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History
in a Pecan Shell
Trent was born with the arrival of the Texas
and Pacific Railroad in 1881. The station was equidistant between El
Paso and Texarkana,
the lines two anchor cities. I. R. Trent is the town’s namesake.
When the
railroad named its various
stations and delivered the signage, Eskota
received Trent’s sign by mistake (and vice versa).
A post office was
granted two years after the railroad’s arrival. From a population of 1,200 in
1928, Trent dropped to a mere 300 residents during the Great Depression – and
remained at the level for decades. It had only increased to 318 by the 2000 census.
Trent,
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Trent, Texas
ForumSubject:
Terry and Johnson Family in Trent, Texas
Hi, I was just cursing the
web and thought I would check out any information about Trent, TX.. I do have
some valuable history about Trent that I would like to share . I need to do some
research for dates, but I though the current information would be of interest.
My father (John Wesley Terry) and mother (Sarah Julia Johnson-Terry) grew
up in Trent and they are buried in the Trent grave yard. My Dad’s father (Aurby
C. Terry) and mother (Rebecca Estelle Terry) had six children. A baby girl who
(died at birth and I can’t remember her name.) Allen the oldest son, Estelle (Pert)
the only girl, Johnny, Bo and Sam Terry. My Grandfather was the Postmaster and
the Barber for many years. I believe he was also the Mayor for Trent at one time.
Their home was in town just south of the railroad tracks (I think it is still
located there).
My mother’s father (Grover Cleveland Johnson, he went
by Cleve) was a cattle rancher and a farmer. My grandmother (Zora Johnson) had
two daughters Fame Maud and Sarah Julia (what silly names). They lived two miles
south of Trent and an eighth of a mile west ( the farm house is no longer there).
My grandfather lost all of his cattle during the depression. Grandmother Johnson
said she picked cotton so the girls could buy a school sweater . Mother said she
rode a pony to school.
My daddy (Johnny) was quite the athlete. He scored
the first touchdown for Trent. He was a tennis Champion (I think it was State
champion, but I am not sure). I don’t think Trent had a baseball team which was
my dad’s best and favorite sport. He was asked to play baseball for the White
Socks and did not sign because my sister (Julia Terry Wakeley) was two years old
and they were still struggling from the depression. He had an opportunity to go
to work for an oil company (Stanland Oil and Gas) and my mother encourage him
to take the job. They moved to Odessa,
TX and lived in the oil camp called North Cauden until I was born ten years
later . We were transferred to Levelland,
TX where I grew up.
Daddy and mother were a grade apart, but in the
same classroom. My dad named the Trent Gorillas. Their class also picked the school
colors Purple and Gold. I don’t know the year that they graduated, but it had
to be around 1930 or 1931.
I hope this information is helpful. I would
like to round up some pictures and more stories. Sorry for the poor spelling an
education does not guarantee you to be a good speller. Besides in school (Levelland,
TX) I was taught to spell it like you hear it. I discovered that in Texas
a’s sound like o’s. and when I move to Tulsa, OK. In 1971. I mention that I grew
up in the All fields and they said what is All? I in turned said “ Do you mean
I moved to the All Capitals of the World and you don’t know how to pronounce it!
I don’t mind if you print this, but please edit my spelling and grammar. I am
very dyslexic plus I grew up in Texas where we spell
it like we hear it !
After living in Oklahoma for 40 years I say I am
an Okie , but I am a Texan at heart !
- Sarah Gladden, Stillwater, OK.,
November 18, 2011
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic,
endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local
history, stories, and vintage/historic photos of their town/subject,
please contact
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