in building a town. Some of the street names taken and still in existence today are Lee, McCubbin, Hill, Reavis and Obuch. Other street names were added later as the town enlarged.

The town name of Valley View was selected by Mrs. Lee because of the pretty view looking west.

Captain Lee made the offer to give every family a lot that would build a house on it and paint it white.

The next thing was to obtain a Post Office. Captain Lee got up a petition and some refused to sign it saying, one post office was plenty for this county and others would say, who would get mail in this sparsely settled, God-forsaken country? They wrote to congressmen Throckmorton and sent him the petition. After investigating the chances he wrote back saying the post office department was in bad condition financially and would not establish any new offices at that time. Captain Lee wrote to him that he would give good and sufficient bond to carry the mail free of charge. The reply was soon sent and with authority to establish the office. Richard McCubbin was the first postmaster with Captain Lee as mail carrier. Then Valley View officially became a town on March 26, 1872 with the establishment of a Post Office.

When the town was about 10 years old Mrs. Lee would recount this little town was the prettiest, whitest little town I ever saw. There were eleven houses built on whole blocks and seven on lots.

The Newton brothers, ⁸Charles S. and ⁹William F. who came to the new town of Valley View in late 1872 built a mill and cotton gin. Mill Street in Valley View is named because of it going to the mill.

The effort to build a school was a special project of the Lee’s. The first school was located in what was formerly a blacksmith shop with a dirt floor. In order to obtain a teacher there needed to be a certain number of pupils. Captain Lee subscribed four children even though they only had 2 children of school age. Mrs. Lee asked her husband who else were they going to send to school, Ring and Whitenose, the dog and cat? Her husband replied, yes, anything to get the school. Mrs. Lee would later recount that Ring did sometimes attend but the cat never did.

(Note: I believe the first students would have been Ewald Obuch and Ella Lee. An earlier writing says this was Ewald Obuch and Zoe Lee, but from research that I have done I know that Ella Lee was born in Missouri about 1860 and Zoe Lee was born in Texas in 1876 after the time of effort to begin this first school.)

An election was held on June 7, 1902 to see if the Valley View citizens of the Valley View Common School district No 42 were in favor of incorporating. When the ballots were counted 61 were for incorporating and one was against. Therefore the County Judge of Cooke County declared the newly formed school district be named “Valley View Independent District.” An election was held the same day voting $10,000 of bonds to build a new school building which was completed in 1903. This school building which was located north of the town square served the community until it was razed in 1938 when another school was built at the south part of town where the school campus is still located today.

The first school graduating class was in 1907. Prior to that time the students just quit when they had completed the work that the school offered.

In recent years the Valley View School System has been rated EXEMPLARY. This is the highest rating given by the Texas Education Agency. In athletics the highlight would probably be the Class A, State Championship in football in 1980.

The Valley View public square was built in 1919. A group of civic minded citizens led by ¹⁰Clay Newton started the movement. Up until that time the plot of ground was private property and several business establishments were located upon it. It officially became public property on September 15, 1919.

From the very beginning worship has been a key element in the lives of the townspeople. The early denominations to be organized were the Christian, Presbyterian, Baptist, and the Methodist. Prior to building any individual church building they met in what was called the Union Church a wooden structure. There the denominations would meet taking turns on Sundays. The town kept growing and more people kept coming and the Presbyterians thought it expedient to have more church room. They commenced raising money and went to Mr. Lee and wanted a lot to build on. Mr. Lee gave the property to the church which is where the ¹¹E. F. Carson Senior Center is now located at the southwest corner of the square. They collected all the money they could but were still short on means. They made a trade with the Masons to build the upper story to serve as a lodge meeting place and then were able to build a respectable house on the same lot. After awhile though the church building proved to be insufficient, so they built a larger and more beautiful which again made of wood which burned down. Not to be undone they built another church which was even better and larger and not made of wood this time but of brick. This beautiful building which was erected in 1910 many people living in Valley View today can still recall. The Presbyterian membership declined through the1940’s and early 50’s and finally disbanded in 1955. Most of the membership transferred to the Valley View United Methodist Church. The old Presbyterian Church building served as a community center for many years until it was torn down because of disrepair. Today the Senior Center already mentioned above is built there. Each of the other churches erected their own church building. Today the churches in Valley View are the United Methodist, First Baptist, Church of Christ, St. Johns Catholic and Christian Gathering.

