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| 1920s
Hartley County map showing Wilcoe (SE of Dalhart,
N of Channing) Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
History in
a Pecan ShellKansas
ranching brothers James Edward and Frank B. Wilson arrived here (with other families)
around 1907. A third brother John, and his wife assisted the others with planning
a new community.
A store was opened by the Wilson family and not far from
their ranch headquarters, a combination school and church were constructed. They
also laid out a park and started selling lots. The future seemed bright for Wilcoe
since a railroad (the Enid, Ochiltree, and Western) was headed their way. Tracks
were completed from Dalhart to Wilcoe before the
idea was abandoned. The curtailed line did make connections to other lines and
was in operation until 1911.
The 1940 census could count no residents
other than a few remaining members of the Wilson family and only the public building
standing that year was the school. After WWII
the Wilsons moved to Dalhart. The Wilson ranchhouse
is said to have been occupied by descendants of the founders. A grain elevator
serves as a landmark to the town that might have been. | |
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