Frank House
FRANK HOUSE
Newspaper.
INDIAN LIVED IN M’KINNEY FOR 79 YEARS
“Old Indian Frank” seems to be the only name he has, at least its about the only name McKinney people know and have known for years and years. “Old Indian Frank” is probably the oldest in point of citizenship of any person in town. He can recall the childhood days of McKinney men who now are old and bent and scores of whom have passed on to their reward.
Frank House is his real name, and he came to McKinney when but eight years old, that being seventy-nine years ago. No, he did not come to McKinney, but to the place which was later to become McKinney.
Those early days were rich in romance and tragedy and Indian Frank can recall many of them. But to him they did not seem unusual nor so interesting as they do to the younger generation, for he was brought up in those days of hardships—the days when men knew but little law save the common law of right and justice.
***
Came From Oklahoma.
Frank was brought down the “trail” from Oklahoma in the old Indian style of travel and for many years after he reached here he says there were many Indians hereabouts. He does not recall ever seeing an Indian kill a white man, but he does recall seeing Indians kill one another. He recalled one murder among Indians which occurred just north of McKinney. An infuriated Indian rushed up to his foe and with one of the old time Bowie knives, so commonly carried in those days, stabbed him to death so quickly that the victim hardly had time to realize what had happened to him.
***
Recalls Early Merchants.
Indian Frank recalls the first little stores that were ever established in McKinney. He recalls the days of the “trading station” of George Barrett which might have been called a store, and a little later the real mercantile establishment of Newsome & Board, a firm composed of the late I. D. Newsome and Captain R. M. Board, who now lives in McKinney. Captain Board was McKinney’s first postmaster, and the postoffice and mode of mail delivery in those days was quite different from that of today. The old stage coach brought the mail down the rough, dim roads and unloaded it at the little postoffice building. Captain Board, like Indian Frank, has lived to see the contrast of today’s progress and that of the early days of our county.
***
Has No Children Living.
Indian Frank has no children living now. His mother’s maiden name was Bush. She was married a second time. Frank’s father was of a Chickasha tribe of Indians, as was his step-father and mother. His last child, a boy who had reached young manhood was killed some years ago out West.
***
Wants to Live Right.
This old Indian, now eighty-seven years of age, is in reasonably good health, with the exception of having trouble with an injured hip. So far as this reporter can ascertain, he has never harmed any one, but has worked all his life. He regrets that there is so much gambling during the past few years, and says that he is strictly opposed to the evils so commonly indulged in by the young people of today. He says that he knows gambling is wrong and that during all his life he has never indulged in it. He is now living in the southwest part of McKinney, on Rockwall street, but is seen about town almost daily.
MRS. HOUSEWRIGHT PASSES AWAY AT RESIDENCE HERE
Newspaper, 1964.
Mrs. American Housewright, 87, died Monday night at her residence, 1618 N. College Street, McKinney. She was born in Arkansas, January 7, 1877, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Seabourn, but had lived in Collin County most of her life. She was married December 27, 1903, to L. R. Housewright, at Clearlake. She was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church near Wylie.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Turrentine-Jackson Chapel Revs. S. D. Lindsey and Joe Bob Alexander, officiating with burial at Restland.
Surviving are her husband; six daughters, Mrs. Marshall Sinclair, Fort Worth; Mrs. Ernest Rawlings, Mrs. Ralph Houston, Dallas; Mrs. Goldie Thomas, Carrollton, Mrs N. B. Godwin, Mrs. Clarence Dawson, McKinney; one brother, Charlie Seabourn; ten grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. One son, Joe Housewright, preceded her in death.
Newspaper.
INDIAN LIVED IN M’KINNEY FOR 79 YEARS
“Old Indian Frank” seems to be the only name he has, at least its about the only name McKinney people know and have known for years and years. “Old Indian Frank” is probably the oldest in point of citizenship of any person in town. He can recall the childhood days of McKinney men who now are old and bent and scores of whom have passed on to their reward.
Frank House is his real name, and he came to McKinney when but eight years old, that being seventy-nine years ago. No, he did not come to McKinney, but to the place which was later to become McKinney.
Those early days were rich in romance and tragedy and Indian Frank can recall many of them. But to him they did not seem unusual nor so interesting as they do to the younger generation, for he was brought up in those days of hardships—the days when men knew but little law save the common law of right and justice.
***
Came From Oklahoma.
Frank was brought down the “trail” from Oklahoma in the old Indian style of travel and for many years after he reached here he says there were many Indians hereabouts. He does not recall ever seeing an Indian kill a white man, but he does recall seeing Indians kill one another. He recalled one murder among Indians which occurred just north of McKinney. An infuriated Indian rushed up to his foe and with one of the old time Bowie knives, so commonly carried in those days, stabbed him to death so quickly that the victim hardly had time to realize what had happened to him.
***
Recalls Early Merchants.
Indian Frank recalls the first little stores that were ever established in McKinney. He recalls the days of the “trading station” of George Barrett which might have been called a store, and a little later the real mercantile establishment of Newsome & Board, a firm composed of the late I. D. Newsome and Captain R. M. Board, who now lives in McKinney. Captain Board was McKinney’s first postmaster, and the postoffice and mode of mail delivery in those days was quite different from that of today. The old stage coach brought the mail down the rough, dim roads and unloaded it at the little postoffice building. Captain Board, like Indian Frank, has lived to see the contrast of today’s progress and that of the early days of our county.
***
Has No Children Living.
Indian Frank has no children living now. His mother’s maiden name was Bush. She was married a second time. Frank’s father was of a Chickasha tribe of Indians, as was his step-father and mother. His last child, a boy who had reached young manhood was killed some years ago out West.
***
Wants to Live Right.
This old Indian, now eighty-seven years of age, is in reasonably good health, with the exception of having trouble with an injured hip. So far as this reporter can ascertain, he has never harmed any one, but has worked all his life. He regrets that there is so much gambling during the past few years, and says that he is strictly opposed to the evils so commonly indulged in by the young people of today. He says that he knows gambling is wrong and that during all his life he has never indulged in it. He is now living in the southwest part of McKinney, on Rockwall street, but is seen about town almost daily.
MRS. HOUSEWRIGHT PASSES AWAY AT RESIDENCE HERE
Newspaper, 1964.
Mrs. American Housewright, 87, died Monday night at her residence, 1618 N. College Street, McKinney. She was born in Arkansas, January 7, 1877, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Seabourn, but had lived in Collin County most of her life. She was married December 27, 1903, to L. R. Housewright, at Clearlake. She was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church near Wylie.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Turrentine-Jackson Chapel Revs. S. D. Lindsey and Joe Bob Alexander, officiating with burial at Restland.
Surviving are her husband; six daughters, Mrs. Marshall Sinclair, Fort Worth; Mrs. Ernest Rawlings, Mrs. Ralph Houston, Dallas; Mrs. Goldie Thomas, Carrollton, Mrs N. B. Godwin, Mrs. Clarence Dawson, McKinney; one brother, Charlie Seabourn; ten grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. One son, Joe Housewright, preceded her in death.