It would be the Presbyterian Church dedication ceremony in 1910 where Mrs. Mary Lee, age 70 years, gave the speech on the History of Valley View of which I have borrowed heavily in writing much of the contents in writing this brief historical sketch

In the 1870’s cattlemen of North Texas were plagued by cattle thieves. The first Cattlemen’s Organization to combat the rustlers was started in Valley View about 1875 by ¹²Harvey Hulen, L. W. Lee, William Obuch, ¹³Captain A. T. Ball, Charles S. Newton and others. This organization was the forerunner of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association, which was formed in Graham, February 15, 1887.

Valley View’s Masonic Lodge No. 507 was chartered on December 13, 1879. At one time they used the top floor of the Presbyterian building as mention already. In addition after this building burned they had other locations in Valley View. This lodge was later disbanded about 1934. Many of its members transferred to the Burns City Lodge No. 600, which was chartered on December 12, 1884, and met in the Burn’s City school building until it was torn down in 1947. Then it moved to Valley View and is currently located on the east side of our town square.

At various times, Valley View, also had J. S. Ramsey Lodge No. 395, I. O. O. F.; Valley View Camp No. 377, Woodmen of the World; Sudie Holland Grove No. 488, Woodmen Circle; and Valley View Lodge No. 2027, F. E. and C. U. of A. I have often viewed gravestones in our local Valley View Cemetery that are marked with the emblem of Mason, Eastern Star, W.O.W. (Woodmen of the World), and S. F. W. C. (Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle), among others.

In 1884, Valley View’s first newspaper, The Vindicator, was established. Then it was followed by The Valley View News, in 1904. There have been several other newspapers in town. The Valley View Sun was started in September 12, 1906, and was published for 10 years. It was said this was the most successful of all the newspaper that have been in Valley View. It operated through 1923 when it was sold and replaced with still another. The Valley View Voice was the next newspaper and then in May, 1930, the Valley View Beacon started their publications. To my knowledge the Valley View Beacon was the last newspaper to operate in Valley View.

The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built a rail line from Fort Worth to Gainesville via Valley View in 1886. The first train stopped at Valley View on January 2, 1887. There was a train depot located in Valley View which was customary for many years until it was closed in the late 1950’s when passenger travel diminished.

In 1903 the arrival of telephone service with the People’s Home Telephone being the first. The telephone ownership in Valley View would change several times to be what it is today.

In 1903 would see the opening of the first bank in Valley View by ^13AR. P. Head and it was known as the Citizens bank, and was chartered as First National in 1905. The second bank was known as the First Guaranty State bank, started in 1914, by ^13BA. J. Hudspeth and others, and nationalized in 1924 as the Valley View National which most of us old timers can easily recall today. The First National began voluntary liquidation on April 19, 1948, and Valley View National took over the deposits and bought the First National building and moved into it at the southeast corner of the square. Then the Valley View National bank sold to the Gainesville National bank which then changed its name to Guarantee National bank and operated at the north end of town for a number of years. This bank finally closed all ties to Valley View. Today we have the First State Bank in Valley View.

In 1903 Clay and ¹⁴Frank Newton operated a Hardware, Furniture Store which also housed a funeral parlor which was typical of the time. They later sold the business to the Leazer family in 1915. This was a father and son business, ^14AJ. W. Leazer and his son ^14BJ. L. Leazer. This business continued to operate in Valley View until 1938.

The town would suffer several devastating fires throughout its history. In 1924 alone there were 2 fires the first one was in September where the entire east side of the square was burned and then on December 19^th bank robbers started a fire as they robbed the First National Bank of $5,000 which destroyed two city blocks.

