History of Deadwood, Texas
About Us | Location | Local Area Attractions

In the early 1830's a number of families left Perry County, Alabama and moved to Texas. The overriding motivation was the promise of free land. The Mexican government was giving land to attract settlers in the Texas area of Mexico.

At this time Mexico was giving land only to persons professing the Roman Catholic faith. Nonetheless the lure of land was so great that people of other faiths were coming to Texas as well.

Adam La Grone, his two brothers, and brother-in law Willis Vaughan, comprised four such families. They left all but their immediate family and friends behind. All of the possessions that they would have in their new home were packed and loaded onto wagons pulled by oxen. All of the money they had would be used along the way for food and services.

Everything would have to be transported through the forests and across both the Mississippi and Red Rivers. They finally arrived in Texas, probably in early 1832. Socagee Creek, a tributary to the Sabine River, was flooded to such an extent that Adam and the settlers with him thought they had crossed the Sabine.

To make certain that they were in Texas, they later moved to Central Texas, where they found themselves involved in the Texas Revolution. They moved from place to place as General Sam Houston tried to position what little army he had to best resist Santa Anna and his much larger army.

Andrew Jackson La Grone (Jack) served part of the Texas Revolution as a scout. The La Grone's and several other families fled Fort Parker and went to the Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches under orders of General Houston. Colonel Parker resisted this movement and stayed at the fort. That same night there was an Indian raid and the Colonel's daughter, Cynthia Anne, was kidnapped. She lived with the Indians and became a wife to one of the Chiefs. She was the mother of Quanah Parker.

After the Revolution there was a further dispersal of the families. Adam and Willis Vaughan returned to the Deadwood area, Jacob settled north of Hallsville and another brother settled in the Texas Panhandle. Deadwood Land & Cattle Company is principally located on the Adam La Grone and the Willis Vaughan Survey.

The area that encompasses Deadwood was an area that had been in dispute as to ownership by France and Spain, France and Mexico, United States and Mexico and finally between the United States and the Republic of Texas. The dispute  arose as to where the north south line ran between the Sabine and Red Rivers.

Intervening in the development of the area was the Civil War.

After Texas became a Republic, a group of self appointed dispensers of the law named " The Regulators" began roaming the area. They became overbearing and a rival vigilante group named "The Moderators" began resisting their efforts. A small war began with clashes throughout the disputed area. In one of the skirmishes seven people were killed and buried just to the south of the Deadwood Land & Cattle Company on Battle Branch. The Regulator Moderator War caused President Sam Houston to send the Texas Army into the area to establish law and order.

Local governments were established and the Republic of Texas and the United States entered into a treaty establishing the north-south line from the Sabine to the Red River. Monuments were established marking the boundary. The only remaining one is located beside Texas FM 31 entering Louisiana. This is approximately nine miles from Deadwood Land & Cattle Company.

The County seat of Panola County (Panola being an Indian word for Cotton) was established at Pulaski on the banks of the Sabine River. The first marriage license issued in Panola County was issued to Andrew Jackson La Grone and Lucinda Clementine Gibbs.

Through the years, Deadwood prospered, mainly on the cash crop of cotton. A sawmill and grist mill were established on streams which provided the power to operate them.

Members of the community served in the Spanish American War and World War I. One of those serving in World War I was the first husband of  Veltya Powell La Grone. Her first husband  was O. B. Powell who was discharged in 1917. Veltya still lives in Panola County as of this date and is Clayton La Grone's step-mother.

Religion was basic to these settlers and they first had a brush arbor and later a permanent building. The current Deadwood United Methodist Church was established approximately in 1907 by Reverend Charles H. (Uncle Charlie) La Grone. The church was built of lumber logged on his place and sawed at the mill of Hiram La Grone on halves. Charlie established a number of Methodist churches in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana. In the early days he rode a horse and is documented as a Circuit Riding Methodist Preacher. Deadwood Land and Cattle Company encompasses his property and the owners are among his descendants.

Prior to the World War II, which many recognized as inevitable, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton established headquarters in Deadwood and ran exercises in the nearby Sabine River bottoms. In the days of World War II, several local young men were called to duty.

In its heyday, Deadwood supported 3 general stores, a café, a barber shop and a dance hall. However, after World War II, returning service men trained under the GI Bill, gave up farming for more lucrative city jobs. Also, at this time, the local cotton crops were hit hard by the boll weevil infestation and Deadwood shrunk in population. Today, a popular sign states that Deadwood has 108 happy people—and one old grouch.

As you can see, our community is steeped in family tradition and history and we are proud to share it with you. We hope you enjoy all we have to offer and make your visits a family tradition too!