Perhaps Valley View’s greatest bid for distinction is the success of native son ¹⁵Judge John Marvin Jones who was born in Valley View on February 26, 1882. He was the son of ¹⁶Horace and ¹⁷Theodocia HAWKINS Jones. He attended Elm Grove School and a public school in Miami, Texas, before graduating from Southwestern University with a B. A. in 1905 and the University of Texas with an LL.B. in 1908. He then practiced law in Amarillo with ¹⁸Leonidas Barrett and ¹⁹Ernest Miller until defeating ²⁰John Hall Stephens in the election of 1916 for a United States congressional seat. He represented the Thirteenth District as a Democrat. As a protégé of ²¹John Nance Garner and close friend of ²²Samuel T. Rayburn and ²³Hatton W. Sumners, Jones became a member of the House Agriculture Committee in 1921. He became chairman in 1930 and remained in that post until he resigned ten years later to become an associate justice of the United States Court of Claims. In agricultural legislation Jones generally specialized in farm finance that cut across commodity interests. He wanted low interest loans and mortgages, soil conservation, farm subsidies, agricultural research, and new markets for farm products. As a result he helped found the Farm Credit Administration and the Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation. Additionally, he played important roles in the Jones-Connally Act; the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act; Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustments Act of 1935, the first guaranteed annual appropriation for agriculture in United States history; the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenancy Act; and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. During the Great Depression Jones ardently supported the construction of public buildings and urged the location of federal agencies in Amarillo. As a practical politician he supervised the passage of more significant agricultural legislation than any previous House agriculture chairman.

After 1940 Jones served on the United States Court of Claims. He took leave of absence (request of ²⁴President Roosevelt) from June 29, 1943 to June 30, 1945, and during these two years he brought stability to the strife-torn War Food Administration by leadership that was principled and centered on public service rather than bureaucratic. He championed increased production of food and fibers, and the WFA, aided by favorable weather, was reasonably successful in meeting its production goals during World War II. He returned to the court, became chief judge in 1947, and served until 1964. In his opinions he refrained from judicial activism and tried to balance law, congressional intent, and his own concept of quality, which was deeply rooted in his Texas heritage. As a judicial administrator he helped reestablish the Court of Claims as a constitutional court and supervised the construction of a new courthouse. From 1964 until his death he served as senior judge. Jones was a devout Methodist who contributed generously to religious causes and provided scholarships at many Texas universities. He died in Amarillo on March 4, 1976.

Judge Jones made many contributions over his lifetime to the Valley View United Methodist Church of which his parents were founding members. Fluorescent lights were installed in the church in 1941 because of a generous gift from Marvin Jones that was in honor of his mother. Then in 1942 he gave the beautiful pulpit and chairs that are still in use today.

An interesting event that happened in Valley View was the marriage of Sam Rayburn “Mr. Sam”, the long time speaker of the United States House of Representatives to ²⁵Metze Jones, the sister of his good friend Marvin Jones. The marriage took place in the United Methodist Church in Valley View in 1927. The marriage lasted less than three months. He remained unmarried thereafter.

Valley View voted to incorporate in 1979. The town is served by a mayor and 5 alderpersons.

Now for a word about our Cemeteries;

The Old Valley View Cemetery is located on private property just north of town a short distance and to the west. There is not a great deal of people that even know it exists being that it cannot be seen from any public road and no sign or marker to acknowledge where it is, etc. The last burial was in the 1890’s. There is no access to it without permission. It is in pasture land with cattle running on the grounds at will. Most of the people buried there have their identities known but to God. The remaining stones are broken and overall in very bad condition. Each of the times that I have been there I have left with sadness in my heart.

The current Valley View Cemetery which is located a short distance north of Valley View on North Lee Street has had burials in that location since the 1870’s. It officially became a cemetery on September 1, 1890 when the Valley View Masonic Lodge No. 507, purchased four acres of land for $60.00 for the establishment of a public cemetery. The property was purchased from ²⁶J. S. Fletcher. The Trustees of the Valley View Masonic Lodge were ²⁷G. L. Spurlock. ²⁸S. I. Burks and C. S. Newton. Over the years additional acreage has been acquired. In 1942 the Valley View Cemetery Association was organized and has looked after the burial grounds of the public cemetery. The Valley View Cemetery is sustained by contributions and a trust fund was established in the early years which helps provide perpetual care. It has often been said that the only thing getting bigger in Valley View is the grave yard.

Today Valley View has a beautiful city park thanks to the generous donation of property in 1996 by ²⁹Don & ³⁰Linda Hudspeth and ³¹Alan & ³²Charlene Ritchey. The park is named,

David’s Park, and is dedicated to the memory of ³³David Alan Ritchey. The establishment of the park was a dream of then Valley View Mayor, ³⁴Cecil Neu, who desired a place for families to enjoy now and for future generations.

Valley View is home to Alan Ritchey Incorporated, “ARI”. The business began its roots in Valley View during 1963. Starting with the Gin business and then going into the transportation arena with transporting mail for the United States Postal Service. The company has grown and expanded into many different venues including the Martindale Feed Mill in Valley View. ARI is the largest employer in Valley View.

The Valley View Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1997 to promote the attributes this area offers.

The Keep Valley View Beautiful Committee was organized in February, 2005. This group has been very active in offering programs of interests to the community and local school. This group was recently awarded the Governors Award being one of only six communities in Texas so honored. The town has been awarded a $60,000.00 grant. A recent activity has been the creation of a yard of the month contest and the pursuit of obtaining a historical marker for the town which started as a project of several local high school senior’s.

Today with a population of 737 (2000 census) Valley View is a quite town with its townspeople offering a friendly welcome to all who come to live or visit. We are proud of the foundation our forefathers laid before us, as well as our contribution to Cooke County’s interesting history.

We are proud to call Valley View HOME.

Notes:

¹Lawrence Washington and his wife Mary Ann (FRYER) Lee came to Texas with 2 children. L. W. Lee was born in Howard County, Missouri, October 27, 1831, the son of Noah G. & Sarah (HARVEY) Lee. He married Mary Ann FRYER on November 1, 1859 at Prairie Home, Cooper County, Missouri. After marriage they removed to Johnson County, Missouri and only returned to Cooper County during the War Between the States to be with family. At the conclusion of the war they returned to Johnson County until leaving for Texas in late 1869.

Mary Ann FRYER is the daughter of James H. and Margaret Fryer. She was born January 16, 1840, Cooper County, Missouri.

L. W. Lee died at his home in Valley View on February 12, 1916 and Mary Ann (FRYER) Lee died in Gainesville on November 7, 1934. (Personal note: Her gravestone has the incorrect date as November 17, 1934. and his obituary has the incorrect initials of his name.) Both are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas. The primary street in Valley View is Lee Street.

(NOTE: It has been written the title of Captain came from that rank in the Confederate service. I believe that is incorrect. L. W. Lee (called Captain or Larry by his friends) made two trips to California which the first was in 1850 at the young age of 19. The second trip he made was in 1857 when he was asked to serve as Captain of the group of men from Cooper County that drove a herd of cattle to California for the profit. Perhaps he also served as Captain of the group on the travel from Missouri to Texas in 1869 but I have no evidence of fact about this. His service during the War Between the States I am still researching. )

²William and Augustine (KAHLE) Obuch came to Texas with 6 children. William Ewald Alfred Obuch was born December 17, 1832, in Saalfeld, East Prussia, Germany, to Carl Wilhelm & Louise (GOERKE) Obuch. He came to the United States in 1854. He was married in Missouri, March, 1860, to Johanna Augustine Lucie Elisabeth (KAHLE). William Obuch served the Union in the Missouri Militia during the War Between the States. He was a Carpenter, Farmer and Inventor. A very well educated man. He drew up the original blueprint for the layout of streets to build the town of Valley View. There is a Obuch street in Valley View. He died January 20, 1901 and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

Johanna Augustine Lucie Elisabeth KAHLE was born on January 21, 1842, in Hoheneggelsen, Hannover, Germany. She emigrated to the United States in 1856. She died on May 7, 1907 and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

³David Allie and his wife Melvina (LEE) Jones came to Texas with 5 children. (NOTE: Most previous writings will have his initials reversed as “A. D. Jones”.) David Allie Jones was born December 10, 1826, in Cooper County, Missouri, to David William & Tabitha (NANNY) Jones. He married Melvina LEE on January 31, 1846, in Howard County, Missouri. David Allie Jones died on June 25, 1891, Lebanon, Marshall County, Oklahoma. Buried in Lebanon Cemetery.

Melvina LEE was born September 21, 1827, in Howard County, Missouri. She was the daughter of Richard Washington & Nancy (HARVEY) Lee. Melvina Jones died October 12, 1914, in Madill, Marshall County, Oklahoma. She is buried in Woodbury Forest Cemetery, Madill, Oklahoma. (NOTE: She is a double first cousin to L. W. Lee. Their fathers are brothers and mothers are sisters.)

⁴Aaron Gilbert and his wife Sara Ann “Sallie” (JONES) French came to Texas with 1 child. Aaron Gilbert French was born on March 3, 1846, in Johnson County, Missouri. He married Sara Ann “Sallie” JONES on October 24, 1868, in Pisgah, Cooper County, Missouri. He died August 18, 1929. Place of burial unknown.

Sara Ann “Sallie” JONES was born January 14, 1849, in Cooper County, Missouri. Date of Death unknown.

(NOTE: She is a cousin of David Allie Jones.)

⁵Richard and Mary Jane McCubbin came to Texas without any children born to their family yet. Richard was born in Cooper County, MO, in 1840 to George & Ellen McCubbin. He married Mary Jane George on October 3, 1865 in Cooper County, MO. He died in 1886 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas.

Mary Jane George was born in Cooper County, MO. in 1844 to Calvin and Janie (SCOTT) George. She died in 1913 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas.

There is a McCubbin Street in Valley View. Richard served as the first postmaster in Valley View.

⁶Andrew Hill (Believe this to be Aaron Hill but it is not proven.) This family did not stay in Valley View.

There is a Hill Street in Valley View.

⁷Joseph Reavis and his wife Emily came to Texas with 4 children. Both of these people were born in Missouri. This family did not stay in Texas. There is a Reavis Street in Valley View.

⁸Charles Samuel Newton was born August 11, 1838, in Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation to Charles Gordon and Mary H. (BRISTOL) Newton. He married Kentucky Ann (THOMAS) in Dallas on April 22, 1866. She died on November 12, 1867. He then married Mary Elizabeth (JONES) on August 9, 1869. He moved to the new town of Valley View in late 1872 with his brother William F. Newton, built a mill and cotton gin which ran successfully for many years. Mr. Newton served in the Confederacy at the onset of war serving in the Good-Douglas Battery from Texas. He was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church and a master mason. He died in Valley View, January 25, 1903, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

⁹William F. Newton was born in Cane Hill, Arkansas, December 11, 1842. The son of Charles Gordon and Mary H. (BRISTOL) Newton. He married Rufinah King who died a few years later.. He then married June 10, 1877, to Lizzie (KENDALL). Mr. Newton served in the Confederacy in Company A, Harp’s regiment, Thirty-first dismounted cavalry. He along with his brother, C. S. Newton, built a mill and cotton gin which ran successfully for many years. He moved to Gainesville where he was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a mason. He died, April 15, 1915, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas.

¹⁰ Clay Newton was born in Valley View, December 23, 1879, the son of Charles Samuel and Mary Elizabeth (JONES) Newton. He married Addye (PETTIT) in Dallas, May 23, 1910. Clay Newton operated a Hardware, Furniture and Funeral Parlor in Valley View in 1903, with his brother Frank. He later moved to Gainesville and served as Cooke County Auditor for a long period of time. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and a mason. He died September 30, 1946, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹¹Edward Floyd “Kit” Carson was born in Valley View, June 24, 1916, to Thomas A. and Eva Lou (FRYER) Carson. He married Regina (MITCHELL) on June 28, 1959. He served as a long time Cooke County School Superintend. He lent himself to all worthwhile projects in Valley View especially the school system and involved with the senior citizen welfare in latter years. He died March 20, 2000, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹²Harvey Hulen was born in 1845. He was a early day educator in the Valley View school system. He moved to Gainesville and was a political/civic minded person of county affairs. He loved to write and did a series of articles about the early history in Cooke County. He died in October, 1932, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas.

¹³Andrew T. Ball was born, September 4, 1842, near Versailles, Kentucky . His wife, Elizabeth, also shows to be from Kentucky. According to the 1880 Census records it shows he was a neighbor to William Obuch which means his farm was southeast of Valley View. His occupation is listed as Trader. On the 1900 Census he was a neighbor to the Lee family and Andrew Jackson Hudspeth family which makes him living on the north edge of Valley View. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in May, 1861, at Windsor, MO., as Sergeant in Windsor’s Guards, Trans-Mississippi Department. Fought under General Price and saw many engagements, was captured and then exchanged the same year. He was with General Price until close of war. Returned to Missouri and in 1867 came to Texas. He moved from Collin County to Cooke County in 1875. (This family does not show up on census records after 1900.)

(NOTE: It is unclear why he has the title of Captain. According to his own account of service in the Confederate Army he began as a Sergeant and after release as prisoner he was a private which he remained till close of war.)

^13A Robert Pascal Head was born June 22, 1852 to James and Mattie Elizabeth (KING) Head. He and his 3 siblings were orphaned at a young age. The children went to various relatives and young Robert, age 6,went to live with Dr. Richard King, brother to his mother. The Dr. pressed upon Robert to receive a good education and at the age of 16 entered Trinity University. Failing health caused Robert to not finish his course and he went before the court to be declared of age and it was granted. He received a part of his fathers estate which was $250.00 With the money he purchased some cattle and was a cowboy in early adulthood. He suffered through many difficult times. (Space does not permit me to tell the whole story.) About 1875 he started a store in the town of Valley View and also served as the postmaster of Valley View dispensing mail from inside his store. On July 13, 1876 he married Elenora (HUTCHENS). In 1903, R. P. Head, had controlling interest in the first bank in Valley View, the Citizens Bank, which later became First National Bank. His son Richard Head worked as a cashier in his fathers bank. This bank ran successfully for many years. Robert and Elenora built a beautiful home in Valley View which still stands today at 605 South Lee Street. The Heads moved from Valley View in 1920 and located to San Bernardino. California. There they lived happily the remainder of their lives. Robert died on September 30, 1929 and Elenora died January 16, 1945. They are both buried in California.

^13B Andrew Jackson Hudspeth was born June 26, 1839, in Jackson County, Tennessee to John and Jane (LOVELL) Hudspeth. He married Ann Rebecca (HILL) on March 16, 1879 in Monroe County, Kentucky. He fought for southern independence during the War Between the States. Company C, King’s Battalion, Kentucky Mounted Cavalry. He was a farmer and businessman and was the president of the First Guarantee State Bank at the time of his death. He died on May 8, 1917 in Valley View and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

Ann Rebecca (HILL) Hudspeth was born October 6, 1849, in Monroe County, Kentucky to William Wright and Martha Caroline (BEDFORD) Hill. She died on April 30, 1947 and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹⁴ Frank King Newton was born in Valley View, October 20, 1884, to Charles Samuel and Mary Elizabeth (JONES) Newton. He married Besse (KEEL) in Valley View on November 11, 1908. He operated a Hardware, Furniture and Funeral Parlor with his brother, Clay, in Valley View. He later operated a Furniture store in Gainesville. He was a rancher and farmer toward the latter part of his life. He was a mason and died on February 12, 1960, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

^14A Jacob W. Leazer was born in 1862 in Georgia. At a young age his family moved to Arkansas. His wife Della was born in 1863. She died 3/2/1926. He died on 7/23/1930 from complications of gall bladder trouble. He moved from Arkansas to Texas in 1892. He was engaged in the hardware, implement and funeral business for 15 years in Valley View. They are both buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

^14B Jesse Lee Leazer was born 9/12/1884 at Clarksville, Arkansas. His family moved to Jolly, Texas by covered wagon in 1892. In1907 he moved to Vernon and was engaged in the mercantile business. He married Miss Edna (REED) in Vernon. She was born in 1885. He came to Valley View in 1915 where he was engaged in a hardware, furniture and undertaking business until 1938 when he moved to Gainesville and purchased Brooks Powell Mortuary. He had graduated from the school of embalming in 1933. Mrs. Edna Lou Leazer died 8/1/1938. Mr. Leazer formed a partnership with Vernie Keel in 1941 under then name Leazer-Keel Funeral Home in Gainesville. He retired in 1950. He married Miss Annie (BAIN) of Gainesville, 8/5/1941. Both J. L. and his first wife, Edna Lou Leazer are both buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹⁵ Marvin Jones was born in Valley View on February 26, 1882. He was the son of Horace King and Theodocia (HAWKINS) Jones. U.S. Representative from Texas, 1917-41 (13th District 1917-19, 18th District 1919-41); Judge of U.S. Court of Claims, 1940-43, 1945-64. Methodist. Member, American Legion; Freemasons; Elks; Woodmen. Died March 4, 1976. Interment at Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Tex.

¹⁶Horace King Jones was born at Athens, Tennessee, October 4, 1849, to Robert Degge & Martha Eliza (KING) Jones. He married Theodocia “Docia” (HAWKINS) on November 17, 1875. He was a mason and died on June 28, 1926 and buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹⁷Theodocia “Docia” (HAWKINS) Jones was born June 6, 1856, to John Hawkins. Mother is unknown (GASTON) Jones. She married Horace King Jones on November 17, 1875. She died December 28, 1958, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery.

¹⁸Not related to Valley View History.

¹⁹Not related to Valley View History.

²⁰Not related to Valley View History.

²¹Not related to Valley View History.

²²Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn was born near the Clinch River in Roane County, eastern Tennessee, on January 6, 1882, the son of William Marion and Martha (WALLER) Rayburn. His long time political career may be viewed at the Rayburn Library at Bonham, Texas. “Mr. Sam” died November 16, 1961 and is buried at Bonham, Texas.

²³Not related to Valley View History.

²⁴Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born January 30, 1882, Hyde Park, New York. He became the 32^nd President of the United States, 1933-1945. He married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905. He died while serving his fourth term as President on April 12, 1945, Warm Springs, Georgia.

 
25Metze Jones was born in Valley View on May 22, 1897. Her parents were Horace King and Theodocia (HAWKINS) Jones. She first married Sam Rayburn in the Valley View Methodist Church in 1827 which ended in divorce. She then married Jeff Monroe Neely Jr. on July 11, 1933. She died on October 10, 1982, in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas. Her first name was pronounced as “Meets” per conversation I have had with my father, 
Charles Frank Newton, (1912-1980).  My father always spoke fondly of Metze when talking of his cousin.
 
26J. S. Fletcher Note: I have the records of this property transaction but have no further information. Norman L. Newton
 
27Dr. G. L. Spurlock is shown as being the third doctor in Valley View. He does not show up on the census until 1900 which shows both he and his wife were born in Kentucky. He was born approx. 1852. He is buried in the Valley View Cemetery without any date of birth or death given.
 
28Silas I. Burks was born January 7, 1840. He was married to Mary A. Burks. He was a mason and died on July 27, 1909. He is buried in the Valley View Cemetery. 
 
29Living
 
30Living
 
31Living
 
32Living
 
33David Alan Ritchey was born August 5, 1965 to Alan and Charlene (STROUP) Ritchey. He died in a automobile accident on June 27, 1982. David’s Park is named in his memory.
 
34Cecil Anthony Neu was born in Lindsay, November 18, 1934, to Frank and Veronica Trubenbach Neu. He married Kay L. (TERRY) on May 25, 1954. He was a former school board member and was serving as the mayor of Valley View at the time of his death.
 
Sources:
 

1870 Cooke County Census Records, Series 593, Roll 1580, Page 197, 198, 199. (Used Extensively for the purpose of this material)

1880, 1900, 1910 Cooke County Census Records

1850 Cooper, Johnson, County Census Records (Missouri)

1860 Cooper, Johnson, County Census Records (Missouri)

Autobiography of a Pioneer, by L. W. Lee, August 10, 1914

Biographical Souvenir of Texas, published in 1889.

L. W. Lee Historical Sketch

C. S. Newton Historical Sketch

W. F. Newton Historical Sketch

Correspondence with granddaughter of L. W. & Mary Lee, Mildred Lee MANN Betteridge, (1903-2003), of San Diego, CA. I personally met with her in San Diego just one month prior to her death in 2003. Correspondence started in 1998 and she was sharp as a tack in mind and spirit. She had fond memories of coming to Valley View by train with her mother, Zoe, from Denver Colorado. Her grandfathers middle name being Washington came from her.

Valley View History Website: http://www.oocities.org/valleyview1872

Research in Missouri by Norman L. Newton, September 2001, September 2002 and September 2006.

Howard County Courthouse records (Fayette, MO.)

Howard County Library

(Town of Armstrong, Prairie Township)

Cooper County Courthouse records. (Booneville, MO.)

Booneville Library records (Cooper County Seat)

(Towns of Prairie Home, Bunceton)

Henry County Library (Clinton, MO.)

(Towns of Leesville, Calhoun)

Johnson County Courthouse records (Warrensburg, MO.)

(Town of Holden)

Correspondence between Norman L. Newton and Jerry Smith and Ken Jones, 2005-06. (D.A. Jones & Lee Family History)

Ken Jones Family History on Rootsweb. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kenjonesfamhistory/

Political Graveyard http://politicalgraveyard.com/index.html

John Marvin Jones

Samuel T. Rayburn

United States Gen Web. http://www.usgenweb.com/

Texas – Counties, Cooke, Potter

Missouri – Counties, Howard, Cooper, Johnson, Henry

Correspondence between Norman L. Newton and Gregg B. Obuch, Tucson, AZ.

Obuch Family Genealogy: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/o/b/u/Gregg-B-Obuch/index.html

Speech given by Mrs. Mary Ann (FRYER) Lee in 1910 for the dedication of the Presbyterian Church. The former church building had burned. Her talk was on the history of Valley View. Mrs. Lee was 70 years of age at the time. I have used references from this speech extensively on the material submitted. Norman L.Newton

Valley View Beacon newspaper, April 25, 1941.

The First 100 Years in Cooke County by A. Morton Smith.

The Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/

Valley View, Texas

John Marvin Jones

Samuel T. Rayburn

Collection of material from various sources that it was Mrs. Lee that gave the town the name of Valley View.

From the location of her home just north of town is a very pretty view of the Spring Creek Valley.

Contributed: Norman L. Newton

Texas School Rankings

Marvin Jones: The Public Life of a Agrarian Advocate, Texas A&M Press 1980, Irvin M. May Jr.

History of the Valley View United Methodist Church.

Memories of Early Days in Cooke County by Harvey Hulen. Harvey was a early day educator in Valley View and did a series of historical articles which appeared in the Gainesville Daily Register in the 1920’s. Harvey Hulen is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Texas.

Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas Compiled by the Cross Timbers Genealogical Society. 1985

Cross Timbers Post - Cooke County, Texas, Volume I, II, III (1977 – 2000) Collection of newsletters of the Cross Timbers Genealogical Society, Gainesville, Texas.

Cross Timbers Post – Cooke County, Texas (2001 – Current Date) Newsletters of the Cross Timbers Genealogical Society, Gainesville, Texas.

Gainesville Daily Register Newspaper 1948

Gainesville Daily Register Newspaper 1976